Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Katarina Madunic, Oleg A. Mayboroda, Tao Zhang, Julia Weber, Geert-Jan Boons, Hans Morreau, Ronald van Vlierberghe, Tom van Wezel, Guinevere S. M. Lageveen-Kammeijer, Manfred Wuhrer
Summary: Cells are covered with a dense layer of carbohydrates, some of which are solely present on neoplastic cells. The so-called tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs) are increasingly recognized as promising targets for immunotherapy. These carbohydrates differ from those of the surrounding non-cancerous tissues and contribute to the malignant phenotype of the cancer cells by promoting proliferation, metastasis, and immunosuppression. However, due to tumor tissue heterogeneity and technological limitations, TACAs are insufficiently explored. In this study, a workflow was established to analyze the colorectal cancer (CRC)-associated O-linked glycans. Distinctive O-glycosylation features were found in cancerous, stromal, and normal colon mucosal regions. Over 100 O-linked glycans were detected in cancerous regions with absence in normal mucosa. A novel panel of highly specific TACAs, based upon differences in the glycomic profiles between CRC and healthy colon mucosa, were identified. These TACAs could be potential targets for innovative cancer immune target therapies and lay the foundation for the targeted treatment of CRC.
Article
Surgery
Kojiro Omiya, Atsushi Oba, Yosuke Inoue, Kosuke Kobayashi, Y. H. Andrew Wu, Yoshihiro Ono, Takafumi Sato, Takashi Sasaki, Masato Ozaka, Naoki Sasahira, Hiromichi Ito, Akio Saiura, Yu Takahashi
Summary: This study explores the use of serum DUPAN-2 in predicting the progression of pancreatic cancer in CA19-9 nonsecretors. The results demonstrate that DUPAN-2 >2000U/mL serves as an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis in CA19-9 nonsecretors, equivalent to CA19-9 >500U/mL in CA19-9 secretors, which indicates the need for enhanced neoadjuvant treatment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bohee Jang, Hyun-Kuk Song, Jisun Hwang, Seohyeon Lee, Eunhye Park, Areum Oh, Eun Sook Hwang, Jee Young Sung, Yong-Nyun Kim, Kyunghye Park, You Mie Lee, Eok-Soo Oh
Summary: This study demonstrates that shed syndecan-2 enhances tumorigenic activity by promoting angiogenesis in colon cancer. The findings show that shed syndecan-2 promotes colon cancer progression by facilitating crosstalk between cancer cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew R. Kudelka, Wei Gu, Yasuyuki Matsumoto, Tongzhong Ju, Richard H. Barnes II, Robert J. Kardish, Jamie Heimburg-Molinaro, Sylvain Lehoux, Junwei Zeng, Cynthia Cohen, Brian S. Robinson, Kinjal S. Shah, Elliot L. Chaikof, Sean R. Stowell, Richard D. Cummings
Summary: A novel anti-Tn antibody microarray platform was developed for broad detection of cancer by detecting Tn+ glycoproteins. The platform used specific recombinant IgG1 and IgM as capture and detection reagents, respectively. This approach was validated using hundreds of human tumor specimens. The development of this general cancer detection platform using recombinant antibodies could have a significant impact on cancer detection and monitoring.
Review
Oncology
Barbara Muz, Anas Abdelghafer, Matea Markovic, Jessica Yavner, Anupama Melam, Noha Nabil Salama, Abdel Kareem Azab
Summary: This review focuses on the eradication of cancer by targeting the endothelium surface protein E-selectin with a novel drug, uproleselan, which has shown effectiveness in inhibiting cancer cell dissemination and improving patients' overall survival by disrupting the tumor microenvironment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takeshi Kaida, Yoshiki Fujiyama, Takafumi Soeno, Mitsuo Yokota, Shuji Nakamoto, Takuya Goto, Akiko Watanabe, Kota Okuno, Yusuke Nie, Shiori Fujino, Kazuko Yokota, Hiroki Harada, Yoko Tanaka, Toshimichi Tanaka, Keigo Yokoi, Ken Kojo, Hirohisa Miura, Takahiro Yamanashi, Takeo Sato, Jiichiro Sasaki, Takafumi Sangai, Naoki Hiki, Yusuke Kumamoto, Takeshi Naitoh, Keishi Yamashita
Summary: This study examined the mRNA levels of CD44T, CD44V, and CD133 in 60 colon cancer patients using quantitative PCR. The results showed that CD44T and CD44V were highly expressed in primary tumors compared to non-cancerous mucosas, while CD133 expression was higher in non-cancerous mucosas and decreased in tumors. CD44V expression was significantly correlated with CD44T expression, but not with CD133. CD44V/CD44T expression was higher in right colon cancer than in left colon cancer, while CD133 expression showed no difference. In primary tumors, the mRNA expressions of CD44V/CD44T/CD133 were not correlated with aggressive phenotypes, but were significantly associated with less aggressive lymph node metastasis/distant metastasis. Moreover, CD44V and CD133 expressions were significantly decreased in liver metastasis compared to primary tumors.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shengnan Jin, Dewen Zhu, Fanggui Shao, Shiliang Chen, Ying Guo, Kuan Li, Yourong Wang, Rongxiu Ding, Lingjia Gao, Wen Ma, Tong Lu, Dandan Li, Zhengzheng Zhang, Suili Cai, Xue Liang, Huayu Song, Ling Ji, Jinlei Li, Zhihai Zheng, Feizhao Jiang, Xiaoli Wu, Ju Luan, Huxiang Zhang, Zhengquan Yang, Charles R. Cantor, Chang Xu, Chunming Ding
Summary: The mqMSP assay developed in this study showed high sensitivity and specificity in plasma samples from CRC patients, outperforming other methods in detecting early-stage and premalignant diseases, and predicting cancer recurrence. Additionally, the detection of ctDNA in preoperative plasma samples using this method can predict the likelihood of patient recurrence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kaitlin Garofano, Kameron Rashid, Michael Smith, Christine Brantner, Sumanun Suwunnakorn, David Diemert, Olivia Gordon, Anelia Horvath, Sikandar Khan, Anastas Popratiloff, Johng Rhim, Alfateh Sidahmed, Sanjay B. Maggirwar, Travis J. O'Brien, Minoli A. Perera, Norman H. Lee
Summary: Platelets play a crucial role in cancer and thrombosis, and the interaction between prostate cancer cells and platelets has been found to promote cancer cell invasion and resistance to apoptosis. Various signaling proteins and their ligands have been identified to be involved in this process, with some of them showing abnormal expression levels in prostate cancer patients.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Diana Rose E. Ranoa, Preeti Sharma, Claire P. Schane, Amber N. Lewis, Edward Valdez, Venkata V. V. R. Marada, Marlies Hager, Will Montgomery, Steven P. Wolf, Karin Schreiber, Hans Schreiber, Keith Bailey, Timothy M. Fan, Paul J. Hergenrother, Edward J. Roy, David M. Kranz
Summary: The use of CAR-T cell therapy against blood cancers has been successful, but its efficacy against solid tumors has been limited. By using a mouse ovarian cancer cell line, researchers found that CAR-T cell therapy can effectively inhibit the growth of solid tumors, with the most effective CAR having the highest affinity for the antigen.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Han Lin, Haofei Hong, Lipeng Feng, Jie Shi, Zhifang Zhou, Zhimeng Wu
Summary: The study demonstrated a strategy combining artificial TACA and glycoengineering for cancer vaccine development. A DNP-modified GM3 analog elicited strong and rapid immune responses in mice, showing potential for targeted delivery of the vaccine construct to antigen processing cells (APCs) and synergistic promotion of tumor binding and cancer cell death.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Ana Marcu, Leon Bichmann, Leon Kuchenbecker, Daniel Johannes Kowalewski, Lena Katharina Freudenmann, Linus Backert, Lena Muehlenbruch, Andras Szolek, Maren Luebke, Philipp Wagner, Tobias Engler, Sabine Matovina, Jian Wang, Mathias Hauri-Hohl, Roland Martin, Konstantina Kapolou, Juliane Sarah Walz, Julia Velz, Holger Moch, Luca Regli, Manuela Silginer, Michael Weller, Markus W. Loffler, Florian Erhard, Andreas Schlosser, Oliver Kohlbacher, Stefan Stevanovic, Hans-Georg Rammensee, Marian Christoph Neidert
Summary: This study established the HLA Ligand Atlas, a comprehensive collection of immunopeptidomes from benign human tissue samples, enabling a balanced comparison between tumor and benign tissues. Results showed significant differences in immunopeptidomes between tissues and individuals, with the discovery of peptides from non-canonical genomic regions. This resource is a step towards defining safer tumor-associated targets for T-cell-based immunotherapies.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Zaki Molvi, Martin G. Klatt, Tao Dao, Jessica Urraca, David A. Scheinberg, Richard J. O'Reilly
Summary: This study identified phosphopeptides presented by different alleles on tumors, which could be targeted for cancer immunotherapy, but the immunogenicity of these phosphopeptides is not consistent. While phosphopeptides presented by HLA-A*02:01 and A*11:01 were consistently immunogenic, those presented by HLA-A*03:01 and C*07:01, although properly presented, were not. This indicates the need to consider allele-specific differences in phosphopeptide-targeted immunotherapies to address a broader patient population.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Noorul Wahab, Michael Toss, Islam M. Miligy, Mostafa Jahanifar, Nehal M. Atallah, Wenqi Lu, Simon Graham, Mohsin Bilal, Abhir Bhalerao, Ayat G. Lashen, Shorouk Makhlouf, Asmaa Y. Ibrahim, David Snead, Fayyaz Minhas, Shan E. Ahmed Raza, Emad Rakha, Nasir Rajpoot
Summary: The study proposes an image-based prognostic marker for breast cancer that uses deep learning to objectively assess tumor heterogeneity. The marker demonstrates the ability to predict both patient survival and distant metastasis in early-stage breast cancer, with comparable accuracy to traditional manual assessment methods.
NPJ PRECISION ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ying Yang, Ning Wang, XinXin Tian, XiaoLi Wang, Jing Yang, XiGang Leng, HaiLing Zhang
Summary: This study found that the combination of anti-angiogenic treatment with tumor cell lysate loaded polydopamine nanoparticle vaccine significantly suppressed colon tumor growth, altered the tumor microenvironment, increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells and enhanced the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Siri Amanda Tvingsholm, Marcus Svensson Frej, Vibeke Mindahl Rafa, Ulla Kring Hansen, Maria Ormhoj, Alexander Tyron, Agnete W. P. Jensen, Mohammad Kadivar, Amalie Kai Bentzen, Kamilla K. Munk, Gitte N. Aasbjerg, Jeppe S. H. Ternander, Christina Heeke, Tripti Tamhane, Christian Schmess, Samuel A. Funt, Julie Westerlin Kjeldsen, Anders Handrup Kverneland, Ozcan Met, Arianna Draghi, Soren Nyboe Jakobsen, Marco Donia, Inge Marie Svane, Sine Reker Hadrup
Summary: In this study, a novel technology called artificial antigen-presenting scaffolds (Ag-scaffolds) was developed for ex vivo expansion of antigen-specific T-cells. By optimizing the stoichiometry of TCR engaging moieties (pMHC) and stimulatory moieties (cytokines), the desired characteristics of T-cells were obtained. This technology shows great promise for selective expansion of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and can be used for adoptive cell therapy.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Laura Avagliano, Marzia Loghi, Alessia D'Errico, Silvia Simeoni, Valentina Massa, Gaetano Pietro Bulfamante
Summary: Advanced maternal age in Italy is associated with an increased risk of stillbirth, especially in late pregnancy. Early induction of labor may reduce the occurrence of stillbirth in older mothers.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Federica Rey, Sara Ottolenghi, Gian Vincenzo Zuccotti, Michele Samaja, Stephana Carelli
Summary: This review discusses the role of mitochondrial impairment in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. It highlights the importance of mitochondrial fusion, fission, reactive oxygen species production, and energy failure in these diseases. The review also explores methods to measure mitochondrial health and potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Editorial Material
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Michael Brines, Stephana Carelli, Michele Samaja, Edith Schneider M. Gasser
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Physiology
Michele Dei Cas, Camillo Morano, Sara Ottolenghi, Roberto Dicasillati, Gabriella Roda, Michele Samaja, Rita Paroni
Summary: This study analyzed plasma samples from healthy subjects exposed to chronic hypoxia at the Concordia Station and found significant changes in the polar metabolome, particularly in pathways related to amino acid metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Barbara Oliviero, Stefania Varchetta, Dalila Mele, Greta Pessino, Roberta Maiello, Monica Falleni, Delfina Tosi, Matteo Donadon, Cristiana Soldani, Barbara Franceschini, Guido Torzilli, Gaetano Piccolo, Matteo Barabino, Enrico Opocher, Marcello Maestri, Stefano Bernuzzi, Kai W. Wucherpfennig, Mario U. Mondelli, Stefania Mantovani
Summary: The upregulation of MICA/B, a protein related to cellular stress, contributes to the emergence of cancers. In this study, we investigated the role of the NKG2D-MICA/B axis in NK cells from patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). The results showed that MICA/B expression was higher in iCCA compared to non-tumoral tissue, and the addition of the 7C6 antibody enhanced NK cell activity against MICA/B-expressing tumor cells. These findings suggest that targeting MICA/B with 7C6 may be a potential immunotherapeutic approach for iCCA.
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Michele Samaja, Pasquale Pagliaro
TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michele Dei Cas, Sara Ottolenghi, Camillo Morano, Rocco Rinaldo, Gabriella Roda, Davide Chiumello, Stefano Centanni, Michele Samaja, Rita Paroni
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Correction
Physiology
Michele Dei Cas, Camillo Morano, Sara Ottolenghi, Roberto Dicasillati, Gabriella Roda, Michele Samaja, Rita Paroni
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camillo Morano, Aida Zulueta, Anna Caretti, Gabriella Roda, Rita Paroni, Michele Dei Cas
Summary: This study explores various pre-analytical procedures, extraction methods, and derivatization steps in targeted sphingolipidomics to improve sensitivity and accuracy of sphingolipid analysis. It is recommended to analyze sphingolipids and sphingoid bases under different chromatographic conditions to avoid interferences.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Samaja
Summary: Molecular oxygen is crucial for biological energy but also toxic. Humans may have lost the ability to adapt to oxygen level variations. Hypoxia and hyperoxia are more common than expected, and oxygen sensing mechanisms operate at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Modulating oxygen sensing activity and sensitivity may offer therapeutic prospects for various diseases.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriele Bonetti, Stefano Paolacci, Michele Samaja, Paolo Enrico Maltese, Sandro Michelini, Serena Michelini, Silvia Michelini, Maurizio Ricci, Marina Cestari, Astrit Dautaj, Maria Chiara Medori, Matteo Bertelli
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of current genetic tests in detecting genetic variants of lymphedema and identified the major molecular pathways associated with this disease. Results showed that the PI3K/AKT and RAS/MAPK pathways are the primary candidates responsible for lymphedema diagnosis, while the Rho/ROCK pathway is less critical. These findings provide insights into the pathogenesis of lymphedema and potential diagnostic genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Daniela Denis Di Martino, Laura Avagliano, Enrico Ferrazzi, Federica Fuse, Vittoria Sterpi, Marco Parasiliti, Tamara Stampalija, Sara Zullino, Antonio Farina, Gaetano Pietro Bulfamante, Matteo Di Maso, Francesco D'Ambrosi
Summary: This study found a higher prevalence of placental maternal vascular malperfusion in HDP-FGR and early FGR groups, which were associated with abnormal feto-placental Doppler parameters. In contrast, HDP-AGA fetus and late FGR presented more heterogeneous placental lesions not severe enough to cause feto-placental Doppler anomalies. These findings suggest potential preventive nutritional approaches for pregnant women with predisposing factors for HDP-AGA fetuses and late FGR.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gabriele Bonetti, Kristjana Dhuli, Maria Rachele Ceccarini, Jurgen Kaftalli, Michele Samaja, Vincenza Precone, Stefano Cecchin, Paolo Enrico Maltese, Giulia Guerri, Giuseppe Marceddu, Tommaso Beccari, Barbara Aquilanti, Valeria Velluti, Giuseppina Matera, Marco Perrone, Amerigo Iaconelli, Francesca Colombo, Francesco Greco, Marco Raffaelli, Mahmut Cerkez Ergoren, Matteo Bertelli
Summary: Obesity is a chronic disease that poses health risks and leads to other chronic illnesses, with 19.8% of the adult population in Italy being obese. A study has found that using a next-generation sequencing (NGS) gene panel can help evaluate an individual's predisposition to obesity and their response to bariatric surgery, potentially predicting the surgical outcome.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Samaja, Sara Ottolenghi
Summary: Hypoxia is a life-threatening condition for 1% of the world population and contributes to high morbidity and mortality in patients with various diseases. This review analyzes the mechanisms of adaptation and maladaptation to hypoxia, distinguishing between physiological (altitude-related) and pathological (pre-existing disease-related) hypoxia. The conclusion is that it is not hypoxia itself, but the excessive attempts to adapt to hypoxia that lead to diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Federico Mecacci, Eleonora Romani, Sara Clemenza, Sara Zullino, Laura Avagliano, Felice Petraglia
Summary: Early onset fetal growth restriction (FGR) is often associated with poor neonatal outcomes. It is still unclear whether pregnancies complicated by early FGR plus hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (FGR-HDP) and those complicated by early onset FGR without HDP (normotensive-FGR (n-FGR)) show different prenatal and postnatal outcomes. Recent data suggest that the presence of preeclampsia may increase the risk of poor neonatal outcomes in pregnancy affected by early onset FGR-HDP compared to pregnancy affected by early onset n-FGR. This review aims to compare the clinical characteristics, perinatal outcomes, and potential long-term sequelae of early onset FGR-HDP and early onset n-FGR.
REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kun He, Mengyi Xie, Weifeng Hong, Yonghe Li, Yaolin Yin, Xiaojin Gao, Yi He, Yu Chen, Chuan You, Jingdong Li
Summary: Centromere protein L (CENPL) is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated with poor patient prognosis. Upregulation of CENPL promotes tumor proliferation and glycolysis in HCC cells by activating the MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yingzi Wang, Haozhong Huang, Huimin Weng, Chunsen Jia, Bin Liao, Yang Long, Fengxu Yu, Yongmei Nie
Summary: Talin protein plays a crucial role in transmitting mechanical forces by connecting the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton. It converts mechanical signals into biochemical signals and serves as diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic indicators in diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hema Saranya Ilamathi, Marc Germain
Summary: Mitochondria are the central metabolic hubs in cells, relying on proteins encoded by nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) for their function. The maintenance and distribution of mtDNA are crucial for proper mitochondrial function and are associated with mitochondrial diseases. mtDNA is organized into nucleoids that dynamically move and interact with each other. The replication and distribution of mtDNA nucleoids are regulated by the complex interplay of mitochondrial dynamics, ER-mitochondria contact sites, and cytoskeletal networks.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
K. K. Sruthi, Sirisha Natani, Ramesh Ummanni
Summary: The overexpression of TPD52 is associated with the emergence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC). TPD52 activates the NF-kappa B - STAT3 axis to induce neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) of prostate cancer cells. Therapeutic targeting of TPD52 is important for the treatment of prostate cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cui Li, Feifan Xiang, Yuqi Gong, Yi Fu, Ge Chen, Zhi Wang, Zhong Li, Daiqing Wei
Summary: Our study demonstrates the significant role of tumor-derived microparticles (T-MPs) in osteosarcoma metastasis and immune response. T-MPs promote macrophage polarization and stimulate migration and chemoresistance of osteosarcoma cells, thereby affecting the progression of osteosarcoma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2024)