Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abygail G. Chapdelaine, Gongqin Sun
Summary: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of breast cancers characterized by their lack of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and the HER2 receptor. Developing targeted therapies for TNBC has been a major challenge due to its heterogeneity, and its treatment still largely relies on surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Accumulating evidence supports TNBCs as multi-driver cancers, and a strategy designed to generate mechanism-based combination targeted therapies for TNBC is discussed.
Article
Oncology
Jenifer Garcia-Fernandez, Maria de la Fuente Freire
Summary: This article introduces the characteristics of exosomes and their application in the field of biomedical research. However, there are still limitations in manufacturing processes, quality control, and clinical studies. In recent years, exosome-like systems based on surface engineering and nanoscale platforms have been developed to overcome these limitations. By combining the latest knowledge of exosome research with promising developments in nanotechnology, innovative targeted anti-cancer therapies can be developed. This article provides a critical overview of the design and testing of innovative exosome-like systems and discusses the most promising modalities that can be translated into the clinic, as well as future perspectives and challenges in this field.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Hilmee Abdullah, Tonghathai Phairatana, Itthipon Jeerapan
Summary: This review introduces the advantages of electrochemical microneedle-based sensors in biomedical analysis, particularly in biosensing. It discusses the requirements for developing sensitive biosensors and highlights strategies for immobilizing biorecognition elements. The review also details advanced techniques for fabricating porous, biodegradable, and antifouling materials to enhance biosensing performances. Additionally, it summarizes the latest advances in microneedles and provides an outlook on their integration into closed-loop system biodevices.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhijun Zhou, Min Li
Summary: Targeted therapy is crucial for improving overall survival and reducing side effects in cancer treatment, but each patient responds differently to treatment. The development of cutting-edge technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, has allowed for the identification of more actionable targets. This special issue of BMC Medicine presents a collection of studies on targeted therapies for various cancer types, aiming to bridge the gap between genomic testing and precision medicine and spark innovations in improving the efficacy of targeted therapies.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Haojie Jin, Liqin Wang, Rene Bernards
Summary: In the past two decades, advancements in understanding the genetic defects underlying cancer have led to the development of numerous targeted cancer drugs. However, resistance to single-agent therapies remains a major hurdle. Rational drug combinations based on a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with therapy resistance hold great potential in cancer treatment. This article discusses the mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies and the identification of effective drug combinations to overcome resistance, as well as the challenges in clinically developing these combinations and future perspectives.
NATURE REVIEWS DRUG DISCOVERY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Rille Pihlak, Caroline Fong, Naureen Starling
Summary: Stomach cancer is an aggressive disease with poor survival outcomes, but in the past two decades, clinical research has made significant progress in understanding targets and potential targeted treatments for advanced stomach cancer. This article summarizes the recent advancements in targeted therapies and precision medicine in gastric cancer and discusses new potential treatments.
Article
Oncology
Samantha C. Sodergren, Sally J. Wheelwright, Deborah Fitzsimmons, Fabio Efficace, Mirjam Sprangers, Peter Fayers, Amelie Harle, Heike Schmidt, Andrew Bottomley, Anne-Sophie Darlington, Charlotte Benson, Anne Bredart, Leopold Hentschel, Juan Ignacio Arraras, Georgios Ioannidis, Michael Leahy, Iwona Lugowska, Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Duska Petranovic, Gudrun E. Rohde, Vasilis Vassiliou, Colin D. Johnson
Summary: By conducting literature reviews, interviews with patients and healthcare professionals, and patient focus groups, a set of targeted therapy-related symptoms was developed for the assessment of new treatments and monitoring treatment. Patient input played a key role in the development of the symptom list, highlighting the importance of involving patients in the process.
Review
Oncology
Carlo Sorrentino, Emma Di Carlo
Summary: Recent studies have emphasized the importance of molecular targeted therapies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These therapies aim to block specific molecules and related pathways in cancer cells or their microenvironment to inhibit their growth and spread while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. The review discusses the characteristics, efficacy, and limitations of these therapies, some of which are already approved for clinical use, while others are still in clinical trials or pre-clinical development. It also explores future research perspectives, including combining traditional drugs and using nanomedicine for selective release at the tumor site, to improve tolerability and efficacy.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Zhijun Zhou, Barish H. Edil, Min Li
Summary: Gastrointestinal cancers, especially pancreatic cancer, pose a significant challenge to public health. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy offers some patients the chance for radical resection. An optimal chemotherapy regimen should maximize anti-tumor efficacy while maintaining manageable safety. Surgical advancements further enhance outcomes for these patients.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Elodie Peraudeau, Brigitte Renoux, Sheik Emambux, Pauline Poinot, Remi Chatre, Fabien Thoreau, Benjamin Riss Yaw, David Tougeron, Jonathan Clarhaut, Sebastien Papot
Summary: Combining bevacizumab (Bev) with a beta-glucuronidase-responsive albumin-binding prodrug of monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) has shown to be an effective therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer in mice.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Joel Rivera-Concepcion, Dipesh Uprety, Alex A. Adjei
Summary: Precision oncology has revolutionized cancer diagnosis and treatment. The management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has witnessed significant changes with the identification of oncogene drivers and the development of targeted drugs. However, targeted therapies also present unique challenges such as drug toxicities, resistance, access, and costs.
CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ilana Schlam, Paolo Tarantino, Stefania Morganti, Filipa Lynce, Dario Trapani, Erica L. Mayer, Ana C. Garrido-Castro, Ada Waks, Sara M. Tolaney
Summary: Breast cancer is a common and deadly disease in the US, and recent advancements in treatment for early-stage breast cancer include the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for triple-negative breast cancer and CDK4/6 inhibitors for hormone receptor-positive disease. Additionally, adjuvant olaparib has shown significant improvement in outcomes for patients with BRCA1/2 mutations and high-risk HER2-negative breast cancer.
Article
Oncology
Katarzyna Szklener, Paulina Chmiel, Adam Michalski, Slawomir Mandziuk
Summary: This study presents and analyzes the current literature on the epidemiology, genetics, and histopathology of bladder cancer, as well as the latest treatment methods. It highlights the high prevalence of FGFR3 mutations and overexpression in bladder cancer and discusses the importance of targeted therapy for specific patient groups.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Srinjan Bhattacharya, Rahul Kumar Mahato, Satwinder Singh, Gurjit Kaur Bhatti, Sarabjit Singh Mastana, Jasvinder Singh Bhatti
Summary: Thyroid cancer is on the rise globally, particularly among women. Differentiated thyroid cancer can be effectively managed with standard treatments, while rarer variants require specialized interventions. This review explores the genetic, epigenetic, and non-coding RNA factors involved in thyroid cancer and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. It also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques in predicting treatment outcomes and developing personalized approaches.
Review
Oncology
Rossella Reddavid, Simona Dagatti, Caterina Franco, Lucia Puca, Mariano Tomatis, Simona Corso, Silvia Giordano, Maurizio Degiuli
Summary: Despite the addition of molecular therapy in the clinical treatment of advanced and metastatic gastric cancer, the survival benefits of these novel therapies remain rather unclear, possibly due to inaccurate patient selection.
