Review
Oncology
Samantha Gogola, Michael Rejzer, Hisham F. F. Bahmad, Ferial Alloush, Yumna Omarzai, Robert Poppiti
Summary: The standard of care therapy for early prostate cancer includes external beam radiation therapy, brachytherapy, radical prostatectomy, active surveillance, or a combination approach. Androgen deprivation therapy is considered for advanced disease. However, many patients eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer, leading to the development of targeted therapies, including prostate cancer stem cell-targeted therapies. In this review, the mechanisms of action of PCSC-targeted therapies are summarized and future development is discussed.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Weiyue Zhang, Xin Huang
Summary: Cell membrane-coated nanoparticles combine the advantages of cell membranes and synthetic nanoparticles, making them a promising drug delivery system. This review explores the mechanisms of stem cell homing to tumors and summarizes the methods for preparing stem cell membrane-coated nanoparticles. These nanoparticles have tumor targeting ability, enhanced biocompatibility, and efficient drug loading. Furthermore, the potential applications of stem cell membrane-camouflaged targeted delivery systems for various anti-tumor therapies are investigated.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Javad Masoumi, Abdollah Jafarzadeh, Jalal Abdolalizadeh, Haroon Khan, Jeandet Philippe, Hamed Mirzaei, Hamid Reza Mirzaei
Summary: CSCs are cells with self-renewal ability that initiate tumors and are potential targets for novel anticancer therapeutic agents. CAR-T cells, engineered T cells expressing an artificial receptor specific for TAAs, have shown higher efficiency in cancer treatment by accurately targeting and killing cancer cells.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Sabrina Rizzolio, Silvia Giordano, Simona Corso
Summary: In the last two decades, targeted drugs have revolutionized clinical oncology. However, primary and acquired resistance to these therapies has become a significant limitation, with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) playing a crucial role. CAFs not only contribute to tumor stroma structure, but also release various molecules that impact tumor properties, including response to drug treatment. The role of CAFs in resistance to targeted therapies, particularly molecular therapies, has been overlooked.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Lu Zhang, Fei Wang, Huijun Yi, Svetlana P. Ermakova, Olesya S. Malyarenko, Jianmei Mo, Yingze Huang, Qiuhong Duan, Juanjuan Xiao, Feng Zhu
Summary: This article discusses the role of TOPK in cancer and its potential value as a therapeutic target. It summarizes the tumor-related signaling network and inhibitors of TOPK. TOPK has important research and application prospects in targeted cancer therapy.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xiaomin Jiang, Jianqiao Liu, Jianming Mao, Wenbo Han, Yingjie Fan, Taokun Luo, Junjie Xia, Morten J. Lee, Wenbin Lin
Summary: Conventional chemotherapy alone may fail due to the plasticity of tumor cells acquiring chemo-resistance. This study demonstrates that high-dose pharmacologic ascorbate, in combination with nanoscale coordination polymers (NCPs) delivering chemotherapeutics, can effectively reduce cancer stem cells (CSCs) in solid tumors and inhibit tumor recurrence and metastasis in mouse models of cancer.
Review
Instruments & Instrumentation
Jin Cao, Shubhmita Bhatnagar, Jiawei Wang, Xueyong Qi, Swayam Prabha, Jayanth Panyam
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small portion of cancer cells with high tumorigenic activity and multilineage differentiation potential. Targeting CSCs is believed to be crucial in improving the efficacy of cancer therapies, as standard treatments are ineffective against CSCs.
DRUG DELIVERY AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John J. Kelly, Moe Saee-Marand, Nivin N. Nystrom, Melissa M. Evans, Yuanxin Chen, Francisco M. Martinez, Amanda M. Hamilton, John A. Ronald
Summary: The study utilized HITI CRISPR-Cas9 minicircle donors for precise targeted knock-in of reporter genes at safe harbor loci. Results showed higher knock-in efficiency and functional reporter gene activity with HITI vectors, enabling multi-modal longitudinal in vivo imaging of cells. This work demonstrates the first CRISPR-Cas9 HITI system for large DNA donor constructs at a safe harbor locus.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Wei-Lun Pan, Yong Tan, Wei Meng, Nai-Han Huang, Yi-Bang Zhao, Zhi-Qiang Yu, Zhong Huang, Wen-Hua Zhang, Bin Sun, Jin-Xiang Chen
Summary: In this study, a nanomedicine based on the tumor microenvironment (TME) was designed and developed for effective cancer treatment. The nanocomposite with a cancer cell membrane (CM) coating can evade the immune clearance and accumulate at the tumor site. Activation of the nanocomposite in the TME triggers a series of reactions, promoting cancer cell death and enhancing photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy. This sequential synergistic therapy has demonstrated the ability to inhibit cancer cell proliferation effectively.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maryam Noor Rizwan, Yunxia Ma, Miljana Nenkov, Lai Jin, Desiree Charlotte Schroeder, Martin Westermann, Nikolaus Gassler, Yuan Chen
Summary: Exosomes are crucial intercellular communicators that play a significant role in tumor growth, progression, and drug resistance. Lung cancer, a major clinical challenge, may benefit from lung tumor-derived exosomes in activating the tumor microenvironment and promoting metastasis.
MOLECULAR CARCINOGENESIS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ritama Paul, Jay F. Dorsey, Yi Fan
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in cancer progression, metastasis, relapse, and therapy resistance. They maintain their self-renewal capability and resist the tumor microenvironment and treatments through mechanisms such as cellular plasticity, senescence, and quiescence. Understanding these mechanisms is important for future therapeutic implications.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giasemi C. Eptaminitaki, Dimitris Stellas, Benjamin Bonavida, Stavroula Baritaki
Summary: This review discusses the current state of research on lncRNAs as regulators and predictors of drug resistance in tumors, emphasizing lncRNA patterns associated with cancer stemness, specific drug classes, and common underlying mechanisms of action. The review also reveals cutting-edge strategies for lncRNA modulation and the current progress on lncRNA-targeting molecules designed to overcome cancer resistance.
DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Li-Fen Lin, Yi-Ting Li, Hui Han, Shun-Guo Lin
Summary: Our study investigated the biological role of miR-205 in breast cancer, demonstrating that its overexpression could inhibit cell proliferation and chemoresistance by targeting the HOXD9-Snail1 axis. This research provides novel insight for therapeutic strategies of breast cancer through targeting miR-205/HOXD9/Snail1.
Article
Immunology
Jingjing Wang, Hui Ren, Wenhui Wu, Qianlin Zeng, Jingyao Chen, Juanjuan Han, Minquan Lin, Changhua Zhang, Yulong He, Mingzhe Li
Summary: The study revealed the relationship between immune infiltration and cancer stem-like properties in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), with a correlation to tumor purity. The cancer stemness index can serve as a predictive biomarker for tumor metastasis and a target for drug therapy in GIST patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Subhadra Kumari, Santosh Kumar, Srinivasan Muthuswamy
Summary: Therapy resistance in cancer treatment is a well-known phenomenon that leads to frequent tumor relapse and death. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in drug resistance and tumor recurrence. Studies have shown dysregulated levels of RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifiers in drug-resistant cancer cells. This review explores the role of m6A modifiers in CSC generation, cancer cell proliferation, and therapy resistance, as well as their interaction with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The therapeutic potential of targeting m6A machinery for cancer diagnosis and treatment is also discussed.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)