Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Michel M. Ouellette, Sumin Zhou, Ying Yan
Summary: Radiation therapy is a common treatment for solid tumors, but radioresistance limits its effectiveness in many cancer patients. Radiation eradicates cancer cells by causing DNA damage, but it also activates multiple prosurvival signaling pathways that protect cancer cells. Targeting these pathways may improve the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peiling Wang, Xiangmei Hua, Yang Sun, Hongyu Li, Yuge Han Bryner, Richard P. Hsung, Jun Dai
Summary: Recent studies have shown that Haspin, a protein kinase essential for mitosis, plays a crucial role in the interphase progression of cancer cells. Loss of Haspin results in cell cycle defects, prolonging S/G2 phase, leading to mitotic cell death or postmitotic G1 arrest. Additionally, Haspin deficiency induces p21 checkpoint protein expression and co-depletion with p21 or p53 can partially restore cell proliferation.
Article
Oncology
Homa Fatma, Santosh K. Maurya, Hifzur R. Siddique
Summary: Both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms play crucial roles in cancer development and chemoresistance, with the reversible nature of epigenetic modifications being an attractive target for cancer prevention and therapy. c-MYC is a key transcription factor implicated in multiple cancers.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Ntombikayise Xelwa, Geoffrey Patrick Candy, John Devar, Jones Omoshoro-Jones, Martin Smith, Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
Summary: Pancreatic cancer is highly lethal and chemoresistant, with growth factors playing a crucial role in its resistance to treatment. The interaction between the tumor microenvironment and chemoresistance, as well as potential therapeutic targeting of these factors, are important areas of study.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Sadras, Gregory R. Monteith, Sarah J. Roberts-Thomson
Summary: Tumors interact with their microenvironment, particularly with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which play a significant role in supporting cancer development through various processes like cell-cell contact, paracrine signaling, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Calcium signaling, a key player in intra- and intercellular pathways, is less explored in connection with CAFs, but it contributes to cancer progression, especially in processes like migration, proliferation, chemoresistance, and genetic instability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Tong Wu, Zhongyuan Yang, Weichao Chen, Mingjie Jiang, Zhichao Xiao, Xuan Su, Zan Jiao, Yongchao Yu, Shuwei Chen, Ming Song, Ankui Yang
Summary: FOXD1 is highly expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and over-expression is associated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of FOXD1 increases cellular senescence and reduces proliferation, while overexpression has the opposite effect. FOXD1 binds to the p21 promoter, inhibiting its transcription and blocking the CDK2/Rb signaling pathway, thereby preventing senescence and promoting tumor cell proliferation. miR-3oe-5p acts as a tumor suppressor by repressing FOXD1 translation, suggesting that FOXD1 may be a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Sabreena Aashaq, Asiya Batool, Shabir Ahmad Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad Beigh, Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, Zaffar Amin Shah
Summary: TGF-beta serves as a dual role in tumor progression, acting both as a tumor suppressor in the early stages and a metastatic promoter in the later stages. The signaling pathways of TGF-beta are complex, involving both SMAD-dependent and SMAD-independent pathways.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jing Wang, Mei Gong, Xirong Fan, Dalu Huang, Jinshu Zhang, Cheng Huang
Summary: Lung cancer is a prevalent disease worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most common type. Autophagy, a process of cellular degradation, can be regulated by signaling pathways such as PI3K, AKT, and mTOR. Inhibiting these pathways may be an effective therapeutic approach for treating NSCLC.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Po-Chang Shih, Kuo-Ching Mei
Summary: Chemoresistance resulting from cancer stem cells (CSCs) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) leads to inconsistent chemotherapeutic efficacy. The presence of CSCs and EMT allows cancer cells to switch between differentiated and stem-like states, known as cellular plasticity. Phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) is increasingly recognized as a major factor in CSCs and EMT, with preclinical studies showing reversal of chemoresistance through STAT3 pathway inhibition. This review focuses on mechanisms involving STAT3 and its target genes in regulating EMT, and also discusses the status of clinical trials using STAT3 pathway inhibitors.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mara Cirone, Gabriella D'Orazi
Summary: Expanding the understanding of the molecular mechanisms in tumor development, especially the interaction between oncogenic pathways, may lead to improved personalized cancer therapies. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) is crucial in cancer progression, not only due to its antioxidant activity but also its cross-talk with several oncogenic pathways. Additionally, NRF2's involvement in gammaherpesvirus-driven carcinogenesis is intriguing, as these viruses utilize the NRF2 pathway to protect tumor cells and avoid excessive reactive oxygen species levels. Manipulating the NRF2 pathway at different stages of gammaherpesvirus-mediated carcinogenesis may have varying outcomes, making it a potential target for cancer therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ammad Ahmad Farooqi, Humaira Naureen, Rabbia Zahid, Lara Youssef, Rukset Attar, Baojun Xu
Summary: This review summarizes the regulatory effects of Fisetin in different cancers, including modulation of multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, inhibition of tumor cell metastasis, and promotion of autophagy. Fisetin has shown promising therapeutic effects in clinical trials.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhiyuan Zhang, Qi Wu, Meimiao Fang, Yu Liu, Ji Jiang, Qingyang Feng, Ronggui Hu, Jianmin Xu
Summary: In this study, it was found that HERC3 controls colorectal cancer (CRC) proliferation and the cell cycle by ubiquitination degradation of RPL23A, and further modulates cell proliferation through the c-Myc/p21 axis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emilio M. Serrano-Lopez, Teresa Coronado-Parra, Consuelo Marin-Vicente, Zoltan Szallasi, Victoria Gomez-Abellan, Maria Jose Lopez-Andreo, Marcos Gragera, Juan C. Gomez-Fernandez, Ruben Lopez-Nicolas, Senena Corbalan-Garcia
Summary: PKC comprises a family of serine/threonine protein kinases involved in multiple signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Inhibition of PKC alpha gene expression in breast cancer cells identified a set of down-regulated proteins and oncogenic kinases, suggesting an oncogenic role for PKC alpha in this specific cancer model. The study also provides insights into the signaling mode of PKC alpha and suggests potential targeted cancer therapies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guoshu Bi, Jiaqi Liang, Mengnan Zhao, Huan Zhang, Xing Jin, Tao Lu, Yuansheng Zheng, Yunyi Bian, Zhencong Chen, Yiwei Huang, Valeria Besskaya, Cheng Zhan, Qun Wang, Lijie Tan
Summary: The study identified miR-6077 as a key driver of cisplatin/pemetrexed resistance in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Overexpression of miR-6077 desensitized LUAD cells to cisplatin/pemetrexed by affecting cell cycle and ferroptosis, leading to cell death. This research provides a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming chemoresistance in clinical practice.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Milad Ashrafizadeh, Ali Zarrabi, Sima Orouei, Kiavash Hushmandi, Azadeh Hakimi, Amirhossein Zabolian, Salman Daneshi, Saeed Samarghandian, Behzad Baradaran, Masoud Najafi
Summary: This article discusses the impact of chemoresistance on cancer treatment, emphasizing the importance of autophagy and miRs in cancer cells, as well as their roles in cancer chemotherapy.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Esther Ghanem, Samar Al Bitar, Robert Dib, Colette S. Kabrita
BEHAVIOURAL BRAIN RESEARCH
(2019)
Review
Oncology
Matthias Ocker, Samar Al Bitar, Ana Carolina Monteiro, Hala Gali-Muhtasib, Regine Schneider-Stock
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph Azar, Hisham F. Bahmad, Darine Daher, Maya M. Moubarak, Ola Hadadeh, Alissar Monzer, Samar Al Bitar, Mohamed Jamal, Mohamed Al-Sayegh, Wassim Abou-Kheir
Summary: Organoids, three-dimensional in vitro culturing models that mimic the structural and functional specificities of body organs, have great potential for disease modeling and clinical applications. However, challenges such as high cost, variability in efficiency, genetic stability, and clinical applications still exist in their culturing process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Samar Al Bitar, Farah Ballout, Alissar Monzer, Mariam Kanso, Nour Saheb, Deborah Mukherji, Walid Faraj, Ayman Tawil, Samer Doughan, Maher Hussein, Wassim Abou-Kheir, Hala Gali-Muhtasib
Summary: This study demonstrates that combining thymoquinone (TQ) with ionizing radiation (IR) can enhance the sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to radiotherapy, while sparing normal intestinal cells. TQ sensitization is associated with G2/M arrest, DNA damage, and changes in key signaling molecules. In addition, the combination treatment inhibits sphere formation and organoid forming ability. These findings suggest that combining TQ and IR could be a promising therapeutic strategy for eradicating colorectal cancer cells.
