Article
Oncology
Rita Mendes, Goncalo Graca, Fernanda Silva, Ana C. L. Guerreiro, Patricia Gomes-Alves, Jacinta Serpa, Erwin R. Boghaert, Paula M. Alves, Ana Felix, Catarina Brito, Ines A. Isidro
Summary: This study explores metabolic signatures of chemosensitivity and resistance in ovarian cancer by exposing patient-derived tumor tissue to chemotherapy drugs. The study identifies potential metabolic biomarkers of drug response and establishes a platform to explore metabolic features of the tumor microenvironment. Predicting patient response to treatment and chemoresistance remains a major challenge in oncology.
Article
Oncology
Luzie Bruckner, Annika Reinshagen, Ngoc Anh Hoang, Anne Kathrin Hoehn, Florian Lordick, Ingo Bechmann, Bahriye Aktas, Ivonne Nel, Sonja Kallendrusch
Summary: Late diagnosis and resistance to therapy are major reasons for the high mortality rate of ovarian cancer. A model system was developed to predict individual treatment susceptibility and the potential benefit of FOXM1 inhibition in ovarian cancer was demonstrated through tissue cultures.
Review
Oncology
Concetta Altamura, Maria Raffaella Greco, Maria Rosaria Carratu, Rosa Angela Cardone, Jean-Francois Desaphy
Summary: Ion channels contribute significantly to the development and progression of ovarian cancer (OC) and may serve as potential targets for treatment. Overexpression of voltage-gated and epithelial sodium channels is associated with cancer proliferation and invasion, while potassium, calcium, chloride, and transient receptor potential channels play critical roles in OC by affecting cell cycle, apoptosis, and drug sensitivity. Understanding the expression and function of ion channels in OC can provide insights for tumor diagnosis and treatment.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ningna Weng, Zhe Zhang, Yunhan Tan, Xiaoyue Zhang, Xiawei Wei, Qing Zhu
Summary: This article summarizes the background, aim, and key scientific concepts of repurposing antifungal drugs for cancer therapy, and discusses the challenges and perspectives for their future development and clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Kharimat Lora Alatise, Samantha Gardner, Angela Alexander-Bryant
Summary: This article reviews several novel and well-studied genes that can be investigated as potential gene targets in ovarian cancer to increase chemotherapeutic response. A precision medicine approach, such as gene therapy, can be used to exploit genes at the molecular level and resensitize tumors to therapeutics.
Article
Plant Sciences
Qian-Wen Kong, Jiao Yang, Dan Li, Ya-Wei Ding, Yu-Jie Hu, Xiao-Chuan Xue, Mei-Zhi Shi, Bo Jiang, Yang-Yun Zhou, Min Zhang, Jiu-Dong Hu, Cheng Guo, Jun-Jun Chen, Yong-Long Han
Summary: This study evaluated the effects of Tongguanteng injection on reversing paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer and investigated the potential mechanism related to TAB1. The results showed that the combination of Tongguanteng injection and paclitaxel could reverse paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer cells, possibly through the activation of the TAB1/TAK1/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the combination of Tongguanteng injection and paclitaxel in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Megan C. Cox, Rita Mendes, Fernanda Silva, Teresa F. Mendes, Adelyn Zelaya-Lazo, Kathleen Halwachs, Julie J. Purkal, Ines A. Isidro, Ana Felix, Erwin R. Boghaert, Catarina Brito
Summary: The current standard preclinical oncology models are limited in recapitulating therapeutic targets and clinically relevant disease biology, leading to a high attrition rate of 90% for new therapies in clinical trials. By considering growth rates and background release levels of LDH, the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay can accurately evaluate therapeutic efficacy in 3D spheroid cultures, with the added value of being non-destructive. This method enhances the utility of these tumor models for preclinical and co-clinical drug development studies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Shivani Tendulkar, Suneel Dodamani
Summary: This review focuses on conventional treatments, signaling pathways, and reasons for drug resistance in ovarian cancer, as well as novel methods that may lead to more effective therapies. Patients with ovarian cancer typically respond initially to chemotherapy but may later develop drug resistance, with mechanisms including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, DNA repair activation, and autophagy.
ANTI-CANCER AGENTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rajdeep Kaur, P. K. Suresh
Summary: Lung cancer is a major cause of public health burden, and accurate classification and biomarker analysis are important for its diagnosis and treatment. Conventional chemotherapy often faces drug resistance and side effects, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Drug repurposing combined with computer-assisted systems biology offers alternatives for discovering effective and safe anti-cancer drugs, providing significant translational value for the treatment of lung cancer.
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Kathrine Bjersand, Kristin Blom, Inger Sundstroem Poromaa, Karin Stalberg, Ann-Marie Lejon, Fatma Baeckman, Asa Nyberg, Claes Andersson, Rolf Larsson, Peter Nygren
Summary: This study investigated the drug activity pattern in different subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and found that type I EOC is generally more resistant to standard cytotoxic drugs and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) compared to type II EOC. The resistance observed in type I EOC and previously treated patients is at least partly due to mechanisms in the tumor cells. Ex vivo assessment of drug activity may have a role in optimizing drug therapy in EOC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Linjuan Huang, Ling Zhao, Jing Zhang, Fang He, Hao Wang, Qing Liu, Deyao Shi, Na Ni, William Wagstaff, Connie Chen, Russell R. Reid, Rex C. Haydon, Hue H. Luu, Le Shen, Tong-Chuan He, Liangdan Tang
Summary: Ovarian cancer is the second leading cause of gynecologic cancer death in women, and MBZ shows potential as a treatment drug by inhibiting ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration, and inducing cell apoptosis.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Victor Martin, Liliana Grenho, Maria H. Fernandes, Pedro S. Gomes
Summary: This study assessed the response of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells to sarecycline, showing increased metabolic activity, enhanced osteoblastic differentiation, and modulation of Wnt, Hedgehog, and Notch signaling pathways. An ex vivo model also demonstrated increased collagen deposition, extended migration areas of osteogenesis, and increased bone mineral content, suggesting the potential of sarecycline for bone healing/regeneration enhancement.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Michael Hu, Xin Yi Lei, Jon D. Larson, Melissa McAlonis, Kyle Ford, Daniella McDonald, Krystal Mach, Jessica M. Rusert, Robert J. Wechsler-Reya, Prashant Mali
Summary: This study integrates CRISPR-Cas-based genome engineering and biofabrication technologies to enable genetic screens in physiologically relevant ex vivo cancer tissue models. The results demonstrate that perfusable tissue constructs can be used for large-scale CRISPR screens and emulate clinically actionable gene knockout scenarios.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Dimitri Eigel, Romy Schuster, Max J. Maennel, Julian Thiele, Martyna J. Panasiuk, Laura C. Andreae, Carmine Varricchio, Andrea Brancale, Petra B. Welzel, Wieland B. Huttner, Carsten Werner, Ben Newland, Katherine R. Long
Summary: The lack of tools for precise manipulation of specific areas in human brain tissue culture has limited the study of cellular disease mechanisms, but the use of cryogels offers a user-friendly and reproducible approach for more complex manipulations.
Article
Oncology
Solveig Pettersen, Geir Frode oy, Eivind Valen Egeland, Siri Juell, Olav Engebraten, Gunhild Mari Maelandsmo, Lina Prasmickaite
Summary: Assessing drug sensitivity in tumor tissue ex vivo is important for personalized cancer treatment, and culturing tumor organoids and explants can provide valuable information. This study focused on breast cancer tissue and evaluated different conditions for culturing and monitoring treatment efficacy using patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). The challenge of distinguishing between tumor and normal cells in the cultured tissue was also addressed. The feasibility of using breast cancer explants ex vivo to capture differences in drug sensitivity and facilitate functional precision medicine was demonstrated.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana Nunes, Francisca Pacheco, Ricardo Coelho, Dina Leitao, Sara Ricardo, Leonor David
Summary: Overexpression of MSLN in ovarian carcinomas does not affect the expression of cancer stem cell markers, indicating that MSLN is not involved in driving the cancer stem cell phenotype.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Correction
Oncology
Mariana Nunes, Patricia M. A. Silva, Ricardo Coelho, Carla Pinto, Albina Resende, Hassan Bousbaa, Gabriela M. Almeida, Sara Ricardo
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Barbara Lima, Miguel Henriques Abreu, Susana Sousa, Carla Bartosch, Deolinda Pereira
Summary: Low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) is a distinct entity from high-grade serous ovarian cancer, and its chemoresistance limits treatment options. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of LGSOC, with some patients harboring BRAF mutations. Two patients with BRAF V600E mutation achieved sustained clinical responses with combination treatment of dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) and trametinib (MEK inhibitor).
GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Sara Ricardo, Pedro Canao, Diana Martins, Ana C. Magalhaes, Marina Pereira, Ulysses Ribeiro-Junior, Evandro Sobroza de Mello, Venancio A. Alves, Regina Pinto, Dina Leitao, Georgina Alves, Rute Oliveira, Joana Wilton, Susete Costelha, Diana Meireles, Didier Cabanes, Leonor David, Fernando Schmitt
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of ACE2 and furin in cancer cells and found that colon and gastric carcinoma cells have high expression levels of ACE2 and furin, while thyroid carcinoma cells do not express ACE2. Although some cases tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by tissue section PCR, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization did not show viral presence in the cancer cells. This study raises the possibility of ACE2-mediated viral tropism in cancer tissues to be clarified in future studies.
Article
Microbiology
Ana C. Magalhaes, Sara Ricardo, Ana C. Moreira, Mariana Nunes, Margarida Tavares, Ricardo J. Pinto, Maria Salome Gomes, Luisa Pereira
Summary: The study proposes a histology-based method for evaluating infection kinetics and demonstrates the advantages of InfectionCMA, which allows for side-by-side comparisons and evaluation of diverse cell lines, infection time points, and biomarker expression.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Luis Monteiro, Leonor Delgado, Barbas Amaral, Sara Ricardo, Maximo Fraga, Carlos Lopes, Saman Warnakulasuriya
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of cell membrane markers in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and their prognostic influence. The results showed that the CLDN-1 and OCLN proteins may be involved in tumor progression of OSCC and their deregulated expression is associated with adverse prognosis.
ORAL SURGERY ORAL MEDICINE ORAL PATHOLOGY ORAL RADIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Mariana Nunes, Diana Duarte, Nuno Vale, Sara Ricardo
Summary: The main challenge in managing high-grade serous carcinoma is overcoming chemoresistance. Combining drugs and repurposing non-oncological agents are attractive strategies. This study explored the therapeutic benefits of combining Paclitaxel with repurposed drugs. The results showed that the combination of Paclitaxel with Pitavastatin or Ivermectin demonstrated the highest cytotoxic effect and strongest synergism in chemoresistant cell lines, suggesting its potential as a valuable strategy for treating ovarian cancer patients with chemoresistance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Diana Duarte, Mariana Nunes, Sara Ricardo, Nuno Vale
Summary: Drug combination and repurposing strategies have been shown to be effective and cost-saving in finding new cancer therapies. This study demonstrates significant cytotoxicity of certain drug combinations in breast cancer and colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, while being safe for non-tumoral cells. Additionally, the study suggests a potential role of PPT1 in the mechanisms of action of these drug combinations.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana Nunes, Diana Duarte, Nuno Vale, Sara Ricardo
Summary: The combination of Carboplatin with repurposed drugs, such as Pitavastatin or Metformin, showed a stronger synergistic effect and higher cytotoxicity in chemoresistant cells compared to Carboplatin as a single agent. This study suggests that these combinations may be a promising therapeutic approach for high-grade serous carcinoma patients with Carboplatin plus Paclitaxel resistance. Furthermore, the repurposed drugs demonstrated a safe pharmacological profile when combined with Carboplatin in non-tumoral cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Miguel Henriques Abreu, Gabriella Lillsunde-Larsson, Carla Bartosch, Sara Ricardo
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pathology
Carla Bartosch, Alfons Nadal, Ana C. Braga, Angela Salerno, Anne-Laure Rougemont, Anne-Sophie Van Rompuy, Brendan Fitzgerald, Caroline Joyce, Fabienne Allias, Geoffrey J. Maher, Gitta Turowski, Jean-Christophe Tille, Kinan Drak Alsibai, Koen van de Vijver, Lesley Mcmahon, Lone Sunde, Michal Pyzlak, Paul Downey, Sandra Wessman, Sophie Patrier, Baljeet Kaur, Rosemary Fisher
Summary: Hydatidiform moles are rare and require prompt and accurate identification due to their potential premalignant nature. Diagnosis can be improved through the use of standardized diagnostic criteria and algorithms.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Doroteya Raykova, Despoina Kermpatsou, Tony Malmqvist, Philip J. Harrison, Marie Rubin Sander, Christiane Stiller, Johan Heldin, Mattias Leino, Sara Ricardo, Anna Klemm, Leonor David, Ola Spjuth, Kalyani Vemuri, Anna Dimberg, Anders Sundqvist, Maria Norlin, Axel Klaesson, Caroline Kampf, Ola Soderberg
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Diana Luisa Almeida-Nunes, Ana Mendes-Frias, Ricardo Silvestre, Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira, Sara Ricardo
Summary: Ovarian cancer spreads via transcoelomic metastasis, with malignant ascites playing a crucial role in tumor cell dissemination. The microenvironment of malignant ascites affects tumor behavior, including proliferation, progression, chemoresistance, and immune evasion. Tumor cells induce immune suppression, leading to disease progression and treatment failure.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
