Review
Oncology
Julian E. Riedesser, Matthias P. Ebert, Johannes Betge
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in personalized treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. We provide an overview of current multimodal therapy and explain novel immunotherapy and targeted therapy approaches in detail. We emphasize clinically relevant therapies and provide recommendations for clinical practice.
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Songbin Liu, Cui-Yun Yu, Hua Wei
Summary: Precise diagnosis and treatment of tumors face challenges due to tumor heterogeneity. Personalized diagnosis and treatment using specific genes can break through traditional treatment bottlenecks. Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) have modularity and programmability, making them an ideal candidate for gene transfer and precision medicine.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guido Giordano, Pietro Parcesepe, Giuseppina Bruno, Annamaria Piscazzi, Vincenzo Lizzi, Andrea Remo, Massimo Pancione, Mario Rosario D'Andrea, Elena De Santis, Luigi Coppola, Michele Pietrafesa, Alberto Fersini, Antonio Ambrosi, Matteo Landriscina
Summary: Target-oriented agents have shown to improve survival in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) when combined with chemotherapy. Second-line treatment options for mCRC include antiangiogenic agents, anti-EGFR agents, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, with therapeutic choices guided by RAS and BRAF mutations as well as microsatellite status.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Cai-Ping Sun, Huan-Rong Lan, Xing-Liang Fang, Xiao-Yun Yang, Ke-Tao Jin
Summary: Cancer immunotherapy modulates the immune system to treat diseases, but conventional animal and in vitro models fail to accurately simulate the tumor immune microenvironment. More physiomimetic cancer models, such as patient-derived organoids, are needed to evaluate the efficacy of immunotherapy agents. The dynamic interactions between neoplastic cells and non-neoplastic host components in the tumor immune microenvironment play a crucial role in carcinogenesis, tumor metastasis, cancer progression, and drug resistance. Tumor organoids can effectively recapitulate the tumor immune microenvironment and be used for testing immunotherapy agents and personalized cancer immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
J. Thouvenin, C. Van Marcke, L. Decoster, G. Raicevic, K. Punie, M. Vandenbulcke, R. Salgado, E. Van Valckenborgh, B. Maes, S. Joris, D. Vander Steichel, K. Vranken, S. Jacobs, F. Dedeurwaerdere, G. Martens, H. Devos, F. P. Duhoux, M. Rasschaert, P. Pauwels, K. Geboes, J. Collignon, S. Tejpar, J-L Canon, M. Peeters, A. Rutten, T. Van de Mooter, J. Vermeij, D. Schrijvers, W. Demey, W. Lybaert, J. Van Huysse, J. Mebis, A. Awada, K. B. M. Claes, A. Hebrant, J. Van der Meulen, B. Delafontaine, I Vanden Bempt, J. Maetens, M. de Hemptinne, S. Rottey, P. Aftimos, J. De Greve
Summary: The PRECISION initiative by the Belgian Society of Medical Oncology aims to enhance genomic and clinical knowledge for patients with metastatic solid tumors through molecularly guided treatments. It consists of four programs, including the creation of a clinico-genomic database, extensive tumor testing, and investigator-initiated clinical studies.
Article
Oncology
Alice Boileve, Matthieu Faron, Sarah Fodil-Cherif, Arnaud Bayle, Livia Lamartina, David Planchard, Lambros Tselikas, Christina Kanaan, Jean Yves Scoazec, Michel Ducreux, Antoine Italiano, Eric Baudin, Julien Hadoux
Summary: Molecular profiling (MP) identified actionable molecular alterations in 48% of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), with 35% of patients receiving molecularly matched treatment and a clinical benefit observed in 67% of cases.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Iman M. Talaat, Noha Mousaad Elemam, Maha Saber-Ayad
Summary: Colorectal cancer is the third most common malignant tumor globally, and the complement system of the immune system plays a significant role in combating cancer. This review discusses complement system activation in CRC and its interactions with TME components, providing a framework for further understanding the potential therapies targeting complement activation in solid tumors such as CRC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Wattana Leowattana, Pathomthep Leowattana, Tawithep Leowattana
Summary: Significant progress has been made in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) over the past 20 years. Various treatment options are available for first-line treatment of mCRC. Advanced molecular technologies have identified new prognostic and predictive biomarkers for CRC. The development of next-generation sequencing and whole-exome sequencing has greatly advanced DNA sequencing technology and facilitated customized treatment delivery.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Maya Pankiw, Christine Brezden-Masley, George S. Charames
Summary: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) has emerged as a guiding tool for precision-centered oncological treatments, utilizing high-throughput sequencing technologies to predict, prognosticate, and diagnose tumors. This review highlights the importance of integrating CGP into routine care practice, as it can improve treatment precision and patient outcomes.
Article
Oncology
Pashtoon Murtaza Kasi, Griffin Budde, Michael Krainock, Vasily N. Aushev, Allyson Koyen Malashevich, Meenakshi Malhotra, Perry Olshan, Paul R. Billings, Alexey Aleshin
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer. The case series shows that combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab can achieve a durable response in patients who have progressed on pembrolizumab monotherapy. The use of ctDNA kinetics as a dynamic marker for therapy response assessment is supported by the findings.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Federica Di Nicolantonio, Pietro Paolo Vitiello, Silvia Marsoni, Salvatore Siena, Josep Tabernero, Livio Trusolino, Rene Bernards, Alberto Bardelli
Summary: Progress in precision medicine for colorectal cancer has been slower compared to other solid tumor types, but novel targeted therapy strategies based on tumor biology are emerging due to better translational models. The availability of patient-derived CRC models and in vitro/in vivo analyses has led to significant advances in the field over the past decade. Successful personalized treatment in CRC now involves considering the intrinsic biology of CRC cells in addition to molecular profiles of individual tumors.
NATURE REVIEWS CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Florian Borchert, Andreas Mock, Aurelie Tomczak, Jonas Huegel, Samer Alkarkoukly, Alexander Knurr, Anna-Lena Volckmar, Albrecht Stenzinger, Peter Schirmacher, Juergen Debus, Dirk Jaeger, Thomas Longerich, Stefan Froehling, Roland Eils, Nina Bougatf, Ulrich Sax, Matthieu-P Schapranow
Summary: Precision oncology is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary medical specialty, mainly driven by academia. The most commonly used knowledge bases provide good programmatic access options and have been integrated into software tools, but access options are limited for information regarding clinical classifications and therapy recommendations. Specialized tools are needed for different steps in the diagnostic process.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fei Wang, Jie Long, Liang Li, Zi-Xin Wu, Tian -Tian Da, Xiao-Qing Wang, Chuan Huang, Yi-Hua Jiang, Xue-Qing Yao, Hai-Qing Ma, Zhe-Xiong Lian, Zhi-Bin Zhao, Jie Cao
Summary: In this study, the cellular landscape of colorectal cancer (CRC) and liver metastatic CRC was comprehensively analyzed using single-cell and spatial transcriptome RNA sequencing. Significant increases in CD8_CXCL13 and CD4_CXCL13 subsets were observed in liver metastatic samples, which were associated with high proliferation ability and tumor-activating characteristics, leading to better prognosis for patients. Distinct fibroblast profiles were observed between primary and liver metastatic tumors, with F3+ fibroblasts in primary tumors contributing to worse overall survival and MCAM+ fibroblasts in liver metastatic tumors potentially promoting the generation of CD8_CXCL13 cells through Notch signaling. This study provides different dimensions of the development of liver metastasis in CRC.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Ricciardi, Elena Giordani, Giovanna Ziccheddu, Italia Falcone, Patrizio Giacomini, Maurizio Fanciulli, Michelangelo Russillo, Marianna Cerro, Gennaro Ciliberto, Aldo Morrone, Antonino Guerrisi, Fabio Valenti
Summary: Precision medicine has brought about a major change in the treatment of cancer, focusing on the individual and unique characteristics of each patient and tumor. Liquid biopsy, through the analysis of molecules and biomarkers in the blood, presents new opportunities in personalized medicine. Its easy application and lack of contraindications make it applicable in various fields. This review explores the applications and potential developments of liquid biopsy in metastatic melanoma.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elena Sultova, C. Benedikt Westphalen, Andreas Jung, Joerg Kumbrink, Thomas Kirchner, Doris Mayr, Martina Rudelius, Steffen Ormanns, Volker Heinemann, Klaus H. Metzeler, Philipp A. Greif, Anna Hester, Sven Mahner, Nadia Harbeck, Rachel Wuerstlein
Summary: The establishment of a Molecular Tumor Board to provide personalized treatment recommendations based on molecular diagnostics has shown to be beneficial for metastatic breast cancer patients, with a high percentage of tumors having actionable genetic alterations and a significant number of patients experiencing clinical benefit from targeted therapies recommended by the board.
Article
Oncology
Davide Ciardiello, Vincenzo Famiglietti, Stefania Napolitano, Lucia Esposito, Filippo Pietrantonio, Antonio Avallone, Evaristo Maiello, Chiara Cremolini, Teresa Troiani, Erika Martinelli, Fortunato Ciardiello, Giulia Martini
Summary: This study investigated the efficacy of cetuximab plus avelumab rechallenge in metastatic colorectal cancer patients and explored the predictive role of baseline neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). The results showed that in patients without RAS/BRAF mutations, NLR <3 was significantly associated with improved overall survival. This finding may provide a potential non-invasive predictive biomarker for cetuximab plus avelumab rechallenge activity.
CLINICAL COLORECTAL CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Enriqueta Felip, Victor Moreno, Daniel Morgensztern, Giuseppe Curigliano, Piotr Rutkowski, Jose Manuel Trigo, Aitana Calvo, Dariusz Kowalski, Diego Cortinovis, Ruth Plummer, Michele Maio, Paolo A. Ascierto, Vladimir Vladimirov, Andres Cervantes, Enrique Zudaire, Anasuya Hazra, Huybrecht T'jollyn, Nibedita Bandyopadhyay, James G. Greger, Edward Attiyeh, Hong Xie, Emiliano Calvo
Summary: This study assessed the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of cetrelimab in patients with advanced/refractory solid tumors. The results showed that cetrelimab had favorable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics, as well as clinical activity, in immune-sensitive advanced cancers.
CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Carminia Maria Della Corte, Morena Fasano, Vincenza Ciaramella, Flora Cimmino, Robert Cardnell, Carl M. Gay, Kavya Ramkumar, Lixia Diao, Raimondo Di Liello, Giuseppe Viscardi, Vincenzo Famiglietti, Davide Ciardiello, Giulia Martini, Stefania Napolitano, Concetta Tuccillo, Teresa Troiani, Erika Martinelli, Jing Wang, Lauren Byers, Floriana Morgillo, Fortunato Ciardiello
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and immune effects of cetuximab plus avelumab combination treatment in NSCLC patients who had previously responded to PD-1 inhibitors. The results showed that this combination treatment can induce anti-tumor activity and activate the ADCC mediated by NK cells as well as the STING pathway.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Stefania Napolitano, Vincenza Caputo, Anna Ventriglia, Giulia Martini, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Vincenzo De Falco, Stefano Ferretti, Erika Martinelli, Floriana Morgillo, Davide Ciardiello, Ferdinando De Vita, Michele Orditura, Morena Fasano, Fortunato Ciardiello, Teresa Troiani
Summary: The Foundation Medicine (FMI)-Liquid@Home project has emerged as a crucial solution to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, providing time and cost savings for cancer patients, their caregivers, and the healthcare system. The project offers a liquid biopsy service based on genetic testing, which can be performed at patients' homes. The study demonstrates significant improvements in success rate, time, and cost compared to traditional hospital-based testing.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Alessandra Cuomo, Valentina Mercurio, Gilda Varricchi, Maria Rosaria Galdiero, Francesca Wanda Rossi, Antonio Carannante, Grazia Arpino, Luigi Formisano, Roberto Bianco, Chiara Carlomagno, Carmine De Angelis, Mario Giuliano, Elide Matano, Marco Picardi, Domenico Salvatore, Ferdinando De Vita, Erika Martinelli, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Floriana Morgillo, Michele Orditura, Stefania Napolitano, Teresa Troiani, Carlo G. Tocchetti
Summary: A large Cardio-Oncology unit in Southern Italy has described the impact on 231 consecutive patients referred to their unit, categorizing patients into three types based on their chemotherapeutic statuses. Results showed that patients already being treated with oncological treatments (Type 2) had the highest incidence of cardiovascular events, withdrawals from oncological treatments, and worst 48-month survival compared to other types.
Article
Oncology
Tessa Suzanne van Schooten, Sarah Derks, Elena Jimenez-Marti, Fatima Carneiro, Ceu Figueiredo, Erika Ruiz, Maria Alsina, Cristina Molero, Marcelo Garrido, Arnoldo Riquelme, Carmelo Caballero, Eva Lezcano, Juan Manuel O'Connor, Federico Esteso, Judith Farres, Jose Manuel Mas, Florian Lordick, Jeannette Vogt, Antonella Cardone, Charis Girvalaki, Andres Cervantes, Tania Fleitas
Summary: The LEGACy study is a multi-institutional research project aimed at filling the knowledge gap on gastric cancer in European and Latin American countries. It will generate novel knowledge on tumor biology characteristics by integrating epidemiological, multi-omics, and clinical data, and develop and validate cost-effective clinical decision-making methods.
Review
Oncology
Gianluca Arrichiello, Mario Pirozzi, Bianca Arianna Facchini, Sergio Facchini, Fernando Paragliola, Valeria Nacca, Antonella Nicastro, Maria Anna Canciello, Adele Orlando, Marianna Caterino, Davide Ciardiello, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Morena Fasano, Stefania Napolitano, Teresa Troiani, Fortunato Ciardiello, Giulia Martini, Erika Martinelli
Summary: Traditionally, lymph node metastases evaluation is essential to the staging of colon cancer patients according to the TNM system. However, emerging pathological features, such as Lymph Node Ratio (LNR), Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes (LODDS), Tumor deposits (TD), and Extranodal extension (ENE), have been shown to have a significant impact on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Implementing these features in the existing classification system has the potential to improve prognosis estimation and patient selection for adjuvant treatment.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Gianluca Arrichiello, Alessandra Perrone, Stefania Napolitano, Giulia Martini, Vincenzo De Falco, Pasquale Incoronato, Maria Maddalena Laterza, Gaetano Facchini, Vincenzo Famiglietti, Valeria Nacca, Fernando Paragliola, Rossella Napolitano, Gabriella Suarato, Antonella Nicastro, Erika Martinelli, Davide Ciardiello, Fortunato Ciardiello, Teresa Troiani
Summary: This study retrospectively observed the real-world application of the combination therapy of trifluridine-tipiracil and bevacizumab in Western mCRC patients. The results showed that this combination therapy exhibited certain activity and acceptable safety in mCRC patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Elez, Nuria Mulet-Margalef, Miriam Sanso, Fiorella Ruiz-Pace, Francesco M. Mancuso, Raquel Comas, Javier Ros, Guillem Argiles, Giulia Martini, Enrique Sanz-Garcia, Iosune Baraibar, Francesc Salva, Alba Noguerido, Jose Luis Cuadra-Urteaga, Roberta Fasani, Ariadna Garcia, Jose Jimenez, Susana Aguilar, Stefania Landolfi, Javier Hernandez-Losa, Irene Brana, Paolo Nuciforo, Rodrigo Dienstmann, Josep Tabernero, Ramon Salazar, Ana Vivancos
Summary: In this study, the search for immunotherapy biomarkers in Microsatellite Instability High/Deficient Mismatch Repair system (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) was conducted. Different gene mutations were found to be more frequent in patients with resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors compared to those with response. Analysis of the immune microenvironment showed higher immune infiltration and PD-L1 expression in patients responding to the inhibitors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jorge Sancho-Muriel, Francisco Giner, Hanna Cholewa, Alvaro Garcia-Granero, Susana Rosello, Blas Flor-Lorente, Andres Cervantes, Eduardo Garcia-Granero, Matteo Frasson
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of a novel variable, the percentage of mesorectal infiltration (PMI), in pT3 rectal cancer. The results showed that PMI was significantly associated with oncological outcomes such as local recurrence, overall recurrence, and overall survival. A PMI >60% can be used as a cut-off value for subclassifying pT3 rectal tumors and may impact decision-making in adjuvant treatment and follow-up schedule.
COLORECTAL DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Davide Ciardiello, Stefania Napolitano, Vincenzo Famiglietti, Lucia Esposito, Vincenzo De Falco, Alessandra Di Liello, Antonio Avallone, Evaristo Maiello, Filippo Pietrantonio, Chiara Cremolini, Maria Giulia Zampino, Nicola Fazio, Teresa Troiani, Erika Martinelli, Fortunato Ciardiello, Giulia Martini
Summary: Rechallenge with EGFR inhibitors is a promising strategy in refractory RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. The presence of plasma ctDNA RAS/BRAF mutations at pretreatment liquid biopsy analysis was not associated with the length of anti-EGFR drug-free interval. Liquid biopsy can be used to select suitable patients for EGFR inhibitor rechallenge.
Article
Oncology
Giulia Martini, Davide Ciardiello, Stefania Napolitano, Erika Martinelli, Teresa Troiani, Tiziana Pia Latiano, Antonio Avallone, Nicola Normanno, Massimo Di Maio, Evaristo Maiello, Fortunato Ciardiello
Summary: This study aims to determine the efficacy of anti-EGFR treatment in mCRC patients with RAS/BRAF WT tumors through liquid biopsy analysis. It also evaluates the activity of cetuximab re-introduction in combination with irinotecan as third line therapy.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
News Item
Oncology
V. Gambardella, F. Gimeno-Valiente, S. Rosello, A. Cervantes
Article
Oncology
Marta Albanell-Fernandez, Sara S. Oltra, Marta Orts-Arroyo, Maider Ibarrola-Villava, Fany Carrasco, Elena Jimenez-Marti, Andres Cervantes, Isabel Castro, Jose Martinez-Lillo, Gloria Ribas
Summary: To overcome limitations of platinum-based chemotherapy, new active metallodrugs based on other transition metals are being researched. Runat-BI, a ruthenium-based compound, showed selectivity for tumoral cells and reduced tumor growth and migration in three cancer cell lines. Its mechanism of action is related to DNA synthesis and it also increases expression of proapoptotic genes. Runat-BI has potential as an anticancer therapy, but further studies are needed to understand its full potential and mechanism of action.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Luigi Pio Guerrera, Gabriella Suarato, Rossella Napolitano, Alessandra Perrone, Vincenza Caputo, Anna Ventriglia, Giulia Martini, Carminia Maria Della Corte, Michele Orditura, Erika Martinelli, Fortunato Ciardiello, Marco Montella, Renato Franco, Teresa Troiani, Stefania Napolitano
Summary: Mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are rare tumors composed of both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine populations. The molecular landscape and genetic alterations of MiNENs are still not well understood. NGS can be a useful tool to study these tumors and identify potential therapeutic targets. Shared genetic alterations among patients suggest a common origin.