Article
Neurosciences
Xi Chen, Jinli Sun, Yukui Li, Weichao Jiang, Zhangyu Li, Jianyao Mao, Liwei Zhou, Sifang Chen, Guowei Tan
Summary: This study combines metabolomics and proteomics to investigate the methylation mechanism in glioblastoma and identifies prognostic biomarkers for two different types of GBM.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Francesco Pasqualetti, Alessandro Barberis, Sofia Zanotti, Nicola Montemurro, Gian Luca De Salvo, Riccardo Soffietti, Chiara Maria Mazzanti, Tamara Ius, Maria Caffo, Fabiola Paiar, Guido Bocci, Giuseppe Lombardi, Adrian L. Harris, Francesca M. Buffa
Summary: Despite advances in CNS malignancies therapy, GB treatment remains challenging due to resistance and high recurrence rates. Most predictive GB biomarkers are developed using surgical samples, but selection criteria vary among neurosurgeons, making the patients not representative. Survivorship bias affects biomarkers for patient selection, therapy, and outcome analyses.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ONCOLOGY HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shao-Wei Feng, Pei-Chi Chang, Hsuan-Yu Chen, Dueng-Yuan Hueng, Yao-Feng Li, Shih-Ming Huang
Summary: Metformin has been shown to effectively reduce cell proliferation and migration, promote cell apoptosis, and disrupt mitochondrial metabolism in glioblastoma cells. Additionally, the combination treatment of metformin and temozolomide has different effects on glioblastoma cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sachita Ganesa, Amrita Sule, Ranjini K. Sundaram, Ranjit S. Bindra
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate that MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, and PMS2 are specifically involved in the activation of the ATR axis after TMZ exposure in glioblastoma cells. This provides mechanistic insights into how the MMR system is involved in ATR activation by TMZ in MMR-mutated cancers.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Adomas Bunevicius, Stylianos Pikis, Douglas Kondziolka, Dev N. Patel, Kenneth Bernstein, Erik P. Sulman, Cheng-chia Lee, Huai-che Yang, Violaine Delabar, David Mathieu, Christopher P. Cifarelli, David E. Arsanious, Basem A. Dahshan, Joshua S. Weir, Herwin Speckter, Angel Mota, Manjul Tripathi, Narendra Kumar, Ronald E. Warnick, Selcuk Peker, Yavuz Samanci, Gene Barnett, Farid El Hefnawi, Ghusn Al Sideiri, Jason Sheehan
Summary: SRS prescription dose of > 14 Gy is associated with longer progression free survival while tumor volume of > 5 cc is associated with shorter overall survival after SRS for IDH-wt glioblastomas. Adverse radiation events (AREs) are rare and are typically managed conservatively.
JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Adomas Bunevicius, Stylianos Pikis, Douglas Kondziolka, Dev N. Patel, Kenneth Bernstein, Erik P. Sulman, Cheng-chia Lee, Huai-che Yang, Violaine Delabar, David Mathieu, Christopher P. Cifarelli, David E. Arsanious, Basem A. Dahshan, Joshua S. Weir, Herwin Speckter, Angel Mota, Manjul Tripathi, Narendra Kumar, Ronald E. Warnick, Jason P. Sheehan
Summary: Molecular profiles, such as IDH mutation and MGMT methylation status, play important prognostic roles for glioblastoma patients. Post-SRS survival was similar regardless of IDH mutation and MGMT promoter methylation status, suggesting the importance of considering molecular profiles when selecting candidates for SRS.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Duyen Thi Do, Ming-Ren Yang, Luu Ho Thanh Lam, Nguyen Quoc Khanh Le, Yu-Wei Wu
Summary: Using a radiomics-based machine learning model, we can predict the O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients preoperatively and noninvasively. The model achieved high accuracy and specificity using a genetic algorithm-based feature selection method, indicating potential wide application in both low- and high-grade gliomas.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Dipak Walunj, Ebaston Thankarajan, Chandrashekhar Prasad, Helena Tuchinsky, Simone Baldan, Michael Y. Sherman, Leonid Patsenker, Gary Gellerman
Summary: The chimeric molecules created in this study successfully enhanced the inhibition activity towards DSB induced by Topo II, leading to more DSB and accelerated cancer cell killing. These chimeras exhibited higher antiproliferative activity compared to traditional treatment components, accumulated at tumor sites and showed stronger tumor suppressing activities.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Youcheng Yin, Likui Zhang
Summary: Alkylated bases in DNA created by alkylating agents can be toxic or mutagenic to cells. Cells use various strategies to repair alkylated bases, such as base excision repair process, direct reversal repair and oxidative DNA demethylation. This review focuses on the structural and biochemical properties of archaeal AlkA and MGMT, comparing them with their bacterial and eukaryotic counterparts. It provides insights into the DNA alkylation repair mechanisms in archaea, especially the first comprehensive review on DNA repair conducted by DNA glycosylase and methyltransferase in archaea.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Levin Haeni, Monika Kopcic, Mattia Branca, Alessa Schuetz, Michael Murek, Nicole Soell, Erik Vassella, Andreas Raabe, Ekkehard Hewer, Philippe Schucht
Summary: The methylation status of the MGMT gene is a prognostic marker in glioblastoma patients, with >= 16% methylation predicting better survival.
Article
Cell Biology
Alessandro Tancredi, Olga Gusyatiner, Pierre Bady, Michelle C. Buri, Remy Lomazzi, Davide Chiesi, Mahmoud Messerer, Monika E. Hegi
Summary: Bromodomain and extra-terminal tail (BET) proteins are potential epigenetic targets in cancer, including glioblastoma. BET inhibitors disrupt the histone code-gene transcription link. BET-induced differential gene expression in glioblastoma derived-spheres revealed 6 distinct response patterns. The O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene, a known resistance factor for glioblastoma treatment, showed consistent downregulation in response to BET inhibitors.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Wilfred Leung, Matt Teater, Ceyda Durmaz, Cem Meydan, Alexandra G. Chivu, Amy Chadburn, Edward J. Rice, Ashlesha Muley, Jeannie M. Camarillo, Jaison Arivalagan, Ziyi Li, Christopher R. Flowers, Neil L. Kelleher, Charles G. Danko, Marcin Imielinski, Sandeep S. Dave, Scott A. Armstrong, Christopher E. Mason, Ari M. Melnick
Summary: SETD2 is a histone methyltransferase responsible for H3K36me3 and its mutation can lead to DNA damage and tumor development. Heterozygous deficiency of Setd2 results in germinal center hyperplasia and increased competitive fitness, accelerating lymphomagenesis. SETD2 deficiency impairs DNA damage sensing and repair, leading to increased gene mutations and translocations.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zhixiong Zhang, Guan Wang, Yuyan Li, Dongsheng Lei, Jin Xiang, Liang Ouyang, Yanyan Wang, Jinliang Yang
Summary: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic process that regulates gene expression and has become a promising target for cancer treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kui Wang, Forrest M. Kievit, Peter A. Chiarelli, Zachary R. Stephen, Guanyou Lin, John R. Silber, Richard G. Ellenbogen, Miqin Zhang
Summary: The study introduces the development of iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted delivery of small interfering RNAs to suppress the TMZ-resistance gene in treating GBMs. This approach leads to increased apoptosis of GBM stem-like cells, reduced tumor growth, and significantly prolonged survival compared to conventional treatment with TMZ alone, offering promising outcomes for GBM patients.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Esmaeel Babaeenezhad, Mostafa Moradi Sarabi, Masoumeh Rajabibazl, Saeed Oraee-Yazdani, Saeed Karima
Summary: In this study, the relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) expression level and epigenetic modifications occurring in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) pathogenesis was investigated. The results showed that hypermethylation of a specific region of the PPAR gamma promoter is associated with the downregulation of the PPAR gamma gene and protein level in GBM patients. Additionally, global DNA methylation was found to be reduced in GBM patients and positively correlated with PPAR gamma protein expression. Furthermore, the expression levels of DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B were upregulated in GBM patients and positively correlated with tumor area. The study also revealed that cortical tumors exhibited higher global DNA hypomethylation and PPAR gamma hypermethylation was associated with an increased GBM risk.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Georgia K. B. Halkett, Elizabeth A. Lobb, Jane L. Phillips, Emma K. McDougall, Jenny Clarke, Rachel Campbell, Haryana M. Dhillon, Kevin McGeechan, Peter Hudson, Anne King, Helen Wheeler, Marina Kastelan, Anne Long, Anna K. Nowak, Care-IS Project Team
Summary: This study aimed to improve the preparedness and reduce distress of family carers through a nurse-led intervention. The complex intervention consisted of telephone assessment, resource folder, home visit, and monthly telephone support. The results showed that the intervention group had significantly higher preparedness for caregiving, but there was no difference in distress reduction.
JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Sharyn I. Katz, Christopher M. Straus, Leonid Roshkovan, Kevin G. Blyth, Thomas Frauenfelder, Ritu R. Gill, Ferry Lalezari, Jeremy Erasmus, Anna K. Nowak, Victor H. Gerbaudo, Roslyn J. Francis, Samuel G. Armato III
Summary: This article summarizes the challenges in radiologic assessment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and provides technical requirements and future directions for multimodal imaging.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Karen Alpen, Claire M. Vajdic, Robert J. MacInnis, Roger L. Milne, Eng-Siew Koh, Elizabeth Hovey, Rosemary Harrup, Fiona Bruinsma, Tuong L. Nguyen, Shuai Li, David Joseph, Geza Benke, Pierre-Antoine Dugue, Melissa C. Southey, Graham G. Giles, Mark Rosenthal, Katharine J. Drummond, Anna K. Nowak, John L. Hopper, Miroslaw Kapuscinski, Enes Makalic
Summary: This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on glioma in the Australian population and identified multiple genetic risk regions associated with glioma. The study also found a sex difference in the 8q24.21 region. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the etiology of glioma and have implications for prevention, risk prediction, and treatment.
Editorial Material
Hematology
Wendy N. Erber
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Hematology
Zi Yun Ng, Kathryn A. Fuller, Allegra Mazza-Parton, Wendy N. Erber
Summary: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a group of clonal haematological malignancies. Diagnosis and classification of MPN rely on blood and bone marrow morphology, with key features including architecture, cellularity, cell types, reticulin content, and presence of megakaryocytes. Accurate morphologic diagnosis is crucial due to prognostic differences and varying therapies. Differentiating reactive conditions and MPN can be challenging, especially in triple negative MPN cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Hematology
Pooja Ramesh, Henry Y. L. Hui, Leon M. Brownrigg, Kathy A. Fuller, Wendy N. Erber
Summary: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a customized immunotherapy for hematological malignancies, using genetically engineered T-cells to recognize and kill tumor cells. CAR T-cells harness the cytotoxic capacity of a patient's immune system and have the potential to generate robust anti-tumor responses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Emel Rothzerg, Wendy N. Erber, Christopher L. M. H. Gibbons, David Wood, Jiake Xu
Summary: Osteohematology is an emerging field studying the interaction between hematopoietic and bone stromal cells to understand hematological and skeletal malignancies and diseases. The Notch signaling pathway plays critical roles in embryonic development and cancer progression, including osteosarcoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Dysregulation of Notch-mediated malignant cells disrupts normal bone and bone marrow function, leading to disorders such as osteoporosis and bone marrow dysfunction. This mini-review summarizes the interplay between cells in bone and bone marrow under the Notch signaling pathway in both physiological and tumor microenvironments.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Christian W. Wichmann, Stan Poniger, Nancy Guo, Peter Roselt, Stacey E. Rudd, Paul S. Donnelly, Benjamin Blyth, Jessica Van Zuylekom, Angela Rigopoulos, Ingrid J. G. Burvenich, Laurence Morandeau, Shifaza Mohamed, Anna K. Nowak, Fiona Hegi-Johnson, Michael MacManus, Andrew M. Scott
Summary: This study aimed to develop an automated method for the clinical production of Zr-89-labelled proteins, specifically Durvalumab, and applied it to examine PD-L1 expression dynamics. A successful conjugation of Durvalumab to H(3)DFOSqOEt resulted in H(3)DFOSq-Durvalumab with an average chelator-to-antibody ratio of 3.02. The developed automated technique was validated for clinical use at multiple study sites, highlighting its potential impact in clinical trials investigating Zr-89-labelled antibodies.
NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Meera R. Agar, Anna K. Nowak, Elizabeth J. Hovey, Elizabeth H. Barnes, John Simes, Janette L. Vardy, Helen R. Wheeler, Benjamin Y. Kong, Robyn Leonard, Merryn Hall, Evonne Tim, Desma Spyridopoulos, Hao-Wen Sim, Zarnie Lwin, Anthony Dowling, Rosemary Harrup, Ross Jennens, Ganessan Kichenadasse, Tracey Dunlop, Cecelia Gzell, Eng-Siew Koh
Summary: This study aimed to determine if oral acetazolamide could safely reduce the dosage of dexamethasone used to manage raised intracranial pressure in recurrent high-grade glioma. The addition of acetazolamide did not facilitate a reduction in dexamethasone dosage.
BMJ SUPPORTIVE & PALLIATIVE CARE
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Elizabeth A. A. Lobb, Georgia K. B. Halkett, Emma McDougall, Rachel Campbell, Haryana M. M. Dhillon, Jane L. L. Phillips, Anna K. K. Nowak
Summary: A survey of 25 caregivers of people with High Grade Glioma (HGG) revealed that one-third of them reported moderate to severe levels of anxiety, depression, and grief. The study emphasizes the importance of early and sensitive communication about prognosis, tailored information based on the disease stage, referral to psychological support services, and timely discussions about the preferred place of care and death for HGG patients.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Helen M. Haydon, Alethea Blackler, Anna K. Nowak, Danette Langbecker, Justin Collier, Georgia Halkett
Summary: An online intervention was developed to address the unmet needs of carers of people with high-grade glioma. The intervention showed high levels of usability and acceptability, and indicated a potential to decrease depression.
NEURO-ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Emma McDougall, Lauren J. Breen, Anna K. Nowak, Haryana M. Dhillon, Georgia K. B. Halkett
Summary: The scoping review aimed to describe the characteristics and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for managing personality and behavior changes in individuals with brain tumors. The interventions showed improvements in targeted symptoms and outcomes for both patients and carers. However, there is a lack of available interventions in this area.
NEURO-ONCOLOGY PRACTICE
(2023)
Letter
Pathology
Jacques A. J. Malherbe, Kathy A. Fuller, Wendy N. Erber
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Farwa Rizvi, Helen Elizabeth Wilding, Nicole M. Rankin, Roslyn Le Gautier, Lorna Gurren, Vijaya Sundararajan, Kylee Bellingham, Joyce Chua, Gregory B. Crawford, Anna K. Nowak, Brian Le, Geoff Mitchell, Sue-Anne McLachlan, Tanara Vieira Sousa, Robyn Hudson, Maarten IJzerman, Anna Collins, Jennifer Philip
Summary: The study aimed to identify implementation frameworks used in integrated palliative care in hospital-based oncology services and describe the associated enablers and barriers to service integration. The results showed that implementation science frameworks provide support and evaluation methods for the integration of palliative care in oncology.
PALLIATIVE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eng-Siew Koh, Hui K. Gan, Clare Senko, Roslyn J. Francis, Martin Ebert, Sze Ting Lee, Eddie Lau, Mustafa Khasraw, Anna K. Nowak, Dale L. Bailey, Bradford A. Moffat, Greg Fitt, Rodney J. Hicks, Robert Coffey, Roel Verhaak, Kyle M. Walsh, Elizabeth H. Barnes, Richard De Abreu Lourenco, Mark Rosenthal, Lucas Adda, Farshad Foroudi, Arian Lasocki, Alisha Moore, Paul A. Thomas, Paul Roach, Michael Back, Robyn Leonard, Andrew M. Scott
Summary: FET-PET has the potential to impact adjuvant radiotherapy planning, differentiate between treatment-induced pseudoprogression and true tumor progression, and predict prognosis in glioblastoma management. The FIG study is a multicenter phase II study aiming to investigate the impact of FET-PET versus standard MRI on radiotherapy volume delineation and the accuracy and management impact of FET-PET in distinguishing pseudoprogression from true tumor progression.