Review
Oncology
Maria M. Rubinstein, Kristy A. Brown, Neil M. Iyengar
Summary: Obesity is a risk factor for at least 13 different types of cancer and is associated with increased cancer incidence and morbidity. Dysfunction caused by obesity can contribute to cancer pathogenesis and treatment resistance through various mechanisms. Non-pharmacological approaches to target obesity-mediated cancer pathogenesis are emerging as potential strategies to reverse the cancer-promoting effects of obesity.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soonsil Hyun, Dongyun Shin
Summary: The study explores methods for treating cancers caused by KRAS mutations, including controlling the activity of RAS pathway proteins, small-molecule inhibitors, and targeted protein degradation strategies. These novel approaches are expected to provide promising therapeutic options for tumor patients with KRAS mutations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Revathy Nadhan, Srishti Kashyap, Ji Hee Ha, Muralidharan Jayaraman, Yong Sang Song, Ciro Isidoro, Danny N. Dhanasekaran
Summary: Peritoneal cancers pose significant challenges in clinical practice and have a poor prognosis. Understanding cancer cell metabolism and cancer-promoting metabolites in peritoneal cancers can provide new insights into tumor progression mechanisms, identify therapeutic targets and biomarkers, and improve treatment outcomes for patients.
Article
Oncology
Ana Maria Salinas-Montalvo, Aroon Supramaniam, Nigel A. J. McMillan, Adi Idris
Summary: This review discusses novel RNA-based therapies for HPV-driven cancers, including gene therapy and short-interfering RNA, and explores the potential of microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and mRNA vaccines as future treatment modalities. Some of these technologies have been approved for clinical use in other diseases but not for HPV cancers.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jade S. Miller, Natalie E. Bennett, Julie A. Rhoades
Summary: Resisting therapy remains a major challenge in cancer treatment due to cellular plasticity. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays a significant role in drug resistance and is aberrantly activated in various malignancies. This review summarizes the current understanding of Hh signaling in drug resistance, including non-canonical activation of Gli proteins, gene amplification promoting chemotherapy tolerance, and the use of Hh-targeted drugs.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Emine Sila Ozdemir, Ruth Nussinov
Summary: Host-pathogen interactions involve various mechanisms and disrupt homeostasis in host cells, leading to infections, diseases, and disorders. Understanding the 3D structures of host-pathogen complexes can provide insights for therapeutic development and preventive measures. However, structural studies face challenges in predicting protein-protein interactions and require computational approaches such as machine learning and artificial intelligence.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bruno Toson, Isadora S. Fortes, Rafael Roesler, Saulo F. Andrade
Summary: This article reviews the application of Akt inhibitors in pediatric cancers. The study demonstrates the impact of Akt inhibition on tumorigenesis and suggests targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as an effective approach for treating pediatric tumors.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zita Kepes, Noemi Denes, Istvan Kertesz, Istvan Hajdu, Gyoergy Trencsenyi
Summary: As malignancies remain a major global health concern, early tumor identification is crucial. Targeting the COX-2/PGE2/EP axis could provide promising imaging probes for PGE2-positive tumors and anti-cancer drug design. Radiolabelled beta-cyclodextrins (CDs), such as RAMEB, have shown potential as vectors for molecular imaging of PGE2-related tumorigenesis. Preclinical studies using PET imaging with Ga-68 and Bi-205/206-labelled CD derivatives have evaluated their tumor-homing capability in PGE2-expressing tumors. This review highlights the importance of translating these findings into routine clinical usage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Pietro Locantore, Roberto Novizio, Andrea Corsello, Rosa Maria Paragliola, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Salvatore Maria Corsello
Summary: Pralsetinib, a highly selective RET inhibitor, has shown higher potency and lower toxicity compared to traditional MKIs in the treatment of RET-mutated thyroid cancer. Clinical validation studies have demonstrated a better overall response rate with pralsetinib, pointing towards its potential as a promising treatment option for patients with this specific mutation. Future clinical trials and data analysis are warranted to further understand the full pharmacological profile and clinical benefits of pralsetinib.
EXPERT OPINION ON DRUG DISCOVERY
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Antonella Riva, Elisa Pozzati, Mattia Grasso, Carmen De Caro, Emilio Russo, Alberto Verrotti, Pasquale Striano
Summary: This review aims to provide an overview of the potential benefits of supplementing with -biotics in epilepsy treatment. Studies have shown that the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the brain can be modulated by different compounds, exerting a positive impact on brain activity and behaviors. However, more research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of introducing these new therapeutic strategies in the clinical treatment of highly refractory epilepsies.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Xiangqian Zheng, Qinghai Ji, Yuping Sun, Minghua Ge, Bin Zhang, Ying Cheng, Shangtong Lei, Feng Shi, Ye Guo, Linfa Li, Lu Chen, Jingxin Shao, Wanli Zhang, Ming Gao
Summary: Selpercatinib demonstrates robust antitumor activity and good tolerability in Chinese patients with advanced RET-altered TC.
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Sanford M. Simon
Summary: The fight against rare cancers is challenged by issues such as misdiagnosis, lack of information and tools, limited samples, and inadequate funding. However, studying rare cancers has led to important discoveries in cancer biology, such as the identification of tumor suppressor genes. Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare and difficult-to-diagnose liver cancer that primarily affects young individuals. Through a personal journey, Sanford Simon shares insights into whether FLC is a single cancer type or a collection of similar phenotypes, and its genetic inheritance or somatic mutation origins.
NATURE REVIEWS CANCER
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
I. R. S. Ribeiro, R. F. da Silva, C. P. Silveira, F. E. Galdino, M. B. Cardoso
Summary: The lack of targeting efficacy in functionalized nanoparticles often leads to accumulation in unwanted cells and tissues, increasing toxicity effects. In contrast, viruses interact precisely with biological machinery through an effective-driven fashion, enhanced by meticulous spatial arrangement on their surface. This suggests that the highly-ordered architecture of SARS-CoV-2 viral scaffold could inspire the production of targeted synthetic nanoparticles.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Evan K. Day, Anne Campbell, Ashley Pandolf, Troy Rogerson, Qing Zhong, Aizhen Xiao, Benjamin Purow, Matthew J. Lazzara
Summary: Suicide gene therapies achieve efficient expression in various cancers by regulating protein stability while maintaining selectivity for tumors.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marcia Bellon, Christophe Nicot
Summary: Decades of research have shown the important role of Pim kinases in lymphoproliferative disorders. Pim kinases are up-regulated in response to JAK/STAT and tyrosine kinase receptor signaling, and they regulate various cellular processes. Targeting Pim kinases for inhibition is an interesting approach due to their non-fatal phenotypes when knocked down in vivo, suggesting potentially fewer side effects. This review focuses on the expression and involvement of Pim kinases in hematopoietic cancers, examining clinical trials, in vitro studies on Pim kinase inhibitors, and discussing future directions. Current studies indicate that Pim kinase inhibition may be most effective when used in combination with multi-drug targeting therapy.