Review
Immunology
Yi Mu, Donald P. McManus, Catherine A. Gordon, Pengfei Cai
Summary: Helminth parasites adapt to their complex lifecycles by expressing a unique repertoire of genes at different developmental stages, including the release of microRNAs (miRNAs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) which aid in host-parasite interactions, immune regulation, and infection processes. These parasite-derived molecules have potential as novel diagnostic tools in the mammalian host circulatory system.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Marcelino Yazbek Hanna, Mark Winterbone, Shea P. O'Connell, Mireia Olivan, Rachel Hurst, Rob Mills, Colin S. Cooper, Daniel S. Brewer, Jeremy Clark
Summary: There is interest in using urine as a non-invasive liquid biopsy for detecting prostate cancer. The usefulness of PCa-specific transcripts in urine extracellular vesicles (EVs) and urine cell-sediment (Cell) has not been fully understood. A study analyzed urine samples from 76 men and found differential gene expression in EVs and Cells, indicating the importance of fractionating urine prior to analysis. However, there was no evidence that one fraction provided superior information over the other.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Julika Huber, Michael T. Longaker, Natalina Quarto
Summary: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and have shown potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring in various diseases. This review focuses on circulating and extracellular vesicle-derived miRNAs as biomarkers in bone-related diseases, with a specific emphasis on osteoporosis and osteosarcoma. The review covers the history and biology of miRNAs, different types of biomarkers, and the current understanding of miRNAs as biomarkers in bone-related diseases. Limitations in miRNA biomarker research and future perspectives are also discussed.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ashish Kumar, Yixin Su, Mitu Sharma, Sangeeta Singh, Susy Kim, Jeremy J. Peavey, Cynthia K. Suerken, Samuel N. Lockhart, Christopher T. Whitlow, Suzanne Craft, Timothy M. Hughes, Gagan Deep
Summary: By analyzing microRNAs in small extracellular vesicles in the blood, unique cellular and molecular information related to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease can be obtained. The study found that specific microRNAs in certain subtypes of small extracellular vesicles showed differential expression in individuals with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, MCI conversion to AD dementia, and AD dementia, and were correlated with cortical thickness on magnetic resonance imaging. These findings suggest that microRNA analysis in specific extracellular vesicles may serve as a novel blood-based molecular biomarker for Alzheimer's disease.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Jiali Zhang, Defa Huang, Xianbin Lan, Dongming Deng, Jijing Li, Dongzhi Zhang, Yue Li, Tianyu Zhong, Shaoping Peng
Summary: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor that originates from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. Early diagnosis of NPC is crucial to improve prognosis, and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have shown potential as biomarkers for malignancy detection in NPC. This review summarizes the application of sEVs as biomarkers in NPC diagnosis, their role in NPC metastasis and prognosis, and discusses future applications and limitations.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiaowei Wei, Lijun Cai, Hanxu Chen, Luoran Shang, Yuanjin Zhao, Weijian Sun
Summary: This study proposes a novel system for multiplexed analysis of bladder cancer-derived urine exosomes using magnetic microspheres as barcoded microcarriers. The unique structure of the microcarriers allows for controllable movement and high sensitivity detection of exosomes. The noninvasive nature of the platform, combined with its good sensitivity, specificity, low sample consumption, and ease of use, indicates its great potential for bladder cancer diagnosis in clinical applications.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chao-Jung Chen, Che-Yi Chou, Kuo-Hsiung Shu, Hung-Chun Chen, Ming-Cheng Wang, Chia-Chu Chang, Bang-Gee Hsu, Mai-Szu Wu, Yuan-Lung Yang, Wen-Ling Liao, Chieh Yang, Yu-Tien Hsiao, Chiu-Ching Huang
Summary: This study identified BRDT, CYBP, GARS, and HDGF as novel urinary UC biomarkers with high discrimination ability. These markers showed better diagnostic values compared to other reported UC markers, and a panel including BRDT, HDGF, GARS, and CYFR21.1 had high AUC values for discriminating between UC and normal or control groups.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Shugeng Gao, Wei Guo, Tiejun Liu, Naixin Liang, Qianli Ma, Yibo Gao, Fengwei Tan, Qi Xue, Jie He
Summary: This study explored the profile of plasma EV-delivered miRNAs in patients with early-stage LUAD and developed a diagnostic signature comprising four EV-derived miRNAs for early detection of the disease, exhibiting high precision and the ability to recognize patients with AIS and MIA as well.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masayoshi Saito, Satoshi Horie, Hidenori Yasuhara, Akane Kashimura, Eiji Sugiyama, Takeaki Saijo, Hajime Mizuno, Hiroshi Kitajima, Kenichiro Todoroki
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer particles released by cells that can serve as a noninvasive snapshot of cell status and potential liquid biopsy-based biomarkers. Metabolome analysis of urine EVs in rats with drug-induced kidney injury identified potential biomarkers reflecting the type and extent of injury. Pathway analysis indicated that these metabolites may provide insights into cellular changes during kidney injury, suggesting the utility of urinary EVs metabolomics as an informative tool.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martha Paluschinski, Sven Loosen, Claus Kordes, Verena Keitel, Anne Kuebart, Timo Brandenburger, David Schoeler, Marianne Wammers, Ulf P. Neumann, Tom Luedde, Mirco Castoldi
Summary: Liver diseases require reliable biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising candidates for liver disease biomarkers due to their unique cargo composition, stability, and accessibility in various biological fluids. This study presents an optimized workflow for identifying EVs-based biomarkers in liver disease, including EVs isolation, characterization, cargo analysis, and biomarker validation. It was found that specific microRNAs and cytokines differed in EVs isolated from patients with different liver diseases. Implementation of this workflow can enhance liver disease diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized treatment strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biophysics
Qingfu Zhu, Hao Xu, Liu Huang, Jiaxin Luo, Hengrui Li, Rui Yang, Xiaoling Liu, Fei Liu
Summary: This study investigates the potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for esophageal cancer diagnosis. The researchers successfully isolated and identified differentially expressed proteins in EVs from esophageal cancer patients using the EXODUS and ELISA techniques. They found that EV-CD14 could be a potential diagnostic biomarker for esophageal cancer. The application of ELISA for the detection and screening of esophageal cancer based on circulating EV-CD14 showed high accuracy and sensitivity.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Review
Reproductive Biology
Yanshe Xie, Changhua Wu, Weidong Chen, Zhenfang Wu, Gengyuan Cai, Linjun Hong
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale lipid vesicles derived from cells that participate in cell-cell communication by delivering cargo such as mRNAs, proteins, and non-coding RNAs to recipient cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), typically 22 nucleotides long, play a crucial role in developmental and pathophysiological processes by regulating gene expression in recipient cells. Infertility is a global health issue, and the use of EVs-encapsulated miRNAs in assisted reproductive technology (ART) could potentially optimize ART, improve reproductive rate, and treat infertility. This review discusses the current understanding of EVs-encapsulated miRNAs in reproductive regulation.
Article
Oncology
Kentaro Jingushi, Atsunari Kawashima, Takuro Saito, Takayuki Kanazawa, Daisuke Motooka, Tomonori Kimura, Masashi Mita, Akinaru Yamamoto, Toshihiro Uemura, Gaku Yamamichi, Koichi Okada, Eisuke Tomiyama, Yoko Koh, Makoto Matsushita, Taigo Kato, Koji Hatano, Motohide Uemura, Kazutake Tsujikawa, Hisashi Wada, Norio Nonomura
Summary: This study reveals the importance of peripheral bacterial extracellular vesicles (EVs) in cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. The lower amount of EVs carrying Firmicutes DNA is associated with higher numbers of infiltrating T cells and increased expression of activation markers in tumor tissues. Additionally, the Firmicutes-low group shows higher levels of l-Ser and l-Pro, which play vital roles in T cell expansion and proliferation. Patients with higher Firmicutes abundance have disease progression and inferior prognosis for pembrolizumab therapy.
CANCER IMMUNOLOGY IMMUNOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Ilenia Mastrolia, Virginia Catani, Marco Oltrecolli, Stefania Pipitone, Maria Giuseppa Vitale, Valentina Masciale, Chiara Chiavelli, Carlo Augusto Bortolotti, Cecilia Nasso, Giulia Grisendi, Roberto Sabbatini, Massimo Dominici
Summary: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and lacks established biomarkers for early diagnosis and disease monitoring. Blood liquid biopsy (LB) is a non-invasive procedure that can provide useful information by detecting small RNA molecules (miRNA) in extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by tumor cells. These EV-derived miRNAs have the potential to serve as diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers in RCC.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hai-Chen Wang, Wen-Xuan Yin, Meng Jiang, Jia-Yi Han, Xing-Wang Kuai, Rui Sun, Yu-Feng Sun, Ju-Ling Ji
Summary: Exosomes, as important components of the tumor microenvironment, play a crucial role in the development and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through the delivery of miRNAs. The miRNAs in exosomes can originate from various cell types and are associated with stromal cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Urology & Nephrology
Eisuke Tomiyama, Kazutoshi Fujita, Mamoru Hashimoto, Hiroshi Miyamoto, George J. Netto, Norio Nonomura
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Koji Hatano, Tohru Yoneyama, Shingo Hatakeyama, Eisuke Tomiyama, Mutsumi Tsuchiya, Mitsuhisa Nishimoto, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Eiji Miyoshi, Hirotsugu Uemura, Chikara Ohyama, Norio Nonomura, Kazutoshi Fujita
Summary: By simultaneously analyzing α2,3-Sia-PSA and α1,6-Fuc-PSA, the SF index can effectively differentiate HGPC, providing valuable information for decision making on prostate biopsy in men with abnormal PSA levels.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Saizo Fujmoto, Kazutoshi Fujita, Mitsuhisa Nishimoto, Mamoru Hamaguchi, Ken Kuwahara, Mamoru Hashimoto, Shogo Adomi, Takafumi Minami, Masahiro Nozawa, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: Switching from enzalutamide or apalutamide to darolutamide may be an effective therapeutic option for patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. This retrospective study demonstrated that approximately 55.5% of patients had a PSA decline >50% after switching to darolutamide, with an average PSA decline of 73%.
Article
Oncology
Mamoru Hashimoto, Kazutoshi Fujita, Eisuke Tomiyama, Saizo Fujimoto, Shogo Adomi, Eri Banno, Takafumi Minami, Tetsuya Takao, Masahiro Nozawa, Hiroaki Fushimi, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Norio Nonomura, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between nectin-4 and HER2 and EGFR in patients with upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). The results showed high expression of HER2, EGFR, and nectin-4 in UTUC patients. Combination targeted therapy for HER2, EGFR, and nectin-4 may be an effective treatment option for UTUC patients.
ANTICANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Toshiki Oka, Koji Hatano, Yohei Okuda, Akinaru Yamamoto, Toshihiro Uemura, Gaku Yamamichi, Eisuke Tomiyama, Yu Ishizuya, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Taigo Kato, Atsunari Kawashima, Kazutoshi Fujita, Norio Nonomura
Summary: This study analyzed patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who received enzalutamide as first-line therapy. The results showed that lymph node metastasis and time to CRPC can predict the PSA response rate and PSA-progression-free survival of patients treated with enzalutamide.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Satoshi Katayama, Benjamin Pradere, Nico C. Grossman, Aaron M. Potretzke, Stephen A. Boorjian, Alireza Ghoreifi, Sia Daneshmand, Hooman Djaladat, John P. Sfakianos, Andrea Mari, Zine-Eddine Khene, David D'Andrea, Nozomi Hayakawa, Alberto Breda, Matteo Fontana, Kazutoshi Fujita, Alessandro Antonelli, Thomas van Doeveren, Christina Steinbach, Keiichiro Mori, Ekaterina Laukhtina, Morgan Roupret, Vitaly Margulis, Pierre Karakiewicz, Motoo Araki, Eva Comperat, Yasutomo Nasu, Shahrokh F. Shariat
Summary: The technical limitations of ureteroscopic biopsy are believed to contribute to the high upgrading rate in upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, the impact of tumor specific factors on upgrading has not been investigated. This study found that high-grade and low-grade biopsy results on ureteroscopy are associated with different biological and clinical features of UTUC tumors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Maximilian Pallauf, David D'Andrea, Frederik Koenig, Ekaterina Laukhtina, Takafumi Yanagisawa, Morgan Roupret, Siamak Daneshmand, Hooman Djaladat, Alireza Ghoreifi, Francesco Soria, Kazutoshi Fujita, Stephen A. Boorjian, Aaron M. Potretzke, Andrea Mari, Mathieu Roumiguie, Alessandro Antonelli, Alberto Bianchi, Zine-Eddine Khene, John P. Sfakianos, Marcus Jamil, Joost L. Boormans, Jay D. Raman, Nico C. Grossmann, Alberto Breda, Axel Heidenreich, Francesco Del Giudice, Nirmish Singla, Shahrokh F. Shariat, Benjamin Pradere
Summary: This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of conventional cross-sectional imaging for lymph node staging in upper tract urothelial cancer and found low sensitivity. Therefore, lymph node dissection should be performed during surgery to obtain accurate staging information.
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Takero Hirata, Osamu Suzuki, Keisuke Otani, Akimitsu Miyake, Keisuke Tamari, Yuji Seo, Fumiaki Isohashi, Naoki Kai, Koji Hatano, Kazutoshi Fujita, Motohide Uemura, Ryoichi Imamura, Setsuo Tamenaga, Yutaro Yoshino, Yasutoshi Fumimoto, Yasuo Yoshioka, Norio Nonomura, Kazuhiko Ogawa
Summary: This study evaluated the toxicity and efficacy of different SBRT doses for PCa and selected an optimal dose. The results showed that an SBRT dose of 35 Gy per 5 fractions is less likely to cause adverse events than 37.5 and 40 Gy doses in PCa patients.
Review
Oncology
Kazutoshi Fujita, Makoto Matsushita, Marco A. A. De Velasco, Koji Hatano, Takafumi Minami, Norio Nonomura, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the development of diseases like prostate cancer. Gut dysbiosis caused by factors like diet leads to the leakage of gut bacterial metabolites, resulting in prostate cancer growth. Lifestyle factors, especially diet, impact the gut microbiome and are associated with prostate cancer risk. Alterations in the gut microbiome have been identified in patients with prostate cancer, highlighting the importance of considering the gut-prostate axis in screening and treating prostate cancer patients.
Article
Oncology
Nico C. Grossmann, Francesco Soria, Tristan Juvet, Aaron M. Potretzke, Hooman Djaladat, Alireza Ghoreifi, Eiji Kikuchi, Andrea Mari, Zine-Eddine Khene, Kazutoshi Fujita, Jay D. Raman, Alberto Breda, Matteo Fontana, John P. Sfakianos, John L. Pfail, Ekaterina Laukhtina, Pawel Rajwa, Maximillian Pallauf, Cedric Poyet, Giovanni E. Cacciamani, Thomas van Doeveren, Joost L. Boormans, Alessandro Antonelli, Marcus Jamil, Firas Abdollah, Guillaume Ploussard, Axel Heidenreich, Enno Storz, Siamak Daneshmand, Stephen A. Boorjian, Morgan Roupret, Michael Rink, Shahrokh F. Shariat, Benjamin Pradere
Summary: The study compared perioperative and oncologic outcomes among patients who underwent open, laparoscopic, and robotic RNU for non-metastatic upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. The results showed worse bladder recurrence-free survival in patients who had laparoscopic and robotic RNU compared to open RNU. However, recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were similar between the three surgical approaches. Laparoscopic and robotic RNU were associated with shorter hospital stay and fewer major postoperative complications. Further research is needed to investigate the factors responsible for the inferior bladder recurrence-free survival in patients treated with minimally invasive techniques.
Article
Pathology
Satoshi Nojima, Tokimu Kadoi, Ayana Suzuki, Chiharu Kato, Shoichi Ishida, Kansuke Kido, Kazutoshi Fujita, Yasushi Okuno, Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa, Kei Terayama, Eiichi Morii
Summary: Deep learning systems have been developed to differentiate between follicular thyroid carcinoma and follicular adenoma based on histopathological assessment. The results show that the systems can predict the risk of recurrence, vascular invasion, and wide capsular invasion with a certain level of accuracy based on random views of tumor tissue histology.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Takafumi Minami, Kazutoshi Fujita, Mamoru Hashimoto, Mitsuhisa Nishimoto, Shogo Adomi, Eri Banno, Masahiro Nozawa, Kazuhiro Nose, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Masahiro Inada, Masaki Yokokawa, Kiyoshi Nakamatsu, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: Patients with prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy may have an increased risk of developing bladder cancer, especially those who smoke heavily and receive external beam radiotherapy as part of their treatment.
WORLD JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Andrology
Makoto Matsushita, Kazutoshi Fujita, Koji Hatano, Marco A. De Velasco, Akira Tsujimura, Hirotsugu Uemura, Norio Nonomura
Summary: The gut microbiota, influenced by both environmental and genetic factors, has been found to have a significant impact on human health. Research has shown a close association between the gut microbiome and various non-intestinal diseases, particularly in the field of cancer biology and therapy. Prostate cancer cells are directly affected by the microbiota in local tissues and urine, suggesting a relationship between prostate cancer cells and the gut microbiota. The bacterial composition of the gut microbiota differs depending on prostate cancer characteristics, such as histological grade and castration resistance. Additionally, certain intestinal bacteria have been shown to be involved in testosterone metabolism, indicating a potential influence on prostate cancer progression and treatment. Basic research suggests that the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in prostate cancer biology through microbial-derived metabolites and components. This review focuses on the emerging relationship between the gut microbiome and prostate cancer, referred to as the gut-prostate axis.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Mamoru Hashimoto, Nobutaka Shimizu, Saizo Fujimoto, Ken Kuwahara, Mitsuhisa Nishimoto, Shogo Adomi, Eri Banno, Takafumi Minami, Kazutoshi Fujita, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Akihide Hirayama, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: This study aimed to elucidate the pathophysiology of post-micturition dribble (PMD) by analyzing pressure flow study (PFS) findings and symptoms questionnaire. The results showed that PMD was significantly associated with larger prostate volume (PV) and higher bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) evaluated by PFS. Furthermore, PMD was found to significantly exacerbate the quality of life (QOL). The severity of PMD and other m-IPSS sub-scores (except nocturia) could have intercorrelation with each other.
INTERNATIONAL UROLOGY AND NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Naoki Matsumura, Kazutoshi Fujita, Mitsuhisa Nishimoto, Takafumi Minami, Hideo Tahara, Kazuhiro Yoshimura, Hirotsugu Uemura
Summary: The therapeutic landscape for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer has changed dramatically, with upfront systemic therapy showing improved survival and quality of life. Future research directions include triplet therapy, local therapy, and personalized treatment.
WORLD JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
(2023)