Review
Oncology
Jasmeet Kaur, Shalmoli Bhattacharyya
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have distinct metabolic characteristics, displaying intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies and the ability to switch between glycolysis and oxidative metabolism to adapt to different environments. Understanding and targeting the metabolic features of CSCs may provide effective strategies to prevent cancer relapse and metastasis.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuanwei Pan, Xuehua Ma, Chuang Liu, Jie Xing, Suqiong Zhou, Badri Parshad, Tanja Schwerdtle, Wenzhong Li, Aiguo Wu, Rainer Haag
Summary: A targeted and RA-loaded nanoplatform was developed to effectively suppress the growth of breast cancer stem cells and tumor formation through multivalent targeted capability and synergistic effect of photothermal therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shanta Bhattarai, Yuri Mackeyev, Bhanu P. Venkatesulu, Sunil Krishnan, Pankaj K. Singh
Summary: CXCR4-targeted gold nanoparticles show enhanced radiosensitization of breast cancer cells with CXCR4 overexpression, leading to increased cellular internalization, unrepaired DNA double strand breaks, and production of oxygen free radicals. In a murine TNBC xenograft model, CXCR4 targeting significantly increases tumor regrowth delay following radiation compared to radiation with non-targeted GNPs or vehicle alone, suggesting that CXCR4-targeted GNPs can enhance the efficacy of TNBC radiotherapy through increasing oxidative stress and DNA damage.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yuanwei Pan, Suqiong Zhou, Chuang Liu, Xuehua Ma, Jie Xing, Badri Parshad, Wenzhong Li, Aiguo Wu, Rainer Haag
Summary: In this study, a method for efficient eradication of CSCs was developed by conjugating HK2 inhibitor, mitochondrial targeting molecule, and CSCs targeting agent onto a nanoplatform. The nanocomposite particles showed good biocompatibility and enhanced therapeutic efficacy by inhibiting metabolism and inducing cellular apoptosis. The treatment successfully suppressed CSC self-renewal and tumor growth, achieving eradication of CSCs.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Onyisi Christiana Didamson, Rahul Chandran, Heidi Abrahamse
Summary: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in tumor development and therapy. This review summarizes the application of gold nanoparticle bioconjugates in enhancing photodynamic therapy (PDT) and discusses the challenges in clinical settings.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Eimantas Ramonas, Atefeh Shafaat, Marius Dagys, Tautgirdas Ruzgas, Dalius Ratautas
Summary: This study investigated the catalytic properties of citrate-capped gold nanoparticles and gold nanoparticle-protein conjugates, showing that gold nanoparticles form stable conjugates with proteins but do not increase enzyme activity. Under certain conditions, gold nanoparticles can mimic enzymatic reactions, emphasizing the need for specific measurements to differentiate between enzyme and gold nanoparticle-catalyzed reactions.
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Ibragimova, Matvey Tsyganov, Nikolai Litviakov
Summary: This review discusses the main mechanisms of CSCs in breast cancer, including markers and signaling pathways, heterogeneity, plasticity, and ecological behavior. The study also considers the significance of dynamic heterogeneity of CSCs and dynamic transitions between CSCs and non-CSCs for metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Isis Wolf, Christian Gratzke, Philipp Wolf
Summary: Despite research and improvements in diagnosis and therapy, prostate cancer (PC) remains a major challenge. Recent findings have highlighted the role of PC stem cells (PCSCs) in tumorigenesis, relapse, metastasis, and treatment resistance. This review discusses the impact of PCSCs in clinical practice and presents new therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes for PC patients.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vahideh Keyvani, Espanta Riahi, Meysam Yousefi, Seyed-Alireza Esmaeili, Rana Shafabakhsh, Amin Moradi Hasan-Abad, Maryam Mahjoubin-Tehran, Michael R. Hamblin, Samaneh Mollazadeh, Hamed Mirzaei
Summary: This article discusses the molecular mechanism of gynecologic cancer and the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in treatment, aiming to discover more specific therapeutic approaches to gynecologic cancer.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Ze Wang, Liang He, Songtian Che, Huiyuan Xing, Lin Guan, Zhe Yang, Xingchen Li, Andrei V. Zvyagin, Quan Lin, Wenrui Qu
Summary: A nano-system has been designed to improve diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer by combining gold nanoclusters with LHRH analogues. The nano-system enables efficient imaging and targeted therapy.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Johanna M. Buschhaus, Shrila Rajendran, Siyi Chen, Bryan L. Wharram, Avinash S. Bevoor, Alyssa C. Cutter, Brock A. Humphries, Tanner H. Robison, Alex P. Farfel, Gary D. Luker
Summary: Cancer cells adapt their energy metabolism to resist therapy through metabolic plasticity. In a coculture model of ER+ breast cancer and MSCs, it was found that coculturing with MSCs increased oxidative phosphorylation and ATP levels, leading to resistance to standard therapies. This resistance was overcome by inhibiting MCT1/4 and combining it with fulvestrant, suggesting metabolic interventions as potential strategies to overcome resistance in ER+ breast cancer.
MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ghader Babaei, Shiva Gholizadeh-Ghaleh Aziz, Nasrin Zare Zavieyh Jaghi
Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are major factors contributing to cancer cell metastasis. Autophagy has recently gained attention, playing a dual role in cancer cell development depending on cancer type, tissue, and stage. Studies show different signaling pathways are involved in cancer stem cells, autophagy, and EMT. Investigating effective signaling pathways in all three processes could help determine appropriate therapeutic goals.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Anish Hiresha Verma, Swarna Ganesh, Krishnan Venkatakrishnan, Bo Tan
Summary: This study used ultra-small gold nanoparticles as a nanoscale probe to demethylate the genomic DNA of cancer stem cells, leading to their reprogramming into cancer cells. The results showed a significant decrease in genetic and phenotypic stemness as well as cell cycle quiescence of lung cancer stem cells. This research opens up new avenues for effective anti-cancer treatments and precision nanomedicine.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thamir M. Ismail, Rachel G. Crick, Min Du, Uma Shivkumar, Andrew Carnell, Roger Barraclough, Guozheng Wang, Zhenxing Cheng, Weiping Yu, Angela Platt-Higgins, Gemma Nixon, Philip S. Rudland
Summary: The calcium-binding protein S100A4 is overexpressed in most human metastatic cancers and can induce cell migration and metastasis. Researchers have discovered a novel inhibitor that can specifically block S100A4-mediated cell migration in both rat and human triple negative breast cancer cells. They have also developed a PROACT inhibitor that can efficiently eliminate S100A4 in these cancer cells, leading to a significant reduction in metastasis in mouse models.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rui Li, Xuefei Liu, Xudong Huang, Di Zhang, Ziming Chen, Jialiang Zhang, Ruihong Bai, Shaoping Zhang, Hongzhe Zhao, Zilan Xu, Lingxing Zeng, Lisha Zhuang, Shujuan Wen, Shaojia Wu, Mei Li, Zhixiang Zuo, Junzhong Lin, Dongxin Lin, Jian Zheng
Summary: We uncover a mechanism for organ-specific colorectal cancer metastasis, demonstrating that stem-like cells metastasize from primary colorectal cancer to the ovary through the interaction with cancer-associated fibroblasts and endothelial cells via the DLL4-NOTCH signaling pathway. In the ovarian microenvironment, myofibroblasts provide cancer cells with glutamine and perform metabolic reprogramming, which may be essential for cancer cells to localize and develop in the ovary.