Cancer-associated fibroblasts: a versatile mediator in tumor progression, metastasis, and targeted therapy
AbstractTumor microenvironment (TME) has been demonstrated to play a significant role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major component of TME and exhibit heterogeneous properties in their communication with tumor cells. This heterogeneity of CAFs can be attributed to various origins, including quiescent fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), adipocytes, pericytes, endothelial cells, and mesothelial cells. Moreover, single-cell RNA sequencing has identified diverse phenotypes of CAFs, with myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) being the...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - April 11, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
In vivo manufacture and manipulation of CAR-T cells for better druggability
AbstractThe current CAR-T cell therapy products have been hampered in their druggability due to the personalized preparation required, unclear pharmacokinetic characteristics, and unpredictable adverse reactions. Enabling standardized manufacturing and having clear efficacy and pharmacokinetic characteristics are prerequisites for ensuring the effective practicality of CAR-T cell therapy drugs. This review provides a broad overview of the different approaches for controlling behaviors of CAR-T cellsin vivo. The utilization of genetically modified vectors enablesin vivo production of CAR-T cells, thereby abbreviating or ski...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - April 9, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The role of circular RNA during the urological cancer metastasis: exploring regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets
AbstractMetastasis is a major contributor to treatment failure and death in urological cancers, representing an important biomedical challenge at present. Metastases form as a result of cancer cells leaving the primary site, entering the vasculature and lymphatic vessels, and colonizing clones elsewhere in the body. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms of action underlying the metastatic process of urological cancers remain incompletely elucidated. With the deepening of research, circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to not only play a significant role in tumor progression and prognosis but also show aberrant exp...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - April 1, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Tumor-associated fibrosis: a unique mechanism promoting ovarian cancer metastasis and peritoneal dissemination
AbstractEpithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is often diagnosed in advanced stage with peritoneal dissemination. Recent studies indicate that aberrant accumulation of collagen fibers in tumor stroma has a variety of effects on tumor progression. We refer to remodeled fibrous stroma with altered expression of collagen molecules, increased stiffness, and highly oriented collagen fibers as tumor-associated fibrosis (TAF). TAF contributes to EOC cell invasion and metastasis in the intraperitoneal cavity. However, an understanding of molecular events involved is only just beginning to emerge. Further development in this field will l...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 28, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Glioblastoma stem cell metabolism and immunity
AbstractDespite enormous efforts being invested in the development of novel therapies for brain malignancies, there remains a dire need for effective treatments, particularly for pediatric glioblastomas. Their poor prognosis has been attributed to the fact that conventional therapies target tumoral cells, but not glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). GSCs are characterized by self-renewal, tumorigenicity, poor differentiation, and resistance to therapy. These characteristics represent the fundamental tools needed to recapitulate the tumor and result in a relapse. The mechanisms by which GSCs alter metabolic cues and escape elimi...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 26, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
OX40/OX40 ligand and its role in precision immune oncology
AbstractImmune checkpoint inhibitors have changed the treatment landscape for various malignancies; however, their benefit is limited to a subset of patients. The immune machinery includes both mediators of suppression/immune evasion, such as PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, and LAG-3, all of which can be inhibited by specific antibodies, and immune-stimulatory molecules, such as T-cell co-stimulatory receptors that belong to the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFRSF), including OX40 receptor (CD134; TNFRSF4), 4-1BB (CD137; TNFRSF9), and glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related (GITR) protein (CD357; TNFRSF18). In particular, ...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 25, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Dynamic interplay of nuclear receptors in tumor cell plasticity and drug resistance: Shifting gears in malignant transformations and applications in cancer therapeutics
AbstractRecent advances have brought forth the complex interplay between tumor cell plasticity and its consequential impact on drug resistance and tumor recurrence, both of which are critical determinants of neoplastic progression and therapeutic efficacy. Various forms of tumor cell plasticity, instrumental in facilitating neoplastic cells to develop drug resistance, include epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) alternatively termed epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity, the acquisition of cancer stem cell (CSC) attributes, and transdifferentiation into diverse cell lineages. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a superfamily of tra...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 22, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Deciphering cellular and molecular mechanism of MUC13 mucin involved in cancer cell plasticity and drug resistance
AbstractThere has been a surge of interest in recent years in understanding the intricate mechanisms underlying cancer progression and treatment resistance. One molecule that has recently emerged in these mechanisms is MUC13 mucin, a transmembrane glycoprotein. Researchers have begun to unravel the molecular complexity of MUC13 and its impact on cancer biology. Studies have shown that MUC13 overexpression can disrupt normal cellular polarity, leading to the acquisition of malignant traits. Furthermore, MUC13 has been associated with increased cancer plasticity, allowing cells to undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (E...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 18, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The fibro-adipogenic progenitor APOD+DCN+LUM+ cell population in aggressive carcinomas
AbstractWe identified a progenitor cell population highly enriched in samples from invasive and chemo-resistant carcinomas, characterized by a well-defined multigene signature including APOD, DCN, and LUM. This cell population has previously been labeled as consisting of inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs). The same signature characterizes naturally occurring fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) as well as stromal cells abundant in normal adipose tissue. Our analysis of human gene expression databases provides evidence that adipose stromal cells (ASCs) are recruited by tumors and undergo differentiation into ...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 11, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
TFCP2 as a therapeutic nexus: unveiling molecular signatures in cancer
This study aims to elucidate the multifaceted effects of TFCP2 regulation, through a comprehensive integration of the existing knowledge in cancer therapeutics. Furthermore, the clinical relevance and the inherent challenges encountered in investigating its intricate role in cancer pathogenesis have been discussed in this review.Graphical Abstract (Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews)
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 7, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Preface
(Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews)
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 6, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Lipid metabolism and its implications in tumor cell plasticity and drug resistance: what we learned thus far?
AbstractMetabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer, allows cancer cells to adapt to their specific energy needs. The Warburg effect benefits cancer cells in both hypoxic and normoxic conditions and is a well-studied reprogramming of metabolism in cancer. Interestingly, the alteration of other metabolic pathways, especially lipid metabo lism has also grabbed the attention of scientists worldwide. Lipids, primarily consisting of fatty acids, phospholipids and cholesterol, play essential roles as structural component of cell membrane, signalling molecule and energy reserves. This reprogramming primarily involves aberr...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - March 5, 2024 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
