A perspective on the metastasis suppressor field
AbstractMetastasis is the leading cause of cancer patient mortality. Metastasis suppressors are genes that, upon reexpression in metastatic tumor cells to levels observed in their nonmetastatic counterparts, significantly reduce metastasis without affecting the growth of the primary tumor. Analysis of> 30 metastasis suppressors revealed complex mechanisms of action that include multiple signaling pathways, transcriptional patterns, posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms, and potential contributions of genomic stability. Clinical testing of strategies to re-establish a validated metastasis su ppressor pathway in tu...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - August 15, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
The strict regulation of HIF-1 α by non-coding RNAs: new insight towards proliferation, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance strategies
AbstractThe hypoxic environment is prominently witnessed in most solid tumors and is associated with the promotion of cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, metabolic reprogramming, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis of tumor cells. All the effects are mediated by the expression of a transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α (HIF-1α). HIF-1α transcriptionally modulates the expression of genes responsible for all the aforementioned functions. The stability of HIF-1α is regulated by many proteins and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). In this article, we have critically discussed th...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - August 8, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Is cancer an intelligent species?
AbstractSome relevant emerging properties of intelligent systems are “adaptation to a changing environment,” “reaction to unexpected situations,” “capacity of problem solving,” and “ability to communicate.” Single cells have remarkable abilities to adapt, make adequate context-dependent decision, take constructive actions, and communicate, thus theore tically meeting all the above-mentioned requirements. From a biological point of view, cancer can be viewed as an invasive species, composed of cells that move from primary to distant sites, being continuously exposed to changes in the environmental conditions...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - August 4, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Metastasis suppressors: a paradigm shift in cancer biology
(Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews)
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - August 3, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Resveratrol as sensitizer in colorectal cancer plasticity
AbstractDespite tremendous medical treatment successes, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Chemotherapy as monotherapy can lead to significant side effects and chemoresistance that can be linked to several resistance-activating biological processes, including an increase in inflammation, cellular plasticity, multidrug resistance (MDR), inhibition of the sentinel gene p53, and apoptosis. As a consequence, tumor cells can escape the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents. This underscores the need for cross-target therapeutic approaches that are not only pharmacologically safe but a...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 29, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Current advances in nanoformulations of therapeutic agents targeting tumor microenvironment to overcome drug resistance
AbstractThe tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in cancer development and progression. In this line, revealing the precise mechanisms of the TME and associated signaling pathways of tumor resistance could pave the road for cancer prevention and efficient treatment. The use of nanomedicine could be a step forward in overcoming the barriers in tumor-targeted therapy. Novel delivery systems benefit from enhanced permeability and retention effect, decreasing tumor resistance, reducing tumor hypoxia, and targeting tumor-associated factors, including immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Emerging eviden...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 28, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Targeting miRNA and using miRNA as potential therapeutic options to bypass resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with poor prognosis due to early metastasis, low diagnostic rates at early stages, and resistance to current therapeutic regimens. Despite numerous studies and clinical trials, the mortality rate for PDAC has shown limited improvement. Therefore, there is a pressing need to attain. a more comprehensive molecular characterization to identify biomarkers enabling early detection and evaluation of treatment response. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are critical regulators of gene expression on the post-transcriptional level, and seem particularly interesting as b...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 25, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Helicobacter pylori –activated fibroblasts as a silent partner in gastric cancer development
AbstractThe discovery ofHelicobacter pylori (Hp) infection of gastric mucosa leading to active chronic gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers, and MALT lymphoma laid the groundwork for understanding of the general relationship between chronic infection, inflammation, and cancer. Nevertheless, this sequence of events is still far from full understanding with new players and mediators being constantly identified. Originally, theHp virulence factors affecting mainly gastric epithelium were proposed to contribute considerably to gastric inflammation, ulceration, and cancer. Furthermore, it has been shown thatHp possesses the ability...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 17, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Molecular profile of metastasis, cell plasticity and EMT in pancreatic cancer: a pre-clinical connection to aggressiveness and drug resistance
AbstractThe metastasis is a multistep process in which a small proportion of cancer cells are detached from the colony to enter into blood cells for obtaining a new place for metastasis and proliferation. The metastasis and cell plasticity are considered major causes of cancer-related deaths since they improve the malignancy of cancer cells and provide poor prognosis for patients. Furthermore, enhancement in the aggressiveness of cancer cells has been related to the development of drug resistance. Metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells has been considered one of the major causes of death in patients and their undesirab...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 15, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
How circulating tumor cluster biology contributes to the metastatic cascade: from invasion to dissemination and dormancy
AbstractCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) are known to be prognostic for metastatic relapse and are detected in patients as solitary cells or cell clusters. Circulating tumor cell clusters (CTC clusters) have been observed clinically for decades and are of significantly higher metastatic potential compared to solitary CTCs. Recent studies suggest distinct differences in CTC cluster biology regarding invasion and survival in circulation. However, differences regarding dissemination, dormancy, and reawakening require more investigations compared to solitary CTCs. Here, we review the current state of CTC cluster research and con...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 13, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
Short-chain fatty acids in cancer pathogenesis
AbstractCancer is a multi-step process that can be viewed as a cellular and immunological shift away from homeostasis in response to selected infectious agents, mutations, diet, and environmental carcinogens. Homeostasis, which contributes importantly to the definition of “health,” is maintained, in part by the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are metabolites of specific gut bacteria. Alteration in the composition of gut bacteria, or dysbiosis, is often a major risk factor for some two dozen tumor types. Dysbiosis is often characterized by dim inished levels of SCFAs in the stool, and the presence o...
Source: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews - July 11, 2023 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research
