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1.
Aptamer-based biosensors and application in tumor theranostics.
Mo, T, Liu, X, Luo, Y, Zhong, L, Zhang, Z, Li, T, Gan, L, Liu, X, Li, L, Wang, H, et al
Cancer science. 2022;(1):7-16
Abstract
An aptamer is a short oligonucleotide chain that can specifically recognize targeting analytes. Due to its high specificity, low cost, and good biocompatibility, aptamers as the targeting elements of biosensors have been applied widely in non-invasive tumor imaging and treatment in situ to replace traditional methods. In this review, we will summarize recent advances in using aptamer-based biosensors in tumor diagnosis. After a brief introduction of the advantage of aptamers compared with enzyme sensors and immune sensors, the different sensing designs and mechanisms based on 3 signal transduction modes will be reviewed to cover different kinds of analytical methods, including: electrochemistry analysis, colorimetry analysis, and fluorescence analysis. Finally, the prospective advantages of aptamer-based biosensors in tumor theranostics and post-treatment monitoring are also evaluated in this review.
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Inflammation-Related Biomarkers for the Prediction of Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer Patients.
Yamamoto, T, Kawada, K, Obama, K
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(15)
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths around the world. It is necessary to identify patients with poor prognosis or with high risk for recurrence so that we can selectively perform intensive treatments such as preoperative and/or postoperative chemotherapy and extended surgery. The clinical usefulness of inflammation-related prognostic biomarkers available from routine blood examination has been reported in many types of cancer, e.g., neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte-C-reactive protein ratio (LCR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), and so on. Moreover, some scoring systems based on circulating blood cell counts and albumin concentration have been also reported to predict cancer patients' prognosis, such as the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), systemic inflammation score (SIS), and prognostic nutritional index (PNI). The optimal biomarker and optimal cutoff value of the markers can be different depending on the cancer type. In this review, we summarize the prognostic impact of each inflammation-related marker in CRC.
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Orphan nuclear receptors as regulators of intratumoral androgen biosynthesis in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Zhou, J, Wang, Y, Wu, D, Wang, S, Chen, Z, Xiang, S, Chan, FL
Oncogene. 2021;(15):2625-2634
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Abstract
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) almost invariably occurs after androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) for the advanced metastatic disease. It is generally believed that among multiple mechanisms and signaling pathways, CRPC is significantly driven by the reactivation of androgen receptor (AR) signaling in ADT-treated patients with castrate levels of androgen, partially at least mediated by the androgen biosynthesis within the tumor, also known as intratumoral or intraprostatic androgen biosynthesis. Steroidogenic enzymes, such as CYP11A1, CYP17A1, HSD3B1, AKR1C3 and SRD5A, are essential to catalyze the conversion of the initial substrate cholesterol into potent androgens that confers the CRPC progression. Accumulating evidences indicate that many steroidogenic enzymes are upregulated in the progression setting; however, little is known about the dysregulation of these enzymes in CRPC. Orphan nuclear receptors (ONRs) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, of which endogenous physiological ligands are unknown and which are constitutively active independent of any physiological ligands. Studies have validated that besides AR, ONRs could be the potential therapeutic targets for prostate cancer, particularly the lethal CRPC progression. Early studies reveal that ONRs play crucial roles in the transcriptional regulation of steroidogenic enzyme genes. Notably, we and others show that three distinct ONRs, including liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1, NR5A2), steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, AD4BP, NR5A1) and estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα, NR3B1), can contribute to the CRPC progression by promotion of the intratumoral androgen synthesis via their direct transcriptional regulation on multiple steroidogenic enzymes. This review presents an overview of the current understanding on the intratumoral androgen biosynthesis in CRPC, with a special focus on the emerging roles of ONRs in this process.
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Vitamins as Possible Cancer Biomarkers: Significance and Limitations.
Venturelli, S, Leischner, C, Helling, T, Burkard, M, Marongiu, L
Nutrients. 2021;(11)
Abstract
The Western-style diet, which is common in developed countries and spreading into developing countries, is unbalanced in many respects. For instance, micronutrients (vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and K plus iron, zinc, selenium, and iodine) are generally depleted in Western food (causing what is known as 'hidden hunger'), whereas some others (such as phosphorus) are added beyond the daily allowance. This imbalance in micronutrients can induce cellular damage that can increase the risk of cancer. Interestingly, there is a large body of evidence suggesting a strong correlation between vitamin intake as well as vitamin blood concentrations with the occurrence of certain types of cancer. The direction of association between the concentration of a given vitamin and cancer risk is tumor specific. The present review summarized the literature regarding vitamins and cancer risk to assess whether these could be used as diagnostic or prognostic markers, thus confirming their potential as biomarkers. Despite many studies that highlight the importance of monitoring vitamin blood or tissue concentrations in cancer patients and demonstrate the link between vitamin intake and cancer risk, there is still an urgent need for more data to assess the effectiveness of vitamins as biomarkers in the context of cancer. Therefore, this review aims to provide a solid basis to support further studies on this promising topic.
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Regulation of autophagy by microRNAs in human breast cancer.
Chong, ZX, Yeap, SK, Ho, WY
Journal of biomedical science. 2021;(1):21
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Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common solid cancer that affects female population globally. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that can regulate post-transcriptional modification of multiple downstream genes. Autophagy is a conserved cellular catabolic activity that aims to provide nutrients and degrade un-usable macromolecules in mammalian cells. A number of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies have reported that some miRNAs could modulate autophagy activity in human breast cancer cells, and these would influence human breast cancer progression and treatment response. Therefore, this review was aimed to discuss the roles of autophagy-regulating miRNAs in influencing breast cancer development and treatment response. The review would first introduce autophagy types and process, followed by the discussion of the roles of different miRNAs in modulating autophagy in human breast cancer, and to explore how would this miRNA-autophagy regulatory process affect the disease progression or treatment response. Lastly, the potential applications and challenges of utilizing autophagy-regulating miRNAs as breast cancer biomarkers and novel therapeutic agents would be discussed.
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New insights into exosome mediated tumor-immune escape: Clinical perspectives and therapeutic strategies.
Pathania, AS, Prathipati, P, Challagundla, KB
Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer. 2021;(2):188624
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Abstract
Recent advances in extracellular vesicle biology have uncovered a substantial role in maintaining cell homeostasis in health and disease conditions by mediating intercellular communication, thus catching the scientific community's attention worldwide. Extracellular microvesicles, some called exosomes, functionally transfer biomolecules such as proteins and non-coding RNAs from one cell to another, influencing the local environment's biology. Although numerous advancements have been made in treating cancer patients with immune therapy, controlling the disease remains a challenge in the clinic due to tumor-driven interference with the immune response and inability of immune cells to clear cancer cells from the body. The present review article discusses the recent findings and knowledge gaps related to the role of exosomes derived from tumors and the tumor microenvironment cells in tumor escape from immunosurveillance. Further, we highlight examples where exosomal non-coding RNAs influence immune cells' response within the tumor microenvironment and favor tumor growth and progression. Therefore, exosomes can be used as a therapeutic target for the treatment of human cancers.
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A comprehensive review on oncogenic miRNAs in breast cancer.
Maryam, M, Naemi, M, Hasani, SS
Journal of genetics. 2021
Abstract
A growing body of evidence demonstrates that the oncogenic miRNAs are critical components that are involved in breast cancer (BC) progression. Thus, they are attracting a great deal of consideration as they provide opportunities for the novel avenues for developing BC targeted therapy. In the current review, we try to discuss the key oncogenic miRNAs implicated in cell migration, invasion and metastasis (e.g., miR-9, miR-10b, miR-10b-5p, miR-17/9, miR-21, miR-103/107, miR-181b-1, miR-301, miR-301a, miR-373, miR- 489, miR-495 and miR-520c), apoptosis inhibition (e.g., miR-21, miR-155, miR-181, miR-182 and miR-221/222), cell proliferation (e.g., miR-221/222, miR-17/92, miR-21, miR-301a, miR-155, miR-181 b, miR-182, miR-214, miR-20b, miR-29a, miR-196, miR-199a-3p, miR- 210, miR-301a, miR-375, miR-378-3p and miR-489), and angiogenesis (e.g., miR-9, miR-17/92 cluster, miR-93 and miR-210). In particular, here, we considered miRNA-based therapeutic approaches to summarize the evidence for their potential therapeutic uses in clinical practice. Therefore, miRNA mimics (i.e., replacement and restoration of miRNAs) and inhibition therapy (e.g., anti-miRNA oligonucleotides (AMO), antagomiRs or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs): cholesterol-conjugated anti-miRs and locked nucleic acid (LNA)), miRNA sponges, nanoparticles (NPs), multiple-target anti-mirna antisense oligonucleotide technology (MTg-AMOs), and artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs) have been indicated throughout the article as much as possible.
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Research on esophageal cancer: With personal perspectives from studies in China and Kenya.
Yang, CS, Chen, XL
International journal of cancer. 2021;(2):264-276
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Abstract
The most common form of esophageal cancer (EC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), is prevalent in many unindustrialized societies, among people with lower socioeconomic status and those who frequently use tobacco and alcohol. In some areas, ESCC mortality ranked top among all cancer. In this review, we begin with discussions of the extensive research on EC in Linxian in northern China that started 60 years ago and the recent studies in Kenya from our personal perspectives. Based on the results obtained from these studies and information from the literature, we summarize our current understanding about the risk factors for ESCC including lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, consumption of food and beverages at high temperature and other unhealthy habits), poor diet and nutritional insufficiencies and genetic susceptibility. Elimination or minimization of these environmental risk factors, as well as early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions, would be effective means for the prevention of ESCC. Current knowledge of molecular alterations in ESCC (gene mutations, hypermethylation and amplification or overexpression), as well as treatment of ESCC and the potential of targeted therapy, are also discussed. Finally, we propose effective approaches for the prevention of ESCC by adapting a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet that would also prevent other diseases. Community outreach, public education and international collaboration are important for achieving this public health goal.
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Significance of 5-S-Cysteinyldopa as a Marker for Melanoma.
Wakamatsu, K, Fukushima, S, Minagawa, A, Omodaka, T, Hida, T, Hatta, N, Takata, M, Uhara, H, Okuyama, R, Ihn, H
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(2)
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most lethal and malignant cancers and its incidence is increasing worldwide, and Japan is not an exception. Although there are numerous therapeutic options for melanoma, the prognosis is still poor once it has metastasized. The main concern after removal of a primary melanoma is whether it has metastasized, and early detection of metastatic melanoma would be effective in improving the prognosis of patients. Thus, it is very important to identify reliable methods to detect metastases as early as possible. Although many prognostic biomarkers (mainly for metastases) of melanoma have been reported, there are very few effective for an early diagnosis. Serum and urinary biomarkers for melanoma diagnosis have especially received great interest because of the relative ease of sample collection and handling. Several serum and urinary biomarkers appear to have significant potential both as prognostic indicators and as targets for future therapeutic methods, but still there are no efficient serum and urinary biomarkers for early detection, accurate diagnosis and prognosis, efficient monitoring of the disease and reliable prediction of survival and recurrence. Levels of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5SCD) in the serum or urine as biomarkers of melanoma have been found to be significantly elevated earlier and to reflect melanoma progression better than physical examinations, laboratory tests and imaging techniques, such as scintigraphy and echography. With recent developments in the treatment of melanoma, studies reporting combinations of 5SCD levels and new applications for the treatment of melanoma are gradually increasing. This review summarizes the usefulness of 5SCD, the most widely used and well-known melanoma marker in the serum and urine, compares 5SCD and other useful markers, and finally its application to other fields.
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NAA10 as a New Prognostic Marker for Cancer Progression.
Kim, SM, Ha, E, Kim, J, Cho, C, Shin, SJ, Seo, JH
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(21)
Abstract
N-α-acetyltransferase 10 (NAA10) is an acetyltransferase that acetylates both N-terminal amino acid and internal lysine residues of proteins. NAA10 is a crucial player to regulate cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptosis, and autophagy. Recently, mounting evidence presented the overexpression of NAA10 in various types of cancer, including liver, bone, lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancers, and demonstrated a correlation of overexpressed NAA10 with vascular invasion and metastasis, thereby affecting overall survival rates of cancer patients and recurrence of diseases. This evidence all points NAA10 toward a promising biomarker for cancer prognosis. Here we summarize the current knowledge regarding the biological functions of NAA10 in cancer progression and provide the potential usage of NAA10 as a prognostic marker for cancer progression.