ANTICANCER RESEARCH

Comprehensive Clinicopathological and Immunohistochemical Analysis of Human Papillomavirus-independent Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix
Na JM and Kim HS
Human papillomavirus-independent (HPVI) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the uterine cervix are extremely rare. The aim of this study was to comprehensively describe the clinicopathological features, patient outcomes, and immunophenotypes of HPVI SCC and ASC.
Preoperative Tumor Growth Rate Does Not Predict Overall or Progression-free Survival in Patients With Glioblastoma
Leppert J, Ditz C, Matschke J, Matone MV, Kuppler P, Hillbricht C, Krenzlin H, Keric N, Schacht H, Ziemann C, Groh EM, Liubich L, Zemskova O, Rades D and Löser A
Presurgical tumor volume progression in glioblastoma (GBM) may be a predictor of survival. This study aims to evaluate the potential impact of preoperative tumor growth and other clinical as well as laboratory parameters on overall survival (OS) of GBM patients.
Single-agent Adavosertib Shows Anticancer Effects Against Colorectal Cancer Cells
Nguyen MLT, Pham C, Nguyen TS, Nham PLT, DO QC, Tran PL, Nguyen AV, Nguyen NN, LE DL, Tran ATT, Nguyen TL, Bozko P, Nguyen LT and Bui KC
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Adavosertib (AZD1775), a small molecule inhibitor of WEE1 kinase, abrogates G/M cell cycle arrest and induces double-stranded DNA breaks. According to previous findings, adavosertib, in combination with other DNA-damaging agents, causes premature mitosis and cell death in p53-mutated cancer cells mainly via abrogation of the G/M cell cycle checkpoint. This study aims to evaluate the inhibition of WEE1 kinase by adavosertib as monotherapy in the TP53-wildtype human CRC cell line HCT116.
Chemokine Profile Is Different in Normal Testis Compared to Seminoma - Especially in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Händelin JM, Teppo HR, Haapasaari KM, Ollikainen RK, Kemppainen J, Kuitunen H, Kuittinen O and Kuusisto MEL
Testicular cancers, particularly seminomas and non-seminomas, generally have a favorable prognosis, although a small subset of patients experience mortality. Current knowledge of clinical markers associated with relapse and poor prognosis in seminoma is limited. Chemokines, key proteins in the tumor microenvironment, are underexplored in seminoma prognosis. Additionally, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which play a critical role in cancer prognosis, require further investigation in the context of seminoma.
Cytotoxic and Radiosensitizing Effects of European and African Propolis in 3D Lung Carcinoma Cell Cultures
Vehlow A, Lange I, Lagies S, Kammerer B, Pfeifer M and Cordes N
Natural compounds such as propolis have gained wide popularity in the last decades. While its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties are well known, the anticancer properties of propolis are just beginning to be appreciated. Herein, we comparatively investigate the cytotoxic and radiosensitizing potential of four different ethanolic propolis extracts originating from three different countries (Germany, Ireland, South Africa) in human lung cancer cell models.
Metabolomic Profiling of Large Extracellular Vesicles in Patients Suffering from Small Cell Lung Cancer
Naser S, Schulz M, Schuchart S, VON Hammerstein-Equord A and Büntzel J
Large extracellular vesicles (lEV) offer a unique window into the metabolism of their cells of orign and dysregulation of lipid metabolism has been described in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Therefore, metabolomic profiling of patients' lEVs may offer insight into cancer metabolism as well as new potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression.
Immunoliposomes for Neuroblastoma: Review of the Past Experience and Design of a Novel Nanoparticle
Panosyan WS and Panosyan DE
High-risk/refractory neuro-blastoma (NBL) treatments include anti-GD2-monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Several immunoliposomes (ILs) covered with anti-GD2-mAbs (GD2-ILs) have been tested pre-clinically. We aimed to review literature on GD2-IL for characteristics of nanoparticles/payloads, conjugation of mAb/fragments and preclinical data, as well as to explore the feasibility of a recently proposed GD2-IL loaded with the antimetabolite oxamate.
Contributions of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Genotypes to the Risk of Metastasis in Gastric Cancer
Fu CK, Lee HT, Chen JC, Yang MD, Cheng HC, Mong MC, Tsai CW, Chang WS, Hung YC and Bau DT
In gastric cancer (GCa) tissues, the mRNA and protein levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) are significantly elevated compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Moreover, the abnormal up-regulation of TIMP-1 has been associated with a poor prognosis. However, the role of TIMP-1 genotypes in susceptibility to GCa has seldom been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of TIMP-1 genotypes on GCa susceptibility and their potential interactions with clinico-pathological factors, including age, sex, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and metastasis status.
Clinical and Oncological Impact of a Protective Ileostomy in Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Zadoroznyj A, Karam E, Michot N, Thiery J, Lecomte T, Moussata D, Chapet S, Calais G, Salame E, Pabst-Giger U and Ouaissi M
During low anterior rectal resection for rectal cancer, a protective ileostomy (PI) is routinely created to reduce the severity of anastomotic complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the side-effects of PI during adjuvant chemotherapy.
Interplay Between Western Diet and Mammary Cancer: Data from a Chemically-induced Model in Wistar Rats
Silva J, Azevedo T, Aires I, Peixoto F, Neuparth MJ, Queiroga FL, Seixas F, Ferreira R, Faustino-Rocha AI, Duarte JA and Oliveira PA
This study aimed to investigate the influence of Western diet on mammary cancer in Wistar female rats, focusing on systemic responses and tumor development.
Differential Effects of Punicic Acid on Cytotoxicity and Peroxiredoxin Expression in MCF-7 Breast Cancer and MCF-10A Normal Cells
Quitmeyer B, Emelife C, Klausner H, Gbayisomore O and Phelan S
The pomegranate fruit has been associated with a variety of human health benefits based on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Punicic acid (PA) is an omega-5 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid that constitutes approximately 65-80% of the oil from pomegranate seeds and has been found to possesses anti-cancer activity in various cancer types. To better understand its cell specificity, we investigated the effects of punicic acid on both the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line as well as the non-cancerous MCF-10A breast epithelial line.
PAR1 Is a Candidate Target for the Treatment of Peritoneal Dissemination in Gastric Cancer
Fujimoto D and Kobayashi H
Peritoneal dissemination (PD) is a frequent cause of death in gastric cancer (GC), and there is evidence of an association between protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) and the development of PD. This study hypothesized that PD in GC might be influenced by PAR1.
Accuracy of Preoperative Magnet Resonance Imaging to Predict Pathologic T-Stage in Patients With Cervical Cancer
Lenz C, Gesemann L, Al-Baldawi Y, Püsken M, Wingels A, Mallmann P, Amir-Karibian C, Jeschke JK, Adams J, Morgenstern B and Thangarajah F
The trend in today's surgical gynecological oncology is to provide equal oncological safety with less radical surgery. The SHAPE trial demonstrated the non-inferiority of a simple hysterectomy compared to a radical hysterectomy in low-risk cervical cancer. As a result, the accuracy of preoperative diagnostics has become increasingly important to avoid both under- and overtreatment. The aim of the study was to investigate the accuracy of MRI-based T-stage.
Association Between -24C>T and Nab-Paclitaxel-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Japanese Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Nakayama H, Ishida H, Iidaka M, Kato S, Nakatani K, Nakayama A, Noguchi T, Nishihara S, Oikawa S, Usami T, Mitsui Y, Ishii YU, Toshima H, Kobayashi K, Murase R, Matsumoto N, Suzuki K, Shimada K, Yoshida H and Fujita KI
Nab-paclitaxel is used to treat patients with pancreatic cancer. However, it frequently induces peripheral neuropathy. Notably, pharmacokinetic factors may be associated with neuropathic symptoms as the onset depends on the cumulative dose. Therefore, we prospectively examined the association between the cumulative dose of nab-paclitaxel at the onset of peripheral neuropathy and polymorphisms of hepatic transporter genes.
Compound #41 Targets Acute Myelogenous Leukemia by Inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway
Hadate Y, Hattori Y, Toda Y, Hosogi S, Okada S, Hayashi Y and Ashihara E
Aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Thus, targeting this pathway offers a promising therapeutic strategy against AML. Here, we synthesized a novel dipeptide-type inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, compound #41, and explored its anti-tumor effects on AML cells.
Biomarker Study for Selecting Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Regimens Based on Prognostic Prediction Using Gastric Cancer Biopsy Specimens from a Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial
Oshima T, Yoshikawa T, Miyagi Y, Morita S, Yamamoto M, Tanabe K, Nishikawa K, Ito Y, Matsui T, Kimura Y, Aoyama T, Ogata T, Cho H, Tsuburaya A and Sakamoto J
The randomized phase II COMPASS trial revealed that neither the regimen nor the number of courses of preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) significantly influence overall survival (OS). However, the impact of NAC regimens on OS may vary from patient to patient. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers that can predict more appropriate individualized NAC regimens for improved prognosis using biopsy specimens from the COMPASS trial.
Comparison of the Predictive and Prognostic Capacities of Neutrophil, Lymphocyte and Platelet Counts and Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes in Triple-negative Breast Cancer: Preliminary Results of the PERCEPTION Study
Giro A, Passildas-Jahanmohan J, Kossai M, Bidet Y, Molnar I, Bernadach M, Penault-Llorca F, Abrial C, Durando X and Radosevic-Robin N
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most heterogeneous breast cancer subtype, posing numerous challenges in clinical decision-making. Biomarkers are essential to personalize management of TNBC patients. While tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are validated prognostic biomarkers, the requirement for tumor biopsy limits their routine use. Therefore, more accessible and reliable quantitative biomarkers are needed. Given the significant role of systemic inflammatory response in tumor onset and progression, assessing inflammatory cells via liquid biopsies emerges as a promising alternative.
Potential Transcriptomic Biomarkers for Predicting Platinum-based Chemotherapy Resistance in Patients With High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
Cocchi S, Lopacinska-Jørgensen J and Høgdall EV
Due to the absence of screening protocols, high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients are frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, which significantly reduces the survival rate. Moreover, relapse occurs in approximately 70% of HGSOC patients after primary treatment. Predicting resistance to primary chemotherapy remains a challenge. In the research setting, transcriptomic analyses have emerged as powerful tools for predicting which HGSOC patients are likely to benefit from primary treatment. The aim of this review was to investigate the literature demonstrating the potential of transcriptomic signatures as biomarkers for assessing the risk of resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Long-term Responders to Nanoparticle Albumin-bound Paclitaxel Following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Nakashima K, Umeda Y, Demura Y, Yamaoka K, Sonoda T, Tada T, Waseda Y and Ishizuka T
The efficacy of cytotoxic chemo-therapy has been reported to improve after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) administration. We previously conducted a multicenter prospective clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) after ICI treatment. In that study, some patients showed a long-term response to nab-PTX, which is not usually observed with single-agent chemotherapy. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of these patients.
CD47 and Calreticulin Expression in Breast Cancer Subtypes and Anti-CD47 Inhibitory Effects in Macrophage-mediated Phagocytosis
Chantaraamporn J, Pothipan P, Sakulterdkiat T, Khiankaew B, Lumkul L, Mutapat P, Phetchahwang P, Svasti J and Champattanachai V
Macrophage-mediated cancer immune evasion is modulated by the balance between "the cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47), an anti-phagocytic signal" and "calreticulin (CALR), a pro-phagocytic signal". CD47 is highly expressed in various types of cancer. However, the expression profiles of CD47 and CALR in breast cancer, especially in different hormone receptor subtypes, and the effects of CD47 blockade in macrophage-mediated therapy are not well understood.
A Prospective Observational Study Analyzing the Diversity and Specific Composition of the Oral and Gut Microbiota in Lung Cancer Patients
Shoji F, Minemura A, Kozuma Y, Nouno T, Takeoka H, Matsumoto A, Okamoto M, Yamaguchi M, Yamazaki K and Maehara Y
Host microbiota dysbiosis has been recognized as a key factor in lung cancer. However, the specific diversity and composition of microbiota in lung cancer patients remain unknown. This single-center prospective observational study analyzed both saliva and fecal samples from 74 participants [lung cancer (LC) patients: n=53; lung inflammation (LI) patients: n=11; healthy control (HC): n=10].