Background and Purpose: Thyroid cancer is a significant global health concern, and autoimmune thyroiditis, including Hashimoto's thyroiditis and chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, has been suggested as a potential risk factor. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid carcinoma in the Indian population. Methods: A systematic search yielded 53 studies, of which six were included. Statistical analysis assessed the correlation between autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid carcinoma. Results: The analysis reveals a significant association between autoimmune thyroiditis and thyroid carcinoma in the Indian population, primarily driven by Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Conclusion: This study underscores the relevance of autoimmune thyroiditis as a potential risk factor for thyroid carcinoma in India. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Background: Loco-regional drug delivery for cancer treatment has emerged as a promising approach to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Various strategies have been developed, including localized drug delivery systems and targeted delivery methods, to improve drug distribution and retention at tumor sites. Despite significant progress, several challenges persist, necessitating further exploration and innovation. Objective: This review aims to provide insights into the recent advances and challenges in loco-regional drug delivery for cancer therapy and identify future translational opportunities in this field. Materials and Methods: A literature search was conducted on loco-regional drug delivery systems for cancer treatment, identifying advancements in nanoparticle-based formulations, hydrogels, implants, and image-guided delivery techniques. Challenges include drug resistance, limited tumor tissue penetration, and tumor microenvironment complexity. Conclusion: Loco-regional drug delivery has the potential to transform cancer therapy by allowing for precision targeting, combining therapeutic modalities, using nanotechnology, and utilising modern imaging tools. Discussion: Collaboration among academics, physicians, and industry stakeholders is critical for expediting the clinical translation of innovative drug delivery platforms, which have the potential to drastically improve malignancy patient outcomes as well as enable personalised treatment methods.

Background: The expression of PD-1 has been linked to prognosis and response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in solid tumors, but less is known about their role in pediatric blood cancers. Therefore, we aimed to study the levels of PD-1 mRNA in children with leukemia and explore how they relate to clinical factors. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 15 children with leukemia and 11 healthy individuals. PD-1 mRNA expression was analyzed using real time PCR. Results: PD-1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in childhood leukemia patients (average DCT: 12.3±2.5) compared to healthy individuals (average DCT: 10.3±0.5) (p=0.011). PD-1 mRNA expression did not correlate with gender, age, diagnosis, remission status, down syndrome, hyperleukocytosis, infection, and outcome. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that mRNA expression of PD-1 was reduced in children with leukemia compared to healthy individuals and was not associated with all analyzed clinical factors. These results provide early insights into PD-1 expression in Indonesian pediatric leukemia patients.

Introduction: Breast cancer (BC) is a serious health concern. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a crucial therapy for managing BC, but further research is needed to identify biomarkers that can help to predict the efficacy of this therapy. The presence and functional activity of tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) are capable of serving as predictive biomarkers for therapeutic outcomes. Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is linked to high tumor stage and low histological grade, indicating a more aggressive disease profile. This study analyzed the relationship between TAN expression and NLR with clinical response to NAC in locally advanced BC (LABC). Methods: This was a cohort study of 41 patients with BC. TAN expression was examined using immunohistochemistry, NLR was obtained from routine blood tests, and chemotherapy response was assessed using the RECIST method. The relationship between TAN expression and NLR with chemotherapy response in LABC was tested using chi-square tests. Results: High and low TAN expression was observed in 80.5% and 19.5% of patients, respectively. For NLR before chemotherapy, 48.8% and 51.2% of patients exhibited a high and low NLR, respectively; after chemotherapy, 51.2% and 48.8% of patients exhibited a high and low NLR, respectively. Moreover, 90.2% patients responded to NAC. A significant relationship was observed between TAN expression and chemotherapy response in BC, with a moderately strong negative correlation. Conclusion: TAN expression is an important potential predictor of chemotherapy response in LABC. By identifying biomarkers like TAN, clinicians may be better able to customize treatment plans and enhance outcomes for patients with LABC.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains challenging to treat effectively with conventional chemotherapy, leading researchers to explore synergistic combinations to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Combining curcumin with platinum-based drugs, such as cisplatin and carboplatin, has demonstrated potential in enhancing cytotoxic effects. However, limited studies have explored these combinations’ efficacy and sustained release profile in liposomal form specifically for oral cancer. This study investigates the enhanced cytotoxic effects of cisplatin-curcumin and carboplatin-curcumin nanoliposome formulations on CAL 27 oral cancer cells. Methods and Materials: Nanoliposomes encapsulating cisplatin or carboplatin with curcumin were formulated and characterized by particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) to ensure optimized delivery properties. Particle sizes of the cisplatin and carboplatin nanoliposomes ranged from 175 to 187 nm, with a zeta potential greater than -30 mV, indicating good stability, and PDI values less than 0.48, suggesting uniform particle size distribution. In vitro cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay at 24, 48, and 96 hours across different curcumin concentrations. Results: Cisplatin-curcumin and carboplatin-curcumin nanoliposome formulations demonstrated significantly increased cytotoxicity in CAL 27 cells compared to control groups. Drug release studies indicated a sustained release profile, with approximately 22% of cisplatin and 28% of carboplatin released over 52 hours, which may prolong therapeutic effects by maintaining drug availability within the cancer cells. Conclusion: The findings suggest that cisplatin-curcumin and carboplatin-curcumin nanoliposomal formulations enhance the cytotoxic effects of these chemotherapeutic agents while providing a stable, sustained release profile.

Overview: Oral cancer remains a significant health challenge due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. This study investigates the use of niosome nanoparticles to deliver a combination of curcumin and cisplatin, a natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent and a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, respectively. Methods: Niosome nanoparticles were formulated and optimized for encapsulation efficiency and stability. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized, including particle size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI). In vitro cytotoxicity assays were conducted using oral cancer cell lines to evaluate the efficacy of the combined treatment. Results: The niosome formulations with a mean particle size of approximately 150 nm, a favorable zeta potential of 24.6 ± 3.2 mV, and a low PDI of 0.23 ± 0.05. The release profile showed a controlled and sustained release of both curcumin and cisplatin over 48 hours, with a cumulative release of 51% for curcumin and 48% for cisplatin. In vitro studies revealed that the combined treatment significantly reduced cell viability compared to individual treatments, with a synergistic effect observed at specific concentrations. Conclusion: The findings suggest that niosome nanoparticles can effectively deliver a combination of curcumin and cisplatin, enhancing the therapeutic potential against oral cancer. This innovative approach may pave the way for more effective treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes in oral cancer therapy

Overview: The targeted administration of anticancer therapies, particularly through folate receptor (FR)-mediated targeting, enhances treatment effectiveness while minimizing side effects. This study assesses the therapeutic potential of folate-targeted liposomal bleomycin (FL-BLM) against traditional forms in treating human ovarian carcinoma and oral cancer. Methods: FL-BLM was created using the thin film hydration technique with folic acid integration for active targeting. Its efficacy was compared to non-targeted liposomal bleomycin (L-BLM) and traditional bleomycin (BLM) using the MTT assay and flow cytometry to measure G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Results: FL-BLM demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness in reducing cell viability and inducing G2/M phase arrest in oral cancer cells (HN cells, OECM-1) and ovarian cancer cells (A2780CP) compared to L-BLM and BLM, indicating successful folate-mediated targeting. Conclusions: FL-BLM effectively targets and inhibits FR-overexpressing cancer cells, particularly in both cancers. This supports the potential of folate-mediated targeting in liposomal drug delivery systems for improving drug delivery and reducing toxicity. Future research should further explore FR-targeted therapies across various cancer types