Spread Of Cancer Research Articles

Tissue-Resident Memory T Cells in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Prognostic Significance and Therapeutic Implications.

Gastrointestinal cancers, which include a variety of esophageal and colorectal malignancies, present a global health challenge and require effective treatment strategies. In the evolving field of cancer immunotherapy, tissue-resident memory T cells (Trm cells) have emerged as important players in the immune response within nonlymphoid tissues. In this review, we summarize the characteristics and functions of Trm cells and discuss their profound implications for patient outcomes in gastrointestinal cancers. Positioned strategically in peripheral tissues, Trm cells have functions beyond immune surveillance, affecting tumor progression, prognosis, and response to immunotherapy. Studies indicate that Trm cells are prognostic markers and correlate positively with enhanced survival. Their presence in the tumor microenvironment has sparked interest in their therapeutic potential, particularly with respect to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which may improve cancer treatment. Understanding how Trm cells work will not only help to prevent cancer spread through effective treatment but will also contribute to disease prevention at early stages as well as vaccine development. The role of Trm cells goes beyond just cancer, and they have potential applications in infectious and autoimmune diseases. This review provides a thorough analysis of Trm cells in gastrointestinal cancers, which may lead to personalized and effective cancer therapies.

Perspectives in collective cell migration - moving forward.

Collective cell migration, where cells move as a cohesive unit, is a vital process underlying morphogenesis and cancer metastasis. Thanks to recent advances in imaging and modelling, we are beginning to understand the intricate relationship between a cell and its microenvironment and how this shapes cell polarity, metabolism and modes of migration. The use of biophysical and mathematical models offers a fresh perspective on how cells migrate collectively, either flowing in a fluid-like state or transitioning to more static states. Continuing to unite researchers in biology, physics and mathematics will enable us to decode more complex biological behaviours that underly collective cell migration; only then can we understand how this coordinated movement of cells influences the formation and organisation of tissues and directs the spread of metastatic cancer. In this Perspective, we highlight exciting discoveries, emerging themes and common challenges that have arisen in recent years, and possible ways forward to bridge the gaps in our current understanding of collective cell migration.

Anticancer properties of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives (literature review)

Cancer is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Statistical data show that more than 130,000 people in Ukraine receive this diagnosis as a sentence every year. Cancer can affect any organ and eventually the whole body. In most cases, cancer is a tumor affecting epithelial, mucous, muscle, fat, and bone tissues. Also, processes related to malignant formations can occur in the blood and lymph. The main mechanism that triggers the process of formation of neoplasms is a violation of growth and, accordingly, cell division. They begin to grow uncontrollably, multiply, and can also migrate, spreading to nearby tissue structures, and later degenerate into atypical (malignant) ones. Cancer is one of the most life-threatening diseases. Literature data show that more than 90 % of cancer patients die due to chronic metastases. Cancer therapy involves the use of drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer cells by affecting certain molecular structures involved in the growth, progression, and spread of cancer. The diversity of the use of means for cancer therapy, namely, hormone therapy, the use of angiogenesis inhibitors and apoptosis inducers, has provided scientists with various options for finding effective means to fight this disease. Aim. The aim of the work is the analysis and systematization of new data on the anticancer activity of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives and the selection of the most promising directions for further scientific research based on the results of the analysis. Materials and methods. The study employed various methods, including analysis, information search, bibliosemantic analysis, descriptive techniques, and generalization. Research materials primarily comprised literary sources containing information on the promising array of new biologically active compounds, particularly 1,2,4-triazole derivatives, known for their targeted anticancer properties. Results. A literature search was carried out, 1,2,4-triazole derivatives with antitumor activity were analysed, characterized and summarized. Based on the study of available information and conducting an information and patent search, it was established that the market of Ukraine is insufficiently saturated with 1,2,4-triazole-containing drugs with anticancer activity of domestic production. It was determined that the development of new effective drugs based on 1,2,4-triazole and potential drugs with clearly directed anticancer activity requires a systematic approach both in conducting synthetic tests and screening new compounds for further structural optimization of molecules. Conclusions. The analysis of scientific literature in recent years devoted to the study of the anticancer activity of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives convincingly proves the prospect of further research in this direction. Numerous publications indicate the possibility of constant improvement of molecules with regard to the presence of anticancer activity. Domestic and foreign authors have clearly and argumentatively proven the perspective of the scientific direction for the creation of new original drugs to combat various oncopathologies.

Photodynamic theranostics in surgical treatment of patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis

The role and possibilities of photodynamic theranostics, including fluorescence diagnostics and photodynamic therapy, in complex cytoreductive surgical treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis, evaluation of the effectiveness of its use, and analysis of the impact of this approach on the results of surgical intervention were investigated. Available modern domestic and foreign scientific literature were analyzed using PubMed, eLibrary.ru, and Google Scholar. Peritoneal carcinomatosis is characterized by the spread of tumor cells in the peritoneum and can be either a primary form of a tumor, such as pseudomyxoma and mesothelioma, or metastatic spread of cancer, most often of the gastrointestinal tract or gynecological organs. Surgical treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis is crucial in the complex treatment of this category of patients, which determines the importance of further improvement of cytoreductive technologies. The extent of peritoneal dissemination during surgery may be underestimated, since intraoperative diagnosis is based solely on visual inspection and palpation. Thus, the use of phototheranostics — fluorescence diagnostics and photodynamic therapy — is a promising direction that has an antitumor effect and visualizes the peritoneum involved in the oncological process, which is beneficial for determining the required volume of peritonectomy. Currently, they are promising methods in the treatment of tumors of various locations. Both techniques are linked by the principle of theranostics (including diagnosis of the disease and personalized treatment of the patient) and imply the use of specific dyes (photosensitizers) and their ability to be excited under the influence of light of a certain wavelength. The therapeutic and diagnostic potential of phototheranostics in the complex surgical treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis is emphasized; the main problems are described and prospects for the development of this technology are presented based on retrospective and prospective studies and systematic reviews.

Mechanistic computational modeling of monospecific and bispecific antibodies targeting interleukin-6/8 receptors.

The spread of cancer from organ to organ (metastasis) is responsible for the vast majority of cancer deaths; however, most current anti-cancer drugs are designed to arrest or reverse tumor growth without directly addressing disease spread. It was recently discovered that tumor cell-secreted interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) synergize to enhance cancer metastasis in a cell-density dependent manner, and blockade of the IL-6 and IL-8 receptors (IL-6R and IL-8R) with a novel bispecific antibody, BS1, significantly reduced metastatic burden in multiple preclinical mouse models of cancer. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), which combine two different antigen-binding sites into one molecule, are a promising modality for drug development due to their enhanced avidity and dual targeting effects. However, while BsAbs have tremendous therapeutic potential, elucidating the mechanisms underlying their binding and inhibition will be critical for maximizing the efficacy of new BsAb treatments. Here, we describe a quantitative, computational model of the BS1 BsAb, exhibiting how modeling multivalent binding provides key insights into antibody affinity and avidity effects and can guide therapeutic design. We present detailed simulations of the monovalent and bivalent binding interactions between different antibody constructs and the IL-6 and IL-8 receptors to establish how antibody properties and system conditions impact the formation of binary (antibody-receptor) and ternary (receptor-antibody-receptor) complexes. Model results demonstrate how the balance of these complex types drives receptor inhibition, providing important and generalizable predictions for effective therapeutic design.

Metabolic Management of Cancer Disease – A Review

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) define cancer as a disease in which some of the body’s cells are growing uncontrollably and are also spreading to other parts of the body. Cancer disease is a major cause of deaths worldwide and from the World Health Organization (WHO) report, in year 2020 alone, cancer caused about 10 million deaths globally. Also from a WHO report, cancer disease is responsible for 1 out of every 4 to 5 deaths worldwide. Conventionally, the treatment of cancer is based on three major approaches, viz; chemical therapy, surgery and radiation therapy. But, the outcome and prognosis of the conventional treatment of cancer disease is limited in its effectiveness, so there is an urgent need for more research based therapies that can effectively treat and manage cancer disease. With that, the treatment outcome and the survival rate of cancer will likely increase. Meanwhile, the term tumour was originally applied to the swelling caused by inflammation and there are two types of tumours; benign tumours and malignant tumours. Cancer is the common term for malignant tumours and the normal progression of most malignant tumours can be divided into four phases, which are; malignant change in the target cells, growth of the changed cells, local invasion of the surrounding tissues and organs by the changed cells, and distant metastases of the changed cells to other organs. In the clinical diagnosis of cancer disease, systems have been developed to express the level of differentiation of cancer within a patient (grade) and also the extent of spread of cancer within a patient (stage). The staging of cancers is based on the; size of the primary lesion, its extent of spread to regional lymph nodes, and the presence or absence of blood-borne metastases. Two major staging systems are quite common and the first was developed by the America Joint Committee (AJC) on Cancer Staging, while the second was by the Union Internationale Contre Cancer (UICC). The UICC employs a classification called the TNM system. Normal cells use the sophisticated process of respiration for their cellular energy production, but cancer cells use the primitive process of fermentation. However, no cell in its right conditions would ever use fermentation when there is enough oxygen, especially considering that fermentation does not produce as much energy as respiration, and it also creates toxic by-products. So, fermentation is primitive and wasteful. But, surprisingly, cancer cells use fermentation even when there is plenty of oxygen around. That very observation is the basis of the explanation for the Warburg effect, which is considered to be the metabolic signature of most cancer cells. From the meta-analysis research done on cancer at the University of Cambridge, UK, it was concluded that cancer is a mitochondrial disease and one of the effective ways of managing it is through diets. So, it was concluded from the meta-analysis that cancer growth and progression can be managed through a whole body transition from fermentable metabolites made up of basically glutamine and glucose, to respiratory metabolites made up of majorly ketone bodies.

Methods and computational tools to study eukaryotic cell migration in vitro.

Cellular movement is essential for many vital biological functions where it plays a pivotal role both at the single cell level, such as during division or differentiation, and at the macroscopic level within tissues, where coordinated migration is crucial for proper morphogenesis. It also has an impact on various pathological processes, one for all, cancer spreading. Cell migration is a complex phenomenon and diverse experimental methods have been developed aimed at dissecting and analysing its distinct facets independently. In parallel, corresponding analytical procedures and tools have been devised to gain deep insight and interpret experimental results. Here we review established experimental techniques designed to investigate specific aspects of cell migration and present a broad collection of historical as well as cutting-edge computational tools used in quantitative analysis of cell motion.

Diabetes and obesity: the role of stress in the development of cancer.

Diabesity is a condition where an individual has both diabetes and obesity, which can lead to severe complications including cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of mortality. Recently, cancer has become a leading cause of excess hospitalizations, and both diabetes and obesity are associated with a higher risk of developing several types of cancer. In this review, we propose that chronic stress significantly increases this association. Managing diabetes and obesity is challenging as they both cause significant distress. The relationship between stress and cancer is interconnected, with anxiety and depression being common in cancer patients. Cancer diagnosis and treatment can cause lasting changes in the body's neuroendocrine system, with stress causing an excessive release of catecholamines and prostaglandins in patients undergoing cancer surgery, which promotes the spread of cancer to other parts of the body. Furthermore, stress could significantly increase the risk of cancer in patients with diabetes, obesity, or both.

Pre- and post-radical surgery comparative quantification of circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor-associated cells.

e15056 Background: Classical Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) are defined as EPCAM+, PanCK+, CD45-, whereas, Circulating Tumor Associated Cells (CTACs) are defined as EPCAM+, PanCK+, CD45+/-. CTACs comprise a heterogenous mix of tumor-associated cells including classical CTCs, cancer stem cells, circulating micro-emboli, tumor cell fused macrophages and other tumor-educated cells including junction endothelial and stromal cells. These cells play either a causative or synergistic role in the metastatic spread of cancer. Although it has been speculated that CTCs and CTACs would be rapidly cleared once tumor burden diminishes, the effect of radical surgery in cases of solid organ cancers and the change in the quantum of these cells after surgery has not been fully explored. Methods: We obtained 15 ml peripheral blood from 20 patients diagnosed with solid organ cancers comprising head and neck (11/20, 55%), breast (4/20, 20%), and colorectal (5/20, 25%) before and immediately after (within 24 hrs.) radical surgery. Peripheral Blood Mononucleated Cells (PBMCs) were isolated after RBC lysis and CTCs and CTACs were identified and enumerated from the same sample using differential apoptosis based negative enrichment followed by fluorescent imaging. Results: Pre-surgery, CTCs ranged from 12 to 0 cells per ml and 0 to 2 per ml post-surgery. CTACs ranged from 17 to 11057 cells per ml and, post-surgery, from 4 to 2041 cells per ml of blood. After surgery, CTCs were eliminated in 19/20 (95%) specimens, and in 1/20 (5%) specimens, there was a slight increase in the number of CTCs post-surgery. In 16/20 (80%) patients, the CTACs reduced by > 80%; in 2/20 (10%) patients, the CTACs reduced by > 50%-<80% and, in 2/20 (10%) patients, CTACs increased by > 5%. Conclusions: The enumeration of CTCs appears to correlate with the tumor burden pre- and post-surgery. On the other hand, although there appears to be a significant reduction in CTACs, residual cells of this phenotype appear to persist. The clinical correlation of this divergent trajectory of CTCs and CTACs pre- and post-surgery warrants further long-term studies.

Comparison of drug treatment intent in stage IV solid tumors in EU4+UK.

e23323 Background: The goal of cancer treatment may vary based on multiple factors. This study uses real-world data to compare treatment intent, and its evolution over time among patients with solid tumors; whilst we focus on stage IV cohorts, a comparison vs. stage I-III patients is also made, for context. Methods: Ipsos’ Global Oncology Monitor is a multi-stakeholder, physician-reported syndicated patient record database. 3,308 solid tumor-treating physicians (France = 834, Germany = 709, Italy = 578, Spain = 626, UK = 561) were screened for seniority and caseload and submitted data on 329,154 patients (France = 64,985, Germany = 77,709, Italy = 64,507, Spain = 65,427, UK = 56,526). Data were collected online from January 2020 to September 2023. Sample data were projected to the wider clinical population using market sizing extrapolations. Results: Of all solid tumor patients reported, regardless of stage, control cancer spread and/or growth (extend life) is the most common cited goal by sampled physicians when choosing drug therapy for the patient in question (average ~50% reported patients). This is followed by intent of eliminating cancer cells to undetectable levels (curative), while the intent to ease cancer symptoms (palliative) is typically less likely to be selected. Treatment intent at stage I-III showed similar trends, with curative being the most common goal (average ~70% of reported patients). When focusing on Stage IV solid tumors we observe life extension generally emerging as the main intention; a more nuanced analysis reveals similarity between Germany and Spain, where palliative intent is cited more often by sampled physicians compare to other regional counterparts. These differences are shown in Table 1. Little change seen in curative intent from 2020 to 2023 across all regions, except UK, where a downward trend is reflected from Q3 2022 onwards with a concurrent increase in extend life. Conclusions: This study indicates that treating to cure is a common aim for EU4+UK sampled physicians when giving drug therapy to stage I-III solid tumor patients, whilst extending life is the notable goal when considering stage IV patients. Additional analysis of tumor- and region-specific changes over time may help establish any potential influences on drug treatment choice due to factors such as reimbursement and treatment type availability. Further investigation using comparator cohort is warranted. [Table: see text]

How Schwann Cells Are Involved in Brain Metastasis

The current lack of a comprehensive understanding of brain metastasis mechanisms presents a significant gap in cancer research. This review outlines the role that Schwann cells (SCs) have in this process. SCs are already known for their role in myelination and nerve repair within the peripheral nervous system (PNS), but there is less information on their function in facilitating the transport and activation of neoplastic cells to aid in the invasion of the blood–brain barrier and brain. Detailed insights into SCs’ interactions with various cancers, including lung, breast, melanoma, colon, kidney, and pancreatic cancers, reveal how these cells are coerced into repair-like phenotypes to accelerate cancer spread and modulate immune responses. By outlining SCs’ involvement in perineural invasion and BBB modification, this review highlights their functions in facilitating brain metastasis.

Mutational landscape of HSP family on human breast cancer

Breast cancer (BRCA) is a prevalent malignancy with the highest incidence among females. BRCA can be categorized into five intrinsic molecular subtypes (LumA, LumB, HER2, Basal, and Normal), each characterized by varying molecular and clinical features determined by the expression of intrinsic genes (PAM50). The Heat Shock Protein (HSP) family is composed of 95 genes evolutionary conservated, they have critical roles in proteostasis in both normal and cancerous processes. Many studies have linked HSP to the development and spread of cancer. They modulate the activity of multiple proteins expressed by oncogenes and anti-oncogenes through a range of interactions. In this study, we evaluate the mutational changes that HSP undergoes in BRCA mainly from the TCGA database. We observe that Copy Number Variations (CNV) are the more frequent events analyzed surpassing the occurrence of point mutations, indels, and translation start site mutations. The Basal subtype showcased the highest count of amplified CNV, including subtype-specific changes, whereas the Luminals tumors accumulated the greatest number of deletion CNV. Meanwhile, the HER2 subtype exhibited a comparatively lower frequency of CNV alterations when compared to the other subtypes. This study integrates CNV and expression data, finding associations between these two variables and the influence of CNV on the deregulation of HSP expression. To enhance the role of HSP as a risk predictor in BRCA, we succeeded in identifying CNV profiles as a prognostic marker. We included Artificial Intelligence to improve the clustering of patients, and we achieved a molecular CNV signature as a significant risk factor independent of known classic markers, including molecular subtypes PAM50. This research enhances the comprehension of HSP DNA alterations in BRCA and its relation with predicting the risk of affected individuals providing insights to develop guide personalized treatment strategies.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN QUALITY AND SELF-ESTEEM IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

Greater insight into patient's quality of life can help researchers and clinicianstouse quality of life as a measure fortreatment outcomes.Breast cancer is a stressful and causes extremely difficult physical, emotional and social challenges. In addition to concerns about whether breast cancer will metastaize and the impact of treatment side effects on daily life, breast cancer patients are more likely to experience depression than patients with other types of cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other forms of treatment can cause changes in a patient's physical apperance, leading to anxiety, pain, depression, and low self-esteem.Self-esteem is determined by positive or negative feelings as well assatisfaction and confidence in oneself. It also refers to the belief that one is capable of coping with life's challenges and is worthy of happiness. One study found that self-esteem is a key factor in the growth andreturn to normal life in breast cancer patients. Low self-esteem has been found to be strongly associated with depression and other psychological problems.The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer encompasses a critical period in a woman's life duringwhich she suffers from anxiety ofthe cancer spreading to other parts of the body, uncertainty about the future, anxiety and depression, anger, frustration, pain, changes in self-image, fear of losing femininity and changed confidence. Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, pathological differences between this disease and other chronic diseases, changes in self-esteem, the development of negative emotions, the experience of everyday problems at work and in interpersonal relationships, and the development of anxiety can lead to changes in the quality of life of patients with breast cancer.The objectiveof this studyis to explain the connection between the quality of life and self-esteem of breast cancer patients.Keywords: connection, quality of life, self-esteem, cancer, breast

Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels predict early recurrence and prognosis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma after surgical resection

IntroductionDysregulation in lipid metabolism contributes to the occurrence and development of various cancers. The connection between changes in lipid metabolism and the development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma remains uncertain. Our objective was to investigate the significance of blood lipid levels in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who have undergone surgery. MethodsNinety-seven ICC patients who underwent surgery were retrospectively enrolled. After 92.2 months of follow-up, the Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were used to calculate overall survival and recurrence-free survival. ResultsThe median age of this cohort was 56 years, and 79 (81.4 %) of them were male. Eighty-eight (90.7 %) patients presented with tumor recurrence and 73 (75.3 %) died. In multivariate analyses, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (<0.91 vs. ≥ 0.91 mmol/L, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.55; 95 % CI: 1.38–4.71), lymph node metastasis (Yes vs. No, HR = 2.58; 95 % CI: 1.28–5.19), etiology factor (chronic HBV infection vs. others, HR = 0.5; 95 % CI: 0.28–0.88) and multiple tumor lesions (Yes vs. No, HR = 1.85; 95 % CI: 1.01–3.39) were independent predictors of overall survival. However, only high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HR = 1.86; 95 % CI: 1.19–2.92) emerged as the independent factor for recurrence-free survival. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (HR = 2.07; 95 % CI: 1.26–3.41), etiology factor (HR = 0.49; 95 % CI: 0.29–0.84), and multiple tumor lesions (HR = 2.00; 95 % CI: 1.14–3.51) were independent predictors of early recurrence. For patients who did not experience the spread of cancer to the lymph nodes, there was a significant correlation between the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and their overall survival, recurrence-free survival, and early recurrence. For patients with low pre-operation high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, high post-operation high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were associated with better prognosis. ConclusionsLow serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level might serve as a sign of poor clinical outcomes (overall survival and recurrence-free survival) and early recurrence among intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. Strengthening the monitoring and intervention of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients with poor prognosis might be critical for improving the prognosis.

Computational analysis of cancer cell adhesion in curved vessels affected by wall shear stress for prediction of metastatic spreading.

Introduction: The dynamics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) within blood vessels play a pivotal role in predicting metastatic spreading of cancer within the body. However, the limited understanding and method to quantitatively investigate the influence of vascular architecture on CTC dynamics hinders our ability to predict metastatic process effectively. To address this limitation, the present study was conducted to investigate the influence of blood vessel tortuosity on the behaviour of CTCs, focusing specifically on establishing methods and examining the role of shear stress in CTC-vessel wall interactions and its subsequent impact on metastasis. Methods: We computationally simulated CTC behaviour under various shear stress conditions induced by vessel tortuosity. Our computational model, based on the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) and a coarse-grained spectrin-link membrane model, efficiently simulates blood plasma dynamics and CTC deformability. The model incorporates fluid-structure interactions and receptor-ligand interactions crucial for CTC adhesion using the immersed boundary method (IBM). Results: Our findings reveal that uniform shear stress in straight vessels leads to predictable CTC-vessel interactions, whereas in curved vessels, asymmetrical flow patterns and altered shear stress create distinct adhesion dynamics, potentially influencing CTC extravasation. Quantitative analysis shows a 25% decrease in the wall shear stress in low-shear regions and a 58.5% increase in the high-shear region. We observed high-shear regions in curved vessels to be potential sites for increased CTC adhesion and extravasation, facilitated by elevated endothelial expression of adhesion molecules. This phenomenon correlates with the increased number of adhesion bonds, which rises to approximately 40 in high-shear regions, compared to around 12 for straight vessels and approximately 5-6 in low-shear regions. The findings also indicate an optimal cellular stiffness necessary for successful CTC extravasation in curved vessels. Discussion: By the quantitative assessment of the risk of CTC extravasation as a function of vessel tortuosity, our study offers a novel tool for the prediction of metastasis risk to support the development of personalized therapeutic interventions based on individual vascular characteristics and tumor cell properties.

Cribriform versus Intraductal: How to Determine the Difference.

Over the years, our understanding of cribriform and intraductal prostate cancer (PCa) has evolved significantly, leading to substantial changes in their classification and clinical management. This review discusses the histopathological disparities between intraductal and cribriform PCa from a diagnostic perspective, aiming to aid pathologists in achieving accurate diagnoses. Furthermore, it discusses the ongoing debate surrounding the different recommendations between ISUP and GUPS, which pose challenges for practicing pathologists and complicates consensus among them. Recent studies have shown promising results in integrating these pathological features into clinical decision-making tools, improving predictions of PCa recurrence, cancer spread, and mortality. Future research efforts should focus on further unraveling the biological backgrounds of these entities and their implications for clinical management to ultimately improve PCa patient outcomes.

Anatomical Patterns of Nodal Spread in Unilateral Papillary and Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Skip metastases, node metastases in the lateral neck sparing the ipsilateral central neck, challenge the current concept of central-to-lateral lymphatic spread. This study sought to delineate patterns of central and lateral neck involvement in unilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methods: This was a retrospective correlative analysis of nodal patterns in surgical specimens from patients with unilateral PTC or MTC who had undergone thyroidectomy with at least ipsilateral central neck dissection between November 1994 and January 2024 at a tertiary referral center. Results: Included were 833 patients with unilateral PTC and 640 patients with unilateral MTC. Simultaneous presence or absence of node metastases was noted in ipsilateral central and lateral neck compartments in 76.6-78.1% of patients with PTC (both node positive in 27.0-54.7% and both node negative in 23.4-49.6%) and 77.3-80.0% of patients with MTC (both node positive in 26.6-33.2% and both node negative in 44.1-53.4%). Only one ipsilateral neck compartment was node positive in 21.9-23.4% of patients with PTC and 20.0-22.7% of patients with MTC. The ipsilateral central, but not the ipsilateral lateral compartment, was node positive in 8.8-16.9% with PTC and 8.6-8.8% of patients with MTC, whereas the ipsilateral lateral, but not the ipsilateral central compartment, was node positive in 6.5-13.1% with PTC and 11.3-14.1% with MTC. Ipsilateral lateral neck involvement sparing the ipsilateral central neck was 1.5-2 times more frequent in patients with node positive MTC than patients with node positive PTC (24.2-25.2% vs. 12.9-17.1%). Greater numbers of node metastases in the ipsilateral central neck compartment were associated with more frequent involvement of the ipsilateral lateral, contralateral central, and contralateral lateral neck compartments. Thyroid tumor diameter intensified nodal spread without changing nodal spread patterns. Conclusions: These histopathological findings, which need to be interpreted in light of the respective tumor biology, offer an unprecedented glimpse at the metastatic patterns of unilateral PTC and MTC. Customizing neck dissection to the patterns of nodal spread, considering operative status (initial vs. reoperative surgery) and experience with neck dissection, may require more frequent concomitant dissections of ipsilateral central and ipsilateral lateral neck compartments.

Apigenin: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential against Cancer Spreading.

Due to its propensity to metastasize, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Thanks in part to their intrinsic low cytotoxicity, the effects of the flavonoid family in the prevention and treatment of various human cancers, both in vitro and in vivo, have received increasing attention in recent years. It is well documented that Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), among other flavonoids, is able to modulate key signaling molecules involved in the initiation of cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, including JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, as well as the oncogenic non-coding RNA network. Based on these premises, the aim of this review is to emphasize some of the key events through which Apigenin suppresses cancer proliferation, focusing specifically on its ability to target key molecular pathways involved in angiogenesis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs), cell cycle arrest, and cancer cell death.

Anticancer Mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharide and Its Application in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) derived from A. membranaceus plays a crucial role in traditional Chinese medicine. These polysaccharides have shown antitumor effects and are considered safe. Thus, they have become increasingly important in cancer immunotherapy. APS can limit the spread of cancer by influencing immune cells, promoting cell death, triggering cancer cell autophagy, and impacting the tumor microenvironment. When used in combination with other therapies, APS can enhance treatment outcomes and reduce toxicity and side effects. APS combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors, relay cellular immunotherapy, and cancer vaccines have broadened the application of cancer immunotherapy and enhanced treatment effectiveness. By summarizing the research on APS in cancer immunotherapy over the past two decades, this review elaborates on the anticancer mechanism of APS and its use in cancer immunotherapy and clinical trials. Considering the multiple roles of APS, this review emphasizes the importance of using APS as an adjunct to cancer immunotherapy and compares other polysaccharides with APS. This discussion provides insights into the specific mechanism of action of APS, reveals the molecular targets of APS for developing effective clinical strategies, and highlights the wide application of APS in clinical cancer therapy in the future.

Association between lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and prognostic factors in breast cancer.

Association between lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and prognostic factors in breast cancer.