scholarly journals Botulinum toxin in cancer therapy—current perspectives and limitations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Grenda ◽  
Anna Grenda ◽  
Paweł Krawczyk ◽  
Krzysztof Kwiatek
Keyword(s):  
Botulinum Toxin ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Aesthetic Medicine ◽  
Analgesic Effects ◽  
Eye Disorders ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Systemic Side Effects ◽  
After Cancer

Abstract Different serotypes of botulinum toxins (BoNTs) act upon different types of SNARE proteins. This property is used in aesthetic medicine to treat certain eye disorders such as crossed eyes (strabismus) and uncontrolled blinking (blepharospasm), to treat muscle spasms or movement disorders, and, for the two last decades, more and more often, to provide support in cancer therapy, especially so as to obtain analgesic effects upon spastic conditions. The limited literature data also suggests that the addition of BoNTs to the culture of cancer cell lines reduces cell growth, and mitotic activity, and promotes their apoptosis. BoNTs have several advantages that can be emphasized: BoNTs act on both perfusion and oxygenation; moreover, BoNTs are considered to be safe and free of systemic side effects upon administration. Recently, advances in molecular biology techniques have allowed a wide variety of novel BoNT constructs with alternative functions. These constructs could be assessed as potential new classes of anti-cancer drugs. This creates new potential perspectives in the wider use of non-toxic modified BoNT constructs in cancer therapy. In the light of the mentioned premises and existing literature reports, the aim of this review is to summarize current data and reports considering BoNT use in cancer therapy. Key points •Botulinum toxin (BoNTs) may be useful in cancer treatment. •Botulinum toxin can serve as an analgesic after cancer radiotherapy. •Botulinum toxin has the ability to inhibit tumor growth and promote apoptosis of neoplastic cells.

scholarly journals Microbes as Medicines: Harnessing the Power of Bacteria in Advancing Cancer Treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shruti S. Sawant ◽  
Suyash M. Patil ◽  
Vivek Gupta ◽  
Nitesh K. Kunda
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Tumor Environment ◽  
Systemic Side Effects ◽  
Hypoxic Tumor

Conventional anti-cancer therapy involves the use of chemical chemotherapeutics and radiation and are often non-specific in action. The development of drug resistance and the inability of the drug to penetrate the tumor cells has been a major pitfall in current treatment. This has led to the investigation of alternative anti-tumor therapeutics possessing greater specificity and efficacy. There is a significant interest in exploring the use of microbes as potential anti-cancer medicines. The inherent tropism of the bacteria for hypoxic tumor environment and its ability to be genetically engineered as a vector for gene and drug therapy has led to the development of bacteria as a potential weapon against cancer. In this review, we will introduce bacterial anti-cancer therapy with an emphasis on the various mechanisms involved in tumor targeting and tumor suppression. The bacteriotherapy approaches in conjunction with the conventional cancer therapy can be effective in designing novel cancer therapies. We focus on the current progress achieved in bacterial cancer therapies that show potential in advancing existing cancer treatment options and help attain positive clinical outcomes with minimal systemic side-effects.

Incidence, Risk, and Prognosis of Cancer in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaohong Chen ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Xiaoqiang Ding ◽  
Bo Shen ◽  
Fangfang Xiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Chronic Hemodialysis ◽  
Chinese Patients ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Digestive Cancer ◽  
Dialysis Unit ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
After Cancer

Background: Information concerning the cancer issue in Chinese patients on hemodialysis (HD) was lacking. Thus, we examined data from our dialysis registry to investigate the incidence of cancer, identify the possible factors, and explore outcomes after cancer diagnosis in patients on chronic HD. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 639 new-onset end-stage renal disease patients who started HD therapy during the period from July 1999 to December 2017 was retrieved from the database in our dialysis center. All eligible patients were followed up until renal transplantation, death, or end of study (March 31, 2019). The definition of a newly diagnosed cancer was that diagnosed 6 months after HD therapy initiation. Results: Within a median follow-up period of 5.61 years, 58 patients (9.08%) have been diagnosed with cancer with the incidence of 1,494 per 105 person-years. The mean duration from HD initiation to cancer diagnosis was 5.22 ± 3.55 years. Digestive cancer (32.76%) was the most common followed by urologic cancer (18.97%) and lung cancer (15.52%). Advanced age at starting HD therapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04) and erythropoietin dosage ≥20,000 U/week (HR 1.95) were independent predictors for cancer occurrence. Of the 256 deaths during the follow-up period, 29 cases (11.33%) were attributed to cancer, with the mortality rate of 717 per 105 person-years. The 1-, 5-, and 10-year cumulative survival rates after cancer diagnosis were 58.73, 34.64, and 20.41%, respectively. A total of 32 patients (55.17%) did not receive any anti-cancer therapy, and the mortality in those patients was significantly increased as compared to patients who received anti-cancer therapy. Conclusion: Cancer is common in HD patients due to the improved survival, and it has a negative effect on patient prognosis. Many patients have failed to receive optimal anti-cancer therapy, which calls for effective communication and cooperation among patients, dialysis unit, and oncology teams.

scholarly journals Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy in Synovial Sarcoma: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Riedel ◽  
Robin Jones ◽  
Antoine Italiano ◽  
Chet Bohac ◽  
Juliette Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Synovial Sarcoma ◽  
Prospective Studies ◽  
Soft Tissue Sarcomas ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Disease Stage ◽  
Appropriate Treatment ◽  
Anti Cancer

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an aggressive malignancy which accounts for approximately 5–10% of all soft-tissue sarcomas. SS has pathologic and genomic characteristics that define it as a distinct subtype of soft tissue sarcoma (STS). STS subtypes continue to be recognized as distinct entities with specific characteristics, including differential chemo-sensitivity. The objective of this study was to conduct a descriptive review of current data on survival outcomes of systemic anti-cancer therapy specific to SS. A systematic literature review was conducted, using a custom search strategy to search EMBASE, Medline and CENTRAL for clinical trials and observational studies reporting overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and/or response for cohorts of at least 50 SS patients. We identified 28 studies meeting these criteria, 25 of which were retrospective studies. Only three prospective studies were identified. Survival reports varied widely between studies based on the population, in particular on the disease stage, and reporting was heterogeneous in terms of the time points reported on. For patients with localized disease, reports of five-year PFS ranged from 26% to 80.7% and five-year OS from 40% to 90.7%, whereas five-year OS for patients with metastatic disease was very low at around 10%; and in one case, 0% was reported. Only four of the included publications reported outcomes by type of systemic anti-cancer therapy received. Our study draws attention to the fact that additional prospective studies to better define the most appropriate treatment for SS in all stages and lines of therapy are still needed.

scholarly journals Anti-cancer properties of ruthenium compounds: NAMI-A and KP1019

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 ◽  
pp. 12-19
Author(s):  
Michał Juszczak ◽  
Magdalena Kluska ◽  
Daniel Wysokiński ◽  
Katarzyna Woźniak
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Research ◽  
Side Effects ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Ruthenium Compounds ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Tumor Origin

Cancer research is among the key challenges in current medicine and biology. Many decades of investigations have brought measurable benefits in both areas with regard to expanding the knowledge of the molecular mechanism of cancer and developing treatment strategies. Despite that cancers are still among diseases with the highest mortality rate, and cancer treatment is often unsuccessful and connected with severe side effects. The development of therapeutic strategies in both targeting the primary tumor origin and preventing metastasis is largely based on testing newly synthesized chemical agents, including a group of metal-containing complexes. It seems that ruthenium-containing complexes are of high potential in cancer therapy, and our work presents the current data about the application of ruthenium-based complexes − NAMI-A and KP1019 in cancer therapy.

Anticancer Properties of Essential Oils: An Overview

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 957-966 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milene Aparecida Andrade ◽  
Mariana Aparecida Braga ◽  
Pedro Henrique Souza Cesar ◽  
Marcus Vinicius Cardoso Trento ◽  
Mariana Araújo Espósito ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Anticancer Properties ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Antitumor Properties ◽  
Pharmaceutical Properties

Background: Essential oils are complex mixtures of low molecular weight compounds extracted from plants. Their main constituents are terpenes and phenylpropanoids, which are responsible for their biological and pharmaceutical properties, such as insecticidal, parasiticidal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antinociceptive, anticarcinogenic, and antitumor properties. Cancer is a complex genetic disease considered as a serious public health problem worldwide, accounting for more than 8 million deaths annually. Objective: The activities of prevention and treatment of different types of cancer and the medicinal potential of essential oils are addressed in this review. Conclusion: Several studies have demonstrated anti-carcinogenic and antitumor activity for many essential oils obtained from various plant species. They may be used as a substitution to or in addition to conventional anti-cancer therapy. Although many studies report possible mechanisms of action for essential oils compounds, more studies are necessary in order to apply them safely and appropriately in cancer therapy.

Exploring Nanoemulsion for Liver Cancer Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-268
Author(s):  
Tanmay Upadhyay ◽  
Vaseem A. Ansari ◽  
Usama Ahmad ◽  
Nazneen Sultana ◽  
Juber Akhtar
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Liver Cancer ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Drugs ◽  
Drug Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Liquid Dosage Form

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, accounting for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Among these, at least 0.78 million people died of liver cancer alone. The recognized risk factors for liver cancer include chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, exposure to dietary aflatoxin, fatty liver disease, alcohol-induced cirrhosis, obesity, smoking, diabetes, and iron overload. The treatment plan for early diagnosed patients includes radiation therapy, tumour ablation, surgery, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy. Some sort of drug delivery vehicles has to be used when the treatment plan is targeted chemotherapy. Nanoemulsions are a class of biphasic liquid dosage form which are mixtures of oil and water stabilized by a surfactant. They are either transparent or bluish in hue and serve as a wonderful carrier system for chemotherapeutic drugs. These vehicles have a particle size in the range of 20-200 nm allowing them to be delivered successfully in the deepest of tissues. Recent publications on nanoemulsions reveal their acceptance and a popular choice for delivering both synthetic and herbal drugs to the liver. This work focuses on some anti-cancer agents that utilized the advantages of nanoemulsion for liver cancer therapy.

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