Targeting cullin-RING ligases for cancer treatment: rationales, advances and therapeutic implications

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity with a complex pathophysiology. Traditional cancer therapies include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, limitations such as lack of specificity, cytotoxicity, and multi-drug resistance pose a substantial challenge for favorable cancer treatment. The advent of nanotechnology has revolutionized the arena of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanoparticles (1-100nm) can be used in the treatment of cancer owing to their specific advantages such as biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, more excellent stability, enhanced permeability and retention effect, and precise targeting. Nanoparticles are classified into several main categories. The nanoparticle drug delivery system is particular and utilizes tumor and tumor environment characteristics. Nanoparticles not only solve the limitations of conventional cancer treatment but also overcome multidrug resistance. Additionally, as new multidrug resistance mechanisms are unraveled and studied, nanoparticles are being investigated more vigorously. Various therapeutic implications of nano-formulations have created brand new perspectives for cancer treatment. However, a majority of the research is limited to in vivo and in vitro studies, and the number of nano-drugs that are approved has not much amplified over the years. In this review, we discuss numerous types of nanoparticles, targeting mechanisms along with approved nanotherapeutics for oncological implications in cancer treatment. Further, we also summarize the current perspective, advantages, and challenges in clinical translation.

Download Full-text

Therapeutic Implications of TGFβ in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13030379 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 379

Author(s):

Verónica Gómez-Gil

Keyword(s):

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽

Therapeutic Strategies ◽

Tumor Promoter ◽

Signaling Cascade ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Wide Range ◽

Signaling Receptors

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a pleiotropic cytokine that participates in a wide range of biological functions. The alterations in the expression levels of this factor, or the deregulation of its signaling cascade, can lead to different pathologies, including cancer. A great variety of therapeutic strategies targeting TGFβ, or the members included in its signaling pathway, are currently being researched in cancer treatment. However, the dual role of TGFβ, as a tumor suppressor or a tumor-promoter, together with its crosstalk with other signaling pathways, has hampered the development of safe and effective treatments aimed at halting the cancer progression. This systematic literature review aims to provide insight into the different approaches available to regulate TGFβ and/or the molecules involved in its synthesis, activation, or signaling, as a cancer treatment. The therapeutic strategies most commonly investigated include antisense oligonucleotides, which prevent TGFβ synthesis, to molecules that block the interaction between TGFβ and its signaling receptors, together with inhibitors of the TGFβ signaling cascade-effectors. The effectiveness and possible complications of the different potential therapies available are also discussed.

Download Full-text

Nanoparticles for Cancer Therapy: Current Progress and Challenges

Nanoscale Research Letters ◽

10.1186/s11671-021-03628-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Shreelaxmi Gavas ◽

Sameer Quazi ◽

Tomasz M. Karpiński

Keyword(s):

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Multi Drug Resistance ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Current Perspective ◽

Reduced Toxicity

AbstractCancer is one of the leading causes of death and morbidity with a complex pathophysiology. Traditional cancer therapies include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, limitations such as lack of specificity, cytotoxicity, and multi-drug resistance pose a substantial challenge for favorable cancer treatment. The advent of nanotechnology has revolutionized the arena of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Nanoparticles (1–100 nm) can be used to treat cancer due to their specific advantages such as biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, more excellent stability, enhanced permeability and retention effect, and precise targeting. Nanoparticles are classified into several main categories. The nanoparticle drug delivery system is particular and utilizes tumor and tumor environment characteristics. Nanoparticles not only solve the limitations of conventional cancer treatment but also overcome multidrug resistance. Additionally, as new multidrug resistance mechanisms are unraveled and studied, nanoparticles are being investigated more vigorously. Various therapeutic implications of nanoformulations have created brand new perspectives for cancer treatment. However, most of the research is limited to in vivo and in vitro studies, and the number of approved nanodrugs has not much amplified over the years. This review discusses numerous types of nanoparticles, targeting mechanisms, and approved nanotherapeutics for oncological implications in cancer treatment. Further, we also summarize the current perspective, advantages, and challenges in clinical translation.

Download Full-text

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in Drug Resistance and their Therapeutic Implications in Cancer Treatment

Stem Cells International ◽

10.1155/2018/5416923 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 124

Author(s):

Lan Thi Hanh Phi ◽

Ita Novita Sari ◽

Ying-Gui Yang ◽

Sang-Hyun Lee ◽

Nayoung Jun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Drug Resistance ◽

Cancer Stem Cells ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Therapeutic Approaches ◽

Tumor Initiating Cells ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Key Features

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are suggested to be responsible for drug resistance and cancer relapse due in part to their ability to self-renew themselves and differentiate into heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells. Thus, it is important to understand the characteristics and mechanisms by which CSCs display resistance to therapeutic agents. In this review, we highlight the key features and mechanisms that regulate CSC function in drug resistance as well as recent breakthroughs of therapeutic approaches for targeting CSCs. This promises new insights of CSCs in drug resistance and provides better therapeutic rationales to accompany novel anticancer therapeutics.

Download Full-text