scholarly journals Advancement in research and therapy of NF1 mutant malignant tumors

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junyan Tao ◽  
Dantong Sun ◽  
Lina Dong ◽  
Hua Zhu ◽  
Helei Hou
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance ◽  
Gtpase Activating Protein ◽  
Ras Protein ◽  
Ras Gtpases ◽  
Advanced Malignancies ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Resistance To Chemotherapy

Abstract The NF1 gene encodes neurofibromin, which is one of the primary negative regulatory factors of the Ras protein. Neurofibromin stimulates the GTPase activity of Ras to convert it from an active GTP-bound form to its inactive GDP-bound form through its GTPase activating protein-related domain (GRD). Therefore, neurofibromin serves as a shutdown signal for all vertebrate RAS GTPases. NF1 mutations cause a resultant decrease in neurofibromin expression, which has been detected in many human malignancies, including NSCLC, breast cancer and so on. NF1 mutations are associated with the underlying mechanisms of treatment resistance discovered in multiple malignancies. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms of NF1 mutation-induced therapeutic resistance to chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and targeted therapy in malignancies. Then, we further discuss advancements in targeted therapy for NF1-mutated malignant tumors. In addition, therapies targeting the downstream molecules of NF1 might be potential novel strategies for the treatment of advanced malignancies.

scholarly journals Case Report: Phenotypic Switch in High-Grade B-Cell Lymphoma With MYC and BCL6 Rearrangements: A Potential Mechanism of Therapeutic Resistance in Lymphoma?

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Liu ◽  
Qi Shen ◽  
Chung-Che Chang ◽  
Shimin Hu
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Lymphoma ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Leukemic Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Phenotypic Switch ◽  
Dendritic Cell Sarcoma ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Lineage switch between myeloid and lymphoid in acute leukemia is well established as a mechanism for leukemic cells to escape chemotherapy. Cross-lineage transformation is also recognized in some solid tumors on targeted therapy, such as adenocarcinomas of the lung and prostate that transforms to neuroendocrine carcinoma on targeted therapy. Now lineage plasticity is increasingly recognized in mature lymphomas, such as small B-cell lymphomas transforming to histiocytic/dendritic cell sarcoma. However, there is no report of aggressive mature B-cell lymphoma switching from one histologic category to another upon targeted therapy. We report here a case of high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements relapsing as a high-grade plasmablastic neoplasm with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements after R-CHOP and R-EPOCH therapy. Being aware of this rare scenario will help improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and progression of lymphoma.

scholarly journals Melanoma Single-Cell Biology in Experimental and Clinical Settings

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 506
Author(s):  
Hans Binder ◽  
Maria Schmidt ◽  
Henry Loeffler-Wirth ◽  
Lena Suenke Mortensen ◽  
Manfred Kunz
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitor ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Cellular Heterogeneity

Cellular heterogeneity is regarded as a major factor for treatment response and resistance in a variety of malignant tumors, including malignant melanoma. More recent developments of single-cell sequencing technology provided deeper insights into this phenomenon. Single-cell data were used to identify prognostic subtypes of melanoma tumors, with a special emphasis on immune cells and fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, treatment resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy has been shown to be associated with a set of differentially expressed immune cell signatures unraveling new targetable intracellular signaling pathways. Characterization of T cell states under checkpoint inhibitor treatment showed that exhausted CD8+ T cell types in melanoma lesions still have a high proliferative index. Other studies identified treatment resistance mechanisms to targeted treatment against the mutated BRAF serine/threonine protein kinase including repression of the melanoma differentiation gene microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and induction of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase. Interestingly, treatment resistance mechanisms not only included selection processes of pre-existing subclones but also transition between different states of gene expression. Taken together, single-cell technology has provided deeper insights into melanoma biology and has put forward our understanding of the role of tumor heterogeneity and transcriptional plasticity, which may impact on innovative clinical trial designs and experimental approaches.

Cancer cachexia: molecular mechanism and pharmacological management

2021 ◽  
Vol 478 (9) ◽  
pp. 1663-1688
Author(s):  
Yonghua Li ◽  
Huan Jin ◽  
Yibing Chen ◽  
Ting Huang ◽  
Yanjun Mi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Cancer Cachexia ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Signal Pathways ◽  
Pharmacological Management ◽  
Early Phase Trials ◽  
Molecular Substrates ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Cancer cachexia often occurs in malignant tumors and is a multifactorial and complex symptom characterized by wasting of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue, resulting in weight loss, poor life quality and shorter survival. The pathogenic mechanism of cancer cachexia is complex, involving a variety of molecular substrates and signal pathways. Advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer cachexia have provided a platform for the development of new targeted therapies. Although recent outcomes of early-phase trials have showed that several drugs presented an ideal curative effect, monotherapy cannot be entirely satisfactory in the treatment of cachexia-associated symptoms due to its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Therefore, the lack of definitive therapeutic strategies for cancer cachexia emphasizes the need to develop a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Increasing evidences show that the progression of cachexia is associated with metabolic alternations, which mainly include excessive energy expenditure, increased proteolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In this review, we provided an overview of the key mechanisms of cancer cachexia, with a major focus on muscle atrophy, adipose tissue wasting, anorexia and fatigue and updated the latest progress of pharmacological management of cancer cachexia, thereby further advancing the interventions that can counteract cancer cachexia.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Targeting of Epithelial Plasticity Programs: Focus on the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reem Malek ◽  
Hailun Wang ◽  
Kekoa Taparra ◽  
Phuoc T. Tran
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Regulatory Networks ◽  
Cancer Metastasis ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Therapeutic Targets ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Epithelial Plasticity ◽  
Canonical Pathways

Mounting data points to epithelial plasticity programs such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as clinically relevant therapeutic targets for the treatment of malignant tumors. In addition to the widely realized role of EMT in increasing cancer cell invasiveness during cancer metastasis, the EMT has also been implicated in allowing cancer cells to avoid tumor suppressor pathways during early tumorigenesis. In addition, data linking EMT to innate and acquired treatment resistance further points towards the desire to develop pharmacological therapies to target epithelial plasticity in cancer. In this review we organized our discussion on pathways and agents that can be used to target the EMT in cancer into 3 groups: (1) extracellular inducers of EMT, (2) the transcription factors that orchestrate the EMT transcriptome, and (3) the downstream effectors of EMT. We highlight only briefly specific canonical pathways known to be involved in EMT, such as the signal transduction pathways TGFβ, EFGR, and Axl-Gas6. We emphasize in more detail pathways that we believe are emerging novel pathways and therapeutic targets such as epigenetic therapies, glycosylation pathways, and immunotherapy. The heterogeneity of tumors and the dynamic nature of epithelial plasticity in cancer cells make it likely that targeting only 1 EMT-related process will be unsuccessful or only transiently successful. We suggest that with greater understanding of epithelial plasticity regulation, such as with the EMT, a more systematic targeting of multiple EMT regulatory networks will be the best path forward to improve cancer outcomes.

scholarly journals Advances in the Etiology, Detection, and Clinical Management of Seborrheic Keratoses

Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mary D. Sun ◽  
Allan C. Halpern
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Treatment Standards ◽  
Oncogenic Mutations ◽  
Malignant State ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Seborrheic Keratoses

Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are ubiquitous, generally benign skin tumors that exhibit high clinical variability. While age is a known risk factor, the precise roles of UV exposure and immune abnormalities are currently unclear. The underlying mechanisms of this benign disorder are paradoxically driven by oncogenic mutations and may have profound implications for our understanding of the malignant state. Advances in molecular pathogenesis suggest that inhibition of Akt and APP, as well as existing treatments for skin cancer, may have therapeutic potential in SK. Dermoscopic criteria have also become increasingly important to the accurate detection of SK, and other noninvasive diagnostic methods, such as reflectance confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography, are rapidly developing. Given their ability to mimic malignant tumors, SK cases are often used to train artificial intelligence-based algorithms in the computerized detection of skin disease. These technologies are becoming increasingly accurate and have the potential to significantly augment clinical practice. Current treatment options for SK cause discomfort and can lead to adverse post-treatment effects, especially in skin of color. In light of the discontinuation of ESKATA in late 2019, promising alternatives, such as nitric-zinc and trichloroacetic acid topicals, should be further developed. There is also a need for larger, head-to-head trials of emerging laser therapies to ensure that future treatment standards address diverse patient needs.

scholarly journals Research Progress of circRNAs in Head and Neck Cancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Panchun Li ◽  
Kunjie Zhu ◽  
Yongzhen Mo ◽  
Xiangying Deng ◽  
Xianjie Jiang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Head And Neck Cancers ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Circular Rnas ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
High Conservation

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of non-coding RNAs. Because of their characteristics of a closed loop structure, disease- and tissue-specificity, and high conservation and stability, circRNAs have the potential to be biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Head and neck cancers are one of the most common malignant tumors with high incidence rates globally. Affected patients are often diagnosed at the advanced stage with poor prognosis, owing to the concealment of anatomic sites. The characteristics, functions, and specific mechanisms of circRNAs in head and neck cancers are increasingly being discovered, and they have important clinical significance for the early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of patients with cancer. In this study, the generation, characteristics, and functions of circRNAs, along with their regulatory mechanisms in head and neck cancers have been summarized. We report that circRNAs interact with molecules such as transcription and growth factors to influence specific pathways involved in tumorigenesis. We conclude that circRNAs have an important role to play in the proliferation, invasion, metastasis, energy and substance metabolism, and treatment resistance in cancers.

scholarly journals Multiple malignant tumors in a patient with familial chordoma, a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuttavut Sumransub ◽  
Paari Murugan ◽  
Shelly Marette ◽  
Denis R. Clohisy ◽  
Keith M. Skubitz
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Germ Line ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Pulmonary Complications ◽  
Her Family ◽  
T Box ◽  
Epithelial Cancers ◽  
Pleomorphic Sarcoma

Abstract Background Chordoma is a rare bone tumor that is typically resistant to chemotherapy and is associated with genetic abnormalities of the T-box transcription factor T (TBXT) gene, which encodes the transcription factor brachyury. Brachyury is felt to be a major contributor to the development of chordomas. Case presentation We describe a 67-year-old woman who developed an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in her thigh. Despite treatment with standard chemotherapy regimens, she had a rapidly progressive course of disease with pulmonary metastases and passed away 8 months from diagnosis with pulmonary complications. Her medical history was remarkable in that she had a spheno-occipital chordoma at age 39 and later developed multiple other tumors throughout her life including Hodgkin lymphoma and squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin. She had a family history of chordoma and her family underwent extensive genetic study in the past and were found to have a duplication of the TBXT gene. Conclusions Brachyury has been found to associate with tumor progression, treatment resistance, and metastasis in various epithelial cancers, and it might play roles in tumorigenesis and aggressiveness in this patient with multiple rare tumors and germ line duplication of the TBXT gene. Targeting this molecule may be useful for some malignancies.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 5353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsiuying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Treatment Resistance ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance ◽  
Cancer Therapies ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Apoptosis Induction ◽  
The Third ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
The World

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, and its incidence is rising in developing countries. Treatment with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is known to improve survival in CRC patients. Most anti-cancer therapies trigger apoptosis induction to eliminate malignant cells. However, de-regulated apoptotic signaling allows cancer cells to escape this signaling, leading to therapeutic resistance. Treatment resistance is a major challenge in the development of effective therapies. The microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in CRC treatment resistance and CRC progression and apoptosis. This review discusses the role of miRNAs in contributing to the promotion or inhibition of apoptosis in CRC and the role of miRNAs in modulating treatment resistance in CRC cells.

scholarly journals KIF23 Promotes Gastric Cancer by Stimulating Cell Proliferation

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Long Li ◽  
Ya-Ming Ji ◽  
Rui Song ◽  
Xiao-Ning Li ◽  
Lan-Shuan Guo
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Gastric Cancer Cells ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Multiple Tumor ◽  
Axon Elongation ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumors with low early diagnosis and high metastasis. Despite progress in treatment, to combat this disease, a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets is needed. KIF23, which belongs to the KIF family, plays a vital role in various cell processes, such as cytoplasm separation and axon elongation. Nowadays, KIF23 has been found to be highly expressed in multiple tumor tissues and cells, suggesting a potential link between KIF23 and tumorigenesis. Herein, we reported that KIF23 expression was correlated with poor prognosis of gastric cancer and found an association between KIF23 and pTNM stage. An in vitro assay proved that the proliferation of gastric cancer cells was significantly inhibited, which is caused by KIF23 depletion. Additionally, knockdown of KIF23 resulted in a marked inhibition of cell proliferation of gastric cancer in mice, with significant downregulation of Ki67 and PCNA expression. In conclusion, these data indicate that KIF23 is a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.

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