scholarly journals Targeting Calcium Signalling in Malignant Mesothelioma

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1839
Author(s):  
Simona Martinotti ◽  
Mauro Patrone ◽  
Francesco Moccia ◽  
Elia Ranzato

Calcium ions (Ca2+) are central in cancer development and growth, serving as a major signaling system determining the cell’s fate. Therefore, the investigation of the functional roles of ion channels in cancer development may identify novel approaches for determining tumor prognosis. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops from the serosal surface of the body, strictly related to asbestos exposure. The treatment of malignant mesothelioma is complex and the survival outcomes, rather than the overall survival data are, to date, disappointedly daunting. Nevertheless, conventional chemotherapy is almost ineffective. The alteration in the expression and/or activity of Ca2+ permeable ion channels seems to be characteristic of mesothelioma cells. In this review, we explore the involvement of the Ca2+toolkit in this disease. Moreover, the established sensitivity of some Ca2+channels to selective pharmacological modulators makes them interesting targets for mesothelioma cancer therapy.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Raya Saba ◽  
Godson Nnamdi Aronu ◽  
Ravinder Pal Bhatti ◽  
Aibek E. Mirrakhimov ◽  
Nwabundo Anusim ◽  
...  

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer that has been closely linked to asbestos exposure. Initially recognized as an occupational cancer in male workers, MM was later found to occur in their family members as well. We report the case of an 89-year-old female who presented with abdominal distention, pain, and findings consistent with malignant ascites. Family history was significant for fatal mesothelioma in her husband of 40 years, who was a worker at a tile factory. The diagnosis of MM was confirmed on pathologic examination of the omental core biopsy.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 685
Author(s):  
Maureen Keller ◽  
Katarina Reis ◽  
Anders Hjerpe ◽  
Katalin Dobra ◽  
Pontus Aspenström

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare but highly aggressive cancer that primarily originates from the pleura, peritoneum or pericardium. There is a well-established link between asbestos exposure and progression of MM. Direct invasion of the surrounding tissues is the main feature of MM, which is dependent on dysregulated communication between the mesothelium and the microenvironment. This communication is dependent on the dynamic organization of the cytoskeleton. We have analyzed the organization and function of key cytoskeletal components in MM cell lines of increasing malignancies measured as migratory and invasive properties, and we show that highly malignant and invasive MM cells have an organization of the actin filament and vimentin systems that is distinct from the less malignant MM cell lines. In addition, the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway was inactivated in the invasive MM cells, which was seen as increased YAP nuclear localization.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e231987
Author(s):  
Colin Andrew Hinkamp ◽  
Shanup N Dalal ◽  
Yasmeen Butt ◽  
Alberto V Cabo Chan

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of neoplastic transformation of the mesothelial cells that line the serosal surfaces of the body. It most commonly affects the pleura and is often associated with pleural effusions and pleural-based masses. The annual incidence in the United States is only 3300 cases, representing less than 0.3% of all cancers worldwide, although this is likely underestimated. We present a case of diffuse epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma in a patient with remote, short-term asbestos exposure complicated by recurrent left-sided hydropneumothoraces and pleural-based invasion of the T12 vertebral body, which represent two rare coexisting complications. This case illustrates the importance of maintaining a broad differential for hydropneumothorax, particularly as the risk factors may be decades removed and the degree of asbestos exposure to induce a malignant mesothelioma may be smaller than has been traditionally thought.


Author(s):  
S. Siew

Mesothelial cells constitute the lining of the three serous sacs of the body i.e. the pleura, pericardium and peritoneum. The more common type of malignant neoplasia of the serous sacs is seeding by metastatic tumors and primary malignancy of the mesothelium is unusual. Of the three sacs, the pleura is the most common site of malignant mesothelioma. Involvement of the peritoneum is extremely rare.We report 3 cases of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum. All of them were female. Their ages were 57, 67 and 72 years, respectively. The patients presented with abdominal discomfort and/or ascites. The extent of the tumors ranged from a peritoneal implant to widespread infiltration of the peritoneum and omentum. Histologic examination in Case 1 showed the presence of a diffusely infiltrating papillary mesothelioma without a sarcomatoid component. A mesodermal element was present in the other two cases. In order to establish a morphological diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, the possibility has to be excluded of a metastatic adenocarcinoma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 228
Author(s):  
Tomonari Kinoshita ◽  
Taichiro Goto

Despite complete resection, cancer recurrence frequently occurs in clinical practice. This indicates that cancer cells had already metastasized from their organ of origin at the time of resection or had circulated throughout the body via the lymphatic and vascular systems. To obtain this potential for metastasis, cancer cells must undergo essential and intrinsic processes that are supported by the tumor microenvironment. Cancer-associated inflammation may be engaged in cancer development, progression, and metastasis. Despite numerous reports detailing the interplays between cancer and its microenvironment via the inflammatory network, the status of cancer-associated inflammation remains difficult to recognize in clinical settings. In the current paper, we reviewed clinical reports on the relevance between inflammation and cancer recurrence after surgical resection, focusing on inflammatory indicators and cancer recurrence predictors according to cancer type and clinical indicators.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanda Iacobas ◽  
Bogdan Amuzescu ◽  
Dumitru A. Iacobas

AbstractMyocardium transcriptomes of left and right atria and ventricles from four adult male C57Bl/6j mice were profiled with Agilent microarrays to identify the differences responsible for the distinct functional roles of the four heart chambers. Female mice were not investigated owing to their transcriptome dependence on the estrous cycle phase. Out of the quantified 16,886 unigenes, 15.76% on the left side and 16.5% on the right side exhibited differential expression between the atrium and the ventricle, while 5.8% of genes were differently expressed between the two atria and only 1.2% between the two ventricles. The study revealed also chamber differences in gene expression control and coordination. We analyzed ion channels and transporters, and genes within the cardiac muscle contraction, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, calcium and adrenergic signaling pathways. Interestingly, while expression of Ank2 oscillates in phase with all 27 quantified binding partners in the left ventricle, the percentage of in-phase oscillating partners of Ank2 is 15% and 37% in the left and right atria and 74% in the right ventricle. The analysis indicated high interventricular synchrony of the ion channels expressions and the substantially lower synchrony between the two atria and between the atrium and the ventricle from the same side.


Author(s):  
Carolina Mensi ◽  
Barbara Dallari ◽  
Marco Polonioli ◽  
Luciano Riboldi ◽  
Dario Consonni ◽  
...  

Cohort studies showed consistently low risks for malignant mesothelioma (MM) among agricultural workers, however the investigated exposures did not include asbestos. Our aim is to describe sources of asbestos exposure of MM in agriculture. Twenty-six MM cases in agricultural or seed trades workers were identified through the MM registry of the Lombardy region, Italy in 2000–2016. Asbestos exposures were investigated through a standardized questionnaire. The most frequent exposure circumstances were recycled jute bags previously containing asbestos (11 cases) and maintenance and repair of asbestos roofs (12 subjects). Three subjects performed maintenance and repair of tractor asbestos brakes and two used asbestos filters for wine production. Our data suggest asbestos exposure opportunities in the agricultural setting, underlining the need to look for this exposure in subjects affected with mesothelioma.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1138
Author(s):  
Martina Schiavello ◽  
Elena Gazzano ◽  
Loredana Bergandi ◽  
Francesca Silvagno ◽  
Roberta Libener ◽  
...  

Although asbestos has been banned in most countries around the world, malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a current problem. MPM is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis, so it is crucial to identify new markers in the preventive field. Asbestos exposure induces oxidative stress and its carcinogenesis has been linked to a strong oxidative damage, event counteracted by antioxidant systems at the pulmonary level. The present study has been focused on some redox-sensitive transcription factors that regulate cellular antioxidant defense and are overexpressed in many tumors, such as Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2), Ref-1 (Redox effector factor 1), and FOXM1 (Forkhead box protein M1). The research was performed in human mesothelial and MPM cells. Our results have clearly demonstrated an overexpression of Nrf2, Ref-1, and FOXM1 in mesothelioma towards mesothelium, and a consequent activation of downstream genes controlled by these factors, which in turn regulates antioxidant defense. This event is mediated by oxidative free radicals produced when mesothelial cells are exposed to asbestos fibers. We observed an increased expression of Nrf2, Ref-1, and FOXM1 towards untreated cells, confirming asbestos as the mediator of oxidative stress evoked at the mesothelium level. These factors can therefore be considered predictive biomarkers of MPM and potential pharmacological targets in the treatment of this aggressive cancer.


Author(s):  
İlkin Yetişkin ◽  
Berna Eren Kömürcüoğlu ◽  
Eylem Yıldırım

Mesothelioma is a primary malignant tumor of the mesothelial cells lining the pleura, pericardium and peritoneum, which is frequently seen between the ages of 40-60. Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis, usually associated with asbestos exposure. It is characterized by aggressive local invasion and metastatic spread. Extrathoracic lymphogenous-hematogenous metastases are rare at the time of diagnosis and in the early stage. However, metastases develop in at least half of the cases in the late stage of the disease. After the spread of serous membranes, distant metastases to the bone, adrenal gland, and liver are frequently observed. Skin and scalp metastases are rarely observed. Our case MPM is presented because it is a rare scalp metastasis.


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