ImReLnc: Identifying Immune-Related LncRNA Characteristics in Human Cancers Based on Heuristic Correlation Optimization

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in cancer through gene expression and immune regulation. Identifying immune-related lncRNA (irlncRNA) characteristics would contribute to dissecting the mechanism of cancer pathogenesis. Some computational methods have been proposed to identify irlncRNA characteristics in human cancers, but most of them are aimed at identifying irlncRNA characteristics in specific cancer. Here, we proposed a new method, ImReLnc, to recognize irlncRNA characteristics for 33 human cancers and predict the pathogenicity levels of these irlncRNAs across cancer types. We first calculated the heuristic correlation coefficient between lncRNAs and mRNAs for immune-related enrichment analysis. Especially, we analyzed the relationship between lncRNAs and 17 immune-related pathways in 33 cancers to recognize the irlncRNA characteristics of each cancer. Then, we calculated the Pscore of the irlncRNA characteristics to evaluate their pathogenicity levels. The results showed that highly pathogenic irlncRNAs appeared in a higher proportion of known disease databases and had a significant prognostic effect on cancer. In addition, it was found that the expression of irlncRNAs in immune cells was higher than that of non-irlncRNAs, and the proportion of irlncRNAs related to the levels of immune infiltration was much higher than that of non-irlncRNAs. Overall, ImReLnc accurately identified the irlncRNA characteristics in multiple cancers based on the heuristic correlation coefficient. More importantly, ImReLnc effectively evaluated the pathogenicity levels of irlncRNAs across cancer types. ImReLnc is freely available at https://github.com/meihonggao/ImReLnc.

Risk of New Primary Cancer in Patients with Posterior Uveal Melanoma: A National Cohort Study

Background: Studies on the risk of new primary cancer in patients with posterior uveal melanoma (UM) have produced conflicting results, and the role of socioeconomic status (SES) is unknown. The purpose of this population-based matched cohort study was to determine the risk of new primary cancer following the diagnosis of posterior UM. Methods: 2179 patients with posterior UM 1968–2016 and 22,717 matched controls without cancer were included. Incidence and time-dependent hazard ratio (HR) of new primary cancer were described, and the effect of SES was emphasized in a sub-cohort. Results: The incidence of new primary cancer was increased in patients with posterior UM, rate ratio (RR) 1.21 (95% CI: 1.08; 1.35), but the specific cancer types did not differ compared to the controls. The rate of new primary cancer following the diagnosis of posterior UM was significantly increased 2–5 years (HR 1.49 (95% CI: 1.23; 1.80)) and 11–15 years (HR: 1.49 (95% CI: 1.12; 1.99)), and adjusting for SES did not change the rate (HR 1.35 (95% CI:1.20; 1.55)). Conclusions: Patients with posterior UM have an increased risk of new primary cancer independent of SES. No difference in incidence of specific cancer type was observed compared to the control group.

Smoking cessation after lung cancer diagnosis improves disease prognosis

The presented clinical and epidemiological study is the world»s first large prospective study of the effect of smoking cessation after lung cancer (LC) diagnosis on the prognosis. Follow‑up of 517 patients with NSCLC for 7 years in average showed that continued smoking after diagnosis is a serious negative prognostic factor. At the same time smoking cessation improves OS and PFS by 22,6 months and specific cancer mortality by 22,8 months; reduces the risk of all‑cause mortality by 33 %, the risk of progression by 30 % and the risk of specific cancer mortality by 25 %. Almost 60 % of patients in our study continued smoking after diagnosis. Consequently, they had avoidable excess mortality which eventually reduced their life by 2 years.The positive effect of smoking cessation after diagnosis found in our study significantly exceeds the «meaningful benefit» (improvement in median overall survival by 2,5–6 months) for antineoplastic agents proposed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Moreover, the study suggests that the benefits of smoking cessation after LC diagnosis are at least equal or superior to the significant results obtained in clinical studies of the effectiveness of innovative treatments.We hope that the results of our study will contribute to the inclusion of smoking cessation in clinical guidelines for the treatment of NSCLC and other cancers. The treatment program for cancer patients should include evidence‑based methods of smoking cessation presented in the form of «Clinical Guidelines for Smoking Cessation for Cancer Patients».Treating smoking in cancer patients is cost‑effective for the health care system, especially when compared to other treat‑ments. Conversely, continuing smoking after diagnosis significantly increases treatment costs.The introduction of recommendations on smoking cessation and treatment of nicotine addiction into the practice will improve the overall mortality rate by 30–35 % in more than 60,000 patients annually diagnosed with lung cancer in Russia. The clinical value of this method is obvious, since it has been proven to be highly efficient in improving the life expectancy of patients, and, ultimately, in reducing cancer mortality in Russia.

Ion Channels-Targeting Near-Infrared Photothermal Switch with Synergistic Effect for Specific Cancer Therapy

Despite significant achievement in chemotherapy, the off-target actions and low pharmaceutical selectivity of the therapeutic agents still limit their clinical efficacy. Herein, a multifunctional nanoplatform which integrates chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy...

Profiling Cancer Cells by Cell-SELEX: Use of Aptamers for Discovery of Actionable Biomarkers and Therapeutic Applications Thereof

The identification of tumor cell-specific surface markers is a key step towards personalized cancer medicine, allowing early assessment and accurate diagnosis, and development of efficacious targeted therapies. Despite significant efforts, currently the spectrum of cell membrane targets associated with approved treatments is still limited, causing an inability to treat a large number of cancers. What mainly limits the number of ideal clinical biomarkers is the high complexity and heterogeneity of several human cancers and still-limited methods for molecular profiling of specific cancer types. Thanks to the simplicity, versatility and effectiveness of its application, cell-SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) technology is a valid complement to the present strategies for biomarkers’ discovery. We and other researchers worldwide are attempting to apply cell-SELEX to the generation of oligonucleotide aptamers as tools for both identifying new cancer biomarkers and targeting them by innovative therapeutic strategies. In this review, we discuss the potential of cell-SELEX for increasing the currently limited repertoire of actionable cancer cell-surface biomarkers and focus on the use of the selected aptamers as components of innovative conjugates and nano-formulations for cancer therapy.

Métis Peoples and Cancer: A Scoping Review of Literature, Programs, Policies and Educational Material in Canada

Much of the existing Indigenous cancer research focuses on First Nation populations or reports on pan-Indigenous data that include First Nations, Métis, and Inuit metrics together, which fails to capture the distinct lived realities, experiences of colonialism, and culture of each Indigenous group. The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize existing knowledge on cancer among Métis peoples in Canada, offering direction to researchers, institutions, and policymakers for future actions that enhance Métis-specific cancer surveillance and cancer care. We searched Embase, Medline, iPortal, and Proquest Theses and Dissertations databases, Google Scholar and Google, alongside ten websites relevant to cancer and Métis peoples. Two reviewers gathered 571 records. After screening, 77 records were included. Data show that Métis peoples experience higher behavioral risk factors, lower screening participation, higher cancer incidence for some cancers, and higher mortality rates compared to the non-Indigenous population. Existing research is piece-meal and researchers emphasize that there is inadequate Métis-specific cancer data. There is a need for targeted, Peoples-specific cancer control interventions to reduce these health inequities and a coordinated, Peoples-specific approach to cancer research. These efforts must involve collaboration among Métis Nations and organizations, provincial governments and agencies, researchers, and policymakers.

Active Targeting Gold Nanoparticle for Chemotherapy Drug Delivery: A Review

Objective Active targeting strategy in chemotherapy drug delivery aims to improve the therapeutic outcomes and minimise the side effects of chemotherapeutics. This review discusses utilising ligands attached to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) along with several specific ligands attached to AuNPs for active targeting in chemotherapy drug delivery. Key finding Antibodies, peptides, vitamins, DNA, polysaccharides, aptamers, and hormones showed active-targeting abilities as ligands attached to AuNPs. Active-targeting AuNPs enhanced cellular uptake and cytotoxicity in a specific cancer cell in vitro while reducing tumor growth in vivo by improving the photothermal, photodynamic and chemotherapy effects. Active-targeting ligands increased the internalization of AuNPs loaded onto the specific tumour site and minimised the accumulation in the normal site. Conclusion AuNPs with active-targeting ligands such as antibodies, peptides, vitamins, DNA polysaccharides, aptamers, and hormones can improve the therapeutic outcomes of chemotherapeutics and can attenuate the toxicity effect in normal cells. For further research and development, researchers should be addressing AuNP characterization, drug–ligand disposition, active-targeting AuNP quantification, and target-AuNPs pertinence concerning the desired therapeutic outcomes.

Artificial intelligence in oncology: current applications and future perspectives

Artificial intelligence (AI) is concretely reshaping the landscape and horizons of oncology, opening new important opportunities for improving the management of cancer patients. Analysing the AI-based devices that have already obtained the official approval by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), here we show that cancer diagnostics is the oncology-related area in which AI is already entered with the largest impact into clinical practice. Furthermore, breast, lung and prostate cancers represent the specific cancer types that now are experiencing more advantages from AI-based devices. The future perspectives of AI in oncology are discussed: the creation of multidisciplinary platforms, the comprehension of the importance of all neoplasms, including rare tumours and the continuous support for guaranteeing its growth represent in this time the most important challenges for finalising the ‘AI-revolution’ in oncology.