Discussion on Multiple Cancer and Cancer in Twins

: The development of recombinant immunotoxins (RITs) as a novel therapeutic strategy has made a revolution in the treatment of cancer. RITs are resulting from the fusion of antibodies to toxin proteins for targeting and eliminating cancerous cells by inhibiting protein synthesis. Despite indisputable outcomes of RITs regarding inhibiting multiple cancer types, high immunogenicity has been known as the main obstacle in the clinical use of RITs. Various strategies have been proposed to overcome these limitations, including immunosuppressive therapy, humanization of the antibody fragment moiety, generation of immunotoxins originated from endogenous human cytotoxic enzymes, and modification of the toxin moiety to escape the immune system. This paper devoted to reviewing recent advances in the design of immunotoxins with lower immunogenicity.

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Modulation of the Immune Response by Deferasirox in Myelodysplastic Syndrome Patients

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14010041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 41

Author(s):

Hana Votavova ◽

Zuzana Urbanova ◽

David Kundrat ◽

Michaela Dostalova Merkerova ◽

Martin Vostry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Response ◽

Blood Cell ◽

Myelodysplastic Syndrome ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Adaptive Immune Response ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Iron Chelator ◽

Multiple Cancer

Deferasirox (DFX) is an oral iron chelator used to reduce iron overload (IO) caused by frequent blood cell transfusions in anemic myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients. To study the molecular mechanisms by which DFX improves outcome in MDS, we analyzed the global gene expression in untreated MDS patients and those who were given DFX treatment. The gene expression profiles of bone marrow CD34+ cells were assessed by whole-genome microarrays. Initially, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined between patients with normal ferritin levels and those with IO to address the effect of excessive iron on cellular pathways. These DEGs were annotated to Gene Ontology terms associated with cell cycle, apoptosis, adaptive immune response and protein folding and were enriched in cancer-related pathways. The deregulation of multiple cancer pathways in iron-overloaded patients suggests that IO is a cofactor favoring the progression of MDS. The DEGs between patients with IO and those treated with DFX were involved predominantly in biological processes related to the immune response and inflammation. These data indicate DFX modulates the immune response mainly via neutrophil-related genes. Suppression of negative regulators of blood cell differentiation essential for cell maturation and upregulation of heme metabolism observed in DFX-treated patients may contribute to the hematopoietic improvement.

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Landscape of Chimeric RNAs in Non-Cancerous Cells

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12040466 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 466

Author(s):

Chen Chen ◽

Samuel Haddox ◽

Yue Tang ◽

Fujun Qin ◽

Hui Li

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Cell Lines ◽

Drug Targets ◽

Neoplastic Cell ◽

Multiple Cancer ◽

Chimeric Rnas ◽

Healthy Donors ◽

Cancer Types ◽

Chimeric Rna ◽

Cancerous Cells

Gene fusions and their products (RNA and protein) have been traditionally recognized as unique features of cancer cells and are used as ideal biomarkers and drug targets for multiple cancer types. However, recent studies have demonstrated that chimeric RNAs generated by intergenic alternative splicing can also be found in normal cells and tissues. In this study, we aim to identify chimeric RNAs in different non-neoplastic cell lines and investigate the landscape and expression of these novel candidate chimeric RNAs. To do so, we used HEK-293T, HUVEC, and LO2 cell lines as models, performed paired-end RNA sequencing, and conducted analyses for chimeric RNA profiles. Several filtering criteria were applied, and the landscape of chimeric RNAs was characterized at multiple levels and from various angles. Further, we experimentally validated 17 chimeric RNAs from different classifications. Finally, we examined a number of validated chimeric RNAs in different cancer and non-cancer cells, including blood from healthy donors, and demonstrated their ubiquitous expression pattern.

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Update on the role of pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer

Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology ◽

10.1177/17562848211024460 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 175628482110244

Author(s):

Vanessa Wookey ◽

Axel Grothey

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Immune Checkpoint ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Cancer Type ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Multiple Cancer ◽

Multiple Treatment

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer type in both men and women in the USA. Most patients with CRC are diagnosed as local or regional disease. However, the survival rate for those diagnosed with metastatic disease remains disappointing, despite multiple treatment options. Cancer therapies for patients with unresectable or metastatic CRC are increasingly being driven by particular biomarkers. The development of various immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized cancer therapy over the last decade by harnessing the immune system in the treatment of cancer, and the role of immunotherapy continues to expand and evolve. Pembrolizumab is an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 immune checkpoint inhibitor and has become an essential part of the standard of care in the treatment regimens for multiple cancer types. This paper reviews the increasing evidence supporting and defining the role of pembrolizumab in the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic CRC.

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Characterizing the Heterogeneity of Small Extracellular Vesicle Populations in Multiple Cancer Types via an Ultrasensitive Chip

ACS Sensors ◽

10.1021/acssensors.1c00358 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jing Wang ◽

Alain Wuethrich ◽

Richard J. Lobb ◽

Fiach Antaw ◽

Abu Ali Ibn Sina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Extracellular Vesicle ◽

Multiple Cancer ◽

Cancer Types

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Development of Group B Coxsackievirus as an Oncolytic Virus: Opportunities and Challenges

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13061082 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1082

Author(s):

Huitao Liu ◽

Honglin Luo

Keyword(s):

Tumor Cells ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Oncolytic Viruses ◽

Human Enterovirus ◽

Multiple Cancer ◽

The Family ◽

Cancer Types ◽

Group B ◽

Type 3 ◽

Genus Enterovirus

Oncolytic viruses have emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy due to their dual ability to selectively infect and lyse tumor cells and to induce systemic anti-tumor immunity. Among various candidate viruses, coxsackievirus group B (CVBs) have attracted increasing attention in recent years. CVBs are a group of small, non-enveloped, single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses, belonging to species human Enterovirus B in the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. Preclinical studies have demonstrated potent anti-tumor activities for CVBs, particularly type 3, against multiple cancer types, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. Various approaches have been proposed or applied to enhance the safety and specificity of CVBs towards tumor cells and to further increase their anti-tumor efficacy. This review summarizes current knowledge and strategies for developing CVBs as oncolytic viruses for cancer virotherapy. The challenges arising from these studies and future prospects are also discussed in this review.

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