Decoding the secrets of small extracellular vesicle communications: exploring the inhibition of vesicle-associated pathways and interception strategies for cancer treatment.

Cancer disease is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In 2023, about 2 million new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths are projected to occur in the United States. The driving forces of cancer progression and metastasis are widely varied and comprise multifactorial events. Although there is significant success in treating cancer, patients still present with tumors at advanced stages. Therefore, the discovery of novel oncologic pathways has been widely developed. Tumor cells communicate with each other through small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which contribute to tumor-stromal interaction and promote tumor growth and metastasis. sEV-specific inhibitors are being investigated as a next-generation cancer therapy. A literature search was conducted to discuss different options for targeting sEV pathways in cancer cells. However, there are some challenges that need to be addressed in targeting sEVs: i) specificity and toxicity of sEV inhibitor, ii) targeted delivery of sEV inhibitors, iii) combination of sEV inhibitors with current standard chemotherapy to improve patients' clinical outcomes, and iv) data reproducibility and applicability at distinct levels of the disease. Despite these challenges, sEV inhibitors have immense potential for effectively treating cancer patients.

Radioprotective effect of Curcuma longa extract on γ-irradiation-induced oxidative stress in rats.

This study was conducted to evaluate the modulatory effect of aqueous extract of Curcuma longa (L.) against γ-irradiation (GR), which induces biochemical disorders in male rats. The sublethal dose of GR was determined in primary hepatocytes. Also, the effect of C. longa extract was examined for its activity against GR. In rats, C. longa extract was administered daily (200 mg/kg body mass) for 21 days before, and 7 days after GR exposure (6.5 Gy). The lipid profile and antioxidant status, as well as levels of transaminases, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) were assessed. The results showed that in hepatocytes, the aqueous extract exhibited radioprotective activity against exposure to GR. Exposure of untreated rats to GR resulted in transaminase disorders, lipid abnormalities, elevation of lipid peroxidation, trace element alterations, release of IL-6 and TNF, and decrease in glutathione and protein level of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) and peroxiredoxin-1 (PRDX-1). However, treatment of rats with this extract before and after GR exposure improved antioxidant status and minimized the radiation-induced increase in inflammatory cytokines. Changes occurred in the tissue levels of trace elements, and the protein levels of SOD-1 and PRDX-1 were also modulated by C. longa extract. Overall, C. longa exerted a beneficial radioprotective effect against radiation-induced oxidative stress in male rats by alleviating pathological disorders and modulating antioxidant enzymes.