Progastrin: An Overview of Its Crucial Role in the Tumorigenesis of Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Defining predictive biomarkers for targeted therapies and optimizing anti-tumor immune response is a main challenge in ongoing investigations. Progastrin has been studied as a potential biomarker for detecting and diagnosing various malignancies, and its secretion has been associated with cell proliferation in the gastrointestinal tract that may promote tumorigenesis. Progastrin is a precursor molecule of gastrin, synthesized as pre-progastrin, converted to progastrin after cleavage, and transformed into amidated gastrin via biosynthetic intermediates. In cancer, progastrin does not maturate in gastrin and becomes a circulating and detectable protein (hPG80). The development of cancer is thought to be dependent on the progressive dysregulation of normal signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, thus conferring a growth advantage to the cells. Understanding the interaction between progastrin and the immune system is essential for developing future cancer strategies. To that end, the present review will approach the interlink between gastrointestinal cancers and progastrin by exploring the underlying molecular steps involved in the initiation, evolution, and progression of gastrointestinal cancers. Finally, this review will focus on the clinical applications of progastrin and investigate its possible use as a diagnostic and prognostic tumor circulating biomarker for disease progression and treatment effectiveness, as well as its potential role as an innovative cancer target.

A Current Synopsis of the Emerging Role of Extracellular Vesicles and Micro-RNAs in Pancreatic Cancer: A Forward-Looking Plan for Diagnosis and Treatment.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, while it persists as the fourth most prevalent cause of cancer-related death in the United States of America. Although there are several novel therapeutic strategies for the approach of this intensely aggressive tumor, it remains a clinical challenge, as it is hard to identify in early stages, due to its asymptomatic course. A diagnosis is usually established when the disease is already in its late stages, while its chemoresistance constitutes an obstacle to the optimal management of this malignancy. The discovery of novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools is considered a necessity for this tumor, due to its low survival rates and treatment failures. One of the most extensively investigated potential diagnostic and therapeutic modalities is extracellular vesicles (EVs). These vesicles constitute nanosized double-lipid membraned particles that are characterized by a high heterogeneity that emerges from their distinct biogenesis route, their multi-variable sizes, and the particular cargoes that are embedded into these particles. Their pivotal role in cell-to-cell communication via their cargo and their implication in the pathophysiology of several diseases, including pancreatic cancer, opens new horizons in the management of this malignancy. Meanwhile, the interplay between pancreatic carcinogenesis and short non-coding RNA molecules (micro-RNAs or miRs) is in the spotlight of current studies, as they can have either a role as tumor suppressors or promoters. The deregulation of both of the aforementioned molecules leads to several aberrations in the function of pancreatic cells, leading to carcinogenesis. In this review, we will explore the role of extracellular vesicles and miRNAs in pancreatic cancer, as well as their potent utilization as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Evaluation of the Histone Deacetylase 2 (HDAC-2) Expression in Human Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Triple negative breast cancer belongs to the most aggressive breast cancer forms. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) constitute a class of enzymes that exhibit a significant role in breast cancer genesis and progression. In this study, we aimed at assessing the clinical importance of HDAC-2 in triple negative breast cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 138 breast cancer specimens were examined on an immunohistochemical basis. A statistical analysis was performed in order to examine the association between HDAC-2 and the survival and clinicopathological features of the patients. RESULTS: Increased HDAC-2 expression was observed in every fourth case of triple negative breast cancer with positive HDAC-2 staining, whereas only 12 out of 98 non-triple negative breast cancer samples showed high HDAC-2 expression. HDAC-2 overexpression correlated with prolonged overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in triple negative breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: High HDAC-2 levels in triple negative breast cancer seem to positively influence patient survival, disease stage and recurrence.

Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Uveitis Syndrome: A Report of 6 Cases with Renal Biopsy and Electron Microscopy Evaluation.

Tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis syndrome is a rare, immune-mediated entity, characterized by oculo-renal inflammation. Diagnosis requires the exclusion of all other causes of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN). We present 6 patients with clinical, laboratory, and renal biopsy findings denotative of tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis syndrome. All our patients experienced ocular and renal manifestations, defined by bilateral uveitis and photosensitivity, along with a decline of renal function. In some patients, increased serum creatinine was accompanied by non-nephrotic range proteinuria, glucosuria or "full-blown" Fanconi syndrome. The rest of the laboratory evaluation was normal apart from the presence of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and increased urine ß2-microglobulin, as well as normochromic, normocytic anemia in some cases. All patients underwent renal biopsy. Histochemical (PAS, Masson, silver, Congo-red) and immunohistochemical stains for immune cell populations (CD3, CD20, CD4, CD8, PGM1, CD138) and for the assessment of ß2-microglobulin were conducted. Electron microscopy examination of the biopsies was also performed. Follow-up, ranging from 18 months to 10 years, was available for 4 patients. Histological evaluation revealed interstitial inflammatory infiltration consisting mainly of lymphocytes, with a T-cell predominance, along with several macrophages. Inflammation severity varied among different patients, with some showing scarce foci of immune cell clusters, while others demonstrated a dense, diffuse interstitial infiltration. Interestingly, in 2 cases, a granulomatous pattern, characterized by non-necrotic, ill-defined granulomas was detected. Tubulitis was also encountered in some patients. A divergence was noted regarding the chronicity index, with different levels of tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and global glomerulosclerosis among different cases. ß2-Microglobulin immunohistochemical evaluation revealed a substantial diminishment of cytoplasmic staining in tubular epithelial cells compared to control kidneys. The most notable finding derived from electron microscopy examination was the presence, in 1 patient, of scattered granular electron-dense deposits along some tubular basement membranes. First-line treatment included steroids, supplemented in some cases by additional immunosuppressive agents. Three patients experienced a partial or complete response, while progressive renal damage was observed in a case with severe chronic lesions and persistence of inflammation-triggering factor. Our cases seem to represent progressive stages within the continuum of disease evolution. Patients with more prominent inflammation might represent a more initial state, while those with a more severe chronicity index, probably depict more advanced stages. While the predominance of T-cells predicates a cell-mediated autoimmune mechanism, as the driving force of the disease occurrence, the presence of immune complexes in more advanced stages might indicate the involvement of humoral immunity as a late event during the disease course.

The Arising Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Rundown of the Current Knowledge Regarding Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches.

Cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) constitute a heterogeneous group of highly malignant epithelial tumors arising from the biliary tree. This cluster of malignant tumors includes three distinct entities, the intrahepatic, perihilar, and distal CCAs, which are characterized by different epidemiological and molecular backgrounds, as well as prognosis and therapeutic approaches. The higher incidence of CCA over the last decades, the late diagnostic time that contributes to a high mortality and poor prognosis, as well as its chemoresistance, intensified the efforts of the scientific community for the development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic approaches. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) comprise highly heterogenic, multi-sized, membrane-enclosed nanostructures that are secreted by a large variety of cells via different routes of biogenesis. Their role in intercellular communication via their cargo that potentially contributes to disease development and progression, as well as their prospect as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic tools, has become the focus of interest of several current studies for several diseases, including CCA. The aim of this review is to give a rundown of the current knowledge regarding the emerging role of EVs in cholangiocarcinogenesis and their future perspectives as diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Effects of Hypericin on Cultured Primary Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts Under Increased Oxidative Stress.

INTRODUCTION: Wound healing is a dynamic process that begins with inflammation, proliferation, and cell migration of a variety of fibroblast cells. As a result, identifying possible compounds that may improve fibroblast cell wound healing capacity is crucial. Hypericin is a natural quinine that has been reported to possess a wide range of pharmacological profiles, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, activities. Herein we examined for the first time the effect of hypericin on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) under oxidative stress. METHODS: NHDF were exposed to different concentrations of hypericin (0-20 µg/mL) for 24 h. For the oxidative stress evaluation, H2O2 was used as a stressor factor. Cell viability and proliferation levels were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to assess cell apoptosis levels and with confocal microscopy we identified the mitochondrial superoxide production under oxidative stress and after the treatment with hypericin. Scratch assay was performed under oxidative stress to evaluate the efficacy of hypericin in wound closure. To gain an insight into the molecular mechanisms of hypericin bioactivity, we analyzed the relative expression levels of genes involved in oxidative response and in wound healing process. RESULTS: We found that the exposure of NHDF to hypericin under oxidative stress resulted in an increase in cell viability and ATP levels. We found a decrease in apoptosis and mitochondrial superoxide levels after treatment with hypericin. Moreover, treatment with hypericin reduced wound area and promoted wound closure. The levels of selected genes showed that hypericin upregulated the levels of antioxidants genes. Moreover, treatment with hypericin in wound under oxidative stress downregulated the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and metalloproteinases; and upregulated transcription factors and extracellular matrix genes. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that hypericin possesses significant in vitro antioxidant activity on NHDF and provide new insights into its potential beneficial role in the management of diabetic ulcers.

Unusual Presentation of an Uncommon Malignancy: A 74-Year-Old Woman with Aggressive Fibromatosis of the Large Intestine Presenting as a Liver Mass and the Therapeutic Management.

BACKGROUND Desmoid tumors are a fibroblastic proliferation of soft tissues, with an extreme inclination for local dissemination and recurrence. Surgical excision is the usual treatment choice, with data regarding pharmaceutical treatment being scarce. CASE REPORT A 74-year-old female patient was admitted to "Laikon" General Hospital of Athens, Greece presenting with acute kidney injury secondary to diarrhea. The ultrasound, CT, and abdominal MRI performed showed a 12×6×10 cm tumorous liver lesion. Biopsy of the lesion revealed loosely organized, mesenchymal tissue with spindle cells, and myxoid stroma. Immunochemistry was positive for SMA and b-catenin. Right hemicolectomy was performed with tumor-free surgical margins (R0 resection) and tamoxifen was initiated. Six months after the last MRI (3 months after the use of tamoxifen), a follow-up MRI was performed. The tumor had increased to 14.2×11×12.3 cm, and at the next follow-up it had grown to 20.3×19 cm maximal dimensions; no new metastases were found. The patient received sorafenib and pazopanib. Our patient had PFS with sorafenib for more than 2 years and remained in a good performance status (ECOG 1). For Pazopanid, the median PFS for this treatment option was 6.5 months. CONCLUSIONS The results were good and show a promising method for the treatment of this rare but severe malignancy.

The Role of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Uterine Cancer Therapy.

Endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma represent the two major types of uterine cancer. In advanced stages, both cancer entities are challenging to treat and correlate with a meagre survival and prognosis. Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a form of localized chemotherapy that is heated to improve the chemotherapeutic effect on peritoneal metastases. The aim of the current review is to study the role of HIPEC in the treatment of uterine cancer. A literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases with a view to identifying relevant studies. By employing the search terms "hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy", "uterine cancer", "endometrial cancer", and/or "uterine sarcoma", we managed to identify 26 studies published between 2004 and 2023. The present work embodies the most up-to-date, comprehensive review of the literature centering on the particular role of HIPEC as treatment modality for peritoneally metastasized uterine cancer. Patients treated with cytoreductive surgery, alongside HIPEC, seem to profit from not only higher survival but also lower recurrence rates. Factors such as the completeness of cytoreductive surgery, the peritoneal cancer index, the histologic subtype, or the applied chemotherapeutic agent, all influence HIPEC therapy effectiveness. In summary, HIPEC seems to represent a promising treatment alternative for aggressive uterine cancer.

Liver Cancer and Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Liver cancer constitutes one of the leading cancers globally. During pregnancy, however, liver cancer is an absolute rarity, with very few cases reported in the international literature. The aim of the present review was to provide a useful update and summarize all case studies of liver cancer in pregnancy published between 2012-2023. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE, LIVIVO, and Google Scholar databases. Solely case reports and case studies written in the English language that explicitly reported on the presence of histologically confirmed HCC or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma during pregnancy were included in the data analysis. RESULTS: After detailed evaluation, a total of 35 reported cases of liver cancer during pregnancy were identified, hence bringing the total number of reported cases globally to 83. Oncological challenges during pregnancy call for an interdisciplinary approach. Although the desire to preserve the pregnancy should be taken into consideration, specialists need to evaluate maternal and fetal well-being and choose the optimal oncological treatment with the least dangers for both the maternal and fetal safety. CONCLUSION: The present review proves that, despite its scarcity, liver cancer may always occur during pregnancy and clinicians should, therefore, remain vigilant and endeavor to detect and evaluate any hepatic mass or symptoms of liver cancer promptly and exhaustively.

Resistance to hormone therapy in breast cancer cells promotes autophagy and EGFR signaling pathway.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women worldwide. Endocrine therapies represent the cornerstone for hormone-dependent breast cancer treatment. However, in many cases, endocrine resistance is induced with poor prognosis for patients. In the current study, we have developed MCF-7 cell lines resistant to fulvestrant (MCF-7Fulv) and tamoxifen (MCF-7Tam) aiming at investigating mechanisms underlying resistance. Both resistant cell lines exerted lower proliferation capacity in two-dimensional (2-D) cultures but retain estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression and proliferate independent of the presence of estrogens. The established cell lines tend to be more aggressive exhibiting advanced capacity to form colonies, increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and heterodimerization of ERBB family receptors and activation of EGFR downstream pathways like MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/AKT. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors tested against resistant MCF-7Fulv and MCF-7Tam cells showed moderate efficacy to inhibit cell proliferation, except for lapatinib, which concomitantly inhibits both EGFR and HER2 receptors and strongly reduced cell proliferation. Furthermore, increased autophagy was observed in resistant MCF-7Fulv and MCF-7Tam cells as shown by the presence of autophagosomes and increased Beclin-1 levels. The increased autophagy in resistant cells is not associated with increased apoptosis, suggesting a cytoprotective role for autophagy that may favor cells' survival and aggressiveness. Thus, by exploiting those underlying mechanisms, new targets could be established to overcome endocrine resistance.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The development of resistance to hormone therapy caused by both fulvestrant and tamoxifen promotes autophagy with concomitant apoptosis evasion, rendering cells capable of surviving and growing. The fact that resistance also triggers ERBB family signaling pathways, which are poorly inhibited by tyrosine kinase inhibitors might attribute to cells' aggressiveness. It is obvious that the development of endocrine therapy resistance involves a complex interplay between deregulated ERBB signaling and autophagy that may be considered in clinical practice.

Receptor-Binding-Domain-Specific B Cell Responses Induced by mRNA Immunization against SARS-CoV-2.

mRNA vaccines have been instrumental in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, but the short-lived protection mediated by Receptor Binding Domain (RBD)-specific antibodies necessitates frequent revaccinations to enhance vaccine-induced immunity. The development of RBD-specific B cell memory is critical for improving the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the immune response. However, the effect of additional doses of mRNA vaccines on the composition of the RBD-specific B cell memory pool remains unclear. In this study, we found that dual BNT162b2 vaccination significantly increased both total RBD-specific and memory RBD-specific B cells and neutralizing antibodies. Following the second BNT162b2 dose, we showed a trend for the enrichment of CD27+IgM- memory RBD-specific B cells, which are known to correlate with a strong humoral response upon re-challenge. Repeated Measures Correlation (rmcorr) analysis revealed a significant correlation between antibody titers and both total and memory RBD-specific B cells, demonstrating that B cell and antibody responses are generated in a coordinated manner following BNT162b2 mRNA immunization. Our findings indicate that additional doses of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine enhance the qualitative and quantitative enrichment of the memory B cell pool against the vaccine antigens and collectively demonstrate the induction of a coordinated immune response to mRNA vaccination.

The Emerging Role of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors in Cervical Cancer Therapy.

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most common cancers among women globally. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) constitute anticancer drugs that, by increasing the histone acetylation level in various cell types, induce differentiation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. The aim of the current review is to study the role of HDACIs in the treatment of cervical cancer. A literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases with a view to identifying relevant studies. By employing the search terms "histone deacetylase" and "cervical cancer", we managed to identify 95 studies published between 2001 and 2023. The present work embodies the most up-to-date, comprehensive review of the literature centering on the particular role of HDACIs as treatment agents for cervical cancer. Both well-established and novel HDACIs seem to represent modern, efficacious anticancer drugs, which, alone or in combination with other treatments, may successfully inhibit cervical cancer cell growth, induce cell cycle arrest, and provoke apoptosis. In summary, histone deacetylases seem to represent promising future treatment targets in cervical cancer.

An Insight into the Arising Role of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Future Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a frequent highly malignant form of primary liver cancer and is the third cause of death attributable to malignancy. Despite the improvement in the therapeutic strategies with the exploration of novel pharmacological agents, the survival rate for HCC is still low. Shedding light on the multiplex genetic and epigenetic background of HCC, such as on the emerging role of microRNAs, is considered quite promising for the diagnosis and the prediction of this malignancy, as well as for combatting drug resistance. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute small noncoding RNA sequences, which play a key role in the regulation of several signaling and metabolic pathways, as well as of pivotal cellular functions such as autophagy, apoptosis, and cell proliferation. It is also demonstrated that miRNAs are significantly implicated in carcinogenesis, either acting as tumor suppressors or oncomiRs, while aberrations in their expression levels are closely associated with tumor growth and progression, as well as with local invasion and metastatic dissemination. The arising role of miRNAs in HCC is in the spotlight of the current scientific research, aiming at the development of novel therapeutic perspectives. In this review, we will shed light on the emerging role of miRNAs in HCC.

Histone H3K9 methyltransferase SETDB1 overexpression correlates with pediatric high-grade gliomas progression and prognosis.

Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) are heterogeneous, diffuse, and highly infiltrative tumors with dismal prognosis. Aberrant post-translational histone modifications with elevated histone 3 lysine trimethylation (H3K9me3) have been recently implicated in pHGGs' pathology, conferring to tumor heterogeneity. The present study investigates the potential involvement of H3K9me3 methyltransferase SETDB1 in the cellular function, progression, and clinical significance of pHGG. The bioinformatic analysis detected SETDB1 enrichment in pediatric gliomas compared to the normal brain, as well as positive and negative correlations with a proneural and mesenchymal signature, respectively. In our cohort of pHGGs, SETDB1 expression was significantly increased compared to pLGG and normal brain tissue and correlated with p53 expression, as well as reduced patients' survival. In accordance, H3K9me3 levels were also elevated in pHGG compared to the normal brain and were associated with worse patient survival. Gene silencing of SETDB1 in two patient-derived pHGG cell lines showed a significant reduction in cell viability followed by reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. SETDB1 silencing further reduced cell migration of pHGG cells and the expression of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin and vimentin. mRNA analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers upon SETDB1 silencing showed a reduction in SNAI1 levels and downregulation of CDH2 along with the EMT regulator gene MARCKS. In addition, SETDB1 silencing significantly increased the bivalent tumor suppressor gene SLC17A7 mRNA levels in both cell lines, indicating its implication in the oncogenic process.Altogether, our findings demonstrate a predominant oncogenic role of SETDB1 in pHGG which along with elevated H3K9me3 levels correlate significantly to tumor progression and inferior patients' survival. There is evidence that targeting SETDB1 may effectively inhibit pHGG progression, providing a novel insight into the therapeutic strategies for pediatric gliomas. KEY MESSAGES: SETDB1 gene expression is enriched in pHGG compared to normal brain. SETDB1 expression is increased in pHGG tissues and associates with reduced patients' survival. Gene silencing of SETDB1 reduces cell viability and migration. SETDB1 silencing affects mesenchymal markers expression. SETDB1 silencing upregulates SLC17A7 levels. SETDB1 has an oncogenic role in pHGG.

FDA-Approved Monoclonal Antibodies for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: What Do We Know So Far?

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an advanced primary liver malignancy with a poor prognosis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has, to date, approved nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ramucirumab, nivolumab/ipilimumab, atezolizumab/bevacizumab, as well as tremelimumab/durvalumab, as first- or second-line monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for unresectable HCC. The present review examines the current state of knowledge, and provides a useful update on the safety and efficacy of these therapeutic agents, thus attempting to define the suitability of each mAb for different patient subgroups.

Exploiting Autophagy-Dependent Neoantigen Presentation in Tumor Microenvironment.

Autophagy constitutes a well-known homeostatic and catabolic process that is responsible for degradation and recycling of cellular components. It is a key regulatory mechanism for several cellular functions, whereas its dysregulation is associated with tumorigenesis, tumor-stroma interactions and resistance to cancer therapy. A growing body of evidence has proven that autophagy affects the tumor microenvironment, while it is also considered a key factor for function of several immune cells, such as APCs, T-cells, and macrophages. Moreover, it is implicated in presentation of neo-antigens of tumor cells in both MHC-I and MHC-II in dendritic cells (DCs) in functional activity of immune cells by creating T-cell memory, as well as in cross-presentation of neo-antigens for MHC-I presentation and the internalization process. Currently, autophagy has a crucial role in immunotherapy. Emergence of cancer immunotherapy has already shown some remarkable results, having changed therapeutic strategy in clinical practice for several cancer types. Despite these promising long-term responses, several patients seem to lack the ability to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Thus, autophagy through neo-antigen presentation is a potential target in order to strengthen or attenuate the effects of immunotherapy against different types of cancer. This review will shed light on the recent advances and future directions of autophagy-dependent neo-antigen presentation and consequently its role in immunotherapy for malignant tumors.

Predictive Biomarkers for Immune-Related Endocrinopathies following Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Treatment.

In recent years, in the context of the increase in the life expectancy of cancer patients, special attention has been given to immunotherapy and, indeed, to immune checkpoint inhibitors. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has increased rapidly, and approximately 40% of cancer patients are eligible for this treatment. Although their impact is valuable on cancer treatment, immune checkpoint inhibitors come with side effects, known as immune-related adverse effects. These can affect many systems, including cutaneous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, endocrine, neural, and pulmonary systems. In this review, we focus on immune-related endocrinopathies that affect around 10% of all treated patients. Endocrine dysfunctions can manifest as hypophysitis, thyroid dysfunction, hypoparathyroidism, insulin-deficient diabetes mellitus, and primary adrenal insufficiency. Currently, there are multiple ongoing clinical trials that aim to identify possible predictive biomarkers for immune-related adverse effects. The design of those clinical trials relies on collecting a variety of biological specimens (tissue biopsy, blood, plasma, saliva, and stool) at baseline and regular intervals during treatment. In this review, we present the predictive biomarkers (such as antibodies, hormones, cytokines, human leukocyte antigens, and eosinophils) that could potentially be utilized in clinical practice in order to predict adverse effects and manage them appropriately.

Targeting autophagy in pancreatic cancer: The cancer stem cell perspective.

Pancreatic cancer is currently the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with the estimated death toll approaching half a million annually. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common (>90% of cases) and most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, with extremely poor prognosis and very low survival rates. PDAC is initiated by genetic alterations, usually in the oncogene KRAS and tumor suppressors CDKN2A, TP53 and SMAD4, which in turn affect a number of downstream signaling pathways that regulate important cellular processes. One of the processes critically altered is autophagy, the mechanism by which cells clear away and recycle impaired or dysfunctional organelles, protein aggregates and other unwanted components, in order to achieve homeostasis. Autophagy plays conflicting roles in PDAC and has been shown to act both as a positive effector, promoting the survival of pancreatic tumor-initiating cells, and as a negative effector, increasing cytotoxicity in uncontrollably expanding cells. Recent findings have highlighted the importance of cancer stem cells in PDAC initiation, progression and metastasis. Pancreatic cancer stem cells (PaCSCs) comprise a small subpopulation of the pancreatic tumor, characterized by cellular plasticity and the ability to self-renew, and autophagy has been recognised as a key process in PaCSC maintenance and function, simultaneously suggesting new strategies to achieve their selective elimination. In this review we evaluate recent literature that links autophagy with PaCSCs and PDAC, focusing our discussion on the therapeutic implications of pharmacologically targeting autophagy in PaCSCs, as a means to treat PDAC.

Targeted Therapies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment: A New Era Ahead-A Systematic Review.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most common malignancies and the third cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with surgery being the best prognostic tool. Among the well-known causative factors of HCC are chronic liver virus infections, chronic virus hepatitis B (HBV) and chronic hepatitis virus C (HCV), aflatoxins, tobacco consumption, and non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD). There is a need for the development of efficient molecular markers and alternative therapeutic targets of great significance. In this review, we describe the general characteristics of HCC and present a variety of targeted therapies that resulted in progress in HCC therapy.

Immune Microenvironment and Immunotherapeutic Management in Virus-Associated Digestive System Tumors.

The development of cancer is a multifactorial phenomenon, while it constitutes a major global health problem. Viruses are an important factor that is involved in tumorigenesis and is associated with 12.1% of all cancer cases. Major examples of oncogenic viruses which are closely associated with the digestive system are HBV, HCV, EBV, HPV, JCV, and CMV. EBV, HPV, JCV, and CMV directly cause oncogenesis by expressing oncogenic proteins that are encoded in their genome. In contrast, HBV and HCV are correlated indirectly with carcinogenesis by causing chronic inflammation in the infected organs. In addition, the tumor microenvironment contains various immune cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, as well as several growth factors, cytokines, and other tumor-secreted molecules that play a key role in tumor growth, progression, and migration, while they are closely interrelated with the virus. The presence of T-regulatory and B-regulatory cells in the tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the anti-tumor immune reaction. The tumor immune microenvironments differ in each type of cancer and depend on viral infection. The alterations in the immune microenvironment caused by viruses are also reflected in the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The present review aims at shedding light on the association between viruses and digestive system malignancies, the characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment that develop, and the possible treatments that can be administered.