Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM) gene signaling pathways in human cancers and their therapeutic implications.

Cancer is a multifaceted disease driven by abnormal cell growth and poses a significant global health threat. The multifactorial causes, differences in individual susceptibility to therapeutic drugs, and induced drug resistance pose major challenges in addressing cancers effectively. One of the most important aspects in making cancers highly heterogeneous in their physiology lies in the genes involved and the changes occurring to some of these genes in malignant conditions. The Genetic factors have been implicated in the oncogenesis, progression, responses to treatment, and metastasis. One such gene that plays a key role in human cancers is the mutated form of the Ataxia-telangiectasia gene (ATM). ATM gene located on chromosome 11q23, plays a vital role in maintaining genomic stability. Understanding the genetic basis of A-T is crucial for diagnosis, management, and treatment. Breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, and gastric cancer exhibit varying relationships with the ATM gene and influence their pathways. Targeting the ATM pathway proves promising for enhancing treatment effectiveness, especially in conjunction with DNA damage response pathways. Analyzing the therapeutic consequences of ATM mutations, especially in these cancer types facilitates the approaches for early detection, intervention, development of personalized treatment approaches, and improved patient outcomes. This review emphasizes the role of the ATM gene in various cancers, highlighting its impact on DNA repair pathways and therapeutic responses.

Antioxidant Properties and Reported Ethnomedicinal Use of the Genus Echium (Boraginaceae).

The genus Echium L. from the Boraginaceae family consists of 67 recognised species. The genus is widely distributed in the Mediterranean, having been documented in the traditional medicine of the area since 300 B.C. Current pharmacological studies have validated early ethnomedicinal properties showing that Echium spp. possesses antioxidant, analgesic, anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. Nevertheless, only limited papers report specifically on the phytochemistry of this genus. Furthermore, the potential of utilising extracts from Echium species as natural antioxidant preparations has been significantly neglected. For the first time, this review comprehensively describes and discusses the presence of recorded Echium species with ethnomedicinal uses, their antioxidative properties in vitro and in vivo when available, and major phytochemical components recognised as potent antioxidants, as well as the possibilities and opportunities for future research.