The Connection between MicroRNAs and Oral Cancer Pathogenesis: Emerging Biomarkers in Oral Cancer Management.

Oral cancer is a common human malignancy that still maintains an elevated mortality rate despite scientific progress. Tumorigenesis is driven by altered gene expression patterns of proto-oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes. MicroRNAs, a class of short non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation, seem to play important roles in oral cancer development, progression, and tumor microenvironment modulation. As properties of microRNAs render them stable in diverse liquid biopsies, together with their differential expression signature in cancer cells, these features place microRNAs at the top of promising biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic values. In this review, we highlight eight expression levels and functions of the most relevant microRNAs involved in oral cancer development, progression, and microenvironment sustainability. Furthermore, we emphasize the potential of using these small RNA species as non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of oral cancerous lesions. Conclusively, we highlight the perspectives and limitations of microRNAs as novel diagnostic tools, as well as therapeutic models.

Salivary exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers for head and neck cancer detection-a literature review.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRs) are small, non-coding mRNA molecules which regulate cellular processes in tumorigenesis. miRs were discovered in extracellular environment and biological fluids, carrying marks of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). They were also identified in abundance in salivary exosomes, in which they are protected by exosome lipid barrier against enzymatic injuries and therefore, the accuracy of exosomal miR-based cancer detection increase. This systematic review aimed to reveal and inventorize the most reliable exosomal miRNAs in saliva samples which can be used as novel biomarkers for early detection of HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search, according to PRISMA guideline, was performed on Pubmed and Google Academic libraries, based on specific keywords. Original articles published between 2010 and 2021 were selected. The quality of each paper was assessed using the Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool. RESULTS: At the end of selection process, five studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies analyzed twelve salivary exosomal miRs, presenting different methods of exosome and miR identification for HNSCC detection. A comprehensive explanation of the miR pathways of action was drawn and illustrated in this review. CONCLUSION: Exosomal miRs are promising biomarkers for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer detection. miR-10b-5p, miR-486-5p, miR-24-3p and miR-200a stand as the most useful ones in saliva sample examination.

Correction: Genetically enhanced T lymphocytes and the intensive care unit.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24637.].

Genetically enhanced T lymphocytes and the intensive care unit.

Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T cells) and donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) are important protocols in lymphocyte engineering. CAR-T cells have emerged as a new modality for cancer immunotherapy due to their potential efficacy against hematological malignancies. These genetically modified receptors contain an antigen-binding moiety, a hinge region, a transmembrane domain, and an intracellular costimulatory domain resulting in lymphocyte T cell activation subsequent to antigen binding. In present-day medicine, four generations of CAR-T cells are described depending on the intracellular signaling domain number of T cell receptors. DLI represents a form of adoptive therapy used after hematopoietic stem cell transplant for its anti-tumor and anti-infectious properties. This article covers the current status of CAR-T cells and DLI research in the intensive care unit (ICU) patient, including the efficacy, toxicity, side effects and treatment.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells for the Treatment of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell technology has seen a rapid development over the last decade mostly due to the potential that these cells may have in treating malignant diseases. It is a generally accepted principle that very few therapeutic compounds deliver a clinical response without treatment-related toxicity, and studies have shown that CAR T-cells are not an exception to this rule. While large multinational drug companies are currently investigating the potential role of CAR T-cells in hematological oncology, the potential of such cellular therapies are being recognized worldwide as they are expected to expand in the patient to support the establishment of the immune memory, provide a continuous surveillance to prevent and/or treat a relapse, and keep the targeted malignant cell subpopulation in check. In this article, we present the possible advantages of using CAR T-cells in treating acute lymphoblastic leukemia, presenting the technology and the current knowledge in their preclinical and early clinical trial use. Thus, this article first presents the main present-day knowledge on the standard of care for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Afterward, current knowledge is presented about the use of CAR T-cells in cancer immunotherapy, describing their design, the molecular constructs, and the preclinical data on murine models to properly explain the background for their clinical use. Last, but certainly not least, this article presents the use of CAR T-cells for the immunotherapy of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, describing both their potential clinical advantages and the possible side effects.