Colorectal Cancer-The Worst Enemy Is the One We Do Not Know.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in humans. It is the third most frequently diagnosed malignant neoplasm and is the second highest cause of cancer mortality in the world. Every year, more and more people die of colorectal cancer because the diagnosis is conducted too late. This shows how important a role screening tests and the awareness of the population about the symptoms play in this aspect. This article aimed to determine the knowledge of the Polish population about morbidity, symptoms, prevention, and subjective feelings about the level of availability of knowledge about colorectal cancer. METHODS: In 2020, a study was conducted using an online questionnaire assessing the awareness of the Polish population about colorectal cancer. A self-authored questionnaire including questions about socio-demographic characteristics, and 18 questions related to substantive issues, was used. A research group was selected (n = 633). The substantive part of the questionnaire included questions examining the respondents' knowledge about morbidity, symptoms, prevention, and subjective feelings about the level of availability of knowledge about colorectal cancer. RESULTS: The respondents' awareness level was influenced by demographic factors, such as gender: (p < 0.05) and age (p < 0.05) and social factors, such as: level of education (p < 0.05) or professional situation (p < 0.05). Compared to thematic articles from other countries, the research group was divided into smaller subgroups due to the abovementioned factors, due to which it was possible to stratify and analyze the significance of differences between them.

γδ T Lymphocytes as a Double-Edged Sword-State of the Art in Gynecological Diseases.

Human gamma-delta (γδ) T cells are a heterogeneous cell population that bridges the gap between innate and acquired immunity. They are involved in a variety of immunological processes, including tumor escape mechanisms. However, by being prolific cytokine producers, these lymphocytes also participate in antitumor cytotoxicity. Which one of the two possibilities takes place depends on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the subpopulation of γδ T lymphocytes. The aim of this paper is to summarize existing knowledge about the phenotype and dual role of γδ T cells in cancers, including ovarian cancer (OC). OC is the third most common gynecological cancer and the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Anticancer immunity in OC is modulated by the TME, including by immunosuppressive cells, cytokines, and soluble factors. Immune cells are exposed in the TME to many signals that determine their immunophenotype and can manipulate their functions. The significance of γδ T cells in the pathophysiology of OC is enigmatic and remains to be investigated.

Clinical Value of the PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2 Pathway in Patients Suffering from Endometriosis.

The interaction between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells mediated by the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2) pathway is the most important point in regulating immunological tolerance and autoimmunity. Disturbances in the quantity, maturity, and activity of DCs may be involved in the implantation and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus in endometriosis (EMS). However, little is known about the role of the immune checkpoint pathways in EMS. In our study, we examined the expression of PD-L1/PD-L2 on myeloid DCs (mDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in the peripheral blood (PB) and peritoneal fluid (PF) of both EMS patients (n = 72) and healthy subjects (n = 20) via flow cytometry. The concentration of soluble PD-L1 and PD-L2 in the plasma and PF of EMS patients and the control group were determined using ELISA. We demonstrated an elevated percentage of mDCs, mDCs and pDCs with the PD-L1or PD-L2 expression, and a higher concentration of the soluble forms of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in the PF than in the plasma of EMS patients. We conclude that the peritoneal cavity environment and the PD-1/PD-L1/PD-L2 axis may play an important role in the modulation of immune response and the development and/or progression of EMS.