Journal of the Egyptian National Cancer Institute最新文献

Background: Intermediate-risk (IR) neuroblastoma represents a biologically and clinically diverse group of tumors. This study evaluates the feasibility of surgical excision and identifies prognostic factors that influence survival in IR-neuroblastoma patients, particularly those with suboptimal responses to induction chemotherapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 50 pediatric patients diagnosed with IR-neuroblastoma at a tertiary cancer center between 2007 and 2016. Treatment responses, surgical outcomes, and survival data were assessed. Prognostic variables were evaluated using univariable and multivariable models.

Results: After four cycles of induction chemotherapy, 26% of patients showed an objective response, increasing to 62% by treatment completion. Surgical resection was performed in 70% of patients, with a higher proportion among non-responders. Initial response to induction chemotherapy was a significant independent predictor of surgical feasibility (p = 0.022) and final disease status (p = 0.026). Five-year overall survival (OS) was 84%, and event-free survival (EFS) was 72%. Surgical resection significantly improved end-of-treatment disease status in slow-responder patients but did not independently affect OS or EFS.

Conclusion: Moderate-intensity chemotherapy with or without surgery provides acceptable survival outcomes in IR-neuroblastoma. An early favorable response to induction therapy may justify avoiding surgery, while surgical resection remains critical for slow-responder patients.

Purpose: Paclitaxel chemotherapy is known to induce peripheral neuropathy, significantly impacting patients' daily activities. Effective interventions to alleviate these symptoms are crucial for improving patient quality of life. The objective was to investigate the effects of gradient pressure therapy on symptoms of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy and daily activities.

Methods: Eighty patients with breast cancer receiving a 125-mg/m² paclitaxel chemotherapy regimen at a class III hospital in Tangshan from October 2022 to October 2023 were randomly divided into a control group (n = 40) and an intervention group (n = 40). The control group received routine treatment and health guidance, whereas the intervention group received additional II-level hand and foot gradient pressure therapy. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) symptoms and activities of daily living (ADL) impact scores were compared after the second, fourth, and sixth chemotherapy cycles and at the 3-month follow-up.

Results: No significant differences were found in CIPN symptoms and ADL impact scores between the groups after the second chemotherapy cycle (P > 0.05). However, after the fourth cycle, the intervention group showed significant improvements in nine items: hand numbness, foot numbness, discomfort in fingers/hands or toes/feet, walking, exercise, sleep, sexual activity, chores, and enjoyment of life (P < 0.05). At the sixth cycle and at the 3-month follow-up, additional improvements were noted in cold sensitivity and total scores (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Gradient pressure therapy effectively reduces symptoms of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy, improving patients' daily activities. This intervention is recommended for clinical promotion and application.

The significance of gut bacteria and their byproducts is gaining greater recognition, especially in the realm of immunotherapy. An imbalance in gut bacteria or their byproducts is intricately linked to the onset, progression, and treatment of cancer. Metabolites derived from gut microbiota, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), secondary bile acids (SBAs), indole derivatives, and trimethylamine oxide (TMAO), engage with cellular targets to initiate intracellular signaling pathways. These signals are conveyed to the cell, influencing its growth. Targeted therapies encompass a complex and ever-evolving area that is crucial in cancer management. Nonetheless, it is vital to recognize that targeted therapy encounters a multitude of challenges. Factors influencing the success of targeted therapy include drug resistance resulting from prolonged use, side effects, and variations in genetic mutations, tumor diversity, and the complex nature of the tumor microenvironment. Recently, we have deepened our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and anticancer targeted therapies. This is one face of the molecular pathologic epidemiology. This prompts us to investigate promising treatment strategies linked to these gut bacteria and their metabolites, thereby unlocking new possibilities for targeted anticancer therapies.

Background: Whole-genome sequencing has enabled the development of a wide range of analytical tools to search for abnormalities associated with tumors. As classic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are associated with genomic alterations in hematopoietic stem cells, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations include since 2008 molecular investigations as an important part of the diagnosis and management of these pathologies. Recent advances in sequencing technologies, such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), have enhanced the analysis platforms. However, epidemiological information on MPNs is limited, especially in low/middle-income countries.

Aim: This literature review provides a state-of-the-art on the classification of MPNs and a comprehensive examination of contemporary analytical techniques, while highlighting the advantages and drawbacks of each method.

Methods: The scientific literature for the synthesis of this article was obtained by searching the PubMed and Science Direct databases, and the tables were generated using Excel 2016 software.

Results: Driver mutations in MPNs can be detected by genotyping or sequencing. Genotyping techniques present an increased risk of false negatives because of their low sensitivity, whereas sequencing techniques are more sensitive but can present specificity or time-consuming disadvantages.

Conclusion: Although a large number of applications favor NGS, it is essential to consider the cost-effectiveness of these technologies to meet the needs of laboratories in low/middle-income regions. Alternative techniques such as real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemistry (CAL2IHC), and liquid chromatography (dHPLC) should be explored and considered as sustainable options.

Background: The convergence of biology and nanomaterials has propelled technological progress in biomedical sciences, offering transformative applications in diagnostics and therapy. Among these advancements, quantum dots (QDs) semiconductor nanocrystals activated by light have emerged as versatile tools due to their unique optical and electronic properties. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), a subset of QDs, are nanoscale fragments of graphene that exhibit exceptional features, making them highly suitable for innovative biomedical applications. These include cancer detection, drug delivery, and imaging, areas where early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial.

Main body: The production of synthetic GQDs relies on two primary approaches: top-down methods, where larger carbon structures are broken into smaller fragments, and bottom-up methods, which involve assembling GQDs from smaller molecular units. Both methods offer advantages depending on the desired properties and applications of the GQDs. GQDs possess several beneficial characteristics, including high photostability, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable fluorescence, which make them particularly valuable for biomedical purposes. In cancer therapy, GQDs serve as efficient nano-delivery vehicles for drugs, offering enhanced targeting and reduced side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy. Furthermore, their fluorescence properties enable precise imaging and early detection of cancerous cells, providing a dual functionality in diagnosis and therapy. Current research highlights advancements in QD synthesis techniques, enhancing their scalability and application potential. These innovations underscore the role of GQDs in bridging the gap between experimental research and clinical applications.

Conclusion: Quantum dots, particularly graphene quantum dots, represent a breakthrough in the field of nanomedicine. Their synthesis, functional properties, and dual roles in diagnostics and therapeutic delivery underscore their importance in advancing cancer treatment and early detection. With continued research and development, GQDs are poised to revolutionize drug delivery systems and expand the horizons of biomedical science.

Background: Precision medicine has transformed oncology by tailoring treatments to the molecular and genetic characteristics of individual tumors. Stem cell-based strategies hold unique potential to complement these approaches by enabling regenerative support, targeted delivery of therapeutics, and novel models for drug screening.

Methods: This review synthesizes current evidence on the integration of stem cell biology into precision cancer therapy, highlighting advances in tumor profiling, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and genome editing that enable personalized interventions.

Results: Emerging applications include engineered stem cells for selective delivery of oncolytic agents, immune modulation through stem cell-derived platforms, and the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for modeling tumor heterogeneity. Advances in NGS are accelerating tumor-specific profiling, facilitating gene editing of stem cells, and refining patient selection for therapy.

Challenges: Despite progress, translational barriers remain, including risks of tumorigenicity, ethical concerns, high costs, immune rejection, and limited large-scale clinical validation.

Conclusion: Stem cell-based precision oncology is a rapidly evolving field with significant promise. Future directions include integrating NGS-driven tumor profiling with engineered stem cells, optimizing safety through gene-editing technologies, and advancing clinical trials to establish efficacy. These efforts could reshape the landscape of individualized cancer care.

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (LncRNAs) are larger than 200 nucleotides and resemble messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs), but they do not code for proteins. In both cell development and physiological cell function, LncRNAs have crucial biological functions. Consequently, cancer entails the disruption of their biological function. Many people die from lung cancer because it is diagnosed late, spreads to other parts of the body, and has a high treatment failure rate. Because they can be involved in either oncogenic or tumor-suppressing functions, LncRNAs are quickly becoming core molecules in lung cancer. Since LncRNAs are long-lasting in blood, they can be utilized as non-invasive diagnostic tools for cancer at an early stage. We review the latest research that has brought together evidence from real-world observations concerning the processes through which LncRNAs work in cancer formation, how they allow cancer to develop drug resistance, and how they can be used as possible diagnostic tools and markers of outcome, with a focus on lung cancer. We also cover some of the ongoing treatment strategies that can target LncRNAs. As seen from what has been laid out here, the examination of LncRNAs in lung cancer with protein-coding genes could provide evidence for a further elucidation of the molecular events behind the disease as well as its progression, and the potential for a new therapeutic pathway.

This study primarily aims to investigate the effects of gamma (γ) radiation, both independently and in combination with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), on normal and lung cancer cell lines. Lung cancer continues to be a major cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Radiotherapy is a common way of treating lung cancer. The treatment efficacy of cell death requires a high dosage of focused radiation. Due to their physicochemical properties and potential biological activity, ZnO NPs have emerged as promising candidates in nanomedicine and oncology. In this research, ZnO NPs were synthesized and characterized through various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The resulting nanoparticles were semi-spherical in shape (22-29 nm), stable, and had a zeta potential of - 21 ± 2.40 mV. The cytotoxic effects were assessed using human lung cancer cells (A549) and normal lung fibroblast cells (WI-38). Treatments involved ZnO NPs alone or combined with 15 Gy of γ-radiation over 48 h. A significant increase in cytotoxicity was observed in A549 cancer cells compared to normal cells. ZnO NPs alone showed moderate anticancer efficacy with an IC50 of 26.78 ± 0.44 µg/mL, whereas ZnO NPs + 15 Gy gamma radiation led to a pronounced reduction in cell viability with an IC50 of 15.97 ± 0.45 µg/mL. These results indicate that the combination of ZnO NPs with γ-radiation enhances apoptosis and significantly suppresses the growth of lung cancer cells (p < 0.001), offering potential for improved therapeutic outcomes in lung cancer radiotherapy.