Trends in cancer最新文献

Knowledge of cancer development and progression gained over the last few decades has enabled mapping of genetic and epigenetic changes unique to different phases of tumor evolution. Here we focus on epigenetic changes that drive melanoma development and progression. We highlight the importance of epigenetic mechanisms which encompass crosstalk with melanoma microenvironment that affect metastasis and therapy resistance. This review summarizes recent advances and describes potential strategies to leverage this knowledge to devise new therapies.

The plasticity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) refers to their ability to adopt a spectrum of distinct phenotypes or states in response to dynamic changes within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent advances in single-cell technologies have enabled detailed characterization of the heterogeneity and spatial complexity of CAF subpopulations across multiple tumor types. Notably, CAF subtypes undergo dynamic transitions during tumor progression and therapy pressure. This review systematically summarizes the current knowledge on CAF plasticity shaped by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, delineates research gaps, and highlights CAF phenotypic switching as a potential therapeutic opportunity.

Tumorigenesis ensues within a heterogeneous tissue microenvironment that promotes malignant transformation, metastasis and treatment resistance. A major feature of the tumor microenvironment is the heterogeneous population of cancer-associated fibroblasts and myeloid cells that stiffen the extracellular matrix. The heterogeneously stiffened extracellular matrix in turn activates cellular mechanotransduction and creates a hypoxic and metabolically hostile microenvironment. The stiffened extracellular matrix and elevated mechanosignaling also drive tumor aggression by fostering tumor cell growth, survival, and invasion, compromising antitumor immunity, expanding cancer stem cell frequency, and increasing mutational burden, which promote intratumor heterogeneity. Delineating the molecular mechanisms whereby tissue mechanics regulate these phenotypes should help to clarify the basis for tumor heterogeneity and cancer aggression and identify novel therapeutic targets that could improve patient outcome. Here, we discuss the role of the extracellular matrix in driving cancer aggression through its impact on tumor heterogeneity.

Solid tumors generate a local and systemic procoagulant state, placing cancer patients at risk of hemostatic complications. The interplay between the tumor coagulome, a tumor-intrinsic determinant, and surgery-induced coagulopathy may influence the risk of recurrence following complete surgical resection. Perioperative targeting of the coagulome could advance cancer precision treatment.

Precision oncology leverages targetable molecular aberrations to treat cancer. Initially, use of these therapies required biomarker detection in a specific tumor type. Recently, regulatory agencies have approved highly active biomarker-based, tumor-agnostic therapies, which are crucial for the unmet needs of patients with rare cancer, including children with cancer, because an infrequent biomarker in an already rare cancer represents a prohibitive clinical trial accrual barrier. There are also now several 'ag(e)nostic' precision oncology therapies - agnostic to tumor type and also approved for all ages. In this opinion, we provide historical context for the precision oncology field and contend that, moving forward, ag(e)nostic precision oncology approvals should be the norm for this class of therapeutics rather than an exception to the rule.

Cuproptosis is a newly identified form of copper-dependent cell death. Recent studies show that solid tumors evade this process through transcriptional reprogramming, including hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and NFE2 like BZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2) activation and BTB domain and CNC homolog 1 (BACH1) suppression. Targeting these pathways may restore cuproptosis sensitivity, offering a promising strategy to overcome therapy resistance in cancer.

Despite deep and growing knowledge of cytokine functions, immunotherapies based on the control of these molecules have minimally impacted cancer patient management because of limited efficacy and narrow therapeutic windows. Opportunities to enhance efficacy and mitigate side effects arise from local delivery and targeting antitumor cytokines to tumor tissue via chimeric fusion with antibodies (immunocytokines). Conversely, neutralization of protumor cytokines using antibodies, cytokine traps, or receptor antagonists offer the opportunity to increase the efficacy of conventional immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors while reducing their side effects. Exploiting the immunobiology of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-21 in synergistic combinations with other treatments holds promise. The antagonistic neutralization of transforming growth factor-β, tumor necrosis factor, IL-1, IL-6, and CXCR1/2 chemokines and growth differentiation factor 15 also seems to be very convenient, again as part of combination strategies.

The unmet therapeutic need in prostate cancer (PCa), a disease that remains largely incurable after metastasis, underscores the urgency for new treatments. STEAP1 (six transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 1) is a cell surface protein highly expressed in >85% prostate tumors but shows little to no presence in normal tissues, making it a promising candidate for targeted therapy. Here, we summarize and discuss recent findings that underscore the promising role of STEAP1 in PCa therapy.

Sublethal apoptotic stress causing the permeabilization of some mitochondria coupled with cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) accumulation is known to promote cellular senescence. Lai et al. have recently demonstrated that this may be accompanied by mtDNA release within extracellular vesicles that promote local immunosuppression via myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Tumoroids are cultures of patient-derived tumor cells, which are grown in 3D in the presence of an extracellular matrix extract and specific growth factors. Tumoroids can be generated from adult as well as pediatric cancers, including epithelial cancers, sarcomas, and brain cancers. Tumoroids retain multi-omic characteristics of their corresponding tumor and recapitulate interpatient and intratumor heterogeneity. Retrospective and prospective studies have demonstrated that tumoroids predict patient responses to anticancer therapies, making them a promising tool for precision oncology. However, several challenges remain before tumoroids can be fully integrated into clinical decision-making, including success rates of tumoroid establishment and turnaround times. This review discusses the current advances, challenges, and future directions of tumoroid-based models in cancer research and precision therapy.