Journal of Cancer Biology

Intratumor heterogeneity has attracted more and more attention in recent years. Heterogeneity is the driving force of tumor clone evolution. Chromosomal instability, somatic mutation, epigenetic modification and extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) contribute to tumor heterogeneity. The degree of such heterogeneity is extremely high.

Over the years, several ablation techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation, and cryoablation, have been developed and implemented in the treatment of different cancers. Of these ablation technologies, RFA is the most widely used. RFA is a form of thermal ablation that relies on radio waves to produce an electrical current at the tip of an inserted electrode, thus allowing for heat production at the site of the tumor.

Background: Breast cancer remains a major global health burden despite therapeutic advances, necessitating further innovations to address persistent challenges like therapeutic resistance, adverse effects, and mortality in subgroups. Emerging technologies offer promising opportunities in this regard through data-driven, precise, and personalized approaches.

The incorporation of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is essential for assessing whether a cancer treatment enhances overall patient well-being, beyond merely extending survival. This scoping review aimed to identify and analyze the use of PROs in ovarian cancer clinical trials.

Examining BRCA mutations in preoperative breast cancer patients is very important when selecting a surgical procedure. Although there are advantages and disadvantages associated with knowing about the presence of genetic mutations, including for the patient’s family, there are many benefits for the patient. BRCA genetic testing should be recommended for patients who are strongly suspected of being positive for a BRCA mutation. 

Liver masses account for 5 to 6% of pediatric cancer, which includes hepatoblastoma (HBL) along with rare cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The most dangerous form of pediatric liver cancer is aggressive HBL, which can be characterized by chemo-resistance and multiple nodules or metastases at diagnosis, all correlating with worse clinical prognosis. Despite intensive studies and a significant improvement in overall outcomes, very little is known about the key molecular pathways which determine the aggressiveness of pediatric liver cancer.

This commentary focuses on two recent publications showing deregulation of the transcription factor Slug/Snail2 and TGF-β function in primary bronchial basal/progenitor cells of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the impact on proliferation and the expression of genes involved in stem cell maintenance. We discuss the molecular mechanisms related to the exhaustion of airway basal stem/progenitor cells in tobacco smoke-induced COPD, as well as putative links between COPD and lung cancer at the molecular level.

Cancer biology involves complex dynamics and interactions between cells and the tissue environment. Mathematical modeling and computer simulation can provide a powerful instrument for considering this complexity. Agent-based modeling is a particular discrete hybrid modeling method.

Radiation therapy (RT) is one of the pillars of locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNSCC) treatment in combination with cisplatin or epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors. Despite a very high local tumor control rate, approximately 50% of patients with locally advanced disease will develop a recurrence.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are mesenchymal tumors which predominantly originate from the interstitial cells of Cajal in the intestinal lining. Around ~85% of malignant GISTs possess activating mutations in the tyrosine kinase receptors KIT or PDGFRA. The driver mutations in genes other than KIT or PDGFRA account for around 15% GISTs and belong to highly heterogeneous groups called wild-type GISTs. Around 20–40% of WT-GISTS are deficient for the succinate dehydrogenase complex (SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD). 

The pediatric liver cancer hepatoblastoma (HBL) has a complex etiology which is not yet determined. In contrast to adult liver cancer hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pediatric HBL has a low rate of genetic mutations suggesting that other mechanisms play a critical role in development of this disease.

Metastatic breast cancer to brain carries poor prognostic features with increased risks of occurrence in Tripple- negative and HER- positive breast tumors. In addition, tumors with mutated BRCA tumors, carry as well increased metastatic incidence. However, new clinical evidence suggest distinct clinical features between BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated breast cancer and brain metastasis.

Brain metastases are a feared complication of breast cancer, occurring in 15-25% of patients and being associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced technique that uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed three-dimensional (3D) images of the brain's neuroanatomy and any potential pathology, especially in the management of brain metastases. 

Epigenetics is the study of heritable modifications to gene expression, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA modifications, that do not alter the nucleotide sequence of the corresponding gene. Recently, RNA modification has emerged as a novel research focus. 

The management of anxiety and distress in patients with cancer is stressful for the oncology clinicians who treat them. Unfortunately, psychosocial care for patients with cancer is not universally available or standardized. Referrals from oncology services to psychological serves are often not initiated early enough, may not be encouraged from medicine or surgical services, and are subsequently foregone or patients do not follow up beyond a single appointment.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is a disorder affecting cortisol biosynthesis in the adrenal cortex [1]. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most frequent reason for CAH, with an incidence between 1:10.000 and 1:20.000 [2]. Due to the lack of enzyme function, patients with any enzyme deficiency cannot synthesize cortisol effectively. 

CD133 is a transmembrane protein that mainly localizes to the plasma membrane of normal stem cells as well as cancer stem cells, and is widely known as a cancer stem cell marker. CD133 was recently shown to localize in the cytoplasm; however, its transport pathway and functions currently remain unknown.

A-to-I RNA modifications performed by the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) protein family are gaining traction as important mechanisms in cancer biology. A-to-I RNA editing changes adenosine to inosine on double stranded RNA, which co-transcriptionally alters transcript sequence and structure. A number of microRNA (miRNA) precursors are known to be edited by the ADARs, which alters the expression and/or function of the mature miRNA. 

Machine learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence that uses an algorithm to process the data, retrieve valuable information, learn from it, find a pattern, and make predictions. Manual data analyses suffer from several disadvantages including it is time-consuming and subject to error.

Homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism is at the intersection of two metabolic pathways: remethylation and trans-sulfuration, which abnormality can result in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). In the past few years our team has been working on the molecular mechanism of HHcy development.