Long non-coding RNA C20orf56 as a predictor of response to neoadjuvant CCRT and survival rates of rectal cancers.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) improves survival and increases curative surgery rates in rectal cancer. C20orf56, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), plays diverse roles in cancer, but its association with neoadjuvant CCRT response and prognosis in rectal cancer remains unexplored.

Metastatic breast cancer cells are vulnerable to fatty acid oxidation inhibition through DDX3-DRP1-mediated mitochondrial plasticity.

Metastatic tumor cells exhibit distinct metabolic flexibility in overcoming different microenvironmental obstacles and thriving in a secondary organ; thus, metabolic vulnerabilities can potentially be targeted. It was reported that mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics play crucial roles in disseminated tumor cells satisfying their energy demands and metabolic plasticity. However, the detailed molecular mechanism by which mitochondrial dynamics promotes tumor metastasis is still unclear.

Elevated MS4A12 expression is indicative of resistance to concurrent chemoradiotherapy and inferior survival in patients with rectal cancer.

Introduction: In individuals presenting with locally advanced rectal cancer, the therapeutic strategy of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) aims to enhance tumor downstaging; however, only a subset of patients exhibit a favorable response. Molecular stratification, combined with the traditional tumor staging system (TNM), is a promising approach for predicting treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Therefore, we intend to better grasp the molecular basis of CCRT resistance and guide therapeutic strategies with greater precision.

Upregulated Claudin-18.2 Is a Poor Prognostic Indicator for Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy.

Introduction: Claudins are essential for tight junctions, maintaining cell adhesion, regulating intercellular molecule movement, and preserving cellular polarity. Altered claudin expression can lead to dysfunctions, potentially contributing to oncogenesis in epithelial cancers. The role of CLDN18.

YAP-mediated DDX3X confers resistance to ferroptosis in breast cancer cells by reducing lipid peroxidation.

Metabolic shifts in cancer cells were found to participate in tumorigenesis, especially driving chemotherapeutic resistance. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of cell death induced by excessive accumulations of iron and lipid peroxidation. Susceptibility to ferroptosis can be intrinsically regulated by various cellular metabolic pathways.

Radiotherapy can significantly improve survival outcomes in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are unsuitable for cystectomy or chemoradiotherapy.

Radical cystectomy and bladder preservation therapy are effective for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC); however, many patients over 70 are medically unfit for these options. For such patients, radiotherapy serves as a viable alternative. This study compares survival outcomes of radiotherapy versus supportive care in MIBC patients ineligible for cystectomy or bladder preservation with concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

A Dosimetric Comparison of HyperArc Therapy Planning and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy Planning in Treating Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme.

Background/aim: This study aimed at evaluating the potential benefit of automatic non-coplanar volumetric arc therapy (VMAT) (hyperarc, HA) technique in treating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Patients And Methods: Twenty-seven patients with GBM who received coplanar VMAT (C-VMAT) were selected in this study. HA and non-coplanar VMAT (NC-VMAT) plans were generated with the same prescriptions and constraints.

High Intelectin-1 Expression Associated with Aggressive Tumor Behavior and Worse Survival in Rectal Cancer.

Background: Multimodal treatment involving preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery is the current standard of care for rectal cancer. Despite advancements, the risk of recurrence, metastasis, and decreased survival remains high. This study aims to evaluate potential biomarkers to stratify prognosis in patients with rectal cancer undergoing preoperative CRT and surgery.

Low CXCL11 expression is indicative of poor prognosis in rectal cancer patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is routinely used before surgery in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer to reduce tumor size and decrease the risk of local recurrence. However, the disease-specific survival has not improved in most cases due to distant metastases. In selected individuals exhibiting a clinical complete response, non-operative management may be allowed; however, those who presented no or little response tend to have an inferior prognosis.

Survival benefit of surgery in elderly patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Neoadjuvant therapy followed by radical surgery is standard for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). However, compared to younger patients, elderly patients often had multiple commodities and may refuse surgery due to being medically unfit or the high risk of operative mortality. This study aims to explore the effects of surgery on short- and long-term mortality in elderly LARC patients using a nationwide cancer registry.

Melatonin increases Olaparib sensitivity and suppresses cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration via suppressing the LAMB3-CXCL2 axis in TNBC.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant breast cancer subtype, characterized with high aggressiveness and a high recurrence rate. Olaparib is the first US Food and Drug Administration-approved poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor (PARPi) to treat breast cancer patients with a germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. However, resistance to Olaparib treatment restricts the therapeutic effects, and thus novel therapeutics are urgently required.

Longitudinal Risk Analysis of Second Primary Cancer after Curative Treatment in Patients with Rectal Cancer.

Predicting and improving the response of rectal cancer to second primary cancers (SPCs) remains an active and challenging field of clinical research. Identifying predictive risk factors for SPCs will help guide more personalized treatment strategies. In this study, we propose that experience data be used as evidence to support patient-oriented decision-making.

Predictive value of FCGBP expression for treatment response and survival in rectal cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.

Despite neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) being the established standard for treating advanced rectal cancer, clinical outcomes remain suboptimal, necessitating the identification of predictive biomarkers for improved treatment decisions. Previous studies have hinted at the oncogenic properties of the Fc fragment of IgG binding protein (FCGBP) in various cancers; however, its clinical significance in rectal cancer remains unclear. In this study, we first conducted an analysis of a public transcriptome comprising 46 rectal cancer patients.

Safe Farming: Ultrafine Bubble Water Reduces Insect Infestation and Improves Melon Yield and Quality.

Melon pest management relies on the excessive application of pesticides. Reducing pesticide spraying has become a global issue for environmental sustainability and human health. Therefore, developing a new cropping system that is sustainable and eco-friendly is important.

Comparative survival analysis of bladder preservation therapy versus radical cystectomy in muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Background: Bladder preservation therapy is an alternative to radical cystectomy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). The purpose of this study is to compare survival outcomes between bladder preservation therapy and radical cystectomy in MIBC patients using an Asian nationwide cancer registry database.

Methods: From the Taiwan Cancer Registry database and the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified bladder cancer patients from 2008 to 2018.

Downregulation of TAZ elicits a mitochondrial redox imbalance and ferroptosis in lung epithelial cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles.

Mitochondrial dysfunction was reported to be involved in the development of lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, molecular regulation underlying metabolic disorders in the airway epithelia exposed to air pollution remains unclear. In the present study, lung bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B and alveolar epithelial A549 cells were treated with diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), the primary representative of ambient particle matter.

SYNPO2 upregulation is an unfavorable prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the nasopharynx. Despite improvements in the clinical treatment strategies for NPC, NPC patients usually have poor survival rates because of late diagnosis, tumor metastasis, and recurrence. Therefore, the identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic markers for NPC is imperative.

REG3A overexpression functions as a negative predictive and prognostic biomarker in rectal cancer patients receiving CCRT.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is suggested before resection surgery in the control of rectal cancer. Unfortunately, treatment outcomes are widely variable and highly patient-specific. Notably, rectal cancer patients with distant metastasis generally have a much lower survival rate.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival outcomes in rectal cancer patients with good response (ypT0-2N0) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery: A retrospective nationwide analysis.

Background: For rectal cancer, it remains unclear how to incorporate tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) when deciding whether to give adjuvant chemotherapy. In this study, we aim to determinate the survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy for rectal cancer patients with good response (ypT0-2N0) after nCRT and surgery.

Methods: The study cohort included 720 rectal cancer patients who had good response (ypT0-2N0) after nCRT and surgery, who did or did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy between January 2007 and December 2017, from the Taiwan Cancer Registry and National Health Insurance Research database.

No survival benefit from adding chemotherapy to adjuvant radiation in advanced major salivary gland cancer.

This study aimed to compare survival of patients with advanced major salivary gland cancers treated with adjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) versus radiotherapy (RT) alone, after surgical resection. The Taiwan Cancer Registry database was used to identify patients (2009-2017) with advanced (T3-4 or nodal positivity) major salivary gland cancers, treated post-surgically with adjuvant CRT or RT alone. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) evaluated using Kaplan-Meier.

High Expression of Folate Receptor Alpha (FOLR1) is Associated With Aggressive Tumor Behavior, Poor Response to Chemoradiotherapy, and Worse Survival in Rectal Cancer.

Recently, molecular medicine targeting Folate Receptor Alpha (FOLR1), which mediates intracellular folate uptake and tumor cell proliferation, has been identified in several malignancies. However, the association between FOLR1 expression and rectal cancer remains unclear. Immunostaining of FOLR1 was performed on biopsy specimens from 172 rectal cancer patients undergoing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Overexpression of Dehydrogenase/Reductase 9 Predicts Poor Response to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy and Poor Prognosis in Rectal Cancer Patients.

To reduce the risk of locoregional recurrence, the addition of neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is recommended before surgical management for rectal cancer patients. However, despite identical tumor histology, individual patient response to neoadjuvant CCRT varies greatly. Accordingly, a comprehensive molecular characterization that is used to predict CCRT efficacy is instantly needed.