Comprehensive Overview of Breast Cancer in India.

Purpose: Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge globally, as well as in India, where it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in females. Significant disparities in incidence, mortality, and access to health care across India's sociodemographically diverse population highlight the need for increased awareness, policy reform, and research.

Design: This review consolidates data from national cancer registries, global cancer databases, and institutional findings from a tertiary care center to examine the epidemiology, clinical challenges, and management gaps specific to India.

Investigating the interaction of ACKR1 and c-Myc in the breast carcinoma tumor microenvironment modulation.

This study investigates the interplay between the Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKR1)/Decoy receptor for chemokines (DARC) and key molecular markers, including CCL8, c-MYC, ALDH1, and CHEK2, in breast cancer. DARC has been implicated in various aspects of cancer progression, including tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. By analyzing the expression patterns of these markers in breast cancer tissues, we aim to understand their collective impact on tumor behaviour and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Next-Generation models of Gallbladder Carcinoma: Linking biological insights to precision medicine.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is among the most aggressive and deadly malignancies of the biliary tract, with limited early diagnosis and treatment options largely due to a poor understanding of its complex tumor biology. Effective preclinical in vitro models are essential for advancing the understanding of its complex pathobiology and improving therapeutic strategies. Recent research has expanded experimental platforms for studying GBC biology beyond conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures to include advanced three-dimensional (3D) systems, xenograft models, and emerging technologies such as organoids, microfluidic devices, and air-liquid interface platforms.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment: current challenges and strategies to overcome resistance.

Objectives: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are shown to improve cancer treatment effectiveness by boosting the immune system of the patient. Nevertheless, the unique and highly suppressive TME poses a significant challenge, causing heterogeneity of response or resistance in a considerable number of patients. This review aims to explore the challenges posed by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and discusses potential strategies to overcome resistance.

MicroRNA nanoformulation: a promising approach to anti-tumour activity.

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, making it one of the most debilitating diseases in our time. Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, the development of chemoresistance and the occurrence of secondary tumours pose significant challenges. While several promising anti-tumour agents have been identified, their clinical utility is often limited due to toxicity and associated side effects.

Role of AI in empowering and redefining the oncology care landscape: perspective from a developing nation.

Early diagnosis and accurate prognosis play a pivotal role in the clinical management of cancer and in preventing cancer-related mortalities. The burgeoning population of Asia in general and South Asian countries like India in particular pose significant challenges to the healthcare system. Regrettably, the demand for healthcare services in India far exceeds the available resources, resulting in overcrowded hospitals, prolonged wait times, and inadequate facilities.

Environmental pollutant SO₂ exposure affects trophoblast function involving an ER stress pathway.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a toxic air pollutant with deleterious effects on the respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine and reproductive systems. SO₂, being freely diffusible, can cross the placenta and reach the fetal system. Previous studies have reported the association between SO₂ exposure and adverse pregnancy and fetal outcomes without much emphasis on its molecular aspects.

Looking beyond the ER, PR, and HER2: what's new in the ARsenal for combating breast cancer?

Breast cancer (BrCa) is a complex and heterogeneous disease with diverse molecular subtypes, leading to varied clinical outcomes and posing significant treatment challenges. The increasing global burden of BrCa, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, underscores the urgent need for more effective therapeutic strategies. The androgen receptor (AR), expressed in a substantial proportion of breast cancer cases, has emerged as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target.

Immunobiology of MPox Infection and Its Management: Experience From Developing Nations.

Purpose: As humanity grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, the rising threats of the MPox virus (MPXV) in 2022 and 2024 have shown signs of global transmission and the potential to spark another pandemic. Though MPXV has been present for over 5 decades, with cases traditionally confined to endemic regions in West and Central Africa, recent outbreaks have occurred in multiple non-endemic regions, declaring itself as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This study aims to examine the patterns of MPXV transmission, its zoonotic potential, associated complications, and viable strategies to control its spread.

Prognostic role of Androgen Receptor splice variant 7 (AR-V7) in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Background: The Androgen Receptor (AR) has emerged as an endocrine therapy target in Breast Cancer, exhibiting up to 80% expression in clinical cases. AR-V7, a constitutively activated splice variant of AR with a truncated ligand-binding domain (LBD), demonstrates ligand-independent transcriptional activity and resistance to nonsteroidal antiandrogens like Bicalutamide or Enzalutamide, targeting the LBD. In metastatic prostate cancer, elevated AR-V7 levels lead to therapeutic resistance and increased metastasis.

Effect of environmental air pollutants on placental function and pregnancy outcomes: a molecular insight.

Air pollution has become a major health concern, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women. Studies have reported a strong association between prenatal exposure to air pollutants and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including lower birth weight, reduced fetal growth, and an increased frequency of preterm births. This review summarizes the harmful effects of air pollutants, such as particulate matter, on pregnancy and outlines the mechanistic details associated with these adverse outcomes.

SKping cell cycle regulation: role of ubiquitin ligase SKP2 in hematological malignancies.

SKP2 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 2) is a member of the F-box family of substrate-recognition subunits in the SCF ubiquitin-protein ligase complexes. It is associated with ubiquitin-mediated degradation in the mammalian cell cycle components and other target proteins involved in cell cycle progression, signal transduction, and transcription. Being an oncogene in solid tumors and hematological malignancies, it is frequently associated with drug resistance and poor disease outcomes.

Applications of Quantum Dots in Preventive Oncology.

QDs are semiconductor nanocrystalline materials with distinct optical and electronic characteristics due to their microscopic size and quantum mechanical properties. They are often composed of materials such as cadmium selenide (CdSe), cadmium telluride (CdTe), or indium phosphide (InP) and are typically in the size range of 2 to 10 nanometers in diameter. These tiny particles are used in various scientific and technological applications.

Alterations of the expression of TET2 and DNA 5-hmC predict poor prognosis in Myelodysplastic Neoplasms.

Background: Myelodysplastic Neoplasms (MDS) are clonal stem cell disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis and progression to acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplasia-related (AML-MR). A major mechanism of pathogenesis of MDS is the aberration of the epigenetic landscape of the hematopoietic stem cells and/or progenitor cells, especially DNA cytosine methylation, and demethylation. Data on TET2, the predominant DNA demethylator of the hematopoietic system, is limited, particularly in the MDS patients from India, whose biology may differ since these patients present at a relatively younger age.

The issues and challenges with cancer biomarkers.

A biomarker is a measurable indicator used to distinguish precisely/objectively either normal biological state/pathological condition/response to a specific therapeutic intervention. The use of novel molecular biomarkers within evidence-based medicine may improve the diagnosis/treatment of disease, improve health outcomes, and reduce the disease's socio-economic impact. Presently cancer biomarkers are the backbone of therapy, with greater efficacy and better survival rates.

Monosodium Glutamate Perturbs Human Trophoblast Invasion and Differentiation through a Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Pathway: An In-Vitro Assessment.

The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been associated with various human diseases. ROS exert a multitude of biological effects with both physiological and pathological consequences. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a sodium salt of the natural amino acid glutamate, is a flavor-enhancing food additive, which is widely used in Asian cuisine and is an ingredient that brings out the "umami" meat flavor.

Loss of TET2 with reduced genomic 5-hmC is associated with adverse-risk AML.

While considerable information exists on the ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) mutational landscape in AML, the information on expression is limiting. So, we aimed to study the expression at mRNA and protein levels in AML patients compared to healthy controls. To achieve this, we recruited 70 non-M3, de novo AML patients and 20 healthy controls.

The metabolic addiction of cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are the minor population of cancer originating cells that have the capacity of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity (when transplanted into an immunocompromised animal). These low-copy number cell populations are believed to be resistant to conventional chemo and radiotherapy. It was reported that metabolic adaptation of these elusive cell populations is to a large extent responsible for their survival and distant metastasis.

Fenofibrate mediated activation of PPARα negatively regulates trophoblast invasion.

The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-alpha (PPARα) is a member of the ligand-dependent nuclear receptor superfamily known for their crucial role in lipid metabolism. The expression and role of PPARα in trophoblast cells are not very well known. Trophoblast invasion is one of the most critical processes required for successful implantation of the developing embryo into the maternal endometrium.

India's Opportunities and Challenges in Establishing a Twin Registry: An Unexplored Human Resource for the World's Second-Most Populous Nation.

Nature and nurture have always been a prerogative of evolutionary biologists. The environment's role in shaping an organism's phenotype has always intrigued us. Since the inception of humankind, twinning has existed with an unsettled parley on the contribution of nature (i.

Fault Lines in India's COVID-19 Management: Lessons Learned and Future Recommendations.

With about 0.4-0.5 million COVID cases diagnosed every single day in a row over the past three weeks back in May 2021, India was at the epicenter of the global viral rampage.

Oxidative stress-induced impairment of trophoblast function causes preeclampsia through the unfolded protein response pathway.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific disorder, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. In PE, trophoblasts mediated inadequate remodeling of uterine spiral arteries seem to interrupt uteroplacental blood flow, one of the hallmarks in the early onset of PE (EO-PE). This, in turn, results in placental ischemia-reperfusion injury during hypoxia and reoxygenation episodes, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS).

Cancer immunotherapy: Recent advances and challenges.

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses specific components of a person's immune system to fight diseases. This is usually done by stimulating or assisting one's immune system is attacking the offending agent - for instance, in the case of cancer - the target of immunotherapy will be cancer cells. Some types of immunotherapy are also called biologic therapy or biotherapy.