Side effects of boron neutron capture therapy.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an innovative cancer treatment modality that selectively eliminates tumor cells while sparing normal tissues. Clinical studies have explored its application across various malignancies, including malignant gliomas, meningiomas, pediatric tumors, head and neck cancers, and melanomas. However, despite its therapeutic potential, BNCT is associated with various adverse effects that differ depending on the tumor type, neutron source, boron delivery agent, and treatment protocol.

Construction and validation of a necroptosis-related lncRNA signature for predicting the prognosis of gastrointestinal cancer patients.

Background: Given the high incidence and mortality rates of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, along with the lack of effective prognostic markers, this study aimed to construct a prognostic signature to identify high-risk patients facilitate precision medicine, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed transcriptomic data for COAD, ESCA, READ, and STAD from the TCGA and GTEx databases. Using co-expression analysis, Cox regression, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, we developed a necroptosis-related lncRNA signature, termed the Necro-lnc score.

The GNL3L-MDM2 Interaction Drives Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression.

Background: This study investigates the mechanisms by which GNL3L influences ESCC progression.

Methods: GNL3L expression was analyzed via immunohistochemistry in ESCC tissues. Cell proliferation (EdU and CCK8 assays), migration, invasion (wound healing and Transwell assays), cell cycle, and apoptosis (flow cytometry) were assessed.

Heavy Metals Toxicity: Mechanism, Health Effects, and Therapeutic Interventions.

Heavy metals (HMs), such as chromium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, constitute a class of environmental pollutants with significant toxicity that pose a serious threat to human health. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the biochemical properties of HMs, and their effects at the cellular, molecular, and genetic levels. HMs exert their toxic effects by interfering with various intracellular biochemical processes, including enzyme activity, protein synthesis, and energy metabolism.

Metallothionein and neurodegenerative diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases, which mainly include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Wilson's disease, and Huntington's disease, are a group of disorders characterized by loss of neurons in the brain and spinal cord. However, the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of these disorders remain unclear. The metal ion hypothesis is considered a possible cause of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases.

Artesunate alleviates Parkinson's disease by targeting astrocyte MT2A to attenuate dopamine neuronal cuproptosis.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies revealed that dysregulation of copper homeostasis was associated with the progression of PD. However, safe and efficient therapeutic drugs were deficient.

LAMA3 overexpression enhances proliferation, migration and invasion in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on bioinformatics and experimental validation.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly lethal malignancy and remains a major public health burden worldwide, particularly in China, where both incidence and mortality rates are among the highest globally. Recent studies suggest that laminin subunit alpha 3 (LAMA3), a component of the basement membrane, may promote tumor progression; however, its specific role in ESCC remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed public RNA-sequencing data from TCGA and TIMER to evaluate LAMA3 expression and its clinical relevance in ESCC.

Harnessing NKG2D CAR-T cells with radiotherapy: a novel approach for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma treatment.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) represents a highly aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis and limited therapeutic advancements. While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, its application in ESCC remains poorly explored. This study pioneers the exploration of natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) CAR-T cells combined with radiotherapy for treating ESCC, with the goals of establishing a novel treatment strategy and achieving superior tumor control through combined immunoradiotherapy.

Unveiling Cellular Responses and Underlying Immune Effects Induced by Boron Neutron Capture Therapy.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is an emerging modality for cancer treatment. Although its concept was proposed in the last century, progress has been relatively slow because limitations in neutron source technology and boron compounds. In recent years, with the increased availability of neutron devices and improvements in boron compounds, the radiobiological effects of BNCT have been investigated more deeply, leading to a surge of research findings in the field.

Akkermansia muciniphila protects against dopamine neurotoxicity by modulating butyrate to inhibit microglia-mediated neuroinflammation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-related and second most common neurodegenerative disease. To date, safe and efficient therapeutic drugs are deficient. In recent years, the relationship between gut microbiota and CNS have received more attention.

An anoikis-related signature predicts prognosis and immunotherapy response in gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers have high incidence rates and mortality rates. Anoikis is a special type of cell apoptosis, and anoikis resistance has been reported to be associated with tumor malignancy. We aimed to explore the roles of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in the GI cancer prognosis.

Enhanced resistance to drug-induced liver injury using glycyrrhetinic acid modified-transferrin nanoparticles loading hepatocyte growth factor.

(1) Background: drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a prevalent global health concern that necessitates urgent development of safe and effective treatment options for patients. Drug-carrying nanoparticles have garnered significant attention for disease treatments due to their capacity to enhance drug solubility, provide drug protection, and prolong release duration, thereby improving drug bioavailability and increasing therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we initially present a nanostructured carrier incorporating glycyrrhetinic acid and transferrin.

tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs): establishing their dominance in the regulation of human cancer.

The main function of transfer RNAs (tRNAs) is to carry amino acids into the ribosome and synthesize proteins under the guidance of messenger RNAs (mRNAs). In addition to this, it has been observed that tRNAs undergo precise cleavage at specific loci, giving rise to an extensive array of distinct small RNAs, termed tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). Existing studies have shown that tsRNAs are widely present across various organisms and comprehensively regulate gene expression, aberrant expression of tsRNAs is inextricably linked to tumorigenesis and development, thus, a systematic understanding of tsRNAs is necessary.

TQB2450 with or without anlotinib as maintenance treatment in subjects with locally advanced/unresectable non-small cell lung cancer that have not progressed after prior concurrent/sequential chemoradiotherapy (R-ALPS): study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter phase III trial.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TQB2450 (benmelstobart) is a novel humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Anlotinib, an oral multitargeted anti-angiogenic agent with potential synergy with ICIs, has shown efficacy in relapsed and advanced NSCLC.

Camrelizumab plus famitinib in previously chemo-immunotherapy treated patients with advanced NSCLC: results from an open-label multicenter phase 2 basket study.

Background: The combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents has been effective in treating multiple cancers. This was further explored in an open-label, multicenter phase 2 basket study (NCT04346381), which evaluated the antitumor activity and safety of camrelizumab (an anti-PD-1 antibody) plus famitinib (a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in patients with advanced solid tumors. We herein report the findings from the cohort of advanced NSCLC patients who progressed after treatment with platinum-doublet chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Retracted: Expression of TP53, BCL-2, and VEGFA Genes in Esophagus Carcinoma and its Biological Significance.

The Editors of Medical Science Monitor wish to inform you that the above manuscript has been retracted from publication due to concerns with the credibility and originality of the study, the manuscript content, and the Figure images. Reference: Wei Wei, Yanqin Wang, Xiaoming Yu, Lan Ye, Yuhua Jiang, Yufeng Cheng. Expression of TP53, BCL-2, and VEGFA Genes in Esophagus Carcinoma and its Biological Significance.

Helicobacter pylori infection and Parkinson's Disease: etiology, pathogenesis and levodopa bioavailability.

Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder with an unknown etiology, is primarily characterized by the degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons. The prevalence of PD has experienced a significant surge in recent years. The unidentified etiology poses limitations to the development of effective therapeutic interventions for this condition.

Development of a prognostic model for glioblastoma multiforme based on the expression levels of efferocytosis-related genes.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common and aggressive brain tumors. The microenvironment of GBM is characterized by its highly immunosuppressive nature with infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and the expression levels of cytokines. Efferocytosis is a biological process in which phagocytes remove apoptotic cells and vesicles from tissues.

Targeted strategies to deliver boron agents across the blood-brain barrier for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), as an innovative radiotherapy technology, has demonstrated remarkable outcomes when compared to conventional treatments in the management of recurrent and refractory brain tumors. However, in BNCT of brain tumors, the blood-brain barrier is a main stumbling block for restricting the transport of boron drugs to brain tumors, while the tumor targeting and retention of boron drugs also affect the BNCT effect. This review focuses on the recent development of strategies for delivering boron drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier and targeting brain tumors, providing new insights for the development of efficient boron drugs for the treatment of brain tumors.

Irradiation Induces Gasdermin E-Triggered Tumor Immunity to Inhibit Esophageal Carcinoma Cell Survival.

Gasdermin E (GSDME), an executor of pyroptosis, can be activated by caspase-3 and has been recognized as a tumor suppressor in various human cancers. In addition, caspase-3/GSDME signal-induced pyroptosis is a form of immunogenic cell death (ICD). In this study, we aimed to understand the association between radiotherapy and caspase-3/GSDME signal-related ICD in esophageal carcinoma (EC) cells.

Causal association of gut microbiota and esophageal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.

Introduction: Despite the growing body of evidence, the link between the gut microbiota and different types of tumors, such as colorectal, gastric, and liver cancer, is becoming more apparent. The gut microbiota can be used as a reference for evaluating various diseases, including cancer, and can also act as risk factors or preventive factors. However, the specific connection between the gut microbiota and the advancement of esophageal cancer has yet to be investigated.

KLF5 promotes esophageal squamous cell cancer through the transcriptional activation of FGFBP1.

Krüpple-like factor 5 (KLF5) is a zinc-finger-containing transcription factor implicated in several human malignancies, but its potential regulatory mechanisms implicated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain elusive. Here, we show that KLF5 is upregulated in ESCC, where its level was significantly associated with tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis status. Upregulated KLF5 expression promoted the proliferation, migration, and invasion of ESCC cells.

Versatile optical manipulation of trions, dark excitons and biexcitons through contrasting exciton-photon coupling.

Various exciton species in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as neutral excitons, trions (charged excitons), dark excitons, and biexcitons, have been individually discovered with distinct light-matter interactions. In terms of valley-spin locked band structures and electron-hole configurations, these exciton species demonstrate flexible control of emission light with degrees of freedom (DOFs) such as intensity, polarization, frequency, and dynamics. However, it remains elusive to fully manipulate different exciton species on demand for practical photonic applications.