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Feb 2022
Using samples of small cell lung tumors, a research team led by biologist Dr. Raymond discovered two new ways to induce tumor cell death. By activating ferroptosis, one of two subtypes of tumor cells can be targeted: first, iron-dependent cell death due to oxidative stress, and second, oxidative stress. Therefore, cell death can also be induced in a different way. Both types of cell death must be caused by drugs at the same time to eliminate the majority of the tumor mass. It is currently in clinical trials for cancer treatment. Auranofin, which inhibits the production of protective antioxidants in cancer cells, has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis for decades. Future clinical trials using this combination therapy will determine the extent to which this targeted treatment option improves the prognosis of small cell lung cancer patients. It is currently in clinical trials for cancer treatment. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Despite evidence of molecular abnormalities in biological specimens, progress in this disease is hampered by the lack of diagnostic markers useful for clinical practice. The majority of patients with lung cancer are still diagnosed at an advanced stage, when prognosis is poor. This article reviews new strategies being studied for the early detection of lung cancer. These strategies involve new methods of imaging (including low-dose computed tomography CT scanning), DNA analysis, and proteomic-based techniques. These strategies have not only improved our understanding of lung cancer but show promise in offering better survival to patients with this deadly disease. Of paramount importance in the search for methods of early detection is the need for the identification of the ideal population to screen, a multidisciplinary approach, and validation of promising techniques.
Mar 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-9241.jrd-18-2499
Distant metastases generally indicate disseminated disease and the standard treatment for these patients is palliative chemotherapy. Retrospective series showed that selected patients with metastatic lung cancer and a solitary extrathoracic disease could be effectively treated with curative intention by resection of both primary tumor and the single site of metastatic disease. According to current data, adrenalectomy might be considered as an alternative option for patients with isolated adrenal metastases. Significant morbidity and mortality may be happened by these procedures, and a cautious analysis of pros and cons should be discussed with the patient. We present a review of the literature and updated recommendations focusing lung cancer with solitary adrenal metastasis.
Mar 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-1716.jn-18-1993
Cardiovascular disease and lung cancer are two of the most common causes of death in the United States. The cardioprotective benefits of statin class drugs is predominantly mediated through the inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, decreasing available mevalonate, and thus limiting in vivo cholesterol biosynthesis. Mevalonate and its metabolites have significant roles in cellular membrane synthesis, which is dysregulated during tumorigenesis, and is therefore a potential source for anti-tumor effects of statins. Similarly, dysregulation of cellular signaling is a hallmark of tumorigenesis. In vitro studies of EGFR, RAS, and AKT signaling pathways in cancer cells can all be reformed back to states more indicative of normally functioning cells when treated with statins. Statins have also been shown to exert beneficial properties in the presence of chemotherapeutic medications and radiation therapies by modulating the deleterious effects of reactive oxygen species, decreasing tumor cell resistance, and minimizing damage to surrounding native tissues. There is abundant of in vitro evidence to support the beneficial effects of statins on lung cancer patients. Prospective studies to determine the value of statin therapy on lung cancer prevention could lead to a significant change in lung cancer treatment.
Jul 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-1716.jn-17-1499
Non-small cell lung cancer is a major health problem worldwide. Surgery is still the mainstay of treatment especially in early stages of the disease. Despite the fact that surgery is the potentially curative treatment, the recurrence and mortality rates are still high specifically with more advanced stages of cancer. Heparin has been suggested to have a positive impact on the outcome of various cancers through its anticoagulants properties and; in some instances; due to their antitumor activity. Recently, the molecular mechanisms of tumor cell spreading have been recognised. Metastasis is a complex process that could be therapeutically affected wherever certain extra-cellular matrix proteins could play an important role in prevention of tumor cell migration and invasion. Experimental studies have shown decreased metastases development after heparin use in rat models. We have reviewed the literature to study the role of anticoagulants in cancer patients in general and in patients with Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) specifically.
Distant metastases generally indicate disseminated disease and the standard treatment for these patients is palliative chemotherapy. Retrospective series showed that selected patients with metastatic lung cancer and a solitary extrathoracic disease could be effectively treated with curative intention by resection of both primary tumor and the single site of metastatic disease. According to current data, adrenalectomy might be considered as an alternative option for patients with isolated adrenal metastases. Significant morbidity and mortality may be happened by these procedures, and a cautious analysis of pros and cons should be discussed with the patient. We present a review of the literature and updated recommendations focusing lung cancer with solitary adrenal metastasis.
May 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2572-3030.jcgb-26-6307
The development of tumor biomarkers derived from blood, or its components, has become pivotal in advancing early cancer diagnosis. Malignant transformations induce cancer-specific alterations in the transcriptome, proteome, and secretome of tumor cells. Recent studies highlighted similar alterations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in cancer patients, which appear to mirror the state of transformation in tumor cells. These findings suggest an intercellular communication–driven mechanism rather than a systemic inflammatory response and, in addition to current ctDNA-based liquid biopsy biomarkers, point to a novel, simple, and highly robust approach for the early detection of cancer. Using this phenomenon to advance PBMC-based biomarker development, it will be essential to achieve 3D in vitro tumor models that reproduce a highly physiological tumor microenvironment (TME). Likewise, more enhanced 3D ex vivo models are required to enable the replication of cell-to-cell and organ-to-organ communication. These systems will guide the self-organization of mixed microenvironments derived from different tissues and enable them to accurately reproduce the molecular connections underlying these alterations. In this study, an innovative new modular 3D co-culturing approach was used to expose PBMCs to lung tumoroids, under physiologically relevant conditions. Changes in DNA fragmentation of PBMCs in the presence of lung cancer were quantified and used as a biomarker. To validate the predictiveness of this biomarker, our results were compared with clinical data from a clinical evaluation study. Similar to the clinical trial observations, PBMCs, when exposed to lung tumoroids, showed a significantly lower level of DNA fragmentation (37%). This modular 3D co-culturing model showed a predictiveness of the clinical data of > 90%, demonstrating its power to monitoring cell-to-cell communication effects and support the development of blood-based biomarkers.
Feb 2026
Objective The landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has changed due to liberalized utilization of computed tomography, developments in immunotherapy and targeted treatments, and guidelines encouraging sublobar resections. We analyzed the implications of these advances for surgical procedures over a 16-year period. Methods The National Cancer Database was used to identify NSCLC incident cases from 2004 to 2020. Histology, stage, grade, and treatment were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results 2,028,553NSCLC patients were identified. Each year was associated with an increase in Stage I for NSCLC (OR1.05, 95%CI 1.05-1.05) and histological subtypes (adenocarcinoma: OR1.03, 95%CI 1.03-1.04; squamous: OR1.02, 95%CI 1.02-1.02; neuroendocrine: OR1.11, 95%CI 1.11-1.12), with no change in adenosquamous histology. A similar increase was observed for well- or moderately-differentiated histology (OR1.04, 95%CI 1.04-1.04). The proportion of patients receiving chemotherapy decreased (OR0.98, 95%CI 0.98-0.98), while more patients were treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy, including an increase of 14% using immunotherapy or targeted therapy as first-line treatment. There was a decrease in the likelihood of receiving pneumonectomy (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.91-0.91). Despite guidelines advocating sublobar resections, these procedures only increased by 1.1% per year. Conclusions Over the 16-year study period, there was a significant trend towards diagnosis of Stage I NSCLC. The most pronounced change in treatment patterns has been more patients receiving immunotherapy and less chemotherapy. Despite a promising decrease in pneumonectomies, the frequency of sublobar resections remains stagnant, indicating limited uptage in current practice.
Jun 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-23-4587
Background Cachexia is highly prevalent in cancer patients and is responsible for as much as 20% of all cancer deaths. Nevertheless, there is little emphasis on cachexia in routine clinical practice. This study looks at the efficacy and tolerability of a protein and energy-dense nutritional supplement with immunonutrients on cachexia in cancer patients. Methods This was a three-month, prospective, open-label study of patients undergoing radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for head and neck or gastrointestinal or lung cancer. Efficacy endpoints were mean change in muscle strength, acute phase proteins (albumin and pre-albumin), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, weight, Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), and nutritional status at the end of the study period. Results The study population consists of 47 (79.66%) males and 12 (20.34%) females with a mean age of 47.98 ± 12.16 years. The mean change in muscle strength, albumin, pre-albumin, CRP levels, and weight for the overall study population was 0.17 ± 12.09 kg (P=0.9145), -0.05 ± 0.53 g/dl, (P=0.5888), -0.01 ± 0.09 g/dl (P=0.2951), 0.50 ± 37.41 mg/dl (P=0.9258), -0.59 ± 3.70 kg (P=0.2265), respectively. At the end of the study period, there was a significant improvement in the nutritional status concerning total calories, protein, and fat intake. Conclusion Protein and energy-dense nutritional supplement with immunonutrients might help in the improvement of muscle strength, GPS, and dietary intake. The addition of the supplement to the diet regime of patients with cancer cachexia increases their daily consumption of proteins which might translate to multimodal clinical benefits.
May 2023
Background and Aim Breast cancer is the second most common cause of brain metastases after lung cancer. However, the incidence of cerebral metastases from breast cancer has increased during the last years. The purpose of this study is to determine the prognostic value of chemotherapy after whole-brain radiotherapy for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer. Methods We analyzed retrospectively 63 records of patients diagnosed with brain metastases from breast cancer and treated in the radiotherapy department at the Salah Azaiz Institute of oncology over a 5-year period between 2007 and 2011. All patients received whole-brain radiotherapy. Only 4 patients had surgical resection of the metastases before radiotherapy and 36.5% of patients received systemic treatment after irradiation. Results Overall survival was 19% at 1-year and median survival was 4,5 months. Univariate analysis indicated that systemic treatment after irradiation was correlated significantly with longer survival. (p=0,046). Conclusion Determining prognostic factors might help optimize individual treatment for metastatic breast cancer. The results of our study suggest that chemotherapy is more effective on brain metastases after irradiation. This can be explained by the fragilization of the blood-brain barrier by radiation and subsequently a better passage of cytotoxic agents.
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-2175.jdrt-17-1760
Metastatic melanoma is a very deadly type of skin cancer with poor prognosis and low 5-year survival rates. Until recently, patients with metastatic melanoma had very few treatment options, which only included dacarbazine and aldesleukin. In 2011, the first checkpoint blocker, ipilimumab was approved for the treatment of unresectable metastatic melanoma but its success was eclipsed by low response rates and high incidence of adverse events. Later in 2014, anti-PD-1 antibodies, nivolumab and pembrolizumab were approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. With comparatively high response rates and manageable safety profile, PD-1 blockers were remarkably successful in the treatment of melanoma and also other cancer subtypes such as non-small cell lung cancer and metastatic urothelial carcinoma. This article highlights the success of anti-PD-1 antibodies, discusses the mechanism of PD-1:PD-L1/2 pathway, responses of melanoma patients to PD-1 blockers and the research on improving response rates to PD-1 blockers.
May 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2694-1201.jsn-17-1470
Brain tumors occur when abnormal cells form within the brain.There are two main types of tumors: malignant and benign tumors. Then, tumors can be divided into primary that start within the brain, and secondary tumors that have spread from somewhere else, known as brain metastasis tumors. Secondary brain tumors occur in approximately 15 % of cancer patients with about half of metastases coming from lung cancer. Primary brain tumors occur in around 250,000 people a year globally, making up less than 2% of whole body tumors. According to American Brain Tumor Association the most common types of primary tumors are gliomas, representing 74,6 % of all malignant tumors and meningiomas ( 36,6% ) while more affected region is frontal lobe, about 22 % . Particularly, prefrontal cortex ( PFC ), the anterior part of the frontal lobe that is highly developed in humans plays a role in the regulation of personality, emotional, and behavioral functioning, leading to serious cognitive impairments 1. These are the psychological signs of frontal lobe tumors, in addition to other functions such as the expressive language of Broca's area or those relating to voluntary movement, linked to frontal cortical motor areas. It relates to the so-called higher nervous functions, concerning the life of relationship and communication. The PFC physiology explains the psychological mechanisms of its associated functions: connections with the limbic cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, basal ganglia and other subcortical areas.The regions of the PFC at the base of the psychophysiological mechanisms involved are basically the dorso-lateral, the ventro-medial, the orbito-frontal establishing contacts primarily with limbic structures, such as the cingulate gyrus, hippocampus, amygdala.