Basic & Clinical Cancer Research
Year:2021 | Volume:13 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Progress in cancer stem cells (CSCs) has opened up a new window to develop better cancer treatment methods. Several preclinical and clinical trial studies use CSCs targeting via surface markers method and inhibiting stem cell pathway to eradicate cancer. Investigations disclose that CSCs are more resistant to chemo-and radiotherapy than non-CSCs. If CSCs are destroyed with treatment, cancer cells will be deleted. This feature is mainly related to their surface biomarkers and thus, detection and Isolation of CSCs are so critical. This study introduced the most important cell surface markers of CSCs such as CD133, CD44, CD24, and CD90 and evaluated these biomarkers. Today, more than 60 ongoing trials have been evaluated, few of which are used in clinical trials to determine if a new drug is effective. Then, we discuss the challenges of several therapies.

Background: Recently, it has been shown that, piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) as a new class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), play crucial roles in germline development and carcinogenesis. Despite this, the study on the effects of piRNAs polymorphism (piR-SNP) on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is scarce. We evaluate the impact of rs11776042 in piRNA 015551 on CRC initiation and development in the Iranian population for the first time. Methods: The association of novel polymorphisms rs11776042 in piRNA 015551 gene with CRC risk using a case-control study on the Iranian population was estimated. In this project 284 CRC patients and 389 non-cancerous controls were evaluated by TETRA primer-Amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (TP-ARMS-PCR assay). Results: The genotypes frequency was 27%, 68% and 0. 05% for C/C, C/T and T/T in controls and 31%, 65% and 0. 04% in CRC patients respectively. The frequency of the C allele was 63% in patients versus 61% in controls and, T allele frequency was 37% in patients versus 39% in controls. Conclusion: No significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequencies between the cases and controls for rs11776042 polymorphism in piRNA 015551 in our population.

Background: In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel COVID-19 infection a pandemic. Among high-risk patients infected by the virus, upper gastrointestinal cancer patients, similar to other immunosuppressed patients, are vulnerable to developing more severe infections. Most of the routine activities of medical centers, especially cancer surgery centers worldwide, are affected by the epidemic. Thus, some modifications are needed to adjust international protocols to deal with upper gastrointestinal cancers worldwide. Methods: The headings of upper gastrointestinal cancer management protocols have been discussed among the university-affiliated professors in different disciplines involved in upper gastrointestinal cancer management at the first peak of COVID-19 in Iran in March 2020. The discussions were done through an interactive application (WhatsApp and Telegram) in which participants considered the headlines and the latest news about COVID-19. Under each heading, we provide the consensus of all members in the related disciplines. Recommendations and Conclusion: All members agreed to choose the most effective and the least hazardous recommendations regarding patients and medical staff in each specialty. The members understand that some recommendations may intervene with the standard best practice and reduce the best outcome that the patient can gain with standard management. Therefore, these recommendations are legitimate simply at the peak of the epidemic COVID-19 situation or the surge of any other unknown situations that we may encounter in the future. According to the consensus of cancer surgery professors in several cancer surgery centers, patients with T1 and T2 gastric cancer without lymph node involvement should undergo upfront surgery. Patients with T3 or more and/or lymph node involvement will have total neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and the surgery should be delayed until the end of the COVID-19 peak. Diagnostic laparoscopy should be postponed during the peak of COVID-19 till after the completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Upfront surgery should be performed in patients with esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma or SCC) with T1 or T2 and without lymph node involvement. In patients with T3 or more and/or lymph node involvement, neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is recommended. Endoscopic stent placement is preferred for patients who complete neoadjuvant CRT during the peak of COVID 19 and have severe dysphagia. A PET-CT scan will be performed in patients without dysphagia. In the status of high uptake, surgery is reasonable, but in low uptake status without any dysphagia, only conservation is our suggestion.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of group hope training and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) on hope and quality of life among children with cancer. Methods: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group hopefulness and group training of psycho-neurological programming (NLP) on the level of hope and quality of life of children with cancer. This was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. The study participants include all literate 7-18-year-old girls and boys with cancer treated at Amirkabir Hospital (Central Province Children’, s Cancer Hospital) and Tabassum Cancer Association (Central Province Cancer Association) in 2016. In total, 60 people were selected by the available sampling method and randomly divided into three groups: group hope training (20 people), NLP (20 people), and a control group without any therapeutic intervention (20 people). The Children’, s Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Snyder Children’, s Hope Scale were used. Multivariate and one-way analyses of covariance were applied to analyze the data. Results: There was a significant difference between group hope training and the NLP group. Both interventions had almost the same effect on the quality of life, while group hope training had a higher effect on dependent variables. Results showed that LNP group training led to increased quality of life and hope, predicting 70% and 40% of their variances. In addition, findings showed the effectiveness of group hope training on increased quality of life and hope and could predict 53% and 84% of their variances, respectively. The findings showed that NLP training and group hope training increased quality of life and hope. Conclusion: According to the findings from this study, LNP group training and hope group training can increase the quality of life and hope. Based on the findings of the present study and the results of previous studies, it can be concluded that group hope and group training of neuro-linguistic programming, based on their basic principles and techniques and changing beliefs and attitudes of individuals and hope for learning, helps children with cancer change the way they react to these events, thus reduce their stress and frustration, and set specific goals for the future that inspires them. These studies show that these psychological interventions lead to positive changes and increase hope and quality of life of children with cancer.

Background: Although not having a high incidence, ovarian cancer still leads to the most common cancer-related death among women diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies. The present study aims to highlight this disease’, s epidemiology, risk factors, and the significance of developing improved early detection strategies. Methods: Articles were accessed from PubMed and Google Scholar without a time limit. Full-text English studies that mentioned epidemiology and risk factors of ovarian cancer were included in this review. Results: The highest incidence and mortality rates are observed in Central and Eastern Europe, while rates are relatively low in some parts of Asia and Africa. The risk factors for this disease include family history, hormonal factors, nutrition, diet, and physical activity. We also discussed some protective factors. There are no reliable screening methods for ovarian cancers. The most common diagnostic methods include a pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound, and several imaging tests. Conclusions: The mortality rate of ovarian cancer is gradually increasing,thus, preventative measures are required to reduce the lifetime risk of ovarian cancers and improve the mortality rate.

Fluorine 18-deoxyglucose (18FDG) is often used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET imaging is one of the valuable tools used for cancer detection and management. PET growth is limited due to problems that depend on the production of Fluorine-18. Imaging results are strongly dependent on the information of nuclear reaction cross-section data. This study calculates the stopping power, RCSDA, and the simulated and distributed absorbed dose of F-18, in water. We use the Geant4/Gate simulation and the Bethe-Bloch theory model to access these goals. The results of this simulation and this theory model agree with each other. The main point of this paper is the presentation of a theoretical approach to the production of Fluorine-18 by using protons production through the main nuclear fusion reaction D(d, p)T and the side fusion reaction 3He(d, p)4He uses helium-3 as a catalyzed.

Background: Apoptosis induction is one of the effective mechanisms in cancer therapy. So far, various natural sources have been identified for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. This study proposed identifying promising active drug pharmacophores of soil actinomycetes with the capability of apoptosis induction in A549 cells, a human alveolar adenocarcinoma cell line. Methods: The crude extract of Nocardia carnea UTMC 863 was obtained from UTBC (University of Tehran Biocompound Collection). After 48 hours of exposure, cell viability, gene expression, and apoptosis rate were determined using MTT, quantitative real-time-PCR, and flow cytometry. Results: The MTT assay exhibited that the effective concentrations of UTMC863 and doxorubicin (positive control) were 24 μ, g/ml and 1 μ, M, respectively. UTMC 863 with a 24 μ, g/ml concentration and doxorubicin could induce apoptosis in the A549 cell line. Also, apoptosis-related gene expression increased in the UTMC863 group compared to the untreated group (p<0. 01). Conclusions: The crude extract of Nocardia carnea UTMC 863 can induce apoptosis in A549 cells, and it may be one of the promising pharmacophores for cancer therapy.

Advances in cancer treatment have resulted in a growing number of cancer survivors. However, powerful treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and some cancer drugs are not without risks, including the potential for serious, long-term damage to the heart. Cardiology and oncology specialists often collaborate to mitigate these risks when treating cancer patients. This joining is known as cardio-oncology. The main goals of cardio-oncology are to screen for and actively manage modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in cancer patients. Cardio-oncology plays an increasingly active role at every stage of cancer therapy, including baseline risk assessment pretreatment, surveillance and prevention during treatment, response to acute complications, and assessment of survivors’,post-cardiotoxic treatments. Cancer treatment has been optimized through new treatment strategies. The first cardio-oncology clinic in Iran was instituted about 4 years ago (2017) at Shaheed Rajaei Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center in Tehran, which is the first cardio-oncology clinic in the Middle East. It provides care for cancer patients with a history of cardiovascular disease or risk for cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy. Also, all patients are enrolled in the multicenter cardio-oncology Toxicity Registry research database, and 13 other hospitals from different centers in the whole country are involved in the registry. The establishment of the cardio-oncology clinic with a focus on the patient registry is discussed in this article.