Search Results (3,092)

Background/Objectives: Cancer represents a significant health challenge, with high mortality and morbidity rates. Its diagnosis often triggers chronic stress, adversely affecting patient outcomes. Exercise has emerged as complementary therapy, enhancing treatment adherence and mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy. This study examines the effects of mild exercise during chemotherapy on patient anxiety. Methods: This prospective paired cohort study was conducted in the General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia “Agioi Anargyroi” in Athens, Greece. Adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy participated, excluding those with cognitive, hearing, or motor impairments, those who experienced side effects, or those who declined consent. Anxiety was measured before and after a 20-minute exercise routine performed during chemotherapy, using the Greek-translated State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The exercise regimen included warm-up, full-body stretching, and cool-down exercises. Pre- and post-exercise scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Forty-five patients (20 women, 25 men; mean age 69.02 ± 10.62 years) with various cancer backgrounds participated. Pre-intervention anxiety levels were in the borderline “moderate” range, dropping post-exercise to the “low” range. Mean STAI scores decreased from 37.73 ± 13.33 to 32.00 ± 14.22 (p < 0.0001), with a medium-large effect size (Cohen’s d for paired samples = −0.646). No significant correlation was found between age and anxiety scores. Discussion: This study found a significant short-term reduction in anxiety, suggesting that incorporating mild exercise during chemotherapy may help in alleviating patient stress. The medium-to-large effect size supports the potential for meaningful short-term benefits. Conclusions: Incorporating mild exercise during chemotherapy may help reduce anxiety and psychological burden. These findings underscore the need for more comprehensive research in larger, more diverse populations to better understand the benefits of incorporating mild exercise during chemotherapy. Full article

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequently diagnosed malignancy in men worldwide. Although traditionally considered a disease of older men, the incidence of early-onset PCa (diagnosis < 55 years) is steadily rising. Advances in screening and therapy have significantly improved survival, creating a growing cohort of younger survivors for whom post-treatment quality of life—notably reproductive function—is paramount. Curative treatments such as radical prostatectomy, pelvic radiotherapy, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and chemotherapy often cause irreversible infertility via multiple mechanisms, including surgical disruption of the ejaculatory tract, endocrine suppression of spermatogenesis, direct gonadotoxic injury to the testes, and oxidative sperm DNA damage. Despite these risks, fertility preservation is frequently overlooked in pre-treatment counseling, leaving many patients unaware of their options. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on how PCa therapies impact male fertility, elucidates the molecular and physiological mechanisms of iatrogenic infertility, and evaluates both established and emerging strategies for fertility preservation and restoration. Key interventions covered include sperm cryopreservation, microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (TESE), and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Psychosocial factors influencing decision-making, novel biomarkers predictive of post-treatment spermatogenic recovery, and long-term offspring outcomes are also examined. The review underscores the urgent need for timely, multidisciplinary fertility consultation as a routine component of PCa care. As PCa increasingly affects men in their reproductive years, proactively integrating preservation into standard oncologic practice should become a standard survivorship priority. Full article

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive type of pancreatic cancer. PDAC is difficult to diagnose due to a lack of symptoms in early stages, resulting in a survival rate of less than 10%. Moreover, often cancerous tissues cannot be surgically resected due to their deep abdomen location. Therefore, early detection is the essential strategy enabling effective PDAC treatment. Over the past few years, the development of nanomaterials for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has expanded and improved imaging quality and diagnostic accuracy. Nanomaterials can be currently designed, manufactured and synthesized with other structures to provide improved diagnosis and advanced therapy. Although MRI equipped with the innovative nanomaterials became a powerful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various cancers, the detection of PDAC remains challenging. Nevertheless, recent advancements in PDAC theranostics provided progress in the detection and treatment of this challenging type of cancer. Present research in this area is focused on suitable carriers, eliminating delivery barriers, and the development of efficient anti-cancer drugs. Herein we discuss the current applications of iron oxide nanoparticles to the MRI diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Full article

Backgrounds: The incidence of gastrointestinal cancers (GICs), though decreased in recent years, still accounts for 35% of all cancer-related mortality. The proper identification of risk factors, early diagnosis, and therapy optimization represent the three cornerstones of GIC treatment. In four-stage diseases, chemotherapy embodies target therapy that may prolong patients’ expectancy when suitably applied. Patients and Methods: There were 133 (82 (62%) male and 51 (38%) female) consecutive patients with a median age of 70 (64–74) years who underwent palliative treatment due to four-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) between 2022 and 2024. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and applied chemotherapeutic protocols were evaluated regarding the response to applied therapy, resulting in complete or partial tumor regression. The advancement of the tumor was based on computed tomography (CT) performed before and 6 months after the chemotherapy. Results: The multivariable model revealed red cell distribution width (RDW) from peripheral blood analysis (OR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.65–1.00, p = 0.049) as a possible predictor for systemic treatment response in colorectal cancer. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed a predictive value of male sex and RDW prior to systemic therapy, with an area under the curve of 0.672, yielding a sensitivity of 70.0% and specificity of 58.1%. Conclusions: The results of our analysis point out the possible modulatory impact of RDW on six-month systemic therapy in colorectal terminal cancer management. Further studies are required to confirm the presented results. Full article

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key target for both cancer diagnosis and therapeutic interventions. Assessing EGFR expression before therapy has become routine in clinical practice, yet current methods like biopsy and immunohistochemistry (IHC) have significant limitations, including invasiveness, limited repeatability, and lack of real-time, whole-body data. EGFR-targeted imaging has emerged as a promising alternative. EGFR-targeting peptides, owing to their favorable physicochemical properties and versatility, are increasingly being explored for a variety of applications, including molecular imaging, drug delivery, and targeted therapy. Recent advances have demonstrated the potential of EGFR-targeting peptides conjugated to imaging probes for non-invasive, real-time in vivo tumor detection, precision therapy, and surgical guidance. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest progress in EGFR-targeting peptides development, with a particular focus on their application in the development of molecular imaging agents, including fluorescence imaging, PET/CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and multimodal imaging. Furthermore, we examine the challenges and future directions concerning the development and clinical application of EGFR-targeting peptide-based imaging probes. Finally, we highlight emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, mutation-specific peptides, and multimodal imaging platforms, which offer significant potential for advancing the diagnosis and treatment of EGFR-targeted cancers. Full article

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women globally. In Romania, it is the most frequent form of cancer affecting women, with approximately 12,000 new cases diagnosed annually, and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality, second only to lung cancer. Methods: This study looked at 79 breast cancer patients from Oltenia, concentrating on epidemiology, histology, diagnostic features, and treatments. Patients were chosen based on inclusion criteria such as histopathologically verified diagnosis, availability of clinical and treatment data, and follow-up information. The analyzed biological material consisted of tissue samples taken from the breast parenchyma and axillary lymph nodes. Even though not the primary subject of this paper, all patients underwent immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation both preoperatively and postoperatively. Results: We found invasive ductal carcinoma to be the predominant type, while ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and mixed types were rare. We performed cross-tabulations of metastasis versus nodal status and age versus therapy type; none reached significance (all p > 0.05), suggesting observed differences were likely due to chance. A chi-square test comparing surgical interventions (breast-conserving vs. mastectomy) in patients who did or did not receive chemotherapy showed, χ² = 3.17, p = 0.367, indicating that chemotherapy did not significantly influence surgical choice. Importantly, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used at similar rates across age groups, whereas neoadjuvant hormonal (endocrine) therapy was more common in older patients (but without statistical significance). Conclusions: Finally, we discussed the consequences of individualized care and early detection. Romania’s shockingly low screening rate, which contributes to delayed diagnosis, emphasizes the importance of improved population medical examination and tailored treatment options. Also, the country has one of the lowest rates of mammography uptake in Europe and no systematic population screening program. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with its incidence rising each year. Despite its relatively low incidence, the aggressiveness of pancreatic cancer results in high mortality, with only 12% of patients surviving five years post-diagnosis. Surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment, but the tumor is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The goal of this work is to identify vulnerabilities that can affect the efficacy of treatments and improve the efficacy of therapy. Methods: MAP17 overexpression in pancreatic cancer cell lines, RT-qPCR analysis, xenografts, in vitro and in vivo treatments, analysis of data from pancreatic tumors in transcriptomic patient databases. Results: We studied the prognostic and predictive value of MAP17 (PDZK1IP1) expression in pancreatic cancer, and we found that high MAP17 mRNA expression was associated with poor prognosis. In addition, single-cell analysis revealed that high MAP17 expression was present only in tumor cells. We investigated whether the response to various antitumor agents depended on MAP17 expression. In 2D culture, MAP17-expressing pancreatic cancer cells responded better to gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. However, in vivo xenograft tumors with MAP17 expression showed resistance to all treatments. Additionally, MAP17-expressing cells had a high NAD pool, which seems to be effectively depleted in vivo by NAMPT inhibitors, the primary enzyme for NAD biosynthesis. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that MAP17 expression could enhance the prognostic stratification of pancreatic cancer patients. Moreover, the coadministration of NAMPT inhibitors with current treatments may sensitize tumors with high MAP17 expression to chemotherapy and improve the efficacy of chemotherapy. Full article

Palindromic antimicrobial peptides (PAMs) constitute versatile scaffolds for the design and optimization of anticancer agents with applications in therapy, diagnosis, and/or monitoring. In the present study, fluorolabeled peptides derived from the palindromic sequence RWQWRWQWR containing fluorescent probes, such as 2-Aminobenzoyl, 5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein, and Rhodamine B, were obtained. RP-HPLC analysis revealed that the palindromic peptide conjugated to Rhodamine B (RhB-RWQWRWQWR) exhibited the presence of isomers, likely corresponding to the open-ring and spiro-lactam forms of the fluorescent probe. This equilibrium is dependent on the peptide sequence, as the RP-HPLC analysis of dimeric peptide (RhB-RRWQWR-hF-KKLG)₂K-Ahx did not reveal the presence of isomers. The antibacterial activity of the fluorescent peptides depends on the probe attached to the sequence and the bacterial strain tested. Notably, some fluorescent peptides showed activity against reference strains as well as sensitive, resistant, and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, and E. faecalis. Fluorolabeled peptides 1-Abz (MIC = 62 µM), RhB-1 (MIC = 62 µM), and Abz-1 (MIC = 31 µM) exhibited significant activity against clinical isolates of E. coli, S. aureus, and E. faecalis, respectively. The RhB-1 (IC₅₀ = 61 µM), Abz-1 (IC₅₀ = 87 µM), and RhB-2 (IC₅₀ = 35 µM) peptides exhibited a rapid, significant, and concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells, accompanied by morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis. RhB-1 (IC₅₀ = 18 µM) peptide also exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7. These conjugates remain valuable for elucidating the possible mechanisms of action of these novel anticancer peptides. Rhodamine-labeled peptides displayed cytotoxicity comparable to that of their unlabeled analogues, suggesting that cellular internalization constitutes a critical early step in their mechanism of action. These findings suggest that cell death induced by both unlabeled and fluorolabeled peptides proceeds predominantly via apoptosis and is likely contingent upon peptide internalization. Functionalization at the N-terminal end of the palindromic sequence can be evaluated to develop systems for transporting non-protein molecules into cancer cells. Full article

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite advancements, the overall survival rate for lung cancer remains between 10% and 20% in most countries. However, recent progress in diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies has led to meaningful improvements in survival outcomes, highlighting the growing importance of personalized management based on accurate disease assessment. ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has become essential in the management of lung cancer, serving as a key imaging modality for initial diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, and follow-up evaluation. Recent developments in radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning and deep learning, have revolutionized the analysis of complex imaging data, enhancing the diagnostic and predictive capabilities of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer. However, the limitations of FDG, including its low specificity for malignancy, have driven the development of novel oncologic radiotracers. One such target is fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a type II transmembrane glycoprotein that is overexpressed in activated cancer-associated fibroblasts within the tumor microenvironment of various epithelial cancers. As a result, FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals represent a novel theranostic approach, offering the potential to integrate PET imaging with radioligand therapy (RLT). In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of FDG PET/CT in lung cancer, along with recent advances in AI. Additionally, we discuss FAP-targeted radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging and their potential application in RLT for the personalized management of lung cancer. Full article

Pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG) is a devastating group of childhood cancers associated with poor outcomes. Traditionally, diagnosis was based on histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics, including high mitotic activity, presence of necrosis, and presence of glial cell markers (e.g., GFAP). With advances in molecular tumor profiling, these tumors have been recategorized based on specific molecular findings that better lend themselves to prediction of treatment response and prognosis. pHGG is now categorized into four subtypes: H3K27-altered, H3G34-mutant, H3/IDH-WT, and infant-type high-grade glioma (iHGG). Molecular profiling has not only increased the specificity of diagnosis but also improved prognostication. Additionally, these molecular findings provide novel targets for individual tumor-directed therapy. While these therapies are largely still under investigation, continued investigation of distinct molecular markers in these tumors is imperative to extending event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) for patients with pHGG. Full article

MicroRNA-211 (miR-211) is a versatile regulatory molecule that plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis and disease progression through the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. This review comprehensively examines miR-211’s multifaceted functions across various biological systems, highlighting its context-dependent activity as both a tumor suppressor and oncogene. In physiological contexts, miR-211 regulates cell cycle progression, metabolism, and differentiation through the modulation of key signaling pathways, including TGF-β/SMAD and PI3K/AKT. miR-211 participates in retinal development, bone physiology, and protection against renal ischemia–reperfusion injury. In pathological conditions, miR-211 expression is altered in various diseases, particularly cancer, where it may be a useful diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Its stability in serum and differential expression in various cancer types make it a promising candidate for non-invasive diagnostics. The review also explores miR-211’s therapeutic potential, discussing both challenges and opportunities in developing miRNA-based treatments. Understanding miR-211’s complex regulatory interactions and context-dependent functions is crucial for advancing its clinical applications for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy in multiple diseases. Full article

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Advances in screening, diagnosis, and management have transformed clinical practice, particularly with the integration of immunotherapy and target therapies. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out for the period between October 2016 to September 2024. Phase II and III randomized trials evaluating ICI monotherapy, ICI–chemotherapy combinations, and dual ICI regimens in patients with advanced NSCLC were included. Outcomes of interest included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related adverse events (AEs). Results: PD-1-targeted therapies demonstrated superior OS compared to PD-L1-based regimens, with cemiplimab monotherapyranking highest for OS benefit (posterior probability: 90%), followed by sintilimab plus platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) and pemetrexed—PBC. PFS atezolizumab plus bevacizumab and PBC, and camrelizumab plus PBC were the most effective regimens. ICI–chemotherapy combinations achieved higher ORRs but were associated with greater toxicity. The most favorable safety profiles were observed with cemiplimab, nivolumab, and avelumab monotherapy, while atezolizumab plus PBC and sugemalimab plus PBC carried the highest toxicity burdens. Conclusions: In PD-L1-unselected advanced NSCLC, PD-1 blockade—particularly cemiplimab monotherapy—and rationally designed ICI–chemotherapy combinations represent the most efficacious treatment strategies. Balancing efficacy with safety remains critical, especially in the absence of predictive biomarkers. These findings support a patient-tailored approach to immunotherapy and highlight the need for further biomarker-driven and real-world investigations to optimize treatment selection. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy among women, posing significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges during pregnancy. Case presentation: This case report presents the treatment of a 32-year-old pregnant woman diagnosed with cervical cancer. Following the diagnosis at 7 weeks of gestation, histological and imaging examinations were performed, leading to the initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Due to the tumor progression noticed under therapy, cesarean section was performed at 29 weeks, immediately followed by radical hysterectomy. Conclusions: The management of cervical cancer during pregnancy necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, based on the patient’s condition, tumor stage, and fetal maturity. This case highlights the limitations and complexities of treating cervical cancer during pregnancy and emphasizes the importance of individualized oncological and surgical planning. Full article

Background: The advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have significantly improved survival rates in pediatric patients, with five-year survival now exceeding 80% in many high-income countries. However, these life-saving therapies often carry long-term consequences, including impaired fertility. The reproductive health of childhood cancer survivors has emerged as a key issue in survivorship care. Objective: This narrative review aims to examine the gonadotoxic effects of cancer treatments on pediatric patients, evaluate fertility preservation strategies in both males and females, and provide guidance on the long-term monitoring of reproductive function post treatment. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, including randomized trials, cohort studies, and clinical guidelines published up to March 2024. The keywords focused on pediatric oncology, fertility, and reproductive endocrinology. Studies were selected based on relevance to treatment-related gonadotoxicity, fertility preservation options, and follow-up care. Results: Radiotherapy and alkylating agents pose the highest risk to fertility. Postpubertal patients have access to standardized preservation techniques, while prepubertal options remain experimental. Long-term effects include premature ovarian insufficiency, azoospermia, hypogonadism, and uterine dysfunction. The psychosocial impacts, especially in female survivors, are profound and often overlooked. Conclusions: Fertility preservation should be discussed at diagnosis and integrated into treatment planning in pediatric patients with cancer. While options for postpubertal patients are established, more research is needed to validate safe and effective strategies for younger populations. A multidisciplinary approach and long-term surveillance are essential for safeguarding future reproductive potential in childhood cancer survivors. Full article