Basic and Clinical Cancer Research
Volume:13 Issue: 3, Summer 2021

Progress in cancer stem cells has opened up a new window to develop better cancer treatment methods. Several pre-clinical and clinical trial studies use CSCs targeting via surface markers method and inhibition of stem cell pathway to eradicate cancer. Albite, some important question was unclear about CSCs origin and molecular mechanism of self-renewal, the structure of CSCs markers and so on, but the eradication of these cells eliminate cancer. In this review, we have argued about the CSC surface markers on different cancers, the mechanisms of action, and therapeutic procedures related to the cancer biomarkers. Then, we have discussed the challenges of these therapies.

Recently, it has been shown that, 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.

The association of novel polymorphisms rs11776042 in piRNA 015551 gene with CRC risk using a case-control study on the Iranian population was estimated. All subjects were evaluated by TETRA primer-Amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (TP-ARMS- PCR assay)

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.

No significant difference was found in genotype and allele frequencies between the cases and controls for rs11776042 polymorphism in piRNA 015551 in our population.

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.

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.

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.

This study was conducted to determine effectiveness of group hope training and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) on hope and quality of life among children with cancer. This was a quasi-experimental research with pretest, posttest, and follow-up consisting of control group. Statistical population consisted of male and female children with cancer referring to Amir Kabir Hospital and Cancer Association of Tabasom during 2016; these children were at age range of 7-18 and demanded to participate in group hope training and NLP sessions. Participants who were at least at first grade, maximally secondary school degree, and were under chemical treatment, were selected as sample members. 60 members were selected using convenient sampling method then assigned randomly to three groups of hope training, NLP training, and control. Children's Quality of Life Questionnaire and Snyder's Children's Hope Scale were used as research instruments. Data analysis was done using MANOVA and ANOVA. Findings indicated a significant difference between hope training and NLP one. Both interventions had almost the same effect on quality of life while group hope training had higher effect on dependent variables. Results showed that LNP group training led to increase quality of life and hope predicting 70% and 40% of their variances, respectively. In addition, findings showed effectiveness of group hope training on increase in quality of life and hope and could predict 53% and 84% of their variances, respectively. According to the findings obtained from study, group LNP training and group hope training could increase quality of life and hope.

Ovarian cancer, although not possessing a high incidence, is still the most common cancer-related deaths among women diagnosed with a gynecologic malignancy. The present study aims to highlight the epidemiology, risk factors of this disease and the significance of development of improved early detection strategies. 

This study was conducted using current published English studies by searching PubMed. The search strategy included the keywords “ovarian cancer”, “risk factors”, “screening”, “epidemiology”.  Studies on incidence and mortality were also considered. Case reports were excluded.

The highest incidence and mortality rates are observed in Central and Eastern Europe, while rates are relatively low in Asia and Africa. These rates are highest among the white population (14.3 per 100,000) and lowest among blacks (10 per 100,000) and Asians (9.7 per 100,000). The risk factors for this disease includes a family history, hormonal factors, nutrition and diet and physical activity, with some of them playing protective roles in reducing risk of ovarian cancers. There are no reliable screening methods for ovarian cancers. The most common diagnosis methods include a transvaginal ultrasound and a blood test to detect CA125 markers.

The mortality rate of ovarian cancer is gradually increasing; thus, preventative measures are required to reduce lifetime risk of ovarian cancers and improve 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 3 He(d,p)4 He uses helium-3 as a catalyzed.

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.

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.

The MTT assay exhibited that the effective concentrations of UTMC863 and doxorubicin (positive control) were 24 µg/ml and 1 µM, respectively. UTMC 863 with a 24 µg/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).

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.