Citations

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a relatively uncommon malignancy in the Western world, is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia where the treatment outcomes are poor. Despite recent improvements in diagnosis and treatment locoregional control, distant metastasis and chemoresistance continue to be a significant cause of mortality. Identification of a reliable and comprehensive prognostic biomarker is highly desirable. The potential relevance of microRNAs (miRNAs) as prognostic markers in NPC is assessed in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic review was performed using the PubMed and Science Direct databases. The search was limited to search results between 2018 and 2020 with the keywords and search strings developed as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The recovered articles were carefully screened based on the selection criteria. In the meta-analysis study, high and low expression levels of miRNAs were measured using the hazard ratio (HR) and 95 percent confidence interval (CI) for patients’ survival outcomes. Egger’s bias indicator test and funnel plot symmetry were used to assess the risk of bias. Results: Amongst the 25 studies, 13 fulfilled the conditions of inclusion in this meta-analysis. The researchers further delved into the 21 miRNA expression levels from 3015 NPC patients to ascertain a link between miRNA’s predictive role and survival outcomes. The majority of the articles retrieved during this study were from China, with two studies from Canada and Malaysia. The overall pooled effect size estimation (HR) for dysregulated miRNAs was 1.590 (95% CI: 1.253–2.017), displaying that miRNA marker expression increased the risk of mortality in NPC patients by 59%. Conclusions: This meta-analysis is novel and looks at the prognostic significance of miRNAs as biomarkers in NPC patients using a continuous version pooled meta-analysis. Although our findings are ambiguous, they do show that greater miRNA expression in NPC may be associated with a lower overall survival rate. To acquire clear conclusions, more prospective studies with large cohorts are required to determine the clinical utility of miRNAs as prognostic biomarkers.

Inflammation plays a major role in cancer development and progression and has the potential to be used as a prognostic marker in cancer. Previous studies have attempted to evaluate Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) or monocyte–lymphocyte ratio (MLR) as indicators of inflammation/prognostic markers in cancer, but there is no common consensus on their application in clinical practice. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to (a) assess the prognostic efficacy of all three prognostic markers in comparison to each other and (b) investigate the prognostic potential of these three markers in HNC. The study followed PRISMA guidelines, with the literature being collated from multiple bibliographic databases. Preliminary and secondary screening were carried out using stringent inclusion/exclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was carried out on selected studies using CMA software and HR as the pooled effect size metric. A total of 49 studies were included in the study. The pooled HR values of PLR, NLR and MLR indicated that they were significantly correlated with poorer OS. The pooled effect estimates for PLR, NLR and MLR were 1.461 (95% CI 1.329–1.674), 1.639 (95% CI 1.429–1.880) and 1.002 (95% CI 0.720–1.396), respectively. Significant between-study heterogeneity was observed in the meta-analysis of all three. The results of this study suggest that PLR, NLR and MLR ratios can be powerful prognostic markers in head and neck cancers that can guide treatment. Further evidence from large-scale clinical studies on patient cohorts are required before they can be incorporated as a part of the clinical method. PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42019121008

The current standard of care for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) is neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) followed by total mesorectal excision surgery. However, the response to nCRT varies among patients and only about 20% of LARC patients achieve a pathologic complete response (pCR) at the time of surgery. Therefore, there is an unmet need for biomarkers that could predict the response to nCRT at an early time point, allowing for the selection of LARC patients who would or would not benefit from nCRT. To identify blood-based biomarkers for prediction of nCRT response, we performed in-depth quantitative proteomic analysis of pretreatment plasma from mice bearing rectal tumors treated with concurrent chemoradiation, resulting in the quantification of 567 proteins. Among the plasma proteins that increased in mice with residual rectal tumor after chemoradiation compared to mice that achieved regression, we selected three proteins (Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 [VEGFR3], Insulin like growth factor binding protein 4 [IGFBP4], and Cathepsin B [CTSB]) for validation in human plasma samples. In addition, we explored whether four tissue protein biomarkers previously shown to predict response to nCRT (Epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR], Ki-67, E-cadherin, and Prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 [COX2]) also act as potential blood biomarkers. Using immunoassays for these seven biomarker candidates as well as Carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] levels on plasma collected before nCRT from 34 patients with LARC (6 pCR and 28 non-pCR), we observed that levels of VEGFR3 (p = 0.0451, AUC = 0.720), EGFR (p = 0.0128, AUC = 0.679), and COX2 (p = 0.0397, AUC = 0.679) were significantly increased in the plasma of non-pCR LARC patients compared to those of pCR LARC patients. The performance of the logistic regression model combining VEGFR3, EGFR, and COX2 was significantly improved compared with the performance of each biomarker, yielding an AUC of 0.869 (sensitivity 43% at 95% specificity). Levels of VEGFR3 and EGFR were significantly decreased 5 to 7 months after tumor resection in plasma from 18 surgically resected rectal cancer patients, suggesting that VEGFR3 and EGFR may emanate from tumors. These findings suggest that circulating VEGFR3 can contribute to the prediction of the nCRT response in LARC patients together with circulating EGFR and COX2.

Abstract A defined spatial and temporal control of induction of toxicity in response to external ionizing radiation such as X-rays has unique clinical benefits over conventional systems such as passive drug delivery or its activation. Here, we have combined X-rays with well characterized nanoscintilators emitting light that activates paired photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) that improves the prowess of PDT to deep seated tumor treatment. Yttrium oxide nanoparticle construct doped with Europium (YOE) and coated with a silica layer entrapping methylene blue (MB) as the photosensitizer was fabricated. The nanoconstruct (YSM, for YOE, silica, MB) was decorated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to make it biocompatible and characterized extensively for physicochemically parameters. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed a resultant average nanoparticle diameter of 24.1 ± 5.7 nm, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) a hydrodynamic diameter of 135.3 ± 17.9 nm. This nanoconstruct was evaluated for its ability to generate singlet oxygen reactive oxygen species upon irradiation using singlet oxygen sensor green (SOSG) fluorescence assay. Further, demonstrated that this nanoconstruct was taken up by cancer cells in vitro and by tumors in vivo. The uptake of YSM particles by Panc02 murine pancreatic cancer cells was tested by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry. This demonstrated robust uptake in cells after 24hr incubation. No noticeable cell death occurred with doses of 0 Gy and 4 Gy, cell viability decreased significantly after a dose of 8 Gy irradiation in cells cultured with YSM when compared to controls. Since 8 Gy is within the range of a clinically applicable dose used routinely in stereotactic radiotherapy regimens, these results verified the potential of YSM to be used as scintillator-photosensitizer complexes for x-ray activated photodynamic therapy. Finally the biodistribution of YSM nanoconstructs in vivo in C57BL6 mice harboring subcutaneous Panc02 tumors show YSM accumulation in tumors. A versatile, biocompatible Yttrium oxide scintillator-photosensitizer complex (YSM) that can generate x-ray induced cytotoxic reactive oxygen species is fabricated. This is capable of facilitating x-ray activated photodynamic therapy (XPDT (external beam) and/or iXPDT (internal x-ray source)). It shows promise in maximizing the efficacy of the combinatory treatment and enhanced improvement of the quality of life and overall survival of cancer patients. Citation Format: Rao V. Papineni, Sunil Krishnan, Ajayan Pulickel, Onur Sahin. Development of radiation-triggered phosphor platform for localized activation in combinatory cancer treatment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 3057.

Abstract Background Cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported to have double the case fatality rate of the general population. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central was done for studies on cancer patients with COVID-19. Pooled proportions were calculated for categorical variables. Odds ratio (OR) and forest plots (random-effects model) were constructed for both primary and secondary outcomes. Results This systematic review of 38 studies and meta-analysis of 181 323 patients from 26 studies included 23 736 cancer patients. Our meta-analysis shows that cancer patients with COVID-19 have a higher likelihood of death (n = 165 980, OR = 2.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.47 to 4.42), which was largely driven by mortality among patients in China. Cancer patients were more likely to be intubated. Among cancer subtypes, the mortality was highest in hematological malignancies (n = 878, OR = 2.39, 95% CI = 1.17 to 4.87) followed by lung cancer (n = 646, OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.00 to 3.37). There was no association between receipt of a particular type of oncologic therapy and mortality. Our study showed that cancer patients affected by COVID-19 are a decade older than the normal population and have a higher proportion of comorbidities. There was insufficient data to assess the association of COVID-19–directed therapy and survival outcomes in cancer patients. Conclusion Cancer patients with COVID-19 disease are at increased risk of mortality and morbidity. A more nuanced understanding of the interaction between cancer-directed therapies and COVID-19–directed therapies is needed. This will require uniform prospective recording of data, possibly in multi-institutional registry databases.

Nanoparticles activated by external beams, such as ionizing radiation, laser light, or magnetic fields, have attracted significant research interest as a possible modality for treating solid tumors. From producing hyperthermic conditions to generating reactive oxygen species, a wide range of externally activated mechanisms have been explored for producing cytotoxicity within tumors with high spatiotemporal control. To further improve tumoricidal effects, recent trends in the literature have focused on stimulating the immune system through externally activated treatment strategies that result in immunogenic cell death. By releasing inflammatory compounds known to initiate an immune response, treatment methods can take advantage of immune system pathways for a durable and robust systemic anti-tumor response. In this review, we discuss recent advancements in radiosensitizing and hyperthermic nanoparticles that have been tuned for promoting immunogenic cell death. Our review covers both preclinical and clinical results, as well as an overview of possible future work.

Radiation therapy (RT), an integral component of curative treatment for many malignancies, can be administered via an increasing array of techniques. In this review, we summarize the properties and application of different types of RT, specifically, conventional therapy with x-rays, stereotactic body RT, and proton and carbon particle therapies. We highlight how low-linear energy transfer (LET) radiation induces simple DNA lesions that are efficiently repaired by cells, whereas high-LET radiation causes complex DNA lesions that are difficult to repair and that ultimately enhance cancer cell killing. Additionally, we discuss the immunogenicity of radiation-induced tumor death, elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which radiation mounts innate and adaptive immune responses and explore strategies by which we can increase the efficacy of these mechanisms. Understanding the mechanisms by which RT modulates immune signaling and the key players involved in modulating the RT-mediated immune response will help to improve therapeutic efficacy and to identify novel immunomodulatory drugs that will benefit cancer patients undergoing targeted RT.