ABSTRACT
The heterotypic perspective of cancer depicts solid tumors as ecosystems composed of aberrant epithelium tumor cells and a multitude of cell types together referred to as stromal cells. Macrophages, which are innate immune cells, are overrepresented in certain environments. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are macrophages found in the tumor microenvironment;they are derived from the blood's monocytes and are essential for tumor progression. TAMs acquiring tumorigenic qualities is dependent on a complicated interaction between TAMs and tumor cells. Using co-culture studies, we showed that tumor-derived secretory signals promote Tams' tumor-promoting characteristics, shaping up Tams' features in ways that are advantageous to the tumor. When model human monocytes (THP-1) were co-cultured with A549 cells, the A549 cells exhibited increased proliferation, migration, and invasiveness due to the secretion of tumor-promoting cytokines from the THP-1 cells. We showed that EDA-containing Fibronectin secreted by A549 cells reliably mediates the pro-inflammatory response of THP-1 monocytes in a paracrine manner. Ablation of such responses by the treatment of THP-1 cells with TLR-4 blocking antibody implicated Fibronectin-TLR4 axis in tumor-associated inflammation and suggests a paradigm wherein lung carcinoma cell derived EDA-containing Fibronectin drives a pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic tumor microenvironment. Interestingly, autocrine proliferation, migration, and invasion were all boosted by EDA-containing Fibronectin secreted by A549 cells. Lastly, we demonstrated that the EDA in Fibronectin activates the epithelial-mesenchymal transition pathway in A549 cells, hence granting these cells the ability to metastasize. © 2023 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
The 4th edition of the "Braun-Falco Textbook", an international standard text of dermatology, allergy and sexually transmitted disorders has been thoroughly rewritten and reedited and offers a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of the entire field for clinicians in hospital and private practice. The editors assembled an expert team of authors with outstanding international reputation who present a concise overview of the complete spectrum of dermatology and its groundbreaking progress with particular emphasis on aspects of practical care within the specialty. The treatment recommendations are based on current international guidelines and standards of care, and pay special attention to latest therapeutic progress as well as recent pathophysiological concepts. A special emphasis has been put on a unique array of high quality figures and a clear, easily understandable structure of the respective chapters. Besides the printed version, the new edition is available as a digital version. New aspects of the 4th edition that reflect the tremendous and rapid progress of dermatology include an up to date clinical classification of dermatoses, current guidelines and therapeutic concepts in inflammatory and neoplastic diseases, and dermatological aspects of the new Covid-19 infection. "Braun-Falco's Dermatology" is a must for specialists and trainees in dermatology, and of great value for all physicians who encounter skin diseases in general. © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 1991, 2000, 2009, 2022. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the need for appropriate treatment guidelines for patients with brain tumors was indispensable due to the lack and limitations of medical resources. Thus, the Korean Society for Neuro-Oncology (KSNO), a multidisciplinary academic society, has undertaken efforts to develop a guideline that is tailored to the domestic situation and that can be used in similar crisis situations in the future. METHODS: The KSNO Guideline Working Group was composed of 22 multidisciplinary experts on neuro-oncology in Korea. In order to reach consensus among the experts, the Delphi method was used to build up the final recommendations. RESULTS: All participating experts completed the series of surveys, and the results of final survey were used to draft the current consensus recommendations. Priority levels of surgery and radiotherapy during crises were proposed using appropriate time window-based criteria for management outcome. The highest priority for surgery is assigned to patients who are life-threatening or have a risk of significant impact on a patient's prognosis unless immediate intervention is given within 24-48 hours. As for the radiotherapy, patients who are at risk of compromising their overall survival or neurological status within 4-6 weeks are assigned to the highest priority. Curative-intent chemotherapy has the highest priority, followed by neoadjuvant/adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy during a crisis period. Telemedicine should be actively considered as a management tool for brain tumor patients during the mass infection crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: It is crucial that adequate medical care for patients with brain tumors is maintained and provided, even during times of crisis. This guideline will serve as a valuable resource, assisting in the delivery of treatment to brain tumor patients in the event of any future crisis.
ABSTRACT
Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a highly curable B cell lymphoproliferative neoplasm with a bimodal age distribution. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both sexes. We present a rare case of synchronous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung and mixed cellularity HL of the nasopharynx. A gentleman in his 70s presented with right-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. CT of the chest showed a peripheral lung mass, and a biopsy confirmed SCC of the lung. The patient underwent a positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging that revealed an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid mass in the nasopharynx. Flexible nasal endoscopy and biopsy of the nasopharyngeal mass revealed mixed cellularity classical HL. The patient was started on chemoimmunotherapy for lung cancer. Unfortunately, two months after initiation of treatment, the patient died from COVID-19 pneumonia and multiorgan failure.
ABSTRACT
Introduction We document our data on the course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in cancer patients in an attempt to help optimize their management in India and globally. Material and Methods Between February 2020 and January 2021, participating oncologists from Pune (members of the Oncology Group of Pune) documented effect of COVID-19 infection in their cancer patients. Binomial logistic regression analysis as well as correlation analysis was done using Pearson Chi-square test to determine significance of clinical factors. Results A total of 29 oncologists from 20 hospitals contributed their data involving 147 cancer patients who developed COVID-19 infections. COVID-19 infection resulted in higher deaths (likelihood ratio of 4.4) amongst patients with hematological malignancies (12/44 = 27.2%) as compared with those with solid tumors (13/90 = 14.4%, p = 0.030). Patients with uncontrolled or progressive cancer (11/34 = 32.4%) when they got infected with COVID-19 had higher mortality as compared with patients whose cancer was under control (14/113 = 12.4%; p = 0.020). Complication of thromboembolic episodes (seen in eight patients; 5.4% cases) was associated with higher risk (25.6 times) of death (five-eighths; 62.5%) as compared with those who did not develop it (20/139;14.4%; p <0.001). Discussion Patients with cancer should be advised to take strict precautions to reduce the risk of being infected with COVID-19. They should also be given priority for COVID-19 vaccination. If infected with COVID-19, patients with hematological malignancy and uncontrolled cancer are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality. When they are being treated (OPD or inpatient basis), additional precautions are necessary to ensure their exposure to potential COVID-19 virus is minimized. If they get infected with COVID-19, they should be given aggressive treatment to prevent complications, especially thromboembolic episodes. If they develop any thromboembolic complication, their risk of dying are significantly higher, and management should be modified accordingly.