A critical review of RAF inhibitors in BRAF-mutated glioma treatment.

BRAF gliomas have garnered significant attention in research due to the lack of effective treatments and their notable incidence, constituting 3% of all gliomas. This underlines the importance of investigating this area and the impact that targeted therapies could hold. This review discusses the development of targeted therapies for these tumors, examining the effectiveness of first-generation BRAF inhibitors such as Vemurafenib, Dabrafenib and Encorafenib, while addressing the challenges posed by paradoxical ERK activation. The advent of pan-RAF inhibitors, notably Tovorafenib, offers a promising advance, demonstrating enhanced efficacy and better penetration of the blood-brain barrier, without the issue of paradoxical activation. Nevertheless, continued research is essential to refine therapeutic strategies for BRAF-mutated gliomas, given the evolving nature of targeted therapy development.

How to find a needle in a haystack: a systematic review on targeting KRAS wild-type pancreatic cancer.

Aim: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a very aggressive type of cancer, in which targeted therapies have not yet been fully utilized. KRAS wild-type pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumors are associated with different genomic alterations in comparison to KRAS mutated pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Objective: This systematic review aims to provide a one-stop summary of all these alterations, their proposed targeted treatment and their effect on disease progression. Methods: An electronic search strategy was elaborated in the PubMed database between 2020 and January 2024. Results: 21 studies were included, and we found that the most frequent targetable genomic alterations in KRAS wild-type pancreatic adenocarcinoma were BRAF, EGFR, FGFR, MSI-H/dMMR, Her2/ERBB2 amplification, BRCA1/2 and other HRDs, and gene fusions like ALK, NTRK and NRG1.

[Box: see text].

Beyond the Horizon: A Cutting-Edge Review of the Latest Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a revolutionary paradigm in oncology, offering a potent arsenal against various malignancies by harnessing the body's own immunological prowess. In a whirlwind of advancement, an abundance of new ICIs have come to light, rendering it a Herculean task for physicians to remain au courant with the rapidly evolving landscape. This comprehensive review meticulously explores the crescendo of clinical investigations and FDA approvals that have come to light during 2022 and 2023, showcasing the metamorphic impact of ICIs in cancer therapeutics. Delving into the pith of pivotal Phase 3 trials across diverse cancer types - including lung, renal, melanoma, and more - the review illuminates the significant strides made in enhancing patient outcomes, alongside the unveiling of novel ICIs that have garnered attention in the oncological community. The analysis extends to the notable presentations at the esteemed ESMO and ASCO conventions, providing a panoramic view of the contemporary advancements in ICI technology. Furthermore, the review underscores the imperative of continuous exploration in overcoming the extant challenges, such as the quest for reliable predictive biomarkers and the optimization of combinatorial strategies to surmount resistance and augment therapeutic efficacy. Through a holistic lens, this article elucidates the monumental impact of ICIs, marking a significant epoch in the odyssey towards rendering cancer a conquerable adversary.

Tackling the immunotherapy conundrum: advances and challenges for operable non-small-cell lung cancer treatment.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the majority of lung cancer cases, and its standard treatment is primarily surgery. Nonetheless, this type of cancer exhibits an important rate of tumor recurrence. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated significant survival benefits in many cancers, especially in early-stage NSCLC. This review considers the latest CheckMate816, IMpower010 and KEYNOTE-091 trials that led to US FDA approvals. The new wave of resectable NSCLC trial results are also summarized. Finally, the latest challenges for these treatment modalities, such as the choice between neoadjuvant and adjuvant use, the accurate identification of biomarkers and the presence of driver mutations such as EGFR, are discussed.

This article explains new results from cancer trials. In fact, the US FDA approved new treatments because of these findings. We sum up how cancer drugs help immune cells kill lung tumors. Moreover, the most common type of these tumors is non-small-cell lung cancer, a group that responds well to these drugs. The article provides a brief review of 2023 results to help both patients and doctors. Finally, some significant debates are presented. Among these questions are the following: Is treatment better before or after surgery? Will mutations reduce drug benefit? How can we tell whether the drug will work? Who can take these medicines? Will new tech help doctors?

Mesenchymal stem cells: a trojan horse to treat glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal primary tumor of the central nervous system. What makes it so dreadful is the very low survival rate, despite the existence of a standard treatment plan. An innovative and more effective way to treat glioblastoma based on Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) has been explored recently. MSCs are a group of endogenous multipotent stem cells that could mainly be harvested from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord. Having the ability to migrate toward the tumor using multiple types of binding receptors, they could be used either as a direct treatment (whether they are enhanced or not) or as a delivery vehicle carrying various anti-tumoral agents. Some of these agents are: chemotherapy drugs, prodrug activating therapy, oncolytic viruses, nanoparticles, human artificial chromosome… Promising results have started to surface; however, more evidence is needed to perfect their use as a glioblastoma multiforme treatment option. Alternative treatment, using unloaded or loaded MSCs, leading to a better outcome.