The extracellular matrix dictates regional competence for tumour initiation

Hedgehog pathway and cancer: A new area (Review)

In years of research on classical pathways, the composition, information transmission mechanism, crosstalk with other pathways, and physiological and pathological effects of hedgehog (HH) pathway have been gradually clarified. HH also plays a critical role in tumor formation and development. According to the update of interpretation of tumor phenotypes, the latest relevant studies have been sorted out, to explore the specific mechanism of HH pathway in regulating different tumor phenotypes through gene mutation and signal regulation. The drugs and natural ingredients involved in regulating HH pathway were also reviewed; five approved drugs and drugs under research exert efficacy by blocking HH pathway, and at least 22 natural components have potential to treat tumors by HH pathway. Nevertheless, there is a deficiency of existing studies. The present review confirmed the great potential of HH pathway in future cancer treatment with factual basis.

Dysembryogenetic Pathogenesis of Basal Cell Carcinoma: The Evidence to Date

The Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is a sort of unique tumour due to its combined peculiar histological features and clinical behaviour, such as the constant binary involvement of the epithelium and the stroma, the virtual absence of metastases and the predilection of specific anatomical sites for both onset and spread. A potential correlation between the onset of BCC and a dysembryogenetic process has long been hypothesised. A selective investigation of PubMed-indexed publications supporting this theory retrieved 64 selected articles published between 1901 and 2024. From our analysis of the literature review, five main research domains on the dysembryogenetic pathogenesis of BCC were identified: (1) The correlation between the topographic distribution of BCC and the macroscopic embryology, (2) the correlation between BCC and the microscopic embryology, (3) the genetic BCC, (4) the correlation between BCC and the hair follicle and (5) the correlation between BCC and the molecular embryology with a specific focus on the Hedgehog signalling pathway. A large amount of data from microscopic and molecular research consistently supports the hypothesis of a dysembryogenetic pathogenesis of BCC. Such evidence is promoting advances in the clinical management of this disease, with innovative targeted molecular therapies on an immune modulating basis being developed.

Advances in GPCR-targeted drug development in dermatology

Achieving the efficacy and specificity of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) targeting-drugs in the skin remains challenging. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying GPCR dysfunction is crucial for developing targeted therapies. Recent advances in genetic, signal transduction, and structural studies have significantly improved our understanding of cutaneous GPCR functions in both normal and pathological states. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries of pathogenic GPCRs in dermal injuries, chronic inflammatory dermatoses, cutaneous malignancies, as well as the development of potent potential drugs. We also discuss targeting of cutaneous GPCR complexes via the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel and structure elucidation, which provide new opportunities for therapeutic targeting of GPCRs involved in skin disorders. These insights are expected to lead to more effective and specific treatments for various skin conditions.

Nuclear periphery and its mechanical regulation in cell fate transitions

Cell fate changes require rewiring of transcriptional programs to generate functionally specialized cell states. Reconfiguration of transcriptional networks requires overcoming epigenetic barriers imposed by silenced heterochromatin in order to activate lineage-specific genes. Further, cell fate decisions are made in a tissue-specific context, where cells are physically linked to each other as well as to the connective tissue environment. Here, cells are continuously exposed to a multitude of mechanical forces emanating from cellular dynamics in their local microenvironments, for example through cell movements, cell divisions, tissue contractions, or fluid flow. Through their ability to deform cellular structures and activate receptors, mechanical forces can be sensed at the plasma membrane, but also at the nuclear periphery through direct or cytoskeleton-mediated deformation of the nuclear envelope. This deformation and the associated signaling is capable of triggering changes in the mechanical state of the nuclear membranes, the organization and rigidity of the underlying nuclear lamina, compaction state of chromatin, and ultimately transcription. This review focuses on the role of nuclear architecture, particularly the nuclear lamina-chromatin interface, and its mechanical regulation in cell fate decisions as well as its physiological role in development and cellular reprogramming.

Targeting tumour surface collage with hydrogel probe: a new strategy to enhance intraoperative imaging sensitivity and stability of bladder cancer

PURPOSE

The incomplete resection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) augments the risk of disease recurrence. Imaging-guided surgery by molecular probes represents a pivotal strategy for mitigating postoperative recurrence. Traditional optical molecular probes, primarily composed of antibodies/peptides targeting tumour cells and fluorescent groups, are challenged by the high heterogeneity of NMIBC cells, leading to inadequate probe sensitivity. We have developed a collagen-adhesive probe (CA-P) to target the collagen within the tumour microenvironment, aiming to address the issue of insufficient imaging sensitivity.

METHODS

The distribution characteristics of collagen in animal bladder cancer models and human bladder cancer tissues were explored. The synthesis and properties of CA-P were validated. In animal models, the imaging performance of CA-P was tested and compared with our previously reported near-infrared probe PLSWT7-DMI. The clinical translational potential of CA-P was assessed using human ex vivo bladder tissues.

RESULTS

The distribution of collagen on the surface of tumour cells is distinct from its expression in normal urothelium. In vitro studies have demonstrated the ability of the CA-P to undergo a "sol-gel" transition upon interaction with collagen. In animal models and human ex vivo bladder specimens, CA-P exhibits superior imaging performance compared to PLSWT7-DMI. The sensitivity of this probe is 94.1%, with a specificity of 81%.

CONCLUSION

CA-P demonstrates the capability to overcome tumour cell heterogeneity and enhance imaging sensitivity, exhibiting favorable imaging outcomes in preclinical models. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the application of CA-P in intraoperative navigation for NMIBC.

Boosting antitumor efficacy of nanoparticles by modulating tumor mechanical microenvironment

Nanoparticles have shown great potential for tumor targeting delivery via enhanced permeability and retention effect. However, the tumor mechanical microenvironment, characterized by dense extracellular matrix (ECM), high tumor stiffness and solid stress, leads to only 0.7% of administered dose accumulating in solid tumors and even fewer (∼0.0014%) reaching tumor cells, limiting the therapeutic efficacy of nanoparticles. Furthermore, the tumor mechanical microenvironment can regulate tumor cell stemness, promote tumor invasion, metastasis and reduce treatment efficacy. In this review, methods detecting the mechanical are introduced. Strategies for modulating the mechanical microenvironment including elimination of dense ECM by physical, chemical and biological methods, disruption of ECM formation, depletion or inhibition of cancer-associated fibroblasts, are then summarized. Finally, prospects and challenges for further clinical applications of mechano-modulating strategies to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of nanomedicines are discussed. This review may provide guidance for the rational design and application of nanoparticles in clinical settings.

Clonal expansion in normal tissues

Cancer originates from a single ancestral cell that acquires a driver mutation, which confers a growth or survival advantage, followed by the acquisition of additional driver mutations by descendant cells. Recently, it has become evident that somatic cell mutations accumulate in normal tissues with aging and exposure to environmental factors, such as alcohol, smoking, and UV rays, increases the mutation rate. Clones harboring driver mutations expand with age, leading to tissue remodeling. Lineage analysis of myeloproliferative neoplasms and der(1;16)-positive breast cancer revealed that driver mutations were acquired early in our lives and that the development of cancer takes decades, unveiling the previously unknown early process of cancer development. Evidence that clonal hematopoiesis affects various diseases, including nonneoplastic diseases, highlights the potential role of the identification and functional analysis of mutated clones in unraveling unknown pathologies. In this review, we summarize the recent updates on clonal expansion in normal tissues and the natural history of cancer revealed through lineage analysis of noncancerous and cancerous tissues.

High-Risk Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers: Biological and Therapeutic Advances

Nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most common cancers, with high-risk NMSCs sharing features such as poor histologic differentiation, invasion into deeper layers, and anatomic location. NMSC includes basal cell carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Herein, the authors describe advances in understanding the genetic mechanisms of malignant transformation and the composition of tumor microenvironment for these cancers. They summarize recent therapeutic advances, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy for NMSCs. Effective skin protection against ultraviolet radiation-induced carcinogenesis remains an urgent unmet need for NMSC prevention. The authors highlight immune-based interventions as novel strategies to address this need.

Tumor initiation and early tumorigenesis: molecular mechanisms and interventional targets

Tumorigenesis is a multistep process, with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event. However, despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues, their transformation into cancer remains a rare event, indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible, highly heterogeneous, and invasive lesion. Recently, researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution, independently of inducing mutations. Additionally, clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay between cell-intrinsic identities and various cell-extrinsic factors that exert selective pressures to either restrain uncontrolled proliferation or allow specific clones to progress into tumors. However, the mechanisms by which driver events induce both intrinsic cellular competency and remodel environmental stress to facilitate malignant transformation are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize the genetic, epigenetic, and external driver events, and their effects on the co-evolution of the transformed cells and their ecosystem during tumor initiation and early malignant evolution. A deeper understanding of the earliest molecular events holds promise for translational applications, predicting individuals at high-risk of tumor and developing strategies to intercept malignant transformation.

Aging and cancer

Aging and cancer exhibit apparent links that we will examine in this review. The null hypothesis that aging and cancer coincide because both are driven by time, irrespective of the precise causes, can be confronted with the idea that aging and cancer share common mechanistic grounds that are referred to as 'hallmarks'. Indeed, several hallmarks of aging also contribute to carcinogenesis and tumor progression, but some of the molecular and cellular characteristics of aging may also reduce the probability of developing lethal cancer, perhaps explaining why very old age (> 90 years) is accompanied by a reduced incidence of neoplastic diseases. We will also discuss the possibility that the aging process itself causes cancer, meaning that the time-dependent degradation of cellular and supracellular functions that accompanies aging produces cancer as a byproduct or 'age-associated disease'. Conversely, cancer and its treatment may erode health and drive the aging process, as this has dramatically been documented for cancer survivors diagnosed during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. We conclude that aging and cancer are connected by common superior causes including endogenous and lifestyle factors, as well as by a bidirectional crosstalk, that together render old age not only a risk factor of cancer but also an important parameter that must be considered for therapeutic decisions.

Somatic Mutations in Normal Tissues: Calm before the Storm

We explore the phenomenon of somatic mutations, including those in cancer driver genes, that are present in healthy, normal-appearing tissues and their potential implications for cancer development. We also examine the landscape of these somatic mutations, discuss the role of clonal cell competition and external factors like inflammation in enhancing the fitness of mutant clones, and conclude by considering how understanding these mutations will aid in prevention and/or interception of cancer.

Risk Factors and Innovations in Risk Assessment for Melanoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer globally and is preventable. Various risk factors contribute to different types of skin cancer, including melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. These risk factors encompass both extrinsic, such as UV exposure and behavioral components, and intrinsic factors, especially involving genetic predisposition. However, the specific risk factors vary among the skin cancer types, highlighting the importance of precise knowledge to facilitate appropriate early diagnosis and treatment for at-risk individuals. Better understanding of the individual risk factors has led to the development of risk scores, allowing the identification of individuals at particularly high risk. These advances contribute to improved prevention strategies, emphasizing the commitment to mitigating the impact of skin cancer.