Insights into apoptotic proteins in chemotherapy: quantification techniques and informing therapy choice

Incidence of cardiovascular mortality among head and neck cancer patients

BACKGROUND

While treatment advancements have prolonged the lives of patients with head and neck cancer, the subgroups of these patients at higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remain unclear.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer from 2000 to 2019. We compared their CVD mortality against the general US population using standardized mortality ratios (SMRs).

RESULTS

Our analysis included 474,366 patients, identifying that 14% of deaths were due to CVD, with an SMR of 1.19. Notably, patients under the age of 39 had a CVD SMR increase of over 100-fold. Those with distant tumor stages showed the highest CVD SMR of 1.52 (95% CI 1.50-1.54). An upward trend in SMR to 2.53 (95% CI 2.51-2.56) was observed from 2011 to 2019. Within the initial 5-year post-diagnosis, the SMR for CVD was 3.17 (95% CI 3.14-3.20), which exceeded the general population's rates but declined in the 5-20-year range after diagnosis. Patients who did not any therapy had the greatest CVD SMR of 2.26 (95% CI 2.24-2.28). Hypopharyngeal cancer patients exhibited the highest CVD SMR of 1.54 (95% CI 1.52-1.56).

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights that head and neck cancer patients, especially younger individuals and those with advanced disease stages, face substantial CVD mortality risks. The CVD SMR peaks within 5 years following diagnosis. Patients abstaining from treatment bear the highest risk of CVD mortality. Cardioprotective measures should be considered critical for this patient population.

A novel function of IMPA2, plays a tumor-promoting role in cervical cancer

Discovery of genes and molecular mechanism involved in cervical cancer development would promote the prevention and treatment. By comparing gene expression profiles of cervical carcinoma in situ (CCIS) and adjacent normal tissues, we identified a potential cancer-promoting gene, IMPA2. This study aimed to elucidate the role of IMPA2 and underlying molecular mechanisms in cervical cancer progression. To do this expression of IMPA2 was compared between human cervical cancer and corresponding adjacent normal cervical tissues firstly. CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and tumor formation in nude mice were performed to demonstrate the effect of IMPA2 in cervical cancer proliferation and metastasis. Further proteomic profiling and western blotting explored the molecular pathway involved in the IMPA2-regulating process. The results showed that IMPA2 gene expression was upregulated in cervical cancer. Consistently, silencing of IMPA2 suppressed tumor formation in BALB/c nude mice. Short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated IMPA2 silencing significantly inhibited proliferation and colony-forming abilities of cervical cancer cells, while IMPA2 overexpression had little impact. Also, IMPA2 silencing suppressed cellular migration, but overexpression promoted migration. Proteomics analysis revealed the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in tumor-promoting action of IMPA2. Significantly, the inhibition of IMPA2 activated ERK phosphorylation, and its inhibitory effects can be restored by using selective ERK inhibitor, FR180204. In conclusion, IMPA2 acts as an oncogene in the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer. IMPA2 downregulated ERK phosphorylation to promote cervical cancer. These findings identify a new mechanism underlying cervical cancer and suggest a regulating effect of IMPA2 in MAPK signaling pathway.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of frankincense: Targets, treatments and toxicities

The oleogum resins of Boswellia species known as frankincense have been used for ages in traditional medicine in India, China and the Arabian world independent of its use for cultural and religious rituals in Europe. During the past two decades, scientific investigations provided mounting evidence for the therapeutic potential of frankincense. We conducted a systematic review on the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities of Boswellia species and their chemical ingredients (e.g. 3-O-acetyl-11-keto-β boswellic acid, α- and β-boswellic acids, 11-keto-β-boswellic acid and other boswellic acids, lupeolic acids, incensole, cembrenes, triterpenediol, tirucallic acids, and olibanumols). Frankincense acts by multiple mechanisms, e.g. by the inhibition of leukotriene synthesis, of cyclooxygenase 1/2 and 5-lipoxygenase, of oxidative stress, and by regulation of immune cells from the innate and acquired immune systems. Furthermore, frankincense modulates signaling transduction responsible for cell cycle arrest and inhibition of proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Clinical trials showed the efficacy of frankincense and its phytochemicals against osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, asthma, psoriasis and erythematous eczema, plaque-induced gingivitis and pain. Frankincense revealed beneficial effects towards brain tumor-related edema, but did not reduce glioma size. Even if there is no treatment effect on brain tumors itself, the management of glioma-associated edema may represent a desirable improvement. The therapeutic potential against other tumor types is still speculative. Experimental toxicology and clinical trials revealed only mild adverse side effects. More randomized clinical trials are required to estimate the full clinical potential of frankincense for cancer therapy.