Radiotherapy in malignant glioma

MAPK Activated Protein Kinase 3 Is a Prognostic-Related Biomarker and Associated With Immune Infiltrates in Glioma

Glioma is the most common primary brain tumor that causes significant morbidity and mortality. MAPK activated protein kinase 3 (MAPKAPK3/MK3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase regulating various cellular responses and gene expression. However, the role of MK3 in tumor progress, prognosis, and immunity for glioma remains unclear. Here, we determined the expression and prognostic values of MK3. We further analyzed the correlation of MK3 expression with immune infiltrations by using the biochemical methods and bioinformatic approaches with available databases. We find that MK3 is aberrantly upregulated in glioma. In addition, the higher MK3 expression is closely linked to the poor clinicopathologic features of glioma patients. Importantly, MK3 expression is negatively correlated with the prognosis of patients with glioma. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the correlated genes of MK3 were mainly enriched in pathways that regulate tumor immune responses. The MK3 level was significantly associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells and positively correlated with the majority of tumor immunoinhibitors, chemokines, and chemokine receptors in glioma. Thus, these findings suggest the novel prognostic roles of MK3 and define MK3 as a promising target for glioma immunotherapy.

Exploring the Pivotal Neurophysiologic and Therapeutic Potentials of Vitamin C in Glioma

Gliomas represent solely primary brain cancers of glial cell or neuroepithelial origin. Gliomas are still the most lethal human cancers despite modern innovations in both diagnostic techniques as well as therapeutic regimes. Gliomas have the lowest overall survival rate compared to other cancers 5 years after definitive diagnosis. The dietary intake of vitamin C has protective effect on glioma risk. Vitamin C is an essential compound that plays a vital role in the regulation of lysyl and prolyl hydroxylase activity. Neurons store high levels of vitamin C via sodium dependent-vitamin C transporters (SVCTs) to protect them from oxidative ischemia-reperfusion injury. Vitamin C is a water-soluble enzyme, typically seen as a powerful antioxidant in plants as well as animals. The key function of vitamin C is the inhibition of redox imbalance from reactive oxygen species produced via the stimulation of glutamate receptors. Gliomas absorb vitamin C primarily via its oxidized dehydroascorbate form by means of GLUT 1, 3, and 4 and its reduced form, ascorbate, by SVCT2. Vitamin C is able to preserve prosthetic metal ions like Fe2+ and Cu+ in their reduced forms in several enzymatic reactions as well as scavenge free radicals in order to safeguard tissues from oxidative damage. Therapeutic concentrations of vitamin C are able to trigger H2O2 generation in glioma. High-dose combination of vitamin C and radiation has a much more profound cytotoxic effect on primary glioblastoma multiforme cells compared to normal astrocytes. Control trials are needed to validate the use of vitamin C and standardization of the doses of vitamin C in the treatment of patients with glioma.

Experience of proximate spiritual healing in women with breast cancer, who are receiving long-term hormonal therapy

BACKGROUND

This paper presents the research protocol for a pragmatic study of the experience of spiritual healing. This unique qualitative study seeks to identify any qualitative benefits of hands-on or proximate spiritual healing for women experiencing adverse reactions to hormonal treatments. Healing will be administered as adjuvant therapy for the long-term management of breast cancer.

DESIGN

A purposive sample of up to 20 women who have completed their initial treatments at least 6 months previously will be recruited through the Oncology Department at Southampton General Hospital. The study will take place at the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility within Southampton General Hospital, where spiritual healing will be provided by healers who are National Federation of Spiritual Healers registered. Patients will be offered up to 10 weekly healing sessions.

OUTCOME

Patients will be asked to keep a daily log noting any changes they have noticed during or after the healing sessions and their attributions of these. Audio recorded in-depth interviews will be carried out after completion of the final healing. Participants will also be invited to attend focus group meetings to discuss any effects of healing. Data will be analyzed initially using an ethnographic approach allowing further analysis using other appropriate qualitative methodologies. Depending on the findings, this study will also form the preliminary stage of a further study to develop and evaluate a healing-specific questionnaire.