Incidence and risk of fatigue in cancer patients treated with MET inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Fatigue Prevalence Among Palliative Care Cancer Patients in Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: The aims of the current study are to assess the prevalence of cancer-related fatigue, to examine the difference in cancer-related fatigue severity in relation to patients' characteristics (age, gender, type of cancer, and palliative performance status), and to explore the correlation between cancer-related fatigue and pain, dyspnea, insomnia, and depression among palliative care patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study conducted at Comprehensive Cancer Center, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study included cancer patients who received palliative care services from January 2016 to December 2021. Clinical data of study participants were retrospectively collected from Palliative Care department patient registry. Symptoms were assessed and scored using Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software. Results: A total of 2616 patients were included in the study, 52.3% were females and 47.7% were males. The median age of study participants was 56 years (range: 2-101 years). Among all study population, the highest reported cancer type was gastrointestinal malignancy (33.5%), while the least was unknown primary malignancy (1.4%). With regards to Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale, pain (86.4%) and fatigue (83%) were the highest reported symptom in comparison to constipation (17.3%) and insomnia (7.1%). Conclusion: Cancer-related fatigue is a prevalent and concerning issue among palliative care patients. It is essential that healthcare providers recognize the prevalence of fatigue among patients with life-limiting illnesses, assess patients for fatigue routinely, incorporate strategies for managing fatigue, work closely with affected individuals and their families in order to guide the establishment of a personalized care plan that addresses the patient's unique needs and preferences.

MicroRNA-153-3p sensitizes melanoma cells to dacarbazine by suppressing ATG5-mediated autophagy and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Dacarbazine is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of melanoma; however, only 5-10% of patients benefit from this treatment. MicroRNA-153-3p (miR-153-3p) has a tumor-suppressive effect in melanoma. In the present study, we found that miR-153-3p was downregulated in melanoma cell lines (A357 and M14).

METHODS

The target relationship between miR-153-3p and Autophagy-related gene 5 (ATG5) was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot were used to examine cell viability, apoptosis, and autophagy, respectively.

RESULTS

miR-153-3p overexpression decreased the half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of dacarbazine, while increasing the apoptotic rate in both A357 and M14 cells. Moreover, miR-153-3p enhanced dacarbazine-induced autophagy in melanoma cells. Our bioinformatics study revealed that ATG5 is one of the potential targets of miR-153-3p. The overexpression of ATG5 decreased dacarbazine sensitivity and promoted proliferation, as well as inhibited apoptosis and autophagy in melanoma cells. miR-153-3p exhibited suppressive effects via directly binding and downregulating ATG5 expression, which subsequently increased sensitivity to dacarbazine and inhibited proliferation, and enhanced apoptosis and autophagy in melanoma cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study showed that miR-153-3p sensitizes melanoma cells to dacarbazine by suppressing ATG5-mediated autophagy and apoptosis, and provided a basis to explore the functions of miRNAs on drug resistance in the treatment of melanoma.

Combination of aloin and metformin enhances the antitumor effect by inhibiting the growth and invasion and inducing apoptosis and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a devastating and highly metastatic cancer worldwide. Metformin (MET) is the priority drug for treatment of type 2 diabetes; however, it possesses multiple biological effects like anticancer and hepatoprotective activity. Herein, we examined the effects of aloin (barbaloin) and MET as well as combination treatment in HCC cell line in vitro and in vivo. As a result, aloin and MET alone exhibited inhibitory effects on proliferation and invasion of HepG2 and Bel‐7402 cells. Specially, combination treatment of aloin and MET showed enhanced inhibitory effects in vitro. Aloin and MET alone induced apoptosis and autophagy in vitro. Similarly, aloin and MET cooperated to promote apoptosis and autophagy in HepG2 and Bel‐7402 cells. In the HepG2 xenograft models, aloin in combination with MET confine tumor growth and facilitate apoptosis and autophagy. Both the in vitro and in vivo results showed that aloin and MET alone as well as combination treatment activated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Overall, our research demonstrated that the concomitant treatment with aloin and MET enhances the antitumor effect by inhibiting the growth and invasion as well as inducing apoptosis and autophagy in HCC through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.