Met in lung cancer

Green Seaweed Caulerpa racemosa as a Novel Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Inhibitor in Overcoming Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance: An Analysis Employing Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and In Vitro Research

The marine environment provides a rich source of distinct creatures containing potentially revolutionary bioactive chemicals. One of these organisms is Caulerpa racemosa, a type of green algae known as green seaweed, seagrapes, or green caviar. This organism stands out because it has great promise for use in medicine, especially in the study of cancer. Through the utilization of computational modeling (in silico) and cellular laboratory experiments (in vitro), the chemical components included in the green seaweed C. racemosa were effectively analyzed, uncovering its capability to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study specifically emphasized blocking SRC, STAT3, PIK3CA, MAPK1, EGFR, and JAK1 using molecular docking and in vitro. These proteins play a crucial role in the EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance pathway in NSCLC. The chemical Caulersin (C2) included in C. racemosa extract (CRE) has been identified as a potent and effective agent in fighting against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), both in silico and in vitro. CRE and C2 showed a level of inhibition similar to that of osimertinib (positive control/NSCLC drug).

Mutation-introduced dimerization of receptor tyrosine kinases: from protein structure aberrations to carcinogenesis

Cancer is the greatest challenge to human health in our era. Perturbations of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) function contribute to a large chunk of cancer etiology. Current evidence supports that mutations in RTKs mediate receptor dimerization and result in ligand-independent kinase activity and tumorigenesis, indicating that mutation-introduced receptor dimerization is a critical component of oncogenesis RTK mutations. However, there are no specialized reviews of this important principle. In the current review, we discuss the physiological and harmless RTK function and subsequently examine mutation-introduced dimerization of RTKs and the role of these mutations in tumorigenesis. We also summarize the protein structure characteristics that are important for dimerization and introduce research methods and tools to predict and validate the existence of oncogenic mutations introduced by dimerization in RTKs.

Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Biomarker Testing: The Pathologist's Perspective

Biomarker testing has become standard of care for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Although, it can be successfully performed in circulating tumor cells, at present, the vast majority of investigations are carried out using direct tumor sampling, either through aspiration methods, which render most often isolated cells, or tissue sampling, that could range from minute biopsies to large resections. Consequently, pathologists play a central role in this process. Recent evidence suggests that refining NSCLC diagnosis might be clinically significant, particularly in cases of lung adenocarcinomas (ADC), which in turn, has prompted a new proposal for the histologic classification of such pulmonary neoplasms. These changes, in conjunction with the mandatory incorporation of biomarker testing in routine NSCLC tissue processing, have directly affected the pathologist’s role in lung cancer work-up. This new role pathologists must play is complex and demanding, and requires a close interaction with surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and molecular pathologists. Pathologists often find themselves as the central figure in the coordination of a process, that involves assuring that the tumor samples are properly fixed, but without disruption of the DNA structure, obtaining the proper diagnosis with a minimum of tissue waste, providing pre-analytical evaluation of tumor samples selected for biomarker testing, which includes assessment of the proportion of tumor to normal tissues, as well as cell viability, and assuring that this entire process happens in a timely fashion. Therefore, it is part of the pathologist’s responsibilities to assure that the samples received in their laboratories, be processed in a manner that allows for optimal biomarker testing. This article goal is to discuss the essential role pathologists must play in NSCLC biomarker testing, as well as to provide a summarized review of the main NSCLC biomarkers of clinical interest.