Current Cancer Therapy Reviews - Online First

Rectal cancer is a significant health concern with substantial morbidity and mortality rates. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of rectal cancer, providing detailed anatomical and functional information. However, traditional MRI techniques have limitations in prognosticating tumor behavior and treatment response. The study emphasizes the importance of emerging techniques such as Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI), mrDEC scoring system, Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), Radiomics, and Machine Learning. By examining recent research and clinical trials, we aim to offer a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, challenges, and future directions associated with the incorporation of these MRI biomarkers in predicting outcomes for rectal cancer patients. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the emerging MRI biomarkers that hold the potential for prognostication of rectal cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a crucial role in post-transcriptional gene regulation by modulating mRNA stability and translation. These evolutionarily conserved molecules undergo processing by ribonucleases Drosha and Dicer, ultimately joining the RNA-induced silencing complex to silence gene expression. Among them, miR-23a, located on chromosome 19, is significant for its roles in cell growth, differentiation, and various diseases, including cancer. Depending on the cancer type, miR-23a can function as both an oncogene and a tumour suppressor. While its overexpression often correlates with aggressive tumours, miR-23a holds promise as a biomarker for early cancer detection and a therapeutic target. Its diverse functions in cancer include promoting tumour growth and hindering immune responses, highlighting its potential for personalized medicine. Beyond cancer, miR-23a is involved in blood sugar regulation, insulin resistance, muscle atrophy, and other diseases. It modulates pathways in type 2 diabetes mellitus, muscle atrophy, leukemia, epilepsy, and osteoarthritis. This paper aims to comprehensively analyze the roles of miR-23a in cancer and other diseases, focusing on its regulatory mechanisms, target genes, and pathways. It also evaluates the potential of miR-23a as a biomarker and therapeutic target. Despite its significance, research gaps remain, particularly in understanding the interactions of miR-23a with other miRNAs and the detailed mechanisms underlying its role in various diseases. More research into miR-23a clustering and how it works with other miRNAs could help us learn more about it and find better ways to use it to diagnose and treat diseases.

Chemotherapy drugs are not fully selective for cancer cells - they can also destroy healthy cells. Recent advances in nanotechnology have offered hope to overcome this problem. Liposome carriers are widely studied for their use to deliver drugs and genes inside cancer cells. Gemini quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) show great application potential among lipid carriers. Structures made of Gemini surfactants are characterized by a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) and higher effectiveness in lowering the surface tension compared to monomeric forms of this type of compound. Encapsulation of a drug or genetic material is one of the critical steps in the formation of liposomal carriers. This efficient process allows one to minimize the number of necessary liposomes capable of delivering a certain amount of active substance. Delivery of a liposome to a solid tumor depends on the physiological factors of the tumor - vascularity, lymphatic drainage, interstitial fluid pressure – and on the physicochemical properties of the carrier. Many nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery have been tested in animal studies but have not achieved satisfactory clinical success. Promising preclinical research results are not always reflected in the treatment of patients. Therefore, understanding the relationships governing the transport of the drug and the carrier to the cancer cell seems to be a key challenge in modern nanotechnology.

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in the prognosis and progression of gastrointestinal cancers, although its underlying mechanisms remain largely unelucidated. This review provides a thorough summary of current research investigating gut microbiome signatures as prognostic biomarkers in gastrointestinal cancers. We present an overview of recent studies examining microbial signatures as potential biomarkers for various gastrointestinal cancers, and discuss the potential benefits and challenges of employing these signatures in prognostic applications. Furthermore, we explore how these microbial signatures can be harnessed to enhance the detection, prevention, and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers, highlighting their clinical implications and future directions in cancer management.

Platelets are small anucleated blood cells that play a vital role in preserving the integrity of tissue because of their hemostatic properties. However, through their interactions with leukocytes, they also have important functions in immunological responses and inflammation. Platelets have an impact on the tumor's development and metastasis at different stages of cancer. They promote angiogenesis and metastasis by modifying endothelial activation, improving leukocyte migration to tumor locations, and changing inflammatory conditions. Patients with cancer frequently have aberrant platelet activity, which accelerates the progression of the illness. Tumor cells that penetrate the bloodstream stimulate platelets, which causes the tumor cells to take on a mesenchymal-like phenotype and widen the permeability of the endothelium. As a result, tumor cell-platelet emboli are created. In addition, platelets draw in myeloid cells, shield tumor cells from immunological reactions and shear stress, and aid in their extravasation into distant organs. Ultimately, growth factors derived from platelets help create micrometastatic foci. With an emphasis on current advancements in the area, this review clarifies the intricate mechanisms of platelet activation and their interactions with cancer cells.