A molecular perspective for the use of type IV tyrosine kinase inhibitors as anticancer therapeutics

Tyrosine kinases are enzymes that can transfer a phosphate group from ATP to a specific protein tyrosine, serine or threonine residue within a cell, operating as a switch that can turn ‘on’ and ‘off’ causing different physiological alterations in the body. Mutated kinases have been shown to display an equilibrium shift toward the activated state. Types I–III have been studied intensively leading to drugs like imatinib (type II), cobimetinib (type III), among others. It is the same scenario for types V–VII; however, there is a lacuna in information regarding type IV inhibitors, although recently some advances have surfaced. This review aims to accumulate the knowledge gained so far about type IV inhibitors.     

SARS-CoV-2 and cancer: the intriguing and informative cross-talk

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has significantly disrupted and burdened the diagnostic workup and delivery of care, including transfusion, to cancer patients across the globe. Furthermore, cancer patients suffering from solid tumors or hematologic malignancies were more prone to the infection and had higher morbidity and mortality than the rest of the population. Major signaling pathways have been identified at the intersection of SARS-CoV-2 and cancer cells, often leading to tumor progression or alteration of the tumor response to therapy. The reactivation of oncogenic viruses has also been alluded to in the context and following COVID-19. Paradoxically, certain tumors responded better following the profound infection-induced immune modulation. Unveiling the mechanisms of the virus-tumor cell interactions will lead to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of both cancer progression and virus propagation. It would be challenging to monitor, through the different cancer registries, retrospectively, the response of patients who have been previously exposed to the virus in contrast to those who have not contracted the infection.     

What is the impact of zinc deficiency for pancreatectomies in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma?

Backgroundand purpose: Zinc is an essential element for human health and plays an important role in metabolic, immunological and other biological processes. The present study was conducted to investigate the association between zinc deficiency (ZD) and the perioperative clinical course in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).MethodsOf 216 patients with PDAC who underwent elective pancreatectomy between 2013 and 2017 at our institution, 206 patients with sufficient clinical data were retrospectively reviewed. The perioperative variables were compared and the risk factors associated with infectious complications were identified.ResultsZD was preoperatively present in 36 (17.5%) of 206 patients with PDAC. In the patients of the ZD group, a higher proportion of males, higher preoperative modified Glasgow prognostic scores, a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and a higher occurrence of postoperative infectious complications after pancreatectomy were observed, compared to the non-ZD group. By a univariate analysis, three risk factors were significantly associated with infectious complications after pancreatectomy: ZD (vs non-ZD: p = 0.002), serum albumin <3.5 g/dl (vs ≥ 3.5 g/dl: p = 0.005), and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (vs others: p = 0.013). By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the occurrence of infectious complications was significantly associated with ZD (OR 3.430, 95%CI 1.570 to 7.490, p = 0.002) and the procedure of pancreaticoduodenectomy (OR 2.030, 95%CI 1.090 to 3.770, p = 0.025).ConclusionsThe current study newly demonstrated that ZD could serve as a preoperative predictor of infectious complications after pancreatectomies in the patients with PDAC.     

What information can we gain from performing adaptive radiotherapy of head and neck cancer patients from the past 10 years?

The aim of the review was to present the current literature status about replanning regarding anatomical and dosimetric changes in the target and OARs in the head and neck region during radiotherapy, to discuss and to analyze factors influencing the decision for adaptive radiotherapy of head and neck cancer patients. Significant progress has been made in head and neck patients’ evaluation and qualification for adapted radiotherapy over the past ten years. Many factors leading to anatomical and dosimetric changes during treatment have been identified. Based on the literature, the most common factors triggering re-plan are weight loss, tumor and nodal changes, and parotid glands shrinkage. The fluctuations in dose distribution in the clinical area are significant predictive factors for patients’ quality of life and the possibility of recovery. It has been shown that re-planning influence clinical outcomes: local control, disease free survival and overall survival. Regarding literature studies, it seems that adaptive radiotherapy would be the most beneficial for tumors of immense volume or those in the nearest proximity of the OARs. All researchers agree that the timing of re-planning is a crucial challenge, and there are still no clear consensus guidelines for time or criteria of re-planning. Nowadays, thanks to significant technological progress, the decision is mostly made based on observation and supported with IGRT verification. Although further research is still needed, adaptive strategies are evolving and now became the state of the art of modern radiotherapy.     

限时进食对恶性肿瘤的潜在防治作用

间歇性禁食是一种新的饮食干预策略,其可能改善恶性肿瘤治疗的疗效并减少并发症。 限时进食是间歇性禁食的 一种特殊形式,通常仅限制每天的进食时间窗而不限制热量,除了和其他间歇性禁食手段一样能够控制体重并改善代谢紊乱 以外,限时进食还能调节昼夜节律并影响自噬水平,具有潜在的抗衰作用,相关研究已经表明了它预防肿瘤发生以及减缓肿 瘤发展的潜力。 同时,由于实施方案便利、不良反应轻微,限时进食有着不错的依从性及安全性,有可能成为一种适合肿瘤患 者长期实施的辅助治疗方案乃至健康生活方式。 本文从改善肥胖和代谢紊乱、调节昼夜节律和自噬水平以及目前与肿瘤相 关的研究进展这三个方面阐述了限时进食对恶性肿瘤的潜在作用,旨在为将来的相关研究提供理论依据和探索方向,探讨限 时进食作为一种营养干预手段对恶性肿瘤发生的潜在预防作用以及对恶性肿瘤的治疗或辅助治疗作用,以期可以完善对肿 瘤患者的营养干预策略,改善患者的生活质量及预后。     

Dietary Practices After Primary Treatment for Ovarian Cancer: A Qualitative Analysis From the OPAL Study

BackgroundLittle is known about the dietary practices of women who have completed primary treatment for ovarian cancer, many of whom will go on to have cancer recurrence and further treatment. Knowledge of dietary practices is needed to optimize care.ObjectiveOur aim was to identify dietary practices after primary treatment for ovarian cancer and evaluate how these practices differ by disease recurrence and treatment status.DesignWomen with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer were provided with the following open-ended question after completing a food frequency questionnaire: “Is there anything we haven’t asked you about your diet in the last 1 to 2 months that you feel is important?”Participants/settingParticipants were from the OPAL (Ovarian Cancer Prognosis and Lifestyle) Study in Australia.Main outcomesThe main outcomes were dietary practices after primary treatment for ovarian cancer and factors affecting these practices.AnalysisParticipants’ responses were analyzed using content analysis. Individual content codes were categorized and reported by recurrence and treatment status at questionnaire completion.ResultsTwo hundred eighty-six women provided responses on 363 questionnaires. Those undergoing further treatment for recurrence commonly reported dietary regimens with clinical indications (eg, low fiber to avoid bowel obstructions, high energy/protein to minimize nutritional deficits). Those not undergoing further treatment frequently reported “popular” diets (eg, organic, plant-based, and alkaline). For women with cancer recurrence, dietary practices were affected by poor appetite and late effects of treatment. For women without recurrence, other comorbidities, geographical location, family, and friends appeared to influence dietary practices. In both groups, nutrition information sources and personal beliefs informed dietary practices. Participant responses that referenced media or online sources often included misinformation.ConclusionsAfter primary treatment for ovarian cancer, women report dietary practices that may not be captured in standard food frequency questionnaires. Dietary practices and factors affecting these practices likely differ by treatment and recurrence status. Improved access to evidence-based dietary information and support is needed.