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Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors
Published on: September 20, 2016
Past, present, and future of molecular and cellular oncology
Lorenzo Galluzzi1, Ilio Vitale, Guido Kroemer
1INSERM, U848 Villejuif, France.
Abstract:
In the last 20 years, the field of cellular and molecular oncology has been born and has moved its first steps, with an increasingly rapid pace. Hundreds of oncogenic and oncosuppressive signaling cascades have been characterized, facilitating the development of an ever more refined and variegated arsenal of diagnostic and therapeutic weapons. Furthermore, several cancer-specific features and processes have been identified that constitute promising therapeutic targets. For instance, it has been demonstrated that microRNAs can play a critical role in oncogenesis and tumor suppression. Moreover, it turned out that tumor cells frequently exhibit an extensive metabolic rewiring, can behave in a stem cell-like fashion (and hence sustain tumor growth), often constitutively activate stress response pathways that allow them to survive, can react to therapy by engaging in non-apoptotic cell death programs, and sometimes die while eliciting a tumor-specific immune response. In this Perspective article, we discuss the main issues generated by these discoveries that will be in the limelight of molecular and cellular oncology research for the next, hopefully few years.
Insights
Cellular and molecular oncology has rapidly advanced, identifying new cancer targets like microRNAs and metabolic rewiring. Future research will focus on these discoveries for improved cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The field of cellular and molecular oncology has rapidly advanced over the last two decades.
- Numerous oncogenic and oncosuppressive signaling pathways have been identified.
- This progress has led to a more sophisticated range of diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss key issues and discoveries in molecular and cellular oncology.
- To highlight promising therapeutic targets arising from recent research.
- To outline the future directions for molecular and cellular oncology.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent advancements in cellular and molecular oncology.
- Identification of cancer-specific features and processes.
- Analysis of signaling cascades, microRNAs, and tumor cell behavior.
Main Results:
- MicroRNAs play a significant role in oncogenesis and tumor suppression.
- Tumor cells exhibit metabolic rewiring, stem cell-like properties, and activated stress response pathways.
- Tumor cells can evade apoptosis, engage non-apoptotic cell death, and elicit immune responses.
Conclusions:
- Recent discoveries present significant challenges and opportunities for cancer research.
- Understanding these complex cellular processes is crucial for developing next-generation cancer therapies.
- Continued research in molecular and cellular oncology is essential for advancing cancer treatment.
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