Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis and Therapeutic Resistance

Elizabeth S Yeh1,2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.

Biomedicines
|May 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cancer metastasis and therapeutic resistance are major obstacles to curing cancer. This special issue explores advancements in understanding and combating these challenges across various cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology and Cancer Research
  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Metastasis and therapeutic resistance present significant challenges in cancer treatment.
  • This special issue compiles nine original research articles focusing on these critical issues.

Discussion:

  • The contributions cover diverse human cancers, including breast, lung, brain, prostate, and skin.
  • Key areas of investigation include cancer stem cell function, cancer immunology, and glycosylation.

Key Insights:

  • Understanding cancer metastasis is crucial for developing effective treatments.
  • Therapeutic resistance mechanisms require further elucidation to improve patient outcomes.

Outlook:

  • Future research should focus on integrating insights from cancer stem cells, immunology, and glycosylation.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies targeting metastasis and resistance are essential for advancing cancer cures.

Related Concept Videos

Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
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Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

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Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
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Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance02:40

Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Maintenance

Early diagnosis and treatment can often cure cancer. However, even with treatment, residual cells called cancer stem cells (CSC) might remain, often causing tumor recurrence. These cancer stem cells possess the potential for self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation and are often responsible for the therapeutic resistance displayed in most cancers.
Cancer stem cells are thought to originate from tissue-specific normal stem cells or progenitor cells. The normal stem cells usually reside in...
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Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
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Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
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