Ronan W Hsieh, Lynn K Symonds, Jason Siu, Stacey A Cohen
{"title":"Identification of circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for diagnosis and response to therapies in cancer patients.","authors":"Ronan W Hsieh, Lynn K Symonds, Jason Siu, Stacey A Cohen","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The sampling of circulating biomarkers provides an opportunity for non-invasive evaluation and monitoring of cancer activity. In modern day practice, this has typically been in the form of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detected in plasma. The field of ctDNA has been a burgeoning technology, with prominent applications for blood-based cancer screening and in disease status assessment, especially after curative-intent surgery to evaluate for minimal residual disease (MRD). Clinical applications for the latter show an incredibly high sensitivity in certain cancer types with a need for additional studies to determine how much clinical decision-making should be adapted based on ctDNA results and which cancer types, stages, and treatments are best informed by ctDNA results. This chapter provides an overview of ctDNA detection as tool for cancer screening, detecting MRD, and/or molecularly characterizing a cancer, highlighting the rapidly amassing research as a prognostic biomarker and emerging data on ctDNA as a predictive biomarker.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"391 ","pages":"43-93"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143408001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Naimah Turner, Jocelynn Colunga-Minutti, Sayan Alekseev, Robert R Jenq, Roza Nurieva
{"title":"Link between dysbiosis and cancer: Contributing mechanisms and factors.","authors":"Naimah Turner, Jocelynn Colunga-Minutti, Sayan Alekseev, Robert R Jenq, Roza Nurieva","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human microbiota is a complex ecosystem that dynamically interacts with the host systemically. Perturbations in the delicate balance of this ecological niche, termed dysbiosis, can make individuals susceptible to a multitude of diseases, including cancer. Specific microbes have been implicated in carcinogenesis through direct effects, modulation of the host immune system, and by promoting inflammation. Furthermore, the microbiota alters the response to and efficacy of anti-cancer therapeutics. Here, we highlight mechanisms by which dysbiosis contributes to cancer development, progression, and therapy as well as how the microbiota can be targeted to enhance cancer outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"394 ","pages":"43-78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144583902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Introduction to microbiomes in health and diseases.","authors":"Prachi Agrawal, Prachi Mendhey, Robins Kumar, Subham Patel, Prakash Kumar Kaushik, Abhishek Dadsena, Santosh Kumar","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.010","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human microbiome is a complex ecological system of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that plays a crucial role in human health and disease. The microbiome includes both the living microorganisms also called microbiota and their synthesized metabolites and structural components. It is distributed to the gastrointestinal tract, skin, respiratory system, and oral cavity, each with a distinct microbial composition. Dysbiosis, or imbalance in the microbiome is linked to numerous diseases such as eczema, gastric ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The axes of microbial activity and their connections to disease, including the gut-skin, gut-lung, gut-brain, and gut-kidney play a crucial role in health and disease conditions. Also, the role of the microbiome in cancer development and response to therapy is examined. This book chapter underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced microbiome for overall health and the potential for microbiome-based interventions in disease prevention and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"394 ","pages":"1-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144583901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aline Risson, Leire Arrizabalaga, Miriam Ezcurra-Hualde, Román García-Fuentes, Pedro Berraondo, Fernando Aranda
{"title":"Dichotomy of IL-27 in tumor immunity.","authors":"Aline Risson, Leire Arrizabalaga, Miriam Ezcurra-Hualde, Román García-Fuentes, Pedro Berraondo, Fernando Aranda","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>IL-27, a cytokine with pleiotropic immunomodulatory functions, has garnered increasing attention in the context of tumor immunity, and its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is complex and just beginning to unravel. IL-27 is pivotal in polarizing immune responses toward an antitumor phenotype, promoting T-cell differentiation, enhancing cytotoxicity, and reducing the number of immunosuppressive elements within the tumor microenvironment. It also directly affects cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting angiogenesis. However, IL-27 is a double-edged sword that can also promote mechanisms of action, inducing the expression of inhibitory molecules such as PD-L1 or IL-10 and inhibiting the maturation of dendritic cells. Here, we recapitulate the intricate mechanisms of IL-27, providing a comprehensive understanding of its immune-stimulating and immune-suppressing functions in the TME. This challenge is crucial for designing immunotherapies based on IL-27 in cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"396 ","pages":"189-201"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriel Gallo-Oller, María Isabel Guillén-Antonini, Javier Dotor
{"title":"Clinical development complexity of TGF-β inhibition: From fibrosis to cancer immunotherapy.","authors":"Gabriel Gallo-Oller, María Isabel Guillén-Antonini, Javier Dotor","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.01.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.01.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>More than four decades have passed since the discovery of Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-β) in 1981, a pivotal cytokine with profound implications in cell biology and potential clinical interventions for physio-pathological processes including fibrosis, immune-related disorders, chronic infections, vascular alterations, and the progression of tumour growth through invasiveness and metastasis. However, the introduction of a specific inhibitor targeting this cytokine into the pharmaceutical market remains elusive. Various molecular entities and therapeutic strategies, including small molecules, peptides, recombinant proteins (such as specific antibodies), oligonucleotides, and cellular-based therapies have been devised and subjected to clinical trials. These target the specific TGF-β molecular pathway, either directly or indirectly. The combination of different drug types, routes of administration, and clinical indications has generated substantial data, emphasizing significant variability in patient outcomes. Efforts to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy by combining TGF-β inhibitors with other drugs and modulating complementary molecular targets have been explored over the past few decades. This approach aims to translate the promising preclinical efficacy of TGF-β blockade into commercially available drugs that are suitable for a broad spectrum of clinical indications. However, a clear path to address the lack of discernible efficacy and overcome the associated marketing challenges has not yet emerged. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical development and emerging trends in TGF-β inhibitors and modulatory strategies, offering novel perspectives for addressing this persistent challenge.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"396 ","pages":"139-187"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144698528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Silvia Silva-Romeiro, María Luisa Sánchez-León, Carlos Jiménez-Cortegana, Rubén de Toro-Salas, Jesús Machuca Aguado, Víctor Sánchez-Margalet, Luis de la Cruz-Merino
{"title":"Gamma-delta T cells in breast cancer: Dual role in tumor immunity and emerging therapeutic approaches.","authors":"Silvia Silva-Romeiro, María Luisa Sánchez-León, Carlos Jiménez-Cortegana, Rubén de Toro-Salas, Jesús Machuca Aguado, Víctor Sánchez-Margalet, Luis de la Cruz-Merino","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.08.013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.08.013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gamma delta (γδ) T cells are a unique subset of T lymphocytes capable of bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Unlike αβ T lymphocytes, γδ T cells bypass the need for Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)-restricted antigen presentation, allowing them to rapidly respond to stress signals in contexts such as infections and cancer. In breast cancer (BC), γδ T cells play a dual role, exhibiting both anti-tumoral and pro-tumoral activities. Their capacity for direct cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and antigen presentation highlights their versatility within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The prognostic impact of γδ T cells in BC is complex and varies depending on their density, subset, and functional state. While Vδ1 + γδ T cells have been associated with improved survival, particularly in triple-negative BC, other subsets, such as IL-17-producing γδ T cells, contribute to tumor progression, promoting angiogenesis and immune suppression. The emerging therapeutic potential of γδ T cells resides in their MHC-independent activity and stress antigen recognition, highlighting their potential value in cancer immunotherapy, including adoptive cell therapies (e.g., chimeric antigen receptor-T approaches). Additionally, the combination of γδ T cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors or tumor-targeting antibodies has shown promise in overcoming the immunosuppressive challenges of the TME.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"398 ","pages":"185-207"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145400811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Veronica Bordoni, Federica Guarracino, Angela Lorusso, Pietro Merli, Giuseppe Ippolito, Franco Locatelli, Chiara Agrati
{"title":"The antiviral potential of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells: Therapeutic implications for immunocompromised adult and pediatric hosts.","authors":"Veronica Bordoni, Federica Guarracino, Angela Lorusso, Pietro Merli, Giuseppe Ippolito, Franco Locatelli, Chiara Agrati","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.03.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2025.03.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A growing number of pediatric and adult subjects worldwide suffer from impaired immune response to pathogens, due to both disease and medical treatments. Different types of immunodeficiency or immunosuppressive drugs may affect different aspects of the immune system and therefore predispose to different risks of infections (aetiology and severity) that can seriously compromise the survival of patients. In this context, the identification of immune-therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing innate and adaptive antimicrobial immunity is desirable. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells constitute a small fraction of T cells in peripheral blood, but exhibit potent, broad, and pleiotropic antiviral activities ranging from direct cytotoxicity of infected cells to the ability to enhance both innate and adaptive immunity of virus-specific αβ T cells. These activities are not virus-specific and can potentially act against virtually any infection. For this reason, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells represent an incredible opportunity in the management of immunocompromised patients who would greatly benefit from improved antimicrobial immunity. The lack of MHC restriction and the easily ex vivo expansion protocols allow to open their possible use in allogeneic context, thus overcoming the obstacle of possible reduced immune function in immunocompromised patients, and offering an \"off-the shelves\" effective cell therapy. Moreover, the ability of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to recognize and kill cells expressing stress antigens may be exploited to optimize strategies based on universal Chimeric Antigen Receptor γδ T cells and/or bispecific γδ T-cell engagers. Finally, the recent data on the use of Vγ9Vδ2-derived-vesicles as therapeutic vectors and effective delivery systems further broaden their possible applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"397 ","pages":"153-183"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145329142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of diet and lifestyle on microbiome composition.","authors":"Rishibha Gupta, Smriti Gaur","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.12.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Microbes are major drivers of many important physiological pathways in the human body. A well-adapted and established microbial community at key body sites performs a wide range of functions, including digestive and immunological roles. However, the structure of these microbial communities depends on numerous factors, both genetic and external. Diet and lifestyle are the most common external factors influencing microbiome composition. A healthy diet and lifestyle promote the growth of beneficial microbes, while disturbances in these factors can alter the entire microbial dynamics, potentially leading to pathogenesis. These perturbations can occur at any stage of life, from birth to old age, and may result in serious clinical conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cancers, metabolic syndromes, and many others. Therefore, it is essential to identify the dietary and lifestyle factors that support a healthy microbiome and prevent dysbiosis. This chapter aims to discuss the role of various component of diet and life style that can ultimately shape the human microbiome.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"395 ","pages":"157-174"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144626345","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Natália Marcéli Stefanes, Maria Eduarda Cunha-Silva, Lisandra de Oliveira Silva, Laura Otto Walter, Maria Cláudia Santos-Silva, Manas Ranjan Gartia
{"title":"Circulating biomarkers for diagnosis and response to therapies in cancer patients.","authors":"Natália Marcéli Stefanes, Maria Eduarda Cunha-Silva, Lisandra de Oliveira Silva, Laura Otto Walter, Maria Cláudia Santos-Silva, Manas Ranjan Gartia","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.08.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer presents a significant challenge to global health, driving worldwide concerted efforts to advance early detection, predict therapeutic response, and identify novel targeted therapies. Liquid biopsies emerge as promising avenues for discerning cancer biomarkers, offering less invasive approaches compared to conventional methods. Utilizing increasingly robust technologies, diverse bodily fluids can unveil genetic variants, epigenetic modifications, transcriptional alterations, and metabolomic signatures associated with cancer, thereby furnishing valuable insights for clinical management. This chapter intends to review the sources of cancer-related biomarkers found in circulation, prevalent techniques utilized for their identification, and the potential implications of different biomarker types on the management of cancer. Certain biomarkers currently used in clinical practice will be addressed, as well as potential biomarkers still in the study phase, and the inherent challenges in their practical implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"391 ","pages":"1-41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969414/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143407963","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Liver as a nexus of daily metabolic cross talk.","authors":"Christopher Litwin, Kevin B Koronowski","doi":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/bs.ircmb.2024.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the course of a day, the circadian clock promotes a homeostatic balance between energy intake and energy expenditure by aligning metabolism with nutrient availability. In mammals, this process is driven by central clocks in the brain that control feeding behavior, the peripheral nervous system, and humoral outputs, as well as by peripheral clocks in non-brain tissues that regulate gene expression locally. Circadian organization of metabolism is critical, as circadian disruption is associated with increased risk of metabolic disease. Emerging evidence shows that circadian metabolism hinges upon inter-organ cross talk involving the liver, a metabolic hub that integrates many facets of systemic energy homeostasis. Here, we review spatiotemporal interactions, mainly metabolite exchange, signaling factors, and hormonal control, between the liver and skeletal muscle, pancreas, gut, microbiome, and adipose tissue. Modern society presents the challenge of circadian disturbances from rotating shift work to social jet lag and 24/7 food availability. Thus, it is important to better understand the mechanisms by which the clock system controls metabolic homeostasis and work toward targeted therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14422,"journal":{"name":"International review of cell and molecular biology","volume":"393 ","pages":"95-139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12092977/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144101857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}