Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-12-26DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.011
Kaili Ma, Lin Wang, Wenhui Li, Tingting Tang, Bo Ma, Liyuan Zhang, Lianjun Zhang
{"title":"Turning cold into hot: emerging strategies to fire up the tumor microenvironment.","authors":"Kaili Ma, Lin Wang, Wenhui Li, Tingting Tang, Bo Ma, Liyuan Zhang, Lianjun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex, highly structured, and dynamic ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in the progression of both primary and metastatic tumors. Precise assessment of the dynamic spatiotemporal features of the TME is crucial for understanding cancer evolution and designing effective therapeutic strategies. Cancer is increasingly recognized as a systemic disease, influenced not only by the TME, but also by a multitude of systemic factors, including whole-body metabolism, gut microbiome, endocrine signaling, and circadian rhythm. In this review, we summarize the intrinsic, extrinsic, and systemic factors contributing to the formation of 'cold' tumors within the framework of the cancer-immunity cycle. Correspondingly, we discuss potential strategies for converting 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones to enhance therapeutic efficacy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"117-134"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.005
Priscilla S W Cheng, Marta Zaccaria, Giulia Biffi
{"title":"Functional heterogeneity of fibroblasts in primary tumors and metastases.","authors":"Priscilla S W Cheng, Marta Zaccaria, Giulia Biffi","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of most solid malignancies and have emerged as key regulators of cancer progression and therapy response. Although recent technological advances have uncovered substantial CAF molecular heterogeneity at the single-cell level, defining functional roles for most described CAF populations remains challenging. With the aim of bridging CAF molecular and functional heterogeneity, this review focuses on recently identified functional interactions of CAF subtypes with malignant cells, immune cells, and other stromal cells in primary tumors and metastases. Dissecting the heterogeneous functional crosstalk of specific CAF populations with other components is starting to uncover candidate combinatorial strategies for therapeutically targeting the TME and cancer progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"135-153"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142824510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A new enhancer for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy: PCSK9 inhibition.","authors":"Shengbo Sun, Zhengyang Yang, Hongwei Yao, Zhongtao Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunotherapy has shown promising results in cancer treatment, improving clinical outcomes and prolonging patient survival. However, most patients exhibit low response rates to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, highlighting the urgent need for new enhancers. Increasing data now demonstrate that inhibiting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a serine proteinase, can enhance the antitumor efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"84-87"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142508856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2024-10-30DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.10.003
Luana Schito, Sergio Rey-Keim
{"title":"Transcriptional regulation of hypoxic cancer cell metabolism and artificial intelligence.","authors":"Luana Schito, Sergio Rey-Keim","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.10.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.10.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gene expression regulation in hypoxic tumor microenvironments is mediated by O<sub>2</sub> responsive transcription factors (O<sub>2</sub>R-TFs), fine-tuning cancer cell metabolic demand for O<sub>2</sub> according to its availability. Here, we discuss key O<sub>2</sub>R-TFs and emerging artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications suitable for the interrogation of O<sub>2</sub>R-TF relationships specifying cancer cell metabolic adaptations to hypoxia.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"88-90"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142558877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"KRAS inhibitors: resistance drivers and combinatorial strategies.","authors":"Tamara Isermann, Christine Sers, Channing J Der, Bjoern Papke","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 1982, the RAS genes HRAS and KRAS were discovered as the first human cancer genes, with KRAS later identified as one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes. Yet, it took nearly 40 years to develop clinically effective inhibitors for RAS-mutant cancers. The discovery in 2013 by Shokat and colleagues of a druggable pocket in KRAS paved the way to FDA approval of the first covalently binding KRAS<sup>G12C</sup> inhibitors, sotorasib and adagrasib, in 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, rather than marking the end of a successful assault on the Mount Everest of cancer research, this landmark only revealed new challenges in RAS drug discovery. In this review, we highlight the progress on defining resistance mechanisms and developing combination treatment strategies to improve patient responses to KRAS therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"91-116"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142898407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Short-chain fatty acids and cancer.","authors":"Shan Li, Yixin Duan, Shudi Luo, Fangxin Zhou, Qingang Wu, Zhimin Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2024.11.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), derived from the diet and the microbiota, serve as crucial links between the diet, gut microbiota, metabolism, immunity, and cancer. They function as energy sources through β-oxidation and regulate macromolecular synthesis, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activities, protein modifications, signaling pathways, and gene expression in cells within the tumor microenvironment, particularly in tumor and immune cells. The critical role of SCFAs in maintaining normal homeostasis and influencing tumor progression highlights the potential of targeting SCFA-mediated cellular processes for cancer prevention and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"154-168"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142787133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.006
David A Martínez-Gamboa, Justin Kaner
{"title":"Revumenib: a new era in acute leukemia treatment.","authors":"David A Martínez-Gamboa, Justin Kaner","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The AUGMENT-101 clinical trial reported that the use of revumenib led to improved overall survival (OS) and complete remission (CR)/CR with partial hematologic recovery (CRh) in patients with acute leukemias and has released updated data with longer follow-up of Phase 2 results. Additionally, revumenib has received FDA approval for its use in relapsed or refractory (r/r) lysine methyltransferase 2A rearranged (KMT2A-r) acute leukemias.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"81-83"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143042373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-02-01Epub Date: 2025-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.004
Sam Behjati, Jesse S Boehm, Matthew D Dun, Stefan Fröhling, Paul H Huang, Nada Jabado, Ning Li, Carla Daniela Robles-Espinoza
{"title":"Think zebras: challenges and opportunities for treating rare cancers.","authors":"Sam Behjati, Jesse S Boehm, Matthew D Dun, Stefan Fröhling, Paul H Huang, Nada Jabado, Ning Li, Carla Daniela Robles-Espinoza","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.004","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":"75-80"},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143060832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.003
Andre A Martel Matos, Nicole N Scheff
{"title":"Sensory neurotransmission and pain in solid tumor progression.","authors":"Andre A Martel Matos, Nicole N Scheff","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sensory nerves form a crucial component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that relays vital information to the central nervous system and modulates tumor progression via immunosurveillance. Afferent activity processed by the brain can sensitize brain circuitry and influence host behaviors. Peripheral sensory signaling (e.g., release of neuropeptides in the TME) can drive phenotypic changes in the tumor immune response, such as increased exhaustion markers and inhibited effector cell activity, which promote cancer progression. In this review we highlight the most recent evidence demonstrating the pivotal role of the sensory nervous system in cancer, with a focus on primary tumor pain, and we discuss the extent to which pain can influence cancer progression and treatment response, including immunotherapeutic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143068113","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in cancerPub Date : 2025-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.002
Lisa Pavinato, Arianna Baggiolini
{"title":"Oncogenic competence: balancing mutations, cellular state, and microenvironment.","authors":"Lisa Pavinato, Arianna Baggiolini","doi":"10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trecan.2025.01.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cancer development is driven by mutations, yet tumor-causing mutations only lead to tumor formation within specific cellular contexts. The reasons why certain mutations trigger malignant transformation in some contexts but not others remain often unclear. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors play a key role in driving carcinogenesis by leading the cells toward a state of 'oncogenic competence'. This state is shaped by the transcriptional and epigenetic programs that define a specific cell in time and space. These programs arise from the interplay between genetic mutations, cellular lineage, differentiation state, and microenvironment. A deeper understanding of oncogenic competence is essential to uncover the mechanisms behind tumor initiation and, ultimately, advance the development of novel targeted therapies for cancer treatment and prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":23336,"journal":{"name":"Trends in cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":14.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143060830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}