Showing papers by "Aamir Ahmad published in 2018"

Regulation of Cell Signaling Pathways and miRNAs by Resveratrol in Different Cancers

Abstract: Genomic and proteomic studies have helped improve our understanding of the underlying mechanism(s) of cancer development and progression. Mutations, overexpressed oncogenes, inactivated/downregulated tumor suppressors, loss of apoptosis, and dysregulated signal transduction cascades are some of the well-studied areas of research. Resveratrol has gained considerable attention in the last two decades because of its pleiotropic anticancer activities. In this review, we have summarized the regulation of WNT, SHH (sonic hedgehog)/GLI (glioma-associated oncogene homolog), TGFβ1 (transforming growth factor beta 1)/SMAD, NOTCH, TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription), and microRNAs by resveratrol in different cancers. The importance of these signaling pathways in cancer progression, along with their modulation by resveratrol, is discussed. Further, we also evaluate the mechanisms and implications of the downregulation of oncogenic miRNAs and the upregulation of tumor suppressor miRNAs by resveratrol, both of which also define its ability to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. It is envisioned that designing effective clinical trials will be helpful for the identification of resveratrol responders and non-responders and the elucidation of how this phytochemical can be combined with current therapeutic options to improve their clinical efficacy and reduce off-target effects.

Prostate cancer: updates on current strategies for screening, diagnosis and clinical implications of treatment modalities.

Abstract: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men by way of diagnosis and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection and intervention remains key to its optimum clinical management. This review provides the most updated information on the recent methods of prostate cancer screening, imaging and treatment modalities. Wherever possible, clinical trial data has been supplemented to provide a comprehensive overview of current prostate cancer research and development. Considering the recent success of immunotherapy in prostate cancer, we discuss cell, DNA and viruses based, as well as combinatorial immunotherapeutic strategies in detail. Furthermore, the potential of nanotechnology is increasingly being realized, especially in prostate cancer research, and we provide an overview of nanotechnology-based strategies, with special emphasis on nanotheranostics and multifunctional nanoconstructs. Understanding these recent developments is critical to the design of future therapeutic strategies to counter prostate cancer.

Exosomes: Key Supporters of Tumor Metastasis

Abstract: Exosomes are secreted nanovesicles that are present in all body fluids under both normal and pathophysiological conditions. They have largely been recognized for their role in mediating intercellular communication by serving as carriers of different biomolecules, including proteins, RNAs, and lipids from one cell to another. Recent studies document that tumor cells shed exosomes at considerably higher rates, and these exosomes play critical roles in several early and late events associated with tumor development and metastasis. Given these observations, exosomes are being investigated for their exploitation in early cancer detection, monitoring of disease progression and chemotherapeutic response, and development of novel targeted therapeutics. In this chapter, we discuss, in detail, the significance of exosomes in tumor metastasis and highlight the strategies being tested to explore their translational potential.