A new approach toward cancer therapy is the use of cancer vaccine, yet the different molecular bases of cancers, reduce the effectiveness of this approach. In this article, we aim to use matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein (MMP9) which is an essential molecule in the survival and metastasis of all types of cancers as a target for universal cancer vaccine design. The reference sequence of MMP9 protein was obtained from NCBI databases. Furthermore, the B-cell and T cell-related peptides were analyzed using the IEDB website and other related soft wares. The best candidate peptides were then visualized using chimera software. Three peptides were found to be good candidates for interactions with B cells (SLPE, RLYT, and PALPR), while 10 peptides were found as good targets for interactions with MHC1 and another 10 peptides founded suitable for interactions with MHC2 with population coverages of 94.77 and 90.67%, respectively. Finally, the immune response simulation and molecular docking were done using the C-IMMSIM simulator and AutoDock Vina to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed vaccine. By the end of this project: twenty-three peptide-based vaccine was designed for use as a universal cancer vaccine which has a high world population coverage for MHC1 (94.77%) and MHC2 (90.67%) related alleles.

Immunoinformatics design of multiepitopes peptide-based universal cancer vaccine using matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein as a target.

More than 50% of all gynecologic tumors can be classified as rare (defined as an incidence of ≤6 per 100,000 women) and usually have a poor prognosis owing to delayed diagnosis and treatment. In contrast to almost all other common solid tumors, the treatment of rare gynecologic tumors (RGT) is often based on expert opinion, retrospective studies, or extrapolation from other tumor sites with similar histology, leading to difficulty in developing guidelines for clinical practice. Currently, gynecologic cancer research, due to distinct scientific and technological challenges, is lagging behind. Moreover, the overall efforts for addressing these challenges are fragmented across different European countries and indeed, worldwide. The GYNOCARE, COST Action CA18117 (European Network for Gynecological Rare Cancer Research) programme aims to address these challenges through the creation of a unique network between key stakeholders covering distinct domains from concept to cure: basic research on RGT, biobanking, bridging with industry, and setting up the legal and regulatory requirements for international innovative clinical trials. On this basis, members of this COST Action, (Working Group 1, “Basic and Translational Research on Rare Gynecological Cancer”) have decided to focus their future efforts on the development of new approaches to improve the diagnosis and treatment of RGT. Here, we provide a brief overview of the current state-of-the-art and describe the goals of this COST Action and its future challenges with the aim to stimulate discussion and promote synergy across scientists engaged in the fight against this rare cancer worldwide.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/3/493/pdf

GYNOCARE Update: Modern Strategies to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of Rare Gynecologic Tumors—Current Challenges and Future Directions

Background Surgery remains the most common therapeutic strategy for Chinese patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC), yet the indications for postoperative adjuvant treatment (POAT) remain unclear. Methods We retrospectively analysed 385 patients with primary HSCC in our hospital between 2003 and 2014. Patients that received pharyngectomy without POAT were enrolled in this study for developing a nomogram that predicts their survival outcome. Results Multivariate analyses showed that the tumour size, oesophagal invasion, extracapsular spread or internal jugular vein adhesion, thyroid gland invasion, and the number of lymph node metastases (≤3 or >3) were significantly correlated to the overall survival (OS) of the patient and were included as risk factors in the nomogram. The C-index was 0.768 (95% CI, 0.719–0.817) in development cohort and 0.767 (95% CI, 0.753–0.781) in validation cohort. A calibration curve was also conducted and was found favourable. The patients were stratified into three groups based on their nomogram scores. In the high-risk group, patients that received POAT had a better OS than those that received only surgery. In the moderate-risk group, POAT did not show any significant association with the OS. However, patients in the low-risk group that received POAT showed a worse OS than those without. Conclusion The newly-developed nomogram can effectively predict the survival outcome of patients with HSCC. According to the novel stratification criteria created, patients stratified as high-risk could benefit from POAT, while those in the low-risk group are advised not to receive POAT as this correlates with a worse OS.

A prognostic nomogram for predicting the long-term survival outcome of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma patients after tumour resection to assist the decision-making of postoperative adjuvant treatment

Despite the fact that significant advances in treatment of common cancers have been achieved over the years, orphan tumors still represent an important unmet medical need. Due to their complex multifactorial origin and limited number of cases, such pathologies often have very limited treatment options and poor prognosis. In the search for new anticancer agents, our group recently identified RC-106, a Sigma receptor modulator endowed with proteasome inhibition activity. This compound showed antiproliferative activity toward different cancer cell lines, among them glioblastoma (GB) and multiple myeloma (MM), two currently unmet medical conditions. In this work, we directed our efforts toward the exploration of chemical space around RC-106 to identify new active compounds potentially useful in cancer treatment. Thanks to a combinatorial approach, we prepared 41 derivatives of the compound and evaluated their cytotoxic potential against MM and GB. Three novel potential anticancer agents have been identified.

/pdf/exploring-the-rc-106-chemical-space-design-and-synthesis-of-2r7ezdrw9y.pdf

Exploring the RC-106 Chemical Space: Design and Synthesis of Novel (E)-1-(3-Arylbut-2-en-1-yl)-4-(Substituted) Piperazine Derivatives as Potential Anticancer Agents.

OBJECTIVE Patients with rare cancers may experience different unmet needs than those with common cancer. The objective of this systematic review was to (1) investigate unmet supportive care needs of rare cancer patients throughout the disease trajectory and (2) identify predictive factors for these unmet needs. METHODS PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL were searched for publications (January 2011 to March 2021) focusing on unmet needs of patients with rare cancer. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and performed quality assessment. Findings were synthesised. RESULTS The search yielded 4,598 articles, of which 59 articles met eligibility criteria and 57 were of medium or high quality. Rare cancer patients most frequently reported unmet needs in the healthcare system and information domain (up to 95%), followed by the psychological domain (up to 93%) and the physical and daily living domain (up to 80%). Unmet needs were mainly reported in the posttreatment phase. The most frequently identified predictors were higher anxiety, younger age and higher neuroticism. CONCLUSION Patients with rare cancer have unmet needs throughout their disease trajectory. Supportive care needs of rare cancer patients should be addressed individually, depending on the rare cancer subdomain and phase of disease and from diagnosis onwards.

Unmet supportive care needs of patients with rare cancer: A systematic review.

Rare cancers account for about 22 per cent of all cancers diagnosed worldwide, disproportionately affecting some demographic groups, with an occurrence of less than 6 per 100,000 individuals annually Many rare cancers in adults, adolescents and children are not curable, and patients and care providers have little option to take therapeutic decisions The epidemiology of rare cancers is a challenging area of study but is inadequately addressed Despite efforts mainly in some European nations, a few improvements have been observed in the management of rare cancers Reasons for this obvious stagnation are multifactorial and are mainly inherent to logistical difficulties in carrying out clinical trials in very small patient populations, hesitation of the pharmaceutical industry to spend in small markets and complexity in creating adequate information for the development of cost-effective drugs Rare cancers also face specific challenges that include late and incorrect diagnosis, lack of clinical expertise and lack of research interest and development of new therapies The utilization of nationally representative study findings for the patients' evaluation may possibly offer chances to find out pathogenesis and prevalence, and this will eventually lead to control and prevention Currently, advancing targeted therapies offer a great opportunity for the better management of rare cancers Conducting clinical trials with small patient population, innovative clinical trial approach, prevailing controlling obstacles for international cooperation and financial support for research are the present challenges for rare cancers The International Rare Cancers Initiative functions as a main platform for achieving new international clinical trials in rare tumours This review delineates the current challenges and issues in the interpretation, management and research scenarios of rare cancers

Rare cancers: Challenges & issues.

Aim: Aim of the study is to put forth the effectiveness of surveillance by an otorhinolaryngologist in covid/post covid
patients with comorbidities for early detection and containment of mucomycosis for better outcomes and to reduce the
morbidity and mortality. The study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital/ Materials And Methods: nodal centre for covid-19 in Siddipet
district of Telangana. A prospective observational study on 15 cases of post covid from the period of May - October 2021 were diagnosed with
mucormycosis clinically, radiologically and with histopathological conrmation of fungus and were treated by appropriate surgical debridement
followed by course of parental and oral antifungal therapy. In our study patients with pre Results: existing diabetes and those who were treated
with parental steroids and male sex were at increased risk of mucormycosis. Surveillance played a major role in early detection of the disease
limited to nose and paranasal sinuses, and prompt treatment with reduced time gap between detection and intervention was helpful in reducing the
morbidity and mortality. Active surveillance and follow up of all covid patient Conclusion: s with risk factors, irrespective of symptoms is a key to
early detection of mucormycosis, which helps in identifying the disease in early stages, reduces the morbidity and mortality.

K Jayasree

Papers

Rare cancers: Challenges & issues.

A case series of mucormycosis in post covid 19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in telangana