Cell Biology and Immunology of Leukocyte Function 

About: Cell Biology and Immunology of Leukocyte Function is an academic journal published by Nature Portfolio. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Internal medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 0007-0920. Over the lifetime, 762 publications have been published receiving 2287 citations. The journal is also known as: BJC.

Phagocyte-produced free radicals: roles in cytotoxicity and inflammation.

Abstract: The production of superoxide free radical, O2-, by metabolically activated phagocytes results in damage to the phagocyte which is manifested by the premature death of the cell in vitro The cytotoxic agent appears to be formed by the reaction of superoxide with hydrogen peroxide, and is thought to be hydroxyl radical or a secondary radical thereof In vivo two animal models of induced inflammation also appear to be largely dependent on superoxide production by phagocytes for the development of tissue damage manifested as oedema Intravenously administered superoxide dismutase shows anti-inflammatory activity in these models, but only when so derivatized that it can remain in the circulation for longer periods of time Catalase, or a catalase derivative, on the other hand, shows no anti-inflammatory activity in vivo

Cell-free DNA analysis in current cancer clinical trials: a review

Abstract: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis represents a promising method for the diagnosis, treatment selection and clinical follow-up of cancer patients. Although its general methodological feasibility and usefulness has been demonstrated, several issues related to standardisation and technical validation must be addressed for its routine clinical application in cancer. In this regard, most cfDNA clinical applications are still limited to clinical trials, proving its value in several settings. In this paper, we review the current clinical trials involving cfDNA/ctDNA analysis and highlight those where it has been useful for patient stratification, treatment follow-up or development of novel approaches for early diagnosis. Our query included clinical trials, including the terms 'cfDNA', 'ctDNA', 'liquid biopsy' AND 'cancer OR neoplasm' in the FDA and EMA public databases. We identified 1370 clinical trials (FDA = 1129, EMA = 241) involving liquid-biopsy analysis in cancer. These clinical trials show promising results for the early detection of cancer and confirm cfDNA as a tool for real-time monitoring of acquired therapy resistance, accurate disease-progression surveillance and improvement of treatment, situations that result in a better quality of life and extended overall survival for cancer patients.

Cancer cachexia: a nutritional or a systemic inflammatory syndrome?

Abstract: Cancer cachexia has long been perceived as a nutritional syndrome. However, nutritional interventions have continued to be ineffective. With the recent recognition of the importance of systemic inflammation in the definition of this syndrome and treatment, has the time come to consider whether this syndrome is primarily a manifestation of systemic inflammation with the consequent implications for future treatment?

Cancer-inducing niche: the force of chronic inflammation

Abstract: The growth of cancer tissue is thought to be considered driven by a small subpopulation of cells, so-called cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are located at the apex of a hierarchy in a cancer tissue with self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenic potential that produce the progeny in the tissue. Although CSCs are generally believed to play a critical role in the growth, metastasis, and recurrence of cancers, the origin of CSCs remains to be reconsidered. We hypothesise that, chronic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, establish the cancer-inducing niche (CIN) that drives the undifferentiated/progenitor cells into CSCs, which then develop malignant tumours in vivo. In this context, a CIN could be traced to chronic inflammation that involves long-lasting tissue damage and repair after being exposed to factors such as cytokines and growth factors. This must be distinguished from the cancer microenvironment, which is responsible for cancer maintenance. The concept of a CIN is most important for cancer prevention as well as cancer therapy.

Biomarkers of response to PD-1 pathway blockade

Abstract: Abstract The binding of T cell immune checkpoint proteins programmed death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) to their ligands allows immune evasion by tumours. The development of therapeutic antibodies, termed checkpoint inhibitors, that bind these molecules or their ligands, has provided a means to release this brake on the host anti-tumour immune response. However, these drugs are costly, are associated with potentially severe side effects, and only benefit a small subset of patients. It is therefore important to identify biomarkers that discriminate between responders and non-responders. This review discusses the determinants for a successful response to antibodies that bind PD-1 or its ligand PD-L1, dividing them into markers found in the tumour biopsy and those in non-tumour samples. It provides an update on the established predictive biomarkers (tumour PD-L1 expression, tumour mismatch repair deficiency and tumour mutational burden) and assesses the evidence for new potential biomarkers.