The latest few years have witnessed an unprecedented acceleration in the accumulation of crucial information on basic aspects of cancer cell biology suitable of a rapid transfer to the patients’ bed. Understanding of cancer cell energetics has kindled novel interest in role of intracellular messengers such as Ca2+, and intracellular metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. An in-depth knowledge of cancer-stem cell properties and identification of specific factors expressed in these cells has taken off the lid of a Pandora vase of exceptionally important observations on the role of factors, such as transcriptional regulators, that are likely to become new targets for cancer therapy in the near future. An in depth knowledge of the specific biochemical conditions within and around solid tumors (the tumor microenvironment, TME) has allowed to identify specific pathways that are overactivated and conducive to tumor growth and metastatic spreading. Based on the identification of these pathways, novel effective anticancer drugs (or treatments) have been developed, and more importantly a novel “ecology” of cancer saw the light.
Editorial overview: Cancer
DI VIRGILIO, Francesco;PINTON, Paolo
2016
Abstract
The latest few years have witnessed an unprecedented acceleration in the accumulation of crucial information on basic aspects of cancer cell biology suitable of a rapid transfer to the patients’ bed. Understanding of cancer cell energetics has kindled novel interest in role of intracellular messengers such as Ca2+, and intracellular metabolic pathways such as glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. An in-depth knowledge of cancer-stem cell properties and identification of specific factors expressed in these cells has taken off the lid of a Pandora vase of exceptionally important observations on the role of factors, such as transcriptional regulators, that are likely to become new targets for cancer therapy in the near future. An in depth knowledge of the specific biochemical conditions within and around solid tumors (the tumor microenvironment, TME) has allowed to identify specific pathways that are overactivated and conducive to tumor growth and metastatic spreading. Based on the identification of these pathways, novel effective anticancer drugs (or treatments) have been developed, and more importantly a novel “ecology” of cancer saw the light.I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
