Cadherins are key components in tissue morphogenesis and architecture, contributing to the establishment of cohesive cell adhesion. Reduced cellular adhesiveness as a result of cadherin dysfunction is a defining feature of cancer. During tumor development and progression, major changes in the glycan repertoire of cancer cells take place, affecting the stability, trafficking, and cell-adhesion properties of cadherins. Importantly, the different glycoforms of cadherins are promising biomarkers, with potential clinical application to improve the management of patients, and constitute targets for the development of new therapies. This review discusses the most recent insights on the impact of glycan structure on the regulation of cadherin function in cancer, and provides a perspective on how cadherin glycans constitute tumor biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis often occurs at late stages when tumor cells have already disseminated. Current therapies are poorly effective for metastatic disease, the main cause of death in CRC. Despite mounting evidence implicating the tumor microenvironment in CRC progression and metastasis, clinical practice remains predominantly focused on targeting the epithelial compartment. Because CRCs remain largely refractory to current therapies, we must devise alternative strategies. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β has emerged as a key architect of the microenvironment in poor-prognosis cancers. Disseminated tumor cells show a strong dependency on a TGF-β-activated stroma during the establishment and subsequent expansion of metastasis. We review and discuss the development of integrated approaches focused on targeting the ecosystem of poor-prognosis CRCs.

Studies in mouse models support an essential role of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) transition (AST) in the development of drug resistance. Recent observations in the clinic further suggest that this type of histological transition may be responsible for resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy and chemotherapy in relapsed EGFR-mutant lung ADC patients. Here we summarize the current understanding of AST and drug resistance.

To investigate the effects of a preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation programme in patients with lung cancer undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery.

The 4Kscore accurately predicts aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) on prostate biopsy.

Preclinical studies suggest that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-mediated recruitment of neutrophils to premetastatic tissue occurs prior to metastatic progression.

Oncological therapy resembles a military force that eliminates the central power of a country (dominant clone of a cancer) to create a vacuum where insurgents (subclones) thrive and instigate rebellion (relapse). We suggest that military counterinsurgency doctrine can inspire a discussion of cancer that uniquely embraces both cancer cell evolution and tumour microenvironment.

MenaINV, an isoform of the motility regulator protein Mena, contributes to prometastatic phenotypes. Tumor microenvironment of metastasis (TMEM), a three-cell structure associated with intravasation, contains a stationary Mena-expressing tumor cell. TMEM density and MenaINV expression both correlate with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. However, is MenaINV involved in TMEM assembly and function?

Angiogenesis and metabolism are entwined processes that permit tumor growth and progression. Blood vessel supply is necessary for tumor survival not only by providing oxygen and nutrients for anabolism but also by removing waste products from cellular metabolism. On the other hand, blocking angiogenesis with antiangiogenic therapies shows clinical benefits in treating several tumor types. Nevertheless, resistance to therapy emerges over time. In this review we discuss a novel mechanism of adaptive resistance involving metabolic adaptation of tumor cells, and we also provide examples of tumor adaptation to therapy, which may represent a new mechanism of resistance in several types of cancer. Thus, targeting this metabolic tumor adaptation could be a way to avoid resistance in cancer patients.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign tumour of salivary glands which is Known for its wide pleomorphic architecture. It accounts for 45-75% of all salivary gland neoplasm. It can involve major as well as minor salivary glands. Among minor salivary glands (5-10% of cases) the palate lip, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx and trachea are the most common sites. Diagnosis is made with biopsy along with histopathology. Wide excision with biopsy and removal of underlying extension of tumour is the treatment of choice. Sixty years old farmer presented with painless swelling in the upper lip for the last 8 years. History revealed recurrent mass in the midline of upper lip with no other complaints. He was operated 3 times for this complaint in the past. Belonging to poor socioeconomic status no biopsy records were found. On examination 3×4 cm hard and mobile mass was found. Lymph nodes of head and neck and parotid gland revealed no enlargement. Surgery by wide excision was planned. After baseline investigation surgery was done and the mass sent for histopathology. Biopsy reports showed pleomorphic adenoma on unusual site. Dissection of salivary gland tumour is important as they have propensity to metastasize. Wide local excision along with biopsy is the method of choice. Proper surgical techniques are required to avoid recurrence.

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours most commonly located in the adrenal glands. The overall incidence of paragangliomas is 0.8 per 100,000 persons, but the incidence of malignant paraganglioma was found to be 93 cases out of 400 million persons in United States. We present a case of 50 year old male who came to the hospital with back pain and progressive bilateral lower limb weakness for the past 6 months. Imaging studies revealed enhancing lesions on dorsal spines. Bone scintigraphy showed increased tracer uptake at multiple sites. Bone biopsy and immune-histochemical staining proved metastatic paraganglioma. After a thorough literature search only few cases of metastatic spine paraganglioma causing spinal cord compression have been reported to date.

Sweat gland carcinoma is a rare tumour, being almost 1% of primary skin lesions. The tumour has tendency to spread to regional lymph nodes and distant metastases has also been reported. Their exact incidence in Pakistan is not known. Treatment options are also not clearly defined though surgery is the initial treatment approach as adjuvant treatment has not been properly explored. We report a case of sweat gland carcinoma with lymphadenopathy.

Soft tissues tumours are tumours of mesenchymal origin excluding epithelial, skeletal tissue, reticuloendothelial system, brain coverings and solid viscera of the body. The objective of this study was to know the histopathological pattern of soft tissues tumours in the Pathology Department of Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoid neoplasms, characterized by an irregular pattern of spread and may present with extranodal involvement This study was conducted to determine the frequency and pattern of Bone marrow involvement on trephine biopsy in cases of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Seventy per cent of patients with cancer have evidence of metastases and spinal involvement may occur in up to 50 %. Pain is the most frequent symptom and it occurs in 90 % of the patients. It exist three different type of spinal pain : inflammatory, radicular and mechanical pain. Pain could be related to a neurological compromise and treatment becomes urgent. Steroids are introduced even if surgery is indicated. The Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score is a useful tool in order to determine instability in spinal metastases. Early recognition of instability could allow to minimal invasive surgery and even vertebroplasty. Tokuhashi score facilitates patient's selection during the decision-making process to the multidisciplinary team.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is often "one stop shop" for evaluating female pelvic masses that helps in diagnosis, staging, and restaging of these tumors. A pelvic mass can arise from any tissue present within the pelvis. Although most masses in the female pelvis arise from the reproductive organs, masses may also arise from the gastrointestinal tract, urinary system, adjacent soft tissues, peritoneum, etc. It may not always be possible to determine the site of origin or distinguish these masses based on imaging characteristics. However, familiarity with the clinicopathologic and MRI features of most common pelvic masses helps in narrowing the differential diagnosis. Diagnosis of these masses needs a holistic approach as required for any tumor including clinical history, laboratory data, and imaging characteristics. We focus on MRI characteristics of commonly encountered pelvic masses. A compartmental imaging approach is discussed in this article that helps in identifying and characterizing these masses.

Hydantoin derivatives, including phenytoin (5,5-diphenylhydantoin), have recently gained attention as they possess a variety of important biochemical and pharmacological properties. Nevertheless, available information on anticancer activity of hydantoin derivatives is still scarce. Here, we evaluated possible antileukemic potential of four phenytoin analogs, namely: methyl 2-(2,4-dioxo-5,5-diphenylimidazolidin-3-yl)propanoate (1), methyl 2-(1-(3-bromopropyl)-2,4-dioxo-5,5-diphenylimidazolidin-3-yl)propanoate (2), 1-(3-bromopropyl)-3-methyl-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (3) and 1-(3-bromobutyl)-3-methyl-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (4). The experiments were performed on human acute histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells and human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. The present study was conducted using spectrophotometric 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the electronic Beckman-Coulter method. We observed temporary changes in the leukemia cell viability, volume and count. The effects of the four 5,5-diphenylhydantoin derivatives on U937 and HL-60 cells depended on the agent tested and its concentration, the time intervals after the compound application, and the leukemia cell line used. HL-60 cells were more sensitive than U937 cells to the action of the phenytoin analogs (1-4). The antileukemic activities of the three bromoalkyl diphenylhydantoin derivatives (2, 3, and 4) were stronger than that of the compound 1 [methyl 2-(2,4-dioxo-5,5-diphenylimidazolidin-3-yl) propanoate], with no bromoalkyl substituent. The structural modifications of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin are responsible for such varied antileukemic potential of its four derivatives.

Subsolid nodules represent almost 20% of all pulmonary nodules found incidentally at chest computed tomography (CT). Their detection is steadily rising, in parallel with the increasing number of CT scans performed. Subsolid nodules differ from solid lung nodules in several ways: morphology, course of progression, risk of malignancy and prognosis. Although they remain a diagnostic challenge, a good correlation has been established between radiological appearance and histopathology. Whilst 75% of persistent subsolid nodules represent a form of adenocarcinoma, their prognosis is generally excellent when resected. Non-resected subsolid nodules require a long follow-up of 3 to 5 years due to their slow-growing nature and high prevalence of malignancy. Specific guidelines have been published in 2013 and in 2015.

This study aims to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a couple-based communication intervention for advanced GI cancer delivered via videoconference.