Enhancing radiosensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer through targeting ELOB

Targeting the Enhanced Sensitivity of Radiotherapy in Cancer: Mechanisms, Applications, and Challenges

Cancer is a major public health, societal, and economic challenge worldwide. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2022, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be 35 million new cancer cases globally. Although patient survival rates have improved through various therapeutic approaches, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, treatment efficacy remains limited once tumor metastasis occurs. Among various cancer treatment strategies, radiotherapy plays a crucial role. Along with surgery and chemotherapy, radiotherapy is a cost-effective single-modality treatment, accounting for approximately 5% of total cancer care costs. The use of radiosensitizing agents such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, enterolactone, and squalene epoxidase can enhance radiotherapy effectiveness. Recent radiosensitization methods involve physical stimuli and chemical radiosensitizers. However, improving their efficacy, durability, and overcoming radioresistance remain significant challenges. This review first introduces current applications of radiotherapy in cancer treatment, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, and its side effects. Second, it discusses the main types of radiosensitizers, their latest applications, and recent challenges in cancer treatment. Finally, it emphasizes on clinical trials of radiosensitizing agents and explores potential biomarkers for radiotherapy response in cancer. Multifunctional nanoparticles have shown greater clinical applicability than single-functional nanoparticles. Future research will focus on enhancing the drug-carrying capacity of nanomaterials to further improve radiotherapy outcomes.

Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Under Radiation Therapy

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER2 expression. While TNBC is relatively less common, accounting for only 10-15% of initial breast cancer diagnosis, due to its aggressive nature, it carries a worse prognosis in comparison to its hormone receptor-positive counterparts. Despite significant advancements in the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of breast cancer, TNBC remains an important public health burden. Following treatment with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, over 40% of TNBC patients experience relapse within 3 years and achieve the least benefit from post-mastectomy radiation. The tumor microenvironment environment (TME) is pivotal in TNBC initiation, progression, immune evasion, treatment resistance, and tumor prognosis. TME is a complex network that consists of immune cells, non-immune cells, and soluble factors located in the region adjacent to the tumor that modulates the therapeutic response differentially between hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and TNBC. While the mechanisms underlying the radiation resistance of TNBC remain unclear, the immunosuppressive TME of TNBC has been implicated in chemotherapeutic resistance. Radiation therapy (RT) is known to alter the TME; however, immune changes elicited by radiation are poorly characterized to date, and whether these immune changes contribute to radiation resistance remains unknown. This review delves into the distinct characteristics of the TNBC TME, explores how RT influences TME dynamics, and examines mechanisms underlying tumor radiosensitization, radioresistance, and immune responses.

A review of the pathogenesis of mitochondria in breast cancer and progress of targeting mitochondria for breast cancer treatment

With breast cancer being the most common tumor among women in the world today, it is also the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Standard treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy. However, the heterogeneity, drug resistance, and poor prognosis of breast cancer highlight an urgent need for further exploration of its underlying mechanisms. Mitochondria, highly dynamic intracellular organelles, play a pivotal role in maintaining cellular energy metabolism. Altered mitochondrial function plays a critical role in various diseases, and recent studies have elucidated its pathophysiological mechanisms in breast carcinogenesis. This review explores the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in breast cancer pathogenesis and assesses potential mitochondria-targeted therapies.