Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that mediate immune cell chemotaxis and lymphoid tissue development. Recent advances have indicated that chemokines and their cognate receptors play critical roles in cancer-related inflammation and cancer progression. On the basis of these findings, the chemokine system has become a new potential drug target for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarize the essential roles of the complex network of chemokines and their receptors in cancer progression. Furthermore, we discuss the potential value of the chemokine system as a cancer prognostic marker. The chemokine system regulates the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor microenvironment, which induces both pro- and anti-immunity and promotes or suppresses tumor growth and proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Increasing evidence indicates the promising prognostic value of the chemokine system in cancer patients. While CCL2, CXCL10, and CX3CL1/CX3CR1 can serve as favorable or unfavorable prognostic factors depending on the cancer types, CCL14 and XCL1 possess good prognostic value. Other chemokines such as CXCL1, CXCL8, and CXCL12 are poor prognostic markers. Despite vast advances in our understanding of the complex nature of the chemokine system in tumor biology, knowledge about the multifaceted roles of the chemokine system in different types of cancers is still limited. Further studies are necessary to decipher distinct roles within the chemokine system in terms of cancer progression and to validate their potential value in cancer prognosis.

Anillin (ANLN), an actin-binding protein, reportedly plays a vital role in cell proliferation and migration, particularly in cytokinesis. Although there have been findings pointing to a contribution of ANLN to the development of cancer, the association of ANLN to cancer remains not fully understood. Here, we gather evidence to determine the applicability of ANLN as a prognostic tool for some types of cancer, and the impact that ANLN has on the hallmarks of cancer. We searched academic repositories including PubMed and Google Scholar to find and review studies related to cancer and ANLN. The conclusion is that ANLN could be a potent target for cancer treatment, but the roles ANLN, other than in cytokinesis and its influence on tumour microenvironment remodeling in cancer development, must be further elucidated, and specific ANLN inhibitors should be found.

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Skin pigmentation can occur due to increased melanin, including melanocyte proliferation, melanin biosynthesis, or melanocyte migration. There are many factors that influence the melanin production process, but the role of neurotransmitters in this process is still unclear. We found that histamine and serotonin influence the different stages of melanogenesis and melanogenesis, which increase melanogenesis. Since then, several related papers have been published, and from these papers, it has been recognised that the role of neurotransmitters in skin-pigment-related diseases needs to be summarised. By introducing the role of neurotransmitters in the regulation of various pigment disorders, including vitiligo and melasma, through this review, many researchers can be expected to try to apply neurotransmitter-related agonists and antagonists as treatments for skin pigment disorders.

Farnesyl-diphosphate farnesyltransferase 1 (FDFT1, squalene synthase), a membrane-associated enzyme, synthesizes squalene via condensation of two molecules of farnesyl pyrophosphate. Accumulating evidence has noted that FDFT1 plays a critical role in cancer, particularly in metabolic reprogramming, cell proliferation, and invasion. Based on these advances in our knowledge, FDFT1 could be a potential target for cancer treatment. This review focuses on the contribution of FDFT1 to the hallmarks of cancer, and further, we discuss the applicability of FDFT1 as a cancer prognostic marker and target for anticancer therapy.

Heart disease is the number one mortality disease in the world. In particular, cardiac fibrosis is considered as a major factor causing myocardial infarction and heart failure. In particular, oxidative stress is a major cause of heart fibrosis. In order to control such oxidative stress, the importance of nuclear factor erythropoietin 2 related factor 2 (NRF2) has recently been highlighted. In this review, we will discuss the activation of NRF2 by docosahexanoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and the specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs) derived from polyunsaturated lipids, including DHA and EPA. Additionally, we will discuss their effects on cardiac fibrosis via NRF2 activation.

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key process in the progression of malignant cancer. Therefore, blocking the EMT can be a critical fast track for the development of anticancer drugs. In this paper, we update recent research output of EMT and we explore suppression of EMT by natural anti-inflammatory compounds and pro-resolving lipids.A typical signaling pathway of EMT is the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway. TGF-β1 induces EMT via SMAD-dependent or non-SMAD signaling pathway [7]. Growth factors including FGF, HGF, IGF1, EGF, and PDGF via receptor tyrosine kinase can induce EMT via signaling pathway of PI3K-AKT and ERK MAPK [8][9][10][11]. Wnt signaling, hedgehog signaling, Notch signaling, hypoxia, and inflammatory tumor microenvironment also involves in EMT [5]. Recently, it has been shown that hippo signaling is also involved in EMT [12]. YAP and TAZ can enhance EMT through upregulation of EMT transcription factors such as forkhead box C2 (FOXC2), snail family zinc finger 1/2 (SNAIL1, SLUG), twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1), and ZEB1 [12-15]. Transcription Factors Involved in EMTNovel players are newly recognized as regulatory transcription factor in the EMT. Brachyury, the T-box transcription factor, is a novel transcription factor implicated in the EMT of cancer cells [16]. Brachyury is known as the target gene of WNT, one of the m ajor signaling pathways of EMT [17]. Foxq1, one of forkhead transcription factor, has also regarded as a novel transcription factor mediating the EMT of gastric cancer [6,18]. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) belongs to the runt-related transcription factor family [19]. Runx2 plays a key role in EMT of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [20]. GATA transcription factors are also implicated in the EMT of cancer cells [21].A typical signaling pathway of EMT is the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway. TGF-β1 induces EMT via SMAD-dependent or non-SMAD signaling pathway [7]. Growth factors including FGF, HGF, IGF1, EGF, and PDGF via receptor tyrosine kinase can induce EMT via signaling pathway of PI3K-AKT and ERK MAPK [8][9][10][11]. Wnt signaling, hedgehog signaling, Notch signaling, hypoxia, and inflammatory tumor microenvironment also involves in EMT [5]. Recently, it has been shown that hippo signaling is also involved in EMT [12]. YAP and TAZ can enhance EMT through upregulation of EMT transcription factors such as forkhead box C2 (FOXC2), snail family zinc finger 1/2 (SNAIL1, SLUG), twist-related protein 1 (TWIST1), and ZEB1 [12-15]. Transcription Factors Involved in EMTNovel players are newly recognized as regulatory transcription factor in the EMT. Brachyury, the T-box transcription factor, is a novel transcription factor implicated in the EMT of cancer cells [16]. Brachyury is known as the target gene of WNT, one of the major signaling pathways of EMT [17]. Foxq1, one of forkhead transcription factor, has also regarded as a novel transcription factor mediating the EMT of gastric cancer [6,18]. Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2...

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), which belongs to the protein kinase family, regulates neuronal function but is also associated with cancer development and has been proposed as a target for cancer treatment. Indeed, CDK5 has roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune response. Aberrant CDK5 activation triggers tumour progression in numerous types of cancer. In this review, we summarise the role of CDK5 in cancer and neurons and CDK5 inhibitors. We expect that our review helps researchers to develop CDK5 inhibitors as treatments for refractory cancer.