Interferons (INFs) elicit antiviral responses in tumor cells upon binding to cell surface receptors. Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) is an effective antitumor therapeutic approach which in combination with standard radiotherapy or chemotherapy regimens potentiates treatment responses in cancer patients. However, oncolytic viruses are susceptible to the IFN-induced antiviral state in the tumor microenvironment. A number of studies have, therefore, investigated the effects of combined therapy of IFN signaling pharmacological inhibitors with oncolytic viruses, which result in improved virus replication and oncolysis. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the mechanisms of interferon-mediated tumor resistance to oncolytic virotherapy and provides new insights regarding the effectiveness of combinatorial treatment strategies to attenuate INF-induced OV resistance for greater clinical significance in the treatment of cancer patients. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1994-1999, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Extracellular concentration of adenosine increases in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Adenosine signaling regulates apoptosis, angiogenesis, metastasis, and immune suppression in cancer cells. Adenosine-induced cell responses depend upon different subtypes of adenosine receptors activation and type of cancer. Suppression of adenosine signaling via inhibition of adenosine receptors or adenosine generating enzymes including CD39 and CD73 on ovarian or cervical cancer cells is a potentially novel therapeutic approach for gynecological cancer patients. This review summarizes the role of adenosine in the pathogenesis of gynecological cancer for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in carcinogenesis and cancer progression. lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is a tumor suppressor that is downregulated in several cancers. However, its prognostic value in human malignancies remains controversial. We have therefore undertaken a meta-analysis to explore the relationship between cancer survival and the expression of lncRNA MEG3. A systematic literature search identified 13 potentially eligible investigations comprising 1733 patients in nine different cancer types. In the pooled analysis, a low expression of MEG3 was associated with low overall survival (OS) in patients with cancer having a combined hazard ratio (HR) of 0.830 (HR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.70-0.98; p = 0.03; random effect model). However, subgroup analysis according to cancer type revealed that MEG3 expression was not associated with better OS in gastrointestinal cancer (HR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.33-1.03; p = 0.06), and patients with breast cancer (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.12-5.88; p = 0.87). In conclusion, our results demonstrate that only in the pooled analysis, there was a significant relationship between MEG3 expression and cancer survival. Further investigation of other molecular biomarkers involved in tumorigenesis-related pathways is necessary.

Brain tumors are the most common form of solid tumors in children and is presently a serious therapeutic challenge worldwide. Traditional treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy was shown to be unsuccessful in targeting brain tumor cancer stem cells (CSCs), leading to recurrent, treatment-resistant secondary malignancies. Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) is an effective antitumor therapeutic strategy which offers a novel, targeted approach for eradicating pediatric brain tumor CSCs by utilizing mechanisms of cell killing that differ from conventional therapies. A number of studies and some clinical trials have therefore investigated the effects of combined therapy of radiations or chemotherapies with oncolytic viruses which provide new insights regarding the effectiveness and improvement of treatment responses for brain cancer patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the therapeutic potency of OVs-induced CSCs targeting in the treatment of brain tumors for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease. K E Y W O R D S brain tumor, cancer stem cell (CSC), oncolytic virotherapy (OV) J Cell Biochem. 2019;120:2766-2773. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/jcb 2766 |

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Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women and presents a serious therapeutic challenge worldwide. Traditional treatments are less successful at targeting cancer tumors, leading to recurrent treatment-resistant secondary malignancies. Oncolytic virotherapy (OV) is a novel anticancer strategy with therapeutic implications at targeting cancer cells by using mechanisms that differ from conventional therapies. Administration of OVs either alone or in combination with standard therapies provide new insights regarding the effectiveness and improvement of treatment responses for breast cancer patients. This review summarizes cellular, animal and clinical studies investigating therapeutic potency of oncolytic virotherapy in breast cancer treatment for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease. K E Y W O R D Sbreast tumor, cancer stem cell, oncolytic virotherapy

Background: Protective effects of probiotics in human diseases have been well documented in recent years. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties of two newly isolated probiotic bacteria, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lactococcus lactis either alone or in combination with standard therapy, Mesalazine (MSZ), have been investigated in a murine model for ulcerative colitis. Methods: Characterization of newly isolated probiotic were assessed by performing antibacterial activity, antibiotic resistance, acid and bile tolerance, and hemolytic activity assays. Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson's trichrome staining were used to evaluate inflammation and collagen deposition in colon tissue sections. Expression of inflammatory- and Fibrotic-associated genes were analyzed using Real-time PCR and ELISA assays. Results: Results showed that administration of probiotics significantly attenuated DSS-induced colon shortening, colon weight loss, and increase in spleen weight in colitis mice. Compared to the colitis mice, disease activity index as assessed by changes in body weight, degree of stool consistency, rectal bleeding, and prolapse was decreased in probiotic-treated group. Mix of probiotics potently improved histopathological score by attenuating crypt loss, mucosal damage, and inflammation score in colitis tissues. Consistently, mRNA and protein levels of pro-inflammatory genes as well as oxidative stress markers were suppressed in the presence of probiotics in colon tissues. Furthermore, probiotic bacteria reduced fibrosis by down-regulating pro-fibrotic genes including Col 1a1 and α-SMA in colon tissue homogenates. Conclusion: These results showed that mix of these newly isolated probiotic bacteria is as potent as the standard treatment and could be utilize as a novel therapy for ulcerative colitis without any observed side effects. Future experiments on these probiotics in other models of UC is needed to completely address the efficacy potency and safety concerns.