Skin melanomas are malignant neoplasms originating from neuroectodermal melanocytes. Compared to other neoplasms, melanomas have a high rate of growth. Their incidence is highest in Australia and New Zealand, in high-income European countries (Switzerland, Norway, Sweden) and in the US. In Poland, the standardized incidence rate is approximately 5/100,000. Melanomas are typically highly radioresistant and chemoresistant. Before the era of immunotherapy, inoperable lesions were treated using chemotherapy based mainly on dacarbazine, temozolomide or fotemustine, which did not yield the expected results in terms of extending survival time or improving patient comfort. Therefore, there has emerged a need to seek other solutions. In most cases, the use of immunological treatment or targeted therapy has had a positive impact on survival time and relapse-free survival. However, these periods are still relatively short, hence the need for further research and improvement of treatment. The most promising strategies appear to be antibodies that block programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) and programmed death receptor ligand-1 (PD-L1) molecules, anti-CTLA4 antibodies (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4) and therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide for both men and women. Surgery can be offered as a radical treatment at stages I and II and selected cases of stage III (III A). Whereas at more advanced stages, combined modalities of treatment are applied: radiochemotherapy (IIIB) and molecularly targeted treatment (small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, VEGF receptor inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and immunological treatment with monoclonal antibodies). Combination treatment, composed of radiotherapy and molecular therapy, is increasingly employed in locally advanced and metastatic lung cancer management. Recent studies have indicated a synergistic effect of such treatment and modification of immune response. The combination of immunotherapy and radiotherapy may result in the enhancement of the abscopal effect. Anti-angiogenic therapy, in combination with RT, is associated with high toxicity and should be not recommended. In this paper, the authors discuss the role of molecular treatment and the possibility of its concurrent use with radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: This study assessed risk factors and the results of treatment with anti-PD-1 antibodies and BRAF/MEK inhibitors for advanced malignant melanoma. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 52 patients treated with immunotherapy and BRAF/MEK inhibitors for disseminated malignant melanoma. Results: The median follow-up was 31 months (6–108 months). The median PFS1 was 6 months (1–44 months). Second-line systemic treatment was applied in 27 patients (52%). The median PFS2 was 2 months (0–27 months), and the median OS was 31 months (6–108 months). Among the analyzed risk factors, only the presence of the BRAF mutation was statistically significant for disease recurrence after surgery. In patients undergoing anti-BRAF/MEK therapy, the median PFS1 was 7 months, and in patients undergoing mono-immunotherapy, 4 months. The 12- and 24-month PFS1 rates in the group treated with BRAF inhibitors were 29 and 7%, respectively, and in patients treated with mono-immunotherapy 13 and 0%, respectively (Z = 1.998, p = 0.04). The type of treatment used had no effect on OS (Z = 0.237, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Patients with the V600 mutation should be closely monitored. In the event of disease recurrence, treatment with BRAF/MEK inhibitors should be considered. The type of treatment used has no effect on OS.

A thorough understanding of the processes occurring in cancer cells is necessary to make cancer treatment as effective as possible. Changes in cellular metabolism in relation to normal cells are considered particularly important. One of the most interesting and promising areas is glucose metabolism and the factors affecting this process, with special emphasis on the potential role of hexokinases, especially the isoform II of this enzyme. Hexokinases (HK) are transferase enzymes involved in the process of glycolysis. Hexokinase II (HK II) plays an important role in initiating and maintaining the glycolysis process at a high level of efficiency, which is crucial for the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. An increase in the number of copies of the HK II gene and increased transcription of this enzyme resulting in the suppression of apoptosis and the enhancement of cell proliferation have been found in tumor cells. Hexokinase II also participates in the Crabtree effect by affecting the amount of ATP and thus the efficiency of the Ca2+ removal process outside the cell membrane by Ca2+ ATPase. Overexpression of HK II has thus far been found in pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, glioblastoma multiforme, ovarian cancer and biliary tract cancer, indicating the possible key role of this enzyme in their formation and progression and providing the basis for seeking potential benefits of cancer treatment using HK II as a target of new drugs.