Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer in the world. There are many risk factors involved in CRC. According to recent findings, the tumor microenvironment and feces samples of patients with CRC are enriched by Fusobacterium nucleatum. Thus, F. nucleatum is proposed as one of the risk factors in the initiation and progression of CRC. The most important mechanisms of Fusobacterium nucleatum involved in CRC carcinogenesis are immune modulation (such as increasing myeloid‐derived suppressor cells and inhibitory receptors of natural killer cells), virulence factors (such as FadA and Fap2), microRNAs (such as miR‐21), and bacteria metabolism. The aim of this review was to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the action of F. nucleatum in CRC.

Angiogenesis is known as one of the hallmarks of cancer. Multiple lines evidence indicated that vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) is a key player in the progression of angiogenesis and exerts its functions via interaction with tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs). These receptors could trigger a variety of cascades that lead to the supply of oxygen and nutrients to tumor cells and survival of these cells. With respect to pivotal role of angiogenesis in the tumor growth and survival, finding new therapeutic approaches via targeting angiogenesis could open a new horizon in cancer therapy. Among various types of therapeutic strategies, nanotechnology has emerged as new approach for the treatment of various cancers. Nanoparticles (NPs) could be used as effective tools for targeting a variety of therapeutic agents. According to in vitro and in vivo studies, NPs are efficient in depriving tumor cells from nutrients and oxygen by inhibiting angiogenesis. However, the utilization of NPs are associated with a variety of limitations. It seems that new approaches such as NPs conjugated with hydrogels could overcome to some limitations. In the present review, we summarize various mechanisms involved in angiogenesis, common anti-angiogenesis strategies, and application of NPs for targeting angiogenesis in various cancers.

Cancer therapy using oncolytic viruses is an emerging area, in which viruses are engineered to selectively propagate in tumor tissues without affecting healthy cells. Because of the advantages that adenoviruses (Ads) have over other viruses, they are more considered. To achieve tumor selectivity, two main modifications on Ads genome have been applied: small deletions and insertion of tissue‐ or tumor‐specific promoters. Despite oncolytic adenoviruses ability in tumor cell lysis and immune responses stimulation, to further increase their antitumor effects, genomic modifications have been carried out including insertion of checkpoint inhibitors and antigenic or immunostimulatory molecules into the adenovirus genome and combination with dendritic cells and chemotherapeutic agents. This study reviews oncolytic adenoviruses structures, their antitumor efficacy in combination with other therapeutic strategies, and finally challenges around this treatment approach.

The cationic antimicrobial peptide GF-17, a 17-mer-derived peptide from human cathelicidin LL-37, has a significant strength in the killing of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. Herein, we conducted a series of all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the ability of GF-17 in perturbing the model membranes of the gram-positive, S. aureus, and gram-negative, E. coli, bacteria. We also explored the contributions of the specific residues in the peptide activity. The molecular dynamics results indicated that the peptide is stabilized on the membrane surface and rapidly binds to the phosphate headgroups of the model membranes through the electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, both polar and nonpolar interactions are energetically favored for the binding with the membrane surface. The research also revealed the important roles of the phenylalanine residues in the early insertion of the peptide into the bacterial model membranes. In addition, the results demonstrated that the central residues Arg23 and Lys25 played a critical role in the binding of GF-17 to both gram-negative and gram-positive model membranes, in excellent agreement with experimental studies. This study emphasizes on the pivotal role of basic residues in prompt association of the peptide on the model membrane surface and on the significance of residues Phe17, Ile24, Phe27, and Val32 in hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, our observations provide insights into the membrane-GF-17 interactions at atomic details that are useful to develop potent antimicrobial peptides targeting multidrug-resistant bacteria.

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