A new research paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 13 on December 17, 2022, entitled, “Serum microRNAs as new criteria for referral to early palliative care services in treatment-naïve advanced cancer patients.”

A major obstacle to the implementation of early palliative care (EPC) is the lack of objective criteria for referral to EPC. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as promising biomarkers. 

In the current study, researchers Tomofumi Miura, Shuichi Mitsunaga, Juntaro Matsuzaki, Satoko Takizawa, Ken Kato, Atsushi Ochiai, and Takahiro Ochiya from National Cancer Center Research Institute, National Cancer Center Hospital, Keio University, Toray Industries, Inc., and Tokyo Medical University investigated objective definitions for referral to EPC using microRNA. A total of 178 serum samples were obtained from patients with lung, gastrointestinal, colorectal, bile duct, pancreas, and bladder cancers who were treatment-naïve and received chemotherapy between January 2011 and December 2013 at National Cancer Center Hospital East. 

“The aim of the present study was to develop predictive models using serum miRNAs for patients who [were] admitted to a PCU [palliative care unit] ≤6 months after starting anti-tumor treatment.”

The team investigated expression levels of miRNAs using microarrays. The primary outcome was prediction of admission to a palliative care unit ≤6 months after first visit. Diagnostic models using clinical characteristics, miRNAs and combinations of both were constructed. The miRNA models were constructed using 6 miRNA levels. 

The best areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the clinical model was 0.741, while the average AUCs of miRNA-based models and combination models were 0.769 and 0.806, respectively. Combination models showed higher AUCs than the clinical model (p < 0.023). The researchers assert that the present combination models might offer new objective definitions for referral to EPC and thus contribute to real-world implementation of EPC.

“The present study developed a predictive model using miRNA for patients admitted to a PCU ≤6 months after starting anti-tumor treatment. The present models might offer objective criteria for oncologists to facilitate the referral of patients to the EPC.”

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28327 

Correspondence to: Shuichi Mitsunaga - smitsuna@east.ncc.go.jp 

Keywords: microRNA, early palliative care, integration, cancer, referral

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Oncotarget

Serum microRNAs as New Criteria for Referral to Early Palliative Care Services

Blog summary of a research paper published in Volume 15, Issue 5 of Aging (Aging-US): “Cellular senescence with SASP in periodontal ligament cells triggers inflammation in aging periodontal tissue.”
_____________________________________________

Repercussions of poor dental health aren’t limited to mere social stigmas. Poor dental health can impart serious consequences on an individual’s overall health. Periodontal disease broadly refers to any disease that affects the gums and the surrounding tissues that support the teeth, including the periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone. Periodontal disease can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes by allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation and organ damage. 

Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of periodontal disease. It is thought to be the most common infectious disease in the United States—affecting more than 40% of adults over 30 years old. Previous research has suggested that aging is a significant risk factor for periodontitis, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

“The direct cause of periodontitis is periodontopathic bacteria, while various environmental factors affect the severity of periodontitis. Previous epidemiological studies have shown positive correlations between aging and periodontitis. However, whether and how aging is linked to periodontal health and disease in biological processes is poorly understood.”

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2023/03/a-promising-approach-to-preventing-periodontitis/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.204569

Corresponding author - Motozo Yamashita - yamashita.motozou.dent@osaka-u.ac.jp

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Keywords - aging, cellular senescence, periodontitis, periodontal ligament, SASP, microRNAs, SIRT1

About Aging-US

Launched in 2009, Aging-US publishes papers of general interest and biological significance in all fields of aging research and age-related diseases, including cancer—and now, with a special focus on COVID-19 vulnerability as an age-dependent syndrome. Topics in Aging-US go beyond traditional gerontology, including, but not limited to, cellular and molecular biology, human age-related diseases, pathology in model organisms, signal transduction pathways (e.g., p53, sirtuins, and PI-3K/AKT/mTOR, among others), and approaches to modulating these signaling pathways.

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A Promising Approach to Preventing Periodontitis

A new editorial paper was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on May 4, 2023, entitled, “AGO2 in T-prolymphocytic leukemia: its canonical and noncanonical deregulation and function.”

In their new editorial, researchers Till Braun, Hanna Klepzig and Marco Herling from University of Cologne and University of Leipzig T-prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) — a mature T-cell neoplasm with an aggressive and treatment refractory course. 

“In light of limited therapeutic options median overall survival times from diagnosis is hardly longer than 2 years.” 

There is currently no FDA- or EMA-approved drug for the treatment of T-PLL. Although 80–90% of patients experience a response to the most efficient single agent Alemtuzumab, relapses are common within the first 12–24 months following this first-line treatment. One of the defining characteristics of T-PLL is the presence of the chromosomal aberrations inv(14) or t(14;14), which lead to constitutive expression of the proto-oncogene T-cell leukemia 1A (TCL1A). 

This adapter molecule is centrally implicated in the enhanced T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling that is observed in the memorytype malignant T-cell. Other recurrent genomic alterations that have been identified in T-PLL affect the genes ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), Janus kinase (JAK), signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), and MYC. In a recent study published by Braun et al., the team made significant advances in the understanding of the biology of T-PLL at the level of post-transcriptional gene regulation. 

“For the first time, descriptive and mechanistic data implicated the involvement of molecules of the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery in T-PLL’s leukemogenesis and by that refined our current disease model by concepts beyond protein-coding genes.”

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28378

Correspondence to - Marco Herling - marco.herling@medizin.uni-leipzig.de

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Keywords - cancer, leukemia, T-PLL, AGO2, microRNA

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AGO2 in T-prolymphocytic Leukemia (T-PLL)

3 MILIONI DI ANZIANI RINUNCIANO ALLE CURE IN ITALIA
La rinuncia alle cure tra gli over 65 in Italia è un problema significativo che richiede attenzione, un fenomeno che si è accentuato durante la pandemia di COVID-19 e che nel biennio 2021-2022 secondo la stima della sorveglianza Passi d’Argento dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità, ha coinvolto oltre 3 milioni di anziani. Dai dati raccolti nel biennio 2021-2022 dalla sorveglianza emerge che il 24% degli ultra 65enni degli intervistati dichiara di aver rinunciato, nei 12 mesi precedenti l’intervista, ad almeno una visita medica o un esame diagnostico di cui avrebbe avuto bisogno; ovvero 1 anziano su 4 fra coloro che ne avrebbero avuto bisogno.  
La rinuncia alle cure si aggrava nelle fasce sociali svantaggiate, raggiungendo il 37% tra coloro che riferiscono di avere molte difficoltà ad arrivare alla fine mese con le risorse di cui dispongono (contro il 24% fra chi riferisce di non aver problemi economici) ed è più frequente fra le donne (29% contro il 23% degli uomini). Inoltre, il fenomeno coinvolge anche le persone affette da patologie croniche: fra chi riferisce una diagnosi di malattia cronica fra quelle indagate in PASSI d’Argento (tumori, malattie cerebrovascolari, malattie croniche respiratorie, diabete, insufficienza renale, malattie croniche del fegato o cirrosi) il 28% dichiara di aver rinunciato, questa quota sale al 33% tra coloro che hanno 2 o più cronicità.
240.000 FRAMMENTI DI NANOPLASTICA IN 1 LITRO DI ACQUA IN BOTTIGLIA  
Negli ultimi anni è cresciuta la preoccupazione che minuscole particelle note come microplastiche siano presenti praticamente ovunque sulla Terra, dal ghiaccio polare al suolo, all’acqua potabile e al cibo. 
Ora, utilizzando una tecnologia recentemente perfezionata, i ricercatori sono entrati in un mondo della plastica completamente nuovo: il regno poco conosciuto delle nanoplastiche, la progenie delle microplastiche che si sono ulteriormente degradate. Per la prima volta i ricercatori hanno contato e identificato queste minuscole particelle nell’acqua in bottiglia. Hanno scoperto che in media un litro conteneva circa 240.000 frammenti di plastica rilevabili, da 10 a 100 volte più grandi delle stime precedenti, basate principalmente su dimensioni più grandi.
Le nanoplastiche sono così piccole che, a differenza delle microplastiche, possono passare attraverso l’intestino e i polmoni direttamente nel flusso sanguigno e viaggiare da lì agli organi tra cui cuore e cervello. 
 MELANOMA, NANOPARTICELLE ‘CARICATE’ CON MICRORNA
L’uso di nanoparticelle contenenti microRna potrebbe essere una soluzione innovativa per la cura del melanoma metastatico resistente alle terapie tradizionali, applicabile anche ad altre malattie oncologiche. Lo suggerisce uno studio, per ora solo su modelli in vitro e in vivo, di un gruppo di ricerca dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità. Il melanoma metastatico rappresenta una sfida, soprattutto se non diagnosticato precocemente. Le terapie convenzionali si basano sull'immunoterapia e sugli inibitori di BRAF MEK, ma molti pazienti non rispondono adeguatamente. Il nuovo approccio terapeutico proposto da questo studio, realizzato dal team guidato dalle ricercatrici Nadia Felli e Federica Felicetti del dipartimento di Oncologia e Medicina Molecolare, diretto dal Dr. Mauro Biffoni, si basa sull'utilizzo di nanoparticelle contenenti microRNA (miR126), che mirano direttamente al tumore. Il miR126 è stato identificato come un efficacie agente onco-soppressore nel melanoma, così come in altri tipi di cancro. Per veicolare in modo mirato il miR126, il team di ricerca ha creato nanoparticelle di chitosano funzionalizzate con un anticorpo specifico per una proteina di membrana delle cellule di melanoma. 

Approfondimenti e altre notizie sono nel portale salutedomàni.com e Saluteh24.com, nelle pagine social collegate e nel canale gratuito di telegram: salutedomàni

podcast salutedomani 11 gennaio 24

PODCAST NO CURE PER 3 MILIONI DI ANZIANI, 240MILA NANOPLASTICHE NELL’ACQUA, MICRORNA E MELANOMA

การค้นพบส่วนเล็ก ๆ ที่ยิ่งใหญ่ เมื่องานวิจัยของ วิกเตอร์ แอมโบรส และ แกรี รูฟคุน พบสารพันธุกรรมชนิดใหม่ที่เรียกว่า MicroRNA ซึ่งมีบทบาทสำคัญต่อการควบคุมการแสดงออกของหน่วยพันธุกรรม กลายเป็นผลงานที่ทั้ง 2 คน คว้ารางวัลโนเบล สาขาการแพทย์ ในปี 2024 microRNA ทำหน้าที่เป็นตัวควบคุมการแสดงออกของยีนและเป็นสาเหตุของการกลายพันธุ์ที่เร่งให้เกิดวิวัฒนาการ รวมถึงโรคทางพันธุกรรมและมะเร็ง การรู้จักสิ่งนี้ทำให้เราสามารถวินิจฉัยโรคไม่แม่นยำและรักษาอย่างถูกจุด จึงถือว่าการค้นพบนี้มีความสำคัญต่อมนุษย์อย่างมาก

Sci & Tech 2024 EP. 826: microRNA เผยส่วนลึกของเซลล์ สู่รางวัลโนเบลสาขาการแพทย์ 2024

BUFFALO, NY - July 18, 2025 – A new #editorial was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on July 16, 2025, titled “microRNAs in soft tissue sarcoma: State of the art and barriers to translation.”

In this article, Elizaveta K. Titerina, Alessandro La Ferlita, and Joal D. Beane from Ohio State University discuss the role of microRNAs in soft tissue sarcomas (STS), a rare and diverse group of cancers that begin in connective tissues, like bone or fat. The authors explain how these small molecules regulate cancer-related processes and highlight their potential as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring. They also outline the main challenges that need to be addressed before microRNA-based strategies can be used in clinical settings.

Soft tissue sarcomas include over 50 subtypes, making precise diagnosis and effective treatment difficult. The editorial describes how microRNAs influence cancer growth, spread, and response to therapies. Because microRNAs are stable in body fluids like blood and saliva, they could be used for early detection and to help guide treatment decisions. Such as, certain groups of microRNAs are linked to how patients respond to specific drugs, showing their potential as tools for precision medicine.

“For example, miR-17-92 and miR-106b-25 clusters have been associated with sensitivity or resistance to eribulin in STS.”

The authors also explain that microRNAs could help distinguish between tumor types that are often difficult to differentiate, such as benign lipomas and malignant liposarcomas. Recognizing these differences is crucial for guiding treatment decisions. Specific patterns of microRNA expression in blood samples may enable clinicians to make quicker and more reliable diagnoses without the need for invasive procedures. Beyond their diagnostic role, microRNAs are also being explored as therapeutic tools, but applying microRNA-based therapies to patients remains challenging. These molecules can act as either cancer promoters or suppressors, depending on the environment, which complicates the development of safe and targeted treatments. However, new delivery methods such as lipid nanoparticles show promise in improving precision and safety.

Overall, microRNAs are emerging as an important focus in STS research, offering new possibilities for advancing diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. As researchers continue to address the current challenges, these small molecules could become valuable tools in improving cancer care.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28754

Correspondence to - Joal D. Beane, joal.beane@osumc.edu

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlLGA8BObPQ

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Keywords - cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, liposarcoma, microRNA, small non-coding RNA, cancer biomarkers

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microRNAs Emerge as Biomarkers and Diagnostic Tools in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Thai PBS Podcast : View the World via the Voice
พอดแคสต์ (Podcast) รายการสื่อเสียงออนไลน์ หลากหลายด้วยสาระและความบันเทิงทั้ง นิทาน ข่าว ผู้บริโภค สุขภาพ หนังสือเสียง ต่างประเทศ สารคดี วิทยาศาสตร์ ที่มีให้ฟังมากกว่า 30 รายการที่ www.thaipbspodcast.com

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

Oncotarget is now indexed by MEDLINE, PubMed and PMC/PubMed.

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Aging-US is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the biological mechanisms that drive aging and the development of age-related diseases. Our mission is to serve as a platform for high-quality research that uncovers the cellular, molecular, and systemic processes underlying aging, and translates these insights into strategies to extend healthspan and delay the onset of chronic disease.

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New tracks tagged #microRNA