Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in men, often progressing to castration-resistant forms and resisting conventional therapies. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcuma longa, has emerged as a potent anti-cancer agent by modulating several molecular pathways.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a major malignancy within the digestive tract, with its incidence and mortality rates steadily increasing annually, posing a severe threat to human health. Despite the extensive clinical utilization of diverse chemotherapeutic agents, their propensity for deleterious side effects and the emergence of drug resistance can impede patient compliance, consequently culminating in chemotherapy failure. Consequently, the quest for novel therapeutic agents with high efficacy and minimal toxicity has become increasingly urgent. To address this critical clinical dilemma, there is an imperative need to develop effective and well‑tolerated anti‑CRC drugs. Plant‑based antioxidants (PBAs) are now understood to possess diverse biological activities, thereby offering significant advantages with respect to clinical anti‑CRC applications. Compared with synthetic chemical agents, they are ubiquitous in natural sources, possess high safety profiles and can act as detoxifying or sensitizing agents when combined with conventional therapies in CRC, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Hence, the present review systematically reviewed current research on PBAs for CRC treatment from the perspective of bioactive compounds, with the aim of offering theoretical foundations and reference values for future studies and clinical applications of PBAs in CRC therapies.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can cause adrenal insufficiency (AI) as an uncommon but potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse event (irAE). Early symptoms are often vague and may overlap with cancer-related fatigue or treatment side effects, contributing to diagnostic delays and under recognition.

Ovarian cancer is a common malignant tumor of the female reproductive system, and traditional treatments are unsatisfactory due to its intraperitoneal spreading mechanism and its biologic characteristic of being prone to drug resistance. Pembrolizumab has demonstrated high objective remission and overall survival rates in a variety of solid tumors, and clinical trials are now available to explore its efficacy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the findings of multiple clinical studies in order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the immunotherapeutic agent Pembrolizumab in patients diagnosed with advanced or recurrent ovarian cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of solid tumors. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials aimed to assess the survival benefit of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in women with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (EC) and mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR).

Adapalene is a derivative of retinoid used for the treatment of skin acne. However, in recent years, Adapalene has been studied for its anti-cancer activity. Adapalene exerts its chemotherapeutic effect against various cancers by targeting cell cycle apoptosis and DNA repair mechanism.

For centuries, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been widely employed in traditional medicine, and its primary therapeutic constituents are a class of compounds known as ginsenosides. In particular, protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides exhibit potent anticancer properties, largely mediated through epigenetic mechanisms.

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of chemobrain in breast cancer patients, define it, and review the various tools used to measure it. A comprehensive literature review was performed, and covered all publications up to and including September 30, 2024. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported data on chemobrain in adults with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. The following data were extracted: study characteristics, information on chemobrain, and information on breast cancer treatment. A total of 287 records were identified by the literature search. After eliminating duplicates, irrelevant articles after title and abstract screening, or after full-text review, 11 records were included in the study. The incidence across studies ranged from 9.6 to 81.0%. The pooled incidence of chemobrain was estimated at 39.9% (95% CI 26.3%, 55.2%). Chemobrain appears to affect a significant proportion of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with a pooled incidence estimate of approximately 40%. However, the wide range of reported incidences (9.6-81%) suggests that the true prevalence may vary depending on study design, definitions, and assessment tools used.

Cardiotoxicity is a growing concern in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors, including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), are widely used for cardiovascular protection, but their role in cancer care remains uncertain. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effects of RAS inhibitors on cardiotoxicity, dyspnea, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with malignancies. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, from which 15 eligible RCTs were identified. These trials compared RAS inhibitor users and non-users. Group differences were analyzed using mean differences (MDs) or odds ratios (ORs), with heterogeneity assessed by the I² statistic. Pooled results suggested a possible association between RAS inhibitor use and higher left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared to controls (MD 4.42%, 95% CI -0.02 to 8.85; I² = 96%). Subgroup analysis revealed significant benefit in patients receiving HER2-targeted therapy and those undergoing non-specific chemotherapy, while no advantage was seen in patients treated with anthracyclines and HER2 blockade. RAS inhibitors showed limited benefit in anthracycline regimens. No significant reduction in cardiotoxicity was observed (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.19-2.30). Additionally, two trials evaluating ACE inhibitors with beta-blockers demonstrated additive effects in preventing LVEF decline in high-risk populations. One trial also reported improved dyspnea with ACE inhibitors in lung cancer. RAS inhibitors may help preserve cardiac function in cancer patients, but current evidence is inconclusive. Confirmation through large-scale RCTs is warranted.

Gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis carries a poor prognosis and is considered incurable. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) has been explored for preventing and treating peritoneal metastasis, but clinical trials show conflicting results and guidelines provide inconsistent recommendations. A comprehensive evaluation of intraperitoneal chemotherapy effects in gastric cancer is needed.

Cutaneous melanoma, a lethal neoplasm originating from epidermal melanocytes, stands out for its resistance to conventional therapies and high metastatic rate. Given the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches, this study focuses on the antitumor potential of natural compounds derived from plants, recognized as primary sources of antineoplastic chemotherapeutics. In this systematic review, we selected studies that evaluated the efficacy of such compounds in vivo, using the murine melanoma B16 model. The research was registered at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols under the number INPLASY202490019 and conducted using the PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Embase databases, following predefined eligibility criteria and standardized terms from the MeSH and DeCS databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, and data were extracted using a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. Of the 361 identified studies, 33 were deemed eligible for analysis. Parameters such as routes of treatment administration and induction of melanoma, duration of treatment, and others were collected. The SYRCLE tool was used to identify methodological gaps, such as the absence or insufficient description of randomization and blinding. The results indicated that natural products, especially terpenes, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, quinones, fatty acids, and plant sterols, have considerable antimelanoma activity, with tumor inhibition above 70% and antimetastatic properties. These findings underscore the importance of investigating the potential of these plant compounds as antineoplastic agents and establishing standardized experimental protocols to increase the reliability of the results.

Cancer remains a critical global health threat, significantly compromising women's health and survival rates worldwide. However, most current chemotherapy drugs are often limited in clinical application due to their substantial side effects. Therefore, there is a pressing demand for the discovery and development of novel drugs. Given their low toxicity and multifaceted bioactivities, natural polysaccharides have emerged as promising anticancer candidates, attracting considerable research attention for their therapeutic potential.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains underassessed and underreporting in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating new therapies in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, evaluation and preservation of favorable HRQoL are critically important in trials including patients in early-stage settings, in which the primary objective is cure. Herein, we evaluated whether HRQoL was adequately evaluated and reported in trials including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in resectable NSCLC.

To assess the efficacy of glutamine in preventing diarrhea associated with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in colorectal cancer.

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS) and hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) are adverse effects induced by cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, such as capecitabine, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, and multi-kinase inhibitors. HFS/HFSR can significantly reduce patients' quality of life and impact cancer treatment intensity due to severe pain in the hands and feet. Although several recommendations and guidelines have been published, most focus on European and American populations, with no management guidelines specifically addressing Asian patients. Given that Asian skin types differ from those of Europeans and Americans, treatment recommendations tailored to Asian populations are needed.

Panax species (Panax ginseng, Panax quinquefolius L., and Panax notoginseng) are globally recognized as valuable medicinal and dietary resources with a long history of use in traditional medicine. Ginsenosides are their primary active constituents, among which rare ginsenosides, particularly Rk1 and Rg5, exhibit superior physiological activities-including antitumour, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects-compared to common ginsenosides. However, their industrial application is hindered by low natural abundance, structural complexity, and challenges in sustainable production.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-L1 or PD-1 as monotherapy or combined with CTLA-4 inhibitors or chemotherapy (or both) are the standard of care for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it remains unclear which patients benefit from the addition of CTLA-4 inhibitors. We aimed to evaluate whether dual checkpoint blockade with CTLA-4 and PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitors provides similar efficacy to PD-L1 or PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy, or whether these strategies produce distinct outcomes across NSCLC subpopulations.

Significant efficacy heterogeneity exists between first- and second-line immunotherapy regimens for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (SqNSCLC), but most regimens lack directly comparable clinical trial evidence, resulting in unclear prioritization. This analysis identifies optimal treatment strategies by evaluating differences in efficacy across immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Dioscorea, as a plant genus, possesses dual value for both medicinal and dietary purposes. Recently, numerous studies have demonstrated that the genus Dioscorea extracts (DEs) and their compounds (DCs) exhibit significant anticancer properties.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are linked to thrombotic events, but the thrombosis risk in various cancers is unclear. This study evaluates the incidence and risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) in patients with solid tumors treated with PARPi.