Despite the fact that life expectancies are increasing and the burden of infectious diseases is decreasing, global cancer incidence rates are on the rise. Cancer outcome metrics are dismal for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including sub-Saharan Africa, where adequate resources and infrastructure for cancer care and control are lacking. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, exemplifies the miserable situation. However, the investigation of medicinal plants for better and safer anti-cancer drugs has now increased tremendously. While scientific evidence is emerging of the potential of some constituents of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in Nigeria to have anti-cancer effects, there is now a critical need for platforms that integrate ethnomedicinal information on such plants with emerging scientific data on them, to support and accelerate the discovery and development of more efficacious and safer anti-cancer drugs and recipes. Thus, this review highlights the scientific evidence to date for the anti-cancer potential of plants commonly used in traditional medicine to treat cancers in Nigeria. Scientific databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, as well as related sources, were searched to retrieve relevant information on anti-cancer medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical/ethnomedicinal details of the identified plants were then linked with the available scientific data on their anti-cancer potential, including the cytotoxicity to cancer and normal cells of the extracts and constituent compounds responsible for the activity. This annotated chronicle of Nigerian medicinal plants with potential anticancer activity is a great resource for all stakeholders in the prevention and management of cancers.

The emergence of immunotherapy has ushered in a new era in the management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Various immune check point inhibitors have demonstrated significant benefit in the management of locally advanced NSCLC that are treated with either surgery or concurrent chemoradiation. We provide a comprehensive and up-to-date review of data from key studies, discuss the challenging clinical issue regarding the timing and duration of immunotherapy in patients undergoing surgery, and highlight the unmet needs and future directions of immunotherapy in NSCLC.

There has been a rapid expansion of immunotherapy options for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) over the past two decades, particularly with the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Despite the emerging role of immunotherapy in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings though, relatively few patients will respond to immunotherapy which can be problematic due to expense and toxicity; thus, the development of biomarkers capable of predicting immunotherapeutic response is imperative. Due to the promise of a noninvasive, personalized approach capable of providing comprehensive, real-time monitoring of tumor heterogeneity and evolution, there has been wide interest in the concept of using circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to predict treatment response. Although the use of ctDNA to detect actionable mutations such as EGFR is now integral in the standard of care for patients with NSCLC, several large studies have also shown its potential as a biomarker of immunotherapeutic response. Ongoing ctDNA interventional clinical trials, such as the BR.36 trial, will help to clarify the potential role of ctDNA for therapeutic guidance. Despite the promise of this technology, there are many limitations and considerations that clinicians need to be aware of prior to widespread implementation in clinical practice, such as the effect of underlying comorbidities, ctDNA fraction, stage of underlying malignancy, and concordance between aberrations detected in ctDNA and tumor tissue.

Advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC) has a dismal prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 10%. Platinum-based chemotherapy has been the backbone of the first-line treatment of aUC for over 40 years. Only in the last decade, the treatment of aUC has evolved and been enriched with new classes of drugs that demonstrated pivotal improvements in terms of oncological responses and, ultimately, survival. Thus, the approach to aUC is becoming more and more tailored to the single patient, particularly owing to targeted therapies, such as fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting TROP2 and Nectin-4, anti-Her-2 therapies and others. However, due to the rapidly evolving scenario, the optimal sequence of systemic treatment is unknown and several important research questions remain unanswered, including the identification of reliable biomarkers to guide treatment decisions. Through ongoing research and clinical trials, we can continue to refine personalized treatment strategies and ultimately enhance patient care in this challenging disease setting. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current and emerging landscape of targeted therapies for aUC. We delved into the opportunities and challenges presented by personalized treatment approaches and explored potential future directions in this rapidly evolving field.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for 85% of cases. Despite advancements in first-line treatments such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, resistance to these treatments is common, creating a significant unmet need for effective second-line therapies. This review evaluates current and emerging second-line therapeutic options for advanced or metastatic NSCLC, focusing on their efficacy and potential to improve patient outcomes. Anti-angiogenic drugs like ramucirumab combined with chemotherapy, particularly docetaxel, have shown moderate success. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting specific tumor antigens offer a promising avenue for targeted therapy, while chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy and T-cell receptor therapy leverage the patient’s immune system to combat cancer more effectively. mRNA vaccines, although in early stages, show potential for inducing robust immune responses against cancer-specific antigens. Building on this foundation, recent advancements in molecular testing and the exploration of the tumor microenvironment are opening new therapeutic avenues, further enhancing the potential for personalized second-line treatments in NSCLC. While ADCs and bispecific antibodies are gaining traction, more precise biomarkers are needed to optimize treatment response. Regular monitoring through techniques like liquid biopsies allows real-time tracking of mutations such as EGFR T790M, enabling timely therapeutic adjustments. Additionally, the role of neutrophils and macrophages in the tumor microenvironment is increasingly being recognized as a potential therapeutic avenue, with Smad3 emerging as a key target. Further research into drug sequencing, toxicity management, and biomarker development remains crucial to improving NSCLC treatment outcomes.

Fibroblast-activated protein (FAP) expression in glial cells is attributed to FAP-positive foci on tumor vessels and neoplastic cells. Preclinical and pilot studies have shown FAP expression in high-grade gliomas. We aimed at comparing PET imaging with FAP-inhibitor (FAPI-PET) with current standard, i.e., fluoro-ethyl tyrosine (FET) PET in post-treatment setting to differentiate recurrence and post-treatment changes. 6 patients with WHO Grade III and IV glioma who received standard treatment underwent Ga-68-FAPI-04 PET/CT (FAPI-PET/CT). Tracer uptake greater than background was considered positive. FET PET was performed and interpreted as per institutional standards, which formed the basis of treatment decision. There was concordance between FAPI expression and FET uptake in 5 patients suggestive of disease recurrence. There was no FAPI expression seen in 1 patient, in whom FET PET was suggestive of post-treatment changes. FAPI PET uptake correlated with amino acid expression to differentiate post treatment changes from recurrence in high-grade glial tumors; further validation with prospective study and histopathological confirmation is needed.

Upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) are rare subsets of urothelial cancer, which typically present with more aggressive course. Molecular markers stratifying urothelial tumors as luminal subtype and non-luminal subtype tumors have been proposed to select patients who may have greater or lesser benefit from neoadjuvant systemic therapy in bladder cancer, though not yet evaluated in UTUC. Here, a single-institution study retrospectively obtained clinical and genomic information in patients with UTUC and evaluated four patient tumors using the Decipher Bladder^® assay and Foundation Medicine^® test. All four patients had non-luminal molecular subtype including basal (N = 4) and mixed basal/claudin-low (N = 2) subtypes. The best clinical response achieved was stable disease in a patient who had basal/claudin-low subtype with residual ypT3 after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. For the remaining three patients, all were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy for eventual metastatic disease but all three showed progressive disease with limited overall survival, highlighting their aggressive course. The non-luminal subtype and lack of FGFR alteration may partly explain the poor overall outcomes while the real-world benefit of next generation sequencing for clinical use in UTUC patients require further clarification in a larger cohort study.

The treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is becoming increasingly complex. Standard of care management for the past decade has been adjuvant chemotherapy following curative intent resection regardless of nodal status or tumour profile. With the increased incorporation of immunotherapy in NSCLC, especially in the locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic settings, multiple studies have sought to assess its utility in early-stage disease. While there are suboptimal responses to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone, there is a strong rationale for the use of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in tumour downstaging, based upon the concept of enhanced T cell priming at the time of a high tumour antigen burden, and demonstrated clinically in other solid tumours, such as melanoma. In the NSCLC cancer setting, currently over 20 combinations of chemoimmunotherapy in the neoadjuvant and perioperative setting have been studied with results variable. Multiple large phase III studies have demonstrated that neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy combinations result in significant advances in pathological response, disease free and overall survival which has led to practice change across the world. Currently, combination immunotherapy regimens with novel agents targeting alternate immunomodulatory pathways are now being investigated. Given this, the landscape of treatment in resectable early-stage NSCLC has become increasingly complex. This review outlines the literature of neoadjuvant and perioperative immunotherapy and discusses its potential benefits and complexities and ongoing considerations into future research.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly malignant and invasive tumor with significant mortality and morbidity. Current treatment modalities such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy encounter significant limitations, such as poor targeting, systemic toxicity, and drug resistance. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies that offer targeted delivery, enhanced efficacy, and reduced side effects. The advent of lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) offers a promising tool for OSCC therapy, potentially overcoming the limitations of current therapeutic approaches. LNPs are composed of biodegradable and biocompatible lipids, which minimize the risk of toxicity and adverse effects. LNPs can encapsulate hydrophobic drugs, improving their solubility and stability in the biological environment, thereby enhancing their bioavailability. LNPs demonstrate significantly higher ability to encapsulate lipophilic drugs than other nanoparticle types. LNPs offer excellent storage stability, minimal drug leakage, and controlled drug release, making them highly effective nanoplatforms for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, LNPs can be modified by complexing them with specific target ligands on their surface. This surface modification allows the active targeting of LNPs to the tumors in addition to the passive targeting mechanism. Furthermore, the PEGylation of LNPs improves their hydrophilicity and enhances their biological half-life by reducing clearance by the reticuloendothelial system. This review aims to discuss current treatment approaches and their limitations, as well as recent advancements in LNPs for better management of OSCC.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)-based combinations have become the standard first-line treatment for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Despite significant improvements in survival and the achievement of sustained long-term responses, a subset of patients remains refractory to ICI, and most will eventually develop resistance. Thus, identifying predictive biomarkers for ICI efficacy and resistance is essential for optimizing therapeutic strategies. Up to now, tissue-based biomarkers have not been successful as predictive biomarkers in RCC. Circulating blood-based biomarkers offer a promising alternative. These biomarkers, including circulating immune cells, soluble factors, tumor-derived markers, and those based on metabolomics, are less invasive, offer reproducibility over time, and provide a comprehensive assessment of tumor biology and patient immune status, as well as allow dynamic monitoring during treatment. This review aims to evaluate the current evidence on the different candidate circulating biomarkers being investigated for their potential to predict ICI efficacy in RCC patients.

For a long time, the family of receptor tyrosine kinases, including epidermal growth factor receptor and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor, was regarded as the main players stimulating cell proliferative signaling. Today, it is increasingly clear that many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are also involved in controlling the hallmarks of cancer by activating diverse intracellular signaling networks. GPCRs can therefore be considered as promising drug targets for fighting against diverse types of human malignancies. Although plant polyphenols, flavonoids, are well known for their diverse anticancer effects inhibiting the growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of malignant cells, involvement of GPCRs in these activities has still remained largely unelucidated. Therefore, in this review article, the current knowledge about the role of GPCRs in anticancer action of structurally varied flavonoids is compiled, highlighting the ability of these natural polyphenols to modulate the expression levels of GPCRs but also suppress the action of endogenous ligands and downstream tumor-promoting events. These data show that targeting the respective GPCRs by specific flavonoids may open new perspectives in the therapeutic intervention in human malignancies.

Bladder cancer is a leading cancer type in men. The complexity of treatment in late-stage bladder cancer after systemic spread through the lymphatic system highlights the importance of modulating disease-free progression as early as possible in cancer staging. With current therapies relying on previous standards, such as platinum-based chemotherapeutics and immunomodulation with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, researchers, and clinicians are looking for targeted therapies to stop bladder cancer at its source early in progression. A new era of molecular therapies that target specific features upregulated in bladder cancer cell lines is surfacing, which may be able to provide clinicians and patients with better control of disease progression. Here, we discuss multiple emerging therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway, antibody-drug conjugates, modulation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) cell proliferation pathway, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and fibroblast growth factor receptor targeting. Together, these modern treatments provide potentially promising results for bladder cancer patients with the possibility of increasing remission and survival rates.

Prostate cancer (PC) depicts a major health challenge all over the globe due to its complexities in the treatment and diverse clinical trajectories. Even in the advances in the modern treatment strategies, the spectrum of resistance to the therapies continues to be a significant challenge. This review comprehensively examines the underlying mechanisms of the therapy resistance occurred in PC, focusing on both the tumor microenvironment and the signaling pathways implicated in the resistance. Tumor microenvironment comprises of stromal and epithelial cells, which influences tumor growth, response to therapy and progression. Mechanisms such as microenvironmental epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), anoikis suppression and stimulation of angiogenesis results in therapy resistance. Moreover, dysregulation of signaling pathways including androgen receptor (AR), mammalian target of rapamycin/phosphoinositide 3 kinase/AKT (mTOR/PI3K/AKT), DNA damage repair and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) pathways drive therapy resistance by promoting tumor survival and proliferation. Understanding these molecular pathways is important for developing targeted therapeutic interventions which overcomes resistance. In conclusion, a complete grasp of mechanisms and pathways underlying medication resistance in PC is important for the development of individualized treatment plans and enhancements of clinical outcomes. By studying and understanding the complex mechanisms of signaling pathways and microenvironmental factors contributing to therapy resistance, this study focuses and aims to guide the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to effectively overcome the PC progression and improve the survival rate of patients.

Cancer remains a concern after years of research in this field. Conventional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are available for cancer treatment, but they are characterized by various side effects. There are several immunological challenges that make it difficult for the immune system and conventional therapies to treat cancer. Some of these challenges include heterogeneity, resistance to medicines, and cancer relapse. Even advanced treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which revolutionized cancer treatment, have associated toxicity and resistance further necessitate the exploration of alternative therapies. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) offer promising potential as cancer-fighting agents and address challenges such as treatment resistance, tumor heterogeneity, and metastasis. Although these peptides exist as components of the defense system in various plants, animals, fungi, etc., but can also be created synthetically and used as a new treatment measure. These peptides possess properties that make them appealing for cancer therapy, such as apoptosis induction, inhibition of angiogenesis, and cell membrane breakdown with low toxicity. Their capacity to specifically target cancer cells selectively holds promise for enhancing treatment environments as well as improving patients’ quality of life. This review provides detailed insights into the different prospects of ACPs, including their characterization, use as immunomodulatory agents in cancer treatment, and their mechanistic details after addressing various immunological challenges in existing cancer treatment strategies. In conclusion, ACPs have promising potential as novel cancer therapeutics due to their target specificity and fewer side effects than conventional therapies.