Ardabil University of Medical Sciences

Radiotherapy (RT) is recognized as one of the safest and most efficacious methods for combating cancer, with approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with solid tumors receiving ionizing radiation (IR) as part of their treatment. The therapeutic success of RT, however, is closely linked to the sensitivity of the tumor to radiation exposure. Various cancer types exhibit significant resistance to IR, which presents challenges in treatment. Thus, enhancing tumor cell sensitivity to IR could substantially improve patients' treatment outcomes and overall quality of life. Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein holoenzyme, present in approximately 90% of cancers, plays a crucial role in maintaining telomere length (TL). Consequently, telomerase emerges as a prime target for intervention aimed at inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. An increase in telomerase activity is frequently associated with the uncontrolled cellular proliferation characteristic of cancer; numerous studies have established a direct link between telomerase activity and cellular radioresistance. Given the experimental evidence connecting telomere homeostasis to radiation sensitivity, targeting of telomerase is emerging as a promising strategy in cancer therapy, both as a standalone treatment and in conjunction with IR. In the present review article, we discuss the efficacy of telomerase targeting as a promising therapeutic strategy in promoting radiotherapy effect on various types of cancer.

The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is influenced by various risk factors, and genetic alterations in progression of colon polyps. The expression patterns of microRNA-548 (miR-548) in colorectal tissues have been sufficiently characterized. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of miR-548aa in tumorigenesis, gene targeting, predictive value and its expression levels in tumoral versus adjacent marginal tissues in CRC patients.

This study included 35 CRC patients who underwent surgery to remove their tumor tissue. Tumor samples and adjacent marginal tissue were collected and gene expression was analyzed through real-time PCR. The correlation between miR-548aa expression levels and clinical parameters were investigated. Our findings showed a significant increase in the expression of miR-548aa in tumoral tissues compared to marginal tissues (p < 0.05). The upregulation of miR-548aa was significantly detected in CRC samples, showing an area under the curve of 0.89 (p = 0.002), indicating strong sensitivity and specificity for CRC diagnosis. To prediction of miRNA target genes and construction of regulatory networks of miR-548aa, we used bioinformatics tools including TargetScan and miRDB. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed through STRING database and visualized using Cytoscape software.

Dysregulation of miR-548aa is closely related to tumorigenesis in colorectal tissues, which affects disease progression and clinical outcomes. The miR-548aa can be introduced as a proposed biomolecule involved in mechanism of tumorigenesis, gene targeting and predictive value for CRC diagnosis and a target for therapeutic intervention.

Infertility is a reproductive health problem in the male or female reproductive system. Traditional assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been unable to solve various cases of infertility for years. Clinical researchers have sought to treat infertility using new methods that are more effective and noninvasive than the old methods. Recently, Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs-derived Exosomes (MSC-Exos) via paracrine activity play an important role in treating various causes of infertility and improving pregnancy outcomes. In this review, we focus on the roles of MSCs and MSC-Exos cell therapy in female infertility in the different types of female reproductive disorders.