Search Results (2,464)

Background: A number of viruses are oncogenic. These include the human papilloma virus (HPV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi sarcoma human herpes virus 2/human herpes virus 8 (KSHHV/HHV8), hepatitis B virus, (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Merkel cell polyoma virus (McPyV), and the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV- 1). These viruses cause malignancies ranging from carcinomas, sarcomas, lymphomas, to leukemias. This review aims to study the effects and efficacy of vaccines against these viruses and the cancers they cause in their prevention and treatment. Methods: The literature in the past 30 years was searched employing Scopus and Google Scholar using the keywords “oncogenic viruses, HPV, EBV, KSHHV, HHV8, Polyoma virus, HTLV-1, COVID-19, carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, leukemia, anti-virus vaccines”. Results: Prophylactic vaccines against the HPV and HBV are highly effective in preventing and reducing the incidence of uterine cervical and hepatocellular carcinomas. Prophylactic vaccines against other oncogenic viruses have been less successful, though efficacious in some experimental animals. Therapeutic vaccines are still mostly under evaluation and development. Conclusions: Identification of oncogenic viruses has rendered anti-viral vaccines conspicuous tools for preventing and treating cancers they cause. Many endeavors for the development of such vaccines have been met with limited success, apart from the very effective anti-HPV and anti-HBV vaccines in universal vaccination programs. With the development of new vaccine technologies, it is hoped that effective vaccines against other oncogenic viruses will be developed in the future. Full article

Despite improved diagnostic and treatment protocols, cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. There are increasing rates of certain cancer types, including the highly drug-resistant colorectal cancer, in younger population cohorts. Therapeutic advances in oncology have led to the application of immunotherapy-based agents, including checkpoint inhibitors, antibodies, and adoptive cell therapies. Such immunotherapy approaches are greatly hindered by the tumour microenvironment and lack of specificity. Therapeutic vaccines are an innovative and rapidly advancing area of oncology, having potential for application as mono- and combined therapy in clinical settings, offering long term efficacy against disease recurrence. Advances in vaccine production using gene editing and bioprocessing techniques allows for novel vaccine types, including protein-based subunit vaccines, virus-like particle vaccines, and viral vector- and nucleic acid-based (RNA and DNA) vaccines. Cancer vaccines are designed to deliver specific tumour antigens, which activate anti-cancer cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells to produce immune memory, providing long term anti-cancer action. When coupled with advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence, anti-cancer vaccines may revolutionise oncology protocols and improve patient prognosis. This review aims to discuss current immunotherapy options in cancer treatment and recent advances in anti-cancer vaccine modalities. Full article

Background: Cervical cancer is considered to be a global health challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Romania reports one of the highest burdens in Europe due to limited access to screening and HPV vaccination. Chemoradiotherapy is standard for locally advanced disease, but the impact on quality of life (QoL) for a low- and middle-income population has not yet been explored. This study aims to evaluate the effect of chemoradiotherapy on the QoL of cervical cancer survivors in the Romanian population. Methods: This prospective observational study included 111 patients with stage I–IV cervical cancer undergoing chemoradiotherapy. QoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) questionnaire before, during, and after treatment. Demographic and clinical data were collected. The statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and linear mixed-effects models to evaluate changes over time and the influence of sociodemographic and treatment-related factors. Results: FACT-G scores significantly increased after treatment, with improvements in physical and functional well-being. Better before-treatment QoL was associated with urban residence, early-stage disease, marital status, and higher education. Among treatment toxicities, only nausea had a statistically significant negative effect on QoL during treatment, while other toxicities showed no significant impact. Conclusions: Chemoradiotherapy in cervical cancer patients was not associated with a substantial deterioration in quality of life during treatment and was followed by significant improvement after therapy completion. These findings highlight a favorable short-term QoL trajectory and emphasize the need for longitudinal studies to assess whether such benefits are maintained over the long term. Full article

Nanovaccines have emerged as a transformative platform in immunotherapy, distinguished by their capabilities in targeted antigen delivery, enhanced immunogenicity, and multifunctional integration. By leveraging nanocarriers, these vaccines achieve precise antigen transport, improve immune activation efficiency, and enable synergistic functions such as antigen protection and adjuvant co-delivery. This review comprehensively explores the foundational design principles of nanovaccines, delves into the diversity of nanovaccine design strategies—including the selection of primary carrier materials, functionalization modification, synergistic delivery of immune adjuvants, and self-assembled nano-delivery systems—and highlights their applications in cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease and autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, it critically examines existing technical challenges and translational barriers, providing an integrative reference to guide future research and development in this dynamic field. Full article

Genitourinary (GU) cancers, including prostate, bladder, and renal cancers, represent a significant burden on global health. Conventional treatments, while effective in certain contexts, face limitations due to tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and relapse. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy, particularly in the development of personalized mRNA and DNA-based vaccines, have opened new avenues for precise and durable antitumor responses. These vaccines are being developed to leverage neoantigen identification and next-generation sequencing technologies, with the goal of tailoring immunotherapeutic interventions to individual tumor profiles. mRNA vaccines offer rapid, non-integrative, and scalable, with encouraging results reported in infectious diseases and early-phase cancer trials. DNA vaccines, known for their stability and ease of modification, show promise in generating robust cytotoxic T-cell responses. This review discusses the current landscape, preclinical findings, and ongoing clinical trials of mRNA and DNA-based vaccines in GU cancers, highlighting delivery technologies, combination strategies with immune checkpoint inhibitors, and future challenges, including tumor immune evasion and regulatory hurdles. Integrating immunogenomics and artificial intelligence into vaccine design is poised to further enhance precision in cancer vaccine development. As GU malignancies remain a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality, mRNA and DNA vaccine strategies represent a promising and rapidly evolving area of investigation in oncology. Full article

Despite global commitments to universal health coverage, persons with disabilities (PwD) continue to face significant barriers in accessing appropriate healthcare, including diagnostics, treatments and preventive healthcare, with lower participation in cancer screening and vaccination programs. These disparities are driven by diverse, intersecting obstacles (structural, financial, communicative, and social) that vary by disability type and context. Inclusive approaches, co-designed with PwD and supported by standardized assessment tools, are urgently needed to address persistent inequities in healthcare access and outcomes. Full article

Preventing metastasis and recurrence after cancer treatment remains a challenge. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have long garnered attention as tools for vaccination. To develop high-performance vaccines, there has been an ongoing search for high-performance miRNAs and high-performance EVs as resources. In recent years, stemness-high cells have been reported to represent valuable resources for EVs, offering a level of performance not previously achieved. A differential miRNA analysis was performed between metastasis-suppressive EVs and metastasis-promoting EVs to predict miRNAs specific to metastasis regulation. These newly identified miRNAs were expected to show good performance in metastasis suppression. It is noticeable that these miRNAs seem to be categorized differently from the cancer-associated miRNAs that have been extensively studied to date. In order to further develop vaccine therapy, it is widely recognized that continuing to explore methods for further enhancing the metastasis-suppressive potential of EVs and mRNAs is a fundamental and urgent task. Significant progress has been made through the discovery of stemness-high cells as new EV resources and the results of miRNA exploration focused on metastasis regulation. This review aims to address current challenges by presenting relevant, up-to-date information and providing insights that may lead to new discoveries. Full article

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection with significant health implications, especially for women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The variability in reported prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV among HIV-positive women across different regions in Africa necessitates a comprehensive and systemic examination. Methods: A systematic search was conducted across several databases. A random effect model was used to evaluate study heterogeneity through Q statistics and I² measures. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots and Egger’s tests. Risk factors for HPV among HIV-positive women were summarized qualitatively. This review was registered with PROSPERO: CRD42024525123. Result: Twenty-three studies involving 9954 HIV-positive women were combined to estimate HPV prevalence. The overall prevalence of all HPV types was 49.4% (95% CI: 42.43, 56.38), with evidence of heterogeneity (Q = 520.92, df = 16, I² = 96.93%, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of high-risk HPV was 45.26% (95% CI: 31.02, 59.91), showing heterogeneity across studies (Q = 439.18, df = 10, p < 0.0001, I² = 97.72%). Low-risk HPV had a prevalence of 24.98% (95% CI: 12.27, 40.41), with variation among studies (Q = 134.39, df = 6, p < 0.0001, I² = 95.54%). The most frequent genotypes were 16, 18, 52, 33, and 35. A higher cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count is associated with a lower prevalence of HPV. Conclusions: The pooled HPV prevalence among HIV-positive women in Africa is lower compared to previous studies, but the slow decline poses challenges to meet the WHO’s goal of eliminating HPV-related cervical cancer by 2030. Therefore, enhanced prevention efforts, including HPV self-sampling, improved vaccination coverage, and early treatment interventions, are essential to meet the goal of eliminating HPV-related cervical cancer. Full article

Background and Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide and, beyond its oncogenic potential, may impair reproductive health in both sexes. This review examines HPV’s effects on male and female fertility, obstetric outcomes, vertical transmission, and fertility-sparing management in oncology. Materials and Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Scopus was conducted using terms related to HPV and reproduction. Additional search terms included those related to therapeutic vaccines, antivirals, and genotype prevalence. English-language human studies reporting clinical reproductive outcomes were included. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently screened and assessed study quality using a simplified GRADE framework. Results: In men, seminal HPV infection correlates with reduced progressive motility (SMD ≈ −0.85), abnormal morphology, and increased DNA fragmentation. In women, high-risk HPV doubles the odds of infertility (OR ≈ 2.3) and is associated with endometrial involvement. High first-trimester viral load predicts vertical transmission (aOR 6.4), which is also increased by vaginal delivery (RR 1.8) and is linked to PROM (OR 1.8) and preterm birth (OR 1.8). Modeling suggests that nine-valent vaccination plus 5-year HPV-based screening could reduce CIN2+ by up to 80% and excisional treatments by >75%. Fertility-sparing surgery in early cervical cancer yields a <4% recurrence and up to 68% live birth rates. Conclusions: This review uniquely synthesizes reproductive and oncologic impacts of HPV and emphasizes risk stratification, multidisciplinary prevention, and fertility preservation. Integration of HPV DNA quantification, personalized care, and vaccine-based strategies offers a path toward optimized outcomes in both sexes. Full article

Human papillomavirus (HPV) significantly contributes to anogenital cancers, with elevated risks among people living with HIV (PWH), particularly men who have sex with men (MSM). This study assessed anal HPV prevalence and associated risk factors in PWH in Mexico, focusing on the role of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: A cross-sectional study at an HIV clinic in Mexico City (October 2023–December 2024) enrolled 214 MSM with HIV. The participants completed a validated risk factor questionnaire and provided anal samples for real-time PCR testing of 28 HPV genotypes. Logistic regression analyzed associations between HPV infection, ART regimens, and clinical/behavioral factors. Results: HPV prevalence was 89.3%, with HPV-16 (20.1%) being the most common high-risk genotype. Integrase inhibitor (INSTI) use was inversely associated with HPV-16 infection (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.21–0.83; p = 0.011), while protease inhibitor use increased HPV-16 (OR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.09–4.29; p = 0.025) and HPV-6 risks. Higher CD4+ counts (≥500 cells/mm³) and undetectable HIV viral load (<40 copies/mL) were protective against multiple HPV genotypes. Lower education and smoking increased HPV risk. Conclusions: This first Mexican study in the ART and HPV vaccination era highlights high anal HPV prevalence in PWH and suggests that INSTI-based regimens may reduce HPV-16 risk, informing ART selection for HPV prevention. Full article

Chronic hepatitis delta (CHD) represents the most severe form of viral hepatitis due to rapid disease progression towards liver cancer, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) can only infect individuals who are infected with hepatitis B. So far, there is no cure or vaccine for HDV. Existing treatment options, including pegylated interferon-α and hepatocyte entry inhibitors, offer limited efficacy. Emerging therapeutic strategies are focused on targeting various steps of the HDV life cycle or enhancing the host immune response to promote viral elimination. A defective antiviral immune response is increasingly recognized as a culprit for HDV persistence; however, the precise immunological mechanism associated with disease progression and pathogenesis has not been well defined. This review provides an update on the current understanding of host immune response in CHD, highlighting its role in both disease pathogenesis and viral clearance. A deeper understanding of these immune correlates may lead the way to novel treatment strategies, including immunotherapies targeting host immune response that can be used in combination with other antiviral therapies to achieve more effective and durable treatment outcomes. Full article

Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells have emerged as critical sentinels in the control of cancer metastasis, yet their precise roles across different tumor types and tissues remain underappreciated. Here, we review current insights into the mechanisms governing TRM cell seeding and retention in pre-metastatic niches, their effector functions in eliminating disseminated tumor cells, and their dynamic crosstalk with local stromal and myeloid populations. Here, we highlight evidence for organ-specific variability in TRM cell-mediated immunity, discuss strategies for therapeutically harnessing these cells—ranging from vaccination and checkpoint modulation to chemokine axis manipulation—and explore their promise as prognostic biomarkers. Finally, we outline key knowledge gaps and future directions aimed at translating TRM cell biology into targeted interventions to prevent and treat metastatic disease. Full article

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology has revolutionized the field of immunization, offering a non-infectious, non-genome-integrating platform that addresses many limitations of traditional vaccine modalities. Recent advancements in chemical modifications, delivery systems, and manufacturing processes have enhanced the stability, efficacy, and safety of RNA-based therapeutics, expanding their application beyond infectious diseases to include genetic disorders, cancer, and rare diseases. Central to the success of RNA vaccines is their ability to orchestrate a finely tuned immune response, leveraging both innate and adaptive immunity to achieve robust and durable protection. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the immunological mechanisms underpinning RNA vaccine efficacy, with a focus on the roles of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) in sensing exogenous RNA, the impact of RNA modifications and manufacturing impurities on innate immune activation, and the subsequent cytokine and chemokine milieu that shapes adaptive responses. We also discuss the dual role of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems as both carriers and adjuvants, highlighting their contribution to the vaccine’s immunogenicity and reactogenicity profile. Understanding these complex immune interactions is critical for optimizing RNA vaccine design, minimizing adverse effects, and expanding their therapeutic potential. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the immune symphony orchestrated by RNA vaccines and to identify key areas for future research to further refine and expand the utility of this transformative technology. Full article

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a major threat to global public health, with the disease burden particularly severe in developing countries, China being one of them. The preventive and control effects of traditional treatment methods on NCDs are limited, and innovative strategies are urgently needed. In recent years, vaccine technology has expanded from the field of infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Therapeutic vaccines have shown the potential to intervene in chronic diseases through immunomodulation, but their research and development (R & D), as well as promotion, still face multiple challenges. Methods: This article systematically reviews the current development status of NCD vaccines worldwide and points out the imbalance in their matching with disease burden: current research focuses on the field of cancer, while there is a lack of targeted vaccines for high-burden diseases such as hypertension and chronic kidney disease; the progress of independent R & D in China lags behind, and there are implementation obstacles such as uneven distribution of medical resources between urban and rural areas and low public willingness to be vaccinated. Results: By analyzing the biological mechanisms of NCD vaccines and non-biological challenges, phased solutions are proposed: In the short term, focus on target discovery and improvement of vaccine accessibility. In the medium term, strengthen multi-center clinical trials and international technology sharing. In the long term, build a digital health monitoring system and a public–private partnership financing model. Conclusions: The breakthrough of NCD vaccines requires interdisciplinary collaboration and systematic policy support. Their successful application will reshape the paradigm of chronic disease prevention and control, providing a new path for global health equity. Full article

Introduction: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV), though commonly perceived as a pediatric pathogen, significantly impacts adults, yet its role in acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) remains underappreciated. The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped respiratory virus epidemiology and amplified the need for comprehensive differential diagnosis. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and post-COVID-19 trends of HMPV infection in adults and to elucidate its critical role in the differential diagnosis of ARTIs by distinguishing it from other common viral pathogens. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study conducted across six hospitals within the Acibadem Hospitals Group in Istanbul, Turkey. Data were collected from two periods: January 2016 to January 2020 (pre-COVID-19) and January 2021 to September 2023 (post-COVID-19), excluding the peak pandemic phase (March 2020 to May 2021). Respiratory samples (sputum, BAL, nasopharyngeal/nasal/throat swabs) were analyzed using multiplex PCR (Seegene RV12-ACE), with an expanded panel including SARS-CoV-2 in the post-COVID-19 era. Demographic data, comorbidities, symptoms, hospitalization, and ICU admission rates were collected. Results: In the post-COVID-19 period, 2197 positive viral panels were recorded, an increase from 1357 in the pre-COVID period, reflecting enhanced testing. HMPV prevalence reached 9.7% post-COVID-19, making it the fourth most common respiratory virus in adults (8.7% of 644 positive adult tests), following SARS-CoV-2 (26.4%), influenza A (21.3%), and rhinovirus (17.5%). The average age of HMPV-infected adults was 52.14 years (18–90 years); 64% were female. While 52% had no comorbidities, common underlying conditions included hypertension (24%), cancer (12%), and diabetes (10%). Weakness (34%), lower respiratory symptoms (16%), and fever (12%) were frequent. A significant proportion of HMPV patients required hospitalization (34%) and ICU admission (18%), with 40% receiving antibiotics. Despite potential severity, the mortality rate was low (2.8%). No significant difference in severity was observed between HMPV monoinfection and co-infected groups (e.g., with influenza A, rhinovirus, SARS-CoV-2, parainfluenza virus 2). Conclusion: Our findings establish HMPV as a significant and increasingly prevalent respiratory pathogen among adults in Istanbul in the post-COVID-19 era. Its non-specific clinical presentation underscores the critical importance of multiplex PCR for accurate differential diagnosis, enabling appropriate patient management and antimicrobial stewardship. While HMPV can lead to severe outcomes requiring hospitalization and ICU admission, particularly in patients with comorbidities, the overall mortality rate remains low. Given the lack of specific antiviral treatments and vaccines, sustained surveillance and continued research into targeted interventions are crucial. Full article