New insights for gynecological cancer therapies: from molecular mechanisms and clinical evidence to future directions

Abstract

Advanced and recurrent gynecological cancers lack effective treatment and have poor prognosis. Besides, there is urgent need for conservative treatment for fertility protection of young patients. Therefore, continued efforts are needed to further define underlying therapeutic targets and explore novel targeted strategies. Considerable advancements have been made with new insights into molecular mechanisms on cancer progression and breakthroughs in novel treatment strategies. Herein, we review the research that holds unique novelty and potential translational power to alter the current landscape of gynecological cancers and improve effective treatments. We outline the advent of promising therapies with their targeted biomolecules, including hormone receptor-targeted agents, inhibitors targeting epigenetic regulators, antiangiogenic agents, inhibitors of abnormal signaling pathways, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, agents targeting immune-suppressive regulators, and repurposed existing drugs. We particularly highlight clinical evidence and trace the ongoing clinical trials to investigate the translational value. Taken together, we conduct a thorough review on emerging agents for gynecological cancer treatment and further discuss their potential challenges and future opportunities.

Women’s Healthcare: Call for Action

“…Other female cancers include uterine, cervical, ovarian, endometrial, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, and fallopian tube. 28 Of these, the most common is uterine and the least common is vaginal. 29 And of these, only cervical cancer has a screening test (pap smears) that detects cancer early and offers patients the best chance of diagnosis and survival.…”

“…Other female cancers include uterine, cervical, ovarian, endometrial, uterine, vaginal, vulvar, and fallopian tube . Of these, the most common is uterine and the least common is vaginal .…”

Landscape of Endometrial Cancer: Molecular Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Target Therapy

“…A dysregulation in hormonal signaling can induce abnormal proliferation, genomic instability, and angiogenesis inside the endometrium, thus predisposing to the development of EC [ 55 ]. Understanding the interactions between hormonal factors and the molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of EC is crucial to find new molecular targets, which can lead to new preventive or therapeutic strategies [ 56 ].…”

POLD4 Promotes Glioma Cell Proliferation and Suppressive Immune Microenvironment: A Pan-Cancer Analysis Integrated with Experimental Validation

“…Despite remarkable strides in medical technology and the expanding array of treatment alternatives for cancer, a significant proportion of patients receive diagnoses at an advanced stage, rendering conventional therapeutic strategies impractical and culminating in fatal outcomes associated with the disease [ 1 , 2 ]. Recognizing the limitations of existing treatment methods, there is a pressing requirement to encourage the development of fresh targets for cancer therapy, intended to enhance precise diagnosis and successful treatment approaches [ 3 ].…”