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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Glioblastoma-derived migrasomes promote migration and invasion by releasing PAK4 and LAMA4
ClearASGR2 and CLEC12A as Prognostically Relevant C-Type Lectin Hubs in Glioblastoma
Scientists found two proteins called ASGR2 and CLEC12A that help aggressive brain tumors called glioblastoma shut down the body's immune system, making them harder to treat. These proteins work with immune cells that actually protect the tumor instead of fighting it, and patients with higher levels of these proteins tend to have worse outcomes. This discovery could lead to new treatments that target these proteins to help the immune system better fight brain cancer.
Novel application of microparticles demonstrate myeloid uptake and induce phenotypic change within the brain tumor microenvironment 2254
Researchers demonstrated that microparticles can be taken up by myeloid cells within glioblastoma tumors and can induce phenotypic changes in tumor-associated macrophages and neutrophils, suggesting that particle-based approaches may be able to modify the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Microplastics role in cell migration and distribution during cancer cell division
Researchers exposed human colorectal cancer cells to polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics and found the particles persisted inside cells without being eliminated, were passed from parent to daughter cells during division, and significantly increased cell migration -- a key step in cancer spreading. These findings suggest microplastics could act as hidden promoters of tumor progression in the gut, where plastic exposure through food is highest.
Hydrogel-based nanoparticles: revolutionizing brain tumor treatment and paving the way for future innovations
Researchers reviewed how nanoparticles embedded in hydrogels — water-based gel materials — can serve as targeted drug delivery vehicles for brain tumors by crossing the blood-brain barrier, a major obstacle that blocks most medications from reaching the brain. These systems have shown improved survival rates in studies, and the review outlines remaining challenges around manufacturing, stability, and scaling up for clinical use.
A Self-Cascade Penetrating Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Mediated by Near-Infrared II Cell Membrane-Disrupting Nanoflakes via Detained Dendritic Cells
This study developed nanoparticle-based technology to treat aggressive brain tumors (glioblastoma) by penetrating deep into tumor tissue and activating the immune system against cancer cells. While not directly about microplastic pollution, it demonstrates that nanoparticles can cross brain barriers and influence immune responses. The research is relevant because it shows how tiny particles, including plastics, can access and affect the brain.
Enhanced Anti-Tumor Activity in Mice with Temozolomide-Resistant Human Glioblastoma Cell Line-Derived Xenograft Using SN-38-Incorporated Polymeric Microparticle.
This study tested polymer microparticles as a delivery system for a cancer drug in brain tumor models. This is a drug delivery and cancer treatment research paper with no direct connection to environmental microplastics.
Identification of functional immune and neuronal tumour cells in glioma
Researchers developed the Single Cell Rule Association Mining (SCRAM) computational tool to integrate RNA-inferred genomic alterations with co-occurring cell type signatures at single-cell resolution, applying it to glioma to identify functional immune and neuronal tumour cells and distinguish tumour from non-tumour cells with greater precision than existing annotation algorithms.
The nervous system is the major target for Gold nanoparticles: Evidence from RNA sequencing data of C. elegans
This review examines research suggesting that the nervous system is a primary target for gold nanoparticle toxicity, with evidence from animal models showing that these particles cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in neural tissue. While focused on gold nanoparticles, the findings are relevant to understanding how nanoplastics may also affect the brain.
A deformability-based biochip for precise label-free stratification of metastatic subtypes using deep learning
Researchers built a microfluidic device — a chip with tiny channels — that measures how easily cells deform as they squeeze through narrow passages, using deep learning to classify cancer cells by how aggressively they spread. The system achieved 92.4% accuracy in distinguishing cancer invasiveness and could tell cancer cells apart from normal immune cells with 89.5% accuracy, pointing toward faster clinical tools for diagnosing cancer stage.
Alleviation of neurotoxicity induced by polystyrene nanoplastics by increased exocytosis from neurons
Researchers investigated how polystyrene nanoplastics accumulate in neurons and cause toxic effects on brain cells. They found that inhibiting a specific protein involved in transporting particles within cells promoted the export of nanoplastics from neurons, reducing their harmful effects. The study suggests that enhancing the cell's natural ability to expel nanoplastics could be a potential strategy for alleviating their neurotoxic impact.
Polypropylene microplastics promote metastatic features in human breast cancer
Researchers found that polypropylene microplastics, one of the most common types found in human tissue, promoted the spread and invasion of human breast cancer cells in laboratory experiments. The microplastics activated specific signaling pathways that help cancer cells migrate to other parts of the body. While this is a lab study and not proof that microplastics cause cancer in people, it raises important questions about how chronic microplastic exposure might influence cancer progression.
Extracellular Vesicles & Co.: scaring immune cells in the TME since ever
This review explores how extracellular vesicles and other secreted particles in the tumor microenvironment help cancer cells evade the immune system. Researchers described the various ways these tiny cell-derived packages carry signals that suppress immune responses and promote tumor growth. The study provides a broad overview of how intercellular communication in tumors undermines the body's natural defenses against cancer.
Tumorigenic and tumoricidal properties of exosomes in cancers; a forward look
This review explores how tiny cell-released vesicles called exosomes can either promote or fight cancer by transferring signaling molecules between cells. While not directly about microplastics, the research is relevant because nanoplastics are similar in size to exosomes and may interfere with these important cell communication pathways. Understanding how nanoscale particles affect cell signaling could help explain some of the biological effects of nanoplastic exposure.
Intratumoural microbiota: from theory to clinical application
Researchers reviewed how bacteria living inside tumors — called intratumoural microbiota — influence cancer development, immune responses, and treatment outcomes. They highlight that while some tumor-resident microbes drive cancer progression by damaging DNA and disrupting immune signaling, engineered bacteria could be harnessed as novel therapeutic tools to target tumors directly.
Endothelial leakiness elicited by amyloid protein aggregation
Scientists discovered that clumps of amyloid beta protein, which are linked to Alzheimer's disease, can physically pry open the junctions between cells lining blood vessels in a way similar to how nanoparticles do. This causes blood vessel leakiness in the brain, which may help explain how Alzheimer's disease spreads. While not directly about microplastics, the finding that tiny particles can breach blood vessel barriers is relevant to understanding how nanoplastics might also enter the brain.
Long-term exposure of human U87 glioblastoma cells to polyethylene microplastics: Investigating the potential cancer progression
In a lab study, polyethylene microplastics exposed to human brain cancer cells (glioblastoma) for 26 days significantly increased the cancer cells' ability to grow, migrate, and form colonies. The microplastics altered cell behavior and shape in ways associated with more aggressive cancer. While this does not prove microplastics cause brain cancer in people, it raises concerns about how chronic exposure to microplastics in the body could influence existing cancers.
A Method to sort heterogenous cell populations based on migration in 2D and 3D environments
This paper presents a method to sort subpopulations of cancer and immune cells based on their migratory behavior in 2D and 3D environments. The research is focused on cell biology and cancer research and is not related to microplastics or environmental health.
From Bottles to Brains: The Role of Microplastics in Enhancing Brain Cancer Cell Growth
Researchers found that low concentrations of microplastics may promote brain cancer cell growth in laboratory experiments, while very high concentrations became toxic to the cells. The study highlights concerns about microplastics crossing the blood-brain barrier and interacting with human cells, though the findings are preliminary lab-based results.
Contribution of Cancer-Specific Protein Coronas to the Pro-Tumor Effects of Nanoplastics through Enhanced Cellular Interactions
Researchers investigated how nanoplastics interact with blood proteins to form a protein coating that changes how the particles behave around cancer cells. They found that this protein coating enhanced the uptake of nanoplastics by cancer cells and could promote tumor-related behaviors. The study raises important questions about whether nanoplastic exposure could influence cancer progression through these protein-mediated interactions.
Advances in Drug Targeting, Drug Delivery, and Nanotechnology Applications: Therapeutic Significance in Cancer Treatment
This review covers advances in targeted drug delivery using nanotechnology, including nanoparticles and liposomes designed to release medications precisely where needed in the body. While focused on cancer treatment, the drug delivery technologies discussed are relevant to understanding how nanoscale plastic particles may also travel through the body and accumulate in specific tissues.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induce cognitive dysfunction and dendritic spine deterioration via excessive mitochondrial fission
Researchers demonstrated that polystyrene nanoplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in mouse brains, leading to cognitive impairment and loss of connections between brain cells. The damage was driven by excessive splitting of mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells, which triggered runaway cellular cleanup processes. Importantly, a drug that blocks this mitochondrial splitting reversed the cognitive damage, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach to nanoplastic-related brain injury.
Genotoxic and neurotoxic potential of intracellular nanoplastics: A review
This review examines how nanoplastics, once inside human cells, could cause cancer and brain damage. At the cellular level, these tiny particles can disrupt waste-clearing processes, damage mitochondria, generate harmful free radicals, and directly damage DNA. In long-lived cells like neurons, nanoplastics may promote the buildup of toxic protein clumps linked to neurodegenerative diseases, while in rapidly dividing cells they could trigger tumor development.
A Physiological Microfluidic Blood–Brain‐Barrier Model for In Vitro Study of Nanoparticle Trafficking and Accumulation
Researchers developed a microfluidic blood-brain barrier model using human endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes to compare nanoparticle transport, finding that extracellular vesicles crossed most efficiently and that ligand presentation and membrane composition — not size or stiffness — were the primary determinants of barrier penetration.
Long-term exposure to nanoplastics alters molecular and functional traits related to the carcinogenic process
Researchers exposed cells to polystyrene nanoplastics for six months and found that long-term exposure activated multiple molecular markers associated with cancer development, including enhanced cell migration, invasion potential, and ability to grow independently. The study suggests that chronic nanoplastic exposure may pose a carcinogenic risk, though further research is needed to confirm these findings in living organisms.