In the equation for humanity's continued survival, one variable has consistently galvanized the mortality rate and remains constant: cancer. Cancer has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming an average of 600,000 lives per year since 2019, with conventional treatments-most prominently chemotherapy-being the industry standard for decades with very little innovation. These treatments, although somewhat effective, produce severe, body-wide toxic effects and poor delivery accuracy, leading to a substantial decrease in patient quality of life and effectiveness. This study investigates the potential of an upcoming field of treatments for cancer. Specifically, the potential of algae-based biohybrid microbots and their promise as a revolutionary method for cancer treatment. These miniscule robots (approximately the size of a human hair) unite both biological and synthetic components to navigate through adverse tumor microenvironments while carrying a payload to achieve autonomous propulsion, overall increasing treatment efficacy and efficiency while also boosting patient quality of life. The specific intricacies of these bots allow them to move through volatile tumor microenvironments (TMEs) with utmost versatility and accuracy, allowing them to reach previously inaccessible hypoxic areas to deliver a payload of therapeutic agents directly to tumors and cancer cells with significantly reduced harm to healthy cells, leading to overall reduced side effects. Preclinical studies have shown notable improvements in results using microrobots, most eminently within lung metastasis models. Within all simulations and experiments, these microrobots showed significantly reduced metastatic tumor growth and increased survival times for treated patients. Microrobots also show extreme potential for being the most cost-effective treatment, as their incorporation of algae allows for significant cost reductions compared to standard chemotherapy treatments, which on average cost more than $20,000 per course. Nevertheless, the application of biohybrids encounters several obstacles necessitating resolution before they are able to be fully implemented in real-world environments. Firstly and most notably, the cost-effective, large-scale production of the microrobots while also ensuring long-term biocompatibility and preventing any possibility of immunogenic responses. Though possessing many compelling advantages, microrobots require resolution of the previously listed complexities through peer-review and rigorous evidence-based research, for them to have a chance at making it into the real market. These microrobots hold the potential to revolutionize oncology as a whole, by offering less invasive, more efficacious, more precise, and more patient-centric technologies than ever witnessed before.

In the equation for humanity's continued survival, one variable has consistently galvanized the mortality rate and remains a big problem: cancer, which has remained one of the leading causes of death worldwide, claiming an average of 600,000 lives per year since 2019, with conventional treatments-most prominently chemotherapy. These treatments, although somewhat effective, produce severe, body-wide toxic effects and poor delivery accuracy, leading to a substantial decrease in patient quality of life and effectiveness. However, we have witnessed a new era in cancer care with targeted therapeutic interventions, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors, immunotherapy, and T-cell-directed therapies, which differ significantly from conventional chemotherapy. This study examines the potential of emerging therapies for cancer. Specifically, the potential of algae-based biohybrid microbots (ABBM) and their promise as a revolutionary method for cancer treatment. These minuscule robots (approximately the size of a human hair) unite both biological and synthetic components to navigate through adverse tumor microenvironments (TMEs) while carrying a payload to achieve autonomous propulsion, overall increasing treatment efficacy and efficiency while also boosting patient quality of life. The specific intricacies of ABBM enable them to navigate through volatile TMEs with utmost versatility and accuracy, allowing them to reach previously inaccessible hypoxic areas and deliver a payload of therapeutic agents directly to tumors and cancer cells, with significantly reduced harm to healthy cells, resulting in overall reduced side effects. Preclinical studies have shown notable improvements in results using microrobots, most eminently within lung metastasis models. Within all simulations and experiments, these microrobots showed significantly reduced metastatic tumor growth and increased survival times for treated patients. Microrobots also show extreme potential for being the most cost-effective treatment, as their incorporation of algae allows for significant cost reductions compared to standard chemotherapy treatments, which, on average, cost more than $20,000 per course. Nevertheless, the application of biohybrids encounters several obstacles necessitating resolution before they can be fully implemented in real-world environments. Firstly, and most notably, the cost-effective, large-scale production of microrobots must also ensure long-term biocompatibility and prevent any possibility of immunogenic responses. Although possessing many compelling advantages, microrobots require the resolution of the previously listed complexities through peer review and rigorous evidence-based research in order to have a chance of entering the real market. These microrobots hold the potential to revolutionize oncology as a whole by offering less invasive, more efficacious, more precise, and more patient-centric technologies than have been seen before.

Zinc is an essential micronutrient which is involved in many physiological processes in the human body including immune system regulation, cellular survival, neurologic function, and erythropoiesis. Therefore, a wide range of clinical manifestations can be associated with zinc deficiency, such as impaired immune function, dermatologic findings, and decreased growth. Another significant, yet often underrecognized, manifestation of zinc deficiency is anemia. This review discusses the pathophysiology leading to zinc deficiency-associated anemia, highlighting zinc’s role in erythropoiesis, heme biosynthesis, and red blood cell stability. It also outlines various populations which are more at risk for developing zinc deficiency-associated anemia as identifying these groups can aid clinicians to improve screening, especially in patients with unexplained or refractory anemia. Numerous trials in selected populations have demonstrated significant improvement in anemia following zinc supplementation. However, additional studies are critical in order to streamline screening guidelines and establish optimal zinc supplementation dosing. This review aims to increase awareness of zinc deficiency’s contribution to anemia in order to improve screening and clinical outcomes for patients.

From the 6th Binaytara Precision Oncology Summit: At The Forefront of Targeted Cancer Therapy

Zinc is an essential micronutrient involved in many physiological processes in the human body, including immune system regulation, cellular survival, neurologic function, and erythropoiesis. Zinc deficiency can result in a wide range of clinical manifestations, including impaired immune function, dermatologic findings, and decreased growth. Anemia has been reported as a hematologic manifestation of zinc deficiency and may be underrecognized in clinical practice. This narrative review examines the pathophysiology of zinc deficiency-associated anemia, highlighting zinc’s role in erythropoiesis, heme biosynthesis, and red blood cell stability. It also outlines populations at increased risk for zinc deficiency, including patients with chronic kidney disease, sickle cell disease, malabsorptive disorders, chronic proton pump inhibitor use, and older adults. Emerging evidence suggests that zinc deficiency-associated anemia may represent a potentially modifiable contributor to anemia in selected at-risk populations, although the strength of evidence varies across clinical settings and study designs. Assessment of zinc status may be considered in patients with unexplained or refractory anemia and additional risk factors for deficiency. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of zinc deficiency in anemia and define appropriate screening, supplementation, and monitoring strategies.