Cancer is a heterogeneous disease. Each individual tumor is unique and characterized by structural, cellular, genetic and molecular features. Therefore, patient-derived cancer models are indispensable tools in cancer research and have been actively introduced into the healthcare system. For instance, patient-derived models provide a good reproducibility of susceptibility and resistance of cancer cells against drugs, allowing personalized therapy for patients. In this article, we review the advantages and disadvantages of the following patient-derived models of cancer: (1) PDC—patient-derived cell culture, (2) PDS—patient-derived spheroids and PDO—patient-derived organoids, (3) PDTSC—patient-derived tissue slice cultures, (4) PDX—patient-derived xenografts, humanized PDX, as well as PDXC—PDX-derived cell cultures and PDXO—PDX-derived organoids. We also provide an overview of current clinical investigations and new developments in the area of patient-derived cancer models. Moreover, attention is paid to databases of patient-derived cancer models, which are collected in specialized repositories. We believe that the widespread use of patient-derived cancer models will improve our knowledge in cancer cell biology and contribute to the development of more effective personalized cancer treatment strategies.

The intrinsic ability of peripheral nerves to regenerate after injury is extremely limited, especially in case of severe injury. This often leads to poor motor function and permanent disability. Existing approaches for the treatment of injured nerves do not provide appropriate conditions to support survival and growth of nerve cells. This drawback can be compensated by the use of gene therapy and cell therapy-based drugs that locally provide an increase in the key regulators of nerve growth, including neurotrophic factors and extracellular matrix proteins. Each growth factor plays its own specific angiotrophic or neurotrophic role. Currently, growth factors are widely studied as accelerators of nerve regeneration. Particularly noteworthy is synergy between various growth factors, that is essential for both angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor are widely known for their proangiogenic effects. At the same time, fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor stimulate neural cell growth and play an important role in neurodegenerative diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Taken together, their neurotrophic and angiogenic properties have positive effect on the regeneration process. In this review we provide an in-depth overview of the role of fibroblast growth factor 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in the regeneration of peripheral nerves, thus demonstrating their neurotherapeutic efficacy in improving neuron survival in the peripheral nervous system.

The novel coronavirus infection named COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, and it has been responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in scores of countries. At the time this article was being written, the number of infected and deceased patients continued to grow worldwide. Most patients with severe forms of the disease suffer from pneumonia and pulmonary insufficiency; in many cases, the disease is generalized and causes multiple organ failures and a dysfunction of physiological systems. One of the most serious and prognostically ominous complications from COVID-19 is coagulopathy, in particular, decompensated hypercoagulability with the risk of developing disseminated intravascular coagulation. In most cases, local and diffuse macro- and microthromboses are present, a condition which causes multiple-organ failure and thromboembolic complications. The causes and pathogenic mechanisms of coagulopathy in COVID-19 remain largely unclear, but they are associated with systemic inflammation, including the so-called cytokine storm. Despite the relatively short period of the ongoing pandemic, laboratory signs of serious hemostatic disorders have been identified and measures for specific prevention and correction of thrombosis have been developed. This review discusses the causes of COVID-19 coagulopathies and the associated complications, as well as possible approaches to their early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.