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1.
Genistein reduces proliferation of EP3-expressing melanoma cells through inhibition of PGE2-induced IL-8 expression.
Venza, I, Visalli, M, Oteri, R, Beninati, C, Teti, D, Venza, M
International immunopharmacology. 2018;:86-95
Abstract
Genistein, a natural isoflavone found in soybean products, is considered as a powerful anti-cancer agent, although the involved mechanisms are not fully understood. There is a growing body of evidence that, among the genes inhibited by genistein and responsible for cell cycle progression, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, IL-8 occupies a relevant place. On the other hand, it is equally well documented that IL-8 is upregulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in different pathological conditions, particularly in neoplastic disease. Here we investigated whether genistein could affect cell growth in a panel of oral, uveal and cutaneous melanoma cell lines by interfering with basal or PGE2-induced IL-8 production. To this end, experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of PGE2 treatment on IL-8 levels, the expression and the role of PGE2 receptors and whether genistein could be able to interfere with these events. Finally, it was evaluated whether the inhibition of oral, uveal and cutaneous melanoma cell proliferation in the presence of genistein could be related to a reduction of IL-8 levels. We show that PGE2 enhances IL-8 synthesis via the EP3 receptor and that genistein is able to down-regulate the latter, as well as to decrease IL-8 mRNA and protein expression, thereby inhibiting oral, uveal and cutaneous melanoma cell proliferation. Taken together, our data provide new insights into the anti-cancer properties of genistein by showing that this flavonoid may affect the development and growth of melanoma at oral, uveal and cutaneous sites. Moreover, these results provide evidence that genistein may exert its therapeutic activity through its ability to prevent PGE2-mediated IL-8 induction.
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2.
Influence of the ABCB1 polymorphisms on the response to Taxane-containing chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Jiang, Q, Xu, M, Liu, Y, Chen, Y, Feng, J, Wang, X, Liang, S, Li, D, Yang, X
Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology. 2018;(2):315-323
Abstract
PURPOSE Multidrug resistance mediated by ABCB1 has been perceived to be one of the obstacles for cancer chemotherapy. This meta-analysis was performed to verify the effect of the ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs1128503 polymorphisms on the response to Taxane-containing chemotherapy. METHODS Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to evaluate the impact of these two ABCB1 polymorphisms. R scripts were developed to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS A total of nine articles (including nine studies for rs1045642 and five for rs1128503) were collected in our systematic review. However, our meta-analysis showed no significant effect of these two ABCB1 polymorphisms on the response to Taxane-containing regimens. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the unsuitability of relying on the ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs1128503 polymorphisms as therapeutic response biomarkers of Taxane-containing chemotherapy. Further polycentric studies in larger and multiracial populations are needed to validate the conclusions.
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3.
Practical fluorimetric assay for the detection of anticancer drug SN-38 in human plasma.
Tartaggia, S, Alvau, MD, Meneghello, A, Casetta, B, Polo, F, Toffoli, G
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. 2018;:73-81
Abstract
The implementation of therapeutic drug monitoring in the routine clinical practice in oncology is mainly limited by the lack of therapeutic indexes for the majority of the anticancer drugs, and by the absence of suitable analytical tools, which can accurately quantify in real time the concentration of the administered drugs and their relevant metabolites in biological fluids. In this work, a simple and efficient fluorimetric determination of SN-38, the active metabolite of the anticancer drug irinotecan, was developed and applied to human plasma samples. The intrinsic fluorescence of SN-38 allowed its quantification in the range 10-500 ng mL-1 with a LOQ of 5.0 ng mL-1 and a LOD of 1.5 ng mL-1. Low interferences due to main metabolites of irinotecan and comedications, commonly associated with administration of irinotecan, were observed. A validation study, according to FDA and EMA guidelines for bioanalytical method validation, was carried out and, finally, blind samples were analyzed in parallel with a HPLC-MS method obtaining an excellent agreement between the two techniques.
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4.
Betulinic acid as apoptosis activator: Molecular mechanisms, mathematical modeling and chemical modifications.
Kumar, P, Bhadauria, AS, Singh, AK, Saha, S
Life sciences. 2018;:24-33
Abstract
A natural product betulinic acid (BA) has gained a huge significance in the recent years for its strong cytotoxicity. Surprisingly, in spite of being an interesting cancer protecting agent on a variety of tumor cells, the normal cells and tissues are rarely affected by BA. Betulinic acid and analogues (BAs) generally exert through the mechanisms that provokes an event of direct cell death and bypass the resistance to normal chemotherapeutics. Although the major mechanism associated with its ability to induce direct cell death is mitochondrial apoptosis, there are several other mechanisms explored recently. Importantly, mathematical modeling of apoptosis has been an important tool to explore the precise mechanism involved in mitochondrial apoptosis. Thus, this review is an endeavor to sum up the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of BA and future directions to apply mathematical modeling technique to better understand the precise mechanism of BA-induced apoptosis. The last section of the review encompasses the plausible structural modifications and formulations to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of BA.
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5.
Single-Agent Oral Vinorelbine as First-Line Chemotherapy for Endocrine-Pretreated Breast Cancer With Bone Metastases and No Visceral Involvement: NORBREAST-228 Phase II Study.
Steger, GG, Dominguez, A, Dobrovolskaya, N, Giotta, F, Tubiana-Mathieu, N, Pecherstorfer, M, Ardizzoia, A, Blasinska-Morawiec, M, Espinosa, E, Villanova, G
Clinical breast cancer. 2018;(1):e41-e47
Abstract
PURPOSE Single-agent oral chemotherapy is widely used in patients with bone metastases without visceral involvement, especially in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (mBC). However, this option has been poorly evaluated in clinical trials. METHODS Eligible patients had mBC with predominantly bone but not visceral metastases, were receiving bisphosphonate therapy, and had previously received endocrine therapy (any setting) but not chemotherapy for mBC. Patients received oral vinorelbine 60 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 every 4 weeks (escalating to 80 mg/m2 from cycle 2 in the absence of grade 3/4 toxicity) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included clinical benefit rate (complete/partial response or ≥24 weeks' stable disease), overall survival, and safety. RESULTS Seventy patients were treated for a median of 6 cycles (range 1-18). Most (73%) continued treatment until disease progression. After 43 months' median follow-up, median PFS was 8.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.5-9.8). The clinical benefit rate was 56% (95% CI, 43%-68%). Median overall survival was 35.2 months (95% CI, 26.8-47.1). The most common grade 3/4 adverse event was neutropenia (38% of patients); febrile neutropenia was absent. The most common grade 1/2 adverse events were bone pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal toxicities. Alopecia was infrequent. CONCLUSIONS In patients with hormone receptor-positive mBC, bone disease, and prior endocrine therapy, first-line oral vinorelbine chemotherapy demonstrated long PFS and good tolerability. In this setting, it could be considered as an active oral alternative to intravenous chemotherapy.
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6.
As-Needed Vs Immediate Etoposide Chemotherapy in Combination With Antiretroviral Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate AIDS-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma in Resource-Limited Settings: A5264/AMC-067 Randomized Clinical Trial.
Hosseinipour, MC, Kang, M, Krown, SE, Bukuru, A, Umbleja, T, Martin, JN, Orem, J, Godfrey, C, Hoagland, B, Mwelase, N, et al
Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 2018;(2):251-260
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Mild-to-moderate AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) often responds to antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone; the role of chemotherapy is unclear. We assessed the impact of immediate vs as-needed oral etoposide (ET) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals with mild-to-moderate KS initiating ART. METHODS Chemotherapy-naive, HIV type 1-infected adults with mild-to-moderate KS initiating ART in Africa and South America were randomized to ART (tenofovir/emtricitabine/efavirenz) alone (chemotherapy "as-needed" arm) vs ART plus up to 8 cycles of oral ET (immediate arm). Participants with KS progression on ART alone received ET as part of the as-needed strategy. Primary outcome was ordinal as follows: failure, stable, and response at 48 weeks. Secondary outcomes included time to initial KS progression, KS-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (KS-IRIS), and KS response. RESULTS Of 190 randomized participants (as-needed = 94, immediate = 96), the majority were men (71%) and African (93%). Failure (53.8% vs 56.6%), stable (16.3% vs 10.8%), and response (30% vs 32.5%) did not differ between arms (as-needed vs immediate) among those with week 48 data potential (N = 163, P = .91). Time to KS progression (P = .021), KS-IRIS (P = .003), and KS response (P = .003) favored the immediate arm. Twenty-five participants died (13%). Mortality, adverse events, CD4+ T-cell changes, and HIV RNA suppression were similar at 48 weeks. CONCLUSIONS Among HIV-infected adults with mild-to-moderate KS, immediate ET provided early, nondurable clinical benefits. By 48 weeks, no clinical benefit was observed compared to use of ET as needed. Mortality was high and tumor response was low. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT01352117.
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Chemical study, antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, and cytotoxic/cytoprotective activities of Centaurea cyanus L. petals aqueous extract.
Escher, GB, Santos, JS, Rosso, ND, Marques, MB, Azevedo, L, do Carmo, MAV, Daguer, H, Molognoni, L, Prado-Silva, LD, Sant'Ana, AS, et al
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. 2018;:439-453
Abstract
This study aimed to optimise the experimental conditions of extraction of the phytochemical compounds and functional properties of Centaurea cyanus petals. The following parameters were determined: the chemical composition (LC-ESI-MS/MS), the effects of pH on the stability and antioxidant activity of anthocyanins, the inhibition of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant activity, anti-hemolytic activity, antimicrobial, anti-hypertensive, and cytotoxic/cytoprotective effect, and the measurements of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Results showed that the temperature and time influenced (p ≤ 0.05) the content of flavonoids, anthocyanins, and FRAP. Only the temperature influenced the total phenolic content, non-anthocyanin flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (DPPH). The statistical approach made it possible to obtain the optimised experimental extraction conditions to increase the level of bioactive compounds. Chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids, isoquercitrin, and coumarin were identified as the major compounds in the optimised extract. The optimised extract presented anti-hemolytic and anti-hypertensive activity in vitro, in addition to showing stability and reversibility of anthocyanins and antioxidant activity with pH variation. The C. cyanus petals aqueous extract exhibited high IC50 and GI50 (>900 μg/mL) values for all cell lines, meaning low cytotoxicity. Based on the stress oxidative assay, the extract exhibited pro-oxidant action (10-100 μg/mL) but did not cause damage or cell death.
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An Array of Bioactive Compounds From Australian Eucalypts and Their Relevance in Pancreatic Cancer Therapeutics.
Bhuyan, DJ, Vuong, QV, Chalmers, AC, Bowyer, MC, Scarlett, CJ
Pancreas. 2018;(6):690-707
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most devastating human cancers, and despite the significant advances in the current therapeutic options, the overall survival rate for PC has remained static for the past 50 years. Plant-derived bioactive compounds play a vital role in cancer therapeutics by providing new lead compounds for future drug development. Therefore, the isolation, characterization, and identification of new bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of cancer continue to be an important aspect of natural product research. Many in vitro and in vivo studies published in the last few decades have established strong links between the phytochemical profile of eucalypts and anticancer activity. However, only a small number of these reports have attempted to demonstrate a relationship between the biological activity of eucalypt extracts and PC. This review focuses on potential anti-PC effects of an array of bioactive compounds present in various species of eucalypts. It also highlights the necessity for further in vitro and in vivo studies to develop a complete understanding of the potential this group of plants has for the development of potent and specific chemotherapeutic drugs for PC.
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9.
LONG-TERM RESULTS OF COMBINATION THERAPY FOR LOCALLY ADVANCED BREAST CANCER.
Zhumakayeva, A, Rakhimov, K, Sirota, V, Arystan, L, Madiyarov, A, Adekenov, S
Georgian medical news. 2018;(282):30-35
Abstract
Breast cancer ranks first among the malignant tumors in women. In locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) treatment starts with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CTx) with the standard regimens CMF, FAC, АС. A cytostatic drug, Arglabin, isolated and produced from Artemisia glabella Kar. et Kir., an endemic plant growing in Central Kazakhstan, has been under investigation in clinical trials. The research is aimed at investigating the long-term results of combination therapy of locally advanced breast cancer including different chemotherapy regimens and Arglabin as monotherapy. The present research includes 93 patients diagnosed with LABC aged from 35 to 75 years, including 60 patients with Stage 2, and 33 patients with Stage 3 breast cancer. All patients were split into 3 groups, two experimental and one control group. The control group consisted of 36 patients with LABC who underwent 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy according to AC regimen (doxorubicine 50 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2). The experimental group 1 consisted of 30 patients who received 4 cycles of chemotherapy according to AC+Arglabin regimen (Arglabin 370 mg/m2 within 7 days), while experimental group 2 consisted of 27 patients who underwent 4 cycles of Arglabin as monotherapy. Actuarial calculations of the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were done according to the Kaplan-Meier method, while the differences in indicators of control and experimental groups were estimated using the following methods: Cox's F-Test, χ2, Gehan's Wilcoxon Test. Overall one- and two-year survival in all groups of patients was 100%. Three-year survival rate in patients treated with chemotherapy according to AC regimen was (40,0±8,2)%, in patients combining AC chemotherapy with Arglabin it was (60,0±8,9)%. The lowest three-year survival rate (28,0±8,6)% was observed in patients treated with Arglabin as a monotherapy. The three-year survival rate in patients with breast cancer is statistically insignificant (χ2=4,407 at p=0,11042) between all groups; however, at the paired comparison by Gehan's Wilcoxon criterion a statistically significant difference has been observed between the group treated with Arglabin as monotherapy, and the group receiving chemotherapy according to AC+Arglabin regimen. The highest disease-free survival rates have been observed in the group of patients receiving chemotherapy according to AC+Arglabin regimen: 1-2-3-year survival rates are 100%, 100%, and 58%, respectively. In the group of patients who underwent chemotherapy according to AC regimen, 1-2-3-year disease-free survival rates are 92%, 92%, and 30%, respectively. Arglabin included in AC regimen positively increases a 3-year disease-free survival rate by 28% as compared to the standard regimen.
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Loading studies of the anticancer drug camptothecin into dual stimuli-sensitive nanoparticles. Stability scrutiny.
Iglesias, N, Galbis, E, Díaz-Blanco, MJ, de-Paz, MV, Galbis, JA
International journal of pharmaceutics. 2018;(1-2):429-438
Abstract
In recent years, the preparation of valuable drug delivery systems (DDS) from self-assembled amphiphilic copolymers has attracted much attention since these nanomaterials provide new opportunities to solve problems such as the lack of solubility in water of lipophilic drugs, improve their bioavailability, prolong their circulation time and decrease the side effects associated with their administration. In the current study two types of biocompatible pH-responsive nanoparticles derived from poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) have been used as drug nano-carriers, being one of them core cross-linked to circumvent their instability upon dilution in human fluids. The present paper deals with the optimization of the loading process of the labile, hydrophobic and highly active anticancer drug, Camptothecin (CPT) into the nanoparticles with regard to four independent variables: CPT/polymer ratio, sonication, temperature and loading time. Forty experiments were carried out and a Box-Behnken experimental design was used to evaluate the significance of the independent variables related to encapsulation efficiency and drug retention capacity. The enhanced drug loading and encapsulation efficiency values (58% and >92%, respectively) of CPT were achieved by the core cross-linked NPs in 2 h at 32 °C at CPT/polymer ratio 1.5:1 w/w and 14 min of sonication. The optimized CPT-loaded NPs were studied by dynamic light scattering and scanning electron microscopy, and an increase in size of the loaded-NP compared to the unloaded counterparts was found. Other twenty experiments were conducted to study the enability to retain CPT into the conjugates at different ionic strength values and times. The stability studies demonstrated that the core cross-linked nanocarriers displayed an excellent drug retention capacity (>90%) at 25 °C for 15 days in every ionic-strength environments whereas the non-cross-linked ones were more stable at physiological ionic strength. The optimized systems proved to be a major step forward to encapsulate and retain CPT in the NP nuclei, what makes them ideal devices to control the delivery of CPT upon the triggered acidic conditions of solid tumors.