By remarkable progress of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, we sometimes achieve resection of initially unresectable pancreatic cancer after chemotherapy. Otherwise, the safety and feasibility of radical pancreatic resection after chemotherapy is not still clear. In this report, we evaluated the safety and feasibility of conversion surgery for initially unresectable pancreatic cancer in our center.

Lymphomas (Hodgkin's (10%) and non-Hodgkin's (90%) lymphomas) are a group of blood cell tumors arising from lymphocytes and lymphadenopathy is the most common primary presentation of the disease. In non-Hodgkin lymphomas, the prognosis is worse. As the disease initiates, neoplastic cells may spread to and involve other lymph nodes and extra nodal regions. The disease is staged based on desperation of neoplastic cells and the prognosis highly depends on the stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis. Fingolimod is an immunomodulating drug, approved for treating relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Fingolimod impairs migration of lymphocytes from lymph nodes and it is hypothesized that Fingolimod could alleviate and decrease disease burden of lymphoma as it sequesters malignant cells within involved lymph nodes and it decelerates progression of the disease, increases efficacy of other treatment options and it is synergistic with anti-VEGF medications, it is an anti-metastatic, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic/cytotoxic agent and it boosts function of immune system in deterioration of neoplastic cells. Therefore, the agent can be used not only to treat lymphoma, but also to control and prevent relapse of the disease in those who are remitted.

Despite the tremendous progress in last few years, the cancer immunotherapy has not yet improved disease-free because of the tumor-associated immune suppression being a major barrier. Novel trends to enhance cancer immunotherapy aims at harnessing the therapeutic manipulation of signaling pathways mediating the tumor-associated immune suppression, with the general aims of: (a) reversing the tumor immune suppression; (b) enhancing the innate and adaptive components of anti-tumor immunosurveillance, and (c) protecting immune cells from the suppressive effects of T regulatory cells (Tregs) and the tumor-derived immunoinhibitory mediators. A particular striking example in this context is the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase A type I (PKAI) pathway. Oncogenic cAMP/PKAI signaling has long been implicated in the initiation and progression of several human cancers. Emerging data indicate that cAMP/PKAI signaling also contributes to tumor- and Tregs-derived suppression of innate and adaptive arms of anti-tumor immunosurveillance. Therapeutically, selective PKAI inhibitors have been developed which have shown promising anti-cancer activity in pre-clinical and clinical settings. Rp-8-Br-cAMPS is a selective PKAI antagonist that is widely used as a biochemical tool in signal transduction research. Collateral data indicate that Rp-8-Br-cAMPS has shown immune-rescuing potential in terms of enhancing the innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity, as well as protecting adaptive T cells from the suppressive effects of Tregs. Therefore, this proposal specifically implicates that combining selective PKAI antagonists/inhibitors with cancer immunotherapy may have multifaceted benefits, such as rescuing the endogenous anti-tumor immunity, enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, and direct anti-cancer effects.

A group of podophyllotoxin (PPT) derivatives (7a-j) were synthesized by conjugating aryloxyacetanilide moieties to the 4'-hydroxyl of 4'-demethyl-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin (DDPT), and their anticancer activity was evaluated. It was found that the most potent compound 7d inhibited the proliferation of three cancer cell lines with sub to low micromolar IC50 values. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that 7d induced cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase in MGC-803 cells, and regulated the expression of cell cycle check point proteins, such as cyclin A, cyclin B, CDK1, cdc25c, and p21. Finally, 4 mg/kg of 7d reduced the weights and volumes of HepG2 xenografts in mice. Our findings suggest that 7d might be a potential anticancer agent.

A range of 1,4-substituted 2-pyridyl-N-phenyl triazoles were synthesised and evaluated for their antiproliferative properties against lymph node cancer of the prostate (LNCaP) and bone metastasis of prostate cancer (PC-3) cells. Excellent-to-low IC50 values were determined (5.6-250 μM), and a representative group of 4 ligands were then complexed to iridium(III) giving highly luminescent species. Re-evaluation of these compounds against both cell lines was then undertaken and improved potency (up to 72-fold) was observed, giving IC50 values of 0.36-11 μM for LNCaP and 0.85-5.9 μM for PC-3. Preliminary screens for in vivo toxicity were conducted using a zebrafish model showing a wide range of induced toxicity depending of the compound evaluated. Apoptosis and Caspase-3 levels were also determined and showed no statistical difference between some of the treated specimens and the controls. This study may identify novel therapeutic agents for advanced stage of prostate cancer in humans.

To assess the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose oral etoposide (VP) 16 in relapsing/refractory Ewing sarcoma.

The safety and efficacy of front-line nilotinib and dasatinib in patients with newly diagnosed chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML-CP) with pre-existing liver and/or renal dysfunction are unknown.

We report the first case of anaphylaxis induced by intravesical administration of pirarubicin hydrochloride during spinal anesthesia. The patient was a 64-year-old woman being followed up for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. Anaphylaxis occurred the fifth time pirarubicin hydrochloride was administered intravesically. Pirarubicin hydrochloride, an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic that is widely used for intravesical instillation chemotherapy, is administered at the end of surgery. Because this is about the time that the patient is leaving the operating room, attention to patient monitoring tends to be divided. Because anaphylaxis may occur at this time, staff should remain vigilant of the risk of anaphylaxis.

In this work, super paramagnetic magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized onto/into zeolite, then loaded with anti-cancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The physical properties of the prepared nanocomposite and drug loaded nanocomposite were characterized using different techniques. The drug loading and releasing behavior of the magnetic nanocarrier was investigated and the drug-loaded nanoparticles exhibited a sustained release of drug without any burst release phenomenon. Furthermore, 5-FU loaded MZNC were evaluated for its biological characteristics. The functional 5-FU-MZNC has been triggered intra-cellular release of the cancer therapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Cytotoxic effects of 5-FU loaded MZNC on human gastric carcinoma (AGS) cells were determined by real time cell analysis and colorimetric WST-1 cell viability assay. Apoptosis of cells was further investigated by Annexin-V staining which indicates the loss of cell membrane integrity. According to our results, 5-FU-MZNC showed a concentration-dependent cell proliferation inhibitory function against AGS cells. Morphologic and apoptotic images were consistent with the cytotoxicity results. In conclusion, 5-FU loaded MZNC efficiently inhibit the proliferation of AGS cells in vitro through apoptotic mechanisms, and may be a beneficial agent against cancer, however further animal study is still required.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most common brain tumor. The current GBM treatments comprise of radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. One of the most important problems regarding the treatment of GBM is the presence of blood brain barrier (BBB) which inhibits the efficient drug delivery into central nervous system (CNS). Nanothechnology can help to deliver therapeutic drugs into CNS through crossing the BBB. There are different types of nanoparticles (Nps) which can be manipulated for clinical applications as a treatment for CNS-related disorders. In this review, we will discuss the role of Nps in the treatment of GBM.

Aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in oral tumorigenesis since they can alter the expression of proteins involved in cancer progression. It remains unclear whether miRNA-221 influences the resistance of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to Adriamycin. We therefore investigated the role of miR-221 in the sensitivity of oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to chemotherapy. Tca8113 and UM2 cells were treated with different concentrations of Adriamycin. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) revealed miR-221 upregulation after Adriamycin treatment of Tca8113 and UM2 cells. By using miR-221 inhibitor mimics, we found that depleting cells of miR-221 increases the sensitivity of the cells to Adriamycin. The expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP3), a target of miR-221, was decreased in cells treated with Adriamycin. TIMP3 depletion reversed the effect of a miR-221 inhibitor mimics on cell survival rates and apoptosis. Together, these results reveal that silencing of miR-221 enhances the sensitivity of human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells to Adriamycin through upregulation of TIMP3 expression.

Tamoxifen (TAM) and fulvestrant (FUL) represent the major adjuvant therapy to estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER(+)) breast cancer patients. However, endocrine resistance to TAM and FUL is a great impediment for successful treatment. We hypothesized that miR-21 might alter the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to TAM or FUL by regulating cell autophagy. Using the ER(+) breast cancer cells, we knockdown miR-21.by transfection with miR-21 inhibitor, then the cells were exposed to TAM or FUL and the percentages of apoptosis and autophagy were determined. Knockdown of miR-21 significantly increased the TAM or FUL-induced apoptosis in ER(+) breast cancer cells. Further, silencing of miR-21 in MCF-7 cells enhanced cell autophagy at both basal and TAM or FUL-induced level. The increase of autophagy in miR-21-knockdown MCF-7 cells was also indicated by increase of beclin-1, LC3-II and increased GFP-LC3 dots. Importantly, knockdown of miR-21 contributed to autophagic cell death, which is responsible for part of TAM induced cell death in miR-21 inhibitor-transfected cells. Further analysis suggested that miR-21 inhibitor enhance autophagic cell death through inhibition of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. MiR-21 coordinated the function of autophagy and apoptosis by targeting Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) through inhibition of PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. In conclusion, silencing of miR-21 increased the sensitivity of ER(+) breast cancer cells to TAM or FUL by increasing autophagic cell death. Targeting autophagy-related miRNAs is a potential strategy for overcoming endocrine resistance to TAM and FUL.

Nowadays, the relationship between cancer blood coagulation is well established. Regarding biodiversity and bioprospection, the tick biology has become quite attractive natural source for coagulation inhibitors, since its saliva has a very rich variety of bioactive molecules. For instance, a Kunitz-type FXa inhibitor, named Amblyomin-X, was found through transcriptome of the salivary gland of the Amblyomma cajennense. tick. This TFPI-like inhibitor, after obtained as recombinant protein, has presented anticoagulant, antigionenic, and antitumor properties. Although its effects on blood coagulation could be relevant for antitumor effect, Amblyomin-X acts by non-hemostatic mechanisms, such as proteasome inhibition and autophagy inhibition. Notably, cytotoxicity was not observed on non-tumor cells treated with this protein, suggesting some selectivity for tumor cells. Considering the current efforts in order to develop effective anticancer therapies, the findings presented in this review strongly suggest Amblyomin-X as a promising novel antitumor drug candidate.

Monitoring renal function is important in imatinib-treated patients with chronic myeloid leukemia because serum creatinine may increase during the course of therapy. The mechanism of this increase and its reversibility on treatment cessation have never been investigated.

Chitooligosaccharides (COS), as a source of potential bioactive material, has been reported to possess diverse bioactivities. These bioactivities of COS are often tested using relatively poorly characterized oligomer mixtures during past few decades, resulting in difficult identification of COS molecules responsible for biological effects. Therefore, a new interest has recently been emerged on highly purified COS of defined size. Several technological approaches have been used to produce single COS and new improvements were introduced to their characterization in order to understand the unrevealed structure-function relationship. Here we provide an overview of techniques that were used to prepare and analyze reasonably well-defined COS fractions. Based on the latest reports, several applications of single COS for plants and animals, are also presented, including antitumor, immunostimulatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, elicitors of plant defence and neural activity.

Polysialic acid (PSA), a non-immunogenic and biodegradable natural polymer, is prone to hydrolysis under endo-lysosomal pH conditions. Here, we synthesized an intracellular pH-sensitive polysialic acid-ursolic acid conjugate by a condensation reaction. To further test the drug loading capability, we prepared paclitaxel-loaded polysialic acid-based amphiphilic copolymer micelle (PTX-loaded-PSAU) by a nanoprecipitation method. Results showed PTX-loaded-PSAU exhibited well-defined spherical shape and homogeneous distribution. The drug-loading was 4.5% with an entrapment efficiency of 67.5%. PTX released from PTX-loaded-PSAU was 15% and 42% in 72 h under simulated physiological condition (pH 7.4) and mild acidic conditions (pH 5.0), respectively. In addition, In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that PTX-loaded-PSAU retained anti-tumor (SGC-7901) activity with a cell viability of 53.8% following 72 h incubation, indicating PTX-loaded-PSAU could efficiently release PTX into the tumor cells. These results indicated that the pH-responsive biodegradable PTX-loaded-PSAU possess superior extracellular stability and intracellular drug release ability.

Chitosan was prepared by alkaline N-deacetylation of chitin obtained from shiitake stipes and crab shells and its antimicrobial and antitumor activities were studied. Chitosan from shiitake stipes and crab shells exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities against eight species of Gram positive and negative pathogenic bacteria with inhibition zones of 11.4-26.8mm at 0.5mg/ml. Among chitosan samples, shiitake chitosan C120 was the most effective with inhibition zones of 16.4-26.8mm at 0.5mg/ml. In addition, shiitake and crab chitosan showed a moderate anti-proliferative effect on IMR 32 and Hep G2 cells. At 5mg/ml, the viability of IMR 32 cells incubated with chitosan was 68.8-85.0% whereas that of Hep G2 cells with chitosan was 60.4-82.9%. Overall, shiitake chitosan showed slightly better antimicrobial and antitumor activities than crab chitosan. Based on the results obtained, shiitake and crab chitosan were strong antimicrobial agents and moderate antitumor agents.

This study was designed to investigate the chemical characterization and antitumor effects of Pleurotus eryngii polysaccharides (PEP). The crude PEP was fractionated into two fractions, namely PEP-1 and PEP-2. HPLC analysis showed that PEP-1 and PEP-2 were heteropolysaccharides mainly composed of glucose with the average molecular weights of 2.54×10(4)Da (PEP-1) and 4.63×10(5)Da (PEP-2), respectively. High molecular mass PEP-2 was shown to exhibit stronger growth inhibition against human hepatoblastoma HepG-2 cells in comparison with PEP-1. Flow cytometric analysis showed that PEP-2 exerted a stimulatory effect on apoptosis of HepG-2 cells, and induced the cell-cycle arrest at the S-phase, with the observation of intracellular ROS production. These findings suggest that the polysaccharides, especially PEP-2, are very important nutritional ingredients responsible for the anticancer health benefits of P. eryngii.

Genomic aberrations involving ALK, ROS1 and MET can be driver oncogenes in lung adenocarcinomas. Identification of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) with activity against these tumors and of preclinical systems to model response are warranted.