New approaches that are more efficient and able to specifically reach lung tumors are needed. We developed new hyaluronan-based nanoparticles targeting CD44 receptors of two different sizes and compared their lung cancer cells targeting efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The nanoparticles' cellular uptake was dose-dependent, and specific to hyaluronan receptors, particularly CD44. The binding and internalization differed according to nanoparticle size. In vivo biodistribution studies in two orthotopic lung tumor models showed that intrapulmonary nebulized nanoparticles accumulated in lungs, but not in the tumor nodules. In contrast, despite a significant liver capture, intravenous injection led to a better accumulation of the nanoparticles in the lung tumors compared with the surrounding healthy lung tissues. We demonstrated that the hyaluronan-based nanoparticles size plays significant role in cellular uptake and biodistribution. Small nanoparticles showed active targeting of CD44-overexpressing tumors, suggesting that they could be used as drug-delivery system.

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester, derived from natural propolis, has been reported to have anti-cancer properties. Voltage-gated sodium channels are upregulated in many cancers where they promote metastatic cell behaviours, including invasiveness. We found that micromolar concentrations of caffeic acid phenethyl ester blocked voltage-gated sodium channel activity in several invasive cell lines from different cancers, including breast (MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468), colon (SW620) and non-small cell lung cancer (H460). In the MDA-MB-231 cell line, which was adopted as a 'model', long-term (48 h) treatment with 18 μM caffeic acid phenethyl ester reduced the peak current density by 91% and shifted steady-state inactivation to more hyperpolarized potentials and slowed recovery from inactivation. The effects of long-term treatment were also dose-dependent, 1 μM caffeic acid phenethyl ester reducing current density by only 65%. The effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on metastatic cell behaviours were tested on the MDA-MB-231 cell line at a working concentration (1 μM) that did not affect proliferative activity. Lateral motility and Matrigel invasion were reduced by up to 14% and 51%, respectively. Co-treatment of caffeic acid phenethyl ester with tetrodotoxin suggested that the voltage-gated sodium channel inhibition played a significant intermediary role in these effects. We conclude, first, that caffeic acid phenethyl ester does possess anti-metastatic properties. Second, the voltage-gated sodium channels, commonly expressed in strongly metastatic cancers, are a novel target for caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Third, more generally, ion channel inhibition can be a significant mode of action of nutraceutical compounds.

Over-expression of ATP-binding cassette transporters is one of the most important mechanisms responsible for multidrug resistance. Here, we aimed to develop a stable polymeric nanoparticle system by flash nanoprecipitation (FNP) for enhanced anticancer drug delivery into drug resistant cancer cells. As an antisolvent precipitation process, FNP works best for highly lipophilic solutes (logP>6). Thus we also aimed to evaluate the applicability of FNP to drugs with relatively low lipophilicity (logP=1-2). To this end, doxorubicin (DOX), an anthracycline anticancer agent and a P-gp substrate with a logP of 1.3, was selected as a model drug for the assessment. DOX was successfully incorporated into the amphiphilic diblock copolymer, polyethylene glycol-b-polylactic acid (PEG-b-PLA), by FNP using a four-stream multi-inlet vortex mixer. Optimization of key processing parameters and co-formulation with the co-stabilizer, polyvinylpyrrolidone, yielded highly stable, roughly spherical DOX-loaded PEG-b-PLA nanoparticles (DOX.NP) with mean particle size below 100nm, drug loading up to 14%, and drug encapsulation efficiency up to 49%. DOX.NP exhibited a pH-dependent drug release profile with higher cumulative release rate at acidic pHs. Surface analysis of DOX.NP by XPS revealed an absence of DOX on the particle surface, indicative of complete drug encapsulation. While there were no significant differences in cytotoxic effect on P-gp over-expressing LCC6/MDR cell line between DOX.NP and free DOX in buffered aqueous media, DOX.NP exhibited a considerably higher cellular uptake and intracellular retention after efflux. The apparent lack of cytotoxicity enhancement with DOX.NP may be attributable to its slow DOX release inside the cells.

Appendicovesical fistula is a rare entity, with only 116 cases reported to date. It is an uncommon form of enterovesical fistula and often associated with a history of appendicitis. It can present as pneumaturia, fecaluria, and recurrent urinary tract infections, not unlike symptoms of enterovesical fistulas. We present a novel case of appendicovesical fistula developing after transurethral resection of bladder tumor and instillation of mitomycin C. Treatment included laparoscopic appendectomy and bladder repair.

Treatment for solid tumor malignancies, which constitute the majority of human cancers, is still dominated by surgery and radiotherapies. This is especially true for many localized solid tumors, which are often curable with these treatments. However, metastatic cancers are beyond the reach of these therapies, and many localized cancers that are initially treated with surgery and radiation will recur and metastasize. Thus, for over 60years there has been a concerted effort to develop effective drug treatments for metastatic cancers. Combination therapies are an increasingly important part of the anti-cancer drug armamentarium. In the case of cytotoxic chemotherapy, multi-drug regimens rapidly became the norm, as the earliest single agents were relatively ineffective. In contrast to chemotherapy, where combination therapies were required in order to achieve treatment efficacy, for both hormonal and targeted therapies the impetus to move toward the use of combination therapies is to prevent or reverse the development of treatment resistance. In addition, emerging evidence suggests that combination therapy may also improve cancer treatment by neutralizing an emerging treatment side effect termed therapy-induced metastasis, which accompanies some effective single agent therapies. Finally, although gene therapy is still far from use in the clinic, we propose that combination therapies may enhance its effectiveness.

Dexrazoxane (DEX) is a clinically available cardioprotectant that reduces the toxicity induced by anthracycline (ANT) anticancer drugs; however, DEX is seldom used and its action is poorly understood. Inorganic nitrate/nitrite has shown promising results in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and recently in acute high-dose ANT cardiotoxicity. However, the utility of this approach for overcoming clinically more relevant chronic forms of cardiotoxicity remains elusive. Hence, in this study, the protective potential of inorganic nitrate and nitrite against chronic ANT cardiotoxicity was investigated, and the results were compared to those using DEX. Chronic cardiotoxicity was induced in rabbits with daunorubicin (DAU). Sodium nitrate (1g/L) was administered daily in drinking water, while sodium nitrite (0.15 or 5mg/kg) or DEX (60mg/kg) was administered parenterally before each DAU dose. Although oral nitrate induced a marked increase in plasma NOx, it showed no improvement in DAU-induced mortality, myocardial damage or heart failure. Instead, the higher nitrite dose reduced the incidence of end-stage cardiotoxicity, prevented related premature deaths and significantly ameliorated several molecular and cellular perturbations induced by DAU, particularly those concerning mitochondria. The latter result was also confirmed in vitro. Nevertheless, inorganic nitrite failed to prevent DAU-induced cardiac dysfunction and molecular remodeling in vivo and failed to overcome the cytotoxicity of DAU to cardiomyocytes in vitro. In contrast, DEX completely prevented all of the investigated molecular, cellular and functional perturbations that were induced by DAU. Our data suggest that the difference in cardioprotective efficacy between DEX and inorganic nitrite may be related to their different abilities to address a recently proposed upstream target for ANT in the heart - topoisomerase IIβ.

Chemotherapeutic agents may lead to serious neurological side effects, which in turn can deteriorate the quality of life and cause dose limiting. Direct toxic effect or metabolic derangement of chemotherapeutic agents may cause these complications. Cabazitaxel is a next generation semi-synthetic taxane derivative, which is effective in both preclinical models of human tumors sensitive or resistant to chemotherapy and in patients with progressive prostate cancer despite docetaxel treatment.

COX-2 has long been exploited in the treatment of inflammation and relief of pain; however, research increasingly suggests COX-2 inhibitors might possess potential benefits to thwart tumour processes. In the present study, we designed a series of novel COX-2 inhibitors based on analysis of known inhibitors combined with an in silico scaffold modification strategy. A docking simulation combined with a primary screen in vitro were performed to filter for the lead compound, which was then substituted, synthesized and evaluated by a variety of bioassays. Derivative 4d was identified as a potent COX-2 enzyme inhibitor and exerted an anticancer effect through COX-2 inhibition. Further investigation confirmed that 4d could induce A549 cell apoptosis and arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Moreover, treatment with 4d reduced A549 cell adhesive ability and COX-2 expression. The morphological variation of treated cells was also visualized by confocal microscopy. Overall, the biological profile of 4d suggests that this compound may be developed as a potential anticancer agent.

Circulating tumor cells serve as useful biomarkers with which to identify disease status associated with survival, metastasis and drug sensitivity. Here, we established a novel application for detecting PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells circulating in peripheral blood employing an adenovirus called Ad5/35E1aPSESE4. Ad5/35E1aPSESE4 utilized PSES, a chimeric enhancer derived from PSA/PSMA promoters that is highly active with and without androgen. A fluorescence signal mediated by GFP expression upon Ad5/35E1aPSESE4 infection was selectively amplified in PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, for the in vivo model, blood drawn from TRAMP was tested for CTCs with Ad5/35E1aPSESE4 infection and was positive for CTCs at week 16. Validation was performed on patient blood at various clinical stages and found out 1-100 CTCs expressing GFP upon Ad5/35E1aPSESE4 infection. Interestingly, CTC from one patient was confirmed to be sensitive to docetaxel chemotherapeutic reagent and to abundantly express metastasis-related genes like MMP9, Cofilin1, and FCER1G through RNA-seq. Our study established that the usage of Ad5/35E1aPSESE4 is effective in marking PSA/PSMA-positive prostate cancer cells in patient blood to improve the efficacy of utilizing CTCs as a biomarker.

The importance of angiogenesis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its therapeutic potential have been explored in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. Human PDACs overexpress a number of angiogenic factors and their cognate high-affinity receptors, and anti-angiogenic agents reduce tumor volume, metastasis, and microvessel density (MVD), and improve survival in subcutaneous and orthotopic pre-clinical models. Nonetheless, clinical trials using anti-angiogenic therapy have been overwhelmingly unsuccessful. This review will focus on these pre-clinical and clinical studies, the potential reasons for failure in the clinical setting, and ways these shortcomings could be addressed in future investigations of angiogenic mechanisms in PDAC.

Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are important complications of cancer, and they have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Effective anti-infection therapy is necessary to inhibit significant deterioration from these infections. However, they are difficult to treat, and increasing antifungal drug resistance often leads to a relapse. Curcumin, a natural component that is isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa plants, has attracted great interest among many scientists studying solid cancers over the last half century. Interestingly, curcumin provides an ideal alternative to current therapies because of its relatively safe profile, even at high doses. To date, curcumin's potent antifungal activity against different strains of Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Trichosporon and Paracoccidioides have been reported, indicating that curcumin anticancer drugs may also possess an antifungal role, helping cancer patients to resist IFI complications. The aim of this review is to discuss curcumin's dual pharmacological activities regarding its applications as a natural anticancer and antifungal agent. These dual pharmacological activities are expected to lead to clinical trials and to improve infection survival among cancer patients.

Targeted delivery by ligands such as aptamers, is a promising method to increase the efficiency of PEGylated-liposomal doxorubicin (PL-Dox). In this study, we have successfully conjugated our recently developed anti-breast cancer RNA aptamer (TSA14) to the surface of PL-Dox and characterized for their size, zeta potential, Dox percent encapsulation and release properties in the presence of fetal bovine serum. In vitro experiments showed that aptamer could improve cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of PL-Dox in TUBO breast cell line. In mice bearing TUBO breast tumor, although, the doxorubicin plasma level of liposomal doxorubicin did not significantly change after modification of nanoparticles with aptamer, however, much higher tumor accumulation of Dox as compared with non-targeted liposomes proved the tumor-targeting capability of aptamers. In the same way, aptamer-PL-Dox improved anti-tumor efficiency of liposomes in TUBO breast tumor in mice compared to non-targeted liposomes. Overall, the results showed that aptamer decoration of PL-Dox could significantly improve selectivity and the therapeutic efficacy of liposomal DOX and merits further investigation.

To investigate the clinical efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DC) and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells combined with chemotherapy in multiple myeloma. The immunomodulatory effect of the therapy was discussed by detecting the levels of peripheral blood T cell subsets and CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory cells (Treg). Fifty MM patients were randomly divided into two groups: 24 cases in the simple chemotherapy group and 26 cases in the combined therapy group (chemotherapy plus DC/CIK immunotherapy). The therapeutic efficacy and the proportions of peripheral blood T cell subsets and Treg cells were compared between the two groups. The cellular immunity indicators were also compared, including IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, AgNORs ratio and TGF-β. After 3 weeks of treatment, the life quality and clinical efficacy of the combined therapy group were superior to those of the simple chemotherapy group (P<0.05). CD3(+)CD8(+) ratio, CD4(+)CD25(+) ratio, CD4(+)CD25(+)/CD4(+) ratio, CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+)/CD4(+)CD25(+) ratio, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β levels of the combined therapy group were obviously lower than those of the simple chemotherapy group (P<0.05). The CD3(+)CD4(+)/CD3(+)CD8(+) ratio, AgNOR ratio, IL-2 and IFN-γ level and positive rate of NKG2D in the combined therapy group were significantly higher than those of the simple chemotherapy group (P<0.05). These results indicated better immunomodulatory effect of the combined therapy. DC/CIK immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has a good clinical efficacy and prospect for MM, reversing the Th1 to Th2 shift and increasing the anti-tumor capacity of the immune system.

To explore the relationship between death associated protein kinase (DAPK) gene promoter methylation and gefitinib resistance in Lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. EGFR-mutation lung adenocarcinoma cell lines PC9 and the gefitinib-resistant with T790M Mutation cell lines PC9/GR were chosen as cell models, and PC9/GR were treated with 5-aza-CdR (1 μmol/L). The experiments were divided into three groups: PC9 group, PC9/GR group and PC9/GR with 5-Aza-CdR pretreatment group. Treat three groups cell with different concentrations gefitinib, the cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. The apoptotic rates were detected by flow cytometry. The methylation of DAPK gene promoter region was examined by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). The expressions of DAPK protein were detected by Western blot. MTT results showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of PC9 and PC9/GR cell lines increase from 0.12 μmol/L to 8.52 μmol/L. But after treated with 5-aza-CdR, the IC50 of PC9/GR cell lines decrease to 4.35 μmol/L, and the resistance index (RI) decrease from 71 to 36 (P<0.05). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate were 24.80% ± 0.28%, 12.70% ± 0.31%, 19.8% ± 0.15% respectively. MSP results showed that DAPK gene promoter region was un-methylated in PC9 cells and methylated in PC9/GR cells, when treated with 5-aza-CdR, DAPK gene promoter region was partly methylated in PC9/GR cells (P<0.05). Western blot results showed that the levels of DAPK protein were reduced significantly in PC9/GR cell lines compared with PC9, and after treated with 5-aza-CdR, the expression levels of DAPK protein in PC9/GR were increased (P<0.05). In conclusion, DAPK gene promoter methylation may contribute to the downregulation of DAPK gene and protein, and consequently affect the sensitivity of gefitinib in lung adenocarcinoma lines, induced gefitinib resistance. But 5-Aza-CdR can reverse gefitinib resistance by demethylation of DAPK gene promoter.

Gefitinib is an orally active antitumor agent which inhibits uncontrolled cell proliferation by interrupting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathways. Various in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that the upregulated expression of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) is associated with chemoresistance and reduced survival following chemotherapies. In this study, a gefitinib-highly-sensitive cell line, PC-9, was used to investigate the effect of BRCA1 expression on the sensitivity of PC-9 cells to gefitinib. PC-9 cells were stably transfected with BRCA-1 (HA-tagged). Transfected and untransfected PC-9 cells were treated with gefitinib, phosphorylated γH2AX was examined by western blot to determine the DNA damages. Following the treatment of gefitinib, the inhibition of proliferation of the PC-9 cells, PC-9-pcDNA3.1 cells, and BRCA1-transfected PC-9 cells were determined. Also, a comet assay was performed to determine the DNA damage caused by gefitinib. The treatment of gefitinib for 6 hr, 12 h, and 24 hr significantly increased the cellular expression of phosphorylated γH2AX. With the treatment of gefitinib, the inhibition of proliferation of BRCA-1 overexpressed PC-9 cells was significantly lower than that of the non-transfected PC-9 cells, indicating the overexpression of BRCA1 plays a role in attenuating the sensitivity of PC-9 cells to gefitinib. The comet assay revealed that BRCA1 transfected cells showed a shorter comet tail, indicating the overexpression of BRCA1 attenuated the DNA damages caused by gefitinib. The overexpression of BRCA1 reduced the DNA damages, and enhanced DNA repair mechanisms. Also, gefitinib-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation is attenuated by the expression of BRCA1.

Temozolomide (TMZ) with radiotherapy is the current standard of care for newly diagnosed glioma. However, glioma patients who are treated with the drug often develop resistance to it and some other drugs. Recently studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in drug resistance. In present study, we first examined the sensitivity to temozolomide in six glioma cell lines, and established a resistant variant, U251MG/TR cells from TMZ-sensitive glioma cell line, U251MG. We then performed a comprehensive analysis of miRNA expressions in U251MG/TR and parental cells using cancer microRNA PCR Array. Among the downregulated microRNAs was miR-16, members of miR-15/16 family, whose expression was further validated by qRT-PCR in U251MG/TR and U251MG cells. The selective microRNA, miR-16 mimics or inhibitor was respectively transfected into U251MG/TR cells and AM38 cell. We found that treatment with the mimics of miR-16 greatly decreased the sensitivity of U251MG/TR cells to temozolomide, while sensitivity to these drugs was increased by treatment with the miR-16 inhibitor. In addition, the downregulation of miR-16 in temozolomide-sensitive AM38 cells was concurrent with the upregulation of Bcl-2 protein. Conversely, overexpression of miR-16 in temozolomide-resistant cells inhibited Bcl-2 expression and decreased temozolomide resistance. In conclusion, MiR-16 mediated temozolomide-resistance in glioma cells by modulation of apoptosis via targeting Bcl-2, which suggesting that miR-16 and Bcl-2 would be potential therapeutic targets for glioma therapy.

To investigate the effect of isoliquiritigenin on the activity of DNA topoisomerase (TOP I) and its inhibitory effect on the growth of U87 glioma cells.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antitumor effects of the PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone on the human retinoblastoma. The cell biological behavior was detected, specifically, the effects of rosiglitazone on cell viability and apoptosis of the human retinoblastoma Y79 cells were investigated by MTT assay and Hochest 33258 staining and the migration assay showed that rosiglitazone blocked the invasion and migration of the carcinoma cells through the reconstituted extracellular matrix (Matrigel). The effect of rosiglitazone on NF-κB-dependent reporter gene transcription induced by LPS was analyzed by NF-κB-luciferase assay. Then human retinoblastoma Y79 cells were subcutaneously transplanted in BALB/c nude mice, and the animals were treated with rosiglitazone (20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 80 mg/kg) to verify its anti-tumor effect in vivo. Rosiglitazone suppressed the viability of Y79 cells dose- and time-dependently and induced apoptosis in Y79 cells in vitro. Molecular biology analysis found that rosiglitazone could modulate the proliferative and apoptosis related signal, reduce NF-κB-dependent reporter gene transcription induced by LPS. Rosiglitazone markedly reduced the growth of Y79 cells transplanted into the mice without causing significant side effects. Our results suggested that rosiglitazone demonstrated antitumor activity against the human retinoblastoma Y79 cells by inhibiting cell growth, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting metastasis and invasion in vitro and delaying tumor growth in vivo.

Tubeimoside-1 (TBMS1) is considered to have anti-tumor properties. However, the role of TBMS1 on human colorectal cancer (CRC) is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the role of TBMS1 on human CRC and explored the underlying mechanism. The cell proliferation of CRC cells was detected by MTT assay. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by Boyden chamber assay, and the involvement of molecular mechanisms was examined by western blot. In this study, we found that TBMS1 inhibited the proliferation, migration/invasion of CRC cells, and it reduced β-catenin expression in CRC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of β-catenin rescued TBMS1-induced proliferation and invasion inhibition, and knockdown of β-catenin potentiated TBMS1-induced proliferation and invasion inhibition. Taken together, our results demonstrate that TBMS1 inhibited CRC cell proliferation and invasion via suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, TBMS1 may represent a chemopreventive and/or therapeutic agent in the prevention of CRC.

to observe relationship between chromosome imbalance and taxol resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).