Novel Computational Methods for Cancer Drug Design

Cancer is a complex and debilitating disease that is one of the leading causes of death in the modern world. Computational methods have contributed to the successful design and development of several drugs. The recent advances in computational methodology, coupled with the avalanche of data being acquired through high throughput genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, are likely to increase the contribution of computational methods toward the development of more effective treatments for cancer. Recent advances in the application of neural networks for the prediction of the native conformation of proteins have provided structural information regarding the complete human proteome. In addition, advances in machine learning and network pharmacology have provided novel methods for target identification and for the utilization of biological, pharmacological, and clinical databases for the design and development of drugs. This is a review of the key advances in computational methods that have the potential for application in the design and development of drugs for cancer.

Insights into the potential of Sanguinarine as a promising therapeutic option for breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression and metastasis of BC. A significant proportion of BC is characterized by a hypoxic TME, which contributes to the development of drug resistance and cancer recurrence. Sanguinarine (SAN), an isoquinoline alkaloid found in Papaver plants, has shown promise as an anticancer agent. The present review focuses on exploring the molecular mechanisms of hypoxic TME in BC and the potential of SAN as a therapeutic option. The review presents the current understanding of the hypoxic TME, its signaling pathways, and its impact on the progression of BC. Additionally, the review elaborates on the mechanisms of action of SAN in BC, including its effects on vital cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, drug resistance, and tumor-induced immune suppression. The review highlights the importance of addressing hypoxic TME in treating BC and the potential of SAN as a promising therapeutic option.

HOTAIR: a potential metastatic, drug-resistant and prognostic regulator of breast cancer

HOX transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR) is an oncogenic non-coding RNA whose expression is strongly correlated with the tumor grade and prognosis of a variety of carcinomas including breast cancer (BC). HOTAIR regulates various target genes via sponging and epigenetic mechanisms and controls various oncogenic cellular and signaling mechanisms including metastasis and drug resistance. In BC cells, HOTAIR expression is regulated by a variety of transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms. In this review, we describe the regulatory mechanisms that govern HOTAIR expression during cancer development and explore how HOTAIR drives BC development, metastasis, and drug resistance. In the final section of this review, we focus on the role of HOTAIR in BC management, therapeutic treatment, and prognosis, highlighting its potential therapeutic applications.

γδ T cell-mediated immune responses for cancer therapy: special focus on breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer (BC) with high aggressive nature, devoid of receptors for estrogen and progesterone hormones and with overexpression of the HER2/neu protein. It is more aggressive than other types of BC, common occurring in younger women. Recently, preclinical and clinical studies have investigated the use of immune therapies to treat TNBC patients. However, a subset of patients is responding to immunotherapy due to the high level of tumor mutation burden. The bidirectional communication among the tumor microenvironment (TME) cells via signal molecules modulates γδ T cells to support or impair tumor growth. This review emphasizes γδ T cell-mediated immune responses with a special focus on breast cancer. We present the cytotoxic characteristics of γδ T cells. We also present the promising role of γδ T cells in mounting pro-tumor and anti-tumor responses in the TME. Finally, our review focuses on prominent features of γδ T cells as a curse in breast cancer development.

PM2.5: Epigenetic Alteration in Lung Physiology and Lung Cancer Pathogenesis

Particulate matter (PM) has a very negative impact on human health, specifically the respiratory system. PM comes in many forms, among these is PM2.5,which is a major risk factor for lung cancer and other cardiovascular diseases. PM is inherent in emissions from industrial production, manufacturing, vehicle exhaust, mining, and cigarette smoking. For this reason, the composition of PM differs from area to area although its primary constituents are heavy metals and petroleum elements. PM has a long and toxic impact on human health. After extended exposure to PM2.5 the mortality rate for lung cancer patients increases. Already, lung cancer is the leading cause of death globally with the highest mortality rate. PM2.5 creates epigenetic changes in miRNA, histone modification, and DNA methylation, causing tumorigenesis followed by lung cancer.

Advances in Quercetin for Drug-Resistant Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Applications, and Delivery Systems

Quercetin (QUE), a natural flavone abundantly discovered in fruits, has gained attention for its potential health benefits due to its unique structure. In addition, epidemiological and clinical studies have shown promising antioxidant activity of QUE aiming to treat various diseases, including cancer. This article's purpose is to provide an overview of recent advances in the use of QUE for drug-resistant cancer therapies, focusing on its mechanisms, applications, and delivery systems. The review discusses the structure-function relationship of QUE and its role in mitigating various disorders. Furthermore, it highlights the impact of QUE on cancer and cancer stem cells, elucidating the signaling pathways at the cellular and molecular levels involved. Additionally, the review explores the mechanistic role of QUE in reversing drug resistance in different types of drug-resistant cancers. Moreover, it presents a comprehensive analysis of drug diverse delivery strategies employed for effective cancer treatment using QUE. Clinical studies investigating the safety and bioavailability of QUE are also discussed. Finally, the review concludes with future directions, emphasizing the use of cost-effective and efficient protein and peptide-based self-assembling hydrogels for targeted delivery of QUE.

Gamma Delta T Cells: Role in Immunotherapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The most typical type of liver cancer or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) develops from hepatocyte loss. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis C and cirrhosis are the leading causes of HCC. With the Hepatitis B vaccine and medicines, there are several treatments for HCC, including liver resection, ablation, transplantation, immunotherapy, gene therapy, radiation embolization, and targeted therapy. Currently, a wide range of studies are carried out on gene therapy to identify biomarkers and pathways, which help us identify the exact stage of the disorder and reduce its effects. γδT cells have recently received much interest as a potential cancer treatment method in adaptive immunotherapy. γδT cells can quickly form connections between receptor and ligand activation. They can clonally expand and are a significant source of cytokines and chemokines. The present review provides a comprehensive understanding on the function of γδT cells in immunotherapies and how they are used to treat HCC.

CRISPR-Based Approaches for Cancer Immunotherapy

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology is a powerful gene editing tool that has the potential to revolutionize cancer treatment. It allows for precise and efficient editing of specific genes that drive cancer growth and progression. CRISPR-based approaches gene knock-out, which deletes specific genes or sequences of DNA within a cancer cell, and gene knock-in, which inserts new sequences of DNA into a cancer cell to identify potential targets for cancer therapy. Further, genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9-based screens identify specific markers for diagnosis of cancers. Recently, immunotherapy has become a highly efficient strategy for the treatment of cancer. The use of CRISPR in cancer immunotherapy is focused on enhancing the function of T cells, making them more effective at attacking cancer cells and inactivating the immune evasion mechanisms of cancer cells. It has the potential to generate CAR-T cells, which are T cells that have been genetically engineered to target and attack cancer cells specifically. This review uncovers the latest developments in CRISPR-based gene editing strategies and delivery of their components in cancer cells. In addition, the applications of CRISPR in cancer immune therapy are discussed. Overall, this review helps to explore the potential of CRISPR-based strategies in cancer immune therapy in clinical settings.

NATURAL CHALCONES AND THEIR DERIVATIVES: TARGETS TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT IN COLON CANCER

Chalcones are the basic chemical structural predecessors of flavonoids and isoflavonoids, frequently available in many innately arising compounds. Chalcones and their counter parts have drawn the attention of many researchers because of their extensive pharmacological activities with therapeutic potential against various clinical conditions, especially for anticancer activity. The chalcone derivatives potentially suppress the growth of tumors through multiple mechanisms, encompassing interfering cell division, control of cell degradation, triggering cell suicide, and regulating the immune response towards cancer cells and inflammatory mediators. The benefits of chalcones are consistent that researchers develop chalcone derivatives asnovel cancer therapeutic agents. Combination therapy (chalcone derivatives with other chemotherapeutic agents) is even more effective in curing colon cancer. The preclinical findings of treating cancer cells with chalone derivatives were encouraging suggesting their potential use clinically in cancer patients. However, further investigations and a complete study of the degree of toxicity associated with chalcone derivatives are required. The current review summarizes the pharmacological and immunological properties of chalcones and their anticancer activities with their possible mechanisms of action in colon cancer.

Natural and Synthetic Chalcones: Potential Impact on Breast Cancer

Chalcones are small molecules, naturally found in fruits and vegetables, and exhibit diverse pharmacological activities. They also possess anticancer activity against different tumors. They can be converted into numerous derivatives by modifying hydrogen moieties, enabling the exploration of their diverse anticancer potentials. The main aims are to provide valuable insights into the recent progress made in utilizing chalcones and their derivatives as agents against breast cancer while delivering their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. This review presents anticancer molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways modulated by chalcones. Furthermore, it helps in the understating of the precise mechanisms of action and specific molecular targets of chalcones and their synthetic derivatives for breast cancer treatment.

Role of γδ T Cells in Cancer Progression and Therapy

γδ T cells signify a foundational group of immune cells that infiltrate tumors early on, engaging in combat against cancer cells. The buildup of γδ T cells as cancer advances underscores their significance. Initially, these cells infiltrate and enact cytotoxic effects within the tumor tissue. However, in later stages, the predominant phenotype of γδ T cells undergoes changes in numerous cancers, fostering tumor growth and metastasis. Different mechanisms induced by cancer cell suppress effector action of γδ T cells and even sometimes promote cancer progression. In the early stages, stopping this mechanism clears this challenge and enables γδ T cells to effectively remove cancer cells. Given this context, it becomes imperative to delve into the mechanisms of how γδ T cells function in tumor microenvironment. This review discusses γδ T cells' role across different cancer types.

Contemporary clinical trials in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy targeting PD-1 and PD-L1

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a major gastrointestinal cancer in terms of worldwide incidence and mortality. Despite advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities, the mortality of PC is still a serious concern in both sexes. Immune therapy using inhibitors of immune checkpoints, especially inhibitors of programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand-1(PD-1/PD-L1), offer huge benefits to cancer patients. This review describes an up-to-date information on the role of PD-1 and PD-L1 in the development of immune tolerance in PC alongside the current clinical trials and the known outcomes citing the available literature. We also included the details on PD-1/PD-L1-mediated signalling in maintenance of PC stem cells and metastasis. We reviewed the critical information on safety, tolerance, and efficacy of clinically important regimens of PD-1/PD-L1 blocking agents and targeted therapeutics. This review elucidates the underlying mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 alliance in tolerance of the immune system, maintenance of stem cells, and metastasis promotion as well as design regimens with high safety and excellent tolerability and efficacy for management of PC in advanced stages.

Current overview on the potency of natural products for modulating Myeloid-derived suppressor cells dependent cold tumors

Ample data pertaining to the sue of MDSCs have been documented. However, the potency of natural products in targeting MDSCs in the light of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) has not been discussed vividly. The current review is an amalgamation of the documented literature pertaining to the effectiveness of various natural products supported by in silico experimental data. The combination of bioinformatics to wet bench experimentation with natural products against cancer specifically targeting MDSCs can be a promising approach to mitigate cancer.

Regulatory T cells: Their role in triple-negative breast cancer progression and metastasis

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and immunogenic subtype of breast cancer. This tumorigenicity is independent of hormonal or HER2 pathways because of a lack of respective receptor expression. TNBC is extremely prone to drug resistance and early recurrence because of T-regulatory cell (Treg) infiltration into the tumor microenvironment (TME) in addition to other mechanisms like genomic instability. Tumor-infiltrating Tregs interact with both tumor and stromal cells as well as extracellular matrix components in the TME and induce an immune-suppressive phenotype. Hence, treatment of TNBC with conventional therapies remains challenging. Understanding the protective mechanism of Tregs in shielding TNBC from antitumor immune responses in the TME will pave the way for developing novel, immune-based therapeutics. The current review focuses on the role of tumor-infiltrating Tregs in tumor progression and metabolic reprogramming of the TME. The authors have extended their focus to oncotargeting Treg-mediated immune suppression in breast cancer. Because of its potential role in the TME, modulating Treg activity may provide a novel strategic intervention to combat TNBC. Both under laboratory conditions and in clinical trials, currently available anticancer drugs and natural therapeutics as potential agents for targeting Tregs are explored.

Natural products: Potential targets of TME related long non-coding RNAs in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is a significant health concern worldwide due to high mortality and morbidity, despite the advances in diagnosis, treatment, and management. Recent experimental evidence from different models suggested long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as major modulators of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to support metastasis and drug resistance in lung cancer. Evidence-based studies demonstrated that natural products interfere with TME functions.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

To establish lncRNAs of TME as novel targets of natural compounds for lung cancer management.

STUDY DESIGN

Current study used a combination of TME and lung CSCs, lncRNAs and enrichment and stemness maintenance, natural products and stem cell management, natural products and lncRNAs, natural products and targeted delivery as keywords to retrieve the literature from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar. This study critically reviewed the current literature and presented cancer stem cells' ability in reprogramming lung TME.

RESULTS

This review found that TME related oncogenic and tumor suppressor lncRNAs and their signaling pathways control the maintenance of stemness in lung TME. This review explored natural phenolic compounds and found that curcumin, genistein, quercetin epigallocatechin gallate and ginsenoside Rh2 are efficient in managing lung CSCs. They modulate lncRNAs and their upstream mediators by targeting signaling and epigenetic pathways. This review also identified relevant nanotechnology-based phytochemical delivery approaches for targeting lung cancer.

CONCLUSION

By critical literature analysis, TME related lncRNAs were identified as potential therapeutic targets, aiming to develop natural product-based therapeutics to treat metastatic and drug-resistant lung cancers.

Microbiome Assisted Tumor Microenvironment: Emerging Target of Breast Cancer

The microbiome assisted tumor microenvironment (TME) supports the tumors by modulating multiple mechanisms. Recent studies reported that microbiome dysbiosis is the main culprit of immune suppressive phenotypes of TME. Further, it has been documented that immune suppressive stimulate metastatic phenotype in TME via modulating signaling pathways, cell differentiation, and innate immune response. This review aims at providing comprehensive developments in microbiome and breast TME interface. The combination of microbiome and breast cancer, breast TME and microbiome or microbial dysbiosis, microbiome and risk of breast cancer, microbiome and phytochemicals or anticancer drugs were as used keywords to retrieve literature from PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus, Web of Science from 2015 onwards. Based on the literature, we presented the impact of TME assisted microbiome dysbiosis and estrobolome in breast cancer risk, drug resistance, and antitumor immunity. We have discussed the influence of antibiotics on the breast microbiome. we also presented the possible dietary phytochemicals that target microbiome dysbiosis to restore the tumor suppression immune environment in breast TME. We presented the microbiome as a possible marker for breast cancer diagnosis. This study will help in the identification of microbiome as a novel target and diagnostic markers and phytochemicals and microbiome metabolites for breast cancer treatment.

Marine Cyclic Dipeptide Cyclo (L-Leu-L-Pro) Protects Normal Breast Epithelial Cells from tBHP-induced Oxidative Damage by Targeting CD151

Background: Oxidative stress plays a key role in breast carcinogenesis. Cyclo (L-Leu-L-Pro) (CLP) is a homodetic cyclic dipeptide with 2,5-diketopiperazine scaffold isolated from marine actinobacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the protective activity of CLP and linear - (L-Leu-L-Pro) (LP) from tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced damage using normal breast epithelial cell line model (MCF-12A). Methods: The cytoprotective activity was evaluated by detecting the changes in intracellular ROS, mitochondrial superoxide, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide, and lipid peroxidation detection assays as well as cytotoxic assays of MTT, LDH assays and phase contrast microscopy. Genoprotective activity was evaluated by (Apurinic/Apyrimidinic) AP site, alkaline Comet, and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine assays. Results: The marine cyclic peptide, CLP, significantly protected MCF-12A cells by scavenging tBHP induced intracellular ROS such as super oxide, hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, and by reducing the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effect compared to LP. Moreover, the results showed that CD151 gene silencing by shRNA significantly reduced the overexpression of CD151, tBHP-induced ROS generation, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in MCF-12A cells. The overexpression of CD151 caused increased levels of cytochrome P450, but was reduced following the application of CD151shRNA and CLP which led to elevated levels of intracellular ROS. Conclusion: In the present study we noticed that CD151 gene silencing by shRNA and treatment with CLP have similar effects on reducing the intracellular ROS. This study uncovers the protective activity of CLP against a CD151-mediated oxidative stress-induced cellular damage. Our observations suggest that the anti-stress and anti-inflammation properties of CLP might have implications in cancer and are worth testing in cancer cell lines and tumor cells.

Talin: A Potential Drug Target for Cancer Therapy

Talin is an intracellular cytoskeletal protein and one of the major components of the focal adhesion complex. It mainly acts as an interlink between transmembrane integrin receptors and cytosolic F-actin. Apart from integrins and actin, it also interacts with various other proteins in the adhesion complex to regulate their functional dynamics. Talin undergoes a variety of post-translational modifications and they are implicated in the control of cell motility. There are two talin isoforms (talin1 and talin2) in mammals and they are encoded by TLN1 and TLN2 genes, respectively. Recent studies showed that both the isoforms have some mechanistic dissimilarities in terms of their interaction with membrane-bound integrins. Among the two isoforms, talin1 was well studied, and most of the information available till now comes from talin1. The present review is aimed to provide an updated overview on the cellular significance of talin in normal and cancerous cells.

Prognostic Role of Hedgehog-GLI1 Signaling Pathway in Aggressive and Metastatic Breast Cancers

Glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (GLI1) is reported as an amplified gene in human glioblastoma cells. It is a krupple like transcription factor, belonging to the zinc finger family. The basic function of GLI1 is normal neural development at various stages of human. The GLI1 gene was first mapped on the chromosome sub-bands 12q13.3-14.1. Further, single nucleotide polymorphism is mostly observed in translating a region of 5' and 3'- UTR of GLI1 gene in addition to two post-transcriptional splice variants, GLIΔN and tGLI. Additionally, it also regulates a plethora of gene which mediates crucial cellular processes like proliferation, differentiation, oncogenesis, EMT, and metastasis. It also regulates tumor tolerance, chemoresistance, and radioresistance. Aberrant expression of GLI1 predicts the poor survival of breast cancer patients. GLI1 is an essential mediator of the SHH signaling pathway regulating self-renewal of stem cells, angiogenesis, and expression of FOXS1, CYR61. GLI1 mediated HH pathway can induce apoptosis. Hence, GLI1 can be a future diagnostic, prognostic marker, and as well as a potent target of therapeutics in breast cancer.

Understanding the function of the tumor microenvironment, and compounds from marine organisms for breast cancer therapy

The pathology and physiology of breast cancer (BC), including metastasis, and drug resistance, is driven by multiple signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which hamper antitumor immunity. Recently, long non-coding RNAs have been reported to mediate pathophysiological develop-ments such as metastasis as well as immune suppression within the TME. Given the complex biology of BC, novel personalized therapeutic strategies that address its diverse pathophysiologies are needed to improve clinical outcomes. In this review, we describe the advances in the biology of breast neoplasia, including cellular and molecular biology, heterogeneity, and TME. We review the role of novel molecules such as long non-coding RNAs in the pathophysiology of BC. Finally, we provide an up-to-date overview of anticancer compounds extracted from marine microorganisms, crustaceans, and fishes and their synergistic effects in combination with other anticancer drugs. Marine compounds are a new discipline of research in BC and offer a wide range of anti-cancer effects that could be harnessed to target the various pathways involved in BC development, thus assisting current therapeutic regimens.

Long Noncoding RNAs: Potential Mediators of Liver Cancer Metastasis

Liver cancer (LC) is the most common high-mortality malignancy, due to its aggressive nature, heterogeneity, and metastasis. Recent studies have recognized long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as mediators of LC pathogenesis and metastasis. This review describes the role of lncRNAs in molecular mechanisms of tumorigenicity, metastasis, stem-cell maintenance, drug resistance, and tumor immunity. We present recent updates on therapeutic targeting of lncRNAs in LC as well as lncRNA's potential for LC diagnosis. Overall, we provide a new perspective on the role of lncRNAs for LC treatment and diagnosis.

Computational Approaches for Diagnosis and Therapy of GI Malignancies

The major challenging problem in the world is cancer. It is a complex disease. Somatic mutations in the genome cause genetic changes and lead to initiation and promotion of tumor growth. Many researchers are working to identify cancer driver mutations using traditional approaches. In combination with traditional approaches, computational approaches provide a new insight for novel therapeutic options in oncology. In order to address this problem, there is a need to implement computational approaches like genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to overcome the problem with less time for accurate results. This review discusses one computational method: genome-wide association studies for identifying SNPs in colon, gastrointestinal, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers.

Microbiome Conundrum in Colon Cancer: Development, Progression, and Therapeutics

Colon cancer (CC) is a major global health challenge. Diet, microbiome, obesity, and family history are some of the etiological factors that contribute to the occurrence of CC. Recent investigations have established a strong correlation between colonic microbiota composition and CC. The microbiota protects or damages colonic cells, depending on the type of metabolites and their mechanism of action. Microbiota dysbiosis enhances CC-cell proliferation and promotes metastasis. The microbiota modulates CC progression by epigenetic modifications mediated through either microbial metabolites or structural component interactions with host colon epithelial cells. In addition, gut homeostasis correlates with modulation of host inflammatory and immune responses. This review highlights the microbiome conundrum in tumor growth and metastasis, epigenetic regulation, tumor microenvironment maintenance, microbiome-derived reactive oxygen species in tumor progression, and microbiome-derived metabolites in CC prevention. Understanding the microbiome conundrum in CC development and progression will aid in developing a diet-based therapeutic strategy for colon tumorigenesis management.

Angiogenesis: Promising Therapeutic Target of Metastatic Colon Cancer

Colon cancer (CC) is the third most diagnosed cancers globally and second most lethal malignancy in both men and women due to aggressive metastatic ability. Genetic or somatic mutations causes the transformation of normal epithelium of colon into precancerous stage and eventually to metastatic phenotype in nearly 10 to 15 years. This progression is depending heavily on the tumor induced angiogenesis, which significantly impact the survival of the patients. Angiogenesis is majorly promoted by hypoxia, growth factors, macrophages, and non-coding RNAs as well as distinct signaling pathways in metastatic CCs. Blocking of antiangiogenic pathway using phytochemicals, small molecules, synthetic derivatives alone or along with chemotherapeutics substantially enhanced disease control as well as overall survival of patients with metastatic CC in second line treatment. Further, clinical trials showed benefit of adjuvant chemotherapeutics for treating metastatic CC patients. This chapter attempts to summarize the recent updates of angiogenic promotes of metastatic CC and targeted therapeutics for adjuvant therapy in clinical trials.

Association between the Circadian Clock and the Tumor Microenvironment in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women. Globally, the incidence of BC surpassed lung cancer for the first time in 2020, and it is highly heterogeneous. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of BC consists of blood vessels, fibroblasts, signaling molecules, immune cells, and extracellular matrix. Numerous studies have provided considerable evidence regarding the association between the circadian rhythm (CR) and human diseases. The CR induces remodeling of the TME cells and their components by disturbing the cellular metabolism, altering gene expression, and aberrantly activating signaling pathways. In this review we present the recent updates on the CR genes and their molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. In addition, we present the mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CR genes and the CR pathways in BC biology and the management of the CR in patients with BC. The association between the CR and the TME in BC is also explored.

Exosomes: Critical mediators of tumour microenvironment reprogramming

Tumour microenvironment (TME) is a resident of a variety of cells, which devoted to the heterogeneous population of the tumour. TME establishes a communication network for crosstalk and signalling between tumour cells, stroma, and other interstitial cells. The cross-communication drives the reprogramming of TME cells, which promote cancer progression and metastasis via diverse signalling pathways. Recently, TME-derived exosomes are recognized as critical communicators of TME cell reprogramming. This review addresses the role of TME-derived exosomes in the modulation of stroma, including reprogramming the stromal cells, ECM and tumour cell metabolism, as well as neoplastic transformation. Subsequently, we described the role of exosomes in pre-metastatic niche development, maintenance of stemness and tumour vasculature as well as development of drug resistance. We also explored tumour-derived exosomes in precision, including diagnosis, drug delivery, and vaccine development. We discussed the currently established bioengineered exosomes as carriers for chemotherapeutic drugs, RNAi molecules, and natural compounds. Finally, we presented tetraspanin and DNAbased precision methods for the quantification of tumour-derived exosomes. Overall, TME-derived exosome-mediated reprogramming of TME and precision strategies could illuminate the potential mechanisms for targeted therapeutic intervention.

ROS-Responsive Nanomedicine: Towards Targeting the Breast Tumor Microenvironment

The breast tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes drug resistance through an elaborated interaction of TME components mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although there is massive accumulation of data concerning the targeting of the ROS, little is known about the ROS-responsive nanomedicine for targeting breast TME. This review submits the ROS landscape in breast TME, including ROS biology, ROS mediated carcinogenesis, and reprogramming of stromal and immune cells of TME. We also discussed ROS-based precision strategies for imaging TME, including molecular imaging techniques with advanced probes, multiplexed methods, and multi-omic profiling strategies. ROS-responsive nanomedicine also describes various therapies, such as chemo- dynamic, photodynamic, photothermal, sono-dynamic, immune, and gene therapy for BC. We expound ROS-responsive primary delivery systems for chemotherapeutics, phytochemicals, and immunotherapeutics. This review also presents recent updates on nanotheranostics for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of BCs. We assume that a review on this advancing field will be beneficial to the development of ROS-based nano-theranostics for BC.

Tumor microenvironment pathways: Cross regulation in breast cancer metastasis

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is heterogeneous and contains a multiple cell population with surrounded immune cells, which plays a major role in regulating metastasis. The multifunctional pathways, Hedgehog (Hh), Wnt, Notch, and NF-kB, cross-regulates metastasis in breast cancer. This review presents substantial evidence for cross-regulation of TME components and signaling pathways, which makes breast TME more heterogeneous and complex, promoting breast cancer progression and metastasis as a highly aggressive form. We discoursed the importance of stromal and immune cells as well as their crosstalk in bridging the metastasis. We also discussed the role of Hh and Notch pathways in the intervention between breast cancer cells and macrophages to support TME; Notch signaling in the bidirectional communication between cancer cells and components of TME; Wnt signal pathway in controlling the factors responsible for EMT and NF-κB pathway in the regulation of genes controlling the inflammatory response. We also present the role of exosomes and their miRNAs in the cross-regulation of TME cells as well as pathways in the reprogramming of breast TME to support metastasis. Finally, we examined and discussed the targeted small molecule inhibitors and natural compounds targeting developmental pathways and proposed small molecule natural compounds as potential therapeutics of TME based on the multitargeting ability. In conclusion, the understanding of the molecular basis of the cross-regulation of TME pathways and their inhibitors helps identify molecular targets for rational drug discovery to treat breast cancers.

Autophagy-Induced Drug Resistance in Liver Cancer

Autophagy is a self-destructive process that occurs in the cells during abnormal conditions like protein aggregation due to misfolding, nutrient deprivation, damage to vital cell organelles, pathogenic infections, and during cancer. Typically, autophagy plays a key role in the renovation of new cells by balancing the equilibrium between cell death and cell renewal. Dysregulation of autophagy has a profound effect on protein turnover, mitochondrial homeostasis, clearance of damaged organelles, and cellular metabolism, which lead to neurodegenerative, metabolic, and proliferative diseases. Despite its antitumorigenic role, autophagy can promote cell proliferation by enhancing chemotherapeutic resistance in liver cancer. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview and discussion on the role of autophagy in the drug-resistant mechanisms of liver cancer.

Breast Tumor Microenvironment: Emerging target of therapeutic phytochemicals

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and challenging form of breast cancers. Tumor microenvironment (TME) of TNBC is associated with induction of metastasis, immune system suppression, escaping immune detection and drug resistance. TME is highly complex and heterogeneous, consists of tumor cells, stromal cells and immune cells. The rapid expansion of tumors induce hypoxia, which concerns the reprogramming of TME components. The reciprocal communication of tumor cells and TME cells predisposes cancer cells to metastasis by modulation of developmental pathways, Wnt, notch, hedgehog and their related mechanisms in TME. Dietary phytochemicals are non-toxic and associated with various human health benefits and remarkable spectrum of biological activities. The phytochemicals serve as vital resources for drug discovery and also as a source for breast cancer therapy. The novel properties of dietary phytochemicals propose platform for modulation of tumor signaling, overcoming drug resistance, and targeting TME. Therefore, TME could serve as promising target for the treatment of TNBC. This review presents current status and implications of experimentally evaluated therapeutic phytochemicals as potential targeting agents of TME, potential nanosystems for targeted delivery of phytochemicals and their current challenges and future implications in TNBC treatment. The dietary phytochemicals especially curcumin with significant delivery system could prevent TNBC development as it is considered safe and well tolerated in phase II clinical trials.

Tumor microenvironment: Challenges and opportunities in targeting metastasis of triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is most aggressive subtype of breast cancers with high probability of metastasis as well as lack of specific targets and targeted therapeutics. TNBC is characterized with unique tumor microenvironment (TME), which differs from other subtypes. TME is associated with induction of proliferation, angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis and immune system suppression, and drug resistance. Exosomes are promising nanovesicles, which orchestrate the TME by communicating with different cells within TME. The components of TME including transformed ECM, soluble factors, immune suppressive cells, epigenetic modifications and re-programmed fibroblasts together hamper antitumor response and helps progression and metastasis of TNBCs. Therefore, TME could be a therapeutic target of TNBC. The current review presents latest updates on the role of exosomes in modulation of TME, approaches for targeting TME and combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and target chemotherapeutics. Finally, we also discussed various phytochemicals that alter genetic, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of TME along with current challenges and future implications. Thus, as TME is associated with the hallmarks of TNBC, the understanding of the impact of different components can improve the clinical benefits of TNBC patients.

Cytogenetic, Molecular, and Translational Applications in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Current Evidence and Future Concepts

Pancreatic cancer or pancreatic ductal carcinoma is one of the most destructive human malignancies; it is frequently diagnosed at advanced and incurable metastatic stages. In contempt of the voluminous research in the recent past, it became resistant to currently existing, clinically approved therapeutic regimens. Recent advances in cytogenetic, molecular, and translational applications for understanding the pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms of this disease have opened up new avenues for novel therapeutic strategies. In this review, we present current literature on the cytogenetic, molecular, and translational applications in pancreatic ductal carcinoma, and we emphasize current evidence and future concepts for the development of novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and their clinical implications.

Marine natural compound cyclo(L-leucyl-L-prolyl) peptide inhibits migration of triple negative breast cancer cells by disrupting interaction of CD151 and EGFR signaling

Cyclo (L-Leucyl-L-Prolyl) peptide/CLP is a marine natural metabolite and well recognized as an antimicrobial and antioxidant agent with limited studies on anticancer activity. The current study aims to determine the effect of CLP on migration and growth of triple negative breast cancer cell lines. The anti-growth potential was evaluated by MTT, BrdU and TUNEL assays; DNA damage by γH2AX and Dead green assays; antimigration activity by Boyden chamber invasion and wound healing assays. Interaction of CLP with CD151 was resolved by PatchDock. Effect of CLP on the expression of transmembrane CD151 was evaluated by cell-based ELISA assay. The interaction between CD151 and EGFR was predicted by using FireDoc Web server. Impact of CLP on the interaction of CD151 with EGFR was evaluated by co-immunoprecipitation assay. The effect of CLP on the cell cycle and its controlling proteins was determined by Western blotting. CLP reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 TNBC cell lines but not human breast healthy epithelial cell line (MCF-12A) similar to eribulin, standard. CLP also inhibited proliferation; cell cycle and migration. It induced DNA strand breaks, DNA damage, and cell death. It showed the most favorable interactions with CD151 in in silico docking and significantly reduced the expression of membrane-bound CD151 proteins. FireDoc Web study predicted the association between CD151 and EGFR with -29.13 kcal/mol of binding energy. CLP reduced the interaction of CD151 with EGFR along with the expression of cyclin D, CDK4, PAK, RAC1, and P27kiP1. This study concludes that CLP suppresses growth and migration by attenuating cell cycle of TNBC cell lines via EGFR and CD151 signaling. Thus, exploring the EGFR and CD151 signaling pathway targeted by CLP may provide a new approach in the treatment of TNBC.

ShRNA-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene silencing protects normal cells and sensitizes cancer cells against ionizing-radiation induced damage

INTRODUCTION

Ionizing radiation (IR) affects healthy tissues during the treatment of cancer radiation therapy and other nuclear and radiological accidents. Some natural compounds showed nonspecific radioprotective activity with severe side effects. The present study is aimed to develop potent and specific radioprotective short hairpin RNA (shRNA), which selectively protects normal cells from IR by specifically targeting matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2).

RESULTS

IR reduced the viability of human normal dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in a dose-response manner. It enhanced the expression of MMP-2 at 10 Gy. Plasmid MMP-2shRNA (pMMP-2) reduced the IR (10 Gy) induced cytotoxicity analyzed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, normalized IR induced cellular and morphological changes with enhanced the clonogenicity in 48 hours at 2 µg/mL. It reduced the ROS generation, released HDFs from G₂ /M arrest and rescued from apoptosis analyzed by DCFDA dye, cell cycle analysis by PI stain and annexin V assay, respectively. pMMP-2 also modulates the expression of EGFR and reduced IR induced expression of DNA damage response protein, ATM and increased the expression of repair proteins, KU70/KU80, and RAD51. In addition, decreased the expression of cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK1) and Cyclin B as well as proapoptotic proteins BAX, caspase-3, and Cytochrome-C and increased the expression of survival protein, Bcl-2. In contrary pMMP-2 decreased the LDH activity, survival fraction and blocked G₂ /M phase of cell cycle and increased apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, decreased the expression of EGFR, proapoptotic BAX and DNA repair proteins ATM, KU70/80 and RAD51, increased expression of cyclinB as well as CDK1.

CONCLUSION

Results conclude that pMMP-2 protected HDFs from IR and sensitized the MCF-7 cells. Therefore, pMMP-2 can be employed for better treatment of radiation accidents and during the treatment of radiotherapy.

Recent advances in metabolomics of triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is considered as the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer. Metabolic profiling has a great significance in cancer research due to profound changes in the metabolism of cancer cells. It has been used to investigate the entire set of metabolites and changes associated with it in disease conditions. These changes in the expression levels of metabolites bring functional changes associated with the pharmacological or nutritional intervention. The present minireview presents a brief note on changes associated with TNBC aggressiveness in terms of metabolomics.

Effect of MMP-2 gene silencing on radiation-induced DNA damage in human normal dermal fibroblasts and breast cancer cells

Introduction

Diagnostic and therapeutic ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the well known long term risk factors of breast cancer. Extremely lethal consequences of IR causes double-strand breaks, which are mainly responsible for genomic instability, altered gene expression, and cell death.

Findings

This study evaluated the effect of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) gene silencing using MMP-2 shRNA expression plasmids (pMMP-2) on IR induced cytotoxicity and DNA damage by MTT, dead green, γH2AX and comet assays in human normal dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. IR has decreased the viability of HDFs and MCF-7 cells with increasing IR (2-10Gy). IR induced DNA damage in both HDFs and MCF-7 cells. However, pMMP-2 transfection has increased the viability of irradiated HDFs (10Gy) and significantly decreased the viability of irradiated MCF-7 cells (10Gy). Further, DNA damage in terms of γH2AX foci decreased with pMMP-2 transfection in irradiated HDFs (10Gy) and increased in irradiated MCF-7 cells (10Gy). In addition, MMP-2 gene silencing using pMMP-2 decreased comet tail length in irradiated HDFs but increased in irradiated MCF-7 cells.

Conclusions

The results conclude that pMMP-2 has protected HDFs and sensitized the MCF-7 cells from IR induced DNA damage. This differential response might be due to IR induced MMP-2 distinctive ROS generation in HDFs and MCF-7 cells.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s41021-019-0131-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Horizons of nanotechnology applications in female specific cancers

Female-specific cancers are the most common cancers in women worldwide. Early detection methods remain unavailable for most of these cancers, signifying that most of them are diagnosed at later stages. Furthermore, current treatment options for most female-specific cancers are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although important milestones in molecularly targeted approaches have been achieved lately, current therapeutic strategies for female-specific cancers remain limited, ineffective and plagued by the emergence of chemoresistance, which aggravates prognosis. Recently, the application of nanotechnology to the medical field has allowed the development of novel nano-based approaches for the management and treatment of cancers, including female-specific cancers. These approaches promise to improve patient survival rates by reducing side effects, enabling selective delivery of drugs to tumor tissues and enhancing the uptake of therapeutic compounds, thus increasing anti-tumor activity. In this review, we focus on the application of nano-based technologies to the design of novel and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the context of female-specific cancers, highlighting their potential uses and limitations.

Synergistic enhancement of apoptosis by coralyne and paclitaxel in combination on MDA-MB-231 a triple-negative breast cancer cell line

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most outrageous subtype of breast cancer. Emphasizing the urge of new approach in cancer therapy, combinational drug therapy may be proven as an effective strategy. In our previous study, we reported that coralyne (COR) with paclitaxel (PTX) efficiently decreases the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 compared with MCF-7 cell line. Thus, we studied the effect of COR and PTX in combination on apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cell line. In silico results demonstrated that COR intercalates DNA at a minor groove. In vitro approaches revealed that in combination (COR and PTX) increases the efficacy of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cell line by a significant increase in G1/S phase arrest, DNA fragmentation, and change in mitochondria membrane potential. The expression of ATM and ATR a serine/threonine-protein kinase, ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein were depleted with an increase in time from 24 to 48 hours in concurrent with increased levels of γH2AX indicating that DNA damage routes cells to enter apoptosis. This was confirmed by high levels of caspase-3 and cytochrome c. Also, the decrease in the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 confirmed the antimetastatic efficacy of COR + PTX. The present study indicates that the synergistic effect of COR and PTX can enhance apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cell line and may be proven as a potential anticancer therapy against TNBC.

A perspective on the diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics of microRNAs of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and prevalent subtype of breast cancer in women worldwide. Currently, chemotherapy remains the main modality for the treatment at an early stage, as there is no approved targeted therapy for early TNBC. In this review, we investigate the use of microRNAs (miRNAs), which play a key role in the post-transcriptional regulation of genes involved in the key biological processes, namely proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, migration, apoptosis, and carcinogenesis. Here, we emphasize the importance of the recent advances related to miRNAs, involving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of TNBC. We focus on the development, optimization, and stabilization of miRNA-based drugs; improvement of miRNA delivery; and control of the off-target effects of miRNA therapeutics. We speculate as to which features may present themselves as promising approaches in the treatment of TNBC.

A comparative anticancer study on procyanidin C1 against receptor positive and receptor negative breast cancer

Albezia odoratissima has many health benefits. The present study investigated the isolation, characterization and anticancer activity of procyanidin C1 from A. odoratissima bark. Procyanidin C1 was isolated and characterized by IR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR and LC-MS spectroscopic studies. Anticancer property of procyanidin C1 was explored by studying the expression of checkpoint kinases, Bcl-2 and BAX, cell cycle, DNA damage and caspase 3 and 9 levels. Procyanidin C1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against TNBC (MDA-MB- 231), hormone positive (MCF-7) cell lines. Its IC₅₀ value is comparable to tamoxifen towards MDA-MB- 231 cell line, but considerably higher towards MCF-7 cell line. Procyanidin C1 induced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and enhanced the expression of checkpoint kinases. Procyanidin C1 decreased the level of Bcl-2 but increased the BAX, caspase 3 and 9 expression in cancer cells. This study indicates the antiproliferative property of procyanidin C1 against breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis.

Current Perspectives of Exosomes as Therapeutic Targets and Drug Delivery Vehicles for Pancreatic Cancer

The ever-growing interest in exosomes research is mainly due to their potential applications in health and disease, especially in therapy and diagnosis. To explore the applications of exosomes in the clinical setting, we must understand their characteristics at the molecular levels. Furthermore, exosomes are cell and function specific; therefore, we must ascertain the molecular mechanisms of their biogenesis, cellular recognition, and uptake. In the recent past, engineered exosomes and exosome mimetics have been the subject of active research. However, critical facets of the biology of engineered exosomes and exosome mimetics remain unknown. This review presents our current understanding of the potential role of engineered exosomes and exosome mimetics in diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring of treatment, as well as drug delivery. We also present recent updates on the exosome signature, its role in pancreatic cancer progression, and applications in the delivery of natural therapeutics and RNAi molecules and in the immune response. Lastly, we discuss future prospects and challenges of exosomes in translational studies.

C-glycosyl flavone from Urginea indica inhibits proliferation & angiogenesis & induces apoptosis via cyclin-dependent kinase 6 in human breast, hepatic & colon cancer cell lines

Background & objectives:

Search for novel compounds beneficial to the treatment of cancer attracts a great deal of attention. We earlier demonstrated the isolation of 5,7-dihydroxy-2-[4’-hydroxy-3’-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]-6-C-β-glucopyranosyl flavone, a novel C-glycosyl flavone from Urginea indica bulb. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of this novel compound on human normal epithelial and breast, hepatic and colon cancer cell lines.

Methods:

The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) and cytotoxicity of C-glycosyl flavone were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Docking studies were performed to predict possible targets. Levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and CDK6, Bcl2 and BAX and cytochrome c were quantified by specific ELISA. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using JC-1 dye. Apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V ELISA method.

Results:

Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated G0/G1 arrest. In silico docking studies predicted CDK1 and CDK6 as a possible target of C-glycosyl flavone. In vitro study confirmed CDK6 as the main target in C-glycosyl flavone-treated cancer cell lines. C-glycosyl flavone treatment also induced membrane blebbing, chromatin fragmentation and nucleosome formation. C-glycosyl flavone treatment caused marked loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease in Bcl2/BAX ratio and activation of caspase-3 and release of caspase-9 and cytochrome c. In addition, C-glycosyl flavone inhibited the tumour-induced angiogenesis and reduced the vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Similarly, CDK6 inhibitor significantly inhibited proliferation and angiogenesis and induced apoptosis in tested cell lines.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The results indicate that C-glycosyl flavone may exert induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of angiogenesis via CDK6. Thus, targeting CDK6 using C-glycosyl flavone may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of breast, hepatic and colon cancers.

Exosomal tetraspanins as regulators of cancer progression and metastasis and novel diagnostic markers

Exosomes are cell-cell communicators emerging as a new paradigm for noninvasive diagnosis and prognosis of treatment response. Exosomal tetraspanin proteins like CD63, CD9 and CD81 play a critical role in sorting, selective recruitment of biomolecules, target selection, cell-specific entry, capturing, angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. These tetraspanins are being used as markers for oral, colorectal and colon cancers and glioblastoma. However, exosomal markers with robust specificity for early detection of carcinomas are the furthest along. EXO CARTA database shows the presence of CD151 in exosomes of colorectal, melanoma, ovarian and prostate cancers. CD151 preferentially targets exosomes to lung, lymph node and stroma cells. The present review discussed the possible role of tetraspanins in the formation, cargo selection, target selection and uptake of exosomes and suggests exciting new directions for future research.

Lipid rafts disruption induces apoptosis by attenuating expression of LRP6 and survivin in triple negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer is a clinically challenging subtype due to lack of biomarker for rational targeted therapy. Lipid rafts are cholesterol enriched rigid platforms, which colocalize signalling molecules of cancer progression. This study explores the effect of lipid rafts disruption by cholesterol depleting agent, MβCD on induction of apoptosis and expression of WNT receptor LRP6, survivin and common apoptotic markers in TNBC cell lines. The in vitro effect of lipid rafts disruption on viability, single cell reproductive ability, proliferation and migration were evaluated by MTT, clonogenic, BrdU incorporation and wound scratch assays, respectively. The morphological changes were assessed by tryphan blue, Wright and Giemsa staining; nuclear changes by Hoechst staining. The induction of apoptosis was evaluated by AO/EtBr staining, DNA damage and DNA fragmentation assays. Expression of Caveolin-1, LRP6, β-Catenin, Survivin, Bcl2, BAX, Caspase-3, Ki67 and c-myc were analyzed by PCR and Western blotting techniques. The lipid raft disruption resulted in reduction of the proliferation of MDA-MB 231 and MDA-MB 468 cells by 56.3 and 42.0%; survival fraction by 54.7 and 59.4%; migration by 44.3 and 48.4%, respectively. It also induced apoptosis by causing cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, chromatin cleavage, oligonucleotide fragmentation with an apoptotic index of 59.1 and 46.6% in MDA-MB 231 and 468 cells, respectively. Further, it downregulated the expression of caveolin-1, LRP6, β-catenin, survivin, Bcl2, ki67, c-myc and upregulated BAX, caspase-3. The cholesterol supplementation enhanced the clonogenic potential and upregulated the expression of caveolin-1 and LRP6. The results underline a potential effect of lipid rafts disruption on induction of apoptosis in TNBC cells.

C-glycosyl Flavone from Urginea indica Inhibits Growth and Dissemination of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Cells in Mice

BACKGROUND

C-glycosyl flavone, a phytochemical constituent in U.indica bulb, has been reported to possess cytotoxic activity.

OBJECTIVE

The present study aims to investigate the toxicity and anticancer potentials of C-glycosyl flavone against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma mice model.

METHOD

In present study, acute and chronic toxicity along with antitumor activity of C-glycosyl flavone isolated from U.indica bulb were Performed using in vitro and in vivo methods. Acute and chronic toxicity of C-glycosyl flavone was evaluated using Swiss albino mice. The effect of C-glycosyl flavone on proliferation of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells was determined. Further, growth inhibition and dissemination were studied using EAC induced mice model.

RESULTS

C-glycosyl flavone showed significant therapeutic potency against EAC cells in terms of reduced viability, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of capillary formation, reduced VEGF levels. Moreover, there was reduction in body weight, tumor volume, viable tumor cells, increased survival of EAC induced mice upon C-glycosyl flavone treatment. Treatment also reduced dissemination of EAC cells into heart, kidney, liver and brain and diminished the pathological alterations induced by EAC cells in mice. In addition, there was an improvement in hemoglobin levels and counts of RBC, neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes in C-glycosyl flavone-treated mice with tumor. An enhancement of antioxidant status in C-glycosyl flavone treated EAC-bearing mice which appeared in terms of decreased serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and lipid peroxidation, increased GSH, SOD, Catalase and GPX. These results were comparable to a standard 5- fluorouracil treatment. C-glycosyl flavone exhibited safety profile in toxicity studies.

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms the therapeutic potency of C-glycosyl flavone against EAC in inhibition of dissemination and growth of EAC in mice.

Erythropoietin monotherapy in perinatal asphyxia with moderate to severe encephalopathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Erythropoietin (EPO) is neuroprotective after asphyxia in animal studies. The efficacy and safety of EPO monotherapy in term neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is uncertain.

STUDY DESIGN

Hundred term neonates with moderate or severe HIE were randomized by random permuted block algorithm to receive either EPO 500 U kg^-1 per dose in 2 ml saline intravenously (50 neonates) on alternate days for a total of five doses with the first dose given by 6 h of age (treatment group) or 2 ml of normal saline (50 neonates) similarly for a total of five doses (placebo group) in a double-blind study. No hypothermia was given. The primary outcome was combined end point of death or moderate or severe disability at mean age of 19 months (s.d., 0.61).

RESULTS

Death or moderate or severe disability occurred in 40% of neonates in the treatment group vs 70% in the placebo group (risk ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.85; P=0.003). Death occurred in 16% of patients in both the groups (risk ratio, 1.0; 95% CI 0.33 to 2.9; P=0.61). The risk of cerebral palsy was lower among survivors in the treatment group (risk ratio, 0.52; 95% CI 0.25 to 1.03; P=0.04) and lesser number of babies were on anticonvulsants at assessment (risk ratio, 0.47; 95% CI 0.20 to 1.01; P=0.03). Neonatal brain magnetic resonance imaging showed more abnormalities in the placebo group (relative risk, 0.66; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.03; P=0.04)). Improvement in other neurological outcomes was not significant.

CONCLUSION

EPO monotherapy reduces the risk of death or disability in term neonates with moderate or severe encephalopathy.