Novel Chemicals Derived from Tadalafil Exhibit PRMT5 Inhibition and Promising Activities against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer seriously endangers women’s health worldwide. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) is highly expressed in breast cancer and represents a potential druggable target for breast cancer treatment. However, because the currently available clinical PRMT5 inhibitors are relatively limited, there is an urgent need to develop new PRMT5 inhibitors. Our team previously found that the FDA-approved drug tadalafil can act as a PRMT5 inhibitor and enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer patients to doxorubicin treatment. To further improve the binding specificity of tadalafil to PRMT5, we chemically modified tadalafil, and designed three compounds, A, B, and C, based on the PRMT5 protein structure. These three compounds could bind to PRMT5 through different binding modes and inhibit histone arginine methylation. They arrested the proliferation and triggered the apoptosis of breast cancer cells in vitro and also promoted the antitumor effects of the chemotherapy drugs cisplatin, doxorubicin, and olaparib in combination regimens. Among them, compound A possessed the highest potency. Finally, the anti-breast cancer effects of PRMT5 inhibitor A and its ability to enhance chemosensitivity were further verified in a xenograft mouse model. These results indicate that the new PRMT5 inhibitors A, B, and C may be potential candidates for breast cancer treatment.     

Potential Role of Selenium in the Treatment of Cancer and Viral Infections

Selenium has been extensively evaluated clinically as a chemopreventive agent with variable results depending on the type and dose of selenium used. Selenium species are now being therapeutically evaluated as modulators of drug responses rather than as directly cytotoxic agents. In addition, recent data suggest an association between selenium base-line levels in blood and survival of patients with COVID-19. The major focus of this mini review was to summarize: the pathways of selenium metabolism; the results of selenium-based chemopreventive clinical trials; the potential for using selenium metabolites as therapeutic modulators of drug responses in cancer (clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in particular); and selenium usage alone or in combination with vaccines in the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Critical therapeutic targets and the potential role of different selenium species, doses, and schedules are discussed.     

Biological Synthesis of Bioactive Gold Nanoparticles from Inonotus obliquus for Dual Chemo-Photothermal Effects against Human Brain Cancer Cells

The possibility for an ecologically friendly and simple production of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) (Ch-AuNPs) is presented in this study. Chaga extract’s reducing potential was evaluated at varied concentrations and temperatures. The nanoparticles synthesized were all under 20 nm in size, as measured by TEM, which is a commendable result for a spontaneous synthesis method utilizing a biological source. The Ch-AuNPs showed anti-cancer chemotherapeutic effects on human brain cancer cells which is attributed to the biofunctionalization of the AuNPs with Chaga bioactive components during the synthesis process. Further, the photothermal ablation capability of the as-prepared gold nanoparticles on human brain cancer cells was investigated. It was found that the NIR-laser induced thermal ablation of cancer cells was effective in eliminating over 80% of the cells. This research projects the Ch-AuNPs as promising, dual modal (chemo-photothermal) therapeutic candidates for anti-cancer applications.     

Piperlongumine as a Neuro-Protectant in Chemotherapy Induced Cognitive Impairment

Advances in the early diagnosis and treatment have led to increases in breast cancer survivorship. Survivors report cognitive impairment symptoms such as loss of concentration and learning and memory deficits which significantly reduce the patient’s quality of life. Additional therapies are needed to prevent these side effects and, the precise mechanisms of action responsible are not fully elucidated. However, increasing evidence points toward the use of neuroprotective compounds with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties as tools for conserving learning and memory. Here, we examine the ability of piperlongumine (PL), an alkaloid known to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, to play a neuroprotective role in 16-week-old female C57BL/6J mice treated with a common breast cancer regimen of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel (TAC). During social memory testing, TAC-treated mice exhibited impairment, while TAC/PL co-treated mice did not exhibit measurable social memory deficits. Proteomics analysis showed ERK1/2 signaling is involved in TAC and TAC/PL co-treatment. Reduced Nrf2 mRNA expression was also observed. mRNA levels of Gria2 were increased in TAC treated mice and reduced in TAC/PL co-treated mice. In this study, PL protects against social memory impairment when co-administered with TAC via multifactorial mechanisms involving oxidative stress and synaptic plasticity.     

晚期三阴性乳腺癌的药物治疗进展

三阴性乳腺癌为雌、孕激素受体及人表皮生长因子受体-2均为阴性的乳腺癌,由于缺乏特异性的治疗靶点,晚期治疗尚缺少有效的治疗方案。本文综述近年来晚期三阴性乳腺癌的药物治疗研究进展,主要包括化学治疗、靶向治疗、内分泌治疗、免疫治疗四个方面,旨在为临床治疗提供借鉴和参考。     

Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogens for Mitochondria-Targeted Cancer Therapy

The importance of mitochondria in tumorigenesis makes these organelles an ideal target for cancer therapy. In recent years, luminogens with the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect have been developed for mitochondrial targeting and cancer treatment. The induction of mitochondrial dysfunction can be an effective pathway of chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and combination therapy against cancer. This review focuses on recent progress in the field of AIE luminogens (AIEgens) for cancer theranostics based on mitochondrial targeting and dysfunction. AIEgens for cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and combination therapy, are summarized herein. Molecular design efforts toward mitochondrial targeting and mitochondria-damaging mechanisms are also discussed. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future directions of development for AIEgens in mitochondria-targeted cancer treatment.     

Improved drug loading via spray drying of a chalcone implant for local treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Current chemotherapy of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), even the mildest forms, encompasses multiple and painful injections with toxic drugs that cause systemic adverse effects. Recently, we showed the promising use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles loaded with an antileishmanial nitrosylated chalcone (CH8) for effective, safe, local, and single-dose treatment of CL. Here, we proposed to optimize the delivery system by increasing the CH8 loading in PLGA-microparticles using spray drying instead of emulsification-solvent evaporation. The effect of solvent composition and polymeric matrix changes on thermal properties, loading efficiency, particle size, morphology, and spatial drug distribution of the CH8-loaded microparticles was evaluated. The results showed that spray drying allowed a higher CH8 content (18% w/w), as contrasting with the previous solvent evaporation technique that maximally incorporated 7.8% of CH8. In vitro studies on 96-hour incubation with L. amazonensis-infected macrophages showed that entrapment in spray-dried PLGA microparticles rendered CH8 safer, preserved its antileishmanial activity, and did not affect its antioxidant properties.     

Towards Light-Activated Ruthenium–Arene (RAPTA-Type) Prodrug Candidates

Cancer is currently one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. Based on the high incidence of this disease, the side effects associated with current chemotherapies and the appearance of drug resistance, considerable efforts have been directed towards the development of new anticancer drugs with new modes of action. Metal-based compounds are particularly attractive candidates due to their metabolic mechanisms, which differ substantially from those of organic drugs. Of special interest in this context are organometallic ruthenium(II) complexes of the type [Ru(η⁶-arene)(pta)Cl₂] (arene: p-cymene, toluene, benzene, etc.; pta: 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane), which are abbreviated to RAPTA. Complementary to chemotherapy, photoactivated chemotherapy is a technique that has received increasing attention towards the development of treatment for numerous kinds of cancer. With this in mind, a photoactive RAPTA-type complex bearing azide ligands has been designed. The diazide complex, [Ru(η⁶-p-cymene)pta-(N₃)₂], is inert in water, but slowly releases the azide ligand upon exposure to light. Consequently, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complex in the dark and upon light exposure at λ=450 nm in human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) and noncancerous retinal pigment epithelium (RPE-1) cells was investigated. Although the cytotoxicity of the complex was found to be modest in the dark, an increase in toxicity upon light exposure was observed.     

靶向药物曲妥珠单抗联合化疗对人类表皮生长因子受体2阳性局部晚期乳腺癌患者临床疗效研究

目的: 观察曲妥珠单抗联合化疗对人类表皮生长因子受体2(HER-2)阳性的局部晚期乳腺癌(LABC)临床治疗结果。方法: 将228例HER-2阳性手术无法切除的晚期乳腺癌病例随机分到曲妥珠单抗辅助疗法+化疗组或单纯化疗组。其中115例接受曲妥珠单抗+化疗,113例单纯接受化疗,经过10个疗程治疗后,观察两组患者中临床和病理的完全缓解人数及符合手术要求的人数。结果: 数据显示与单纯化疗相比,曲妥珠单抗+化疗组病例对治疗的临床完全缓解病例(cCR)(化疗+曲妥珠单抗组89%,单纯化疗组77%)、病理学完全缓解(pCR)病例(两组分别为43%和23%)以及乳房和腋下淋巴结完全缓解(tpCR)病例(分别为39%和20%)比例更高,同时可以使更多的患者获得手术和保留乳房的机会。结论: 曲妥珠单抗联合化疗药物治疗HER-2过度表达的局部晚期乳腺癌均有较好的临床疗效,是治疗晚期乳癌并延长生存时间的一种新方法。     

多种口服升白药物治疗化疗相关白细胞减少症的实验研究

目的: 通过小鼠实验研究评价5种常用口服升白细胞药物治疗化疗相关白细胞减少症的疗效。方法: 采用环磷酰胺腹腔注射法制备小鼠化疗相关白细胞减少症模型,以瑞白为阳性对照药物,分别将5种口服升白细胞药物(芪胶升白胶囊、维血宁、复方皂矾丸、升白安和利可君)灌胃,用全血细胞分析仪测定血细胞计数,解剖小鼠并将其重要脏器称重,计算脏器指数。结果: 各组小鼠死亡率无明显差别。按照升白细胞计数的功效,从高到低依次为瑞白、利可君、升白安、维血宁、芪胶升白胶囊、复方皂矾丸,其中芪胶升白胶囊、复方皂矾丸升白细胞作用不明显;除此之外,升白安、利可君还可以提高红细胞计数、血红蛋白浓度及血小板计数。心、脾、肺3个脏器的脏器指数受较多的药物影响,就单种药物而言,升白安对脏器的影响最小,而复方皂矾丸影响的脏器最多。结论: 瑞白提升白细胞效果最佳,其次是利可君,升白安对血三系提升均有一定的作用,且对脏器的影响最小。