Combination of 131I-anti-endoglin monoclonal antibody and 5-fluorouracil may be a promising combined-modality radioimmunotherapy strategy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of combined radioimmunoconjugate 131I endoglin (ENG) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in mouse model with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC tumour SMMC7721-GFP xenograft-bearing mice were established and divided into four groups: control group, 5-FU group, 131I-anti-ENG McAb group, and 5-FU and 131I-anti-ENG McAb combination group. 5-FU or 131I-anti-ENG McAb was intraperitoneally injected from Monday to Friday with a therapy break on Saturday and Sunday. So was the combination therapy with 5-FU and 131I-anti-ENG McAb. 131I-anti-ENG McAb and131I-IgG were prepared, and their biodistribution was studied. Noninvasive fluorescence imaging, tumour volume and tumour weight were measured. High expression levels of ENG in HCC tissues were confirmed by whole-body phosphor-autoradiography. Whole-body phosphor-autoradiography also showed higher tumour uptake for 131I-anti-ENG McAb compared with 131I-IgG. Biodistribution studies indicated higher tumour accumulation and better T/NT (6.44 ± 1.01) of 131I-anti-ENG McAb. Noninvasive fluorescence imaging revealed significant tumour growth suppression in the 131I-anti-ENG McAb and 5-FU combination therapy group based on reduced fluorescent signals. After treatment with 131I-anti-ENG McAb and 5-FU, the tumour volume and tumour weight were all decreased. The tumour growth inhibition rate was up to 77.1 ± 4.06% in the 131I-anti-ENG McAb and 5-FU combination therapy group. The present study demonstrated that the combination of 131I-anti-ENG McAb and 5-FU may be a promising combined-modality radioimmunotherapy strategy for HCC

Silicon alleviates cadmium toxicity in Avicennia marina (Forsk) Vierh seedlings in relation to root anatomy and radial oxygen loss

National Important Scientific Research Program of China [2013CB956504]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [30970527, 31170471, 31370516]The effects of Si on growth, the anatomy of the roots, radial oxygen loss (ROL) and Fe/Mn plaque on the root surface were investigated in Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. seedlings under Cd stress. Si prompted the growth of seedlings and reduced the Cd concentration in the root, stem and leaf of A. marina. Si prompted the development of the apoplastic barrier in the roots, which may be related to the reduction of Cd uptake. The higher amount of ROL and Mn plaque on the root surface due to Si were also related to the promotion of Cd tolerance in A. marina seedlings. Therefore, it is concluded that the alteration of the anatomy of the roots, the increase of ROL and Mn plaque of A. marina seedlings play an important role in alleviation of Cd toxicity due to Si. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved