Stimulation of lymphocyte anti-melanoma activity by co-cultured macrophages activated by complex homeopathic medication

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and the most rapidly expanding cancer in terms of worldwide incidence. Chemotherapeutic approaches to treat melanoma have been uniformly disappointing. A Brazilian complex homeopathic medication (CHM), used as an immune modulator, has been recommended for patients with depressed immune systems. Previous studies in mice have demonstrated that the CHM activates macrophages, induces an increase in the number of leukocytes and improves the murine response against Sarcoma-180.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we studied the interaction of mouse lymph node lymphocytes, co-cultured <it>in vitro </it>with macrophages in the presence or absence of the CHM, with B16F10 melanoma cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lymphocytes co-cultured with macrophages in the presence of the CHM had greater anti-melanoma activity, reducing melanoma cell density and increasing the number of lysed tumor cells. There was also a higher proportion of activated (CD25⁺) lymphocytes with increased viability. Overall, lymphocytes activated by treatment destroyed growing cancer cells more effectively than control lymphocytes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Co-culture of macrophages with lymphocytes in the presence of the CHM enhanced the anti-cancer performance of lymphocytes against a very aggressive lineage of melanoma cells. These results suggest that non-toxic therapies using CHMs are a promising alternative approach to the treatment of melanomas. In addition, they are attractive combination-therapy candidates, which may enhance the efficacy of conventional medicines by improving the immune response against tumor cells.</p

MICRORNA IN MONITORING OF THE EVOLUTION OF GLIAL CEREBRAL TUMORS

Glial cerebral tumors (GCT) are primary tumors of the central nervous system that develop from glial tissue. Despite the use of combination treatment, the overall median survival rate in patients with glioblastoma, the most malignant form of HCC, is low. MicroRNA is a large class of endogenous small RNA molecules that inhibit mRNA translation of target genes involved in the evolution of GCT. It was shown that miRNA-21 has antiapoptotic and invasive functions by means of silencing of the PTEN tumor suppressor. MicroRNA-128 can activate a number of genes that are responsible for the mechanisms of suppression of tumor growth. MicroRNA-342, modulating PAK4 gene expression, is involved in the control of tumor cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis.The aim of the work was to study the feasibility of using the assessment of miRNA-21, -128 and -342 expressions in the blood plasma and saliva of patients to monitor GCT progression or stabilization during combined modality treatment.Material and Methods. The main group consisted of 56 patients with GCTs. (34 men and 22 women), aged 25 to 72 years (average age 48.5 years) GCTs. The control group consisted of 50 people (45 volunteers and 5 neurosurgical patients with extracerebral meningiomas). The study of miRNA-21, -128, and -342 expressions was carried out according to the semiquantitative StemLoopRealTime protocol, using small U6 RNA as a reference gene. Data was processed using the STATISTICA for Windows computer system.Results. In 70 % of patients with disease progression assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, without progression in cerebral and focal neurological signs, the expression level of miRNA21 exceeded the control values both in blood plasma and saliva, and the expression levels of miRNA-128 and -342 were significantly reduced. In patients with GCT stabilization, the expression levels of miRNA-21, -128, and -342 did not go beyond the reference values. The diagnostic significance of miRNA-128, -342 for GCT was 69 %; therefore these miRNAs can be used in a clinical setting. Thus, the increased expression of miRNA-21 and decreased expressions of miRNA-128 and -342 in both blood plasma and saliva indicate cerebral glioma progression