12 research outputs found

    Interplay of the nuclear envelope with chromatin in physiology and pathology

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    The nuclear envelope compartmentalizes chromatin in eukaryotic cells. The main nuclear envelope components are lamins that associate with a panoply of factors, including the LEM domain proteins. The nuclear envelope of mammalian cells opens up during cell division. It is reassembled and associated with chromatin at the end of mitosis when telomeres tether to the nuclear periphery. Lamins, LEM domain proteins, and DNA binding factors, as BAF, contribute to the reorganization of chromatin. In this context, an emerging role is that of the ESCRT complex, a machinery operating in multiple membrane assembly pathways, including nuclear envelope reformation. Research in this area is unraveling how, mechanistically, ESCRTs link to nuclear envelope associated factors as LEM domain proteins. Importantly, ESCRTs work also during interphase for repairing nuclear envelope ruptures. Altogether the advances in this field are giving new clues for the interpretation of diseases implicating nuclear envelope fragility, as laminopathies and cancer

    Angiogenesis genotyping and clinical outcome during regorafenib treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

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    Regorafenib monotherapy is a potential option for metastatic colorectal cancer patients. However, the lack of predictive factors and the severe toxicities related to treatment have made its use in clinical practice challenging. Polymorphisms of VEGF and its receptor (VEGFR) genes might regulate angiogenesis and thus potentially influence outcome during anti-angiogenesis treatment such as regorafenib. Aim of our study was to evaluate the role of VEGF and VEGFR genotyping in determining clinical outcome for colorectal cancer patients receiving regorafenib. We retrospectively collected clinical data and samples (tumour or blood) of 138 metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with regorafenib. We analysed the correlation of different VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGFR-1,2,3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with patients' progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results from angiogenesis genotyping showed that only VEGF-A rs2010963 maintained an independent correlation with PFS and OS. Among clinical factors only ECOG PS was independently correlated with OS, whereas no correlation with PFS was evident. Grouping together those results allowed further patients stratification into 3 prognostic groups: favourable, intermediate and unfavourable. VEGF-A rs2010963 genotyping may represent an important tool for a more accurate selection of optimal candidates for regorafenib therap

    Persistency of a two-fold embrace in crystalline phases of Bupropion hydrohalides: a thorough ab-initio X-ray powder diffraction study

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    Bupropion hydrohalide salts yield ten different crystal phases of bupropion (four hydrochloride, two hydrobromide, and four hydroiodide salts). Of these forms, only four have been previously characterized by single crystal or powder diffraction analysis. The structures of the six new crystal forms have been solved using state-of-the art structural powder diffraction methods. All ten phases have been found to be made up of the same supramolecular synthon packed in different ways. The supramolecular synthon common to all phases is a bupropion hydrohalide dimer held together by hydrogen bonding. The true driving force of the polymorphism of bupropion hydrohalides is therefore the ability of the bupropion hydrohalide dimer to pack in several different ways and not the ability of the molecule to form different hydrogen bonding motifs or to exist with aliphatic branches in different stable conformations

    The Role of Aspirin as Antitumoral Agent for Heavily Pretreated Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving Capecitabine Monotherapy

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    Background: The potential clinical impact of aspirin use beyond its canonical indications is a novel matter of scientific debate. In patients with metastatic colorectal cancer failing all available options, regorafenib and TAS 102 represent the only chance of treatment. Although effective, these therapeutic options bring along a not-negligible burden in terms of economic costs and toxicity. In this setting, the indication to use aspirin in combination with chemotherapy would potentially represent a medical revolution under the economic and toxicity profile. Patients and Methods: We assessed the role of aspirin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who failed all previous treatments and were receiving capecitabine as a salvage option before the introduction of regorafenib and TAS-102. Results: Sixty-six patients were eligible. Twenty patients (30%) were on incidental treatment with aspirin for cardiovascular diseases. Twelve (60%) partial responses were seen in patients on treatment with aspirin, compared with 3 (6%) partial responses in the remaining patients (P = .00007). Sixteen patients on aspirin (80%) obtained disease control versus 14 (30%) patients who were not on aspirin (P = .000377). The median progression-free survival for patients receiving treatment with aspirin was 6.5 months versus 3.3 months for patients who were not on aspirin (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.79; . P = .0042). A significantly improved overall survival was also evident in aspirin users (median overall survival, 14.7 vs. 8.7 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.72; . P = .0023). Conclusion: Aspirin may improve the clinical outcome of heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy. Further studies are necessary before application in the clinical practice

    The Role of Aspirin as Antitumoral Agent for Heavily Pretreated Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Receiving Capecitabine Monotherapy.

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    Abstract BACKGROUND: The potential clinical impact of aspirin use beyond its canonical indications is a novel matter of scientific debate. In patients with metastatic colorectal cancer failing all available options, regorafenib and TAS 102 represent the only chance of treatment. Although effective, these therapeutic options bring along a not-negligible burden in terms of economic costs and toxicity. In this setting, the indication to use aspirin in combination with chemotherapy would potentially represent a medical revolution under the economic and toxicity profile. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We assessed the role of aspirin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who failed all previous treatments and were receiving capecitabine as a salvage option before the introduction of regorafenib and TAS-102. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients were eligible. Twenty patients (30%) were on incidental treatment with aspirin for cardiovascular diseases. Twelve (60%) partial responses were seen in patients on treatment with aspirin, compared with 3 (6%) partial responses in the remaining patients (P = .00007). Sixteen patients on aspirin (80%) obtained disease control versus 14 (30%) patients who were not on aspirin (P = .000377). The median progression-free survival for patients receiving treatment with aspirin was 6.5 months versus 3.3 months for patients who were not on aspirin (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.79; P = .0042). A significantly improved overall survival was also evident in aspirin users (median overall survival, 14.7 vs. 8.7 months, respectively; hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.72; P = .0023). CONCLUSION: Aspirin may improve the clinical outcome of heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy. Further studies are necessary before application in the clinical practice. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Aspirin; Capecitabine; Chemotherapy; Colon cancer; Salvage treatmen
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