Multifunctional Manganese Single Source Precursor for the Selective Deposition of MnF2 or Mn3O4

AbstractA novel Mn(II) precursor, the Mn(hfa)2●tmeda, was successfully applied to the deposition of manganese containing nanostructures in Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) processes at atmospheric and reduced pressure. Experimental data evidenced that different phases were obtained, selectively and reproducibly, on varying the operating pressure. Manganese difluoride (MnF2) nanorod assemblies were obtained under atmospheric pressure, while hausmannite (Mn3O4) nanostructured films were obtained under reduced pressure. X-ray diffraction patterns in grazing incidence mode and energy dispersive X-ray analyses confirmed the phase nature and composition of the manganese containing nanostructures. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy images evidenced the nanostructure morphology of both the MnF2 and Mn3O4 phases

Epigenetics Modifications and Therapeutic Prospects in Human Thyroid Cancer

At present no successful treatment is available for advanced thyroid cancer, which comprises poorly differentiated, anaplastic, and metastatic or recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer not responding to radioiodine. In the last few years, biologically targeted therapies for advanced thyroid carcinomas have been proposed on the basis of the recognition of key oncogenic mutations. Although the results of several phase II trials look promising, none of the patients treated had a complete response, and only a minority of them had a partial response, suggesting that the treatment is, at best, effective in stabilizing patients with progressive disease. “Epigenetic” refers to the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without any alteration in the primary DNA sequence. The epigenetic processes establish and maintain the global and local chromatin states that determine gene expression. Epigenetic abnormalities are present in almost all cancers and, together with genetic changes, drive tumor progression. Various genes involved in the control of cell proliferation and invasion (p16INK4A, RASSF1A, PTEN, Rap1GAP, TIMP3, DAPK, RARβ2, E-cadherin, and CITED1) as well as genes specific of thyroid differentiation (Na+/I− symport, TSH receptor, pendrin, SL5A8, and TTF-1) present aberrant methylation in thyroid cancer. This review deals with the most frequent epigenetic alterations in thyroid cancer and focuses on epigenetic therapy, whose goal is to target the chromatin in rapidly dividing tumor cells and potentially restore normal cell functions. Experimental data and clinical trials, especially using deacetylase inhibitors and demethylating agents, are discussed