Heat Shock Proteins 27 and 60 Serum Levels in Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer and Acute Myocardial Infarction in Birjand, Iran

Introduction: Cancer and myocardial infarction are lethal diseases. Their prevalence is increasing worldwide. In both diseases, the level of oxidative stress rises because of tissue damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of heat shock protein 27 and heat shock protein 60 in patients with cancer and myocardial infarction, and then compare them with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: After blood samples were collected from the participants, plasma and serum were separated from these samples for further examination. The serum levels of heat shock protein 27 and heat shock protein 60 were measured with related kits in 30 patients with cancer and 30 patients with acute myocardial infarction, followed by 30 healthy individuals. The collected data were then analyzed in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 22).Results: The mean serum levels of heat shock protein 27 in cancer patients (25.21 ± 5.57 ng/mL) and in patients with myocardial infarction (45.23 ± 7.43) were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (10.61 ± 3.11; P<.05). In addition, the mean serum levels of heat shock protein 60 in patients with cancer (19.23 ± 3.41 ng/mL) and patients with myocardial infarction (22.23 ± 2.25 ng/mL) were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (8.38 ± 2.53; P<.05).Conclusion: An increase in the serum levels of heat shock proteins 27 and 60 was observed in patients with cancer and myocardial infarction. Therefore, we can suggest that these biomarkers should help surgeons or physicians to diagnose the diseases

Epigenetic mechanisms and their effects on cancer incidence and treatment: a review study

Both genetic and epigenetic changes are effective in cancer incidence and development. . .Epigenetic processes are alternations of DNA and histones conformations, chromatin remodeling, DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones and microRNAs patterns which are associated with genes expression or inhibition of them in cells. Some of reversible epigenetic changes such as DNA and histcone conformation alternations related to drug interaction, stabilization of telomeric quadruplex sequences, DNA hypermethylation and histone acetylation and phosphorylation have been recognized as promising novel therapeutic targets in various cancers. In the present review, . molecular mechanisms of epigenetics, epigenetic changes in tumors, and epigenetic based treatments are discussed

Countering Triple Negative Breast Cancer via Impeding Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling, a Phytotherapeutic Approach

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized as a heterogeneous disease with severe malignancy and high mortality. Aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling is responsible for self-renewal and mammosphere generation, metastasis and resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy in TNBC. Nonetheless, in the absence of a targeted therapy, chemotherapy is regarded as the exclusive treatment strategy for the treatment of TNBC. This review aims to provide an unprecedented overview of the plants and herbal derivatives which repress the progression of TNBC through prohibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Herbal medicine extracts and bioactive compounds (alkaloids, retinoids. flavonoids, terpenes, carotenoids and lignans) alone, in combination with each other and/or with chemotherapy agents could interrupt the various steps of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, i.e., WNT, FZD, LRP, GSK3β, Dsh, APC, β-catenin and TCF/LEF. These phytotherapy agents diminish proliferation, metastasis, breast cancer stem cell self-renewal and induce apoptosis in cell and animal models of TNBC through the down-expression of the downstream target genes of Wnt signaling. Some of the herbal derivatives simultaneously impede Wnt/β-catenin signaling and other overactive pathways in triple negative breast cancer, including: mTORC1; ER stress and SATB1 signaling. The herbal remedies and their bioactive ingredients perform essential roles in the treatment of the very fatal TNBC via repression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Sources of Cancer Neoantigens beyond Single-Nucleotide Variants

The success of checkpoint blockade therapy against cancer has unequivocally shown that cancer cells can be effectively recognized by the immune system and eliminated. However, the identity of the cancer antigens that elicit protective immunity remains to be fully explored. Over the last decade, most of the focus has been on somatic mutations derived from non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) and small insertion/deletion mutations (indels) that accumulate during cancer progression. Mutated peptides can be presented on MHC molecules and give rise to novel antigens or neoantigens, which have been shown to induce potent anti-tumor immune responses. A limitation with SNV-neoantigens is that they are patient-specific and their accurate prediction is critical for the development of effective immunotherapies. In addition, cancer types with low mutation burden may not display sufficient high-quality [SNV/small indels] neoantigens to alone stimulate effective T cell responses. Accumulating evidence suggests the existence of alternative sources of cancer neoantigens, such as gene fusions, alternative splicing variants, post-translational modifications, and transposable elements, which may be attractive novel targets for immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the recent technological advances in the identification of these novel sources of neoantigens, the experimental evidence for their presentation on MHC molecules and their immunogenicity, as well as the current clinical development stage of immunotherapy targeting these neoantigens

Antitumor activity of aqueous extract of Ziziphus jujube fruit in breast cancer: An in vitro and in vivo study

Objective: To investigate various therapeutic effects of medicinal plant Ziziphus jujube (Z. jujube), such as antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the beneficial effects of aqueous extract of Z. jujube fruit on the proliferation of breast cancer cells by MTT assay and the antioxidant by FRAP, haematological and biochemical alterations caused by NMU-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. The rats were divided into five groups, control group A (n=10), Z. jujube control group B (n=10), NMU control group C (n=15), Z. jujube treatment group D (n=15) and Z. jujube prevention group E (n=15). At the end of the experimental period, all the animals were euthanized and blood was collected by heart puncture. Results: The Z. jujube revealed a dose- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect against an MDA-MB-468 cell line and its treatment significantly (P<0.05) increased the total antioxidant capacity when compared to the NMU control group C. Z. jujube exhibited a preventive effect against anaemia, lymphocytosis and neutrophilia in group D and group E, when compared to group C. Biochemical analyses showed normal levels of enzymes of the liver in the Z. jujube treated groups: B, D and E rats, whereas NMU control group C showed significant (P<0.05) decreases in ALT, AST, albumin and total protein levels, and significant (P<0.05) increases in ALP and LDH. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the Z. jujube ameliorates the adverse effects of NMU carcinogenesis and could be useful for treating mammary tumours in humans

A Comparative in-vitro study between the interaction of aqueous extracts of Ephedra, Nepeta, and Hymenocrater with histone proteins

Background and Aim: Ephedra, Nepeta, and Hymenocrater herbs have long been used in the treatment of many diseases, but their interactions with cellular components, especially nuclear proteins, are still unknown. On the other hand, in the eukaryotic cell nucleus histone proteins play a main role in the packaging of the genetic material as chromatin. The present study aimed at comparing the in-vitro interactions of aqueous extracts of Ephedra, Nepeta, and Hymonocarater with histone proteins. Materials and Methods: Histone proteins type 2A were purchased from Sigma company and aqueous extract of Ephedra, Nepeta and Hymenocrater were prepared in the research laboratory of Birjand University of Medical sciences. Different concentrations of the aqueous extracts were incubated with histone proteins, then analyzed by UV-Spectroscopy and Circular dichroism. Results: Aqueous extract of Nepeta increased maximum absorbance of histone proteins at 210 nm, but the reduction in absorbance was shown at its high concentration. The absorbance of histone proteins also changed in the presence of the aqueous extract of Ephedra and Hymenocrater and it decreased to zero at higher concentration of Ephedra. Circular Dichroism studies demonstrated that the structure of histone proteins changed in the presence of mentioned aqueous extract; the observed effect of the aqueous extract of ephedra was higher than Nepeta and Hymenocrater. Conclusion: The aqueous extracts of ephedra, Nepeta,and Hymenocrated interacted with histone proteins and changed their structure. The effect of ephedra was higher than others

Anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of Ziziphus Jujube on cervical and breast cancer cells

Objectives: Ziziphus Jujube (Jujube) plant has exhibited numerous medicinal and pharmacological properties including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was carried out to investigate its anti-cancer and pro-apoptotic abilities in human cervical and breast cancer cells in vitro. Materials and Methods: The cervical OV2008 and breast MCF-7 cancer cells were incubated with different concentrations of Jujube aqueous extraction (0-3 mg/ml) for various times (0-72 h). Cell viability was assessed by Trypan Blue and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of two apoptosis-related genes in treated cells evaluated by quantitative Real Time -PCR analysis. Results: Jujube significantly inhibited cancer cell viability in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Herb-induced apoptosis was associated with enhanced expression of Bax and decreased Bcl2 gene leading eventually to a time-dependent six fold increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Conclusions: These results indicated that Jujube may be a natural potential and promising agent to prevent or treat human cancers

The Frequency of Breast Cancer Among Women Referred to Hospitals for Biopsy in Birjand, Iran During 2011-2013

Background: This study aims to demonstrate the frequency of malignant breast cancer (BC) according to pathologic findings in Birjand during 2011-2013 years. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of pathologic records from 229 breast biopsies of two hospitals in Birjand. Results: Most of the biopsies in women were malignant cases which nearly 90% of them were detected after lymph node involvement. The mean age of women with malignant BC was 48.8 years. Conclusions: A notable proportion of our cases were diagnosed in metastatic stages as advanced BC. It further highlights the importance of screening and diagnosis at earlier stages.

Comparison between oxidative stress (8-OhdG, MDA) and atherogenic risk (AIP) factors in type 2 diabetics and healthy people: a case-control study

Background and Aim: Oxidative stress and atherogenic dyslipidemia are the main complications in type 2 diabetics. The present study aimed at comparing between serum 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and atherogenic index plasma (ARP) levels in type 2 diabetics and normal people. Materials and Methods: In this study the relevant data of 50 type 2 diabetics ,who had referred to Emam Reza educational hospital and serum samples of random 50 healthy subjects, aged 27-70 yrs, was collected. The levels of 8-OHdG, AIP, and MDA in type II diabetics were measured by means of ELISA and TBARS, respectively. Their lipid profiles and plasma autherogenic indices were assessed through an autoanalyser. Results: The case and control groups were homogenized&nbsp; regarding some demographic components such as age and gender .It was found that serum&nbsp; levels of 8OHdG,MDA, and AIP were significantly higher in the patients compared to the healthy controls ,aged 27-70 yrs (P<0.05, r=0.31). But, no significant relationship was found between 8OHdG and MDA (P=0.91, r=0.02). The high rate of lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation in type II diabetics can reveal outstanding oxidative stress predisposing them to CVDs complications Conclusion: The lipid peroxidation and DNA oxidation in diabetic patients were indicated high oxidative stress in these patients, which can cause post complications such as cardiovascular disease