Determination of cell survival after irradiation via clonogenic assay versus multiple MTT Assay - A comparative study

For studying proliferation and determination of survival of cancer cells after irradiation, the multiple MTT assay, based on the reduction of a yellow water soluble tetrazolium salt to a purple water insoluble formazan dye by living cells was modified from a single-point towards a proliferation assay. This assay can be performed with a large number of samples in short time using multi-well-plates, assays can be performed semi-automatically with a microplate reader. Survival, the calculated parameter in this assay, is determined mathematically. Exponential growth in both control and irradiated groups was proven as the underlying basis of the applicability of the multiple MTT assay. The equivalence to a clonogenic survival assay with its disadvantages such as time consumption was proven in two setups including plating of cells before and after irradiation. Three cell lines (A 549, LN 229 and F 98) were included in the experiment to study its principal and general applicability

Genotype–phenotype associations within the Li-Fraumeni spectrum: a report from the German Registry

Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by pathogenic TP53 variants. The condition represents one of the most relevant genetic causes of cancer in children and adults due to its frequency and high cancer risk. The term Li-Fraumeni spectrum reflects the evolving phenotypic variability of the condition. Within this spectrum, patients who meet specific LFS criteria are diagnosed with LFS, while patients who do not meet these criteria are diagnosed with attenuated LFS. To explore genotype–phenotype correlations we analyzed 141 individuals from 94 families with pathogenic TP53 variants registered in the German Cancer Predisposition Syndrome Registry. Twenty-one (22%) families had attenuated LFS and 73 (78%) families met the criteria of LFS. NULL variants occurred in 32 (44%) families with LFS and in two (9.5%) families with attenuated LFS (P value < 0.01). Kato partially functional variants were present in 10 out of 53 (19%) families without childhood cancer except adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) versus 0 out of 41 families with childhood cancer other than ACC alone (P value < 0.01). Our study suggests genotype–phenotype correlations encouraging further analyses. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13045-022-01332-1

E-Book : Research findings from the digital factory

Digitale Lesezeichen, Volltextsuche und Multimedia-Inhalte – die Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts durch das Internet ausgelöste Medienrevolution ließ auch das Buch nicht unberührt. Die Verbreitung des World Wide Webs parallel zur rasanten Entwicklung der Computertechnologie ermöglichte die Digitalisierung des Buches und bildete das E-Book als neue Publikationsform heraus. Seit etwa zehn Jahren können Bücher nicht mehr nur gedruckt, sondern auch elektronisch zur Verfügung gestellt werden, was für die Buchbranche und den Leser einige Veränderungen bedeutet. Moderne Lesegeräte, auch E-Reader genannt, erlauben die Speicherung einer ganzen Bibliothek auf einem einzigen mobilen Endgerät. Dabei steht das einzelne E-Book dem gedruckten Buch in seiner Lesequalität in nichts nach und ermöglicht zudem das Einfügen elektronischer Notizen und Lesezeichen, die Volltextsuche nach bestimmten Wörtern und die Verbindung von Text mit Bild, Ton und Video. Dennoch kann das E-Book seit seinem Aufkommen in Deutschland noch keine Erfolgsgeschichte schreiben. Insbesondere hohe Preise für die Lesegeräte halten immer noch viele Leser vom Nutzen der E-Books ab. Zu sehr ist das gedruckte Buch für zahlreiche Menschen noch fester Bestandteil ihres alltäglichen Lebens, als das sie es bereits durch das E-Book austauschen würden. Eine Situation, die einige Fragen aufwirft: Wird sich das EBook als Medium durchsetzen und das gedruckte Buch langfristig ablösen? Kann das EBook neben Zeitung, Radio, Fernsehen und Buch überhaupt als ein neues Medium verstanden werden? Und welche Veränderungen würde die massenhafte Verbreitung elektronischer Bücher mit sich bringen

Comprehensive Assessment of GPR68 Expression in Normal and Neoplastic Human Tissues Using a Novel Rabbit Monoclonal Antibody

GPR68 (OGR1) belongs to the proton-sensing G protein-coupled receptors that are involved in cellular adaptations to pH changes during tumour development. Although expression of GPR68 has been described in many tumour cell lines, little is known about its presence in human tumour entities. We characterised the novel rabbit monoclonal anti-human GPR68 antibody 16H23L16 using various cell lines and tissue specimens. The antibody was then applied to a large series of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded normal and neoplastic human tissue samples. Antibody specificity was demonstrated in a Western blot analysis of GPR68-expressing cells using specific siRNAs. Immunocytochemical experiments revealed pH-dependent changes in subcellular localisation of the receptor and internalisation after stimulation with lorazepam. In normal tissue, GPR68 was present in glucagon-producing islet cells, neuroendocrine cells of the intestinal tract, gastric glands, granulocytes, macrophages, muscle layers of arteries and arterioles, and capillaries. GPR68 was also expressed in neuroendocrine tumours, where it may be a positive prognostic factor, in pheochromocytomas, cervical adenocarcinomas, and endometrial cancer, as well as in paragangliomas, medullary thyroid carcinomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, and pancreatic adenocarcinomas. Often, tumour capillaries were also strongly GPR68-positive. The novel antibody 16H23L16 will be a valuable tool for basic research and for identifying GPR68-expressing tumours during histopathological examinations

Selective progesterone receptor modulators for the medical treatment of uterine fibroids with a focus on ulipristal acetate

Uterine fibroids are the most frequent benign tumours in women of child-bearing age. Their symptoms are diverse and the quality of life of the women affected can be significantly impaired. While treatment to date has been primarily by means of surgical intervention, selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) open up new medication-based treatment options. EMA’s Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) has recently completed its review of ESMYA® (ulipristal acetate, 5 mg), following reports of serious liver injury, including liver failure leading to transplantation in postmarketing settings. We will provide some information on the PRAC’s recommendations to minimize this risk. Nevertheless, the effectiveness and safety of the SPRM ulipristal acetate (UPA), both with regard to preoperative administration and with regard to an intermittent administration as long-term treatment for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids, have been shown in several clinical studies (PEARL I–IV)

Corrigendum to "Selective progesterone receptor modulators for the medical treatment of uterine fibroids with a focus on ulipristal acetate"

In the article titled "Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulators for the Medical Treatment of Uterine Fibroids with a Focus on Ulipristal Acetate", the affiliation of the third author was incorrect. The corrected affiliation is shown above. In addition, the Conflicts of Interest section should be updated as follows ..

Mechanisms of Targeting the MDM2-p53-FOXM1 Axis in Well-Differentiated Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors

Background/Aims: The tumor suppressor p53 is rarely mutated in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) but they frequently show a strong expression of negative regulators of p53, rendering these tumors excellent targets for a p53 recovery therapy. Therefore, we analyzed the mechanisms of a p53 recovery therapy on intestinal neuroendocrine tumors in vitro and in vivo.Methods: By Western blot and immunohistochemistry, we found that in GEP-NEN biopsy material overexpression of MDM2 was present in intestinal NEN. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of a small-molecule inhibitor, nutlin-3a, in p53 wild-type and mutant GEP-NEN cell lines by proliferation assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and by multiplex gene expression analysis. Finally, we analyzed the antitumor effect of nutlin-3a in a xenograft mouse model in vivo. During the study, the tumor volume was determined. Results: The midgut wild-type cell line KRJ-I responded to the treatment with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. By gene expression analysis, we could demonstrate that nutlins reactivated an antiproliferative p53 response. KRJ-I-derived xenograft tumors showed a significantly decreased tumor growth upon treatment with nutlin-3a in vivo. Furthermore, our data suggest that MDM2 also influences the expression of the oncogene FOXM1 in a p53-independent manner. Subsequently, a combined treatment of nutlin-3a and cisplatin (as chemoresistance model) resulted in synergistically enhanced antiproliferative effects. Conclusion: In summary, MDM2 overexpression is a frequent event in p53 wild-type intestinal neuroendocrine neoplasms and therefore recovery of a p53 response might be a novel personalized treatment approach in these tumors.Peer Reviewe