Alcoholic extract of Tarantula cubensis (Theranekron®) induce autophagy on gastric cancer cells

Aim: To evaluate the effects of theranekron in respect of autophagy on gastric cancer that is the fifth leading cancer type worldwide. Metods: In the present study, metastatic AGS and non-metastatic MKN-45 human gastric cell lines were used together with HEK-293 non-cancer cells as controls. Cytotoxic effect of theranekron besides appropriate treatment time was investigated through cell proliferation by using Cell Proliferation assay Kit (MTT) using different concentrations of the drug. The autophagic effect of the drug was determined using the LC3-GFP translocation assay and western blot analysis. All experiments were performed also using the ethanol since Tarantula cubensis spider was processed and diluted in 60% alcohol to generate as a drug. Results: MTT assay results demonstrated that the half maximal inhibitory concentration of theranekron was ~100 μM, its effect was found to be significant at 6 hrs, and theranekron decreased the cell viability in all cell lines without specificity in respect to the increasing concentrations. Additionally, a significantly increased GFP accumulation was detected in the autophagosomes of the cells treated with theranekron compared to non-treated cells, indicating the presence of autophagy. Conclusion: These findings were confirmed by LC3-I to LC3-II conversion with the western blot analysis. The data of ethanol experiments; however, demonstrated that ethanol also induced a cytotoxic effect and autophagic cell death. Our results suggested that theranekron results in cell death and stimulate autophagy process, but it is not specific for cancer cells since it represented similar results on non-cancer control cells. Moreover, the effect of theranekron on cell death might mostly occur through alcohol in which it is extracted

The efficacy of clobetasol, dexpanthenol, and fucidic acid in the treatment of cetuximab-induced skin toxicity

Cetuximab (CTX) is a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). It is used as a monotherapy or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Severe cutaneous reactions are frequent and major causes of discontinuation of CTX treatment. This open-label study evaluated the efficacy of a mixture drug topically applied to skin lesions in patients with mCRC who developed skin toxicity caused by CTX. Twenty patients with mCRC were included in this prospective, single-center, open-labeled trial. The patients had received CTX in addition to chemotherapy and developed grade 2 or 3 skin toxicity and were treated twice daily with an ointment mixture of clobetasol, dexpanthenol, and fucidic acid. The objective response rate was 100%, and no delay, dose reduction or discontinuation of CTX treatment due to skin toxicity were necessary. Skin toxicity relapsed in the following chemotherapy cycles in all patients after discontinuation of the ointment. Repeated administration of the ointment resulted in improvement of skin toxicity and allowed continuation of CTX treatment. This ointment mixture seems to be effective in the treatment of CTX-induced skin toxicity in patients with mCRC. [Med-Science 2017; 6(2.000): 224-8

WHAT'S NEW IN METASTATIC COLON CANCER TREATMENT?

In this review, we present the current innovations in the field of metastatic colon cancer (mCRC). Tumor placement is important in the mCRC treatment decision, and KRAS, NRAS, BRAF mutation analysis is performed in terms of prognosis/predictivity. Immunotherapy is the treatment option in patients with 5-6% and dMMR/MSI. The concept of NeoRAS will become more on the agenda in the near future as high-level evidence becomes available. Molecular evaluations have become extremely important in terms of prognosis and predictions in the treatment of mCRC, as in many tumors today

Bilateral Cystoid Macular Edema Secondary to Paclitaxel Treatment

Cystoid macular edema is rarely observed secondary to paclitaxel treatment. A 55-year-old female patent was applied five cures of paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy after being diagnosed with metastatic ovarian cancer. The patient had a normal bilateral vision prior to the chemotherapy treatments. After the fifth cure, the patient complained of bilateral vision loss, which was more severe in the left eye. Ophthalmologic examination revealed that right eye vision was 4/10 blurred without glasses and 7/10 blurred with glasses, left eye vision was 1/10 blurred without glasses and 4/10 blurred with glasses. Pathology was not detected during the biomicroscopic examination. Fundus examination of the patient revealed pigment epithelium irregularity, which was found to be less in the right eye, and it was found a decrease in foveal cavity. For fundus examination, the patient underwent fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). FFA revealed fluorescein leakage and cystoid appearance particularly more apparent in the left eye. Thickening in the macula and cystoid space was observed particularly more in the left eye in the OCT measurement. In conclusion, we presented our case as a rarely observed cystoid macular edema secondary to paclitaxel treatment

Clinical significance of serum protease-activated receptor-1 levels in gastric cancer patients

Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) has a significant role in the pathogenesis of various malignancies and its expression mainly affects the survivals of cancer patients. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical significance of the serum concentrations of PAR-1 in patients with gastric carcinoma. A total of 63 pathologically confirmed gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study, with a median age of 62 years. Serum PAR-1 concentrations were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and no significant difference in the baseline serum PAR-1 concentrations was found between patients and normal controls (P=0.5). The investigated clinical variables, including patient age, gender, localization of lesion, histology, grade of pathology, disease stage and serum tumor markers (lactate dehydrogenase, carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9) were not correlated with serum PAR-1 levels (P>0.05). Furthermore, no association was identified between the serum PAR-1 level and chemotherapy responsiveness (P=0.43). Serum PAR-1 level also had no prognostic role for survival (P=0.27). In conclusion, the serum PAR-1 concentration has no diagnostic, predictive and prognostic values in gastric cancer patients

Role of mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background/aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most aggressive cancer types. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding regulatory RNAs that function posttranscriptionally. miRNA deregulation was observed in the development and progression of HCC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression levels of four miRNAs (mir-33a, mir-203b, mir361-3p, and mir-424) in HCC patients in comparison to healthy individuals

Is it solitary plasmacytoma or nonsecretory myeloma? A must-be-solved dilemma?

Presentation of multiple myeloma with bone lesions is common. It is vital that differentiation between nonsecretory multiple myeloma and plasmocytoma be done and that each disorder be treated accordingly. In this paper, we present a patient with nonsecretory multiple myeloma, who suffered from distal humerus fracture with severe bone destruction, renal failure, hypercalcemia and anemia. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved