Preclinical evaluation of the efficacy of an antibody to human SIRPα for cancer immunotherapy in humanized mouse models.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are abundant in the tumor microenvironment and are considered potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. To examine the antitumor effects of agents targeting human TAMs , we here established preclinical tumor xenograft models based on immunodeficient mice that express multiple human cytokines and have been reconstituted with a human immune system by transplantation of human CD34 hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HIS-MITRG mice). HIS-MITRG mice supported the growth of both human cell line (Raji)- and patient-derived B cell lymphoma as well as the infiltration of human macrophages into their tumors.

Immune Checkpoint Regulators: A New Era Toward Promising Cancer Therapy.

During the last century, our battle against cancer has been inaugurated upon three main approaches; surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The latest findings on the effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer management offer a ray of hope after decades of research and studies on the best treatment methods. Immunotherapy has proven effective in the surveillance and destruction of cancer- causing cells, demonstrating its ability to suppress cancer through controlling the wellestablished immune-editing process.

An Animal Model That Mimics Human Herpesvirus 6B Pathogenesis.

Human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B), a T-lymphotropic virus, infects almost exclusively humans. An animal model of HHV-6B has not been available. Here, we report the first animal model to mimic HHV-6B pathogenesis; the model is based on humanized mice in which human immune cells were engrafted and maintained.

Role of mitochondria in rescuing glycolytically inhibited subpopulation of triple negative but not hormone-responsive breast cancer cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype is among the most aggressive cancers with the worst prognosis and least therapeutic targetability while being more likely to spread and recur. Cancer transformations profoundly alter cellular metabolism by increasing glucose consumption via glycolysis to support tumorigenesis. Here we confirm that relative to ER-positive cells (MCF7), TNBC cells (MBA-MD-231) rely more on glycolysis thus providing a rationale to target these cells with glycolytic inhibitors.

Prospects for repurposing CNS drugs for cancer treatment.

Drug repurposing is the idea of using an already approved drug for another disease or disorder away from its initial use. This new approach ensures the reduction in high cost required for developing a new drug in addition to the time consumed, especially in the tumor disorders that show an unceasing rising rate with an unmet success rate of new anticancer drugs. In our review, we will review the anti-cancer effect of some CNS drugs, including both therapeutic and preventive, by searching the literature for preclinical or clinical evidence for anticancer potential of central nervous system drugs over the last 8 years period (2010-2018) and including only evidence from Q1 journals as indicated by Scimago website (www.

Retrospective screening of microarray data to identify candidate IFN-inducible genes in a HTLV-1 transformed model.

HuT-102 cells are considered one of the most representable human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-infected cell lines for studying adult T-cell lymphoma (ATL). In our previous studies, genome-wide screening was performed using the GeneChip system with Human Genome Array U133 Plus 2.0 for transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3)- and IRF4-regulated genes to demonstrate the effects of interferon-inducible genes in HuT-102 cells.

The Unfolded Protein Response: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Poor Prognostic Mutant Colorectal Cancer.

mutations occur in ∼10% of colorectal cancer cases, are associated with poor survival, and have limited responses to BRAF/MEK inhibition with or without EGFR inhibition. There is an unmet need to understand the biology of poor prognostic MT colorectal cancer. We have used differential gene expression and pathway analyses of untreated stage II and stage III MT (discovery set: = 31; validation set: = 26) colorectal cancer, and an siRNA screen to characterize the biology underpinning the MT subgroup with poorest outcome.

Mechanisms for DNA-damaging agent-induced inactivation of ErbB2 and ErbB3 via the ERK and p38 signaling pathways.

Cisplatin (CDDP) and doxorubicin (DOX) are chemotherapeutic drugs that trigger apoptosis by inducing DNA-damage. A previous study using breast cancer cells demonstrated the negative feedback modulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2 (ErbB2) via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-mediated phosphorylation of conserved Thr-669 and Thr-677 residues, respectively, in the juxtamembrane domain. In addition, CDDP has been identified to cause negative feedback inhibition of activated EGFR in lung cancer cells.

Hyperthermia and radiation reduce the toxic side-effects of bufadienolides for cancer therapy.

Bufadienolides are constituents of the traditional Chinese medicine Chan Su and are found in toad venom. Cardiovascular side-effects are one of the limiting factors towards developing bufadienolides as chemotherapeutic agents. Thus, in the present study, low doses of bufalin and cinobufotalin, prominent members of the bufadienolides, were investigated for their cytotoxic activity in combination with hyperthermia (HT) or radiation (Rad) therapy.

Bardoxolone-methyl inhibits migration and metabolism in MCF7 cells.

Bardoxolone-methyl (BAR) is reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic effects. BAR activates Nrf2 and may ameliorate oxidative stress through induction of antioxidant genes. However, off-target effects, probably concentration and NFkB-dependent, have limited the clinical use of BAR.

Inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase potentiates the apoptotic effect of berberine/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand combination therapy.

It was previously reported that berberine (BBR) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) exhibited a synergistic apoptotic effect on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. In addition, the BBR/TRAIL combination treatment sensitized TRAIL-resistant TNBC cells to TRAIL. The aim of the present study was to investigate a novel pathway for enhancing the apoptotic effect of BBR/TRAIL through mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs).

Anti-inflammatory effect of cinnamaldehyde in Helicobacter pylori induced gastric inflammation.

Cinnamomum cassia is widely employed for gastrointestinal complaints such as dyspepsia, flatulence, diarrhea, and vomiting. Studies report cinnamaldehyde (CM) as a major active constituent of cinnamon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of CM on Helicobacter (H.

Helicobacter pylori Induces Serine Phosphorylation of EGFR via Novel TAK1-p38 Activation Pathway in an HB-EGF-Independent Manner.

Background: The interaction of Helicobacter pylori with gastric epithelial cells can result in the activation of transcription factor NF-κB via TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1). In this study, we have demonstrated the role of H. pylori in the activation of EGFR via TAK1-mediated phosphorylation of p38.

Role of tyrosine kinase-independent phosphorylation of EGFR with activating mutation in cisplatin-treated lung cancer cells.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is one of the hallmarks of cancer progression and resistance to anticancer therapies, particularly non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). In contrast to the canonical EGFR activation in which tyrosine residues are engaged, we have demonstrated that the non-canonical pathway is triggered by phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues through p38 and ERK MAPKs, respectively. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of non-canonical EGFR pathway in resistance mechanism against cisplatin treatment.

TRAIL combinations: The new 'trail' for cancer therapy (Review).

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) therapy is anticipated to be one of the most effective cancer treatments. However, resistance to TRAIL therapy remains a challenge facing the development of anticancer strategies. To circumvent this problem, TRAIL combinations have been experimented with for over ten years to induce synergism or sensitize resistant cancer cells.

Piperine enhances the efficacy of TRAIL-based therapy for triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Background/aim: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is most the aggressive type of breast cancer and is poorly responsive to endocrine therapeutics; however, one of the most attractive treatments is tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-based therapies. To identify compounds that enhance the efficacy of TRAIL-based therapies, we screened 55 compounds from natural products in combination with TRAIL in TNBC cells.

Materials And Methods: Human TNBC cells, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231, and murine TNBC cells, 4T1, were used.

Berberine enhances tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer.

Berberine (BBR) has been used for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections and also for cancer-associated symptoms such as diarrhea. Furthermore, it has been reported that BBR may have direct antitumor effects. Although evidence supports the theory that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising candidate for treating cancer, its usage may be limited due to the resistance to the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of cancer cells.

Apoptotic cell death by the novel natural compound, cinobufotalin.

Cinobufotalin (CB), one of the bufadienolides prepared from toad venom, was investigated for its cytotoxicity, and the underneath mechanism involved. We primarily utilized DNA fragmentation assay and microscopic observation to assess the effect of various doses of CB in human lymphoma U937 cells. Following that, we investigated other parameters involved in cell death mechanism such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and apoptotic proteins activation.

Distinct roles of transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-c-Rel and interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) pathways in human T cell lymphotropic virus 1-transformed T helper 17 cells producing interleukin-9.

Investigation of helper T cell markers in HTLV-1-transformed cell lines demonstrated that HuT-102 has an IL-9-producing Th17 phenotype. We confirmed the vital role of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C, a Th17 transcription factor, in the expression of IL-17. Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4), a transcription factor overexpressed in all HTLV-1-infected cells, regulated IL-17 and IL-9 concomitantly.

Modulation of activation-induced cytidine deaminase by curcumin in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.

Background: Anomalous expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells has been postulated as one of the key mechanisms in the development of gastric cancer. AID is overexpressed in the cells through nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation by H. pylori and hence, inhibition of NF-kappaB pathway can downregulate the expression of AID.