LEP (-2548G>A LEP) and LEPR (223Gln>Arg, 109Lys>Arg) polymorphisms as breast cancer risk factors in the Polish female population.

On a global scale, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, and it is still a growing problem. Therefore, new prognostic or diagnostic markers are required that would facilitate the assessment of patients or provide more efficient therapy, respectively. In these studies, we analyzed the contribution of LEP (2548G>A) and LEPR (109 Lys>Arg and 223Gln>Arg) genes polymorphisms to the risk of breast cancer development.

Effect of 3-O-acetylaleuritolic acid from in vitro-cultured Drosera spatulata on cancer cells survival and migration.

Background: Drosera spatulata is a source of many compounds such as naphthoquinones, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and naphthalene derivatives. Unfortunately, the information regarding the biological activity and chemical profile of those compounds is still incomplete. Herein, we investigated the biological activity of 3-O-acetylaleuritolic acid (3-O-AAA) in cancer cell lines.

Telomerase Inhibitor TMPyP4 Alters Adhesion and Migration of Breast-Cancer Cells MCF7 and MDA-MB-231.

Human telomeres were one of the first discovered and characterized sequences forming quadruplex structures. Association of these structures with oncogenic and tumor suppressor proteins suggests their important role in cancer development and therapy efficacy. Since cationic porphyrin TMPyP4 is known as G-quadruplex stabilizer and telomerase inhibitor, the aim of the study was to analyze the anticancer properties of this compound in two different human breast-cancer MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.

The non-canonical functions of telomerase: to turn off or not to turn off.

Telomerase is perceived as an immortality enzyme that enables passing the Hayflick limit. Its main function is telomere restoration but only in a limited group of cells, including cancer cells. Since it is found in a vast majority of cancer cells, it became a natural target for cancer therapy.

Cytotoxic activity of stigmasteryl esters and products of their thermo-oxidative degradation against drug sensitive and drug resistant human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

Background: Phytosterols are mainly known as a cholesterol-lowering factor, although they form oxidation products during food storage and processing. Moreover, phytosterol oxidation products (POP) can be ab- sorbed and found in human serum, so there is the need to investigate their impact on different kinds of cells.

Methods: Esters of fatty acids (oleic, linoleic and linolenic) with stigmasterol were synthetized and heated at 180°C, for 1–12 hours.

Telomerase and drug resistance in cancer.

It is well known that a decreased expression or inhibited activity of telomerase in cancer cells is accompanied by an increased sensitivity to some drugs (e.g., doxorubicin, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil).

Semisynthetic oleanane triterpenoids inhibit migration and invasion of human breast cancer cells through downregulated expression of the ITGB1/PTK2/PXN pathway.

This paper reports a study on the role of two synthetic derivatives of oleanolic acid (OA), HIMOXOL and Br-HIMOLID, in the regulation of cell migration and invasion and the underlying molecular mechanisms of breast cancer cells. The effect of the compounds on four breast cancer cell lines (MCF7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and T-47D) and also on noncancerous breast cells, MCF-12A, was reported. The compounds had no effect on the migration of MCF-12A cells.

Nanoscale size effect in in situ titanium based composites with cell viability and cytocompatibility studies.

Novel in situ Metal Matrix Nanocomposite (MMNC) materials based on titanium and boron, revealed their new properties in the nanoscale range. In situ nanocomposites, obtained through mechanical alloying and traditional powder metallurgy compaction and sintering, show obvious differences to their microstructural analogue. A unique microstructure connected with good mechanical properties reliant on the processing conditions favour the nanoscale range of results of the Ti-TiB in situ MMNC example.

In vitro biocompatibility of titanium after plasma surface alloying with boron.

Recently, the effect of different sizes of precursor powders during surface plasma alloying modification on the properties of titanium surface was studied. In this work we show in vitro test results of the titanium (α-Ti) after plasma surface alloying with boron (B). Ti-B nanopowders with 2 and 10wt% B were deposited onto microcrystalline Ti substrate.

Methyl 3-hydroxyimino-11-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate (HIMOXOL), a synthetic oleanolic acid derivative, induces both apoptosis and autophagy in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

HIMOXOL (methyl 3-hydroxyimino-11-oxoolean-12-en-28-oate) is a synthetic derivative of oleanolic acid (OA). HIMOXOL revealed the highest cytotoxic effect among tested synthetic OA analogs. In this study we focused on elucidating the cytotoxic mechanism of HIMOXOL in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Telomerase as a useful target in cancer fighting-the breast cancer case.

Telomerase was initially considered as a relevant factor distinguishing cancer from normal cells. During detailed studies, it appeared that its expression and activity is not only limited to cancer cells however, but in this particular cells, the telomerase is much more abundant. Thus, it has become a very promising target for an anticancer therapy.