EML4-ALK rearrangement in squamous cell carcinoma shows significant response to anti-ALK inhibitor drugs crizotinib and alectinib.

EML4-ALK alterations are more common in adenocarcinomas and are rarely found in squamous cell histology. In documented cases, the majority of EML4-ALK translocations are identified in squamous cell histology and occur in patients with no or light smoking history. We report an EML4-ALK4 translocation in a 50-year-old patient with squamous cell carcinoma and an 18 pack-year smoking history.

A new approach to glycan targeting: enzyme inhibition by oligosaccharide metalloshielding.

Metalloglycomics - the effects of defined coordination compounds on oligosaccharides and their structure and function - opens new areas for bioinorganic chemistry and expands its systematic study to the third major class of biomolecules after DNA/RNA and proteins.

Antidepressants and platinum drugs.

Background/aim: Antidepressants are frequently prescribed concurrently with anti-cancer drugs and may have synergistic, additive or antagonistic effects. The present work investigated the effect of antidepressants on the cytotoxicity of platinum agents cisplatin, carboplatin and oxaliplatin.

Materials And Methods: The cytotoxicity of platinum drugs alone or in combination with antidepressants was measured in HCT116 wild-type (wt), HCT116 (p53 -/-), HT-29, SKOV3 and A2780 cells using an apoptosis-based assay.

Platinum anticancer agents and antidepressants: desipramine enhances platinum-based cytotoxicity in human colon cancer cells.

A unique synergistic effect on platinum drug cytotoxicity is noted in the presence of the tricyclic antidepressant desipramine. Desipramine is used for treating neuropathic pain, particularly in prostate cancer patients. The clinically used drugs cisplatin (cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(2)]), oxaliplatin [1,2-diaminocyclohexaneoxalatoplatinum(II)], and the cationic trinuclear agent BBR3464 [{trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)}(2)-μ-(trans-Pt(NH(3))(2)(H(2)N(CH(2))(6)NH(2))(2))](4+), which has undergone evaluation in phase II clinical trials for activity in lung and ovarian cancers, were evaluated.