Intestinal toxicity evaluation of long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes loaded with cisplatin.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used in several anticancer protocols for instance head and neck, testicle, ovarian, lung and peritoneal carcinomatosis. According to the literature, the use of CDDP is associated with several side effects; among them, we highlighted the mucositis. CDDP, when administered by IP, promoted significant intestinal epithelium alterations in an experimental model.

Evolving role of radiolabeled particles in detecting infection and inflammation, preliminary data with 99mTc-phytate in rats.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of phytate radiolabeled with technetium-99m (Tc-phytate) to identify inflammatory processes.

Materials And Methods: Radiolabeling efficiency analyses were carried out by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel strips, yielding a radiochemical purity of 92%. In addition, the partition coefficient of Tc-phytate, obtained in a mixture of n-octanol/water (1 : 1), showed hydrophilic features of the radiopharmaceutical.

Pretreatment and Treatment With L-Arginine Attenuate Weight Loss and Bacterial Translocation in Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colitis.

Background: Imbalances in a variety of factors, including genetics, intestinal flora, and mucosal immunity, can contribute to the development of ulcerative colitis and its side effects. This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment or treatment with arginine by oral administration on intestinal permeability, bacterial translocation (BT), and mucosal intestinal damage due to colitis.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were distributed into 4 groups: standard diet and water (C: control group), standard diet and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution (Col: colitis group), 2% L-arginine supplementation for 7 days prior to DSS administration and during disease induction (PT: pretreated group), and 2% L-arginine supplementation during disease induction (T: treated group).

Synthesis of nitroaromatic compounds as potential anticancer agents.

Twenty-seven nitrated and non-nitrated compounds have been synthesized and tested for their growth inhibitory activity on three human cancer cells lines. Fourteen compounds were able to inhibit more than 50% of the growth of at least one of the cancer cell lines and five compounds exhibited high antiproliferative activity on human cancer cell lines (IC50 < 8.5 μM).

Combination therapy with carboplatin and thalidomide suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in 4T1 murine breast cancer model.

Carboplatin, efficient cytostatics for cancer therapy, could induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth of vascular endothelium in several tumor cell lines and xenograft models. It has been suggested that the antitumor effect of chemotherapy could be increased by combining it with an antiangiogenesis agent in anticancer strategy. The present study explored the potential to increase the antitumor effect of carboplatin by combining it with thalidomide in mouse 4T1 breast cancer models, and the underlining mechanism was investigated.

Long-circulating, pH-sensitive liposomes versus long-circulating, non-pH-sensitive liposomes as a delivery system for tumor identification.

Bombesin (BBN) is a tetradecapeptide that binds specifically to gastrin-releasing peptide receptors in humans. Several forms of cancer, including lung, prostate, breast, and colon over-express receptors for bombesin-like peptides. Therefore, radiolabeled bombesin analogs might be useful for tumor identification.

Antitumor effectiveness and toxicity of cisplatin-loaded long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes against Ehrlich ascitic tumor.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is one of the most active cytotoxic agents commonly used in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis. The disadvantages of its clinical use are systemic side-effects, such as nephrotoxicity and myelotoxicity. Long-circulating and pH-sensitive liposomes containing CDDP (SpHL-CDDP) were developed by our research group aiming to promote the release of CDDP near the tumor as well as decreasing toxicity.

Antitumoral activity and toxicity of PEG-coated and PEG-folate-coated pH-sensitive liposomes containing ¹⁵⁹Gd-DTPA-BMA in Ehrlich tumor bearing mice.

In the present study, PEG-coated pH-sensitive and PEG-folate-coated pH-sensitive liposomes containing the ¹⁵⁹Gd-DTPA-BMA were prepared and radiolabeled through neutron activation technique, aiming to study the in vivo antitumoral activity and toxicity on mice bearing a previously-developed solid Ehrlich tumor. The treatment efficacy was verified through tumoral volume increase and histomorphometry studies. The toxicity of formulations was investigated through animal weight variations, as well as hematological and biochemical tests.