Early Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Transplantation versus Resection: The Case for Liver Resection.

The optimal surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma on well-compensated cirrhosis is controversial. Advocates of liver transplantation cite better long-term survival, lower risk of recurrence, and the ability of transplantation to treat both the HCC and the underlying liver cirrhosis. Transplantation, however, is not universally available to all appropriate-risk candidates because of a lack of sufficient organ donors and in addition suffers from the disadvantages of requiring a more complex pre- and postoperative management associated with risks of inaccessibility, noncompliance, and late complications.

Azetidine-based inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV).

The structure-activity relationships of azetidine-based DPP IV inhibitors will be discussed in detail in the following review. The azetidine-based DPP IV inhibitors can be divided into three main subtypes, the 2-cyanoazetidines, 3-fluoroazetidines and 2-ketoazetidines. These subtypes have been explored and structure-activity relationships have been established by several groups.

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (NAALADase) inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy.

GCP II inhibition decreases extracellular excitotoxic glutamate and increases extracellular NAAG, both of which provide neuroprotection. We have demonstrated with our potent and selective GCP II inhibitors efficacy in models of stroke, ALS and neuropathic pain. GCP II inhibition may have significant potential benefits over existing glutamate-based neuroprotection strategies.

Enantiospecificity of glutamate carboxypeptidase II inhibition.

Two representative glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II) inhibitors, 2-(hydroxypentafluorophenylmethyl-phosphinoylmethyl)pentanedioic acid 2 and 2-(3-mercaptopropyl)pentanedioic acid 3, were synthesized in high optical purities (>97%ee). The two enantiomers of 2 were prepared from previously reported chiral intermediates, (R)- and (S)-2-(hydroxyphosphinoylmethyl)pentanedioic acid benzyl esters 8. The synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3 involves the hydrolysis of (R)- and (S)-3-(2-oxo-tetrahydro-thiopyran-3-yl)propionic acids, (R)- and (S)-11, the corresponding optically pure thiolactones delivered by chiral chromatographic separation of the racemic 11.

Brain distribution and efficacy as chemosensitizer of an oral formulation of PARP-1 inhibitor GPI 15427 in experimental models of CNS tumors.

We previously demonstrated that intravenous or intra-cerebral administration of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors increases the antitumor activity of temozolomide (TMZ), an oral anticancer drug used for the treatment of malignant melanoma and primary or secondary brain tumors. Since the oral route has a number of advantages in terms of safety and convenience with respect to intravenous injection, in this study we tested whether administration per os of the novel PARP-1 inhibitor GPI 15427 allows sufficient absorption of the compound and achievement of brain concentrations capable of enhancing the efficacy of TMZ against tumors growing at the CNS. Pharmacokinetics analysis of GPI 15427 levels in plasma and brain was assessed in Sprague-Dawley rats after oral dosing, by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

Ketopyrrolidines and ketoazetidines as potent dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitors.

In this paper, the synthesis and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of two classes of electrophile-based dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibitors, the ketopyrrolidines and ketoazetidines, is discussed. The SAR of these series demonstrate that the 2-thiazole, 2-benzothiazole, and 2-pyridylketones are optimal S1' binding groups for potency against DPP IV. In addition, both cyclohexyl glycine (CHG) and octahydroindole carboxylate (OIC) serve as the most potent S2 binding groups within each series.