A novel fluorescent c-met targeted imaging agent for intra-operative colonic tumour mapping: Translation from the laboratory into a clinical trial.

Background: The c-Met protein is overexpressed in many gastrointestinal cancers. We explored EMI-137, a novel c-Met targeting fluorescent probe, for application in fluorescence-guided colon surgery, in HT-29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line and an in vivo murine model.

Methods: HT-29 SiRNA transfection confirmed specificity of EMI-137 for c-Met.

The utility of c-Met as a diagnostic tissue biomarker in primary colorectal cancer.

The transmembrane protein, c-Met, is thought to be overexpressed and activated in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study explored its potential as a diagnostic tissue biomarker for CRC in a large human CRC tissue collection obtained from a randomized clinical trial. Tissue microarrays of matched normal colorectal epithelium and primary cancer were prepared from specimens obtained from 280 patients recruited to the MRC CLASICC trial (ISRCTN 74883561) and interrogated using immunohistochemistry for c-Met expression.

Characterising a PDMS based 3D cell culturing microfluidic platform for screening chemotherapeutic drug cytotoxic activity.

Three-dimensional (3D) spheroidal cell cultures are now recognised as better models of cancers as compared to traditional cell cultures. However, established 3D cell culturing protocols and techniques are time-consuming, manually laborious and often expensive due to the excessive consumption of reagents. Microfluidics allows for traditional laboratory-based biological experiments to be scaled down into miniature custom fabricated devices, where cost-effective experiments can be performed through the manipulation and flow of small volumes of fluid.

The role of ABCG2 in modulating responses to anti-cancer photodynamic therapy.

The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily G member 2 (ABCG2) transmembrane protein transporter is known for conferring resistance to treatment in cancers. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising anti-cancer method involving the use of light-activated photosensitisers to precisely induce oxidative stress and cell death in cancers. ABCG2 can efflux photosensitisers from out of cells, reducing the capacity of PDT and limiting the efficacy of treatment.

A Review on the Scope of Photothermal Therapy-Based Nanomedicines in Preclinical Models of Colorectal Cancer.

Oncologic thermal ablation involves the use of hyperthermic temperatures to damage and treat solid cancers. Thermal ablation is being investigated as a method of treatment in colorectal cancers and has the potential to complement conventional anticancer treatments in managing local recurrence and metastatic disease. Photothermal therapy utilizes photosensitive agents to generate local heat and induce thermal ablation.

Inhibiting ABCG2 could potentially enhance the efficacy of hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy in spheroidal cell models of colorectal cancer.

Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is an attractive modality for treating solid cancers. This study evaluates the efficacy of Hypericin-PDT as a cytotoxic therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC), using 2D cell cultures and 3D multicellular tumour spheroids.

Methods: Spheroids were generated through forced-floating and agitation-based techniques.