Allelic variants in xenobiotic metabolism genes predict susceptibility and worse prognosis of urothelial bladder cancer.

Biomarkers that identify tumors with better/worse prognosis can help reduce treatment costs and contribute to patient survival. In urothelial bladder cancer (UBC), accurate prediction of recurrence and progression is essential to inform therapeutic management. Herein, we explore the role of genetic variants of xenobiotic metabolic pathways in UBC susceptibility and prognosis.

Comparative analysis of extracellular vesicles miRNAs (EV-miRNAs) and cell-free microRNAs (cf-miRNAs) reveals that EV-miRNAs are more promising as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for prostate cancer.

MicroRNAs can be found intracellularly incorporated into extracellular vesicles (EV-miRNAs) or extracellularly as cell-free miRNAs (cf-miRNAs). This study aimed to compare the diagnostic and prognostic potential of four miRNAs with recognized roles in prostate cancer as cf-miRNAs and EV-miRNAs, obtained from liquid biopsies (LB). Total RNA was isolated from whole plasma and plasma EVs from 15 controls (CTR) and 30 patients (20 with localized prostate cancer (PCa), 10 with metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa)).

Genetic polymorphisms, methylation, and expression levels in the GSTP1 and MGMT genes in urothelial bladder tumors.

Background: Alteration in DNA repair and metabolism genes can affect the maintenance of DNA integrity or xenobiotics metabolism, potentially leading to DNA damage accumulation. The present study investigated the association between polymorphisms in Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1, rs1695) and O-6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT, rs2308321) genes with urothelial bladder cancer (UBC) susceptibility and prognosis. Furthermore, the methylation patterns of the promoter region of these genes were analyzed in tumor and non-tumor bladder tissues, besides MGMT gene expression in tumor samples.

Deposition of collagen III and alterations in basement membrane integrity as candidate prognostic markers in prostate cancer.

The extracellular matrix surrounding the tumor undergoes changes in its organization during the metastasis process. The present study aims to quantify total collagen, collagen I (Col I) and collagen III (Col III), analyze the alignment of collagen fibers and assess the basement membrane integrity in samples from patients with metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer. Tissue samples from 60 patients were classified into groups based on prognostic parameters: better prognosis (n = 20), worse prognosis without metastasis (n = 23) and metastatic (n = 17).

Polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing genes and urinary bladder cancer susceptibility and prognosis: Possible impacts and future management.

Epidemiological studies have shown the association of genetic variants with risks of occupational and environmentally induced cancers, including bladder (BC). The current review summarizes the effects of variants in genes encoding phase I and II enzymes in well-designed studies to highlight their contribution to BC susceptibility and prognosis. Polymorphisms in genes codifying drug-metabolizing proteins are of particular interest because of their involvement in the metabolism of exogenous genotoxic compounds, such as tobacco and agrochemicals.

Effects of docetaxel on metastatic prostate (DU-145) carcinoma cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids.

Docetaxel (DTX) is one of the chemotherapeutic drugs indicated as a first-line treatment against metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa). This study aimed to compare the impact of DTX on mPCa (DU-145) tumor cells cultured as 2D monolayers and 3D multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS) . The cells were treated with DTX (1-96 µM) at 24, 48, or 72 hr in cell viability assays (resazurin, phosphatase acid, and lactate dehydrogenase).

Flavonoid brachydin B decreases viability, proliferation, and migration in human metastatic prostate (DU145) cells grown in 2D and 3D culture models.

Brachydin B (BrB) is a unique dimeric flavonoid extracted from (Cham.) LG Lohmann with different biological activities. However, the antitumoral potential of this flavonoid is unclear.

Three-dimensional cell cultures as preclinical models to assess the biological activity of phytochemicals in breast cancer.

The demand for the development of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models in both/either drug screening and/or toxicology is gradually magnified. Natural Products derived from plants are known as phytochemicals and serve as resources for novel drugs and cancer therapy. Typical examples include taxol analogs (i.

An Allelic Variant Can Affect Biochemical Relapse in Prostate Cancer Patients.

Background/aim: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most frequent neoplasms in men around the world. In recent years, the search for new biomarkers with greater prognostic potential for PCa has intensified. This study aimed to evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a combined panel of these polymorphisms in relation to biochemical recurrence in patients who were through prostatectomy, with an average of 7 years of follow-up.

Tissue immunostaining of candidate prognostic proteins in metastatic and non-metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) lacks specific markers capable of distinguishing aggressive tumors from those with indolent behavior. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the immunostaining of candidate proteins (PTEN, AKT, TRPM8, and NKX3.1) through the immunohistochemistry technique (IHC) on patients with metastatic and non-metastatic PCa.

The potential of cell-free and exosomal microRNAs as biomarkers in liquid biopsy in patients with prostate cancer.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the 4th most diagnosed cancer and the 8th leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Currently, clinical risk stratification models including factors like PSA levels, Gleason score, and digital rectal examination are used for this purpose. There is a need for novel biomarkers that can distinguish between indolent and aggressive pathology and reduce the risk of overdiagnosis/overtreatment.

Anticancer activities of Brachydin C in human prostate tumor cells (DU145) grown in 2D and 3D models: Stimulation of cell death and downregulation of metalloproteinases in spheroids.

Brachydin C (BrC) has demonstrated in vitro cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects in prostate cancer cells. In the present study, we compare the anticancer effects of BrC in DU145 cells grown in common bidimensional cultures (2D) and multicellular tumor spheroids (MCTS), often denominated 3D in vitro models, that can better mimic the microenvironment of tissues. BrC IC values obtained in the resazurin assay after 24 h of treatment were 47.

Polymorphic variants of the CASP3, CASP9, BCL-2 and NKX3-1 genes as candidate markers for prostate cancer susceptibility and poor prognosis.

Background: There is an ongoing search for molecular markers that are specific, sensitive, and able to predict the stage of prostate cancer (PCa), which is the second most prevalent type of cancer in men worldwide. This study examined whether different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were reliable markers of susceptibility to and prognosis of PCa in a sample of Brazilian patients.

Methods And Results: DNA samples were extracted from peripheral blood cells of 283 PCa patients and matched with samples from healthy controls.

The Antitumoral/Antimetastatic Action of the Flavonoid Brachydin A in Metastatic Prostate Tumor Spheroids In Vitro Is Mediated by (Parthanatos) PARP-Related Cell Death.

Metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) is resistant to several chemotherapeutic agents. Brachydin A (BrA), a glycosylated flavonoid extracted from , displays a remarkable antitumoral effect against in vitro mPCa cells cultured as bidimensional (2D) monolayers. Considering that three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures provide a more accurate response to chemotherapeutic agents, this study investigated the antiproliferative/antimetastatic effects of BrA and the molecular mechanisms underlying its action in mPCa spheroids (DU145) in vitro.

COVID-19: The question of genetic diversity and therapeutic intervention approaches.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the largest pandemic in modern history with very high infection rates and considerable mortality. The disease, which emerged in China's Wuhan province, had its first reported case on December 29, 2019, and spread rapidly worldwide. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic and global health emergency.

Aglycone flavonoid brachydin A shows selective cytotoxicity and antitumoral activity in human metastatic prostate (DU145) cancer cells.

In prostate cancer, flavonoids possess a wide variety of anticancer effects, focused on the antioxidant/pro-oxidant activity, inactivation of the androgen receptor, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, metastasis inhibition, among others. This current research investigated the antitumoral in vitro activity of Brachydin A (BrA), a dimeric flavonoid isolated from , in human castration-resistant prostate cancer DU145. It was compared BrA selective effects in tumor prostate DU145 cells with non-tumor prostate epithelial PNT2 cells.

Selective anticancer effects of Serjania marginata Casar. extract in gastric cells are mediated by antioxidant response.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide. Serjania marginata Casar. (SM) displays anti-inflammatory properties and has been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders.

Phytochemical Profile, and Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Effects of (Mart.) Radlk. Leaf Extract, and Its Synergism with Cisplatin in HepG2 Cells.

Different species of the genus have been used in folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, fever, ulcers, diabetes, and diarrhea. We analyzed the phytochemical profile of the hydroethanolic extract from leaves by electrospray ionization ion trap tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection, and examined whether it alone and in combination with cisplatin interfered with cell proliferation and death processes in HepG2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) and FGH (human gingival fibroblasts) cells. Five compounds were identified in the extract: gallic acid, myricetin-3---l-arabinopyranoside, quercetin-3---d-galactopyranoside, myricetin-3---l-rhamnopyranoside, and myricetin-3---d-galactopyranoside.

CCL5 protein level: influence on breast cancer staging and lymph nodes commitment.

Many tumor cells express chemokines and chemokine receptors, and these molecules can contribute to distinct modes of metastasis processes. It is known that they play a crucial role in breast cancer (BC) tumorigenesis and progression. Considering this, it was investigated a possible role for C-Chemokine receptor type 5(CCR5) polymorphism (rs333/delta32) by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and CCL5 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 5) protein level by immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 47 BC patients (resulting in 47 tumoral tissue samples and 47 adjacent normal tissue samples).

Circulating mRNA signature as a marker for high-risk prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cancer in men. The indolent course of the disease makes the treatment choice a challenge for physicians and patients. In this study, a minimally invasive method was used to evaluate the potential of molecular markers in identifying patients with aggressive disease.

Polymorphisms in IMPDH2, UGT2B7, and CES2 genes influence the risk of graft rejection in kidney transplant recipients taking mycophenolate mofetil.

The immunosuppressant mycophenolic acid (MPA), derived from the prodrug mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), is a drug used widely by kidney transplant recipients. This drug selectively inhibits inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase that controls the proliferation of lymphocytes, aiding in the prevention of rejection of the transplanted organ. Polymorphisms in key genes involved in MMF metabolism may alter the function of the enzymes encoded by them and contribute to interindividual variability in the response to the drug and its efficacy.

RNAm expression profile of cancer marker genes in HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of a new indolin-3-one from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The present study tested the effects of a newly identified indolin-3-one compound (compound 1), produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, on HepG2 cells. The MTT assays demonstrated decreased metabolic activities in HepG2 cells treated with compound 1, with dose- and time-dependent intensifying effect, starting at a concentration of 40 µM. The IC after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h treatments were 41.