Quercetin-Resveratrol Combination for Prostate Cancer Management in TRAMP Mice.

Prostate Cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality in men. Therefore, novel mechanistically-driven approaches are needed for PCa management. Here, we determined the effects of grape antioxidants quercetin and/or resveratrol (60 and 600 mg/kg, respectively, in diet) against PCa in Transgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate (TRAMP)-model in prevention and intervention settings.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Proteins from Smokeless Tobacco Addicted Patients Suffering from Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the eight most common malignancy worldwide with an incidence rate of 40% in south-east Asia. Lack of effective diagnostic tools at early stage and disease recurrence despite extensive treatments are main reasons for high mortality and low survival rates. The aim of current study was to identify differentially expressed proteins to explore potential candidate biomarkers having diagnostic significance.

AKT Inhibition Modulates H3K4 Demethylase Levels in PTEN-Null Prostate Cancer.

Hyperactivated AKT kinase due to loss of its negative regulator PTEN influences many aspects of cancer biology, including chromatin. AKT primarily regulates acetyl-CoA production and phosphorylates many histone-modulating enzymes, resulting in their activation or inhibition. Therefore, understanding the therapeutic impact of AKT inhibition on chromatin-related events is essential.

Proproliferative function of adaptor protein GRB10 in prostate carcinoma.

Growth factor receptor-binding protein 10 (GRB10) is a well-known adaptor protein and a recently identified substrate of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Depletion of GRB10 increases insulin sensitivity and overexpression suppresses PI3K/Akt signaling. Because the major reason for the limited efficacy of PI3K/Akt-targeted therapies in prostate cancer (PCa) is loss of mTOR-regulated feedback suppression, it is therefore important to assess the functional importance and regulation of GRB10 under these conditions.

Chitosan-based nanoformulated (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) modulates human keratinocyte-induced responses and alleviates imiquimod-induced murine psoriasiform dermatitis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic and currently incurable inflammatory skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation, aberrant differentiation, and inflammation, leading to disrupted skin barrier function. The use of natural agents that can abrogate these effects could be useful for the treatment of psoriasis. Earlier studies have shown that treatment of keratinocytes and mouse skin with the green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) mitigated inflammation and increased the expression of caspase-14 while promoting epidermal differentiation and cornification.

cRGD functionalised nanocarriers for targeted delivery of bioactives.

The integrins αβ play a very imperative role in angiogenesis and are overexpressed in endothelial cells of the tumour. Recent years have witnessed huge exploration in the field of αβ integrin-mediated bioactive targeting for treatment of cancer. In these studies, the cRGD peptide has been employed extensively owing to their binding capacity to the αβ integrin.

Ascorbic acid tethered polymeric nanoparticles enable efficient brain delivery of galantamine: An in vitro-in vivo study.

The aim of this work was to enhance the transportation of the galantamine to the brain via ascorbic acid grafted PLGA-b-PEG nanoparticles (NPs) using SVCT2 transporters of choroid plexus. PLGA-b-PEG copolymer was synthesized and characterized by H NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry. PLGA-b-PEG-NH and PLGA-b-mPEG NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method.

Melittin, a major peptide component of bee venom, and its conjugates in cancer therapy.

Melittin (MEL), a major peptide component of bee venom, is an attractive candidate for cancer therapy. This agent has shown a variety of anti-cancer effects in preclinical cell culture and animal model systems. Despite a convincing efficacy data against variety of cancers, its applicability to humans has met with challenges due to several issues including its non-specific cytotoxicity, degradation and hemolytic activity.

Targeted nanoparticles encapsulating (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate for prostate cancer prevention and therapy.

Earlier we introduced the concept of 'nanochemoprevention' i.e. the use of nanotechnology to improve the outcome of cancer chemoprevention.

Analysis of Zinc-Exporters Expression in Prostate Cancer.

Maintaining optimal intracellular zinc (Zn) concentration is crucial for critical cellular functions. Depleted Zn has been associated with prostate cancer (PCa) progression. Solute carrier family 30 (SLC30A) proteins maintain cytoplasmic Zn balance by exporting Zn out to the extracellular space or by sequestering cytoplasmic Zn into intracellular compartments.

Dual Inhibition of PI3K/Akt and mTOR by the Dietary Antioxidant, Delphinidin, Ameliorates Psoriatic Features In Vitro and in an Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Disease in Mice.

Aim: The treatment of psoriasis remains elusive, underscoring the need for identifying novel disease targets and mechanism-based therapeutic approaches. We recently reported that the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway that is frequently deregulated in many malignancies is also clinically relevant for psoriasis. We also provided rationale for developing delphinidin (Del), a dietary antioxidant for the management of psoriasis.

Impact of nanotechnology on the delivery of natural products for cancer prevention and therapy.

Chemoprevention of human cancer by dietary products is a practical approach of cancer control, especially when chemoprevention is involved during the early stages of the carcinogenesis process. Research over the last few decades has clearly demonstrated the efficacy of dietary products for chemoprevention in cell culture and preclinical animal model systems. However, these in vitro and in vivo effects have not been able to be translated to bedside for clinical use.

Combination chemoprevention with grape antioxidants.

Antioxidant ingredients present in grape have been extensively investigated for their cancer chemopreventive effects. However, much of the work has been done on individual ingredients, especially focusing on resveratrol and quercetin. Phytochemically, whole grape represents a combination of numerous phytonutrients.

Nanoencapsulation of natural triterpenoid celastrol for prostate cancer treatment.

Celastrol (CL), a triterpenoid extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, has recently attracted interest for its potential antitumor effects. However, unfavorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetics properties such as low solubility, poor bioavailability, and systemic toxicity, are limiting its therapeutic application. In this context, the development of innovative nanocarriers can be useful to overcome these issues, and nanoencapsulation would represent a powerful strategy.

Resveratrol nanoformulation for cancer prevention and therapy.

Chemoprevention of human cancer(s) is a viable option for cancer control, especially when chemopreventive intervention is involved during the early stages of the carcinogenesis process. Naturally occurring bioactive food components, such as dietary polyphenols, have shown good antioxidant activity and other beneficial activities. In addition, compounds belonging to the polyphenolic chemical class may play promising roles in cancer prevention.

Consequences of traffic noise in residents of Karachi, Pakistan.

Objective: To find out effect of road traffic noise on human beings in busy places of Karachi, working at these places and to compare its results with the previously done studies on this subject.

Methods: This prospective epidemiological study was designed to evaluate effects of Noise induced hearing Loss due to road traffic at different places (Gurumander, Tibet Centre, Marry Weather Tower) of Karachi. A sample of 125 cases were randomly selected who had noise exposure of 90 dB or above of their surroundings for more than 6 months.

Prodifferentiation, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of delphinidin, a dietary anthocyanidin, in a full-thickness three-dimensional reconstituted human skin model of psoriasis.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of skin and joints for which conventional treatments that are effective in clearing the moderate-to-severe disease are limited due to long-term safety issues. This necessitates exploring the usefulness of botanical agents for treating psoriasis. We previously showed that delphinidin, a diet-derived anthocyanidin endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, induces normal epidermal keratinocyte differentiation and suggested its possible usefulness for the treatment of psoriasis [1].

Methaneseleninic acid and γ-Tocopherol combination inhibits prostate tumor growth in Vivo in a xenograft mouse model.

Studies have shown that vitamin E and selenium possess antiproliferative effects against prostate cancer (PCa). However, results from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT) suggest that vitamin E (α-tocopheryl acetate; 400 mg) and/or selenium (L-selenomethionine; 200 μg) were ineffective against PCa in humans. It is arguable that the selected dose/formulation of vitamin E/selenium were not optimal in SELECT.

Excellent anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles on human melanoma cell growth both in vitro and in vivo.

Unlabelled: Earlier we demonstrated the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on human melanoma cells (Int J Cancer. 2005; 114(4): 513-21). The doses used in this study were not physiologically attainable and for chemoprevention the preferred route of administration is oral consumption.

YB-1 expression promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer that is inhibited by a small molecule fisetin.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays an important role in prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis. The transcription/translation regulatory Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) is known to be associated with cancer metastasis. We observed that YB-1 expression increased with tumor grade and showed an inverse relationship with E-cadherin in a human PCa tissue array.

Measurement of serum paraoxonase activity and MDA concentrations in patients suffering with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Oxidative stress is associated with many diseases including cancer. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent cancer involving oral cavity. We evaluate the activity of paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in serum samples of subjects suffering from OSCC along with malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a marker for oxidative stress.

Oral administration of naturally occurring chitosan-based nanoformulated green tea polyphenol EGCG effectively inhibits prostate cancer cell growth in a xenograft model.

In preclinical animal models, several phytochemicals have shown excellent potential to be used as effective agents in preventing and treating many cancers. However, the limited bioavailability of active agents could be one reason for their restricted usefulness for human consumption. To overcome this limitation, we recently introduced the concept of nanochemoprevention by encapsulating useful bioactive food components for their slow and sustained release.