J Photochem Photobiol B
January 2025
Background: Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic modality that combines the application of a photoactive compound (photosensitizer, PS) with low-power light to generate reactive oxygen species in the target tissue, resulting in cytotoxic damage and cell death, while sparing adjacent tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phototoxicity of a cyanine dye with two chromophores (biscyanines, BCD) in systems with varying levels of cellular organization, and we used the Photogem® (a photosensitizer approved by the Brazilian ANVISA agency for clinical use in Photodynamic Therapy) as a positive control.
Materials And Methods: The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed in vitro in 2D monolayers, 3D spheroid cultures, and artificial skin models.
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a common type of skin cancer that can result in significant morbidity, although it is usually well-managed and rarely metastasizes. However, the lack of commercially available cSCC cell lines hinders our understanding of this disease. This study aims to establish and characterize a new metastatic cSCC cell line derived from a Brazilian patient.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMutat Res Genet Toxicol Environ Mutagen
November 2023
Antineoplastic drugs are among the most toxic pharmaceuticals. Their release into the aquatic ecosystems has been reported, giving rise to concerns about the adverse effects, including cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, that they may have on exposed organisms. In this study, we analyzed the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and its metabolite alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (3-NH2-F); gemcitabine (GEM) and its metabolite 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluorouridine (2-DOH-DiF); as well as cyclophosphamide (CP) on the HepG2 cell line.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) represent a significant clinical challenge due to their metastatic potential and limited treatment options. Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), a suppressor of the MAPK signaling pathway, is downregulated in various cancers and acts as a metastasis suppressor. Our previous studies demonstrated low RKIP expression in GIST and its association with poor outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play essential roles in the initiation and progression of human tumors, including cervical cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying their actions in cervical cancer remain unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the functional role of miR‑130a‑3p in cervical cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(1) Background: Malignant gliomas are aggressive tumors characterized by fast cellular growth and highly invasive properties. Despite all biological and clinical advances in therapy, the standard treatment remains essentially palliative. Therefore, searching for alternative therapies that minimize adverse symptoms and improve glioblastoma patients' outcomes is imperative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: EGFR mutations are present in approximately 15−50% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which are predictive of anti-EGFR therapies. At variance, NSCLC patients harboring KRAS mutations are resistant to those anti-EGFR approaches. Afatinib and allitinib are second-generation pan-EGFR drugs, yet no predictive biomarkers are known in the NSCLC context.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPharmaceutics
April 2022
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCetuximab is the sole anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that is FDA approved to treat head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, no predictive biomarkers of cetuximab response are known for HNSCC. Herein, we address the molecular mechanisms underlying cetuximab resistance in an in vitro model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnnonacea species have been reported to possess antitumor properties. However, the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities of Xylopia aromatica (Annonacea) have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Xylopia aromatica leaves hexane fraction (XaHF) on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells lines (EAC), both in vitro and in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCervical cancer is the third most common in Brazilian women. The chemotherapy used for the treatment of this disease can cause many side effects; then, to overcome this problem, new treatment options are necessary. Natural compounds represent one of the most promising sources for the development of new drugs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlioblastoma (GBM) is the highest-grade form of glioma, as well as one of the most aggressive types of cancer, exhibiting rapid cellular growth and highly invasive behavior. Despite significant advances in diagnosis and therapy in recent decades, the outcomes for high-grade gliomas (WHO grades III-IV) remain unfavorable, with a median overall survival time of 15-18 months. The concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) has emerged and provided new insight into GBM resistance and management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOver the past decade, we described a novel tumour targeted approach that sought to design "combi-molecules" to hit two distinct targets in tumour cells. Here, to generate small combi-molecules with strong DNA damaging potential while retaining EGFR inhibitory potency, we developed the first synthetic strategy to access the 6-N, N-disubstituted quinazoline scaffold and designed JS61 to possess a nitrogen mustard function directly attached to the 6-position of the quinazoline ring. We compared its biological activity with that of structures containing either a hemi mustard or a non-alkylating substituent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
February 2020
The 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) gene is located in the chromosomal region 9p21. deletion is a frequent event in a wide variety of human cancers; however, its biological role in tumorigenesis remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to characterize the MTAP expression profile in a series of gliomas and to associate it with patients' clinicopathological features.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant-based compounds are an option to explore and perhaps overcome the limitations of current antitumor treatments. Mart. is a plant with a broad spectrum of biological activities, but its antitumor activity is still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCervical cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed tumor type and the fourth cause of cancer-related death in females. Therapeutic options for cervical cancer patients remain very limited. Annona crassiflora Mart.
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