Publications by authors named "Jennifer Hardingham"

Background: Epimers of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have a low bioavailability and are prone to deglycosylation, which produces epimers of ginsenoside Rh2 (S-Rh2 and R-Rh2) and protopanaxadiol (S-PPD and R-PPD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and potency of these molecules as anti-cancer agents.

Methods: Crystal violet staining was used to study the anti-proliferatory action of the molecules on a human epithelial breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and compare their potency.

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The phase III MAX clinical trial randomised patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) to receive first-line capecitabine chemotherapy alone or in combination with the anti-VEGF-A antibody bevacizumab (± mitomycin C). We utilised this cohort to examine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in VEGF-A, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 are predictive of efficacy outcomes with bevacizumab or the development of hypertension. Genomic DNA extracted from archival FFPE tissue for 325 patients (69% of the MAX trial population) was used to genotype 16 candidate SNPs in VEGF-A, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2, which were analysed for associations with efficacy outcomes and hypertension.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in young adults is rising. Identifying genetic risk factors is fundamental for the clinical management of patients and their families. This study aimed to identify clinically significant germline variants among young adults with CRC.

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Key problems of chemotherapies, as the mainstay of treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), are toxicity and development of tumour resistance. Using response surface methodology, we previously optimised the combination of epimers of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) for anti-angiogenic action. Here, we show that the optimised combination of 50 µM SRg3 and 25 µM RRg3 (C3), derived from an RSM model of migration of TNBC cell line MDA-MB-231, inhibited migration of MDA-MB-231 and HCC1143, in 2D and 3D migration assays ( < 0.

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We previously showed how triterpene saponin bacopaside (bac) II, purified from the medicinal herb , induced cell death in colorectal cancer cell lines and reduced endothelial cell migration and tube formation, and further demonstrated a synergistic effect of a combination of bac I and bac II on the inhibition of breast cancer cell line growth. Here, we assessed the effects of bac I and II on the colorectal cancer HT-29 cell line, and mouse (2H-11) and human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) lines, measuring outcomes including cell viability, proliferation, migration, tube formation, apoptosis, cytosolic Ca levels and plasma membrane integrity. Combined bac I and II, each applied at concentrations below IC values, caused a synergistic reduction of the viability and proliferation of HT-29 and endothelial cells, and impaired the migration of HT-29 and tube formation of endothelial cells.

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Tumour angiogenesis plays a key role in tumour growth and progression. The application of current anti-angiogenic drugs is accompanied by adverse effects and drug resistance. Therefore, finding safer effective treatments is needed.

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Primary appendiceal neoplasms (ANs) comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors. The pathology and classification of ANs have been controversial, and thus, a new classification of these neoplasms was published in the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors (5th edition, 2019). However, immunohistochemistry (IHC) features of epithelial ANs are not explained in this edition and the limited data on the molecular pathology of these tumors shows inconsistent findings in various studies.

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Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) is a member of the ginsenoside family of chemicals extracted from . Like other ginsenosides, Rg3 has two epimers: 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (SRg3) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (RRg3). Rg3 is an intriguing molecule due to its anti-cancer properties.

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Background: Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab or panitumumab) are today increasingly used in the first- or second-line setting for RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Following progression beyond third- or fourth-line therapy, some patients are unsuitable for further chemotherapy because of poor performance status or patient choice. However, a significant number of patients are still candidates for further therapy despite limited standard options being available.

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Article Synopsis
  • This research examined the levels of circulating SFRP5 (cSFRP5) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and found them significantly higher compared to non-CRC controls.
  • Lower cSFRP5 levels were linked to the presence of vascular invasion and liver metastasis in CRC patients, indicating worse outcomes.
  • High levels of cSFRP5 correlated with longer disease-free survival, suggesting its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in CRC.
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Objectives: The study aimed to examine the incidence and mortality rates of appendiceal neoplasms (ANs) in Australia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on national data obtained from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) from 1982 to 2013. Changes to the incidence, and the cancer-specific mortality following the diagnosis of ANs were analyzed over this time period, with stratification performed for histological subtype, gender, and age groups (<50y and ≥50y).

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Breast cancer (BC) is still the most common cancer among women worldwide. Amongst the subtypes of BC, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by deficient expression of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 receptors. These patients are therefore not given the option of targeted therapy and have worse prognosis as a result.

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Bacopaside (bac) I and II are triterpene saponins purified from the medicinal herb . Previously, we showed that bac II reduced endothelial cell migration and tube formation and induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cell lines. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of treatment with combined doses of bac I and bac II using four cell lines representative of the breast cancer subtypes: triple negative (MDA-MB-231), estrogen receptor positive (T47D and MCF7) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive (BT-474).

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Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) has been proposed as a dual water and cation channel that when upregulated in cancers enhances cell migration rates; however, the mechanism remains unknown. Previous work identified AqB011 as an inhibitor of the gated human AQP1 cation conductance, and bacopaside II as a blocker of AQP1 water pores. In two colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines, high levels of AQP1 transcript were confirmed in HT29, and low levels in SW480 cells, by quantitative PCR (polymerase chain reaction).

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Ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) has two epimers, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (SRg3) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (RRg3), and while Rg3 itself has been reported to have anti-cancer properties, few studies have been reported on the anti-cancer effects of the different epimers. The aim was to investigate the stereoselective effects of the Rg3 epimers on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, tested using cell-based assays for proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, migration and invasion. Molecular docking showed that Rg3 interacted with the aquaporin 1 (AQP1) water channel (binding score -9.

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AqB013 and AqB050 compounds inhibit aquaporin 1 (AQP1), a dual water and ion channel implicated in tumour angiogenesis. We tested AqB013 and AqB050 either as monotherapy or in combination on tube formation of murine endothelial cells (2H-11 and 3B-11) and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). The mechanism underlying their anti-tubulogenic effect was explored by examining cell viability, induction of apoptosis and migration using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, Annexin V/propidium iodide apoptosis assay and scratch wound assay.

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Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is a homo-tetrameric transmembrane protein that facilitates rapid movement of water and ions across cell membranes. The clinical significance of AQP1 expression in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of AQP1 transcript expression and the association between expression and promoter methylation in normal colonic mucosa, CRC tissues and cell lines.

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Background: For metastatic colorectal cancer, previous reports have described differences in biology and outcome, including response to biologic agents, based on whether the primary tumor is right- or left-sided. We explored the molecular markers from the AGITG MAX trial.

Patients And Methods: The AGITG MAX trial was a randomized study comparing capecitabine versus capecitabine + bevacizumab versus capecitabine + bevacizumab + mitomycin C as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer.

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Breast cancer is still one of the most prevalent cancers and a leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The key challenge with cancer treatment is the choice of the best therapeutic agents with the least possible toxicities on the patient. Recently, attention has been drawn to herbal compounds, in particular ginsenosides, extracted from the root of the Ginseng plant.

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Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) is the molecular marker for DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and has been associated with better survival outcomes in early stage disease. In metastatic CRC (mCRC), outcomes for patients with MSI are less clear. There is evolving evidence that treatment pathways for MSI CRC should include programmed-death 1 (PD-1) antibodies.

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Aquaporin-1 (AQP1), a transmembrane pore-forming molecule, facilitates the rapid movement of water and small solutes across cell membranes. We have previously shown that bacopaside II, an extract from the medicinal herb , blocks the AQP1 water channel and impairs migration of cells that express AQP1. The aim of this study was to further elucidate the anti-tumour potential of bacopaside II in colon cancer cells.

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Inhibition of mTOR in addition to EGFR may overcome resistance to EGFR inhibitors in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This phase Ib/II study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of irinotecan, panitumumab, and everolimus. Patients with exon 2 wild-type (WT) mCRC following failure of fluoropyrimidine-based therapy received i.

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Expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) in endothelial cells is critical for their migration and angiogenesis in cancer. We tested the AQP1 inhibitor, bacopaside II, derived from medicinal plant , on endothelial cell migration and tube-formation in vitro using mouse endothelial cell lines (2H11 and 3B11) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of bacopaside II on viability, apoptosis, migration and tubulogenesis was assessed by a proliferation assay, annexin-V/propidium iodide flow cytometry, the scratch wound assay and endothelial tube-formation, respectively.

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Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed at <50 years is predominantly located in the distal colon and rectum. Little is known about which lesion subtypes may serve as CRC precursors in young adults. The aim of this work was to document the prevalence and histological subtype of lesions seen in patients aged <50 years, and any associated clinical features.

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The expression of HLA-G by tumour cells is an established mechanism to escape recognition and immune mediated destruction, allowing tumour survival, growth and metastasis. However, the prognostic value of soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) remains unknown. Mucinous carcinoma (MC) is a distinct form of colorectal cancer (CRC) found in 10 to 15% of patients, which has long been associated with poor response to treatment.

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