Nanodrugs used in cancer therapy.

Cancer despite the introduction of new targeted therapy remains for many patients a fatal disease. Nanotechnology in cancer medicine has emerged as a promising approach to defeat cancer. Targeted delivery of anti-cancer drugs by different nanosystems promises enhanced drug efficacy, selectivity, better safety profile and reduced systemic toxicity.

KDM5 demethylases and their role in cancer cell chemoresistance.

Histone methylation is important in the regulation of genes expression, and thus its dysregulation has been observed in various cancers. KDM5 enzymes are capable of removing tri- and di- methyl marks from lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4) which makes them potential players in the downregulation of tumor suppressors, but could also suggest that their activity repress oncogenes. Depending on the methylation site, their effect on transcription can be either activating or repressing.

Paclitaxel-Loaded Polylactide/Polyethylene Glycol Fibers with Long-Term Antitumor Activity as a Potential Drug Carrier for Local Chemotherapy.

Local application of anticancer agents prolongs the presence time and increases the concentration of drug in the target place and therefore may reduce serious side effects compared to drug systemic administration. The preparation of fibrous materials of polylactide (PLA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) loaded with paclitaxel (PTX, 1 or 10 wt%) is presented. Scanning electron microscopy proves that PTX is homogeneously incorporated into the fibers.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors as Anticancer Drugs.

Carcinogenesis cannot be explained only by genetic alterations, but also involves epigenetic processes. Modification of histones by acetylation plays a key role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression and is controlled by the balance between histone deacetylases (HDAC) and histone acetyltransferases (HAT). HDAC inhibitors induce cancer cell cycle arrest, differentiation and cell death, reduce angiogenesis and modulate immune response.