Preclinical Efficacy of a PSMA-Targeted Actinium-225 Conjugate (225Ac-Macropa-Pelgifatamab): A Targeted Alpha Therapy for Prostate Cancer.

Purpose: Initially, prostate cancer responds to hormone therapy, but eventually resistance develops. Beta emitter-based prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radionuclide therapy is approved for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Here we introduce a targeted alpha therapy (TAT) consisting of the PSMA antibody pelgifatamab covalently linked to a macropa chelator and labeled with actinium-225 and compare its efficacy and tolerability with other TATs.

Tumor growth inhibition and immune system activation following treatment with thorium-227 conjugates and PD-1 check-point inhibition in the MC-38 murine model.

Targeted thorium-227 conjugates comprise the combination of a monoclonal antibody with specificity for a tumor cell antigen and a 3,2-HOPO chelator enabling complexation of thorium-227 (Th-227). The radiolabeled conjugate functions as an effective delivery system of alpha-particle radiation to the surface of the tumor cell inducing difficult to repair complex DNA damage and cell death. In addition, the mechanism of action of targeted alpha therapy (TAT) appears to involve a significant component linked to stimulation of the immune system.

TAK1-inhibitors did not reduce disease burden in a Vκ*MYC model of multiple myeloma.

Objective: Multiple myeloma is a haematological malignancy characterized by proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Development of resistance and minimal residual disease remain challenging in the treatment of multiple myeloma. Transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1) has recently gained attention as a potential drug target in multiple myeloma.

Zr-3,2-HOPO-Mesothelin Antibody PET Imaging Reflects Tumor Uptake of Mesothelin-Targeted Th-Conjugate Therapy in Mice.

The mesothelin (MSLN)-targeted Th conjugate is a novel α-therapy developed to treat MSLN-overexpressing cancers. We radiolabeled the same antibody-chelator conjugate with Zr to evaluate whether PET imaging with Zr-MSLN matches Th-MSLN tumor uptake, biodistribution, and antitumor activity. Serial PET imaging with protein doses of 4, 20, or 40 μg of Zr-MSLN and Zr-control was performed up to 168 h after tracer injection in human tumor-bearing nude mice with high (HT29-MSLN) and low (BxPc3) MSLN expression.

TAK1-inhibitors are cytotoxic for multiple myeloma cells alone and in combination with melphalan.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer caused by malignant transformation of plasma cells. Transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (MAP3K7, TAK1) is a major regulator of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Both NF-κB and MAPK control expression of genes with vital roles for drug resistance in MM.

Smac-mimetics reduce numbers and viability of human osteoclasts.

Elevated activity of bone-degrading osteoclasts (OC) contributes to pathological bone degradation in diseases such as multiple myeloma. Several proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF, contribute to osteoclastogenesis. The receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) regulates inflammation and cell death.

Development of a novel in situ gelling skin dressing: Delivering high levels of dissolved oxygen at pH 5.5.

Background And Aims: Wound healing requires appropriate oxygen and pH levels. Oxygen therapy and pH-modulating treatments have shown positive effects on wound healing. Thus, a dressing, which combines high levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) with the pH of intact skin, may improve wound healing.

Increased Plasma Ferritin Concentration and Low-Grade Inflammation-A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: It is unknown why increased plasma ferritin concentration predicts all-cause mortality. As low-grade inflammation and increased plasma ferritin concentration are associated with all-cause mortality, we hypothesized that increased plasma ferritin concentration is genetically associated with low-grade inflammation.

Methods: We investigated whether increased plasma ferritin concentration is associated with low-grade inflammation [i.

Iron Regulation of Pancreatic Beta-Cell Functions and Oxidative Stress.

Dietary advice is the cornerstone in first-line treatment of metabolic diseases. Nutritional interventions directed at these clinical conditions mainly aim to (a) improve insulin resistance by reducing energy-dense macronutrient intake to obtain weight loss and (b) reduce fluctuations in insulin secretion through avoidance of rapidly absorbable carbohydrates. However, even in the majority of motivated patients selected for clinical trials, massive efforts using this approach have failed to achieve lasting efficacy.

Extended structure-activity study of thienopyrimidine-based EGFR inhibitors with evaluation of drug-like properties.

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines are attractive derivatives for cancer treatment, among others through regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK). In an extended SAR study, 44 new compounds of this class have been evaluated as inhibitors, while simultaneously focussing on ADME properties. Through the application of bioisosters, hybrid structures, solubilizing tails, and a combination approach several successful alterations in terms of activity and physiochemical properties were accomplished.

The Norwegian Hearing in Noise Test for Children.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to create 12 ten-sentence lists for the Norwegian Hearing in Noise Test for children, and to use these lists to collect speech reception thresholds (SRTs) in quiet and in noise to assess speech perception in normal hearing children 5 to 13 years of age, to establish developmental trends, and to compare the results with those of adults. Data were collected in an anechoic chamber and in an audiometric test room, and the effect of slight room reverberation was estimated.

Design: The Norwegian Hearing in Noise Test for children was formed from a subset of the adult sentences.

Anti-metastatic action of FAK inhibitor OXA-11 in combination with VEGFR-2 signaling blockade in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

The present study sought to determine the anti-tumor effects of OXA-11, a potent, novel small-molecule amino pyrimidine inhibitor (1.2 pM biochemical IC(50)) of focal adhesion kinase (FAK). In studies of cancer cell lines, OXA-11 inhibited FAK phosphorylation at phospho-tyrosine 397 with a mechanistic IC(50) of 1 nM in TOV21G tumor cells, which translated into functional suppression of proliferation in 3-dimensional culture with an EC(50) of 9 nM.

Truncated structures used in search for new lead compounds and in a retrospective analysis of thienopyrimidine-based EGFR inhibitors.

An approach for optimization of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) inhibitors using truncated thienopyrimidine structures combined with enzymatic assay has been evaluated. This was done by synthesis and EGFR activity measurement of a series of fragment structures and their corresponding drug-model analogues. On average, the activity of the drug-like structures increased a ten-fold as compared to the fragments.

Iron: the hard player in diabetes pathophysiology.

The interest in the role of ferrous iron in diabetes pathophysiology has been revived by recent evidence of iron as an important determinant of pancreatic islet inflammation and as a biomarker of diabetes risk and mortality. The iron metabolism in the β-cell is complex. Excess free iron is toxic, but at the same time, iron is required for normal β-cell function and thereby glucose homeostasis.

EGFR wild-type amplification and activation promote invasion and development of glioblastoma independent of angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is regarded as a hallmark of cancer progression and it has been postulated that solid tumor growth depends on angiogenesis. At present, however, it is clear that tumor cell invasion can occur without angiogenesis, a phenomenon that is particularly evident by the infiltrative growth of malignant brain tumors, such as glioblastomas (GBMs). In these tumors, amplification or overexpression of wild-type (wt) or truncated and constitutively activated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are regarded as important events in GBM development, where the complex downstream signaling events have been implicated in tumor cell invasion, angiogenesis and proliferation.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and cancer--a review.

Hypoxia is a critical hallmark of solid tumors and involves enhanced cell survival, angiogenesis, glycolytic metabolism, and metastasis. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment has for centuries been used to improve or cure disorders involving hypoxia and ischemia, by enhancing the amount of dissolved oxygen in the plasma and thereby increasing O(2) delivery to the tissue. Studies on HBO and cancer have up to recently focused on whether enhanced oxygen acts as a cancer promoter or not.

Gene expression in tumor cells and stroma in dsRed 4T1 tumors in eGFP-expressing mice with and without enhanced oxygenation.

Background: The tumor microenvironment is pivotal in tumor progression. Thus, we aimed to develop a mammary tumor model to elucidate molecular characteristics in the stroma versus the tumor cell compartment by global gene expression. Secondly, since tumor hypoxia influences several aspects of tumor pathophysiology, we hypothesized that hyperoxia might have an inhibitory effect on tumor growth per se.

Dietary intake and nutritional status in a Scandinavian adult cystic fibrosis-population compared with recommendations.

Background: Malnutrition is a well-known complication in cystic fibrosis (CF). There is good evidence that maintaining a normal body-weight correlates well with improved survival in CF. Energy intake in excess of 120% of the estimated average requirement (EAR) has been advised since 1980s.

Vitamin D deficiency as a risk factor for cystic fibrosis-related diabetes in the Scandinavian Cystic Fibrosis Nutritional Study.

Aims/hypothesis: Many cystic fibrosis patients are vitamin D-insufficient. Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is a major complication of cystic fibrosis. The literature suggests that vitamin D might possess certain glucose-lowering properties.

Anti-VEGF treatment reduces blood supply and increases tumor cell invasion in glioblastoma.

Bevacizumab, an antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a promising, yet controversial, drug in human glioblastoma treatment (GBM). Its effects on tumor burden, recurrence, and vascular physiology are unclear. We therefore determined the tumor response to bevacizumab at the phenotypic, physiological, and molecular level in a clinically relevant intracranial GBM xenograft model derived from patient tumor spheroids.

Inverse relation between vitamin D and serum total immunoglobulin G in the Scandinavian Cystic Fibrosis Nutritional Study.

Background/objectives: The hallmark of cystic fibrosis (CF) is chronic lung inflammation. The severity of lung disease is closely correlated with immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels. Beyond its contribution to the bone health, the importance of vitamin D has not been fully recognized owing to the lack of human studies providing evidence of its benefit.

Assessing prosodic skills in five European languages: cross-linguistic differences in typical and atypical populations.

Following demand for a prosody assessment procedure, the test Profiling Elements of Prosody in Speech-Communication (PEPS-C), has been translated from English into Spanish, French, Flemish and Norwegian. This provides scope to examine receptive and expressive prosodic ability in Romance (Spanish and French) as well as Germanic (English and Flemish) languages, and includes the possibility of assessing these skills with regard to lexical tone (Norwegian). Cross-linguistic similarities and differences relevant to the translation are considered.

Hyperoxia increases the uptake of 5-fluorouracil in mammary tumors independently of changes in interstitial fluid pressure and tumor stroma.

Background: Hypoxia is associated with increased resistance to chemo- and radiation-therapy. Hyperoxic treatment (hyperbaric oxygen) has previously been shown to potentiate the effect of some forms of chemotherapy, and this has been ascribed to enhanced cytotoxicity or neovascularisation. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether hyperoxia also enhances any actual uptake of 5FU (5-fluorouracil) into the tumor tissue and if this can be explained by changes in the interstitium and extracellular matrix.

Semi-spontaneous oral text production: measurements in clinical practice.

Functionally relevant assessment of the language production of speakers with aphasia should include assessment of connected speech production. Despite the ecological validity of everyday conversations, more controlled and monological types of texts may be easier to obtain and analyse in clinical practice. This article discusses some simple measurements for the analysis of semi-spontaneous oral text production by speakers with aphasia.