Eslicarbazepine induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in C6 glioma cells in vitro and suppresses tumor growth in an intracranial rat model.

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor, with a poor prognosis and life expectancy of 14-16 months after diagnosis. The standard treatment for GBM consists of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Most patients become resistant to treatment after some time, and the tumor recurs.

CLEC19A overexpression inhibits tumor cell proliferation/migration and promotes apoptosis concomitant suppression of PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway in glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: GBM is the most frequent malignant primary brain tumor in humans. The CLEC19A is a member of the C-type lectin family, which has a high expression in brain tissue. Herein, we sought to carry out an in-depth analysis to pinpoint the role of CLEC19A expression in GBM.

C6 glioma models: an update and a guide toward a more effective preclinical evaluation of potential anti-glioblastoma drugs.

Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor with a poor prognosis and few therapeutic choices. tumor models are useful for enhancing knowledge of underlying GBM pathology and developing more effective therapies/agents at the preclinical level, as they recapitulate human brain tumors. The C6 glioma cell line has been one of the most widely used cell lines in neuro-oncology research as they produce tumors that share the most similarities with human GBM regarding genetic, invasion, and expansion profiles and characteristics.

Synthetic miR-21 decoy circularized by tRNA splicing mechanism inhibited tumorigenesis in glioblastoma and models.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the deadliest primary central nervous system tumor. miRNAs (miRs), a class of non-coding RNAs, are considered pivotal post-transcriptional regulators of cell signaling pathways. miR-21 is a reliable oncogene that promotes tumorigenesis of cancer cells.

The role of VEGF in cancer-induced angiogenesis and research progress of drugs targeting VEGF.

Angiogenesis is a double-edged sword; it is a mechanism that defines the boundary between health and disease. In spite of its central role in physiological homeostasis, it provides the oxygen and nutrition needed by tumor cells to proceed from dormancy if pro-angiogenic factors tip the balance in favor of tumor angiogenesis. Among pro-angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a prominent target in therapeutic methods due to its strategic involvement in the formation of anomalous tumor vasculature.

Estrogen as a key regulator of energy homeostasis and metabolic health.

Over the last two decades, it has become evident that estrogens preserve the integrity of energy homeostasis at central and peripheral levels. Estrogen deficiency, such as that caused by menopause or ovariectomy, has been linked to obesity and metabolic disorders that can be resolved or reversed by estrogen therapy. 17β-estradiol (E2), as the major estrogen in the body, primarily regulates energy balance via estrogen receptor alpha (ERα).

Molecular Pharmacology and Novel Potential Therapeutic Applications of Fingolimod.

Fingolimod is a well-tolerated, highly effective disease-modifying therapy successfully utilized in the management of multiple sclerosis. The active metabolite, fingolimod-phosphate, acts on sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) to bring about an array of pharmacological effects. While being initially recognized as a novel agent that can profoundly reduce T-cell numbers in circulation and the CNS, thereby suppressing inflammation and MS, there is now rapidly increasing knowledge on its previously unrecognized molecular and potential therapeutic effects in diverse pathological conditions.

Monepantel antitumor activity is mediated through inhibition of major cell cycle and tumor growth signaling pathways.

In women, epithelial ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynaecological malignancy-related deaths. Development of resistance to standard platinum and taxane based chemotherapy and recurrence of the disease necessitate development of novel drugs to halt disease progression. An established concept is to target molecular and signaling pathways that substantially contribute to development of drug resistance and disease progression.

The role of ERα36 in cell type-specific functions of estrogen and cancer development.

Exploring the regulatory effects of estrogen on different body organs via its receptors is largely of interest. Recently, the expression, signaling and the clinical significance of ERα36, the newly identified isoform of ERα, mediating non-genomic signaling of estrogen, have been studied in a wide range of organs and tumors. ERα36 is expressed highly in the CNS and actively involved in neuroprotection.

Expression patterns of ERα66 and its novel variant isoform ERα36 in lactotroph pituitary adenomas and associations with clinicopathological characteristics.

Purpose: The regulatory effects of estradiol on pituitary homeostasis have been well documented. However, the expression patterns of ERα66 and ERα36 and their correlations with the clinical course of postoperative prolactinoma tumors remain unclear.

Methods: The expression of ERα36, ERα66, Ki67, p53, and CD31 were determined by immunohistochemistry in 62 prolactinoma patients.

The effects of anticancer medicinal herbs on vascular endothelial growth factor based on pharmacological aspects: a review study.

As a complicated process of forming new blood vessels from the present vasculature endothelium, angiogenesis plays a critical role in the progression of cancer, through developing new blood vessels in tumor cells. Angiogenesis is regulated by proteins known as inhibitor or activator molecules, affected by different medicinal herbs and small molecules. In the present review, the molecular mechanisms of tumor angiogenesis are outlined, focusing on the pharmacological aspects and molecular mechanisms of natural compounds used in chemotherapy and their effects on angiogenesis, focusing on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

Neuroprotective effects of astaxanthin in a rat model of spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to constant neurological deficits and long-term unalterable disability. Apoptosis plays an important role in the initiation of the secondary injury cascades leading to progressive tissue damage and severely functional deficits after SCI. Although the primary mechanical destructive events cannot be reversed, a therapeutic intervention could be carried out in order to moderate the secondary injury damage several hours to weeks after injury.

Prognostic significance of Ki67 expression in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Objectives: Although Ki67 measurement by immunohistochemistry has been widely used as a prognostic index in cancers, it has not been reported in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). Hence, this study examines the prognostic significance of Ki67 in MPM.

Methods: Specimens from 42 MPM patients were screened for Ki67 expression using immunohistochemistry.

Minocycline attenuates hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression correlated with modulation of p53 and AKT/mTOR/p70S6K/4E-BP1 pathway in ovarian cancer: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α is the key cellular survival protein under hypoxia, and is associated with tumor progression and angiogenesis. We have recently shown the inhibitory effects of minocycline on ovarian tumor growth correlated with attenuation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and herein report a companion laboratory study to test if these effects were the result of HIF-1α inhibition. In vitro, human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (A2780, OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3) were utilized to examine the effect of minocycline on HIF-1 and its upstream pathway components to elucidate the underlying mechanism of action of minocycline.

Albumin nanoparticles increase the anticancer efficacy of albendazole in ovarian cancer xenograft model.

Background: The poor prognosis of patients with drug resistant ovarian cancer and the lack of targeted therapy have raised the need for alternative treatments. Albendazole (ABZ) is an anti-parasite compound capable of impairing microtubule formation. We hypothesized that ABZ could be repurposed as a potential anti-angiogenic drug due to its potent inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ovarian cancer with ascites.

Monepantel induces autophagy in human ovarian cancer cells through disruption of the mTOR/p70S6K signalling pathway.

We have recently shown that the novel anthelmintic drug monepantel (MPL) inhibits growth, proliferation and colony formation, arrests the cell cycle and induces cleavage of PARP-1 in ovarian cancer cell lines. Here we report on the mechanism behind the anticancer properties of MPL. The cytotoxic effect of MPL on ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3 and A2780) was investigated employing a panel of tests used for the detection of apoptosis and autophagy.

Anticancer properties of novel aminoacetonitrile derivative monepantel (ADD 1566) in pre-clinical models of human ovarian cancer.

Monepantel (MPL) is a new anthelmintic agent approved for the treatment of nematode infections in farm animals. As a nematicide, it acts through a nematode-specific nicotinic receptor subtype which explains its exceptional safety in rodents and mammals. In the present study, we evaluated its potential as an anticancer agent.

p70 Ribosomal protein S6 kinase (Rps6kb1): an update.

The Rps6kb1 gene encodes the 70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), which is a serine/threonine kinase regulated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. p70S6K plays a crucial role in controlling cell cycle, growth and survival. The PI3K/mTOR signalling pathway is one of the major mechanisms for controlling cell survival, proliferation and metabolism and is the central regulator of translation of some components of protein synthesis system.

Gene of the month: Interleukin 6 (IL-6).

The Interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene encodes the classic proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. It is also known as interferon-β2 (IFN-β2), B cell stimulatory factor-2 and hybridoma/plasmacytoma growth factor. IL-6 is a multifunctional cytokine with a central role in many physiological inflammatory and immunological processes.

Involvement of urokinase-type plasminogen activator system in cancer: an overview.

Currently, there are several studies supporting the role of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) system in cancer. The association of uPA to its receptor triggers the conversion of plasminogen into plasmin. This process is regulated by the uPA inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2).

Human Sprouty1 suppresses growth, migration, and invasion in human breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Expression of human Sprouty1 (hSpry1) gene is downregulated in most breast cancer patients, implicating it as an important tumor suppressor gene. So, we hypothesized that overexpression of hSpry1 gene may suppress breast cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion.

Effect of minocycline on pentylenetetrazol-induced chemical kindled seizures in mice.

Inflammation is one of the mechanisms involved in seizure induction. In this study, the effect of minocycline, an anti-inflammatory drug, was investigated on kindling acquisition. Chemical kindling was induced by injection of a subthreshold dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ; 37.

Ki67-BCL2 index in prognosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

Background: malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare peritoneal mesothelial neoplasm. Ki67 and BCL2 are established prognostic markers in several cancers. High Ki67 expression indicates tumour progression, whilst similar expression of BCL2 retards tumour replication.