First Total Syntheses of Beauvericin A and -Beauvericin A.

The first total syntheses of beauvericin A and -beauvericin A were achieved. -Methyl-l-phenylalanine, (2)-hydroxylvaleric acid, and (2,3)- or (2,3)-2-hydroxy-2-methylpentanoic acid were linked and cyclized to form the target natural products. The structure of synthetic beauvericin A was confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Prognostic significance of 5-fluorouracil metabolism-relating enzymes and enhanced chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil by 5-chloro 2,4-dihydroxy-pyridine in urothelial carcinoma.

Background: Recently, S-1, a novel 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based agent containing the strong dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) inhibitor, 5-chloro-2,4-dihydropyrimidine (CDHP) has been clinically used to treat various non-urothelial carcinomas (UC). High levels of thymidylate synthase (TS), the target enzyme of 5-FU and DPD which degrades the majority of 5-FU, are associated with poor prognosis in some cancers. However, only a few reports have dealt with this in UC.

Enhancement of radiosensitivity by a unique novel NF-κB inhibitor, DHMEQ, in prostate cancer.

Background: Inducible activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB is one of the principal mechanisms through which resistant prostate cancer cells are protected from radiotherapy. We hypothesised that inactivation of inducible NF-κB with a novel NF-κB inhibitor, DHMEQ, would increase the therapeutic effects of radiotherapy.

Methods: PC-3 and LNCaP cells were exposed to irradiation and/or DHMEQ.

[Urinary bladder metastasis of prostate cancer : a case report].

A 62-year-old man was referred to our outpatient clinic because of his elevated serum prostatic specific antigen level. The transrectal ultrasonography guided biopsy of the prostate revealed prostate cancer. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy showed multiple metastases to his bones and lymph nodes.