Isolating Primary Tumor Cells from the MMTV-PyMT Mouse Model and Their Use in Developing an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer.

To study the effect of the immunologically unimpaired microenvironment on tumor progression as well as the efficacy of therapies requiring a functioning immune system, xenograft models are not suitable due to the use of immunodeficient mice. With orthotopic congenic transplantation of tumor cells into mammary tissue, we gain more control and reproducibility regarding tumor growth, while retaining a functioning immune response. Here, we provide a protocol for isolating primary tumor cells from the MMTV-PyMT mouse model and their use in developing an orthotopic mouse model of breast cancer.

The Role of Cysteine Protease Cathepsins B, H, C, and X/Z in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Cancer.

Papain-like cysteine proteases are composed of 11 human cysteine cathepsins, originally located in the lysosomes. They exhibit broad specificity and act as endopeptidases and/or exopeptidases. Among them, only cathepsins B, H, C, and X/Z exhibit exopeptidase activity.

A New Cathepsin D Targeting Drug Delivery System Based on Immunoliposomes Functionalized with Lipidated Pepstatin A.

Cathepsin D is an aspartic protease and one of the most abundant proteases. It is overexpressed in many cancers and plays an important role in tumor development, progression, and metastasis. While it is a physiologically intracellular protein, cathepsin D is secreted into the extracellular matrix under pathological conditions, making it an appealing target for drug delivery systems.

A Probody T Cell-Engaging Bispecific Antibody Targeting EGFR and CD3 Inhibits Colon Cancer Growth with Limited Toxicity.

Unlabelled: T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies (TCB) are highly potent therapeutics that can recruit and activate cytotoxic T cells to stimulate an antitumor immune response. However, the development of TCBs against solid tumors has been limited by significant on-target toxicity to normal tissues. Probody therapeutics have been developed as a novel class of recombinant, protease-activated antibody prodrugs that are "masked" to reduce antigen binding in healthy tissues but can become conditionally unmasked by proteases that are preferentially active in the tumor microenvironment (TME).

Theranostic Applications of an Ultra-Sensitive and Magnetic Resonance Contrast Agent Based on Cobalt Ferrite Spinel Nanoparticles.

Nano-dimensional materials have become a focus of multiple clinical applications due to their unique physicochemical properties. Magnetic nanoparticles represent an important class of nanomaterials that are widely studied for use as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast and drug delivery agents, especially as they can be detected and manipulated remotely. Using magnetic cobalt ferrite spinel (MCFS) nanoparticles, this study was aimed at developing a multifunctional drug delivery platform with MRI capability for use in cancer treatment.