Publications by authors named "Rebecca Grierson"
Purpose: To evaluate endothelial progenitor cell [late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (OECs)], vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α) plasma levels as potential biomarkers before and during ranibizumab (Lucentis(®)) treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD).
Methods: Thirty-one patients with untreated nvAMD presenting for 3 consecutive intravitreal ranibizumab injections and a follow-up visit at 4 weeks intervals were enrolled. Peripheral blood was collected before each injection and at the follow-up visit and OEC clusters were cultured and evaluated according to previously published protocols.
'Cancer stem cells' (CSCs) are tumor cells with stem cell properties hypothesized to be responsible for tumorigenesis, metastatis, and resistance to treatment, and have been identified in different tumors including cutaneous melanoma, using stem cell markers such as CD133. This study explored expression of CD133 and other putative stem cell markers in uveal melanoma. Eight uveal melanoma cell lines were subjected to flow-cytometric (fluorescence-activated cell sorting) analysis of CD133 and other stem cell markers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We recently demonstrated increased frequency and growth potential of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells (OECs) in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD). This study investigated the effects of short- and long-term in vitro inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling by SU5416 and other inhibitors of the VEGF signaling pathway in OECs.
Methods: OECs, from the peripheral blood of patients with nvAMD, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells were grown in the presence of SU5416, other VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3'-Kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) and protein kinase C (PKC) in complete angiogenic medium.