Barriers to Effective Communication about Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to effective conversations about advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care reported by health care and community-based service providers in Massachusetts, USA.

Methods: This qualitative research analyzed open-ended responses to two survey questions, inquiring about perceived barriers to having conversations about ACP and palliative care with patients and consumers. Data were collected between November 2017 and June 2019 from nine organizations in Massachusetts, including health care provider organizations, health insurers, community-based organizations, and a nursing education institution.

Carborane-Containing Hydroxamate MMP Ligands for the Treatment of Tumors Using Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT): Efficacy without Tumor Cell Entry.

New carborane-bearing hydroxamate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) ligands have been synthesized for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) with nanomolar potency against MMP-2, -9 and -13. New analogs are based on MMP inhibitor CGS-23023A, and two previously reported MMP ligands () and () were studied in vitro for BNCT activity. The boronated MMP ligands and showed high in vitro tumoricidal effects in an in vitro BNCT assay, exhibiting IC values for and of 2.

New Boron Delivery Agents.

This proceeding article compiles current research on the development of boron delivery drugs for boron neutron capture therapy that was presented and discussed at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Workshop on Neutron Capture Therapy that took place on April 20-22, 2022. The most used boron sources are icosahedral boron clusters attached to peptides, proteins (such as albumin), porphyrin derivatives, dendrimers, polymers, and nanoparticles, or encapsulated into liposomes. These boron clusters and/or carriers can be labeled with contrast agents allowing for the use of imaging techniques, such as PET, SPECT, and fluorescence, that enable quantification of tumor-localized boron and their use as theranostic agents.

Synthesis and vinyl benzene copolymerization of novel trisubstituted ethylenes: 15. Halogen and methoxy ring-substituted isopropyl 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoates.

Condensation of isopropyl cyanoacetate and substituted benzoic aldehydes resulted in formation of novel isopropyl esters of 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenoic acid, RPhCH = C(CN)COCH(CH) (where R is 2,3,4-trimethoxy, 2,4,5-trimethoxy, 2,4,6-trimethoxy, 3-bromo-4,5-dimethoxy, 5-bromo-2,3-dimethoxy, 5-bromo-2,4-dimethoxy, 6-bromo-3,4-dimethoxy, 2-bromo-3-hydroxy-4-methoxy, 4-bromo-2,6-difluoro, 2-chloro-3,4-dimethoxy, 3-chloro-4,5-dimethoxy, 5-chloro-2,3-dimethoxy, 2,3,6-trichloro, 3-chloro-2,6-difluoro, 2,3,4-trifluoro, 2,4,5-trifluoro, 2,4,6-trifluoro, 3,4,5-trifluoro, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluoro). Copolymerization of the esters with vinyl benzene in solution with radical initiation (ABCN) at 70°C led to formation copolymers. The products were characterized by CHN elemental analysis, IR,  H- and  C-NMR, GPC, DSC, and TGA.

Carborane-Containing Matrix Metalloprotease (MMP) Ligands as Candidates for Boron Neutron-Capture Therapy (BNCT).

Based on the previously reported potent and selective sulfone hydroxamate inhibitors SC-76276, SC-78080 (SD-2590), and SC-77964, potent MMP inhibitors have been designed and synthesized to append a boron-rich carborane cluster by employing click chemistry to target tumor cells that are known to upregulate gelatinases. Docking against MMP-2 suggests binding involving the hydroxamate zinc-binding group, key H-bonds by the sulfone moiety with the peptide backbone residues Leu82 and Leu83, and a hydrophobic interaction with the deep P1' pocket. The more potent of the two triazole regioisomers exhibits an IC of 3.