Patient-Derived Nasopharyngeal Cancer Organoids for Disease Modeling and Radiation Dose Optimization.

Effective radiation treatment (RT) for recurrent nasopharyngeal cancers (NPC), featuring an intrinsic hypoxic sub-volume, remains a clinical challenge. Lack of disease-specific models of NPC, together with difficulties in establishing patient derived xenograft (PDX) models, have further hindered development of personalized therapeutic options. Herein, we established two NPC organoid lines from recurrent NPC PDX models and further characterized and compared these models with original patient tumors using RNA sequencing analysis.

Clinical utility of Epstein-Barr virus DNA and other liquid biopsy markers in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor ubiquitously associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which is highly prevalent in South China, Southeast Asia, and North Africa. Despite being a highly radio-sensitive and treatable cancer, a majority of NPC patients are diagnosed in their advanced stage, and locoregional and distant relapses following definitive treatment contribute largely to cancer-specific mortality among these patients. Given that EBV-driven NPC is the predominant variant seen in endemic regions, various EBV detection methods have been developed and are utilized in screening, prognostication, and post-treatment surveillance of NPC patients.

Restoring apoptosis dysregulation using survivin inhibitor in nasopharyngeal cancer.

Background: Restoring apoptosis dysregulation via survivin inhibition has been investigated in several cancers. In Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)-driven nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), virally induced oncogenes can upregulate survivin. Therefore, we seek to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of YM-155 (a survivin inhibitor) in NPC, both in vitro and in vivo models.

Effect of dimerized melittin on gastric cancer cells and antibacterial activity.

Melittin is the peptide toxin found in bee venom and is effective against cancer cells. To enhance its activity, a branched dimeric form of melittin was designed. The monomeric form of the peptide was more cytotoxic against gastric cancer cells at low concentrations (1-5 μM) than the dimer form, while the cytotoxic effect was comparable at higher concentrations (10 μM).

In vivo Biocompatibility, Biodistribution and Therapeutic Efficiency of Titania Coated Upconversion Nanoparticles for Photodynamic Therapy of Solid Oral Cancers.

Despite the advantages of using photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of head and neck tumors, it can only be used to treat early stage flat lesions due to the limited tissue penetration ability of the visible light. Here, we developed near-infrared (NIR) excitable upconversion nanoparticle (UCN) based PDT agent that can specifically target epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpressing oral cancer cells, in a bid to widen the application of PDT against thick and solid advanced or recurrent head and neck cancers. In vivo studies using the synthesized anti-EGFR-PEG-TiO2-UCNs following systemic administration displayed no major sub-acute or long term toxic effects in terms of blood biochemical, hematological or histopathological changes at a concentration of 50 mg/kg.

Titania coated upconversion nanoparticles for near-infrared light triggered photodynamic therapy.

Because of the limited penetration depth of visible light that generally excites most of the available photosensitizers (PSs), conventional photodynamic therapy (PDT) is limited to the treatment of superficial and flat lesions. Recently, the application of deep penetrating near-infrared (NIR) light excitable upconversion nanoparticles (UCNs) in conjunction with PDT has shown to have clear potential in the treatment of solid tumors due to its ability to penetrate thick tissue. However, various constructs developed so far have certain limitations such as poor or unstable PS loading, reducing their therapeutic efficacy and limiting their application to solution or cell-based studies.

Photoactivation of core-shell titania coated upconversion nanoparticles and their effect on cell death.

Titania (TiO) has been explored as a potential drug in eradicating cancer by virtue of its photocatalytic property to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under UV irradiation. Its clinical application, however, has been hampered by the tissue penetration depth limit of the UV light needed for its activation. The use of 'invisible' near-infrared (NIR) light affords greater tissue penetration depth because most tissues are 'transparent' to NIR light.

Altered expression of cell adhesion molecules leads to differential uptake of hypericin in urothelial cancer.

Objective: To elucidate the mechanism behind selective uptake of hypericin in bladder cancer after intravesical instillation for photodynamic diagnosis of urothelial cell carcinoma of bladder.

Patients And Methods: Clinical studies were done on a series of 60 bladder cancer biopsies obtained from 28 patients who received intravesical instillations with 8 μM hypericin. Serial 5 μm cryosections were cut from 43 biopsies, and expression of the E-cadherin and associated catenins were determined using immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining.

Quantum dot capped magnetite nanorings as high performance nanoprobe for multiphoton fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging.

In the present study, quantum dot (QD) capped magnetite nanorings (NRs) with a high luminescence and magnetic vortex core have been successfully developed as a new class of magnetic-fluorescent nanoprobe. Through electrostatic interaction, cationic polyethylenimine (PEI) capped QD have been firmly graft into negatively charged magnetite NRs modified with citric acid on the surface. The obtained biocompatible multicolor QD capped magnetite NRs exhibit a much stronger magnetic resonance (MR) T2* effect where the r2* relaxivity and r2*/r1 ratio are 4 times and 110 times respectively larger than those of a commercial superparamagnetic iron oxide.

Targeted Therapy of Cancer Using Photodynamic Therapy in Combination with Multi-faceted Anti-Tumor Modalities.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as one of the important therapeutic options in the management of cancer and other diseases. PDT involves a tumor-localized photosensitizer (PS), which when appropriately illuminated by visible light converts oxygen into cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), that attack key structural entities within the targeted cells, ultimately resulting in necrosis or apoptosis. Though PDT is a selective modality, it can be further enhanced by combining other targeted therapeutic strategies that include the use of synthetic peptides and nanoparticles for selective delivery of photosensitizers.

Molecular profiling of angiogenesis in hypericin mediated photodynamic therapy.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) involves the administration of a tumor-localizing photosensitizing drug, which is activated by light of specific wavelength in the presence of molecular oxygen thus generating reactive oxygen species that is toxic to the tumor cells. PDT selectively destroys photosensitized tissue leading to various cellular and molecular responses. The present study was designed to examine the angiogenic responses at short (0.