Unraveling the hypoxia modulating potential of VEGF family genes in pan-cancer.

Tumor hypoxia, oxygen deprivation state, occurs in most cancers and promotes angiogenesis, enhancing the potential for metastasis. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family genes play crucial roles in tumorigenesis by promoting angiogenesis. To investigate the malignant processes triggered by hypoxia-induced angiogenesis across pan-cancers, we comprehensively analyzed the relationships between the expression of VEGF family genes and hypoxic microenvironment based on integrated bioinformatics methods.

Prostate cancer risk prediction based on clinical factors and prostate-specific antigen.

Introduction: The incidence rate of prostate cancer (PCa) has continued to rise in Korea. This study aimed to construct and evaluate a 5-year PCa risk prediction model using a cohort with PSA < 10 ng/mL by incorporating PSA levels and individual factors.

Methods: The PCa risk prediction model including PSA levels and individual risk factors was constructed using a cohort of 69,319 participants from the Kangbuk Samsung Health Study.

Probabilistic evaluation of surface-enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance biosensing.

In this paper, we investigate detection characteristics of localized surface plasmon resonance biosensing based on a probabilistic Poisson distribution of target molecules. The model uses random nanoislands for localization of near-fields in three detection scenarios of non-specific, non-colocalized, and colocalized detection. Optical signatures were found to increase monotonically with target concentration and size regardless of the detection scenarios.

Multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles modified with polyethylenimine and folic acid for biomedical theranostics.

This paper describes the preparation of magnetic nanoparticles modified with polyethylenimine (PEI)-folic acid (PF) conjugate and their potential biomedical applications. Magnetic nanoparticles modified with (3-(2-aminoethylamino)propyltrimethoxysilane) (AEAPS) were first prepared using a ligand exchange method to provide biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, and further conjugated with PF to carry gene and enhance specific uptake into cancer cells. We demonstrated the feasibility of the multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and as gene carriers for gene delivery.

Synthesis and characterization of multifunctional Fe3O4/poly(fluorescein O-methacrylate) core/shell nanoparticles.

Multifunctional fluorescent and superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4)/poly(fluorescein O-methacrylate) [Fe(3)O(4)/poly(FMA)] nanoparticles with core/shell structure were synthesized via surface-initiated polymerization. First, polymerizable double bonds were introduced onto the surface of Fe(3)O(4) nanoparticles via ligand exchange and a condensation reaction. A fluorescent monomer, FMA, was then polymerized to the double bonds at the surface via free-radical polymerization, leading to form a fluorescent polymer shell around the superparamagnetic Fe(3)O(4) core.

Ionically crosslinked Ad/chitosan nanocomplexes processed by electrospinning for targeted cancer gene therapy.

For effective cancer gene therapy, systemic administration of tumor-targeting adenoviral (Ad) complexes is critical for delivery to both primary and metastatic lesions. Electrospinning was used to generate nanocomplexes of Ad, chitosan, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and folic acid (FA) for effective FA receptor-expressing tumor-specific transduction. The chemical structure of the Ad/chitosan-PEG-FA nanocomplexes was characterized by NMR and FT-IR, and the diameter and surface charge were analyzed by dynamic light scattering and zeta potentiometry, respectively.

A chitosan hydrogel-based cancer drug delivery system exhibits synergistic antitumor effects by combining with a vaccinia viral vaccine.

Cancer treatment combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy has been vigorously exploited to further improve cancer therapeutic efficacy. This study investigated a new chemoimmunotherapy approach utilizing hydrogel as a local anti-cancer drug delivery system. Chitosan hydrogel containing doxorubicin (CH-DOX) and vaccinia virus vaccine expressing Sig/E7/LAMP-1 (Vac-Sig/E7/LAMP-1) were used as chemoimmunotherapeutic agents.

Enhanced circulation time and antitumor activity of doxorubicin by comblike polymer-incorporated liposomes.

Polymer incorporation on liposomal membranes has been extensively studied as a method of enhancing the circulation time of liposomes in the bloodstream. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo characteristics of liposomes whose surface was modified using a comblike polymer comprised of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) backbone and short poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) side chains. Doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded liposomes incorporating with the comblike polymer were prepared and their circulation time, biodistribution and antitumor activity were evaluated in B16F10 melanoma tumor-bearing mice.

Anticancer Drug-Phospholipid Conjugate for Enhancement of Intracellular Drug Delivery.

Tumor specific delivery of anti-cancer drugs is one of the major challenges faced by drug development processes. In this study, we prepared a doxorubicin (DOX)-conjugated liposome (DCL) by incorporating the newly synthesized DSPE-PEG2000-DOX (DPD) into liposomes as a lipid component and tested its anti-tumor activity in vivo. DPD was synthesized by coupling DOX to DSPE-PEG2000-COOH via amide linkage and the chemical structure of resulting DPD was confirmed by (1)H-NMR analysis.

Hyperthermia-induced antitumor activity of thermosensitive polymer modified temperature-sensitive liposomes.

Temperature-sensitive liposomes (TS-liposomes) have been studied for chemotherapeutic purposes to enhance the release of anticancer drugs at tumor sites. In this study, we prepared poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) (PNIPAM-AAM) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified TS-liposomes (PETS-liposomes). PETS-liposomes significantly increased in vitro drug release in serum compared with PEG-fixed or PNIPAM-AAM-modified liposomes.

In vivo distribution and antitumor activity of heparin-stabilized doxorubicin-loaded liposomes.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of heparin conjugation to the surface of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded liposomes on the circulation time, biodistribution and antitumor activity after intravenous injection in murine B16F10 melanoma tumor-bearing mice. The heparin-conjugated liposomes (heparin-liposomes) were prepared by fixation of the negatively charged heparin to the positively charged liposomes. The existence of heparin on the liposomal surface was confirmed by measuring the changes in the particle size, zeta potential and heparin amount of the liposomes.