Direct Labeling of Protein Nanoparticles with Fluorescent Compounds for Immunoassay Applications.

A fusion protein, designated ELP-D-C, comprised of a hydrophobic elastin-like polypeptide unit, a hydrophilic aspartic acid-rich peptide unit, and an antibody-binding domain as a functional unit, was constructed. Upon heat induction, ELP-D-C forms micellar nanoparticles displaying antibody-binding domains on their surfaces. The protein nanoparticles were able to incorporate hydrophobic fluorescent compounds and subsequently detect target molecules via antibody binding by the resulting fluorescence intensity, which was proportional to the log of the concentration of the target molecule.

Isolation of recombinant human antithrombin isoforms by Cellufine Sulfate affinity chromatography.

Human antithrombin (hAT) is a major serine protease inhibitor that regulates blood coagulation in human plasma, and it has been applied for the treatment of antithrombin (AT) deficiency and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In the past, hAT for therapeutic use has been obtained from human plasma; however, hAT can now be sourced from transgenic animals and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells by recombinant technology. The dominant form of hAT in plasma is the α form, which is glycosylated with four oligosaccharides and sialylated at its terminals.

Impending Atypical Femoral Fracture in a Patient of Breast Cancer With Bone Metastases Receiving Long-term Denosumab.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) occur in both osteoporosis patients and cancer patients who receive long-term bisphosphonate treatment. Denosumab offers an alternative approach for the treatment of bone metastases. We describe a 59-year-old woman with a history of breast carcinoma and bone metastasis who was prescribed denosumab for 4 years.

Application of elastin-based nanoparticles displaying antibody binding domains for a homogeneous immunoassay.

Nanoparticles are small size-controlled particles from 1 to 100 nm diameters and characterized by their structure, base material and functional units displayed on their surfaces. In this study, protein-based nanoparticles composed of a hydrophobic elastin-like peptide unit, a hydrophilic aspartic acid-rich peptide unit and displaying antibody binding domains on their surfaces, were designed and genetically synthesized. The constituent fusion proteins, termed ELP-D-C, were found to exist in monomeric form (ELP-D-C/monomer) at low temperature.

Bone metastases from breast cancer: associations between morphologic CT patterns and glycolytic activity on PET and bone scintigraphy as well as explorative search for influential factors.

Background: This study aimed to compare the detection of bone metastases from breast cancer on F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and bone scintigraphy (BS). An explorative search for factors influencing the sensitivity or uptake of BS and FDG-PET was also performed.

Methods: Eighty-eight patients with bone metastases from breast cancer were eligible for this study.

Comparison of biological activities of human antithrombins with high-mannose or complex-type nonfucosylated N-linked oligosaccharides.

The structure of the N-linked oligosaccharides attached to antithrombin (AT) has been shown to affect its anticoagulant activity and pharmacokinetics. Human AT has biantennary complex-type oligosaccharides with the unique feature of lacking a core fucose, which affects its biological activities by changing its heparin-binding affinity. In human plasma, AT circulates as a mixture of the α-form bearing four oligosaccharides and the β-form lacking an oligosaccharide at Asn135.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Immunosuppressive therapy, such as chemotherapy or the use of corticosteroids, may stimulate reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Most of these episodes occur in patients whose hepatitis B surface antigens are positive (HBsAg+). We report a case of HBV reactivation in a patient with negative HBsAg during chemotherapy for breast cancer, in spite of avoiding corticosteroids.

Possible use of combination chemotherapy with mitomycin C and methotrexate for metastatic breast cancer pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.

Background: Most patients with breast cancer need anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens in the adjuvant setting, and an increasing number of them receive taxanes either in this setting or as first-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, no standard chemotherapy has been fully established for MBC patients pretreated with anthracycline and taxanes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 48 patients with MBC who had been treated with chemotherapy combining mitomycin C and methotrexate (MMC/MTX), following treatment with anthracycline and taxanes.

Efficacy of S-1 in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer: cross-resistance to capecitabine.

Background: It is not clear what the optimal treatment of chemotherapy is for patients with heavily treated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We have retrospectively examined the efficacy and safety of S-1 in patients with MBC who had been previously treated with anthracycline, taxane, and capecitabine.

Methods: Patients with MBC who had been administered S-1, an oral modulated compound containing a fluoropyrimidine derivative, between November 2001 and June 2003 at the Cancer Institute Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

Predictive factors for efficacy of capecitabine in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate what clinical factors affect the efficacy, time to treatment failure (TTF), and overall survival (OS) of oral capecitabine monotherapy in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Methods: A total of 102 consecutive patients with MBC who had been administered capecitabine monotherapy between June 2003 and August 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Capecitabine (828 mg/m(2)) was given twice daily for 3 weeks followed by a 1-week rest period; this was repeated every 4 weeks.

Does lapatinib, a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, constitute a breakthrough in the treatment of breast cancer?

ErbB/HER receptor or its signal transduction pathway is an attractive therapeutic target for breast cancer. Lapatinib, an orally administered dual inhibitor of ErbB1 (EGFR) and ErbB2 (HER2) receptor tyrosine kinases has shown promising results for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Lapatinib exhibited activity against trastuzumab-refractory MBC and showed an acceptable adverse event profile such as transient mild rash, diarrhea and nausea.