Epigenetic downregulation of the proapoptotic gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Homeobox A5 () has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancers, but its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been confirmed. The Illumina GoldenGate Assay for methylation identified that DNA methylation patterns differ between tumorous and normal tissues in the oral cavity and that is one of the genes that are hypermethylated in oral tumor tissues. The present study obtained more‑complete information on the methylation status of by using the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip and bisulfite sequencing assays.

Chlorpyrifos-induced suppression of the antioxidative defense system leads to cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in macrophages.

Chlorpyrifos, widely used for pest control, is known to have various harmful effects, although its toxic effects in macrophages and the mechanisms underlying its toxicity remain unclear. The present study investigated the toxic effects of chlorypyrifos in a macrophage cell line. Here, we found that chlorpyrifos induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in RAW264.

Cyclizine induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in macrophages through the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways.

Cyclizine, an over-the-counter and prescription antihistamine, finds widespread application in the prevention and treatment of motion sickness, encompassing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, along with its effectiveness in managing vertigo. However, the overuse or misuse of cyclizine may lead to hallucinations, confusion, tachycardia, and hypertension. The molecular mechanisms underlying cyclizine-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis remain unclear.

Wogonin induces apoptosis in macrophages by exhibiting cytotoxic and genotoxic effects.

Macrophages play an important role in defending the body against invading pathogens. In the face of pathogens, macrophages become activated and release toxic materials that disrupt the pathogens. Macrophage overactivation can lead to severe illness and inflammation.

Cedrol restricts the growth of colorectal cancer and by inducing cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death.

Cedrol is a natural sesquiterpene alcohol found in , which has been proven to have a broad spectrum of biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anxiolytic, and anti-cancer effects. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms and inhibitory effects of cedrol on colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the anti-CRC potential of cedrol using and models.

Rapid Administration of Antibiotics for Reducing Fever Days in Patients Receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background and Objectives: Neutropenic fever (NF) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To date, no study has discussed the relationship of fever days in HSCT with the time between recording the fever and administering antibiotics. This study aimed to examine the association between fever days in HSCT and the time interval between recording the fever and intravenous (IV) antibiotics to the febrile neutropenia patient.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Reduce Second Cancer Risk in Patients With Breast Cancer: A Nationwide Population-Based Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) reduce mortality in patients with cancer, especially breast cancer, but their influence on second cancer risk is uncertain. This study aimed to examine whether NSAID use is associated with second cancer risk in patients with breast cancer. This population-based propensity score-matched cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database enrolled patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer (n = 7356) with and without (n = 1839) NSAID therapy from 2000 to 2009.

Older Age and High Serum Ferritin Levels Associated With the Risk of Chronic Cytopenia in Hemodialysis Patients.

Leukopenia or thrombocytopenia is sometimes observed in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, but the association between chronic leukopenia or thrombocytopenia and hemodialysis (HD) is still unclear. We aimed to investigate the incidence of chronic leukopenia or thrombocytopenia in patients with ESRD who received HD and to determine the risk factors of this complication. We retrospectively analyzed ESRD patients treated with HD at Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian Hospital in 2018.

Association between statin use and second cancer risk in breast cancer patients: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Purpose: Many studies have revealed that statin therapy reduced mortality in cancer patients, especially in breast cancer, but the effect for second cancer was unclear. We, therefore, performed a comparable cohort study to determine the risk of second cancer in breast cancer patients with statin therapy.

Methods: Using claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Program, this study enrolled newly diagnosed breast cancer patients from 2000 to 2007 with and without statin therapy as the statin (n = 1222) and nonstatin (n = 4888) cohorts, respectively.

Rutin-protected BisGMA-induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and apoptosis in macrophages through the reduction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and induction of antioxidant enzymes.

Bisphenol-A-glycidyldimethacrylate (BisGMA) is a resin monomer frequently used in dentin restorative treatments. The leakage of BisGMA monomer from BisGMA-based polymeric resins can lead to cytotoxicity in macrophages. Rutin has various beneficial bioeffects, including antioxidation and antiinflammation.

Efficient Prodrug Activator Gene Therapy by Retroviral Replicating Vectors Prolongs Survival in an Immune-Competent Intracerebral Glioma Model.

Prodrug activator gene therapy mediated by murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based retroviral replicating vectors (RRV) was previously shown to be highly effective in killing glioma cells both in culture and in vivo. To avoid receptor interference and enable dual vector co-infection with MLV-RRV, we have developed another RRV based on gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) that also shows robust replicative spread in a wide variety of tumor cells. We evaluated the potential of GALV-based RRV as a cancer therapeutic agent by incorporating yeast cytosine deaminase (CD) and nitroreductase (NTR) prodrug activator genes into the vector.

Long-term safety and efficacy of deferasirox in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome, aplastic anemia and other rare anemia in Taiwan.

Objective: Patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), aplastic anemia (AA) or other rare anemia require chronic blood transfusions which can lead to iron overload and subsequent excess iron-mediated complications. Intensive iron chelation with deferasirox could remove excess iron and can alleviate these events; however, the long-term safety and efficacy in Chinese population are not clearly characterized. This study examined the long-term efficacy and safety of deferasirox in a real-world setting in Taiwan.

Effect of eribulin on patients with metastatic breast cancer: multicenter retrospective observational study in Taiwan.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to confirm the therapeutic role of eribulin on Taiwanese women with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study examined 449 females who received eribulin between March 2014 and June 2017 at 14 hospitals in Taiwan for treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

Results: The survival rate at 24 months was 57.

Efficacy and toxicity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin-based chemotherapy in early-stage breast cancer: a multicenter retrospective case-control study.

Aim: PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) has comparable efficacy and differing toxicity from conventional anthracyclines used to treat advanced breast cancer. This study compared disease-free survival and toxicity between PLD-based and conventional anthracycline-based regimens as adjuvant treatments for early-stage breast cancer.

Methods: We analyzed disease-free survival (DFS) rates, and adverse events in 102 women with early-stage (I-IIIa) breast cancer who received adjuvant PLD-based chemotherapy from 2002 to 2008.

Cancer-related pain: a nationwide survey of patients' treatment modification and satisfaction in Taiwan.

Background: We have limited knowledge about cancer patients' pain control satisfaction in outpatient departments in Taiwan and doctors' practice of adjusting analgesics according to their pain status. This survey examined pain management and satisfaction among cancer outpatients with pain and obtained information on their quality of life and treatment management for different pain intensities.

Methods: The Short version of the Brief Pain Inventory was used as the outcome questionnaire.

Promotion of metastasis of thyroid cancer cells via NRP-2-mediated induction.

Tumor-node-metastasis is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in thyroid cancer patients. Upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) increases the migratory ability of thyroid cancer cells to lymph nodes. Expression of neuropilin-2 (NRP-2), the co-receptor of VEGF-C, has been reported to be correlated with lymph node metastasis in human thyroid cancer.

Enhancing chemosensitivity in oral squamous cell carcinoma by lentivirus vector-mediated RNA interference targeting and .

Oral cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer among men worldwide, with an age-standardized rate of 6.3 per 100,000, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated mortality among men in Taiwan. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are two of the most frequently utilized chemotherapy drugs for the treatment of oral cancer.

Reversine Induced Multinucleated Cells, Cell Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Reversine, an A3 adenosine receptor antagonist, has been shown to induce differentiated myogenic-lineage committed cells to become multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells. We and others have reported that reversine has an effect on human tumor suppression. This study revealed anti-tumor effects of reversine on proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy induction in human non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Hinokitiol inhibits vasculogenic mimicry activity of breast cancer stem/progenitor cells through proteasome-mediated degradation of epidermal growth factor receptor.

Hinokitiol, alternatively known as β-thujaplicin, is a tropolone-associated natural compound with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity. Breast cancer stem/progenitor cells (BCSCs) are a subpopulation of breast cancer cells associated with tumor initiation, chemoresistance and metastatic behavior, and may be enriched by mammosphere cultivation. Previous studies have demonstrated that BCSCs exhibit vasculogenic mimicry (VM) activity via the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway.

Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin as Adjuvant Therapy for Stage I-III Operable Breast Cancer.

Background: Conventional anthracyclines play an essential role for the treatment of breast cancer and have potent cytotoxic activity, but are associated with severe toxicity. In metastatic breast cancer, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) is a formulation with efficacy similar to conventional doxorubicin but with reduced toxicity. This multicenter study evaluated the efficacy and safety of PLD-based adjuvant chemotherapy for women with stage I-III operable breast cancer.

The impact of pain control on physical and psychiatric functions of cancer patients: a nation-wide survey in Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of pain in cancer patients at different disease statuses, the impact of pain on physical and psychiatric functions of patients and the satisfaction of pain control of patients at outpatient clinic department in Taiwan.

Methods: Short form of the Brief Pain Inventory was used as the outcome questionnaire. Unselected patients of different cancers and different disease statuses at outpatient clinic department were included.

A postmarketing surveillance study on erbitux (cetuximab) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to irinotecan-containing treatment.

Objective: This postmarketing surveillance study evaluated the safety and efficacy of cetuximab therapy in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in Taiwan.

Methods: Patients with EGFR-expressing mCRC who had failed prior irinotecan-based chemotherapy and were receiving cetuximab therapy were monitored for treatment efficacy and safety from the time of first infusion until 28 days after the last infusion regardless of the reasons fordiscontinuation. The study followed 269 patients for approximately 2 years.

Reversine induces cell cycle arrest, polyploidy, and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

Background: Reversine, a small synthetic purine analogue, has been reported to be effective in tumor suppression. In the present study, we demonstrated an antitumor activity of reversine that could suppress cellular proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines.

Methods: To evaluate whether reversine could suppress cell growth of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and induce cell death, the cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis were determined in this study.

Replicating retroviral vectors for oncolytic virotherapy of experimental hepatocellular carcinoma.

Gene therapy mediated by murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based replicating retrovirus vector (RRV) was previously proven to be highly effective in tumor cell killing, resulting in significant suppression of tumor growth in vivo. Recently, we developed a different form of RRV which is derived from another retrovirus, gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), as a cancer therapeutic agent. We compared the gene delivery efficiency and antitumor effects in the two types of RRV in experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).