宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP和DDP+5-FU的体外药敏检测及与耐药蛋白表达的关系研究

目的通过对宫颈鳞状细胞癌进行顺铂(DDP)和DDP+5-氟尿嘧啶(5-FU)体外药敏检测,比较两种化疗方案的体外有效率。同时检测其耐药蛋白P糖蛋白(P-gp)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶-π(GST-π)、DNA拓扑异构酶Ⅱ(TopoⅡ)、胸苷酸合成酶(TS)的表达,探讨DDP和DDP+5-FU体外药敏与耐药蛋白表达的关系。方法收集35例宫颈鳞状细胞癌患者的新鲜肿瘤组织,采用三磷酸腺苷生物荧光法(ATP-TCA)对DDP和DDP+5-FU进行体外药敏检测,同时采用EnVision二步法检测宫颈鳞状细胞癌组织中耐药蛋白P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS的表达,并分析DDP和DDP+5-FU的体外药敏与耐药蛋白P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS表达的关系。结果 35例标本均进行药敏试验,DDP的体外有效率为37.14%,与DDP+5-FU的51.43%比较,差异无统计学意义(P> 0.05)。经多因素分析发现,患者年龄、临床分期、分化程度均不为DDP、DDP+5-FU药物敏感性的影响因素(P> 0.05)。P-gp、GST-π、TopoⅡ、TS蛋白阳性表达率分别为57.14%(20/35)、51.43%(18/35)、71.43%(25/35)、57.14%(20/35)。GST-π蛋白阳性表达是宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP耐药的影响因素(P=0.002);TS蛋白阳性表达是宫颈鳞状细胞癌对DDP+5-FU耐药的影响因素(P=0.001)。结论 宫颈鳞状细胞癌ATP-TCA法检测DDP+5-FU与单药DDP相比,体外有效率无显著差异。GST-π、TS蛋白阳性表达可用于临床宫颈癌患者对DDP、5-FU化疗耐药的预测指标。     

Nobiletin and its derivatives overcome multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer: total synthesis and discovery of potent MDR reversal agents

Our recent studies demonstrated that the natural product nobiletin (NOB) served as a promising multidrug resistance (MDR) reversal agent and improved the effectiveness of cancer chemotherapy in vitro. However, low aqueous solubility and difficulty in total synthesis limited its application as a therapeutic agent. To tackle these challenges, NOB was synthesized in a high yield by a concise route of six steps and fourteen derivatives were synthesized with remarkable solubility and efficacy. All the compounds showed improved sensitivity to paclitaxel (PTX) in P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpressing MDR cancer cells. Among them, compound 29d exhibited water solubility 280-fold higher than NOB. A drug-resistance A549/T xenograft model showed that 29d, at a dose of 50 mg/kg co-administered with PTX (15 mg/kg), inhibited tumor growth more effective than NOB and remarkably increased PTX concentration in the tumors via P-gp inhibition. Moreover, Western blot experiments revealed that 29d inhibited expression of NRF2, phosphorylated ERK and AKT in MDR cancer cells, thus implying 29d of multiple mechanisms to reverse MDR in lung cancer.     

Mitochondrial autophagosomes as a mechanism of drug resistance in breast carcinoma

We have previously described the process by which mitochondria donate their membranes for the formation of autophagosomes, and in this study we show that the same process could be involved in drug sequestration and exocytosis resulting in multidrug-resistant cancerous cells. We examine the implications of mitochondrial vesicle formation of mitoautophagosomes (MAPS) in response to the cytotoxic drug MKT-077, which targets mortalin, in a drug-resistant breast carcinoma cell line overexpressing P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The breast cancer cell line MCF-7Adr is derived from MCF-7, but differs from its ancestral line in tolerance of MKT-077-induced mitochondrial toxicity. Our ultrastructural observations suggest that autophagy in the MCF-7Adr cells entails regional sequestration of MKT077 in multilamellar LC3-labeled MAPS, which then separate from their mitochondria, and fuse with or engulf each other. MAPS appeared to be migrating through the cytoplasm and fusing with the plasma membrane, thus carrying out exocytotic secretion. This mechanism, which seems ineffective in the ancestral cell line, provides a resistance mechanism for MKT-077 by enhancing the efflux process of the cells. After 8 hr of MKT-077 exposure, a fraction of the resistant cells appeared viable and contained larger number of smaller sized mitochondria. Mitoautophagosomes, therefore, provide a potentially novel model for multidrug resistance in cancerous cells and may contribute to the P-gp efflux process.     

Single step PCR for detection of allelic variation of MDR1 gene (P-glycoprotein) among three ethnic groups in Malaysia

BACKGROUND: P-glycoprotein (PgP) is the most extensively studied ATP-binding cassette (ABC) coded by MDR1 gene. To date, 29 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified; but only SNP C3435T has been correlated with intestinal PgP expression levels and shown to influence the absorption of orally taken drugs that are PgP substrates. Individuals homozygous for the T allele have more than fourfold lower PgP expression compared with C/C individuals. We developed a one step primer based allele specific PCR method to detect SNP at C3435T to investigate the distribution of this genotype in the local population. METHOD: DNA was extracted from 5 mL of whole blood using standard salting-out method. Primers were designed specific to 3' end which amplify the variants of C3435T. The method was validated by direct DNA sequencing. Seven hundred and sixty-three healthy blood donors comprising of three major ethnic groups in Malaysia were recruited and DNA subjected to genotyping of C3435T using this method. RESULT: The method was found to be robust and reproducible in detecting SNP of C3435T. Interethnic variations in genotype and allele frequency were observed in PgP among the ethnic groups. In comparison to both the Caucasians and the other Asian countries, the Malay and Chinese showed a higher frequency of allele C (50-60%); while the Indian exhibits a lower frequency (40%), similar to other Indian populations. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Using a new simple method to investigate the distribution of C3435T, we found that the allele frequency of MDR1 showed variablity between the different ethnic groups within the Malaysian population.     

乳腺癌组织中雌激素受体与C-erbB-2基因、多药耐药基因MDR1表达

目的观察乳腺癌组织中雌激素受体(ER)与C-erbB-2基因、多药耐药基因MDR1(P-gp)蛋白表达并探讨其相互关系。方法用免疫组织化学法(S-P法)对162例乳腺癌手术切除标本进行ER、C-erbB-2、MDR1(P-gp)检测,结果作统计学分析。结果ER、C-erbB-2、MDR1(P-gp)的阳性表达率各为53.7%、37.0%和27.7%。ER在分化越高和无腋窝淋巴结转移者的乳腺癌中其阳性表达率高,C-erbB-2在分化越差的乳腺癌中其阳性表达率高,组间相比有显著差异(P<0.05)。在有腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌中C-erbB-2、MDR1(P-gp)表达率明显升高。C-erbB-2与MDR1(P-gp)的阳性表达率间具有一定的正相关性,C-erbB-2表达与ER表达呈负相关。结论ER、C-erbB-2基因、MDR1(P-gp)在乳腺癌中有一定的内在联系,联合检测有助于乳腺癌预后的判断,为合理制定综合治疗方案提供依据。     

Temporal control of glucocorticoid neurodynamics and its relevance for brain homeostasis,neuropathology and glucocorticoid-based therapeutics

Glucocorticoids mediate plethora of actions throughout the human body. Within the brain, they modulate aspects of immune system and neuroinflammatory processes, interfere with cellular metabolism and viability, interact with systems of neurotransmission and regulate neural rhythms. The influence of glucocorticoids on memory and emotional behaviour is well known and there is increasing evidence for their involvement in many neuropsychiatric pathologies. These effects, which at times can be in opposing directions, depend not only on the concentration of glucocorticoids but also the duration of their presence, the temporal relationship between their fluctuations, the co-influence of other stimuli, and the overall state of brain activity. Moreover, they are region- and cell type-specific. The molecular basis of such diversity of effects lies on the orchestration of the spatiotemporal interplay between glucocorticoid- and mineralocorticoid receptors, and is achieved through complex dynamics, mainly mediated via the circadian and ultradian pattern of glucocorticoid secretion. More sophisticated methodologies are therefore required to better approach the study of these hormones and improve the effectiveness of glucocorticoid-based therapeutics.