Rosai‐Dorfman disease successfully treated with thalidomide: A case report

Rosai‐Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare disease which characterized by proliferation and overproduction of histiocytes in the lymph nodes appearing as lymphadenopathy, however, it may also occur in extranodal sites. The occurrence of unusual manifestations of the disease such as the appearance of the mass in an unusual area may increase the probability of misdiagnosis. Herein, we describe a case of RDD in an old woman with an unusual appearance of RDD in the leg that was successfully treated by thalidomide.     

Design,synthesis, biological evaluations,molecular docking,and in vivo studies of novel phthalimide analogs

A series of novel phthalimide analogs containing an indole or brominated indole moiety were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated. Compound 8 showed a broad spectrum activity, revealing 53–67% of erythromycin activity on the tested bacteria and 60–70% of miconazole activity on the tested fungi. Anticancer activity was evaluated on the cell lines HepG2, MCF‐7, A549, H1299, and Caco2. The results revealed that the new phthalimide analog 8 has broad‐spectrum anticancer activity toward all the tested cancer cell lines, followed by compound 11 , which showed good activity toward all the tested cell lines except for MCF‐7. The ability of the promising analogs 5 , 8 , and 11 to bind to topoisomerase II DNA gyrase was investigated. Caspase‐3 activation and Bcl‐2 assay of the best active derivatives 8 , 11 in addition to compound 5 were evaluated. The antifibrotic activity was studied in an in vivo model and the histopathological studies revealed that treatment with the new compound 8 improved the fibrotic liver tissues to normality.

     

沙利度胺联合其他药品治疗类风湿关节炎的系统评价

目的 系统评价沙利度胺联合其他药品治疗类风湿关节炎的有效性与安全性。方法 检索2017年9月1日前发表在PubMed、Medline、Web of Science及中国知网（CNKI）、中国生物医学文献数据库（CBM）、维普数据库（VIP）、万方数据库中相关的随机对照试验（RCTs）,应用State 14.0软件进行Meta-分析。结果 共纳入15篇相关文献,累计1 246例患者。Meta-分析结果显示,联用沙利度胺组在有效率（OR=2.71,95% CI=1.87~3.93,P<0.05）、关节肿胀数（OR=1.68,95% CI=0.99~2.37,P<0.05）、关节压痛数（OR=2.22,95% CI=1.31~3.14,P<0.05）、红细胞沉降率（OR=12.93,95% CI=10.26~15.60,P<0.05）等方面疗效均优于对照组。在不良反应发生率方面,联用沙利度胺组与对照组比较无显著性差异（OR=0.93,95% CI=0.66~1.32,P>0.05）。结论 联用沙利度胺在类风湿关节炎的治疗中有积极作用。     

沙利度胺及氨甲蝶呤抗CIA大鼠滑膜血管新生及其作用机制的研究

目的研究沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤对大鼠Ⅱ型胶原诱导型关节炎血管新生的影响及相关的机制。方法建立类风湿性关节炎大鼠模型.自造模次日治疗组分别给予沙利度胺、甲氨蝶呤和沙利度胺联合甲氨蝶呤治疗,在第6周取膝关节应用免疫组化检测其滑膜的微血管密度(MVD),取血清进行Western Blot检测大鼠体内血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)、基质金属蛋白酶-1、2、3、9的表达并计算相对含量。结果①免疫组织化学染色显示沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤和沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤治疗模型大鼠可使关节滑膜中新生血管数量明显减少.微血管密度(MVD)明显降低(P<0.05).以沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤组作用最强。②沙利度胺、氨甲蝶呤和沙利度胺联合氨甲蝶呤可抑制VEGF、MMP-1、2、3、9表达(P均<0.05)。结论沙利度胺和氨甲蝶呤可能通过抑制VEGF,MMP-1、2、3、9的表达而发挥抗滑膜血管新生的作用,且两者有协同作用。     

白桦脂酸联合沙利度胺诱导U266细胞凋亡机制研究

目的：探讨白桦脂酸联合沙利度胺诱导多发性骨髓瘤（ MM）U266细胞凋亡的机制。方法：分别用白桦脂酸（20、40、60和80 mg/L,白桦脂酸组）、沙利度胺（10、50和100 mg/L,沙利度胺组）及白桦脂酸（40 mg/L）联合沙利度胺（联合组,白桦脂酸40 mg/L,沙利度胺10、50和100 mg/L）分别处理U266细胞,同期设对照组;MTT法和流式细胞术分别检测不同浓度白桦脂酸组、沙利度胺组及联合组U266细胞增殖抑制率和凋亡率;Real-time PCR检测4组U266细胞中Survivin、Cyto-C、Bcl-2、Bax mRNA的表达,蛋白免疫印迹法检测4组U266细胞中Survivin、Cyto-C、Bcl-2、Bax蛋白表达水平。结果：随着白桦脂酸浓度的增加,U266细胞增殖抑制率增加,差异有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）,最适浓度为40 mg/L;与沙利度胺组相比,联合组U266细胞的增殖抑制率和凋亡率明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）;与沙利度胺组或白桦脂酸组相比,联合组 U266细胞中Survivin、Bcl-2 mRNA的表达明显降低,Cyto-C和Bax mRNA表达明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）;与沙利度胺、白桦脂酸组相比,联合组U266细胞中Survivin、Bcl-2蛋白表达明显降低,Cyto-C和Bax蛋白表达明显升高,差异具有统计学意义（ P＜0.05）。结论：白桦脂酸联合沙利度胺可以促进多发性骨髓瘤U266细胞凋亡,其机制可能与凋亡分子Survivin、Bcl-2、Cyto-c和Bax相关。     

Proteasome inhibition in hematologic malignancies

Hematologic malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM), will account for more than 100,000 new cases of cancer and over 57,000 deaths in the United States in 2003. Treatment of MM is a serious challenge, because despite a variety of available therapies, median survival is short. A new therapeutic area focuses on inhibiting the activity of the proteasome, a 26S protease complex involved in cell cycle regulation, cell adhesion, inflammation, and protein turnover. The novel proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib (Velcade®), was recently approved for use in patients with refractory and relapsed MM and to date is the only proteasome inhibitor to have entered clinical trials. Bortezomib has demonstrated activity with manageable toxicity in a variety of hematologic malignancies in addition to MM, including leukemia and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma. This article reviews clinical information on bortezomib in hematologic malignancies both as monotherapy and in combination with dexamethasone. Preliminary reports of bortezomib in combination with Doxil (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin), melphalan, and thalidomide are discussed, and current trials are described. Available data suggest that bortezomib will be useful in the treatment of a variety of hematologic malignancies.     

Antiangiogenic approach in soft-tissue sarcomas

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are a group of more than 50 malignancies characterized by their rarity. The most effective treatments available only achieve a response rate (RR) of around 20%. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed. Neoangiogenesis is one of the most fundamental mechanisms in cancer and many studies suggest that it also plays a crucial role in STS. Positive results from two Phase III trials in STS with drugs that target angiogenesis have recently been reported, showing an increase in progression-free survival. These data, although promising, are still insufficient and further investigations are needed. STS are unusual among solid tumors, in which single agent angiogenesis inhibitors produce a significant benefit. Unfortunately, we are currently not able to reliably define according to the histological subtype who are the patients that may benefit from this strategy. Moreover, it is clear that single agent treatment is insufficient, hence the current focus is on combination studies.     

Enhanced immune‐modulatory effects of thalidomide and dexamethasone co‐treatment on T cell subsets

Thalidomide (TM) has been reported to have anti‐cancer and anti‐inflammatory properties, and dexamethasone (DX) is known to reduce inflammation and inhibit production of inflammatory cytokines. Many studies have reported that combinatorial therapy with TM and DX is clinically used to treat multiple myeloma and lupus nephritis, but the mechanism responsible for its effects has not been elucidated. In this study, we determined that TM and DX co‐treatment had an enhanced immune‐modulatory effect on T cells through regulating the expression of co‐stimulatory molecules. Splenic naive T cells from C57BL/6 mice were sort‐purified and cultured for CD4⁺ T cell proliferation and regulatory T (Treg) cell conversion in the presence of TM and/or DX. Following incubation with the drugs, cells were collected and OX40, 4‐1BB, and glucocorticoid‐induced tumour necrosis factor receptor‐related protein (GITR) expression was quantified by flow cytometry. TM (1 or 10 μm ) decreased CD4⁺ T cell proliferation in a dose‐dependent manner, whereas TM/DX (0·1 or 1 nm ) co‐treatment further decreased proliferation. Treg cell populations were preserved following drug treatment. Furthermore, expression of co‐stimulatory molecules decreased upon TM/DX co‐treatment in effector T (Teff) cells and was preserved in Treg cells. Splenic CD4⁺ T cells isolated from TM‐ and DX‐treated mice exhibited the same patterns of Teff and Treg cell populations as observed in vitro. Considering the selective effect of TM on different T cell subsets, we suggest that TM may play an immunomodulatory role and that TM/DX combinatorial treatment could further enhance these immunomodulatory effects by regulating GITR, OX40, and 4‐1BB expression in CD4⁺ T cells.     

Immunomodulatory drugs in multiple myeloma: from molecular mechanisms of action to clinical practice

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal disorder of plasma cells that is considered incurable using the currently available treatments. Cytogenetic, molecular and proteonomic techniques have contributed toward a better understanding of the pathophysiology and prognostic factors of this heterogeneous malignancy, whose management has rapidly evolved over the years. The introduction of thalidomide, and the development of safer and more effective thalidomide analogues, represents the major therapeutic advances. Thalidomide, initially used in the treatment of MM because of its angiogenic properties, has considerable therapeutic activity (alone or in combination with other drugs) at all stages of the disease. However, a number of new analogues, such as lenalidomide and pomalidomide, have been developed and are known as “immunomodulatory drugs” (IMIDs). Although they are analogues of thalidomide, they have direct anti-tumor properties, a better tolerability profile and specific activity in both relapsing refractory MM and newly diagnosed disease. The mechanisms of action of IMIDs are still being investigated, but recent studies suggest that, in addition to their anti-angiogenic activity, they have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, and directly and indirectly target tumor activity by interfering with various components of the bone marrow (BM) micro-environment. In this paper, we review the pharmacology, mechanisms of action, pre-clinical and clinical efficacy, and the current status of IMIDs in the treatment of MM.