Maspin protein expression correlates with tumor progression in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer

Maspin is a 42-kDa protein that belongs to the family of serine protease inhibitors. It is involved in various physiological processes. In cancer tissue, Maspin was found to influence angiogenesis, tumor growth, metastasis and the prognosis of tumor patients. This study was performed to analyze the involvement of Maspin in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder as well as its prognostic impact in a large patient cohort. Specimens from 162 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients (pTa, 91; pT1, 71) treated by transurethral resection with a minimum 3-year follow-up (median 58.5 months) were included in the present investigation. Tissue microarrays were constructed, and the specimens were immunohistochemically stained for Maspin protein expression. Each tissue specimen was assessed on a staining scale ranging from 0 (no staining) to 300 (strong staining) and correlated with various clinicopathological parameters. Maspin protein expression predicted progression with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 70% (p<0.001). In predicting recurrence, Maspin staining showed 52% sensitivity and 67% specificity (p<0.05). Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed, and a low Maspin protein expression was correlated with a higher incidence of tumor progression (p<0.0001). However, expression levels of Maspin protein did not distinguish between pTa and pT1 specimens. Multivariate analyses indicated Maspin expression as an independent factor for predicting progression (p<0.0001) and recurrence (p<0.05). The present results suggest that the Maspin protein expression is an independent prognostic indicator for predicting recurrence and progression to muscle invasive disease. This study further emphasizes a possible clinical role of this novel tumor suppressor gene in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.     

A Phase II study of neoadjuvant axitinib for reducing the extent of venous tumour thrombus in clear cell renal cell cancer with venous invasion (NAXIVA)

Background Surgery for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous tumour thrombus (VTT) extension into the renal vein (RV) and/or inferior vena cava (IVC) has high peri-surgical morbidity/mortality. NAXIVA assessed the response of VTT to axitinib, a potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor.Methods NAXIVA was a single-arm, multi-centre, Phase 2 study. In total, 20 patients with resectable clear cell RCC and VTT received upto 8 weeks of pre-surgical axitinib. The primary endpoint was percentage of evaluable patients with VTT improvement by Mayo level on MRI. Secondary endpoints were percentage change in surgical approach and VTT length, response rate (RECISTv1.1) and surgical morbidity.Results In all, 35% (7/20) patients with VTT had a reduction in Mayo level with axitinib: 37.5% (6/16) with IVC VTT and 25% (1/4) with RV-only VTT. No patients had an increase in Mayo level. In total, 75% (15/20) of patients had a reduction in VTT length. Overall, 41.2% (7/17) of patients who underwent surgery had less invasive surgery than originally planned. Non-responders exhibited lower baseline microvessel density (CD31), higher Ki67 and exhausted or regulatory T-cell phenotype.Conclusions NAXIVA provides the first Level II evidence that axitinib downstages VTT in a significant proportion of patients leading to reduction in the extent of surgery.Clinical trial registration {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT03494816","term_id":"NCT03494816"}}NCT03494816.Subject terms: Surgical oncology, Renal cell carcinoma, Predictive markers     

Chinikomycins A and B: isolation, structure elucidation, and biological activity of novel antibiotics from a marine Streptomyces sp. isolate M045

In our screening of marine Streptomycetes for bioactive principles, two novel antitumor antibiotics designated as chinikomycins A (2a) and B (2b) were isolated together with manumycin A (1), and their structures were elucidated by a detailed interpretation of their spectra. Chinikomycins A (2a) and B (2b) are chlorine-containing aromatized manumycin derivatives of the type 64-pABA-2 with an unusual para orientation of the side chains. They exhibited antitumor activity against different human cancer cell lines, but were inactive in antiviral, antimicrobial, and phytotoxicity tests.     

Copper thiocyanato complexes and cocaine – a case of ‘black cocaine’

The chemical composition of a black powder confiscated by German customs was elucidated. Black powders are occasionally used as a ‘transporter’ for cocaine and are obviously especially designed to cloak the presence of the drug. The material consisting of cocaine, copper, iron, thiocyanate, and graphite was approached by analytical tools and chemical modelling. Graphite is added to the material probably with the intention of masking the typical infrared (IR) fingerprints of cocaine and can be clearly detected by powder X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Cu²⁺ and NCS^? ions, when carefully reacted with cocaine hydrochloride, form the novel compound (CocH)₂[Cu(NCS)₄] (CocH⁺ = protonated cocaine), which has been characterised by single crystal XRD, IR, NMR, UV/Vis absorption and EPR spectroscopy. Based on some further experiments the assumed composition of the original black powder is discussed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In-vitro tomography and non-destructive imaging at depth of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms

Tomographic imaging techniques offer new prospects for a better understanding of the quality, performance and release mechanisms of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms. It is only over the last fifteen years that tomography has been applied for the in-vitro characterisation of dosage forms. This review aims to introduce the concept of tomography in a pharmaceutical context, and describes the current state-of-the-art of the four most promising techniques: X-ray computed microtomography, magnetic resonance imaging, terahertz imaging and optical coherence tomography. The basic working principles of the techniques are introduced and the current pharmaceutical applications of the technologies are discussed, together with a comparison of their specific strengths and weaknesses. Possible future developments in these fields are also discussed.     

Left circumflex coronary artery fistula to the superior vena cava: assessment of the exact anatomy by multidetector CT

A 62-year-old woman with mild dyspnea on exertion underwent coronary angiography. A large fistula of the left circumflex artery was found but the exit site of this unusual anomaly could not be established. Contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography of the coronary arteries was performed which allowed clear identification of the drainage of the fistula into the superior vena cava.