Optimal device and method for transportation of isolated porcine islet

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the optimal method for transportation of isolated porcine islets from an isolation facility to a transplant hospital or research center in terms of temperature, oxygen supply, and shaking effect.

METHODS

Commercially available insulator boxes with thermoregulators exposed for 5 hours under two external temperatures (4°C and 37°C) were monitored using HOBO temperature loggers. To find the optimal transport device, we compared islet counts, viability, quality, and function in conical tubes, gas-permeable bags (GPB) and gas-permeable flasks (GPF) after 1, 3 and 5 hours. To evaluate the effects of shaking on islets, we also analyzed the difference between a control and a shaking group in each device with time.

RESULTS

Commercially available Styrofoam insulators with thermoregulators maintained the internal temperature near the target. Islet recovery rate for GPF, which was higher than other devices, was maintained, while those decreased with time for conical tube and GPB containers adenosine diphosphate/adenosine triphosphate (ADP/ATP) ratio for GPF was lower than other devices, albeit not significantly fluoroscein acrimide/propidium iodide (AO/PI) ratio for GPF was higher than other devices after 5 hours. Glucose stimulated index was not different among the devices. In comparison with the control group, shaking yielded comparable islet survival, viability and function.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that the use of commercially available insulator boxes with thermoregulators maintained internal temperature close to the target value and that GPF was more favorable for islet oxygenation during transportation. This study also suggested negligible impact of shaking on isolated porcine islets during transportation.

PTRF/cavin-1 neutralizes non-caveolar caveolin-1 microdomains in prostate cancer

Caveolin-1 has a complex role in prostate cancer and has been suggested to be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. As mature caveolin-1 resides in caveolae, invaginated lipid raft domains at the plasma membrane, caveolae have been suggested as a tumor-promoting signaling platform in prostate cancer. However, caveola formation requires both caveolin-1 and cavin-1 (also known as PTRF; polymerase I and transcript release factor). Here, we examined the expression of cavin-1 in prostate epithelia and stroma using tissue microarray including normal, non-malignant and malignant prostate tissues. We found that caveolin-1 was induced without the presence of cavin-1 in advanced prostate carcinoma, an expression pattern mirrored in the PC-3 cell line. In contrast, normal prostate epithelia expressed neither caveolin-1 nor cavin-1, while prostate stroma highly expressed both caveolin-1 and cavin-1. Utilizing PC-3 cells as a suitable model for caveolin-1-positive advanced prostate cancer, we found that cavin-1 expression in PC-3 cells inhibits anchorage-independent growth, and reduces in vivo tumor growth and metastasis in an orthotopic prostate cancer xenograft mouse model. The expression of α-smooth muscle actin in stroma along with interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cancer cells was also decreased in tumors of mice bearing PC-3-cavin-1 tumor cells. To determine whether cavin-1 acts by neutralizing caveolin-1, we expressed cavin-1 in caveolin-1-negative prostate cancer LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. Caveolin-1 but not cavin-1 expression increased anchorage-independent growth in LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells. Cavin-1 co-expression reversed caveolin-1 effects in caveolin-1-positive LNCaP cells. Taken together, these results suggest that caveolin-1 in advanced prostate cancer is present outside of caveolae, because of the lack of cavin-1 expression. Cavin-1 expression attenuates the effects of non-caveolar caveolin-1 microdomains partly via reduced IL-6 microenvironmental function. With circulating caveolin-1 as a potential biomarker for advanced prostate cancer, identification of the molecular pathways affected by cavin-1 could provide novel therapeutic targets.

Brain metastases in Asian HER2-positive breast cancer patients: anti-HER2 treatments and their impact on survival

BACKGROUND

In Asia, large-scale studies on anti-HER2 treatment in HER2-positive breast cancer patients with brain metastases are limited. We studied the treatment patterns of these patients in Asia to evaluate the impact of anti-HER2 treatment on the time to occurrence of brain metastases (TTBM) and survival after brain metastasis (BM).

METHODS

A retrospective study of HER2-positive breast cancer patients diagnosed with BM between January 2006 and December 2008 in six Asian countries was conducted. Demographics, tumour characteristics, treatment details, and events dates were collected from medical records.

RESULTS

Data from 280 patients were analysed. Before BM, 63% received anti-HER2 treatment. These patients had significantly longer TTBM than those without anti-HER2 treatment (median 33 vs 19 months; P<0.002). After BM, 93% received radiotherapy, 57% received chemotherapy, and 41% received anti-HER2 treatment (trastuzumab and/or lapatinib). Use of both anti-HER2 agents, primarily sequentially, after BM demonstrated the longest survival after BM and was associated with a significant survival benefit over no anti-HER2 treatment (median 26 vs 6 months; hazard ratio 0.37; 95% CI 0.19-0.72).

CONCLUSION

Anti-HER2 treatment before BM was associated with longer TTBM. Anti-HER2 treatment after BM was associated with a survival benefit, especially when both trastuzumab and lapatinib were utilised.

Chemotherapy-induced amennorrhea: Predictive markers of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

281

Background: There is controversy about the benefit of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (CIA) in breast cancer. We investigated significance of CIA after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.

Methods: We reviewed the records of 198 premenopausal patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy between January 2005 and December 2010. Chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea (CIA) was defined as serum FSH level ≥40 IU/L after completion of all scheduled neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prior to definitive surgery.

Results: Among 198 breast cancer patients, 132 pts (66.7%) developed CIA after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 156 pts (78%) underwent DA chemotherapy. The age of CIA patients was older than non-CIA patients (41.55±5.55 vs. 38.27± 6.86 years, p=0.001). The incidence of CIA after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly higher in responder group (responder vs. nonresponder: 87 pts (74.4%) vs. 45 pts (55.6%); p=0.006). Additionally, FSH level after all scheduled neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly higher in responder group (FSH 56.41±32.41 mIU/ml vs. 45.76±30.31 mIU/ml; p=0.021). In univariate analysis, CIA (p=0.006) and total number of chemotherapy cycle regardless of chemotherapy regimen (p=0.04) were significantly predictive of tumor response. CIA was only significant predictive factor for tumor response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy on multivariate analysis (p=0.012).

Conclusions: CIA is independent predictive markers of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer.

Abstract P1-14-04: Clinical Outcomes of Brain Metastasis by Lapatinib (L) and Capecitabine (C) in an Open-Label Expanded Access Study among Korean Patients with HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

Background: The L-Expanded Access Program (LEAP) was designed to provide access to L/C for HER2+ patients (pts) who previously received anthracycline, taxane, and trastuzumab. In earlier registration trial, CNS metastases occurred in fewer women receiving L/C therapy compared with C alone. Although L therapy has shown efficacy in brain metastasis (BM), it has not been well elucidated in relationship with the outcomes of systemic disease.

Patients and methods : Enrollment in LEAP lasted between Jan. 2007 and Apr. 2008 at 6 centers in Korea. Exploratory analysis on clinical outcomes of brain metastasis was performed.

Results: Total 187 pts enrolled in LEAP. The median treatment duration of all pts was 19.0 weeks (range, 1.4 — 146.9). The median progression free survival and overall survival (OS) of all pts were 20.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]= 18.6-24.0) and 60.0 (95% CI= 50.3-72.7) weeks, respectively. All patients received prior trastuzumab therapy, and 48.7% received prior capecitabine. Among 58 enrolled pts who had BM diagnosed before start L/C therapy, 55 pts were included for the analysis excluding 3 pts (1-consent withdrawal and 2-&lt;3 weeks trial). Fifteen pts had single BM. Majority were HER2 IHC 3+ or FISH +, and 48% were both ER/PR-. Prior to EAP enrollment, 35 pts underwent whole brain radiation, 10 pts SRS or gamma knife, 3 pts local excision, 1 pt had leptomeningeal disease only receiving intrathecal therapy, and 6 pts did not receive local CNS therapy. Four pts underwent more than one modality of local CNS therapy. Of 50 pts evaluable for response, 9.1%, achieved or remained CR; 45.5% had some degree of shrinkage of BM; 14.5%, no change (SD) ≥6mo; 7.3%, SD &lt;6mo; 14.5% developed PD or recurrence of BM. Median TTP of pts (n=53) with BM on L/C therapy was 30.7 weeks (95% CI=25.0-35.1) and median OS (n=55) was 53.1 weeks (95% CI= 42.3-78.0). From the multivariate analysis, TTP of BM was significantly associated with response of BM (HR, 20.3, 95% CI=7.3-56.0, P&lt;0.001). OS of pts with BM was significantly longer with tumors of ER or PR+ status (HR, 3.10, 95% CI=1.55-6.19, p=0.0014), and who responded in systemic disease and brain (HR, 4.5, 95% CI= 2.2-9.2, P&lt;0.0001). Of remaining 129 pts, 8 pts (6.2%) developed new BM on EAP.

Conclusion: Overall survival of patients with brain metastasis who received lapatinib plus capecitabine was prolonged specifically in responders of both brain and extracranial disease. Patients with hormone receptor positive tumors had longer survival compared with those of hormone receptor negative disease.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-14-04.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ inhibitor suppresses interleukin-17 expression in a murine asthma model

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma by regulating the activation of inflammatory mediators, inflammatory cell recruitment and immune cell function. Recent findings have indicated that PI3Ks also regulate the expression of interleukin (IL)-17, which has been recognised as an important cytokine involved in airway inflammation. In the present study, we investigated a role of PI3Kδ in the regulation of IL-17 expression in allergic airway disease using a murine model of asthma. After ovalbumin inhalation, administration of a selective p110δ inhibitor, IC87114, significantly attenuated airway infiltration of total cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as airway hyperresponsiveness, and attenuated the increase in IL-17 protein and mRNA expression. Moreover, IC87114 reduced levels of IL-4, -5 and -13, expression of keratinocyte chemoattractant protein and mRNA, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity. In addition, a NF-κB inhibitor, BAY 11-7085 substantially reduced the increase in IL-17 protein levels. Our results also showed that inhibition of IL-17 activity with an anti-IL-17 antibody remarkably reduced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. These findings suggest that inhibition of the p110δ signalling pathway suppresses IL-17 expression through regulation of NF-κB activity and, thus, has therapeutic potential in asthma.

Detection of neural signals with vertically grown single platinum nanowire-nanobud

We developed a nanoscale neural probing device for in vitro sensing of neural activity. Single vertical platinum (Pt) nanowires were fabricated on a microelectrode array by focused ion beam (FIB)-chemical vapor deposition (CVD) in order to improve the spatial resolution of recording and to minimize damage to the cells. Rat neuroblasts were cultured on the electrode array. Electrodes in contact with cells detected prominent spontaneous electrical activity. Our experiments demonstrate the nanoprobes for the real-time detection of electrophysiological signals in neuronal cells.