The novel BH-3 mimetic apogossypolone induces Beclin-1- and ROS-mediated autophagy in human hepatocellular carcinoma [corrected] cells

Apogossypolone (ApoG2), a novel derivative of gossypol, exhibits superior antitumor activity in Bcl-2 transgenic mice, and induces autophagy in several cancer cells. However, the detailed mechanisms are not well known. In the present study, we showed that ApoG2 induced autophagy through Beclin-1- and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manners in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Incubating the HCC cell with ApoG2 abrogated the interaction of Beclin-1 and Bcl-2/xL, stimulated ROS generation, increased phosphorylation of ERK and JNK, and HMGB1 translocation from the nucleus to cytoplasm while suppressing mTOR. Moreover, inhibition of the ROS-mediated autophagy by antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) potentiates ApoG2-induced apoptosis and cell killing. Our results show that ApoG2 induced protective autophagy in HCC cells, partly due to ROS generation, suggesting that antioxidant may serve as a potential chemosensitizer to enhance cancer cell death through blocking ApoG2-stimulated autophagy. Our novel insights may facilitate the rational design of clinical trials for Bcl-2-targeted cancer therapy.

Exome sequencing-driven discovery of coding polymorphisms associated with common metabolic phenotypes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Human complex metabolic traits are in part regulated by genetic determinants. Here we applied exome sequencing to identify novel associations of coding polymorphisms at minor allele frequencies (MAFs) >1% with common metabolic phenotypes.

METHODS

The study comprised three stages. We performed medium-depth (8×) whole exome sequencing in 1,000 cases with type 2 diabetes, BMI >27.5 kg/m(2) and hypertension and in 1,000 controls (stage 1). We selected 16,192 polymorphisms nominally associated (p < 0.05) with case-control status, from four selected annotation categories or from loci reported to associate with metabolic traits. These variants were genotyped in 15,989 Danes to search for association with 12 metabolic phenotypes (stage 2). In stage 3, polymorphisms showing potential associations were genotyped in a further 63,896 Europeans.

RESULTS

Exome sequencing identified 70,182 polymorphisms with MAF >1%. In stage 2 we identified 51 potential associations with one or more of eight metabolic phenotypes covered by 45 unique polymorphisms. In meta-analyses of stage 2 and stage 3 results, we demonstrated robust associations for coding polymorphisms in CD300LG (fasting HDL-cholesterol: MAF 3.5%, p = 8.5 × 10(-14)), COBLL1 (type 2 diabetes: MAF 12.5%, OR 0.88, p = 1.2 × 10(-11)) and MACF1 (type 2 diabetes: MAF 23.4%, OR 1.10, p = 8.2 × 10(-10)).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

We applied exome sequencing as a basis for finding genetic determinants of metabolic traits and show the existence of low-frequency and common coding polymorphisms with impact on common metabolic traits. Based on our study, coding polymorphisms with MAF above 1% do not seem to have particularly high effect sizes on the measured metabolic traits.

A more rapid, sensitive, and specific HPLC-MS/MS method for nifedipine analysis in human plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study

A more rapid, sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to -tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the quantification of nifedipine in human plasma, and applied to the pharmacokinetic study of nifedipine in Chinese healthy volunteers. Nifedipine and internal standard (IS) acetaminophen in plasma were extracted with ethyl acetate, separated on a C18 (150 mm×4.6 mm, 5 µm) reversed-phase column, eluted with acetonitrile mixed with 5 mM ammonium acetate solution (pH=6.62) (60:40, v/v), ionized by negative ion pneumatically assisted electrospray and detected in the multi-reaction monitoring mode using precursor→product ions of m/z 354.1→222.2 for nifedipine and 150.1→107.1 for the IS. A single oral dose of 20 mg nifedipine sustained release tablets and blood samples (4 mL) was collected before and 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, and 36 h after administration. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of nifedipine, as Tmax, t1/2α, t1/2β, t1/2z, Cmax, AUC0~36, AUC0~∞ were 2.80±0.50 h, 6.78±2.52 h, 6.82±2.53 h, 6.69±2.22 h, 76.69±19.51 (ng/mL), 546.49±162.28 (ng · h/mL) and 564.05±176.74 (ng · h/mL), respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 0.17-102 ng/mL (r2>0.99, n=5) with a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 0.17 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision was less than 15% for all quality control samples at concentrations of 0.42, 6.53 and 81.60 ng/mL and the accuracy (relative error, RE) was - 3.92% to 7.31% at 3 quality control levels. The specificity, matrix effect, recovery, sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, precision and stabilities were validated, and can fulfill the requirement of pharmacokinetic study of nifedipine sustained release tablets in Chinese volunteers.

Observation of two new N* resonances in the decay ψ(3686)→ppπ0

Based on 106×10(6)ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII facility, a partial wave analysis of ψ(3686)→ppπ0 is performed. The branching fraction of this channel has been determined to be B(ψ(3686)→ppπ0)=(1.65±0.03±0.15)×10(-4). In this decay, 7 N* intermediate resonances are observed. Among these, two new resonances, N(2300) and N(2570) are significant, one 1/2+ resonance with a mass of 2300(-30-0)(+40+109)  MeV/c2 and width of 340(-30-58)(+30+110)  MeV/c2, and one 5/2- resonance with a mass of 2570(-10-10)(+19+34)  MeV/c2 and width of 250(-24-21)(+14+69)  MeV/c2. For the remaining 5 N* intermediate resonances [N(1440), N(1520), N(1535), N(1650) and N(1720)], the analysis yields mass and width values that are consistent with those from established resonances.

Scalable synthesis of uniform few-layer hexagonal boron nitride dielectric films

Two-dimensional or ultrathin layered materials are attracting broad interest in both fundamental science and applications. While exfoliation can provide high-quality single- and few-layer flakes with nanometer to micrometer size, the development of wafer-scale synthesis methods is important for realizing the full potential of ultrathin layered materials. Here we demonstrate the growth of high quality few-layer boron nitride (BN) films with controlled thickness by magnetron sputtering of B in N(2)/Ar, a scalable process using only benign, nontoxic reagents. BN films up to two atomic layers are synthesized by reactive deposition at high substrate temperatures. Thicker monocrystalline BN films with an arbitrary number of atomic layers are achieved in a two-step process comprising cycles of alternating room temperature deposition and annealing. Tunneling transport across these BN films shows pinhole-free insulating behavior on μm(2) scales, demonstrating the realization of high quality ultrathin dielectrics.

Significant effect of spin flip on the oxygen atom transfer reaction from (oxo)manganese(V) corroles to thioanisole: insights from density functional calculations

The electronic and structural features of (oxo)manganese(V) corroles and their catalyzed oxygen atom transfers to thioanisole in different spin states have been investigated by the B3LYP functional calculations. Calculations show that these corrole-based oxidants and their complexes with thioanisole generally have the singlet ground state, and their triplet forms are also accessible in consideration of the spin-orbit coupling interaction. Due to strong d-π conjugation interactions between Mn and the corrole ring arising from the π electron donation of the corrole moiety, the five-coordinated Mn approximately has the stable 18-electron configuration. The predicted free energy barriers for the singlet oxygen atom transfer reactions are generally larger than 22 kcal mol(-1), while the spin flip in reaction may remarkably increase the reactivity. In particular, the bromination on β-pyrrole carbon atoms of the meso-substituted (oxo)manganese(V) corrole strikingly enhances the spin-orbit coupling interaction and results in the dramatic increase of reactivity. The multiple spin changes are predicted to be involved in the low-energy reaction pathway. The present results show good agreement with the experimental observation and provide a detailed picture for the oxygen atom transfer reaction induced by the (oxo)manganese(V) corroles.

Effects of dietary forage sources on rumen microbial protein synthesis and milk performance in early lactating dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary forage sources on milk performance, rumen microbial protein synthesis, and N utilization in early lactation dairy cows. Twelve primiparous Chinese Holstein dairy cows (45 ± 6.0 DIM) were used in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric, with a forage-to-concentrate ratio of 45:55 [dry matter (DM) basis] and contained similar concentrate mixtures. Different forage sources were then added (on a DM basis): 21% corn silage, 19% corn stover, and 5% alfalfa hay (CS); 19% corn silage, 21% Chinese wild rye hay and 5% alfalfa hay (CWR); or 19% corn silage, 9% Chinese wild rye hay, and 17% alfalfa hay (AH). Each period lasted for 21 d, with the first 14 d for an adaptation period. Dry matter intake was not affected by the source of dietary forage. Milk yield was higher for cows fed AH than those fed CS, with an intermediate value for CWR. Milk protein content was higher in the cows fed AH compared with CWR (3.02 vs. 2.92%), with CS (2.95%) at an intermediate position. The contents of milk fat and lactose were not different among the treatments. However, milk efficiency (milk yield/DM intake) was higher for cows fed AH than those fed CS, with those fed CWR intermediate. Cows fed AH had higher microbial protein yield and metabolizable protein than those fed CS or CWR. The concentrations of urea N in the urine, blood, and milk were decreased for cows fed AH, indicating an increased N conversion. The results indicated that corn stover could replace Chinese wild rye grass in the diets for lactating cows and that a high proportion of alfalfa hay in the diet is beneficial for milk protein production by increasing microbial protein yield. This can be attributed to the improving the supply of rumen-available energy.

Ommatin beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) from the Lower Cretaceous of northeast China and southern England

Lower Cretaceous beetles belonging to the extant tribe Ommatini (Coleoptera: Cupedidae: Ommatinae) are revised and six new species proposed in the extinct Eurasian genusCionocoleus:Cionocoleus tanaesp. n.,Cionocoleus olympicussp. n. (Yixian Formation, China);Cionocoleus elizabethaesp. n.,Cionocoleus watsonisp. n.,Cionocoleus minimussp. n. (Weald Clay Group, UK); andCionocoleus jepsonisp. n. (Purbeck Limestone Group, UK). New morphological data is provided forCionocoleus magicusandCionocoleus cervicalisstat. n. of whichCionocoleus planiusculusis considered a synonym (Yixian Formation).Cionocoleus punctatuscomb. n. is considered the oldest record (Upper Jurassic; Kazakhstan) of this presumably xylophagous, warm climate genus. A simple key is provided to all known species ofCionocoleus.

Primary immunodeficiency in south China: clinical features and a genetic subanalysis of 138 children

OBJECTIVES

We analyzed the clinical features of 138 patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) and performed genetic testing on a subset of patients in order to complete gaps in research on PID in South China and thus improve pediatricians' ability to recognize and diagnose PID.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis based on the medical records of PID patients hospitalized in our institution between May 1999 and June 2012. Gene sequencing was performed in 59 cases.

RESULTS

Children with PID usually present with fever and repeated infections that generally affect the respiratory and digestive tracts. Growth retardation is observed in some cases. Of the 138 patients, 113 were boys, median age at onset was 5 months (range, 0-119 months), and age at diagnosis was 10 months (2-159 months). A family history of repeated infection or death of family members in infancy because of recurrent infections was recorded in 20 cases (14.49%). Antibody defects were detected in 48 cases (34.78%), combined immunodeficiency disease in 45 cases (32.61%), and other well-defined immunodeficiency syndromes in 45 cases (32.61%). Of the 59 patients from the genetic subanalysis, 24 (15.94%) had a genetic mutation (x-linked agammaglobulinemia, 8 cases; severe combined immunodeficiency, 8 cases; hyperimmunoglobulin M syndrome, 3 cases; hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome, 3 cases; chronic granulomatous disease, 2 cases). We detected 4 novel mutations. No relevant mutations were found in the remaining 35 cases.After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and anti-infectious agents, 16 patients died in hospital, and 5 cases died after discontinuing treatment (mortality, 15.22%).

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, the number of patients with PID has risen gradually in South China. Genetic testing can confirm diagnosis. Since PID seriously affects children's quality of life, it is important to diagnose, treat, and intervene early.We hope our clinical and genetic analyses of children with PID can provide diagnostic guidance for clinicians.

IFPA Meeting 2012 Workshop Report II: epigenetics and imprinting in the placenta, growth factors and villous trophoblast differentiation, role of the placenta in regulating fetal exposure to xenobiotics during pregnancy, infection and the placenta

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting as they allow for discussion of specialized topics. At IFPA meeting 2012 there were twelve themed workshops, four of which are summarized in this report. These workshops related to various aspects of placental biology: 1) epigenetics and imprinting in the placenta; 2) growth factors and villous trophoblast differentiation; 3) role of the placenta in regulating fetal exposure to xenobiotics during pregnancy; 4) infection and the placenta.

Abstract P6-11-01: Intermittent High Dose Proton Pump Inhibitor Improves Progression Free Survival as Compared to Standard Chemotherapy in the First Line Treatment of Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer

Purpose: High dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) has proved to be potentially effective when combined with chemotherapy in preclinical data. This study (NCT01069081) was designed to investigate whether the efficacy of chemotherapy could be improved with the addition of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Patients and Methods: Females elder than 18 years old with histologically confirmed metastatic breast cancer were eligible for participation. Patients enrolled were randomly assigned to three arms: Arm A, docetaxol 75 mg/m2 on d4, followed by cisplatin 75 mg/m2 on d4, repeated every 21 days until maxinum 6 cycles or presence of disease progression or intolerable toxicity; Arm B, the same chemotherapy plus esomeprazole 80 mg p.o. bid three days on and the subsequent four days off, beginning on d1 repeated weekly up to disease progression, intolerable toxicity, patient's withdrawal, or a maximum of 66 weeks; Arm C, the same as Arm B with the only difference being dose of esomeprazole at 100 mg p.o. bid. The primary endpoint was progression free survival (PFS), and the secondary endpoints were time to progression (TTP), objective response rate (ORR), safety profile, and overall survival (OS).

Results: From Aug. 2009 to Dec. 2011, 100 women signed informed consent form (ICF) and 94 patients have undergone at least one injection of chemotherapy. Three patients had severe hypersensitivity reactions, two occurring after the first injection of docetaxol and one in the second cycle. After a median follow up of 17 months, 68 (72.3%) patients got disease progression and 23 (24.5%) patients died. Median PFS for the whole group (n = 94), arm A (n = 33), arm B (n = 30), arm C (n = 31) were 8.9, 7.5, 10.9, and 9.5 months, respectively (p = 0.082). A significant difference was observed between patients who had taken PPI and who not with median PFS of 9.5 and 7.5 months, respectively (p = 0.030). Among 17 patients with triple negative breast cancer, this difference was bigger with median PFS of 9.5 and 3.3 months, respectively (p = 0.014). The overall response rates for the whole group, arm A, arm B, arm C were 58.5%, 51.5%, 63.3%, 61.3%, respectively.

Conclusion: This trial is the first randomized study to demonstrate antitumor effects of intermittent high dose PPI in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Docetaxel and cisplatin doublet is comparable to the other first-line chemotherapeutical regimens and the addition of proton pump inhibitor to the doublet improves efficacy with no adding toxicity, especially in patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Key Words Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), Phase II Study, Metastatic Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-11-01.

Abstract P5-18-24: Population pharmacokinetics of trastuzumab emtansine, a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: clinical implications of the effect of various covariates

Background: Trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) is a HER2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate composed of the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, the potent cytotoxic agent DM1 (a microtubule inhibitor), and a stable thioether linker. To estimate typical pharmacokinetic (PK) parameter values and interpatient variability, a population PK model for T-DM1 was previously developed from 1 phase 1 (0.3 to 4.8 mg/kg in qw or q3w regimens) and 2 phase 2 (3.6 mg/kg q3w) trials (Gupta, J Clin Pharmacol 2012). The model reported here has been updated with additional data from 2 randomized trials (phase 2 TDM4450g and phase 3 EMILIA, 3.6 mg/kg q3w). Another phase 2 trial (TDM4688g) was used for external validation of the model. The effect of demographic and pathophysiological covariates on the PK of T-DM1 was explored to better understand the clinical factors that might affect exposure and clinical outcome for individual patients.

Methods: For the current analysis, 9934 T-DM1 serum concentration-time data points from 671 patients were simultaneously fitted using NONMEM® software. T-DM1 concentration-time data to date are best described using a 2-compartment linear model. All relevant and plausible covariates likely to have an effect on T-DM1 systemic exposure, or likely to have clinical relevance, were explored for possible correlation with the key T-DM1 PK parameters of clearance (CL) and central volume of distribution (Vc). These covariates include those related to demographics, renal and hepatic function, disease status, and treatment history.

Results: The estimated CL for T-DM1 is 0.68 L/day, Vc is 3.13 L, and the terminal half-life is 3.94 days. Interindividual variability (IIV) of the base model is 25.6% and 17.5% for CL and Vc, respectively. Patients with greater body weight, sum of longest dimension of target lesions, serum concentration of shed HER2 extracellular domain, and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations, as well as patients with lower serum albumin and baseline trastuzumab concentrations, have statistically faster CL. Patients with greater body weight also have statistically larger Vc. Incorporation of these covariates (P&lt;0.001 by likelihood ratio test) decreased IIV of CL and Vc to 19.1% and 11.7%, respectively. All covariates together explain 44.4% and 55.8% of IIV in CL and Vc, respectively. The model sensitivity analysis suggests that a patient with a statistically significant PK covariate value at the 5th or 95th percentile of the population will have a &lt;20% difference in cumulative exposure (as represented by area under the T-DM1 concentration-time curve) compared with a typical patient with a median covariate value.

Conclusions: A relatively small IIV for the estimated T-DM1 PK parameters of CL and Vc was observed. None of the evaluated covariates had a clinically meaningful magnitude of effect on T-DM1 exposure (&lt;20% difference for patients with 5th and 95th percentiles vs patients with median value of covariates) that would justify a further dose adjustment. The body weight–based dose of 3.6 mg/kg q3w without further correction for other factors is considered appropriate in ongoing clinical trials.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-18-24.

Pharmacokinetics of ginkgolide B injection in beagle dogs

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed, validated, and applied to the pharmacokinetic study with doses of 0.68, 2.73 and 10.92 mg/kg of ginkgolide B in beagle dogs after intravenous infusion.An aliquot of blood samples were -collected, separated and quantitatively analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method with mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.02% ammonia solution (33:67, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min on the UltimateTM XB-C18 column (5 μm, 4.6×150 mm).The method was sensitive, accurate and convenient, and can be used for the determination of ginkgolide B in beagle dogs. The Cmax and AUC0-∞ of GB increased with dose escalation, but ANOVA analyses showed that no significant difference was observed in other pharmacokinetic parameters between different doses.An LC/MS method was developed with good sensitivity, reproducibility and specificity. In the pharmacokinetic study of GB in beagle dogs, linear pharmacokinetics was found at doses from 0.62 to 10.92 mg/kg after a single-dose intravenous infusion. Gender differences were not observed in the pharmacokinetics of GB.