Phase I clinical trial of continuous infusion of tyroserleutide in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Supramolecular Nanodrugs Based on Covalent Assembly of Therapeutic Peptides toward In Vitro Synergistic Anticancer Therapy

Therapeutic peptides have attracted significant attention in clinical applications due to their advantages in biological origination and good biocompatibility. However, the therapeutic performance of peptides is usually hindered by their short half-lives in blood and inferior activity. Herein, supramolecular nanodrugs of therapeutic peptides are constructed by covalent assembly of chemotherapeutic peptides through genipin cross-linking. The resulting nanodrugs have intense absorbance in the near-infrared region and high photothermal conversion efficiencies, leading to the possibility of photothermal therapy. The combination of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy using the nanodrugs shows synergistic therapeutic effects on cancer cells. Hence, covalent assembly not only maintains the chemotherapeutic activities of the peptides but also triggers supramolecular photothermal effects, demonstrating that the covalent assembly of therapeutic peptides through genipin cross-linking is an efficient approach in constructing supramolecular nanodrugs toward synergistic anticancer therapy.

Health-related quality of life as an endpoint in oncology phase I trials: a systematic review

Background

Phase I trials aim to identify the recommended dose for further development. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) could be a complement to the usual National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) scale to detect adverse events and define the doses. The objective of this study is to review the phase I in oncology which used HRQoL as endpoint.

Methods

A search in PubMed database identified phase I trials in oncology with HRQoL as endpoint, published between January 2012 to May 2016. Hematological and pediatric phase I were excluded.

Results

A total of 1333 phase I were identified and 15 trials were identified with HRQoL as endpoint (1.1%). The European Organisation for Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) was the most frequently used instrument: 5 studies (33.3%). The targeted dimensions of HRQoL and the minimal clinically important difference were prespecified in 1 study (6.7%) and 2 studies (13.3%), respectively. Twelve studies (80%) described the statistical approach to analyze HRQoL data. Eight studies used the mean change from baseline (60%) to analyse longitudinal HRQoL data, two the mean score at certain times (13.3%), one the linear mixed model for repeated measures (6.7%), one the time to HRQoL score deterioration (6.7%), one percentage of patient-reported symptoms (6.7%). None of the studies used HRQoL to determine the recommended doses.

Conclusion

Few phase I studies used HRQoL as endpoint and among studies with HRQoL as endpoint, the methodology of HRQoL measurement and statistical analysis was heterogeneous. HRQoL.

endpoint not used for assessing the recommended phase II doses.

Identification of a Novel Anticancer Oligopeptide from Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. and Its Enhanced Anticancer Effect by Targeted Nanoparticles In Vitro

Objective. Perilla frutescens (L.) Brittis is a dietary herbal medicine and has anticancer effect. However, little is known about its anticancer peptides. This study is aimed at identifying cytotoxic oligopeptides which are loaded by a drug delivery system, to explore its anticancer application. Methods. The oligopeptides were isolated from enzymatic hydrolysates of Perilla seed crude protein by using ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The structure of the oligopeptide was determined using a peptide sequencer, and its anticancer effect was examined by the MTT assay. PSO (Perilla seed oligopeptide), the most potent anticancer oligopeptide, was loaded by chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) modified by hyaluronic acid (HA). Then, the particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading efficiency (LE), the cumulative release rates of NPs, and its cytotoxic effect on cancer cells were investigated. Results. Three fractions were isolated by the chromatography assay. The third fraction has a broad-spectrum and the strongest anticancer effect. This fraction was further purified and identified as SGPVGLW with a molecular weight of 715 Da and named as PSO. Then, PSO was loaded by HA-conjugated chitosan to prepare HA/PSO/C NPs, which had a uniform size of 216.7 nm, a zeta potential of 35.4 mV, an EE of 38.7%, and an LE of 24.3%. HA/PSO/C NPs had a slow release rate in vitro, with cumulative release reaching to 81.1%. Compared with free PSO, HA/PSO/C NPs showed notably enhanced cytotoxicity and had the strongest potency to human glioma cell line U251. Conclusion. This study demonstrated that PSO, a novel oligopeptide from Perilla seeds, has a broad-spectrum anticancer effect and could be encapsulated by NPs, which enhanced tumor targeting cytotoxicity with obvious controlled release. Our study indicates that Perilla seeds are valuable for anticancer peptide development.

Antineoplastic activity of linear leucine homodipeptides and their potential mechanisms of action

Galaxamide is a rare cyclic homopentapeptide composed of three leucines and two N-methyl leucines isolated from marine algae Galaxaura filamentosa. The strong antitumor activity of this compound makes it a promising candidate for tumor therapy. The synthesis of galaxamide, however, is a complex process, and it has poor water solubility. On the basis of its special chemical composition, we designed a series of linear leucine homopeptides. Among seven dipeptide derivatives, five compounds with terminal protection groups and methyl substitution of the hydrogen in the amido group showed remarkable inhibitory effects against various cancer cells. N-tertbutyl-D-leucine-N-methyl-D-leucinebenzyl (A7), the only stereomer condensed by two D-leucines, showed the highest antineoplastic activity. A7-treated cells showed cell cycle arrest and morphological changes typical of cells undergoing apoptosis. The population of Annexin-V positive/propidium iodide-negative cells also increased, indicating the induction of early apoptosis. A7 promoted the cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3, as well as increased intracellular Ca levels and decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential. Collectively, certain linear leucine dipeptides derived from cyclic pentapeptide are able to inhibit tumor cell proliferation through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. The N-methyl group in the side chain and the D/L conformation of the amino-acid residue are critical for their activity.