Impact of tumor angiogenesis in peritoneal mesothelioma after radical cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy

The role of radionuclide probes for monitoring anti-tumor drugs efficacy: A brief review

Despite recent advances in the development of new therapeutic agents and diagnostic imaging modalities, cancer is still one of the main causes of death worldwide. A better understanding of the molecular signature of cancer has promoted the development of a new generation of anti-cancer drugs and diagnostic agents that specifically target molecular components such as genes, ligands, receptors and signaling pathways. However, intrinsic heterogeneity of tumors has hampered the overall success of target therapies even among patients with similar tumor types but unpredictable different responses to therapy. In this sense, post-treatment response monitoring becomes indispensable and nuclear medicine imaging modalities could provide the tools for an early indication of therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we briefly discuss the current role of PET and SPECT imaging in monitoring cancer therapy together with an update on the current radiolabeled probes that are currently investigated for tumor therapy response assessment.

Expression of neuronal CXCL10 induced by rabies virus infection initiates infiltration of inflammatory cells, production of chemokines and cytokines, and enhancement of blood-brain barrier permeability

It has been shown that enhancement of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is modulated by the expression of chemokines/cytokines and reduction of tight junction (TJ) proteins in the brains of mice infected with rabies virus (RABV). Since CXCL10 was found to be the most highly expressed chemokine, its temporal and spatial expression were determined in the present study. The expression of the chemokine CXCL10 was initially detected in neurons as early as 3 days postinfection (p.i.) in the brains of RABV-infected mice, after which it was detected in microglia (6 days p.i.) and astrocytes (9 days p.i.). Neutralization of CXCL10 by treatment with anti-CXCL10 antibodies reduced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production and Th17 cell infiltration, as well as restoring TJ protein expression and BBB integrity. Together, these data suggest that it is the neuronal CXCL10 that initiates the cascade that leads to the activation of microglia/astrocytes, infiltration of inflammatory cells, expression of chemokines/cytokines, reduction of TJ protein expression, and enhancement of the BBB permeability.

Effects of Th1 and Th2 cells balance in pulmonary injury induced by nano titanium dioxide

To explore the potential immunoregulatory mechanisms linking nano TiO₂ and pulmonary injury, Sprague Dawley rats were exposed by intra-tracheal instillation to nano TiO₂ with the individual doses of 0.5, 4.0 and 32 mg/kgb.w., micro TiO₂ with 32 mg/kgb.w. and 0.9% NaCl, respectively. The exposure was conducted twice a week, for four consecutive weeks. The results of lung histology demonstrated increased macrophages accumulation, extensive disruption of alveolar septa, slight alveolar thickness and expansion hyperemia. Mitochondria tumefaction organelles dissolution, endoplasmic reticulum expansion and the gap of nuclear broadening were shown. The changes of IFN-γ and IL-4 level showed no statistical difference. The mRNA expression of GATA-3 was up-regulated, whereas T-bet was significantly down-regulated. The protein expression of T-bet decreased and there were significant differences in nano 4 and 32 mg/kg groups. The imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines might be one of the mechanisms of immunotoxicity of respiratory system induced by nano TiO₂ particles.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma treated by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: is GLUT1 expression a major prognostic factor? A preliminary study

PURPOSE

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM) is a rare primary peritoneal malignancy. Its prognosis has been improved by an aggressive locoregional treatment combining extensive cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Prognostic factors are currently poorly defined for this disease but are essential if treatment is to be standardized.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with DMPM, who were considered preoperatively to be candidates for CRS and HIPEC between June 1998 and August 2010 at our institution, were selected for this study. Medical records and histopathological features were retrospectively reviewed and 24 clinical, histological, and immunohistochemical parameters were assessed for their association with overall survival by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

The following factors were significantly associated with overall survival by univariate analysis: predominant histological growth pattern in the epithelioid areas, nuclear grooves in the epithelioid areas, atypical mitoses, and calretinin and GLUT1 expression by immunohistochemistry in the epithelioid areas. Expression of the facilitative glucose transporter protein GLUT1 in the epithelioid areas was the only factor independently associated with overall survival by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

GLUT1 expression appears to be an indicator of poor prognosis in DMPM. Standard histological classification of DMPM may not be adequate to select patients for aggressive locoregional treatments, such as CRS and HIPEC. Multicenter validation of the prognostic factors identified in this preliminary study is needed to refine patient selection for potential cure.

Development of regional chemotherapies: feasibility, safety and efficacy in clinical use and preclinical studies

Conventional oral and intravenous chemotherapies permeate throughout the body, exposing healthy tissues to similar cytotoxic drug levels as tumors. This leads to significant dose-limiting toxicities that may prevent patients from receiving sufficient treatment to overcome cancers. Therefore, a number of locoregional drug-delivery strategies have been evaluated and implemented in preclinical studies, clinical trials and in practice, in the past decades to minimize systemic toxicities from chemotherapeutic agents and to improve treatment outcomes. Localized treatment is beneficial because many cancers, such as melanoma, peritoneal cancer and breast cancer, advance locally adjacent to the site of the primary tumors prior to their circulatory invasion. In this article, we will review the feasibility, safety and efficacy of multiple localized chemotherapies in clinical use and preclinical development.