Residual powders from Shochu distillation remnants induce apoptosis in human hepatoma cells via the caspase-independent pathway

NLRC and NLRX gene family mRNA expression and prognostic value in hepatocellular carcinoma

Nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain (NOD)‐like receptor (NLR)C and NLRX family proteins play a key role in the innate immune response. The relationship between these proteins and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study investigated the prognostic significance of NLRC and NLRX family protein levels in HCC patients. Data from 360 HCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas database and 231 patients in the Gene Expression Omnibus database were analyzed. Kaplan–Meier analysis and a Cox regression model were used to determine median survival time (MST) and overall and recurrence‐free survival by calculating the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). High NOD2 and low NLRX1 expression in tumor tissue was associated with short MST (P = 0.012 and 0.014, respectively). A joint‐effects analysis of NOD2 and NLRX1 combined revealed that groups III and IV had reduced risk of death from HCC as compared to group I (adjusted P = 0.001, adjusted HR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.16–0.61 and adjusted P = 0.043, adjusted HR = 0.63, 95%CI = 0.41–0.99, respectively). NOD2 and NLRX1 expression levels are potential prognostic markers in HCC following hepatectomy.

Combined treatment with vitamin C and methotrexate inhibits triple-negative breast cancer cell growth by increasing H2O2 accumulation and activating caspase-3 and p38 pathways

Methotrexate (MTX) is widely used as both an anticancer and anti-rheumatoid arthritis drug. Although MTX has been used to inhibit the growth of many cancer cells, it cannot effectively inhibit growth of triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC cells). Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can prevent oxidative stress. In addition, vitamin C has been applied as adjunct treatment for growth inhibition of cancer cells. Recent studies indicated that combined treatment with vitamin C and MTX may inhibit MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell growth through G2/M elongation. However, the mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to determine whether combined treatment with low-dose vitamin C and MTX inhibits TNBC cell growth and to investigate the mechanisms of vitamin C/MTX-induced cytotoxicity. Neither low-dose vitamin C alone nor MTX alone inhibited TNBC cell growth. However, combined low-dose vitamin C and MTX had synergistic anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects on TNBC cells. In addition, co-treatment increased H2O2 levels and activated both caspase-3 and p38 cell death pathways.

Rana catesbeiana ribonuclease induces cell apoptosis via the caspase-9/-3 signaling pathway in human glioblastoma DBTRG, GBM8901 and GBM8401 cell lines

Human glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most aggressive malignant brain tumor types, and the mean survival time of patients with a brain tumor is <2 years when traditional therapies are administered. Thus, numerous studies have focused on the development of novel treatments for brain tumors. Frog ribonucleases, such as Onconase and Rana catesbeiana ribonuclease (RC-RNase), exert antitumor effects on various tumor cells, including cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatoma, leukemia, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer cells. In addition, frog Onconase has been applied as a treatment in clinical trials. However, the antitumor effects of frog ribonucleases on brain tumors are unclear. Previous studies have indicated that RC-RNase demonstrates a decreased cytotoxic effect in normal cells compared with Onconase. Therefore, the present study investigated the ability of RC-RNase to exert antitumor activities on human glioblastoma. It was found that RC-RNase inhibits the growth of the human glioblastoma DBTRG, GBM8901 and GBM8401 cells. In addition, the present study revealed that RC-RNase induces caspase-9/-3 activity and triggers the apoptotic cell death pathway in human glioblastoma cells. Notably, it was also demonstrated that RC-RNase effectively inhibits the growth of human glioblastoma tumors in a nude mouse model. Overall, the present study indicates that RC-RNase may be a potential agent for the treatment of human glioblastoma.

Akacid medical formulation induces apoptosis in myeloid and lymphatic leukemic cell lines in vitro and in vivo

Akacid medical formulation (AMF) is an oligoguanidine that exerts biocidal activity against airborne and surface microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and molds, while showing relatively low toxicity to humans. We have previously shown that AMF exerts antiproliferative effects on a variety of solid tumor cell lines. In this study we raised the question whether AMF could also substantially inhibit cell growth or induce apoptosis in cell lines derived from hematologic malignancies such as leukemia or lymphoma. We found that AMF has antiproliferative effects on various hematologic cell lines derived from human leukemia and lymphoma. Additionally, we show that AMF induces apoptosis in leukemia cell lines not only via the extrinsic and intrinsic pathway, but also in a caspase-independent manner. This effect was found also in G0-arrested cells. Finally, in our animal experiments utilizing male nu/nu Balb/c mice we found a significant growth retardation, which was immunohistochemically associated with a significantly lower number of KI67-positive cells and caspase-3 induction in AMF-treated mice.

Vitamin C enhances anticancer activity in methotrexate‑treated Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Methotrexate (MTX) has been widely used for rheumatoid arthritis therapy for a long time. MTX is also used as an anticancer drug for various tumors. However, many studies have shown that high-dose MTX treatment for cancer therapy may cause liver and renal damage. Alhough the mechanisms involved in MTX-induced liver and renal damage require further research, many studies have indicated that MTX-induced cytotoxicity is associated with increases in oxidative stress and caspase activation. In order to reduce MTX-induced side-effects and increase anticancer efficiency, currently, combination treatments of low-dose MTX and other anticancer drugs are considered and applied for various tumor treatments. The present study showed that MTX induces increases in H₂O₂ levels and caspase-9/-3 activation leading to cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells. Importantly, this study is the first to demonstrate that vitamin C can efficiently aid low-dose MTX in inducing cell death in Hep3B cells. Therefore, the present study provides a possible powerful therapeutic method for tumors using a combined treatment of vitamin C and low-dose MTX.