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Sánchez V, Carpio E, Fardales VE, Martínez B, Arias AI, Brito E, Bermudez N, Rodríguez Y. Long-term follow-up of patients with high-risk facial basal cell carcinoma treated with interferon. An Bras Dermatol 2024; 99:391-397. [PMID: 38383261 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2023.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients with basal cell carcinoma (BCC). When surgery is not a choice, only radiotherapy is recommended for patients with high-risk facial BCC. Interferon could be an acceptable therapeutic option for these patients. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long-term clinical response to interferon therapy in patients with high-risk facial BCC. METHODS Patients with high-risk facial BCC were treated with perilesional injections of alpha-2b+ gamma interferons. Those with incomplete clinical response were reevaluated, their residual tumors excised, and declared cured. Patients treated with interferon and those treated with interferon plus surgery were followed for five years. Time to recurrence and the emergence of a new facial BCC were estimated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Adverse events were documented. RESULTS This study included 195 participants; 143 (73.3%) showed a complete response (95% CI 67.2‒80.1). Patients developed recurrence after a mean of 55 months (95% CI 53.8‒57.4). The estimated rate of recurrence was 12.3% (95% CI 7.4‒17.1). Patients developed a new BCC after a mean of 52.7 months (95% CI 50.4‒54.9). The estimated rate for development of a new BCC was 20.0% (95% CI 14.4‒25.9). Fifteen (7.7%) patients abandoned the study during follow-up. Adverse events were frequent but moderate or mild; fever and local pain were the most frequent. STUDY LIMITATIONS Observational cohort design without a control group for comparison. CONCLUSIONS Perilesional injections of alpha-2b+ gamma interferons in patients with facial high-risk BCC offer a satisfactory cure rate after five years of follow-up with an acceptable safety profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Sánchez
- Dermatology Department. Polyclinic Juana Naranjo Leon, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Emilio Carpio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.
| | - Vicente Eloy Fardales
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Belkys Martínez
- Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Camilo Cienfuegos, Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Ana Iris Arias
- Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Manuel de Jesús Lara Cantero, Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Elizabeth Brito
- Dermatology Department, Center Polyclinic Juana Naranjo Leon, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Niurka Bermudez
- Dermatology Department, Polyclinic Antonio Ávila Valdivia, Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
| | - Yoel Rodríguez
- Dermatology Department, Arcelio Suárez Bernal, Jatibonico, Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
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Bello-Rivero I, Crombet-Ramos T, Mesa-Pardillo C, Morera-Díaz Y, Mazorra-Herrera Z, Garcia-Rivera D, Nodarse-Cuní H, Hernández-Bernal F, Muzio-Gonzalez V, Aguilera-Barreto A, Vazquez-Blomquist D, Domínguez-Horta MDC, Guillen-Nieto G. BioHabana 2022: Preventive and Immunotherapeutic Strategies Against COVID-19 and Cancer in Cuba. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2023; 43:571-580. [PMID: 38048299 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The convergence of life sciences with neurosciences, nanotechnology, data management, and engineering has caused a technological diversification of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology industries, including the phenomenon of digital transformation, which has given rise to the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0). Confronting the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the outstanding response capacity of the scientific community and the biopharmaceutical industry, based on a multidisciplinary and interinstitutional approach that has achieved an unprecedented integration in the history of biomedical science. Cuba, a small country, with scarce material resources, has had remarkable success in controlling the disease, which also highlights the impact of social factors. This report presents a summary of the most relevant presentations of selected topics during the scientific meeting, "BioHabana 2022: Cancer Immunotherapy and the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was held in Havana Cuba in April 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iraldo Bello-Rivero
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Tania Crombet-Ramos
- Clinical Trial Directions, Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Circe Mesa-Pardillo
- Clinical Trial Directions, Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
| | - Yanelys Morera-Díaz
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Hugo Nodarse-Cuní
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Francisco Hernández-Bernal
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Verena Muzio-Gonzalez
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Ana Aguilera-Barreto
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Dania Vazquez-Blomquist
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Maria Del Carmen Domínguez-Horta
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Gerardo Guillen-Nieto
- Clinical Investigation and Biomedical Research Directions, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
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Miranda J, Vázquez-Blomquist D, Bringas R, Fernandez-de-Cossio J, Palenzuela D, Novoa LI, Bello-Rivero I. A co-formulation of interferons alpha2b and gamma distinctively targets cell cycle in the glioblastoma-derived cell line U-87MG. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:806. [PMID: 37644431 PMCID: PMC10463508 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11330-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HeberFERON is a co-formulation of α2b and γ interferons, based on their synergism, which has shown its clinical superiority over individual interferons in basal cell carcinomas. In glioblastoma (GBM), HeberFERON has displayed promising preclinical and clinical results. This led us to design a microarray experiment aimed at identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the distinctive effect of HeberFERON compared to the individual interferons in U-87MG model. METHODS Transcriptional expression profiling including a control (untreated) and three groups receiving α2b-interferon, γ-interferon and HeberFERON was performed using an Illumina HT-12 microarray platform. Unsupervised methods for gene and sample grouping, identification of differentially expressed genes, functional enrichment and network analysis computational biology methods were applied to identify distinctive transcription patterns of HeberFERON. Validation of most representative genes was performed by qPCR. For the cell cycle analysis of cells treated with HeberFERON for 24 h, 48 and 72 h we used flow cytometry. RESULTS The three treatments show different behavior based on the gene expression profiles. The enrichment analysis identified several mitotic cell cycle related events, in particular from prometaphase to anaphase, which are exclusively targeted by HeberFERON. The FOXM1 transcription factor network that is involved in several cell cycle phases and is highly expressed in GBMs, is significantly down regulated. Flow cytometry experiments corroborated the action of HeberFERON on the cell cycle in a dose and time dependent manner with a clear cellular arrest as of 24 h post-treatment. Despite the fact that p53 was not down-regulated, several genes involved in its regulatory activity were functionally enriched. Network analysis also revealed a strong relationship of p53 with genes targeted by HeberFERON. We propose a mechanistic model to explain this distinctive action, based on the simultaneous activation of PKR and ATF3, p53 phosphorylation changes, as well as its reduced MDM2 mediated ubiquitination and export from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. PLK1, AURKB, BIRC5 and CCNB1 genes, all regulated by FOXM1, also play central roles in this model. These and other interactions could explain a G2/M arrest and the effect of HeberFERON on the proliferation of U-87MG. CONCLUSIONS We proposed molecular mechanisms underlying the distinctive behavior of HeberFERON compared to the treatments with the individual interferons in U-87MG model, where cell cycle related events were highly relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamilet Miranda
- Bioinformatics Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba.
| | - Dania Vázquez-Blomquist
- Pharmacogenomics Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba.
| | - Ricardo Bringas
- Bioinformatics Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Daniel Palenzuela
- Pharmacogenomics Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Lidia I Novoa
- Pharmacogenomics Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Iraldo Bello-Rivero
- Clinical Assays Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Havana, Cuba
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Vázquez-Blomquist D, Hardy-Sosa A, Baez SC, Besada V, Palomares S, Guirola O, Ramos Y, Wiśniewski JR, González LJ, Bello-Rivero I. Proteomics and Phospho-Proteomics Profiling of the Co-Formulation of Type I and II Interferons, HeberFERON, in the Glioblastoma-Derived Cell Line U-87 MG. Cells 2022; 11:4068. [PMID: 36552831 PMCID: PMC9776974 DOI: 10.3390/cells11244068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
HeberFERON, a co-formulation of Interferon (IFN)-α2b and IFN-γ, has effects on skin cancer and other solid tumors. It has antiproliferative effects over glioblastoma multiform (GBM) clones and cultured cell lines, including U-87 MG. Here, we report the first label-free quantitative proteomic and phospho-proteomic analyses to evaluate changes induced by HeberFERON after 72 h incubation of U-87 MG that can explain the effect on cellular proliferation. LC-MS/MS, functional enrichment and networking analysis were performed. We identified 7627 proteins; 122 and 211 were down- and up-regulated by HeberFERON (fold change > 2; p < 0.05), respectively. We identified 23,549 peptides (5692 proteins) and 8900 phospho-peptides; 523 of these phospho-peptides (359 proteins) were differentially modified. Proteomic enrichment showed IFN signaling and its control, direct and indirect antiviral mechanisms were the main modulated processes. Phospho-proteome enrichment displayed the cell cycle as one of the most commonly targeted events together with cytoskeleton organization; translation/RNA splicing, autophagy and DNA repair, as represented biological processes. There is a high interconnection of phosphoproteins in a molecular network; mTOR occupies a centric hub with interactions with translation machinery, cytoskeleton and autophagy components. Novel phosphosites and others with unknown biological functionality in key players in the aforementioned processes were regulated by HeberFERON and involved CDK and ERK kinases. These findings open new experimental hypotheses regarding HeberFERON action. The results obtained contribute to a better understanding of HeberFERON effector mechanisms in the context of GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dania Vázquez-Blomquist
- Pharmacogenomic Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | | | - Saiyet C. Baez
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2L0A9, Canada
| | - Vladimir Besada
- Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Sucel Palomares
- Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Osmany Guirola
- Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Yassel Ramos
- Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Jacek R. Wiśniewski
- Biochemical Proteomics Group, Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Munich, Germany
| | - Luis Javier González
- Proteomics Group, Department of System Biology, Biomedical Research Division, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Iraldo Bello-Rivero
- Clinical Assays Direction, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
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Xiong F, Wang Q, Wu GH, Liu WZ, Wang B, Chen YJ. Direct and indirect effects of IFN-α2b in malignancy treatment: not only an archer but also an arrow. Biomark Res 2022; 10:69. [PMID: 36104718 PMCID: PMC9472737 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-022-00415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) is a highly active cytokine that belongs to the interferon-α (IFN-α) family. IFN-α2b has beneficial antiviral, antitumour, antiparasitic and immunomodulatory activities. Direct and indirect antiproliferative effects of IFN-α2b have been found to occur via multiple pathways, mainly the JAK-STAT pathway, in certain cancers. This article reviews mechanistic studies and clinical trials on IFN-α2b. Potential regulators of the function of IFN-α2b were also reviewed, which could be utilized to relieve the poor response to IFN-α2b. IFN-α2b can function not only by enhancing the systematic immune response but also by directly killing tumour cells. Different parts of JAK-STAT pathway activated by IFN-α2b, such as interferon alpha and beta receptors (IFNARs), Janus kinases (JAKs) and IFN‐stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), might serve as potential target for enhancing the pharmacological action of IFN-α2b. Despite some issues that remain to be solved, based on current evidence, IFN-α2b can inhibit disease progression and improve the survival of patients with certain types of malignant tumours. More efforts should be made to address potential adverse effects and complications.
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Ershov FI, Narovlyansky AN. [The problem of the use of interferons in the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 (Coronaviridae: Coronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus)]. Vopr Virusol 2022; 67:115-125. [PMID: 35521984 DOI: 10.36233/0507-4088-103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
By the end of 2021, about 200 studies on the effect of interferons (IFNs) on the incidence and course of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 (Coronaviridae: Coronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus) have been reported worldwide, with the number of such studies steadily increasing. This review discusses the main issues of the use of IFN drugs in this disease. The literature search was carried out in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, RSCI databases, as well as in the Google Scholar preprint database using the available search queries «MeSH for coronavirus», «SARS-CoV-2», «IFN drugs», and «COVID-19». Interferon therapy is indicated for early administration (within the first 5 days of patient admission) in cases of mild to moderate COVID-19 to take advantage of the narrow therapeutic window of IFNs action. Control and suppression of viral replication requires therapy with IFNs and other effective antiviral agents that inhibit the reproduction of SARS-CoV-2 and induce several interferon-stimulated genes (ISG). Type I IFNs (IFN-I) exhibit potent pro-inflammatory properties and activate a wide variety of different cell types that respond to IFNs stimulation and pathogen entry. IFN-III confer local mucosal antiviral immunity without inducing the strong systemic pro-inflammatory responses associated with IFN-I. The use of IFNs drugs in the therapy of new coronavirus infection requires a cautious and differentiated approach, because in severe cases they can aggravate viral pathogenesis by causing excessive intensity of inflammatory reactions. The unique biological properties of substances of this class allow us to consider them as therapeutic agents with significant potential for use in patients with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- F I Ershov
- FSBI «National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya» of the Ministry of Health of Russia
| | - A N Narovlyansky
- FSBI «National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology named after the honorary academician N.F. Gamaleya» of the Ministry of Health of Russia
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7
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Mas Bermejo P, Sánchez Valdés L, Somarriba López L, Valdivia Onega NC, Vidal Ledo MJ, Alfonso Sánchez I, Seuc Jo A, Almeida Cruz Y, Morales Ojeda R. Equity and the Cuban National Health System's response to COVID-19. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2021; 45:e80. [PMID: 34220992 PMCID: PMC8238257 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2021.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cuba’s National Health System has managed to guarantee an effective and equitable response to COVID-19. Universal and free health coverage, based on primary care, follows the principle of equity and the greatest resources are allocated to areas of the lowest socioeconomic stratum (where higher risk is concentrated), followed by those of medium and high strata, in that order. This allowed for similar mortality rates in the three strata, and Cuban national mortality rate was one of the lowest in the Region of the Americas. Before the first case was identified in Cuba, a Plan for Coronavirus Prevention and Control was elaborated with multisectoral participation, and when the first case was confirmed the Temporary National Working Group to Fight COVID-19 was created as an advisory body of the government. The actions to face the pandemic began with preventive measures in the community, continued in the isolation centers and ended again in the community with actions of surveillance and follow up of recovered patients. Following the principle of territoriality, molecular diagnosis laboratories were created in the provinces that did not have one. Free medical care and treatment; the preparation of a single national intersectoral government plan; the use of particular strategies for research, diagnosis and case tracing; and the implementation of a universal protocol for disease prevention and treatment of confirmed cases made it possible to control the disease with a health equity perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Mas Bermejo
- Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine Havana Cuba Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine, Havana, Cuba
| | - Lizet Sánchez Valdés
- Molecular Immunology Center Havana Cuba Molecular Immunology Center, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Ileana Alfonso Sánchez
- National Medical Sciences Information Center Havana Cuba National Medical Sciences Information Center, Havana, Cuba
| | - Armando Seuc Jo
- National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology Havana Cuba National Institute of Hygiene, Epidemiology, and Microbiology, Havana, Cuba
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Mas Bermejo P, Sánchez Valdés L, Somarriba López L, Valdivia Onega NC, Vidal Ledo MJ, Alfonso Sánchez I, Seuc Jo A, Almeida Cruz Y, Morales Ojeda R. [Equity and the Cuban National Health System's response to COVID-19Equidade e resposta do Sistema Nacional de Saúde de Cuba à pandemia de COVID-19]. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2020; 44:e138. [PMID: 33337442 PMCID: PMC7737847 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2020.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cuba's National Health System has managed to guarantee an effective and equitable response to COVID-19. Universal and free health coverage, based on primary care, follows the principle of equity, and the greatest resources are allocated to areas of the lowest socioeconomic stratum (which concentrates the higher health risks), followed by those of medium and high strata, in that order. This allowed for similar mortality rates in the three strata, and Cuban national mortality rate was one of the lowest in the Region of the Americas. Before the first case was identified in Cuba, a Plan for Coronavirus Prevention and Control was elaborated with multisectoral participation, and when the first case was confirmed the Temporary Working Group to Fight COVID-19 was created as an advisory body of the government. The actions to face the pandemic began with preventive measures in the community, continued in the isolation centers and ended again in the community with actions of surveillance and follow up of recovered patients. Following the principle of territoriality, laboratories of molecular diagnosis were created in the provinces that did not have it. Free medical care and treatment; the preparation of a single national intersectoral government plan; the use of particular strategies for research, diagnosis and case tracing; and the implementation of a universal protocol for disease prevention and treatment of confirmed cases allowed to control the disease with a perspective of equity in health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Mas Bermejo
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri La Habana Cuba Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lizet Sánchez Valdés
- Centro de Inmunología Molecular La Habana Cuba Centro de Inmunología Molecular, La Habana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Ileana Alfonso Sánchez
- Centro Nacional de Información de Ciencias Médicas La Habana Cuba Centro Nacional de Información de Ciencias Médicas, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Armando Seuc Jo
- Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología La Habana Cuba Instituto Nacional de Higiene, Epidemiología y Microbiología, La Habana, Cuba
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Rubio MC, Sanchez L, Abreu-Ruíz G, Bermejo-Bencomo W, Crombet T, Lage A. COVID-19 and Cancer in Cuba. Semin Oncol 2020; 47:328-329. [PMID: 32994047 PMCID: PMC7413158 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has called attention to the contribution of comorbidities, including cancer and brought additional challenges to previously existing programs for cancer treatment and control. The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba was addressed through an integrated all-society action plan that to date has been largely successful with a low incidence of COVID-19 and mortality rates several-fold lower than worldwide averages. Despite downsizing many other health components all oncology services were maintained. Between March 11, when the first case was detected, until July 23, Cuba reported 2,449 cases of COVID-19 that included 28 (1.14%) with a diagnosis of cancer. Distribution among cancer diagnoses did not deviate from that expected according to cancer epidemiology in Cuba. However, although the probability of getting infected with the coronavirus for a cancer patient (0.012%), was not higher than that of the general population (0.020%), 9 of the 28 (32.1%) died, a lethality higher than that of COVID-19 patients without cancer (3.5%) a difference that is statistically significant (P< .001). We argue that going forward scientific research on the relationship of aging, inflammation and cancer, including identification of biomarkers and the development of novel therapeutic interventions, should become one of the priorities in the post-COVID agenda of both oncologists and infectious disease scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lizet Sanchez
- Clinical Research Division, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Tania Crombet
- Clinical Research Direction, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
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A co-formulation of interferons type I and II enhances temozolomide response in glioblastoma with unmethylated MGMT promoter status. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5263-5271. [PMID: 32607953 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05604-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Temozolomide (TMZ) is a chemotherapeutic used for the treatment of glioblastoma. The MGMT repair enzyme (O'-(6)-methyl guanine-DNA-methyltransferase) promoter methylation is a predictive biomarker to TMZ response; interferons (IFNs) type I can downregulate MGMT expression improving survival in patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter. HeberFERON is a co-formulation of IFNs type I and II with higher antiproliferative effect over glioblastoma cell lines than individual IFNs. We investigated the proliferative response of patient-derived glioblastoma cultures to HeberFERON and its combination with TMZ in relation to MGMT promoter methylation and the regulation of MGMT transcript after HeberFERON treatment. Eleven glioblastoma-derived cultures, molecularly classified according to TCGA and MGMT promoter methylation, were assayed for proliferation inhibition with HeberFERON at low doses (1-25 IU/mL) [alone or combined with TMZ] or at higher doses (50-200 IU/mL) using CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay (Promega). Eight cultures were further treated with 100 IU/mL of HeberFERON for 72 h, total RNA purified (Qiagen) and converted to cDNA (Superscript III kit, Invitrogen) as quantitative PCR templates. Changes of MGMT&P53 transcripts level were monitored. Response of cultures to HeberFERON is variable, dose-dependent and apparently independent from TCGA classification and MGMT methylation status, based on the eight Classical cultures data. When combining HeberFERON with TMZ there was an increase in cell death for cultures, 2/4 with methylated and 5/5 with unmethylated MGMT promoter. In two out five cultures with unmethylated MGMT status, we observed a decrease of MGMT gene levels and an increase in P53 encoding gene levels. HeberFERON and TMZ combination should be further assayed in glioblastoma, mainly for those with unmethylated MGMT promoter.
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