Neoadjuvant cisplatin and etoposide, with or without tamoxifen, prior to radiotherapy in high-grade gliomas: a single-center experience

Curcumin nanoparticles ameliorate hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin in rats

The present work was conducted to investigate the effect of curcumin nanoparticles (CUR NPs) on cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicty and nephrotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided randomly into the following: control, rats treated daily with CUR NPs (50 mg/kg body wt/day) for 14 days, rats treated with a single dose of cisplatin (12 mg/kg body wt, i.p), and rats treated with a single dose of cisplatin followed by a daily administration of CUR NPs for 14 days. Cisplatin-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity were evaluated by histological examinations and biochemical analyses of liver and kidney functions. Cisplatin induced significant increases in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and in the levels of bilirubin, urea, uric acid and creatinine. In addition, the levels of hepatic and renal lipid peroxidation (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased significantly. However, cisplatin significantly decreased hepatic and renal reduced glutathione levels and renal Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity. Treatment with CUR NPs ameliorated almost all the biochemical changes induced by cisplatin and improved the histopathological alterations in liver and kidney. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that CUR NPs offered an effective protection against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Therapeutic potential of patupilone in epithelial ovarian cancer and future directions

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy worldwide with extremely poor patient prognosis. Elucidation of the detailed mechanisms of action of drugs targeting this cancer type is necessary to optimize treatment efficacy. Epothilones, a new class of microtubule-stabilizing anticancer drugs, show strong cytotoxic properties in vitro and in vivo and are additionally effective in taxane-resistant cells. In this report, we focus on inhibitors of microtubule depolymerization, taxanes, and the novel antimicrotubule agents, epothilones. Current knowledge regarding the effects of epothilone B on ovarian tumor cell metabolism is reviewed, along with recent advances in therapeutic strategies, such as novel agents and biologic drug combinations containing epothilone that target aberrant pathways in ovarian cancer.

Metformin and epothilone A treatment up regulate pro-apoptotic PARP-1, Casp-3 and H2AX genes and decrease of AKT kinase level to control cell death of human hepatocellular carcinoma and ovary adenocarcinoma cells

High mortality rates in ovarian and liver cancer are largely a result of resistance to currently used chemotherapy. Here, we investigated genotoxic and pro-oxidant effects of metformin (MET) and epothilone A (A) in combination with respect to apoptosis in HepG2 and SKOV-3 cancer cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) was studied using 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluoresein diacetate, and samples were analyzed for the presence and absence of the N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Expression of genes involved in programmed cell death, oxidative and alkylating DNA damage was measured. Probes were analyzed in the presence of Akt or nuclear factor-κB inhibitor. Compared to either drug alone, combination of epothilone A and metformin was more potent; decreased Akt level; and elevated percentage of apoptotic cells, induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and elevated the sub-G1 cell population by increasing the mRNA level of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and H2AX. The anticancer effect of the drug combination was partially reversed by NAC supplementation, suggesting that ROS generation is required to induce apoptosis. The present study demonstrates that novel combination such as epothilone A and MET show promise in expanding ovarian and liver cancer therapy.

Metformin reduces cisplatin-mediated apoptotic death of cancer cells through AMPK-independent activation of Akt

Metformin is an antidiabetic drug with anticancer properties, which mainly acts through induction of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In the present study we investigated the influence of metformin on the in vitro anticancer activity of the well-known chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Cell viability was determined by MTT and LDH release assay, oxidative stress and apoptosis (caspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and phosphatidylserine exposure) were assessed by flow cytometry, while activation of AMPK and Akt was analyzed by immunoblotting. Although metformin reduced the number of tumour cells when applied alone, it surprisingly antagonized the cytotoxicity of cisplatin towards U251 human glioma, C6 rat glioma, SHSY5Y human neuroblastoma, L929 mouse fibrosarcoma and HL-60 human leukemia cell lines. Only in B16 mouse melanoma cells metformin augmented the cytotoxicity of cisplatin. In U251 glioma cells metformin suppressed cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death through inhibition of oxidative stress and caspase activation. The observed cytoprotection was apparently AMPK-independent, as metformin did not further increase cisplatin-induced AMPK activation in U251 cells and other pharmacological AMPK activators failed to block cisplatin-mediated apoptosis. On the other hand, metformin induced Akt activation in cisplatin-treated cells and Akt inhibitor 10-DEBC hydrochloride or phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor LY294002 abolished metformin-mediated antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. In conclusion, the antidiabetic drug metformin reduces cisplatin in vitro anticancer activity through AMPK-independent upregulation of Akt survival pathway. These data warrant caution when considering metformin for treatment of diabetic cancer patients receiving cisplatin or as a potential adjuvant in cisplatin-based chemotherapeutic regimens.