BAGE Hypomethylation Is an Early Event in Colon Transformation and Is Frequent in Histologically Advanced Adenomas

Plasmon-Enhanced Photodynamic Therapy for Gastric Cancer by Integrating Targeted Gold Nanorods and Photosensitizer

Gold nanoparticles are widely used for biomedical purposes because of their unique optical, surface plasmon resonance properties, ease of surface functionalization, and high load capacity. Gold nanorods (AuNR), which are rod-shaped gold nanoparticles, have been used as an effective photodynamic treatment (PDT) carrier to boost singlet oxygen (SOG) generation through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect and then improve PDT efficacy. However, the suitable spatial location should be established to enable photosensitizer to feel the LSPR enhancement. In this study, we utilized multifunctional PEG chain to adjust efficient distance to induce more photosensitizers to feel the enhanced LSPR effect of AuNR and used a novel gastric tumor angiogenesis marker to prevent the uncontrolled LSPR shift induced by the aggregation of AuNR, and then acquire plasmon-enhanced PDT. The synthesized nano-system of integrated photosensitizer and targeted AuNR could significantly enhance SOG generation and improve the apoptosis-inducing ability through activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway, and -shorten the induction time for apoptosis, thus acquire efficient plasmon-enhanced PDT. Comparing to the normal photosensitizer, half of the targeted photosensitizer produce same antitumor effect, which improves maximum tolerable dose. Generally, this novel targeted delivery system is a promising agent of plasmon-enhanced PDT for gastric cancer.

Circulating Abnormal Extracellular Vesicles: Their Mechanism for Crossing Blood-Brain Barrier, Effects on Central Nervous System and Detection Methods

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are difficult to treat and harmful. Many CNS diseases are secondary to peripheral diseases, such as tumor brain metastases (BMS), viral infections and inflammation of the brain, and their pathogenic factors travel through the circulatory system to the brain, eventually leading to lesions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in this process. Recent studies have shown that, extracellular EVs can effectively cross the blood- brain barrier (BBB) through endocytosis and they transmit molecular signals in cell-to-cell communication. Abnormal EVs produced in the lesion portion transport pathogenic factors, including miRNAs, proteins, and virions into the CNS. These pathogenic factors participate in cellular pathways to interfere with homeostasis or are themselves pathogens that directly damage CNS. In addition, different or specific pathological molecules in EVs are potential disease markers. We herein reviewed pathways through which the abnormal EVs cross BBB and adverse effects of abnormal exosomes. We also and summarized their existing detection techniques, so as to provide basis for prevention and early diagnosis of secondary diseases.

Modeling the Effects of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy on Tumor Growth

Mathematical modeling has been used to simulate the interaction of chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs intervention with the dynamics of tumor cells growth. This work studies the interaction of cells in the immune system, such as the natural killer, dendritic, and cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, with chemotherapy. Four different cases were considered in the simulation: no drug intervention, independent interventions (either chemotherapy or immunotherapy), and combined interventions of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The system of ordinary differential equations was initially solved using the Runge-Kutta method and compared with two additional methods: the Explicit Euler and Heun's methods. Results showed that the combined intervention is more effective compared to the other cases. In addition, when compared with Runge-Kutta, the Heun's method presented a better accuracy than the Explicit Euler technique. The proposed mathematical model can be used as a tool to improve cancer treatments and targeted therapy.

Lupeol-Loaded Nanoparticles Enhance the Radiosensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Inhibiting the Hyperactivation in Raf/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and Phospatidylinositol-3 Kinase/mTOR Pathways

Radioresistance limits the effectiveness of radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Raf and PI3K signaling cascades promote the formation of radioresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Lupeol has anticancer activity despite itspoor solubility in water and is toxic effect on normal tissue. In this study, nanoparticles (lupeol-NPs) were constructed using PEG-PLGA diblock copolymer vector, and results revealed that Lupeol-NPs reversed the radioresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting cellular proliferation and cell-cycle progression and promoting cellular apoptosis through blocking Raf/MAPK and PI3K/Akt signal transduction in radioresistant Huh-7^R cells. In vivo, Lupeol-NPs combined with radiotherapy inhibited the growth of radioresistant hepatocellular carcinoma in a xenogenic nude mouse model. Ki-67 proliferation index decreased significantly (p < 0.05). We conclude that Lupeol-NPs can increase the sensitivity of radioresistant hepatocellular carcinoma to radiotherapy through inhibiting the Raf and PI3K signal cascades.