Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, and Dynamic Simulations Revealed TGF-β1 Potential Inhibitors to Curtail Cervical Cancer Progression

Cervical cancer is one of the main causes of cancer death in women globally, and its epidemiology is similar to that of a low-infectious venereal illness. Many sexual partners and early age at first intercourse have been demonstrated to have a significant influence on risk. TGF-β1 is a multifunctional cytokine that is required for cervical carcinoma metastasis, tumor development, progression, and invasion. The TGF-β1 signaling system plays a paradoxical function in cancer formation, suppressing early-stage tumor growth while increasing tumor progression and metastasis. Importantly, TGF-β1 and TGF-β receptor 1 (TGF-βR1), two components of the TGF-β signaling system, are substantially expressed in a range of cancers, including breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The current study aims to investigate possible inhibitors targeting TGF-β1 using molecular docking and dynamic simulations. To target TGF-β1, we used anti-cancer drugs and small molecules. MVD was utilized for virtual screening, and the highest scoring compound was then subjected to MD simulations using Schrodinger software package v2017-1 (Maestro v11.1) to identify the most favorable lead interactions against TGF-β1. The Nilotinib compound has shown the least XP Gscore of -2.581 kcal/mol, 30ns MD simulations revealing that the Nilotinib- TGF-β1 complex possesses the lowest energy of -77784.917 kcal/mol. Multiple parameters, including Root Mean Square Deviation, Root Mean Square Fluctuation, and Intermolecular Interactions, were used to analyze the simulation trajectory. Based on the results; we conclude that the ligand nilotinib appears to be a promising prospective TGF-β1inhibitor for reducing TGF-β1 expression ad halting cervical cancer progression.

Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma with Massive Hemorrhage: An Autopsy Case Report

Introduction/Objective

Spontaneous renal hemorrhage is a rare complication of various kidney pathologies. It can be due to renal artery aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, cystic renal diseases, renal calculus, coagulation disorders, as well as neoplastic lesions like angiomyolipoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Individuals present with sudden flank or scapular pain, hypovolemic shock, termed as Wunderlich syndrome (WS). 30-35% cases of WS are from spontaneously ruptured RCC, commonly clear cell variant (70%) followed by papillary (10-15%) and chromophobe variant (4-6%). We present an autopsy case of a papillary variant RCC identified as a small kidney mass with a pathogenetic correlation behind the intractable bleeding.

Methods/Case Report

An 81-year-old Caucasian man with a history of atrial fibrillation, on long-term Xarelto treatment, was found to have a 1.2 cm incidental mass in the right kidney. He started experiencing right-sided scapular pain, then rapidly became hypotensive, drowsy. CT scan revealed a large right-sided perinephric and retroperitoneal hematoma (17.5 x 5.7 x 8.9 cm) extending in the pelvis. Despite receiving blood products, other supportive treatment, and successful angio-embolization, his condition worsened to acute kidney injury, bowel ischemia, and persistent lactic acidosis leading to death. On autopsy, bloody ascites, clots on mesenteric root insertion, and bulging in retroperitoneal spaces were seen. The perinephric spaces had organized clots. The bleeding originated from a 2.0 x 2.0 cm brown mass in the middle pole of the right kidney. There was a slit-like vessel at the interface of the kidney and the mass. Microscopic examination of the mass shows trabecula of abnormal cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm in the hemorrhagic and necrotic background. These cells are positive for PAX8, CK7, CD10, dim positive for CAIX, and negative for CD117, which is consistent with renal cell carcinoma, papillary variant.

Results (if a Case Study enter NA)

NA.

Conclusion

Papillary RCC is much less vascular and less aggressive than clear cell RCC. However, necrosis or bleeding into renal vessels may occur. In this case, blood-leaks and accumulation in enclosed space followed by necrosis, fibrosis, and hyalinization cause neovascularization forming a negative spiral for re-bleeding. Anticoagulants can lead to profuse sustained bleeding from even very small size RCC.

Metronomic Chemotherapy After Palliative Radiotherapy In Rare Soft Tissue Sarcomas; An Insight Into Radiation Therapy And The Immune Response

Introduction/Objective

Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) account for less than 1% of the overall human burden of malignant tumors. The intent of treatment in metastatic STSs is palliative and prognosis is dismal. This study aims to evaluate the role of low dose radiotherapy and low dose oral metronomic therapy in heavily pretreated metastatic infrequent STSs.

Methods

This research was conducted in a prospective observational manner in a tertiary care center. A total of 16 cases met the inclusion criteria for enrollment in the study group. The diagnosis of all subtypes of STS was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry or cytogenetic studies. All the enrolled patients with metastatic STSs who were treated with surgery and two lines of chemotherapy were initially treated with low dose radiotherapy of twenty Gy in five fractions or thirty Gy in ten fractions according to ECOG performance status of the patient.

Results

Out of 16 patients, seven patients (43.75%) were treated with 20Gy, 5# and 9 patients (56.25%) were treated with 30Gy, 10 # radiotherapy (RT). Out of 16 patients, four were of malignant fibrohistiocytic sarcoma, three were angiosarcoma, three were malignant phylloides tumor of the breast, and two were fibrosarcoma. One patient from each of the following subtypes inflammatory myofiroblastic tumor, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and dermato fibrosarcoma protuberance. Out of 16 patients, seven (43.75%) had a partial response (PR), nine (56.25%) had stable disease (SD) at 3 months and all the patients had stable disease (SD) at 6 months of evaluation. All the patients had enjoyed a better quality of life as compared to their life during injectable chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Targeted low dose radiation and metronomic chemotherapy lead to quantifiable antiangiogenic effects, immune effects in the local tumor microenvironment, and influences circulating immune mediators and anti- angiogenesis that could potentially help eradicate disease both within and outside the radiation treatment field.

Cytogenetic and viral studies in nasopharyngeal carcinomas in patients of Indian origin

Four cases of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) (grade III-IV) in patients of Indian origin were investigated for specific chromosome markers and evidence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positivity. Abnormalities involving chromosome #3, like del (3) (p24-pter) and 3q+(q27-qter) were found in these patients, similar to earlier reports in patients of Chinese and Kenyan origin2,4,13 who however were EBV positive, unlike the patients in this study who were EBV negative. Implications of the cytogenetic and serological data in Indian patients with NPC, available for the first time, may throw some light on the etiology of the disease in this ethnic group where nasopharyngeal carcinoma is also endemic.

Ectoprotein kinase in the regulation of cellular responsiveness to extracellular ATP

The reversible phosphorylation of intracellular proteins has been established as a key regulatory mechanism in numerous cellular functions. In this process the enzyme protein kinase transfers the gamma-phosphate of ATP to form a covalent bond with specific proteins. Another line of investigation has demonstrated that extracellular ATP is a potent physiological regulator in various cellular systems. Although many of the physiological effects of extracellular ATP were shown to be mediated by the action of purinergic receptors, it is possible that extracellular protein phosphorylation systems are also implicated in the mechanisms underlying the responsiveness of cells to extracellular ATP. The identification of ectoprotein kinase at the surface of various cells has provided evidence for the existence of such mechanisms, and revealed how the regulatory powers of protein phosphorylation systems can extend to the extracellular environment. The versatile roles that extracellular protein phosphorylation activity may play in the regulation of cellular functions is underscored by the presence of multiple protein substrates for this activity at the cell surface. Each such surface phosphoprotein may have a unique function. FIGURE 5 depicts the hypothetical relationships between the extracellular ATP secreted by exocytosis and the specific physiological function of these secreting neurons. Based on findings described in this article, we propose that extracellular ATP can be utilized by two types of extracellular protein kinase: a membrane-bound ectoprotein kinase, and a soluble exoprotein kinase. The exoprotein kinase can originate by detachment of an ectokinase from the cell surface, or be an intravesicular protein that is coreleased with ATP by exocytosis from stimulated cells. Phosphorylation of specific proteins at the surface of a secreting cell may have an important feedback control over its own presynaptic activity. The ectoprotein kinase could exert this feedback regulation by phosphorylating ion channels involved in secretion, and/or by phosphorylating transporters that carry out the reuptake of released transmitter molecules. Phosphorylation of receptors can regulate intercellular communication, and phosphorylation of integrins could regulate the interaction of the cell surface with components of the extracellular matrix. Although most of the relationships suggested in FIGURE 5 are still hypothetical, it should be possible to test them experimentally in a direct manner by raising antibodies against the phosphorylated sites of specific surface phosphoproteins. The ability of such antibodies to inhibit protein phosphorylation without penetrating the cells provides an experimental paradigm for the direct testing of potential physiological function of ecto- and exoprotein kinase activities in a variety of cells.

Multiple forms of atrial natriuretic factor receptor in human placenta

Multiple forms of atrial natriuretic factor receptor have been identified in human placental membranes. Atrial natriuretic factor binds specifically to placental membranes and the binding activity could be solubilized using non ionic detergent, Triton X-100. Binding to the detergent solubilized preparation was inhibited 80% by the addition of 0.5 M sodium chloride. Affinity cross-linking analysis indicated that this binding was associated with a single protein band of molecular weight 170-kDa. On the other hand, if sodium chloride was added together with a chelator, o-phenanthroline, ANF binding to this preparation was stimulated 300%. Binding under these conditions was not to the 170-kDa protein but was associated with a broad band in the region of 100/110-kDa and a minor band at 200-kDa. These observations clearly indicated that in human placental membranes, atrial natriuretic factor binds to distinctly different molecular species depending on the presence or absence of certain ions and chelators. The two types of binding could be conveniently assayed in the presence of each other by elimination or inclusion of sodium chloride and o-phenanthroline in the assay system.

alpha-Santonin 1,2-reductase and its role in the formation of dihydrosantonin and lumisantonin by Pseudomonas cichorii S

1,2-Dihydrosantonin is the first stable product in the degradative pathway of alpha-santonin by Pseudomonas cichorii S. Its formation is catalyzed by an oxidoreductase, which is NADH or NADPH dependent and has an apparent Km value of 66.66 microM for santonin and 44.33 microM for NADH. The enzyme activity is stable at pH 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0, and is not affected by EDTA and divalent metal ions. It is postulated that the enzymic reduction of santonin occurs via formation of a transient zwitterionic intermediate, which undergoes nonenzymatic 1,4-sigmatropic rearrangement to yield lumisantonin during the solvent extraction process. Lumisantonin is, thus, not a true metabolic intermediate but an artifact.