Seeds (WSMoL) in sarcoma 180-bearing mice

WSMoL, a water-soluble lectin from the seeds of Moringa oleifera, present several biological activities. This work aimed to evaluated the toxicity and antitumor activity of WSMoL. To analyze toxicity, it was determined hematological, biochemical and histological parameters; consumption of water and feed as well as the weight of the animals. Antitumor analysis included evaluation of tumor weight, histology and cytokine levels. Acute toxicity assay revealed 60% mortality of animals treated with lectin at 200 mg/kg i. p. At 100 mg/kg i. p., the animals showed a decreased food and water consumption as well weight gain in comparison with control. However, no animal died and there were no alterations in blood parameters or histological analysis. Antitumor activity evaluated at safe doses (2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in tumor weight. Tumor photomicrographs evidenced that WSMoL treatment reduced dissemination of tumor cells. WSMoL (5 and 10 mg/kg) significantly enhance the immune function in the tumor environment as showed by increased the levels of pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-17) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines. In conclusion, WSMoL showed in vivo antitumor activity in mice bearing sarcoma 180 tumor, probably by increase the immune response against the tumor.

Antimitotic and toxicogenetic action of Stevia urticifolia aerial parts on proliferating vegetal and mammalian cells: in vitro and in vivo traditional and replacement methods

Stevia urticifolia Thunb. is an underexploited herb possessing bioactive flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. The aim of this study was to examine the antiproliferative and toxicogenetic properties of the ethyl acetate extract from Stevia urticifolia aerial parts (EtAcSur) upon Artemia salina, erythrocytes, Allium cepa and sarcoma 180 cells and fibroblasts, as well as in vivo studies on mice to determine systemic, macroscopic, and behavioral alterations and bone marrow chromosomal damage. The assessment using A. salina larvae and mouse blood cells revealed LC₅₀ and EC₅₀ values of 68.9 and 113.6 µg/ml, respectively. Root growth and mitosis were inhibited by EtAcSur, and chromosomal aberrations were detected only at 100 μg/ml. EtAcSur exhibited potent concentration-dependent viability reduction of S180 and L-929 cells and antioxidant capacity employing ABTS^• and DPPH^•. No previous in vivo studies were performed before with the EtAcSur. Signals of acute toxicity were not observed at 300 mg/kg. Physiological and toxicological investigations at 25 and 50 mg/mg/day i.p. for 8 days did not markedly change body or organ relative weights, nor patterns of spontaneous locomotor and exploratory activities. In contrast, clastogenic effects on bone marrow were found at 50 mg/mg/day. EtAcSur was found to (1) produce toxicity in microcrustaceans, (2) capacity as free radical scavenger, (3) antimitotic, cytotoxic and clastogenic activties upon vegetal and mammalian cells, and (4) lethality on both tumor and normal murine cells indistinctly. In vivo damage systemic effects were not remarkable and clinical signals of toxicity were not observed, suggesting the significant pharmacological potential of S. urticifolia for the development of antineoplastic agents.Abbreviations: ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); DMSO: dimethylsulfoxide; DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; EC₅₀: effective concentration 50%; EtAcSur: ethyl acetate extract from Stevia urticifolia aerial parts; Hb, hemoglobin; IC₅₀: inhibitory concentration 50%; LC₅₀,: lethal concentration 50%; MI: mitotic index; RBC, red blood cells; Trolox: 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid.

Alpha-Terpineol as Antitumor Candidate in Pre-Clinical Studies

BACKGROUND

Alpha-terpineol is a monoterpene alcohol with anti-tumor activity against different tumor cell lines (lung, breast, leukemias and colorectal) through blockage of NF-kB expression, which play an important role in tumor cells growth.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the antitumor activity of alpha-terpineol in murine Sarcoma 180 cell line Methods: For the tests, different cytotoxic and genotoxic assays were used, including Trypan blue, cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay, comet assay, agarose gel DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry and cell viability using fluorescence. Ascitic fluid cells from sarcoma 180 were obtained from Mus musculus peritoneal cavity and Alpha-terpineol was tested at 100, 250 and 500 μg/mL. Doxorubicin and Cisplatin were used as positive controls.

RESULTS

Cytotoxic effects of alpha-terpineol were found in all concentrations tested, reducing cell viability in 50.9; 38.53; 30.82% at 100, 250 and 500 μg/mL, respectively. Alpha-terpineol induced genotoxic effects due to DNA fragmentation (increased frequency and index of damage), and was clastogenic by increased micronuclei formation, nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear buds. DNA fragmentation and increased cell death indicated that alpha-terpineol can cause early, late, and necrotic apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate that alpha-terpineol has antitumor activity revealed by cytogenetic mechanisms and / or loss of cell membrane integrity.

Synthesis, Antitumor Activity, and Docking Analysis of New Pyrido[3',2':4,5]furo(thieno)[3,2-d]pyrimidin-8-amines

Continuing our research in the field of new heterocyclic compounds, herein we report on the synthesis and antitumor activity of new amino derivatives of pyrido[3',2':4,5](furo)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines as well as of two new heterocyclic systems: furo[2-e]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and furo[2,3-e]pyrimido[1,2-c]pyrimidine. Thus, by refluxing the 8-chloro derivatives of pyrido[3',2':4,5]thieno(furo)[3,2-d]pyrimidines with various amines, the relevant pyrido[3',2':4,5]thieno(furo)[3,2-d]pyrimidin-8-amines were obtained. Further, the cyclization of some amines under the action of phosphorus oxychloride led to the formation of new heterorings: imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidine and pyrimido[1,2-c]pyrimidine. The possible antitumor activity of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated in vitro. The biological tests evidenced that some of them showed pronounced antitumor activity. A study of the structure-activity relationships revealed that the compound activity depended mostly on the nature of the amine fragments. A docking analysis was also performed for the most active compounds.

In Vivo Anti-Tumor Activity and Toxicological Evaluations of Perillaldehyde 8,9-Epoxide, a Derivative of Perillyl Alcohol

Recent studies have revealed the high cytotoxicity of p-menthane derivatives against human tumor cells. In this study, the substance perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide, a p-menthane class derivative obtained from (S)-(−)-perillyl alcohol, was selected in order to assess antitumor activity against experimental sarcoma 180 tumors. Toxicological effects related to the liver, spleen, kidneys and hematology were evaluated in mice submitted to treatment. The tumor growth inhibition rate was 38.4%, 58.7%, 35.3%, 45.4% and 68.1% at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day for perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide, perillyl alcohol and 25 mg/kg/day for 5-FU intraperitoneal treatments, respectively. No toxicologically significant effect was found in liver and kidney parameters analyzed in Sarcoma 180-inoculated mice treated with perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide. Histopathological analyses of the liver, spleen, and kidneys were free from any morphological changes in the organs of the animals treated with perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide. In conclusion, the data suggest that perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide possesses significant antitumor activity without systemic toxicity for the tested parameters. By comparison, there was no statistical difference for the antitumor activity between perillaldehyde 8,9-epoxide and perillyl alcohol.

Influence of surgical technique in the peritoneal carcinomatosis surgical wound implant: experimental model in mice

BACKGROUND

The number of malignancies increased alarmingly. Surgery constitutes one of the most efficient therapeutic modalities for the treatment of solid tumors. The neoplastic implant in surgical wound is a complication whose percentage of occurrence reported in the literature is variable, but sets with high morbidity and therapeutic difficulties. Protecting the wound is one of the recommended principles of oncologic surgery.

AIM

To evaluate the influence of wound protection in the development of tumor implantation.

METHODS

Sarcoma 180 tumor cells were used, with intraperitoneal inoculation in Swiss mice. After the establishment of neoplastic ascites, animals were randomized into two groups of 10, each group consisting of five males and five females. In both groups, laparotomy and manipulation of intra-abdominal organs was performed. In a group laparotomy was performed using the protection of the abdominal wound and the other group without it. On the 9th postoperative day macroscopic evaluation of the operative scar was performed, which was later removed for microscopic evaluation.

RESULTS

There was microscopic infiltration of tumor cells in the wound of all animals. However, the group that held the protection, infiltration was less intense when compared to the group without it. The infiltration was also more severe in females than in males of the same group.

CONCLUSION

Tumor infiltration into the wound was more intense in the group in which the protection of the surgical site was not performed, and in females when compared to males of the same group.

Involvement of reactive oxygen species in the enhancement of membrane lipid peroxidation by sonodynamic therapy with functionalized fullerenes

BACKGROUND/AIM

Sonodynamic cancer therapy is based on the preferential uptake and/or retention of a sonosensitizing drug (sonosensitizer) in tumor tissues and subsequent activation of the drug by ultrasound irradiation. In the present study, we investigated the participation of lipid peroxidation in the mechanism of the sonodynamically-induced antitumor effect with functionalized fullerenes, such as polyhydroxy fullerene (PHF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ultrasonically-induced cell damage and lipid peroxidation with PHF were compared in the same in vitro insonation setup. Sarcoma 180 cells suspended in PBS were exposed to 2 MHz ultrasound in the presence and absence of PHF. Cell viability was determined by the Trypan Blue exclusion test. Lipid peroxidation in cell membranes was estimated by measuring the amount of malondialdehyde as the thiobarbituric acid-reactive-substances.

RESULTS

Significant enhancement of the rates of both ultrasonically-induced cell damage and lipid peroxidation was observed in the presence of PHF, both of which were positively correlated with PHF. The enhancement of cell damage and lipid peroxidation with PHF was suppressed by reactive oxygen scavengers such as histidine and tryptophan.

CONCLUSION

The good correlation observed in the presence of PHF suggests that membrane lipid peroxidation is one of the important intermediary events in sonodynamically-induced cellular damage. The inhibitory effects of histidine and tryptophan also provide evidence that singlet oxygen plays an important role in PHF-mediated sonosensitization of membranes and that this moiety may be an important mediator of cell destruction in sonodynamic therapy associated with PHF and ultrasound.

Antitumor activities of Juemingzi (Cassia tora L.) on Balb/c sarcoma 180-injected mice

The antitumor activity of Juemingzi (Cassia tora L.) was investigated in mice that were fed various concentrations of the compound. Although mice fed a low concentration (50 mg/kg b.w.) of Juemingzi exhibited a high tumor weight, the higher feeding concentrations (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w.) were associated with lower weight tumors. The growth rate of mouse splenocytes that were treated with 200 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. This rate of proliferation was higher than that achieved with 100 and 50 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi treatment by fetal bovine serum, lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A. Compared with the lower concentrations of Juemingzi treatment, 200 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi significantly (P<0.05) reduced aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase and blood urea nitrogen levels. A high concentration of Juemingzi (200 mg/kg b.w.) significantly (P<0.05) increased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β cytokines compared with those of the mice that were treated with 100 and 50 mg/kg b.w. Juemingzi.

Sonodynamically-induced anticancer effects by functionalized fullerenes

BACKGROUND

Functionalized fullerenes, such as polyhydroxy fullerenes (PHF), have attracted particular attention due to their water solubility and their potential application in tumor imaging and therapy as carbon nanomaterials. In this study, the sonodynamically-induced antitumor effect of PHF was investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sonodynamically-induced antitumor effects of PHF in combination with ultrasound were investigated using isolated sarcoma 180 cells and solid tumor from colon 26 carcinoma cells.

RESULTS

The cell damage induced by sonication was enhanced by two-fold in the presence of 80 μM PHF. Histidine significantly inhibited this enhancement. This inhibitory effect suggests that the sonodynamically-induced antitumor effect was mediated by sonodynamically-generated reactive oxygen species. The combined treatment of ultrasonic exposure with PHF suppressed the growth of implanted colon 26 tumors. The destruction of tumor tissue was observed with the ultrasonic treatment in combination with PHF, while neither the treatment with PHF alone nor that with ultrasound alone caused necrosis.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that PHF is a potential sonosensitizer for sonodynamic treatment of solid tumors.

Sonodynamically induced antitumor effect of 4-formyloximethylidene-3-hydroxy-2-vinyl-deuterio-porphynyl(IX)-6,7-dia spartic acid (ATX-S10)

The sonodynamically induced antitumor effect of 4-formyloximethylidene-3-hydroxy-2-vinyl-deuterio-porphyn yl(IX)-6,7-diaspartic acid (ATX-S10) was investigated. Both in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects were tested in combination with ultrasound at 2 MHz. The rate of ultrasonically induced damage to isolated sarcoma 180 cells in air-saturated suspension was enhanced two-fold with 80 microM ATX-S10. This enhancement was significantly inhibited by histidine, which may suggest that it was mediated by ultrasonically induced oxidation. The coadministraion of 25 mg/kg ATX-S10 followed by ultrasonic exposure at 2 MHz stopped the growth of implanted colon 26 tumors at an intensity at which ultrasound alone showed only a slight antitumor effect.

Quantification of tumour-induced angiogenesis by image analysis

Quantitative techniques for in vivo and in vitro angiogenesis were developed using an image analyser. In the in vivo study, a Millipore chamber filled with mouse sarcoma 180 (S180) cells was transplanted subcutaneously to the dorsal side of a mouse, and the area of neovascularization induced by the tumour cells was quantified by image analysis. Images of vascular networks with poor contrast had their contrast improved by Laplacean transformation. The area of vascular network was 16.9 mm2 in the control group without tumour cells and 44.2 mm2 in the group with tumour cells, demonstrating a significant increase in neovascularized area by tumour cells. In the in vitro study, migration of vascular endothelial cells was induced with conditioned media of S180 cells. Image analysis was used to count automatically the nuclei of migrated endothelial cells, which were stained violet with Giemsa's solution. This automated measurement by image analyser is expected to save labour and time. Checkerboard analysis revealed that the endothelial cell migration induced by S180-conditioned medium was due to chemotaxis. The quantitation method using an automated image analyser is valuable in evaluating the induction of neovascularization by tumours and the effect of pharmacological agents on tumour angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro.

Synergistic effect of ultrasound and hematoporphyrin on sarcoma 180

The antitumor effects of combined use of ultrasound (US) and a photosensitizer, hematoporphyrin (Hp), were determined in mice bearing sarcoma 180. In order to find the optimum timing of the US irradiation after the administration of Hp, the Hp concentrations in the tumor and in the plasma were determined and were analyzed pharmacokinetically. Antitumor effects were evaluated by measuring the tumor size and the tumor weight. Hp alone showed no antitumor effect but US alone showed a slight antitumor effect. The combined treatment with US and Hp showed marked synergistic effects on sarcoma 180 (inhibition ratio was 74% of the control). From these results, the enhancement of antitumor effect is thought to be caused by the sensitization of tumor cells to US mediated by Hp.

Hematoporphyrin as a sensitizer of cell-damaging effect of ultrasound

Mouse sarcoma 180 or rat ascites hepatoma (AH) 130 cells were exposed to ultrasound (US; 1.27, 2.21 and 3.18 W/cm2; 1.92 MHz) for up to 60 s in vitro in the presence or absence of hematoporphyrin (Hp; 10, 25 and 50 micrograms/ml). The cell-damaging effects of treatments were determined by means of the Trypan Blue dye exclusion test. Hp alone did not show any cell-damaging effect, whereas US alone damaged 30 and 50% of sarcoma and AH 130 cells, respectively, at the maximum intensity for 60 s. In the presence of 50 micrograms/ml Hp, US damaged 99 and 95% of the above tumor cells, respectively. These results show that Hp increased the sensitivity of tumor cells to US.