Erythromycin reverses the daunomycin resistance of MEL-DRTL cells

Does catalase play a role in Adriamycin induced cardiotoxicity?

Summary Adriamycin causes an increase of lipid peroxidation in mouse cardiac homogenates that is dependent on the concentration of the antiblastic. The same phenomenon is not observed in the hearts of mice treated with an elevated dose of Adriamycin in which, conversely, an increase of the antioxidizing enzyme catalase was noticed. The significance of these findings is discussed with relationship to the hypothesis of an enhanced free radicals formation at the basis of Adriamycin induced cardiotoxicity.

Cathepsin D, B and L circulating levels as prognostic markers of malignant progression

Growing evidence indicates that lysosomal Cathepsins D (CD), B (CB) and L (CL) may promote carcinogenesis and tumor progression. Therefore, we evaluated their potential value as biochemical parameters of malignant progression in patients with benign diseases which may undergo malignant transformation, such as liver cirrhosis (LC) and chronic pancreatitis (CHP) as well as in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pancreatic cancer (DPC). CD, CB and CL serum levels were determined by immunoenzymatic assays in LC, CHP, HCC or DPC patients and correlated with a number of biochemical and clinical parameters of these diseases. CD serum levels were increased in LC, CHP and HCC, but not in the DPC grou…

Galangin increases the cytotoxic activity of imatinib mesylate in imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant Bcr-Abl expressing leukemia cells

Resistance to imatinib mesylate is an emergent problem in the treatment of Bcr-Abl expressing myelogenous leukemias and additional therapeutic strategies are required. We observed that galangin, a non-toxic, naturally occurring flavonoid was effective as anti-proliferative, and apoptotic agent in Bcr-Abl expressing K562 and KCL22 cells and in imatinib mesylate resistant K562-R and KCL22-R cells. Galangin induced an arrest of cells in G0–G1phase of cell cycle and a decrease in pRb, cdk4, cdk1, cycline B levels; moreover, it was able to induce a monocytic differentiation of leukemic Bcr-Abl+ cells. Of note, galangin caused a decrease in Bcl-2 levels and markedly increased the apoptotic activi…

Influence of Mitoxantrone on the Syntheses of Dna and Proteins of Mouse Tissues

In view of the structural similarity of mitoxantrone to anthracyclines and its ability to intercalate into DNA, we studied its influence on the synthetic processes of DNA and proteins in CD-1 mice tissues. By studying at the DNA level the impairment of 2H-thymidine incorporation and its return to normal, it was found that bone marrow and spleen showed similar behavior, i.e., a rapid return to normal, which occurred before bone marrow cell number and spleen weight returned to basal values. At the cardiac level, the incorporation values of precursors into DNA, reduced by treatment with mitoxantrone, came back very slowly to the control ones. Hepatic DNA showed a lower sensitivity to mitoxant…

Isolated myocardiocytes and DNA synthesis: a possible experimental model to predict the in vivo cardiotoxicity

Growth hormone protects human lymphocytes from irradiation-induced cell death

1. Undesired effects of cancer radiotherapy mainly affect the hematopoietic system. Growth hormone (GH) participates in both hematopoiesis and modulation of the immune response. We report both r-hGH cell death prevention and restoration of secretory capacities of irradiated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in vitro. 2. r-hGH induced cell survival and increased proliferation of irradiated cells. Western blot analysis indicated that these effects of GH were paralleled by increased expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. 3. r-hGH restored mitogen-stimulated release of IL-2 by PBL. Preincubation of irradiated lymphocytes with the growth hormone receptor (GHR) antagonists B2036 an…