Multicellular tumor spheroids: an underestimated tool is catching up again.
The present article highlights the rationale, potential and flexibility of tumor spheroid mono- and cocultures for implementation into state of the art anti-cancer therapy test platforms. Unlike classical monolayer-based models, spheroids strikingly mirror the 3D cellular context and therapeutically relevant pathophysiological gradients of in vivo tumors. Some concepts for standardization and automation of spheroid culturing, monitoring and analysis are discussed, and the challenges to define the most convenient analytical endpoints for therapy testing are outlined. The potential of spheroids to contribute to either the elimination of poor drug candidates at the pre-animal and pre-clinical …
Updated pest categorisation of Xylella fastidiosa
Abstract Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Plant Health Panel updated its pest categorisation of Xylella fastidiosa, previously delivered as part of the pest risk assessment published in 2015. X. fastidiosa is a Gram‐negative bacterium, responsible for various plant diseases, including Pierce's disease, phony peach disease, citrus variegated chlorosis, olive quick decline syndrome, almond leaf scorch and various other leaf scorch diseases. The pathogen is endemic in the Americas and is present in Iran. In the EU, it is reported in southern Apulia in Italy, on the island of Corsica and in the Provence‐Alpes‐Côte d'Azur region in France, as well as in the Autonomous r…
ERBB2 Induces an Antiapoptotic Expression Pattern of Bcl-2 Family Members in Node-Negative Breast Cancer
AbstractPurpose: Members of the Bcl-2 family act as master regulators of mitochondrial homeostasis and apoptosis. We analyzed whether ERBB2 influences the prognosis of breast cancer by influencing the proapoptotic versus antiapoptotic balance of Bcl-2 family members.Experimental Design: ERBB2-regulated Bcl-2 family members were identified by inducible expression of ERBB2 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and by correlation analysis with ERBB2 expression in breast carcinomas. The prognostic relevance of ERBB2-regulated and all additional Bcl-2 family members was determined in 782 patients with untreated node-negative breast cancer. The biological relevance of ERBB2-induced inhibition of apoptosis…