Search results for "AGENT"
showing 10 items of 8904 documents
Dendritic cell activation by combined exposure to anti-CD40 plus interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 efficiently stimulates anti-tumor immunity
2008
Despite as yet limited clinical effectiveness, dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy remains a promising approach for the treatment of cancer, but requires further improvement in its immunostimulatory effectiveness. Potent anti-tumor immunity often depends on the induction of type 1 (T(H)1) immune responses. Therefore, we combined different DC maturation stimuli that are known to induce T(H)1 immunity [anti-CD40, interleukin (IL)-12, IL-18], with the aim to trigger a T(H)1 driven anti-tumor CTL response. When compared with untreated DC or DC treated with anti-CD40 alone, DC matured with anti-CD40 plus IL-12 and IL-18 expressed significantly more IFN-gamma and IL-12, induced enhanced CD8(+…
Clinical implications ofCYP3Apolymorphisms
2006
Due to their enormous substrate spectrum CYP3A4, -3A5 and -3A7 constitute the most important drug-metabolising enzyme subfamily in humans. CYP3As are expressed predominantly, but not exclusively, in the liver and intestine, where they participate in the metabolism of 45 - 60% of currently used drugs and many other compounds such as steroids and carcinogens. CYP3A expression and activity vary interindividually due to a combination of genetic and nongenetic factors such as hormone and health status, and the impact of environmental stimuli. Over the past several years, genetic determinants have been identified for much of the variable expression of CYP3A5 and -3A7, but not for CYP3A4. Using th…
Immunologic microenvironment and personalized treatment in multiple myeloma.
2013
Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by generalized immune suppression and increased susceptibility to infections and secondary malignancies. Malignant plasma cells (PCs) modulate the bone marrow microenvironment to favor their own survival and proliferation. These events lead to a severe deregulation of immune effectors. Extensive studies have been conducted to unveil the mechanisms through which MM cells negatively modulate immunity and to develop therapeutical approaches for restoring an efficient anti-MM immune response. Areas covered: This review article covers both the immunosuppressive effects exerted by MM and the immunomodulatory potential of novel anti-MM agents. A…
Tubular carcinoma of the breast: Outcome and loco-regional recurrence in 307 patients
2005
Abstract Purpose The aim of this study is to describe the University of Florence experience in evaluating clinical, pathologic and treatment factors as they are related to the outcome and loco-regional recurrence in patients with tubular breast carcinoma. Material and methods Three hundred and seven patients (median age 56.4 years, range 26–91 years) with histological verified tubular carcinoma of the breast were consecutively treated at University of Florence from 1976 to 2001. All patients were followed for a median of 8.4 years (range 3 months to 20 years). Thirty-seven women underwent mastectomy and 270 underwent breast conserving surgery. Positive axillary nodes were found in 15% of pa…
The Potential Use of Resveratrol for Cancer Prevention.
2019
In addition to the traditional treatments of cancer and cancer prevention, the use of natural compounds, especially those found in food, should be considered. To clarify if resveratrol has the potential for cancer prevention and the possibility of use in therapy, the following must be taken into account: data from epidemiology, clinical protocol (case and control), preclinical studies (lab animals), use of established cell lines as models of cancer cells, test tube assays (enzymes activities), and requirements of nanotechnologies in order to discover new drugs to fight cancer. From this perspective and future expected advances, more information is needed such as improved efficacy, methods o…
Instability of misoprostol tablets stored outside the blister: a potential serious concern for clinical outcome in medical abortion.
2014
IntroductionMisoprostol (Cytotec) is recognised to be effective for many gynaecological indications including termination of pregnancy, management of miscarriage and postpartum haemorrhage. Although not licensed for such indications, it has been used for these purposes by millions of women throughout the world. Misoprostol tablets are most often packaged as multiple tablets within an aluminium strip, each within an individual alveolus. When an alveolus is opened, tablets will be exposed to atmospheric conditions.ObjectiveTo compare the pharmaco technical characteristics (weight, friability), water content, misoprostol content and decomposition product content (type A misoprostol, type B mis…
Intrarectal immunization with rotavirus 2/6 virus-like particles induces an antirotavirus immune response localized in the intestinal mucosa and prot…
2006
ABSTRACTRotavirus (RV) is the main etiological agent of severe gastroenteritis in infants, and vaccination seems the most effective way to control the disease. Recombinant rotavirus-like particles composed of the viral protein 6 (VP6) and VP2 (2/6-VLPs) have been reported to induce protective immunity in mice when administered by the intranasal (i.n.) route. In this study, we show that administration of 2/6-VLPs by the intrarectal (i.r.) route together with either cholera toxin (CT) or a CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide as the adjuvant protects adult mice against RV infection. Moreover, when CT is used, RV shedding in animals immunized by the i.r. route is even reduced in comparison with…
Dexrazoxane shows cytoprotective effects in zoledronic acid-treated human cells in vitro and in the rabbit tibia model in vivo
2012
Abstract Introduction Bisphosphonates are important and effective drugs in oncology and osteoporosis therapy. They accumulate in the bone matrix becoming released and active by bone resorption. This leads to effective inhibition of tumor cells and bone degradation. A side effect of bisphosphonates similar to other drugs like denosumab is osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ). This problem mostly occurs after tooth extraction. We studied the cytoprotectant dexrazoxane known from anthracycline chemotherapy for cytoprotection in nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate treated cells and in the rabbit tibia model to evaluate a possible value in ONJ management. Materials & methods Human osteoblasts (HOB) P2…
A pyrroloquinazoline derivative with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity by dual inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase
2002
Abstract In a previous study, we reported a new pyrroloquinazoline derivative, 3-(4′-acetoxy-3′,5′-dimethoxy)benzylidene-1,2-dihydropyrrolo[2,1- b ]quinazoline-9-one (PQ), which inhibited human purified 5-lipoxygenase activity and prostaglandin E 2 release in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In the present work, we show that PQ inhibits cyclo-oxygenase-2 activity in intact cell assays (human monocytes) and purified enzyme preparations (ovine isoenzymes) without affecting cyclo-oxygenase-1 activity. This behaviour was confirmed in vivo by using the zymosan-injected mouse air pouch model, where PQ caused a marked reduction in cell migration and leukotriene B 4 levels at 4 h, as …
Cytotoxicity of natural products and derivatives toward MCF-7 cell monolayers and cancer stem-like mammospheres
2015
Abstract Although cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) are rare, they can enter a non-proliferative or dormant state and resist therapy. Furthermore, quiescent CSCs are responsible for metastases that can appear after curative surgical treatment of a primary tumor. Because of drug resistance of CSCs, the development of novel therapies is urgently required that specifically target CSCs. Purpose The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of a panel of natural products and derivatives to inhibit CSC-enriched mammospheres of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Methods CD44high/CD24low cells were identified by flow cytometry and maintained as mammospheres. As a control, we used two clinically…