Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Biology

Real-World Clinical Outcomes of Low Dose versus Standard Dose Abiraterone in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Pragmatic Study

Sasan Razmjoo — 2024-10-05

Introduction: Abiraterone is a standard treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Food intake has shown significant effect on its pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of standard dose abiraterone under fasting conditions versus low dose abiraterone with a low-fat meal in patients with mCRPC.

Methods: In this prospective real world study 32 patients with mCRPC were treated in two groups of 16 cases by routine clinical practice of their treating physician with low-dose abiraterone (250 mg with a low fat breakfast) or standard-dose abiraterone (1000 mg in fasting state). The changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level and PSA response rate (≥50% reduction after 12 weeks) were the primary end points.

Results: The median changes of serum PSA before and after treatment, as well as the PSA nadir were not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.128 and P = 0.051, respectively). Despite a trend toward higher PSA response rate in the low-dose group, the difference was not statistically significant (75.0% vs. 62.5%; P = 0.704). Median serologic progression free survival (PFS) was significantly higher in the low-dose group (15 vs. 8 months; Log-rank P = 0.031). There was a trend toward lower adverse events in the low-dose group, but this difference was not statistically significant (37.5% vs. 62.5%; P = 0.289).

Conclusion: Low-dose abiraterone seems to be comparable to standard-dose abiraterone in mCRPC with 75% lower financial cost; however, this conclusion needs to be proved by further well designed and large scale studies.

Comparison among Various Prognostic Pathologic Markers Revealed Significantly Poorer Prognosis in Non-basal-like than in Basal-like Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Norasate Samarnthai — 2024-10-05

Objective: To find the incidence and prognosis of basal-like (TNB) and non-basal-like (TNN) in triple negative breast cancer.

Methods: Triple negative breast cancer (TN) cases were retrospectively reviewed and biomarkers studied on tissue microarray for ER, PR, HER2, Ki67, basal cytokeratins (CK5/6, CK14, CK17), EGFR, CD117, p63, p53, vimentin, CK7, CK8/18, CK19, BCL2, p16, WT1, and cyclin D1. The patients were reclassified according to ER, PR, HER2, Ki67 index, basal CKs and EGFR results into: lumA, lumB, HER2+, TNB and TNN.

Results: From 2007 to 2010, there were 193 female patients (120 TNB, 17 TNN, 42 lumB, and 14 HER2+). There were 184 (95.3%) invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). All 17 TNN were IDC. High grade histology accounted for 71.5%. The median follow up time was 62.93 months. There were no significant differences in age, histologic grade, and tumor size between TNB and TNN while TNN had significant number of higher stage (p=0.028), axillary lymph node metastasis of more than 3 nodes (p=0.005) and lower disease free survival (DFS, p= 0.004) and overall survival (OS, p=0.001). TNN also had the poorest prognosis among the four subtypes.Tumor size and axillary nodal involvement were the independent predictors for DFS and OS. Absence of EGFR expression was an independent factor for lower DFS and OS in TN. Absence of CK8/18 expression was an independent factor for lower DFS in any combined group and OS in the combined TN and lumB group. Absence of p16 expression was an independent factor for lower DFS and OS of all cohort.

Conclusion: TNN accounted for12.3% of TN and had poorer prognosis. Tumor size and axillary nodal involvement were the independent predictors for DFS and OS. Absence of EGFR, CK8/18 or p16 expression had influence on survival in TN or combined group.

Enhancing the Cytotoxic Effects of Paclitaxel, Methotrexate, and Vincristine on Oral Cancer Cells with Curcumin

Seyed Mehdi Ziaei — 2024-10-05

Objective: Curcumin, a potent polyphenolic compound, has been closely studied for its potential to improve the efficacy of cancer treatments. With its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, curcumin has shown promise in enhancing the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents, especially in cancer cells that have developed resistance.

Methods: This study investigated curcumin’s potential benefits in treating oral cancer. Researchers cultured CAL-27 oral cancer cells and treated them with varying concentrations of curcumin under standard laboratory conditions. To evaluate the effects on cell health and survival, they combined curcumin with common anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel, methotrexate, or vincristine.

Results: The results were significant. Treating the CAL-27 cells with curcumin showed a noticeable decrease in cell viability, indicating that curcumin significantly inhibited cancer cell growth. This suggests that curcumin could potentially enhance the effectiveness of existing chemotherapy treatments for oral cancer. The study underscores the potential of curcumin as a complementary tool in the fight against oral cancer. Combining it with traditional chemotherapy could lead to better outcomes and improved management of this serious disease.

Conclusion: These findings contribute to the growing body of research exploring natural compounds like curcumin as adjunct therapies in cancer treatment.

In vitro Assessment of Paclitaxel-loaded Niosome Nanoparticles and Their Cytotoxic Effects on the Ovarian Cancer Cell Line A2780CP

Nasrin Khaje — 2024-10-05

Background: One of the major concerns in contemporary medical science is the issue of cancer, with ovarian cancer being a significant contributor to cancer-related deaths. A key challenge in treating ovarian cancer is its initial responsiveness followed by resistance to paclitaxel therapy. However, recent advances in nanotechnology, particularly drug delivery systems like niosomes, offer promising solutions.

Methods: Researchers fabricated nanoparticles via the ether injection approach and analyzed them for particle dimensions, surface charge, and medication release characteristics. Subsequently, they employed A2780CP ovarian cancer cell lines to evaluate the impact of nanodrug using an MTT assay.

Results: The average particle size was reported at 190.3 ± 20.6 nm, with a zeta potential of -18.9 ± 2.7 mV. Notably, high encapsulation proficiency (87.6 ± 32%) verified the successfulness of the applied technique. Moreover, the cytotoxicity assessment demonstrated enhanced efficacy of nanodrug over free carboplatin when targeting A2780CP cell lines (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: these findings suggest that pegylated liposomal nanocarriers could be effective carriers for delivering paclitaxel to A2780CP ovarian cancer cell lines.

The Epidemiological Trends of Primary Benign and Malignant Bone Tumors in Iran

Samaneh Salarvand — 2024-10-05

Background & objective: The incidence of various tumors is strongly influenced by racial characteristics, and therefore the distribution of benign and malignant lesions follows different epidemiological and pathophysiological patterns in the societies. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological trend of primary benign and malignant bone tumors in the Iranian population.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, epidemiological and pathological information related to cases of benign and malignant primary bone tumors registered in the data registry of pathology laboratory of Imam Khomeini Complex hospital in Iran between 2017 and 2022 were assessed. Including criteria was all patient with established pathology diagnosis of bone tumors and excluding criteria was patients with incomplete data.

Results: In total, 617 primary bone tumors (233 benign lesions and 384 malignant lesions) were assessed within 5 years between 2017 and 2022. The average age of patients in benign and malignant lesions subgroups was 29.50±16.95 years and 35.30±19.70 years respectively with the highest incidence in the second and third decades of life in both lesion types. Overall, 52.8% of benign tumors and 58.9% of malignant tumors were found in men. The most frequent benign tumors reported in the study periods including osteochondroma found in 30.5%, and enchondroma in 29.2%. Of malignant bone tumors, osteosarcoma was the most prevalent type with an overall prevalence of 32.6% followed by chondrosarcoma (20.8%) and Ewing sarcoma (16.7%). In the case of benign tumors, a decrease in the trend during the last four years was showed, while the trend of malignant tumors was completely upward in the last four years.

Conclusion: The epidemiological distribution of primary benign and malignant bone tumors in Iran is similar to global statistics, but with a downward trend in benign masses and vice versa, an increasing trend in malignant tumors in recent years.

Identification of Tumor Microenvironment Genes in Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Mittal Mistry — 2024-10-05

Introduction: In triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) an aggressive molecular subtype of breast cancer, tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in the tumor growth, disease metastasis, immune escape and therapeutic resistance. Understanding the TME holds significant potential for identification of biomarkers of TME and pathways associated as therapeutic targets for improving survival in patients with TNBC.

Materials and Methods: The current study evaluated 682 TME related genes by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) in 55 patients with TNBC.

Results: Gain/amplification of 411 genes and loss/deletion of 196 genes of tumor microenvironment was observed in TNBC. Further PPI network analysis using Cytoscape plugin and degree ranking method identified GNAQ, MAPK1, AKT1, HRAS, and MAPK3 are five key up-regulated hub genes, and IL4, LCK, STAT6, MTOR, and NFKBIA are five key down-regulated hub genes.

Conclusion: Gain/amplification of GNAQ and loss/deletion of LCK leads to activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and RAS/MEK pathways which can be targeted to improve survival of patients with TNBC. However, validation of these pathway genes by RT-PCR or protein expression by immunohistochemistry are further needed to establish these biomarkers as therapeutic targets for TNBC.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Silybum Marianum Extraction Against Acetamiprid-Induced Stress Oxidative in Male Rats: Potential Anticancer Application

Ali Noory Fajer — 2024-10-16

Objective: Silybum marianum, commonly known as milk thistle, has been extensively studied for its hepatoprotective effects. While most documented data focus on its benefits for liver disorders, recent research has highlighted its protective effects on other organs such as the kidneys. Studies have shown that Silybum marianum exhibits antioxidant, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, anti-obesity, and hepatoprotective properties.

Materials and Methods: In the present study we investigated the protective effect of aqueous extraction of Silybum marianum against acetamiprid-induced (N’-cyano-N-methyl-acetamidine phosphorothioate) stress oxidative on liver and kidney function by evaluating the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and urea in male rats. Furthermore, an anatomical study was conducted on the liver and kidney to enhance the research.

Results: The results showed the effective impacts of aqueous extraction of Silybum marianum on AST, ALT, creatinine, and urea serum levels. There was also a protective effect in the group of rats fed with both acetamiprid and extraction of Silybum marianum compared to the group fed with only acetamiprid.

Conclusion: Our results revealed that Marianum extract can reduce hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects caused by acetamiprid and has anti-hepatocyte cancer potential.