Allele-specific copy number analysis of tumor samples with aneuploidy and tumor heterogeneity

We describe a bioinformatic tool, Tumor Aberration Prediction Suite (TAPS), for the identification of allele-specific copy numbers in tumor samples using data from Affymetrix SNP arrays. It includes detailed visualization of genomic segment characteristics and iterative pattern recognition for copy number identification, and does not require patient-matched normal samples. TAPS can be used to identify chromosomal aberrations with high sensitivity even when the proportion of tumor cells is as low as 30%. Analysis of cancer samples indicates that TAPS is well suited to investigate samples with aneuploidy and tumor heterogeneity, which is commonly found in many types of solid tumors.     

Novel triclabendazole prodrug: A highly water soluble alternative for the treatment of fasciolosis

In this work we present the synthesis, aqueous solubility and stability, hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase, and in vivo fasciolicidal activity in sheep of a highly water soluble phosphate salt prodrug of triclabendazole (MFR-5). The aqueous solubility of MFR-5 at pH 7 was 88,000-fold that of triclabendazole. MFR-5 showed excellent aqueous stability (>95% after 26 h) at pH 7, making it ideal for developing pharmaceutical compositions in the form of solutions that can easily be hydrolyzed by the enzyme alkaline phosphatase (t = 13.6 s) to liberate the precursor compound. An aqueous solution of MFR-5 administered intramuscularly to sheep at concentrations of 4, 6 and 8 mg/kg presented a fasciolicidal efficiency of 96.5%, 98.4% and 99.2%, respectively. In the in vivo experiments, MFR-5 reduced 100% the excretion of eggs in all of the above concentrations.