Cancer gene-therapy: clinical trials

The objective of gene therapy for the treatment of cancer is to kill tumour cells but preserve normal tissue; therefore, the ideal gene therapy agent would be targeted for specific transduction of tumour cells and have specificity in its cytotoxic action. A variety of strategies to achieve these aims have demonstrated promising results in the laboratory, including enzyme-pro-drug activating systems, correction of genetic mutations contributing to the malignant phenotype and stimulation of a T-cell-mediated anti-tumour immune response. The key to the success of all these strategies is an effective vector that can direct appropriate expression of the therapeutic gene. Viruses have many properties that can be adapted to achieve this therapeutic endpoint; furthermore, they can be engineered to replicate selectively in cancer cells and lyse them. The challenge now is to translate these features into effective therapies that can supplement or supplant existing treatments.     

Dinuclear terephthalato-bridged copper(II) complexes: Syntheses, spectral and structural characterization, and magnetic properties

Herein, we report the syntheses, spectral and structural characterization, and magnetic behavior of four new dinuclear terephthalato-bridged copper(II) complexes with formulae [Cu₂(trpn)₂(μ-tp)](ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (1), [Cu₂(aepn)₂(μ-tp)(ClO₄)₂] (2), [Cu₂(Medpt)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) and [Cu₂(Et₂dien)₂(μ-tp)(H₂O)](ClO₄)₂ (4) where tp = terephthalate dianion, trpn = tris(3-aminopropyl)-amin, aepn = N-(2-aminoethyl)-1,3-propanediamine, Medpt = 3,3′-diamino-N-methyldipropylmine and Et₂dien = N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine. The structures of these complexes consist of two μ-tp bridging Cu(II) centers in a bis(monodentate) bonding fashion. The coordination geometry of the Cu(II) ions in these compounds may be described as close to square-based pyramid (SP) with severe significant distortion towards trigonal bipyramid (TBP) stereochemistry in 1. The visible spectra of the complexes in aqueous solutions are in complete agreement with the assigned X-ray geometry around the Cu(II) centers. Also, the solid infrared spectral data for the stretching frequencies of the tp-carboxalato groups, the ν(COO⁻) reveals the existence of bis(monodentate) coordination mode for the bridged terephthalate ligand. The susceptibility measurements at variable temperature over the range 2-300 K are reported. Despite the same bonding mode of the tp bridging ligand, there has been observed slight antiferromagnetic coupling for the compounds 1 and 4 with J values of −0.5 and −2.9 cm³ K mol⁻¹, respectively, and very weak ferromagnetic coupling for 2 and 3 with J values of 0.8 and 10.1 cm³ K mol⁻¹, respectively. The magnetic results are discussed in relation to other related μ-terephthalato dinuclear Cu(II) published compounds.     

Dinuclear fumarato- and terephthalato-bridged copper(II) complexes: Structural characterization and magnetic properties

The dinuclear dicarboxylato-bridged copper(II) complexes [Cu₂(TPA)₂(μ-tp)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O (1), [Cu₂(TPA)₂(μ-fum)](ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (2) and [Cu₂(pmedien)₂(μ-fum)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂ (3) (tp = terephthalate dianion, fum = fumarate dianion, TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and pmedien = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine) were synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The structures of the TPA complexes 1 and 2 consist of μ-tp or μ-fum bridging two Cu(II) centers in a bis(monodentate) bonding fashion. The coordination geometry around the Cu(II) ions in these compounds has a distorted trigonal bipyamidal geometry, TBP with four nitrogen atoms from the TPA ligand and a coordinated oxygen atom supplied by the carboxylate group of the bridged dicarboxylato ligand. Complex 3 has a distorted square pyramidal geometry achieved by the three N-atoms of the pmedien, one fum-carboxylate-oxygen and by an oxygen atom from a coordinated water molecule. The intradimer Cu…Cu distances in these complexes are 11.078(3), 8.663(4) and 9.520(3) Å for 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The electronic spectra of the complexes in aqueous solutions are in complete agreement with the assigned X-ray geometry around the Cu(II) centers. Also, analysis of the infrared spectral data for the ν(COO⁻) stretching frequencies of the tp-carboxalato groups reveals the existence of the bis(mondentate) coordination mode for the bridged dicarboxylato ligands in compounds 1 and 2. The susceptibility measurements at variable temperature over the 2-300 K range are reported. For 1-3, it has been observed slight antiferromagnetic coupling with J values of −0.8, −3.0 and −2.9 cm⁻¹, respectively.     

Structural and magnetic characterization of 1-D complexes constructed from pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate bridging multi copper(II) centers

In aqueous solution, the reaction of Cu(ClO₄)₂ and di(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, DPA with the disodium salt of pyrazole-3,5-dicarboxylate (Na₂Hpzdc) in presence of sodium azide afforded the azido complex [Cu₃(DPA)₃(μ-pzdc)(μ-N₃)](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O (1) whereas when reaction was conducted in absence of sodium azide the perchlorato complex [Cu₃(DPA)₃(μ-pzdc)(μ-ClO₄)](ClO₄)₂·3H₂O (2) was obtained. The complexes were structurally characterized by physicochemical techniques and by single crystal X-ray crystallography in case of 1. The coordination sphere of the two complexes which are iso-structural polymeric 1D systems consist of three independent Cu(DPA) units, one pzdc bridging ligand and one end-on bridging azido group in 1 or one bridging perchlorato group in 2. The three Cu(II) centers in both complexes may be described as axially elongated octahedral. Magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal the weak anti-ferromagnetic coupling in the two complexes (J = −23.2 cm⁻¹ for 1 and −14.8 cm⁻¹ for 2).     

Dicyanamido-metal(II) complexes. Part 4: Synthesis, structure and magnetic characterization of polynuclear Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes bridged by μ-1,5-dicyanamide

The one pot aqueous reaction of M(ClO₄)₂ (M = Cu²⁺ or Ni²⁺) with N-methylbis[2-(2-pyridylethyl)]amine (MeDEPA) and N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (bpmen) and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) in presence of sodium dicyanamide (Nadca) yielded dicyanamido-bridged polynuclear complex {[Cu(MeDEPA)(μ-1,5-dca)]ClO₄}_n (1), and two dinuclear complexes [Cu₂(bpmen)₂(μ-1,5-dca)]₂(ClO₄)₅dca (2) and [Ni(cyclen)(μ-1,5-dca)]₂(ClO₄)₂ (3). These complexes were characterized by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Room temperature single-crystal X-ray studies have confirmed that the Cu(II) centers in 1 and 2 adopt geometries that are more close to trigonal bipyramidal (TBP) in 1 and close to square pyramidal (SP) in 2, whereas in 3, the Ni(II) centers are located in octahedral environment with doubly bridged μ-1,5-dca bonding mode. The intermolecular M···M distances in these complexes are in the range of 7.3-8.6 Å. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility studies have confirmed that the dca-bridges mediate very weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the M(II) centers with J values of −0.35, −0.18 and −0.43 cm⁻¹ for 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The results are compared and discussed in the light of other related bridged μ-1,5-dca Cu(II) and Ni(II) complexes.     

The role of virus-specific CD4+ T cells in the control of Epstein-Barr virus infection

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes lifelong persistent infections in humans and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human malignancies. Protective immunity against EBV is mediated by T cells, as indicated by an increased incidence of EBV-associated malignancies in immunocompromised patients, and by the successful treatment of EBV-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in transplant recipients by the infusion of polyclonal EBV-specific T cell lines. To implement this treatment modality as a conventional therapeutic option, and to extend this protocol to other EBV-associated diseases, generic and more direct approaches for the generation of EBV-specific T cell lines enriched in disease-relevant specificities need to be developed. To this aim, we studied the poorly defined EBV-specific CD4+ T cell response during acute and chronic infection.     

Impaired Pten Expression in Human Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumours

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST) are aggressive sarcomas that develop in about 10% of patients with the genetic disease neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Molecular alterations contributing to MPNST formation have only partially been resolved. Here we examined the role of Pten, a key regulator of the Pi3k/Akt/mTOR pathway, in human MPNST and benign neurofibromas. Immunohistochemistry showed that Pten expression was significantly lower in MPNST (n = 16) than in neurofibromas (n = 16) and normal nervous tissue. To elucidate potential mechanisms for Pten down-regulation or Akt/mTOR activation in MPNST we performed further experiments. Mutation analysis revealed absence of somatic mutations in PTEN (n = 31) and PIK3CA (n = 38). However, we found frequent PTEN promotor methylation in primary MPNST (11/26) and MPNST cell lines (7/8) but not in benign nerve sheath tumours. PTEN methylation was significantly associated with early metastasis. Moreover, we detected an inverse correlation of Pten-regulating miR-21 and Pten protein levels in MPNST cell lines. The examination of NF1−/− and NF1+/+Schwann cells and fibroblasts showed that Pten expression is not regulated by NF1. To determine the significance of Pten status for treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin we treated 5 MPNST cell lines with rapamycin. All cell lines were sensitive to rapamycin without a significant correlation to Pten levels. When rapamycin was combined with simvastatin a synergistic anti-proliferative effect was achieved. Taken together we show frequent loss/reduction of Pten expression in MPNST and provide evidence for the involvement of multiple Pten regulating mechanisms.