2- and 3-[(Aryl)(azolyl)methyl]indoles as Potential Non-steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors

The present study was designed to follow our pharmacomodulation work in the field of non-steroidal aromatase inhibitors. All target compounds 12a–h and 28a–h were tested in vitro for human placental aromatase inhibition, using testosterone or androstenedione as the substrate for the aromatase enzyme and the IC₅₀ and relative potency to aminoglutethimide data are included. A SAR study indicated that 3-[(4-fluorophenyl)(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-1-ethyl-2-methyl-1H-indole (28?g) was a highly potent and selective aromatase inhibitor with IC₅₀ value of 0.025?μM. 28?g was also a weak inhibitor of androstenedione synthesis.     

Cytotoxicity and topoisomerase I/II inhibition activity of novel 4-aryl/alkyl-1-(piperidin-4-yl)-carbonylthiosemicarbazides and 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazides

Abstract

A series of eight thiosemicarbazide derivatives was examined for cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell cultures. Among them, 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazides proved to be only slightly less potent than chlorambucil in both MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 lines. In contrast, 4-aryl/alkylthiosemicarbazides revealed significantly lower cytotoxicity effect. Subsequently, all titled compounds were tested as potential human topoisomerase I and II (topo I and topo II) inhibitors. Mechanistic studies revealed that tested thiosemicarbazides act as both topoisomerase I and topoisomerase II inhibitors. Among them, the best inhibitory activity was found for 4-benzoylthiosemicarbazides (1 and 2) with IC₅₀ at 50?µM against topo II.     

Prognostic factors and survival in metastatic breast cancer: A single institution experience

Background

The current retrospective study aims to identify some determinants of survival in metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

The study concerned 332 patients with synchronous (SM) or metachronous (MM) metastatic breast cancer treated between January 2000 and December 2007. Statistical comparison between subgroups of patients concerning survival was carried out employing log-rank test for the invariable analysis and Cox model for the multivariable analysis. Factors included: age group (≤50 years vs. >50; ≤70 years vs. >70; ≤35 years vs. >35), menopausal status, presentation of metastatic disease (SM vs. MM), disease free interval (DFI) (≤24 months vs. >24 months; ≤60 months vs. >60 months), performance status at diagnosis of metastatic disease (PS) (0–1 vs. >1), hormone receptors (HR), number of metastatic sites (1 site vs. >1), nature of the metastatic site (visceral vs. non visceral), first line therapy, surgery of the primary tumor (SPT), locoregional radiotherapy (LRRT) and use or not of bisphosphonates.

Results

Overall survival at 5 years was 12%. Positive prognostic factors in univariate analysis were: age ≤ 70 years, hormono-dependence of the tumor, good PS (PS 0–1), less than two metastatic sites, no visceral metastases, DFI ≥ 24 months, SPT or LRRT. In multivariate analysis, favorable independent prognostic factors included: good PS (PS 0–1), absence of visceral metastases (liver, lung, brain) and age ≤ 70 years.

Conclusion

Many of the prognostic factors in metastatic breast cancer found in our study are known in the literature but some of them, like the application of locoregional treatment (radiotherapy or surgery) and the use of bisphosphonates, need to be further investigated in randomized clinical trials.     

Difference in Ki67 and Thymidylate Synthase Expression in Primary Tumour Compared with Metastatic Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, so therapeutic predictive biological markers need to be identified. To date an accurate evaluation of predictive markers is mainly done at the primary site; however, the main goal of adjuvant therapy for breast cancer is the control of micrometastases. The aim of this study is to assess as therapeutic and/or prognostic marker, the proliferation status of primary tumors and involved nodes as measured by Ki67 and thymidylate synthase (TS) expression, in 30 breast cancer node positive patients. TS is the main target of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) activity, and its overexpression is one of the mechanisms of 5-FU drug resistance; however, in some studies its absence is responsible for a worse response to 5-FU. Our results show that malignant cells of involved nodes were in a post mitotic phase of the cell cycle, and show a low proliferation index and TS expression, while the primary tumours and controls, were strongly positive. On these basis we can hypothesize that these cells could be less sensitive to 5-FU. Further studies are necessary to identify other mechanisms responsible for their metastasing capability and/or for their aggressiveness.     

Genotyping of –374A/T, –429A/G,And 63 bp Ins/Del Polymorphisms of Rage By Rapid One-Step Hexaprimer Amplification Refractory Mutation System Polymerase Chain Reaction in Breast Cancer Patients

Several studies have focused on the RAGE genetic background and have demonstrated that its polymorphisms affect the receptor's activity, expression, and downstream signaling. However, there is only little information regarding RAGE polymorphism in breast cancer. In the present study, the authors studied RAGE polymorphisms in 71 patients with breast cancer and 93 healthy women. RAGE –374T/A, –429T/C, and 63 bp Ins/del polymorphisms were analyzed using a hexaprimer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (H-ARMS-PCR). The results showed that RAGE polymorphisms are not associated with breast cancer in the current study population. Larger studies are required to confirm these data in other populations.     

The XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a case–control study in a Thai population

The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 gene (XRCC3) belongs to a family of genes responsible for repairing DNA double-strand breaks caused by normal metabolic processes and exposure to ionizing radiation. Polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may alter an individual's capacity to repair damaged DNA and may lead to genetic instability and contribute to malignant transformation. We examined the role of a polymorphism in the XRCC3 gene (rs861529; codon 241: threonine to methionine change) in determining breast cancer risk in Thai women. The study population consisted of 507 breast cancer cases and 425 healthy women. The polymorphism was analysed by fluorescence-based melting curve analysis. The XRCC3 241Met allele was found to be uncommon in the Thai population (frequency 0.07 among cases and 0.05 among controls). Odds ratios (OR) adjusted for age, body mass index, age at menarche, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, reproduction parameters, use of contraceptives, tobacco smoking, involuntary tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, and education were calculated for the entire population as well as for pre- and postmenopausal women. There was a significant association between 241Met carrier status and breast cancer risk (OR 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–2.44). Among postmenopausal women, a slightly higher OR (1.82, 95% CI 0.95–3.51) was found than among premenopausal women (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.82–2.69). Our findings suggest that the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism is likely to play a modifying role in the individual susceptibility to breast cancer among Thai women as already shown for women of European ancestry.     

Cell-free DNA as a prognostic marker in stage I non-small-cell lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was related to clinical outcome in inoperable stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Materials and methods: Plasma cfDNA was assessed at baseline, before the last day and 45 days after the end of SBRT, in 22 NSCLC patients. Twenty-two healthy controls were also evaluated.

Results: Plasma cfDNA was higher in patients than in controls. An association with unfavourable disease-free survival was found for continuous baseline cfDNA increments (HR?=?5.9, 95%CI: 1.7–19.8, p?=?0.04).

Conclusion: Plasma cfDNA may be a promising prognostic biomarker in high-risk NSCLC patients.     

Characterization of Morphological and Cytoskeletal Changes in MCF10A Breast Epithelial Cells Plated on Laminin-5: Comparison with Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF7

The extracellular matrix regulates functional and morphological differentiation of mammary epithelial cells both in vivo and in culture. The MCF10A human breast epithelial cell line is ideal for studying these processes because it retains many characteristics of normal breast epithelium. We describe a distinct set of morphological changes occurring in MCF10A cells plated on laminin-5, a component of the breast gland basement membrane extracellular matrix. MCF10A cells adhere and spread on laminin-5 about five times more rapidly than on fibronectin or uncoated surfaces. Within 10 minutes from plating on laminin-5, they send out microfilament-rich filopodia and by 30 minutes acquire a cobblestone appearance with microfilaments distributed around the cell periphery. At 90 minutes, with or without serum, >75% of the MCF10A cells plated on laminin-5 remain in this stationary cobblestone phenotype, while the remainder takes on a motile appearance. Even after 18 hours, when the culture is likely entering an exponential growth phase, the majority of cells maintain a stationary cobblestone appearance, though motile cells have proportionally increased. In contrast, the fully transformed, malignant human breast epithelial cells, MCF7, never acquire a stationary cobblestone appearance, do not organize peripheral microfilaments, and throughout the early time points up to 120 min appear to be constantly motile on laminin-5. We propose that changes in morphology and microfilament organization in response to laminin-5 may represent a benchmark for distinguishing normal vs. malignant behavior of epithelial cells derived from the mammary gland. This may lead to better model systems for studying the interactions between breast epithelium and the basement membrane extracellular matrix, which appear to be deregulated in processes like carcinogenesis and metastasis.     

血清CA153、TK1、TSGF联合检测对乳腺癌诊断的价值

目的：探讨细胞表面糖蛋白（CA153）、胸苷激酶（TKl）、肿瘤生长因子（TSGF）等联合检测在乳腺癌诊断中的应用价值。方法：73例确诊为乳腺癌患者的血清标本作为实验组;66例乳腺良性疾病（包括乳腺纤维瘤、囊肿、增生等）及50例健康人群血清标本作为对照组。采用电化学发光法检测血清CAl53,免疫化学发光法检测TKl,化学显示法检测TSGF的表达。结果：血清CAl53、TKl及TSGF对乳腺癌的敏感性分别为54．8％、53．4％及79．5％,特异性分别为87．9％、81．8％及83．3％;血清CAl53、TKl、TSGF联合检测乳腺癌的敏感性为89．0％,特异性为92．4％。结论：与单项指标检测相比,多个指标联合检测提高了对乳腺癌早期诊断的敏感性．同时又有较好的特异性．有助于良、恶乳腺疾病的鉴别．具有一定的临床应用价值．