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Background: Baicalein is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine derived from Scutellaria baicalenesis, which has been traditionally used as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. In this study we examined the anti-tumour pathways activated following baicalein treatment in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), both in-vitro and in-vivo.Methods: The effect of baicalein treatment on H-460 cells in-vitro was assessed using both BrdU assay (cell proliferation) and High Content Screening (multi-parameter apoptosis assay). A xenograft nude mouse model was subsequently established using these cells and the effect of baicalein on tumour growth and survival assessed in-vivo. Tumours were harvested from these mice and histological tissue analysis carried out. VEGF, 12-lipoxygenase and microvessel density (CD-31) were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC), while H and E staining was carried out to assess mitotic index. Gene expression profiling was carried out on corresponding RNA samples using Human Cancer Pathway Finder Arrays and qRT-PCR, with further gene expression analysis carried out using qRT-PCR.Results: Baicalein significantly decreased lung cancer proliferation in H-460 cells in a dose dependent manner. At the functional level, a dose-dependent induction in apoptosis associated with decreased cellular f-actin content, an increase in nuclear condensation and an increase in mitochondrial mass potential was observed. Orthotopic treatment of experimental H-460 tumours in athymic nude mice with baicalein significantly (p < 0.05) reduced tumour growth and prolonged survival. Histological analysis of resulting tumour xenografts demonstrated reduced expression of both 12-lipoxygenase and VEGF proteins in baicalein-treated tumours, relative to untreated. A significant (p < 0.01) reduction in both mitotic index and micro-vessel density was observed following baicalein treatment. Gene expression profiling revealed a reduction (p < 0.01) in both VEGF and FGFR-2 following baicalein treatment, with a corresponding increase (p < 0.001) in RB-1.Conclusion: This study is the first to demonstrate efficacy of baicalein both in-vitro and in-vivo in NSCLC. These effects may be mediated in part through a reduction in both cell cycle progression and angiogenesis. At the molecular level, alterations in expression of VEGF, FGFR-2, and RB-1 have been implicated, suggesting a molecular mechanism underlying this in-vivo effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anticoagulant-activated protein C (APC) acts not solely as a crucial regulator of thrombus formation following vascular injury, but also as a potent signalling enzyme with important functions in the control of both acute and chronic inflammatory disease. These properties have been exploited to therapeutic effect in diverse animal models of inflammatory disease, wherein recombinant APC administration has proven to effectively limit disease progression. Subsequent clinical trials led to the use of recombinant APC (Xigris) for the treatment of severe sepsis. Although originally deemed successful, Xigris was ultimately withdrawn due to lack of efficacy and an unacceptable bleeding risk. Despite this apparent failure, the problems that beset Xigris usage may be tractable using protein engineering approaches. In this review, we detail the protein engineering approaches that have been utilized to improve the therapeutic characteristics of recombinant APC, from early studies in which the distinct anti-coagulant and signalling activities of APC were separated to reduce bleeding risk, to current attempts to enhance APC cytoprotective signalling output for increased therapeutic efficacy at lower APC dosage. These novel engineered variants represent the next stage in the development of safer, more efficacious APC therapy in disease settings in which APC plays a protective role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Thromboxane synthase (TXS) metabolizes prostaglandin H2 into thromboxanes, which are biologically active on cancer cells. TXS over-expression has been reported in a range of cancers, and associated with angiogenesis and poor outcome. TXS has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in NSCLC. This study examines a link between TXS expression, angiogenesis, and survival in NSCLC. Methods: TXS and VEGF metabolite levels were measured in NSCLC serum samples (n=46) by EIA. TXB2 levels were correlated with VEGF. A 204-patient TMA was stained for TXS, VEGF, and CD-31 expression. Expression was correlated with a range of clinical parameters, including overall survival. TXS expression was correlated with VEGF and CD-31. Stable TXS clones were generated and the effect of overexpression on tumor growth and angiogenesis markers was examined in-vitro and in-vivo (xenograft mouse model). Results: Serum TXB2 levels were correlated with VEGF (p <0.05). TXS and VEGF were expressed to a varying degree in NSCLC tissue. TXS was associated with VEGF (p <0.0001) and microvessel density (CD-31; p <0.05). TXS and VEGF expression levels were higher in adenocarcinoma (p <0.0001) and female patients (p <0.05). Stable overexpression of TXS increased VEGF secretion in-vitro. While no significant association with patient survival was observed for either TXS or VEGF in our patient cohort, TXS overexpression significantly (p <0.05) increased tumor growth in-vivo. TXS overexpression was also associated with higher levels of VEGF, microvessel density, and reduced apoptosis in xenograft tumors. Conclusion: TXS promotes tumor growth in-vivo in NSCLC, an effect which is at least partly mediated through increased tumor angiogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]