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This prospective experimental simulation study evaluated the efficiency, ease of use (EOU) and cost of administering chemotherapy with two closed system transfer devices ( CSTD, Equashield™ and PhaSeal®) and no CSTD. Forty-six veterinary technicians ( VT) working in oncology specialty practices were timed during chemotherapy administration simulated with water and a model canine limb 10 times with each system and with no CSTD. EOU and likelihood of recommending each system were rated by VT using visual analog scales. Costs were obtained from veterinary distributors. Administration was fastest with Equashield™ ( P = 0.0003), but the difference was not enough to affect case flow. Equashield™ was easier to use than PhaSeal® or no CSTD ( P = 0.002), however VT recommended both CSTD more strongly than no CSTD ( P < 0.0001). Equashield™ cost less than PhaSeal® but was sold only in bulk quantities. CSTD did not decrease efficiency in administering chemotherapy and were readily accepted by VT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doxorubicin (dox) has been used as anti-cancer agent, but there are disadvantages such as rapid excretion, short retention time and cardiotoxicity. For giving lipophilic properties to dox, it was modified with cholesterol derivatives that were validated as a component of liposomal gene delivery. This article describes the synthesis of dox derivatives (lipo-dox A-D), their cytotoxicity and cellular uptake. In A549, HeLa, MCF7 and MDA MB 231 cell lines, lipo-dox A and lipo-dox B substituted at alcohol group showed similar anti-cancer effect as dox, but lipo-dox C and lipo-dox D substituted at amino group did not. As a result, the amino group of dox seems an important site for its cancer cell inhibition. Lipophilic property of lipo-dox A and lipo-dox B induced more accumulation in cells compared to parent drug. Therefore, the newly synthesized lipo-dox A and lipo-dox B would be a good candidate for anti-cancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since antineoplastic agents are frequently used in cancer therapy and able to affect the patient's DNA, it is important to know the genotoxic consequences on non-cancerous tissue. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the genotoxic profile of antineoplastic drugs belonging to different classes, using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in a human monocytic cell line (THP-1). All tested antineoplastic agents resulted in increased micronucleus formation. Exposure to anthracyclines led to an increased number of vacuolated cells and cell death, while for mitotic spindle inhibitors, (different stages of) cell death and an increased nuclear bud formation was observed. Alkylating agents induce a high proportion of vacuolated cells and increased nuclear bud formation. No striking differences of nuclear division index or nucleoplasmic bridge formation were observed between exposed and non-exposed cells. The here presented class-specific aberrations may facilitate interpretation of genotoxic aberrations when evaluating clinical samples from patients treated with these antineoplastic agents. • Antineoplastic agents affect the patient's DNA and can therefore induce genomic aberrations in non-cancerous tissue. • CBMN assay is a low-cost alternative for single cell sequencing to study DNA-aberrations. • Different classes of antineoplastic drugs show a distinct genotoxic signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies highlighted the functional role of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyzing the methylation of protein arginine in malignant progression of various tumors. Stratification the subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is fundamental for exploring effective treatment strategies. Here, we aim to conduct a comprehensive analysis of PRMTs with bioinformatic tools to identify novel biomarkers for HCC subtypes classification and prognosis prediction, which may be potential ideal targets for therapeutic intervention. Methods: The expression profiling of PRMTs in HCC tissues was evaluated based on the data of TCGA-LIHC cohort, and further validated in HCC TMA cohort and HCC cell lines. HCC was systematically classified based on PRMT family related genes. Subsequently, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between molecular subtypes were identified, and prognostic risk model were constructed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the prognosis, gene mutation, clinical features, immunophenotype, immunotherapeutic effect and antineoplastic drug sensitivity of HCC. Results: PRMTs expression was markedly altered both in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines. Three molecular subtypes with distinct immunophenotype were generated. 11 PRMT-related genes were enrolled to establish prognostic model, which presented with high accuracy in predicting the prognosis of two risk groups in the training, validation, and immunotherapy cohort, respectively. Additionally, the two risk groups showed significant difference in immunotherapeutic efficacy. Further, the sensitivity of 72 anticancer drugs was identified using prognostic risk model. Conclusion: In summary, our findings stratified HCC into three subtypes based on the PRMT-related genes. The prognostic model established in this work provide novel insights into the exploration of related therapeutic approaches in treating HCC., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Liu, Hu, Zhang, Sun, Sun and Ren.)

The reactivity of a widely used metal based antineoplastic drug, cisplatin, cis -PtCl 2 (NH 3) 2 , with L-cysteine (Cys) has been investigated using a combination of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), IRMPD gas phase ion spectroscopy and DFT calculations. The cysteine lateral chain represents one of the main platination sites in proteins, which is believed to be related to the resistance mechanisms to cisplatin. The vibrational features of the mass-selected substitution product cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (Cys)]+ and the intercepted cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (H 2 O)(Cys)]+ intermediate complex were compared to calculated IR spectra, enabling the assessment of the sampled ions structures. In cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (Cys)]+, cysteine was found to bind platinum through the sulfur atom as a thiolate zwitterion, highlighting the enhanced acidity of the cysteine thiol group upon metal coordination. The cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (H 2 O)(Cys)]+ structure complies with the non-covalent encounter complex, formed by cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (H 2 O)]+ and neutral cysteine. This species is able to undergo the substitution process to produce cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (Cys)]+ when activated as a mass-isolated ion suggesting its participation in the reaction mechanism of cisplatin with cysteine in solution. Finally, the DFT-calculated energy profile for the substitution reaction was correlated with the peculiar gas-phase reactivity of this non-covalent complex, resulting to be 10-fold less reactive toward substitution than the corresponding methionine complex. Cisplatin reaction with cysteine leads to the formation of the substitution product cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (Cys)]+, the structure of which was unveiled by IR ion spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Details on the mechanism and kinetic of the substitution reaction were obtained from the characterization and activation of the encounter complex cis -[PtCl(NH 3) 2 (H 2 O)(Cys)]+. [Display omitted] • IRMPD spectroscopy unveils cysteine binding site to cisplatin. • ESI-MS allows the detection of cysteine encounter complex with hydrolized cisplatin. • Activation of the EC in the mass spectrometer produces the substitution product. • Kinetic information about the cysteine cisplatin substitution reaction are obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to develop a method for the simultaneous quantification of 23 commonly used antineoplastic drugs in a hospital pharmacy, using ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography separation coupled to tandem mass spectrometry detection (UHPLC-MS/MS). The following drugs were investigated: 5-fluorouracil, cytarabine, ganciclovir, gemcitabine, dacarbazine, methotrexate, pemetrexed, busulfan, topotecan, rentitrexed, ifosfamide, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, irinotecan, doxorubicin/epirubicin, vincristine, docetaxel, paclitaxel, daunorubicin, idarubicin, vinblastine, oxaliplatin and carboplatin. The chromatographic separation was performed on a phenyl-hexyl column (2.1 ×100 mm, 1.7 µm) with a gradient elution of methanol and water containing 10 mM ammonium formate adjusted to pH 4.9. All compounds were analyzed in less than 13 min and detected with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in MRM mode. Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) were comprised between 0.01 and 5 ng.mL−1, and between 0.5 and 5 ng.mL−1, respectively. Accuracies ranged between 117% and 83% at the LOQ, intermediate and upper LOQ concentrations, with relative standard deviations (RSD) inferior to 8%, for all the antineoplastic drugs. Finally, the UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to the analysis of surface samples to evaluate the chemical contamination by these highly toxic compounds in a chemotherapy preparation unit in a hospital pharmacy with the purpose of monitoring the exposure of health care professionals. [Display omitted] • A generic UHPLC-MS method was proposed for the analysis of antineoplastic drugs at trace level. • Complete separation of 23 antineoplastic drugs was achieved. • The UHPLC-MS method was successfully applied for wipe sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the contamination of the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide between using a conventional admixing procedure and closed system transfer devices (CSTDs). Surface wipes and urine samples were collected for two weeks before and two weeks after the CSTDs were used. The surface wipe samples were collected from critical areas in an aseptic dispensary unit and a chemotherapy patient care unit. The urine samples were collected from healthcare workers. Contamination from cyclophosphamide in the surface wipe samples was detected in fewer areas following the implementation of CSTDs. The median cyclophospha-mide concentration in aseptic dispensary unit areas following the usage of CSTDs was significantly lower than what was detected when the conventional method (p = 0.036, Mann-Whitney’s U-test) was used. Cyclophosphamide contamination was not detected in critical areas of the patient care unit following the use of the CSTDs. This study demonstrates the potential advantages of utilizing CSTDs to reduce contamination from chemotherapeutic agents in a work setting.

Background Glucagon-like peptide-2 ( GLP-2) is a pleiotropic hormone synthesized and secreted by the enteroendocrine 'L' cells able to exert intestine-trophic and anti-inflammatory effects. The antineoplastic drug cisplatin causes gastrointestinal alterations with clinical symptoms (nausea and vomiting) that greatly affect the therapy compliance. Experimentally, it has been reported that chronic cisplatin treatment caused mucosal damage and enteric neuropathy in the rat colon. Methods We investigated, through a combined immunohistochemical and functional approach, whether [Gly2] GLP-2, a GLP-2 analog, was able to counteract the detrimental effects of long-term cisplatin administration in the mucosa and myenteric neurons of mouse gastric fundus. Key Results Morphological experiments showed a reduction in the epithelium thickness in cisplatin-treated mice, which was prevented by [Gly2] GLP-2 co-treatment. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that cisplatin caused a significant decrease in myenteric neurons, mainly those expressing neuronal nitric oxide synthase ( nNOS), that was prevented by [Gly2] GLP-2 co-treatment. In the functional experiments, [Gly2] GLP-2 co-treatment counteracted the increase in amplitude of the neurally induced contractions observed in strips from cisplatin-treated animals. The NO synthesis inhibitor L-NG-nitro arginine caused an increase in amplitude of the contractile responses that was greater in preparations from cisplatin+[Gly2] GLP-2 treated mice compared to the cisplatin-treated ones. Conclusions & Inferences The results demonstrate that in cisplatin long-term treated mice [Gly2] GLP-2 is able to counteract both the mucosal gastric fundus damage, by preventing the epithelium thickness decrease, and the neuropathy, by protecting the nNOS neurons. Taken together, the present data suggest that [Gly2] GLP-2 could represent an effective strategy to overcome the distressing gastrointestinal symptoms present during the anti-neoplastic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethidium bromide (EB) is an intercalating inhibitor of topoisomerase II and its activities are related to chemotherapeutic drugs used in anti-cancer treatments. EB promotes several genotoxic effects in exposed cells by stabilising the DNA-enzyme complex. The recombinagenic potential of EB was evaluated in our in vivo study by the loss of heterozygosity of nutritional markers in diploid Aspergillus nidulans cells through Homozygotization Index (HI). A DNA repair mutation, uvsZ and a chromosome duplication DP (II-I) were introduced in the genome of tested cells to obtain a sensitive system for the recombinagenesis detection. EB-treated diploid cells had HI values significantly greater than the control at both concentrations (4.0 x 10-3 and 5.0 x 10-3 mM). Results indicate that the intercalating agent is potentially capable of inducing mitotic crossing-over in diploid A. nidulans cells.

Vincristine is an alkaloid widely used as an antineoplastic agent. In eukaryotic cells the drug causes blockage in the G2 phase of the cell cycle and an increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges. Due to the fact that germinating Aspergillus nidulans cells spend most of their cycle in G2 phase, they provide an excellent system for the study of mitotic crossing-over. Taking into account that mitotic crossing-over occurs during G2 period, the evaluation of recombinagenic and aneugenic potential of vincristine is provided with regard to two diploid strains of A. nidulans: a wild strain (uvsH+//uvsH+) and a defective one in DNA repair (uvsH//uvsH). Drug toxicity and its effect on the asexual cycle of A. nidulans has been evaluated as well. Treatment of both strains with vincristine did not change colony growth in the culture, however cytological analyses showed aberrant conidiophores. Recombinagenic potential of vincristine was evaluated by induction of gene homozygosis originally present in heterozygosity diploid strains (Homozygotization Index). Results show that vincristine induces mitotic crossing-over and higher frequency of aneuploid mitotic segregants. The results also show the recombinagenic and aneuploidogenic potential of vincristine and suggest its participation in the induction of secondary malignancies

• A new UPLC-MS/MS method with UniSpray ionisation was validated. • Three antineoplastic drugs can be measured simultaneously. • The method resulted in 20% samples having quantifiable concentrations in a field study. • UPLC-UniSpray-MS/MS enables sensitive human biomonitoring of hazardous drugs. Many guidelines and safety measures led to a decrease in exposure to antineoplastic agents. Since healthcare workers are often exposed to lower concentrations than patients, a sensitive method is needed to quantify occupational exposure. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a sensitive method for simultaneous detection and quantification of cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide and paclitaxel in urine by use of UPLC-MS/MS with a UniSpray ionisation source. Compounds were extracted from urine using Novum simplified liquid extraction cartridges, separated on a C18 column, ionised by a UniSpray ionisation source and detected with MS/MS. In the second part of the study, a field study was performed to assess occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents. Eighty-three samples from healthcare workers were analysed and resulted in seventeen samples containing quantifiable concentrations of at least one compound. In conclusion, a sensitive method for simultaneous detection and quantification of cyclophosphamide (LLOQ 0.05 ng/mL), ifosfamide (LLOQ 0.3 ng/mL) and paclitaxel (LLOQ 0.7 ng/mL) was developed and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscale polymeric micelles have attracted more and more attention as a promising nanocarrier for controlled delivery of antineoplastic drugs. Herein, the doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded poly(D-lactide)-based micelle (PDM/DOX), poly(L-lactide)-based micelle (PLM/DOX), and stereocomplex micelle (SCM/DOX) from the equimolar mixture of the enantiomeric four-armed poly(ethylene glycol)-polylactide (PEG-PLA) copolymers were successfully fabricated. In phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at pH 7.4, SCM/DOX exhibited the smallest hydrodynamic diameter ( D) of 90 ± 4.2 nm and the slowest DOX release compared with PDM/DOX and PLM/DOX. Moreover, PDM/DOX, PLM/DOX, and SCM/DOX exhibited almost stable Ds of around 115, 105, and 90 nm at above normal physiological condition, respectively, which endowed them with great potential in controlled drug delivery. The intracellular DOX fluorescence intensity after the incubation with the laden micelles was different degrees weaker than that incubated with free DOX · HCl within 12 h, probably due to the slow DOX release from micelles. As the incubation time reached to 24 h, all the cells incubated with the laden micelles, especially SCM/DOX, demonstrated a stronger intracellular DOX fluorescence intensity than free DOX · HCl-cultured ones. More importantly, all the DOX-loaded micelles, especially SCM/DOX, exhibited potent antineoplastic efficacy in vitro, excellent serum albumin-tolerance stability, and satisfactory hemocompatibility. These encouraging data indicated that the loading micelles from nonlinear enantiomeric copolymers, especially SCM/DOX, might be promising in clinical systemic chemotherapy through intravenous injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recurrence rate of periocular nodular basal cell carcinoma (PNBCC) following treatment with imiquimod (IMQ) has not yet been established. Previous studies did not include histological follow-up. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of topical immunotherapy with 5% IMQ cream for the treatment of PNBCC. Methods: Study design: A prospective, non-randomized, and uncontrolled longitudinal case series study. No participants were blinded. Punch biopsy confirmed PNBCC patients were included at the Ophthalmology Clinic of São Paulo University Medicine School Hospital (from 2008 to 2012). Patients were treated with 5% IMQ cream once a day, 5 days per week, for 8--16 weeks. Standard lesion photographic documentation was done during the study. Three months after treatment ended, an image-guided biopsy was performed. Patients were followed at 6-month intervals and annually for control biopsies. Main outcome measures were clinical and histological clearance rates. Data were analysed by frequency distribution for qualitative group characteristics and central tendency measures for quantitative data. Results: Twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria, 19 of whom remained until the end of treatment. The histological clearance rate was 89.5% and 84.2%, respectively, at 3 and 39.5 months. The 3-year histological clearance rate was 81.8% (9/11) for lesions >10 mm, and 100% (8/8) for lesions <10 mm. Three patients did not tolerate the side effects of the medication and left the study. Two patients were excluded for treatment interruption related to comorbidities. Conclusions: Our results indicated that 5% IMQ cream was a useful alternative treatment for NBBCC, especially for lesions <10 mm. IMQ also showed a significant neoadjuvant effect on lesions >10 mm. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov Registration Dec 3, 2008: #NCT 00803907. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The recurrence rate of periocular nodular basal cell carcinoma (PNBCC) following treatment with imiquimod (IMQ) has not yet been established. Previous studies did not include histological follow-up. The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of topical immunotherapy with 5% IMQ cream for the treatment of PNBCC. Methods: Study design: A prospective, non-randomized, and uncontrolled longitudinal case series study. No participants were blinded. Punch biopsy confirmed PNBCC patients were included at the Ophthalmology Clinic of São Paulo University Medicine School Hospital (from 2008 to 2012). Patients were treated with 5% IMQ cream once a day, 5 days per week, for 8–16 weeks. Standard lesion photographic documentation was done during the study. Three months after treatment ended, an image-guided biopsy was performed. Patients were followed at 6-month intervals and annually for control biopsies. Main outcome measures were clinical and histological clearance rates. Data were analysed by frequency distribution for qualitative group characteristics and central tendency measures for quantitative data. Results: Twenty-four patients met the inclusion criteria, 19 of whom remained until the end of treatment. The histological clearance rate was 89.5% and 84.2%, respectively, at 3 and 39.5 months. The 3-year histological clearance rate was 81.8% (9/11) for lesions >10 mm, and 100% (8/8) for lesions <10 mm. Three patients did not tolerate the side effects of the medication and left the study. Two patients were excluded for treatment interruption related to comorbidities. Conclusions: Our results indicated that 5% IMQ cream was a useful alternative treatment for NBBCC, especially for lesions <10 mm. IMQ also showed a significant neoadjuvant effect on lesions >10 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: NSC631570 is a cytotoxic drug with the ability to be selectively accumulated in tumor tissue and activate apoptosis only in malignant cells and not in normal cells. Therapy with NSC631570 is accompanied by the stimulation of anticancer immune responses. It is known that cytotoxic anticancer drugs have additional effects on the immune system of tumor-bearing organism by increasing the immunogenic properties of tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate the immunogenicity of melanoma B16 after treatment with NSC631570. Methods: Two melanoma B16 sublines with different metastatic potentials were used. For in vivo growth cells were inoculated intravenously into C57BL/6 mice. The anticancer effect was calculated according to the growth inhibition index. Cell viability was determined by the MTT test. Cell apoptosis and necrosis were assessed by flow cytometry. HMGB1 expression, the serum level of cytokines and cytokine profile in tumor tissue were determined by ELISA. TAP1 and TAP2 expression was evaluated in RT-PCR and by Western blot. Results: Treatment of melanoma B16 cells with NSC631570 at apoptogenic concentrations induced tumor cell death accompanied by dose-dependent HMGB1 release in vitro. At the non- apoptogenic concentration the preparation caused an increase in TAP expression. The therapeutic efficacy of NSC631570 was also associated with strong release of HMGB1 in the serum of tumor-bearing mice and was more expressed in the case of the high-metastatic tumor variant. The therapeutic effect was accompanied by an increase of levels of Th1 cytokines in the serum and in tumor tissue of treated animals. Conclusion: In addition to the direct induction of tumor cell apoptosis, the preparation can increase the tumor immunogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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