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| 2. |
- Gullbo, Joachim, et al.
(författare)
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Antitumor activity of the novel melphalan containing tripeptide J3 (L-prolyl-melphalanyl-p-L-fluorophenylalanine ethyl ester) : Comparison with its m-L-sarcolysin analogue P2
- 2003
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. - 1535-7163 .- 1538-8514. ; 2:12, s. 1331-1339
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Peptichemio (PTC), a mixture of six oligopeptides all containing m-L-sarcolysin, has previously shown impressive results in clinical trials. The tripeptide P2 (L-prolyl-m-L-sarcolysyl-p-L-fluorophenylalanine ethyl ester) has been suggested as the main contributor to PTC activity. In contrast to its analogue melphalan, m-L-sarcolysin never reached clinical use. To allow a direct comparison, the corresponding melphalan containing tripeptide J3 (L-prolyl-L-melphalanyl-p-L-fluorophenylalanine ethyl ester) was synthesized and its activity was compared with that of P2; the activities of melphalan and m-L-sarcolysin were studied in parallel. Cytotoxic activity in human tumor cell lines and some fresh human tumor specimens were analyzed as well as effects on cellular metabolism, macromolecular synthesis, and preliminary evaluation of the cell death characteristics. The results show that melphalan and m-L-sarcolysin display similar activity in these systems and that the tripeptides were more active than their parent monomers. Surprisingly however, the melphalan containing tripeptide J3 demonstrated a significantly more rapid and stronger activity than the m-L-sarcolysin analogue P2. Finally, the in vivo toxicity and activity of melphalan and J3 were investigated in mice bearing human leukemia cells in s.c. fibers. The in vitro results seem translatable into the in vivo situation, demonstrating better antileukemic effect of J3 but similar side effects as melphalan.
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| 3. |
- Khazenzon, Natalya M, et al.
(författare)
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Antisense inhibition of laminin-8 expression reduces invasion of human gliomas in vitro
- 2003
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. - 1538-8514. ; 2:10, s. 985-994
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Using gene array technology, we recently observed for the first time an up-regulation of laminin alpha4 chain in human gliomas. The data were validated by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR for RNA expression and immunohistochemistry for protein expression. Moreover, increase of the alpha4 chain-containing laminin-8 correlated with poor prognosis for patients with brain gliomas. Therefore, we hypothesized that inhibition of laminin-8 expression by a new generation of highly specific and stable antisense oligonucleotides (Morpholino) against chains of laminin-8 could slow or stop the spread of glioma and its recurrence and thus might be a promising approach for glioma therapy. We next sought to establish an in vitro model to test the feasibility of this approach and to optimize conditions for Morpholino treatment. To develop a model, we used human glioblastoma multiforme cell lines M059K and U-87MG cocultured with normal human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMVEC). Using Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry, we confirmed that antisense treatment effectively blocked laminin-8 protein synthesis. Antisense oligonucleotides against both alpha4 and beta1 chains of laminin-8 were able to block significantly the invasion of cocultures through Matrigel. On average, the invasion was blocked by 62% in cocultures of U-87MG with HBMVEC and by 53% in cocultures of M059K with HBMVEC. The results show that laminin-8 may contribute to glioma progression and recurrence not only as part of the neovascularization process but also by directly increasing the invasive potential of tumor cells.
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| 4. |
- Lindholm, Petra, et al.
(författare)
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Cyclotides : a novel type of cytotoxic agents
- 2002
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. - 1535-7163 .- 1538-8514. ; 1:6, s. 365-369
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cytotoxic activities of three naturally occurring macrocyclic peptides (cyclotides) isolated from the two violets, Viola arvensis Murr. and Viola odorata L., were investigated. A nonclonogenic fluorometric microculture assay was used to examine cytotoxicity in a panel of 10 human tumor cell lines representing defined types of cytotoxic drug resistance. Additionally, primary cultures of tumor cells from patients, and for comparison normal lymphocytes, were used to quantify cytotoxic activity. All three cyclotides, varv A, varv F, and cycloviolacin O2, exhibited strong cytotoxic activities, which varied in a dose-dependent manner. Cycloviolacin O2 was the most potent in all cell lines (IC50 0.1– 0.3 _M), followed by varv A (IC50 2.7–6.35 _M) and varv F (IC50 2.6 –7.4 _M), respectively. Activity profiles of the cyclotides differed significantly from those of antitumor drugs in clinical use, which may indicate a new mode of action. This, together with the exceptional chemical and biological stability of cyclotides, makes them interesting in particular for their potential as pharmacological tools and possibly as leads to antitumor agents.
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| 5. |
- Lövborg, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
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Multiparametric evaluation of apoptosis : effects of standard cytotoxic agents and the cyanoguanidine CHS 828
- 2004
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Ingår i: Molecular Cancer Therapeutics. - 1535-7163 .- 1538-8514. ; 3:5, s. 521-526
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A multiparametric high-content screening assay for measurement of apoptosis was developed. HeLa cells and lymphoma U-937 cells were exposed to cytotoxic drugs in flat-bottomed optical microtiter plates. After incubation, the DNA-binding dye Hoechst 33342, fluorescein-tagged probes that covalently bind active caspases and chloromethyl-X-rosamine to detect mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were added. Image acquisition and quantitative measurement of fluorescence in a defined number of cells per well was performed using the automated image capture and analysis instrument ArrayScan. The usefulness of the assay was tested in cells exposed to standard cytotoxic drugs as well as in experimental cytotoxic cyanoguanidine CHS 828. A time- and dose-dependent activation of caspase-3, decrease in MMP, and increase in nuclear fragmentation and condensation were observed for the standard drugs, with the ability to correlate the parameters on a single cell basis. CHS 828 induced caspase-3 activation and reduction in MMP with modest changes in nuclear morphology. The method described was considered to be a rapid and information-rich apoptosis assay suitable both for correlating morphological and biochemical apoptotic events in single cells as well as for screening and evaluation of novel substances with apoptosis-inducing capabilities.
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