| 1. |
- Carlier, Charlotte, et al.
(författare)
-
Preclinical activity of melflufen (J1) in ovarian cancer
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:37, s. 59322-59335
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ovarian cancer carries a significant mortality. Since symptoms tend to be minimal, the disease is often diagnosed when peritoneal metastases are already present. The standard of care in advanced ovarian cancer consists of platinum-based chemotherapy combined with cytoreductive surgery. Unfortunately, even after optimal cytoreduction and adjuvant chemotherapy, most patients with stage III disease will develop a recurrence. Intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy is an alternative treatment for patients with localized disease. The pharmacological and physiochemical properties of melflufen, a peptidase potentiated alkylator, raised the hypothesis that this drug could be useful in ovarian cancer and particularily against peritoneal carcinomatosis. In this study the preclinical effects of melflufen were investigated in different ovarian cancer models. Melflufen was active against ovarian cancer cell lines, primary cultures of patient-derived ovarian cancer cells, and inhibited the growth of subcutaneous A2780 ovarian cancer xenografts alone and when combined with gemcitabine or liposomal doxorubicin when administered intravenously. In addition, an intra-and subperitoneal xenograft model showed activity of intraperitoneal administered melflufen for peritoneal carcinomatosis, with minimal side effects and modest systemic exposure. In conclusion, results from this study support further investigations of melflufen for the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer, both for intravenous and intraperitoneal administration.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Larsson, Kjell, et al.
(författare)
-
Effects of an extensive Prymnesium polylepis bloom on breeding eiders in the Baltic Sea
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Sea Research. - : Elsevier. - 1385-1101 .- 1873-1414. ; 88, s. 21-28
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effects of an extensive bloom of the potentially toxic Prymnesium polylepis (Haptophyta) on breeding eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the Baltic Sea were analysed. Increasing abundances of the alternate stage P. polylepis was detected by a marine monitoring programme in the autumn 2007. The bloom peaked between March and May 2008 in the southern, central and northwestern Baltic Proper and abundances of up to 5 x 106 cells l- 1 were recorded. At several sites P. polylepis constituted between 30 and 90% of the total phytoplankton biovolume. The flagellate was only recorded in low numbers in the northeastern Baltic Proper and Gulf of Finland. The abundances were low in 2007, 2009 and 2010. In 28 eider colonies situated in the southern and central Baltic Proper, sharp and synchronous declines in the number of nesting eiders were observed from 2007 to 2008. In colonies on Gotland in the central Baltic Proper, a 76% decrease, from 6650 nests to 1620 nests, was followed by increases in 2009 and 2010, although not up to numbers observed in 2007. At Utklippan and Ertholmene in the southern Baltic Proper, the observed decreases of 55%, from 144 to 65 nests, and 36%, from 1660 to 1060 nests, respectively, between 2007 and 2008, were followed by increases in 2009 and 2010 up to the level observed in 2007. By contrast, no general decline of the number of nesting eiders was observed from 2007 to 2008 in 75 colonies in the northeastern Baltic Proper and Gulf of Finland. Hence, the spatial distribution of the P. polylepis bloom in 2008 closely matched the observed distribution of extensive non-breeding of female eiders. We suggest that the intensive spring bloom of P. polylepis, either through a toxic or non-toxic pathway, affected the main benthic food of eiders, i.e. blue mussels (Mytilus trossulus x Mytilus edulis), at pre-breeding foraging sites close to the breeding sites, and, subsequently, the body condition of adult female eiders and their breeding propensity.
|
|
| 4. |
- Sedigh, Amir, et al.
(författare)
-
Modifying the vessel walls in porcine kidneys during machine perfusion
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Surgical Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-4804 .- 1095-8673. ; 191:2, s. 455-462
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Endothelial glycocalyx regulates the endothelial function and plays an active role in maintaining vascular homeostasis. During ischemia/reperfusion, the glycocalyx is rapidly shed into the blood stream. A heparin conjugate (CHC; Corline systems AB, Uppsala, Sweden) consists of 70 heparin molecules that have the capacity to adhere strongly to biological tissues expressing heparin affinity. We hypothesized that CHC could be used to restore disrupted glycocalyx in vivo in kidneys from brain-dead pigs.Materials and Methods: Brain death was induced in male landrace pigs (n=6) by inflating a balloon catheter in the epidural space until obtaining negative cerebral perfusion. The recovered kidneys (n=5+5) were perfused by hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP) using two Lifeport kidney transporters (Organ Recovery Systems, Chicago, IL, USA). 50 mg CHC (including 25 mg biotinylated CHC) or 50 mg unfractionated heparin (control) was added to the perfusion fluid in the respective machines. In one case, the kidneys were used only for dose escalation of CHC with the same procedure.Results: CHC was detected by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy in the inner surface of vessel walls. The binding of CHC in the kidney was confirmed indirectly by consumption of CHC from the perfusion fluid.Conclusions: In this first attempt, we show that CHC may be used to coat the vessel walls of perfused kidneys during HMP, an approach that could become useful in restoring endothelial glycocalyx of kidneys recovered from deceased donors to protect vascular endothelium and possibly ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion injuries.
|
|
| 5. |
|
|
| 6. |
- Stranneheim, Henrik, et al.
(författare)
-
Rapid pulsed whole genome sequencing for comprehensive acute diagnostics of inborn errors of metabolism
- 2014
-
Ingår i: BMC Genomics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2164. ; 15, s. 1090-
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Massively parallel DNA sequencing (MPS) has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, in particular for monogenic disorders. Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) constitute a large group of monogenic disorders with highly variable clinical presentation, often with acute, nonspecific initial symptoms. In many cases irreversible damage can be reduced by initiation of specific treatment, provided that a correct molecular diagnosis can be rapidly obtained. MPS thus has the potential to significantly improve both diagnostics and outcome for affected patients in this highly specialized area of medicine. Results: We have developed a conceptually novel approach for acute MPS, by analysing pulsed whole genome sequence data in real time, using automated analysis combined with data reduction and parallelization. We applied this novel methodology to an in-house developed customized work flow enabling clinical-grade analysis of all IEM with a known genetic basis, represented by a database containing 474 disease genes which is continuously updated. As proof-of-concept, two patients were retrospectively analysed in whom diagnostics had previously been performed by conventional methods. The correct disease-causing mutations were identified and presented to the clinical team after 15 and 18 hours from start of sequencing, respectively. With this information available, correct treatment would have been possible significantly sooner, likely improving outcome. Conclusions: We have adapted MPS to fit into the dynamic, multidisciplinary work-flow of acute metabolic medicine. As the extent of irreversible damage in patients with IEM often correlates with timing and accuracy of management in early, critical disease stages, our novel methodology is predicted to improve patient outcome. All procedures have been designed such that they can be implemented in any technical setting and to any genetic disease area. The strategy conforms to international guidelines for clinical MPS, as only validated disease genes are investigated and as clinical specialists take responsibility for translation of results. As follow-up in patients without any known IEM, filters can be lifted and the full genome investigated, after genetic counselling and informed consent.
|
|
| 7. |
- Wickström, Malin, et al.
(författare)
-
The alkylating prodrug J1 can be activated by aminopeptidase N, leading to a possible target directed release of melphalan
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Biochemical Pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-2952 .- 1356-1839 .- 1873-2968. ; 79:9, s. 1281-1290
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The alkylating prodrug of melphalan, J1 (melphalanyl-l-p-fluorophenylalanyl ethyl ester) is currently in early clinical trials. Preclinical studies have shown that J1-mediated cytotoxicity is dependent on hydrolytic activity of tumor cells. In this report we have analyzed potential peptidases and esterases of importance for release of free melphalan from J1. Exposure of tumor cell lines to J1 resulted in a significant increased level of free intracellular melphalan, at least tenfold at Cmax, compared to exposure to melphalan at the same molar concentration. This efficient intracellular delivery could be inhibited in both magnitude and in time by bestatin, a broad spectrum inhibitor of the aminopeptidases, including the metalloproteinase aminopeptidase N (APN, EC 3.4.11.2.), and ebelactone A, an esterase inhibitor. These effects resulted, as expected, in decreased cytotoxic effects of J1. A specific role of APN in hydrolyzing J1 releasing free melphalan was demonstrated in vitro with pure APN enzyme. By using plasmid-based overexpression of APN or down regulation of endogenous APN with siRNA in different tumor cell lines we here confirm the involvement of APN in J1-mediated cytotoxic and apoptotic signaling. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a role of APN in the activation of the melphalan prodrug J1 and subsequently, its cytotoxicity. Given that APN is shown to be overexpressed in several solid tumors our data suggest that J1 may be activated in a tumor selective manner.
|
|
| 8. |
- Abadir, Karim M., et al.
(författare)
-
Biases of correlograms and of AR representations of stationary series
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Time Series Econometrics. - : Walter de Gruyter GmbH. - 1941-1928. ; 4:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We derive the relation between the biases of correlograms and of estimates of auto-regressive AR(k) representations of stationary series, and we illustrate it with a simple AR example. The new relation allows for k to vary with the sample size, which is a representation that can be used for most stationary processes. As a result, the biases of the estimators of such processes can now be quantified explicitly and in a unified way.
|
|
| 9. |
- Aftab, Obaid, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
-
Detection of cell aggregation and altered cell viability by automated label-free video microscopy : A promising alternative to endpoint viability assays in high throughput screening
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Journal of Biomolecular Screening. - : Elsevier BV. - 1087-0571 .- 1552-454X. ; 20:3, s. 372-381
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Automated phase-contrast video microscopy now makes it feasible to monitor a high-throughput (HT) screening experiment in a 384-well microtiter plate format by collecting one time-lapse video per well. Being a very cost-effective and label-free monitoring method, its potential as an alternative to cell viability assays was evaluated. Three simple morphology feature extraction and comparison algorithms were developed and implemented for analysis of differentially time-evolving morphologies (DTEMs) monitored in phase-contrast microscopy videos. The most promising layout, pixel histogram hierarchy comparison (PHHC), was able to detect several compounds that did not induce any significant change in cell viability, but made the cell population appear as spheroidal cell aggregates. According to recent reports, all these compounds seem to be involved in inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling. Thus, automated quantification of DTEM (AQDTEM) holds strong promise as an alternative or complement to viability assays in HT in vitro screening of chemical compounds.
|
|
| 10. |
- Aftab, Obaid, 1984-, et al.
(författare)
-
Label-free detection and dynamic monitoring of drug-induced intracellular vesicle formation enabled using a 2-dimensional matched filter
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8627 .- 1554-8635. ; 10:1, s. 57-69
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analysis of vesicle formation and degradation is a central issue in autophagy research and microscopy imaging is revolutionizing the study of such dynamic events inside living cells. A limiting factor is the need for labeling techniques that are labor intensive, expensive, and not always completely reliable. To enable label-free analyses we introduced a generic computational algorithm, the label-free vesicle detector (LFVD), which relies on a matched filter designed to identify circular vesicles within cells using only phase-contrast microscopy images. First, the usefulness of the LFVD is illustrated by presenting successful detections of autophagy modulating drugs found by analyzing the human colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116 exposed to each substance among 1266 pharmacologically active compounds. Some top hits were characterized with respect to their activity as autophagy modulators using independent in vitro labeling of acidic organelles, detection of LC3-II protein, and analysis of the autophagic flux. Selected detection results for 2 additional cell lines (DLD1 and RKO) demonstrate the generality of the method. In a second experiment, label-free monitoring of dose-dependent vesicle formation kinetics is demonstrated by recorded detection of vesicles over time at different drug concentrations. In conclusion, label-free detection and dynamic monitoring of vesicle formation during autophagy is enabled using the LFVD approach introduced.
|
|
