Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenrui Pan, Hanxiao Zhang, Svetlana Dokudovskaya
Summary: Cisplatin is a platinum-based drug widely used for the treatment of many solid tumors. However, resistance to cisplatin poses a major challenge in anticancer therapy. This review focuses on recent studies exploring the influence of the mTORC1 pathway and autophagy on cisplatin sensitivity and resistance, and discusses their potential for developing new therapeutic strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Sepideh Nezhadi, Ebrahim Saadat, Somayeh Handali, Farid Dorkoosh
Summary: Cancer is a major threat to human health worldwide, with the tumor microenvironment playing a crucial role in cancer progression and treatment outcomes. Understanding and targeting the complex interactions within the microenvironment is essential for developing effective drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.
JOURNAL OF DRUG TARGETING
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
S. M. Shatil Shahriar, Syed Muntazir Andrabi, Farhana Islam, Jeong Man An, Samantha J. Schindler, Mitchell P. Matis, Dong Yun Lee, Yong-kyu Lee
Summary: Cancer is the second leading cause of death after cardiovascular disease. However, it is difficult to cure end-stage cancer patients and chemotherapy has adverse effects. Three-dimensional scaffold-based nano-delivery systems can selectively deliver chemotherapeutics to target sites, improving local cancer therapy.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tereza Buchtova, David Lukac, Zdenek Skrott, Katarina Chroma, Jiri Bartek, Martin Mistrik
Summary: CBD, a marijuana derivative, has a long history of medical use and is increasingly recognized for its potential anti-tumor properties. Besides its direct anti-cancer effects, CBD and other cannabinoids have shown promise in attenuating chemotherapy-induced adverse effects and enhancing the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs. However, CBD's interactions with other medications and therapeutic modalities can be unpredictable, raising concerns about its combined use. This review summarizes the current knowledge of CBD's interactions with selected anticancer chemotherapeutics, discusses the potential benefits and risks, and highlights the need for clinical trials to evaluate the impact of CBD combinations in oncology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Vilma Petrikaite, Nicola D'Avanzo, Christian Celia, Massimo Fresta
Summary: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in cancer therapy and can limit treatment success. Nanocarriers show potential in overcoming MDR mechanisms and improving the efficacy of chemotherapy. 2D and 3D cancer cell culture models are suitable for studying the interaction, internalization, and efficacy of nanocarriers, as well as MDR mechanisms in cancer cells and tissues, and can be used to personalize medicine and enhance anticancer treatment effectiveness for patients.
DRUG RESISTANCE UPDATES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qijun Liu, Lin Zhou, Runxin Lu, Chunyan Yang, Siqi Wang, Li Hai, Yong Wu
Summary: In this study, multi-targeting liposomes based on glucose and biotin were constructed for the first time, showing promising efficacy in targeting glioma. The results indicated that the multi-targeting liposomes had satisfactory glioma-targeting ability in vitro and could be a potential formulation for glioma treatment, consistent with the in vivo imaging results.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Narges Cheshmazar, Maryam Hamzeh-Mivehroud, Hojjatollah Nozad Charoudeh, Salar Hemmati, Jelena Melesina, Siavoush Dastmalchi
Summary: This review provides an overview of drug design approaches used for designing novel HDAC inhibitors. Future drug discovery projects in the HDAC field will focus on isoform-selectivity, multitargeted inhibitors, and HDAC degraders. In-depth understanding of the 3D structure of HDACs and their biological roles is crucial for the development of novel potent inhibitors.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
David Dahlgren, Markus Sjoblom, Per M. Hellstrom, Hans Lennernas
Summary: Chemotherapeutics-induced intestinal mucositis (CIM) is a common gastrointestinal toxicity in cancer patients due to the rapid proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and complex immunological interactions with gut microbiota. CIM often leads to dose-reduction, decreasing the efficacy of anticancer treatment, and effective strategies for prevention and treatment are still lacking.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Humayra Afrin, Christiancel Joseph Salazar, Mohsin Kazi, Syed Rizwan Ahamad, Majed Alharbi, Md Nurunnabi
Summary: Cardiac toxicity is a common side effect of anticancer drugs and can lead to heart dysfunction and even death. Patients with pre-existing cardiac issues are excluded from clinical trials due to the potential risk of cardiotoxicity. Early detection and monitoring of cardiac functions are necessary to prevent irreversible cardiac damage. New drug formulations and biomarker detection methods have the potential to mitigate the risk of cardiotoxicity.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pooja Dhakne, Megha Pillai, Sonam Mishra, Bappaditya Chatterjee, Rakesh K. Tekade, Pinaki Sengupta
Summary: Low intracellular bioavailability, off-site toxicities, and multi drug resistance (MDR) are major challenges in cancer chemotherapy. Recent strategies focus on modulating drug transporters to enhance target site bioavailability. However, comprehensive literature on this topic is lacking.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-REVIEWS ON CANCER
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Yujie Gao, Yuan Chen, Yubin Cao, Anchun Mo, Qiang Peng
Summary: The abuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens, such as MRSA, which presents a significant challenge in treatment. Nanotechnology offers a promising solution, utilizing functional nanomaterials as drug carriers or antibacterial agents for therapy.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leonidas Gkionis, Harmesh Aojula, Lynda K. Harris, Annalisa Tirella
Summary: Microfluidics technology enables precise control over the continuous mixing of fluid phases at the micrometre scale, aiming to optimize processing parameters and facilitate scale-up feasibility. This study successfully utilized microfluidics to rapidly screen manufacturing parameters and phosphatidylcholine formulations to obtain monodispersed and stable liposomal formulations with a narrow size distribution, which showed sustained release of doxorubicin. The drug release profiles varied as a function of DMPC/DSPC mol content in the lipid bilayer, with DMPC-based liposomes exhibiting sustained release compared to DSPC liposomes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Ranjeet Singh, Mohammad Kashif, Prateek Srivastava, Partha Pratim Manna
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by Leishmania, transmitted by sand flies. Current treatments have limitations and there is a need to identify new drug targets to improve disease management. This review discusses the use of bioinformatics to target novel drugs and pathways in Leishmania.
Article
Cell Biology
Franz Geisslinger, Martin Mueller, Yu-Kai Chao, Christian Grimm, Angelika M. Vollmar, Karin Bartel
Summary: This study reveals the important role of lysosomal cell death (LCD) signaling in chemoresistance and establishes TPC2 as a novel, promising, druggable target for combination therapy approaches in ALL.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Matas Griskaitis, Luis Furuya-Kanamori, Kasim Allel, Richard Stabler, Patrick Harris, David L. Paterson, Laith Yakob
Summary: This study aimed to determine whether the temporal dynamics of resistance emergence at the individual-patient level were predictable for specific pathogen-drug classes. It was found that beta-lactam-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae peaked 4 days after treatment completion. The decline of resistance was slower compared to its emergence, returning to preexposure levels 1 month after treatment. Based on this finding, resistance surveillance should target this temporal peak.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuxia Zhang, Yingru Xu, Chan Xie, Liangliang Ren, Geyan Wu, Meisongzhu Yang, Xingui Wu, Miaoling Tang, Yameng Hu, Ziwen Li, Ruyuan Yu, Xinyi Liao, Shuang Mo, Jueheng Wu, Mengfeng Li, Erwei Song, Yanfei Qi, Libing Song, Jun Li
Summary: The study reveals that HCC-secreted LGALS3 plays a crucial role in bone metastasis of HCC patients by promoting the formation of pre-metastatic niche and inducing skeletal-related events. Treatment with vertiporfin, a drug for macular degeneration, effectively inhibits skeletal complications of HCC.
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Yanfei Qi, Wei Wang, Ziyu Song, Gulibositan Aji, Xin Tracy Liu, Pu Xia
Summary: Sphingolipids play a crucial role in cell membrane structure and intracellular signaling pathways. Sphingosine kinase (SphK) is an important enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, with implications in both physiological and pathological processes, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). There is ongoing debate about the specific role of SphK in T2D, but it is believed to be a potential target for future anti-diabetes therapies.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Yang Zhao, Ka Ka Ting, Paul Coleman, Yanfei Qi, Jinbiao Chen, Mathew Vadas, Jennifer Gamble
Summary: This article discusses how targeting tumour blood vessels can modulate critical steps of leucocyte trafficking, and how strategies such as vascular normalisation can enhance leucocyte infiltration into tumors to improve immunotherapy effectiveness.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiangyu Li, Shixin Zhang, Xueyan Zhang, Yufei Hou, Xiangxue Meng, Ge Li, Fei Xu, Lesheng Teng, Yanfei Qi, Fengying Sun, Youxin Li
Summary: The study discusses the application of semiconducting polymer quantum dots (SPs) in phototherapy, addressing the stability issues of SPs both in vitro and in vivo, and introduces a novel SPs nano-vehicle with triple therapy effects for potential use in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
I. Gusti Md Gde Surya C. Trapika, Xin Tracy Liu, Long Hoa Chung, Felcia Lai, Chanlu Xie, Yang Zhao, Shaohui Cui, Jinbiao Chen, Collin Tran, Qian Wang, Shubiao Zhang, Anthony S. Don, George Qian Li, Jane R. Hanrahan, Yanfei Qi
Summary: Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent malignancy worldwide, thus novel treatments are urgently needed. Research shows that erianin exhibits anti-tumor effects in both androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant prostate cancer cells through different mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yassir al-Zubaidi, Yongjuan Chen, Md. Khalilur Rahman, Bala Umashankar, Hassan Choucair, Kirsi Bourget, Long Chung, Yanfei Qi, Paul K. Witting, Robin L. Anderson, Geraldine M. O'Neill, Colin R. Dunstan, Tristan Rawling, Michael Murray
Summary: The novel PTU analogue inhibits migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells by impacting cell skeleton and motility pathways, revealing a potential therapeutic target for cancer metastasis.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Loretta M. S. Lau, Chelsea Mayoh, Jinhan Xie, Paulette Barahona, Karen L. MacKenzie, Marie Wong, Alvin Kamili, Maria Tsoli, Tim W. Failes, Amit Kumar, Emily V. A. Mould, Andrew Gifford, Shu-Oi Chow, Mark Pinese, Jamie Fletcher, Greg M. Arndt, Dong-Anh Khuong-Quang, Carol Wadham, Georgina Eden, Peter Trebilcock, Swapna Joshi, Stephanie Alfred, Anjana Gopalakrishnan, Aaminah Khan, Dylan Grebert Wade, Patrick A. Strong, Elodie Manouvrier, Lisa T. Morgan, Roxanne Cadiz, Caitlin Ung, David M. Thomas, Katherine M. Tucker, Meera Warby, Geoffrey B. McCowage, Luciano Dalla-Pozza, Jennifer A. Byrne, Federica Saletta, Andrew Fellowes, Stephen B. Fox, Murray D. Norris, Vanessa Tyrrell, Toby N. Trahair, Richard B. Lock, Mark J. Cowley, Paul G. Ekert, Michelle Haber, David S. Ziegler, Glenn M. Marshall
Summary: The study developed a precision medicine platform involving rapid high-throughput drug screening and patient-derived xenografting for high-risk pediatric cancer patients. Results showed that 70% of patients across the entire testing platform were able to find treatment options, with some patients experiencing clinical benefits after changes in treatment plans.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Long Hoa Chung, Da Liu, Xin Tracy Liu, Yanfei Qi
Summary: Sphingolipids play essential roles in constructing cellular membranes and regulating cellular functions, with ceramide and sphingomyelin as key components; Ceramide transfer protein (CERT) controls the balance of these two substances within cells, crucial for cancer cell survival and functioning.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Mingjian Li, I. Gusti Surya Chandra Trapika, Suet Yee Sara Tang, Jun-Lae Cho, Yanfei Qi, Chun Guang Li, Yujuan Li, Meicun Yao, Depo Yang, Bowen Liu, Rong Li, Ping Yang, Guoyi Ma, Ping Ren, Xi Huang, Deshan Xie, Shaochao Chen, Min Li, Lan Yang, Ping Leng, Yong Huang, George Q. Li
Summary: This review evaluates the mechanism and active compounds of medicinal dendrobiums in diabetes management. Polysaccharides and bibenzyls are the major active compounds, which modulate pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance by lowering glucose level and reversing chronic inflammation of T2DM.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Naranie Shanmuganathan, Carol Wadham, Daniel Thomson, Nur Hezrin Shahrin, Chloe Vignaud, Vanessa Obourn, Shalini Chaturvedi, Feng Yang, Jinghua Feng, Verity Saunders, Chung H. Kok, David Yeung, Rob M. King, Rosalie R. Kenyon, Ming Lin, Paul Wang, Hamish Scott, Timothy Hughes, Andreas W. Schreiber, Susan Branford
Summary: The use of mutation detection in hematological malignancies is becoming increasingly important. This study developed a method for detecting diverse mutation types in chronic myeloid leukemia using total RNA alone, and demonstrated its suitability in detecting variants relevant to the disease. The findings suggest that this approach may be applicable to other hematological malignancies as well.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Shibin Hong, Yiping Le, Ka U. Lio, Ting Zhang, Yu Zhang, Ning Zhang
Summary: Both ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed comparable accuracy in the prenatal diagnosis of placenta accrete spectrum disorder (PAS). Routine employment of MRI with relatively high expense in the prenatal identification of PAS should not be recommended.
INSIGHTS INTO IMAGING
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ge Li, Fei Xu, Bo Yang, Xinyue Lu, Xiangyu Li, Yanfei Qi, Lesheng Teng, Youxin Li, Fengying Sun, Wenhua Liu
Summary: This study proposed a hypothesis of using specific nanoparticles to target atherosclerosis based on the inflammatory microenvironment. The hypothesis was validated through experiments, showing that these nanoparticles have good anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects in vivo.
NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shibin Hong, Xin Kang, Ka U. Lio, Yiping Le, Chuan Wang, Jianhua Lin, Ning Zhang
JOURNAL OF ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY-SCIENCE B
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Xin Tracy Liu, Long Hoa Chung, Da Liu, Jinbiao Chen, Yu Huang, Jonathan D. Teo, Xingxing Daisy Han, Yinan Zhao, Fiona H. X. Guan, Collin Tran, Jun Yup Lee, Timothy A. Couttas, Ken Liu, Geoffery W. McCaughan, Mark D. Gorrell, Anthony S. Don, Shubiao Zhang, Yanfei Qi
Summary: This study reveals that sphingosine kinase 2 (SphK2) plays a critical role in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study demonstrates that SphK2 deficiency can suppress HCC development by inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation, and this is likely due to the downregulation of ceramide transfer protein (CERT) which affects the ratio of pro-cancer sphingomyelin (SM) to anti-cancer ceramide. These findings provide experimental evidence for the potential use of SphK2 inhibitors as systemic therapies against HCC.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhe Wang, Wanting Ma, Xingxing Fu, Yanfei Qi, Yinan Zhao, Shubiao Zhang
Summary: Nucleic acid-based therapies, such as messenger RNA (mRNA), have the potential to revolutionize modern medicine and improve the effectiveness of current pharmaceuticals. However, the key challenges lie in delivering mRNA safely and effectively to target tissues and controlling its release from delivery vehicles. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been extensively studied as drug carriers and are considered as state-of-the-art technology for nucleic acid delivery.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)