Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zsolt Matula, Ferenc Uher, Istvan Valyi-Nagy, Gabor Mikala
Summary: Belantamab mafodotin (belamaf) is an afucosylated monoclonal antibody that targets B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and can eliminate myeloma cells through multiple mechanisms. However, primary myeloma cells can exhibit widely varying levels of BCMA expression, and low expression is associated with high resistance to belamaf. Additionally, we found that increasing concentrations of belamaf can lead to enhanced incorporation of mitochondria from bone marrow stromal cells, resulting in increased resistance to belamaf, similar to other medications like carfilzomib or venetoclax. The observed resistance to belamaf suggests the need for combination therapies to overcome the risk of antigen escape.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Angela Ragone, Alessia Salzillo, Annamaria Spina, Silvio Naviglio, Luigi Sapio
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly fatal type of pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy is the main therapeutic approach, but its effectiveness is limited. A new drug called AdipoRon has shown anticancer activity in PDAC. The combination of AdipoRon and gemcitabine (Gem) has been found to be more effective in inhibiting PDAC cell growth compared to single treatment. This combination therapy remains effective even in Gem-resistant cells. The p44/42 MAPK pathway may be involved in the combination outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Haruna Ebisu, Kana Shintani, Takumi Chinen, Yoko Nagumo, Shuya Shioda, Taisei Hatanaka, Akira Sakakura, Ichiro Hayakawa, Hideo Kigoshi, Takeo Usui
Summary: The study verified the antitumor activity of a specific γ-tubulin inhibitor, gatastatin, which showed weaker cytotoxicity compared to conventional microtubule inhibitors. Screening revealed that the Plk1 inhibitor, BI 2536, significantly increased the cytotoxicity of gatastatin, leading to cell cycle arrest at mitosis with abnormal spindles and mitotic cell death. Co-treatment with Plk1 and γ-tubulin inhibitors may offer a novel approach to cancer chemotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sun-Ok Kim, Bo Yeon Kim, Kyung Ho Lee
Summary: Primary cilia, regulated by cellular signaling pathways including Wnt, are cellular sensor structures that play a role in anticancer drug resistance. This study found that anticancer drug resistance and Wnt3a stimulation synergistically affect primary ciliogenesis, suggesting a potential new strategy for overcoming drug resistance.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Mariaserena Giliberto, Leonardo Miranda Santana, Toril Holien, Kristine Misund, Sigve Nakken, Daniel Vodak, Eivind Hovig, Leonardo A. Meza-Zepeda, Eivind Coward, Anders Waage, Kjetil Tasken, Sigrid S. Skanland
Summary: The study shows that mutational status and signaling protein profiling can be used to predict drug sensitivities and identify resistance markers in multiple myeloma.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Christiane Kruse Faeste, Anita Solhaug, Marion Gaborit, Florian Pierre, Dominique Massotte
Summary: Chronic exposure to the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) can have neurotoxic effects on brain cells, including impacts on glial cells, cell cycle, inflammatory cytokine release, and neuronal morphology.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Richi Sakaguchi, Saki Nakamura, Hiroyuki Iha, Masaki Tanaka
Summary: Currently, in vitro phenotypic screening methods are widely used for drug discovery. In the field of epilepsy research, measurements of neuronal activities have been utilized for predicting efficacy of anti-epileptic drugs. Researchers have developed a high-throughput screening system with a new analysis method for quantifying waveforms, allowing simultaneous measurement of calcium oscillations in a 96-well plate. The characterization of anti-epileptic drugs and prediction of novel drug candidates' mechanism of action can be achieved by focusing on the features of calcium oscillations using principal component analysis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenjing Chen, Jong-In Park
Summary: BRAF mutation occurs in approximately 50% of tumors and targeting BRAF and MEK1/2 is a key therapeutic strategy. However, challenges remain in terms of tumor adaptation and resistance to treatment, necessitating the identification of resistance mechanisms and improvement of therapeutic approaches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Arshdeep Singh, Ting-Yu Chang, Navdeep Kaur, Kai-Cheng Hsu, Yun Yen, Tony Eight Lin, Mei-Jung Lai, Sung-Bau Lee, Jing-Ping Liou
Summary: The study focused on the design and synthesis of anilide type class I HDAC inhibitors, leading to the discovery of compound 7 as a potent inhibitor with significant cell growth inhibitory effects against various tumor cell lines. Compound 7 was found to trigger cell-cycle arrest and microtubule-targeting activity, showing superior antiproliferative profile compared to existing HDAC inhibitors.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yajun Wang, Lan Yao, Yao Teng, Hua Yin, Qiuling Wu
Summary: PIWI-like protein 1 (PIWIL1) plays a crucial role in promoting tumor cell proliferation and drug resistance in multiple myeloma (MM). Its mechanism involves activating mitophagy and regulating the MM stem cell population. These findings provide a novel therapeutic target for MM patients.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Samantha Sabetta, Davide Vecchiotti, Letizia Clementi, Mauro Di Vito Nolfi, Francesca Zazzeroni, Adriano Angelucci
Summary: Three-dimensional cell culture methods, particularly the 3D multicellular tumor spheroids model, enhance the predictive relevance of in vitro tumor models by better resembling tumor complexity and drug resistance. Recent advancements in 3D printing techniques and suitable biomaterials have provided new opportunities for developing reproducible and high-throughput 3D tissue cultures. In this study, the comparison of DU145 and U87 cancer cells cultured in the 3D spheroids model and the 3D bioprinting model showed that bioprinted cells demonstrated similar drug resistance to spheroids, suggesting a potential mechanism of drug resistance. The 3D bioprinted model utilizing alginate/gelatin hydrogel was proven to be a feasible, reproducible, and scalable model for drug screening when spheroid growth is required.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Lucia Zhu, Diana Retana, Pedro Garcia-Gomez, Laura Alvaro-Espinosa, Neibla Priego, Mariam Masmudi-Martin, Natalia Yebra, Lauritz Miarka, Elena Hernandez-Encinas, Carmen Blanco-Aparicio, Sonia Martinez, Cecilia Sobrino, Nuria Ajenjo, Maria-Jesus Artiga, Eva Ortega-Paino, Raul Torres-Ruiz, Sandra Rodriguez-Perales, Riccardo Soffietti, Luca Bertero, Paola Cassoni, Tobias Weiss, Javier Munoz, Juan Manuel Sepulveda, Pedro Gonzalez-Leon, Luis Jimenez-Roldan, Luis Miguel Moreno, Olga Esteban, Angel Perez-Nunez, Aurelio Hernandez-Lain, Oscar Toldos, Yolanda Ruano, Lucia Alcazar, Guillermo Blasco, Jose Fernandez-Alen, Eduardo Caleiras, Miguel Lafarga, Diego Megias, Osvaldo Grana-Castro, Carolina Nor, Michael D. Taylor, Leonie S. Young, Damir Vareslija, Nicola Cosgrove, Fergus J. Couch, Lorena Cusso, Manuel Desco, Silvana Mouron, Miguel Quintela-Fandino, Michael Weller, Joaquin Pastor, Manuel Valiente
Summary: We report a medium-throughput drug-screening platform based on organotypic cultures that evaluates inhibitors against metastases growing in situ. Through this approach applied to brain metastasis, vulnerabilities were identified and a blood-brain barrier permeable HSP90 inhibitor was found to be effective against mouse and human brain metastases. In situ proteomic analysis revealed a novel molecular program in brain metastasis and potential biomarkers of poor prognosis and resistance mechanisms. This study validates METPlatform as a potent resource for metastasis research and personalized management of metastatic disease.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Pathology
Abdulkadir Isidan, Ali Yenigun, Daiki Soma, Eric Aksu, Kevin Lopez, Yujin Park, Arthur Cross-Najafi, Ping Li, Debjyoti Kundu, Michael G. House, Sanjukta Chakraborty, Shannon Glaser, Lindsey Kennedy, Heather Francis, Wenjun Zhang, Gianfranco Alpini, Burcin Ekser
Summary: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a common liver tumor with limited treatment options and low survival rate. CCA cell lines are invaluable tools for studying the disease and have unique characteristics reflecting genotype, gender, and patient-related factors. They are crucial for the use of novel technologies like organoid models.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giorgio Santoni, Consuelo Amantini, Federica Maggi, Oliviero Marinelli, Matteo Santoni, Maria Beatrice Morelli
Summary: This study evaluates the biological effects of Ibrutinib in multiple myeloma (MM) cells and finds that the expression of TRPML2 channels is related to the sensitivity to Ibrutinib, suggesting potential stratification of MM patients based on TRPML2 expression.
Article
Microbiology
Wan-Da Tang, Hai-Lin Tang, Hao-Ran Peng, Rui-Wen Ren, Ping Zhao, Lan-Juan Zhao
Summary: TBEV, a major zoonotic pathogen, causes severe encephalitis without specific antiviral drugs. Ribavirin shows antiviral effect against TBEV, inhibiting virus replication and protecting infected cells. Ribavirin could be a safe and effective antiviral drug against TBEV.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Lilian Forsgren, Abhijit Venkatesh, Florian Rigoulet, Karin Sahlin-Sjovold, Gunnar Westman, Mikael Rigdahl, Antal Boldizar
Summary: The large-scale surface modification of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was carried out to produce CNC-containing composites using industrial-scale melt processing techniques such as twin-screw extrusion and injection moulding. Adding 10 wt% CNC led to a significant increase in yield strength and stiffness in all cases, especially for EAA-based composites.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Robin Nilsson, Martina Olsson, Gunnar Westman, Aleksandar Matic, Anette Larsson
Summary: This study investigated the effects of side chain structures on the glass transition temperature and water interactions in cellulose esters. The results showed that the glass transition temperature decreased with increased side chain length, and the solubility and penetration of water in the cellulose esters decreased as well.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Linda Ljungblad, Filip Bergqvist, Conny Tummler, Samanthi Madawala, Thale Kristin Olsen, Teodora Andonova, Per-Johan Jakobsson, John Inge Johnsen, Jana Pickova, Birgitta Strandvik, Per Kogner, Helena Gleissman, Malin Wickstrom
Summary: The study demonstrated that omega 3-LCPUFA had negative effects on medulloblastoma cells, reducing their viability, clonogenic ability, and inducing apoptosis. DHA showed a tumor growth-inhibiting effect in vivo and decreased inflammatory factors in tumor tissues.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Songbai Zhang, Ayako Miyakawa, Malin Wickstrom, Cecilia Dyberg, Lauri Louhivuori, Manuel Varas-Godoy, Kati Kemppainen, Shigeaki Kanatani, Dagmara Kaczynska, Ivar Dehnisch Ellstrom, Lotta Elfman, Pauliina Kronqvist, Heli Repo, Katsuhiko Mikoshiba, Cecilia Sahlgren, John Inge Johnsen, Per Uhlen
Summary: This study reveals the negative regulation role of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting protein 1 (GIT1) in the Notch signaling pathway and tumor growth in estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) breast cancer. GIT1 inhibits the translocation of Notch ICD to the nucleus, thus modulating the Notch signaling and acting as a guardian against breast cancer growth.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Agnes Luise Sorteberg, Vesa Halipi, Malin Wickstroem, Shahrzad Shirazi Fard
Summary: This study reveals that the sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells to cisplatin is determined by the phosphorylation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(Cip1/Waf1). Neuroblastoma cells with high expression of phosphorylated p21(Cip1/Waf1) show resistance to cisplatin, while they are highly sensitive to the p21(Cip1/Waf1) inhibitor UC2288. Combination treatment of UC2288 with cisplatin significantly reduces cell viability and delays regrowth in resistant neuroblastoma cell lines.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ruchi Aggarwal, Anjali Kumari Garg, Deepika Saini, Sumit Kumar Sonkar, Amit Kumar Sonker, Gunnar Westman
Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with good adsorption capacity were synthesized by acid hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and characterized for their chemical composition and functionality. Sulfated CNCs showed effective removal of toxic dyes and high adsorption capacity, demonstrating potential for industrial application.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sylwia Wojno, Amit Kumar Sonker, Jelka Feldhusen, Gunnar Westman, Roland Kadar
Summary: Nonlinear material parameters are more sensitive than linear viscoelastic parameters to the onset of weakly interconnected networks in cellulose nanocrystal(CNC) isotropic suspensions. All surface-modified CNC suspensions resulted in isotropic gels. The length of the grafted chains and the degree of branching were the primary factors influencing the nonlinear material response.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lilly Velentza, Malin Wickstrom, Per Kogner, Claes Ohlsson, Farasat Zaman, Lars Savendahl
Summary: Treatment-related skeletal complications are common in childhood cancer patients and survivors. Venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, has shown efficacy in hematological malignancies in adults and is being investigated in pediatric cancer clinical trials. However, our experimental data suggest that Venetoclax directly targets growth plate chondrocytes, suppressing bone growth. Therefore, careful monitoring of longitudinal bone growth is encouraged when treating growing children with Venetoclax.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Riddell, Jonna Hynynen, Francisco Baena-Moreno, Abdenour Achour, Gunnar Westman, Jim Parkas, Diana Bernin
Summary: The conversion of lignin into valuable chemical products is important for sustainable biorefineries. Photochemical methods offer the potential for efficient and selective lignin depolymerization. In this study, the effects of the photosensitizer benzophenone on the photochemical conversion of lignin and 2-(benzyloxy)phenol were investigated. The results showed differences in the reactions with and without benzophenone, indicating the formation of different products. Depolymerization of lignin into smaller fragments was confirmed using diffusion NMR, with or without the photosensitizer.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Ruchi Aggarwal, Anjali Kumari Garg, Vishrant Kumar, Harshita Jonwal, Sonia Sethi, Srushti Gadiyaram, Sumit Kumar Sonkar, Amit Kumar Sonker, Gunnar Westman
Summary: A two-step viable synthetic approach for quick and energy-efficient acid-based charring is explained to produce self-passivated fluorescent water-soluble CD (wsCD) from sustainable microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) materials. The wsCD solution exhibits blue emission under UV-light and has a fluorescence quantum yield of approximately 6%. The wsCD are used for selective sensing of ofloxacin (OFLX) and have shown mild antifungal activity.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Amit Kumar Sonker, Shizhao Xiong, Ruchi Aggarwal, Martina Olsson, Arnita Spule, Seyedehsan Hosseini, Sumit Kumar Sonkar, Aleksandar Matic, Gunnar Westman
Summary: This study presents an efficient method for exfoliating MoS2 in water and using it as an electrode material. The MoS2 is exfoliated through sonication with sulfated cellulose nanocrystals, resulting in a stable water suspension. The exfoliated MoS2 is then used in a zinc battery electrode, demonstrating a Coulombic efficiency of 90%. The success of exfoliation is confirmed by Raman and transmission electron microscopy.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Seyedehsan Hosseini, Robin Nilsson, Anna Strom, Anette Larsson, Gunnar Westman
Summary: Alkyl ketene dimers (AKDs) modify thermomechanical pulp (TMP) fibers, improving their compatibility and flow properties with polypropylene (PP) in composite materials.
POLYMER COMPOSITES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Nadilly Bonagas, Nina M. S. Gustafsson, Martin Henriksson, Petra Marttila, Robert Gustafsson, Elisee Wiita, Sanjay Borhade, Alanna C. Green, Karl S. A. Vallin, Antonio Sarno, Richard Svensson, Camilla Gokturk, Therese Pham, Ann-Sofie Jemth, Olga Loseva, Victoria Cookson, Nicole Kiweler, Lars Sandberg, Azita Rasti, Judith E. Unterlass, Martin Haraldsson, Yasmin Andersson, Emma R. Scaletti, Christoffer Bengtsson, Cynthia B. J. Paulin, Kumar Sanjiv, Eldar Abdurakhmanov, Linda Pudelko, Ben Kunz, Matthieu Desroses, Petar Iliev, Katarina Farnegardh, Andreas Kramer, Neeraj Garg, Maurice Michel, Sara Haggblad, Malin Jarvius, Christina Kalderen, Amanda Bogedahl Jensen, Ingrid Almlof, Stella Karsten, Si Min Zhang, Maria Haggblad, Anders Eriksson, Jianping Liu, Bjorn Glinghammar, Natalia Nekhotiaeva, Fredrik Klingegard, Tobias Koolmeister, Ulf Martens, Sabin Llona-Minguez, Ruth Moulson, Helena Nordstrom, Vendela Parrow, Leif Dahllund, Birger Sjoberg, Irene L. Vargas, Duy Duc Vo, Johan Wannberg, Stefan Knapp, Hans E. Krokan, Per Arvidsson, Martin Scobie, Johannes Meiser, Pal Stenmark, Ulrika Warpman Berglund, Evert J. Homan, Thomas Helleday
Summary: This study investigates the role of MTHFD2 in cancer cells and the effects of its inhibitors. The results demonstrate that MTHFD2 inhibitors can decrease DNA replication speed, induce replication stress, and ultimately lead to apoptosis in cancer cells. These findings reveal the functional link between MTHFD2-dependent cancer metabolism and replication stress, providing a potential therapeutic strategy.
Article
Oncology
Alina Castell, Qinzi Yan, Karin Fawkner, Wesam Bazzar, Fan Zhang, Malin Wickstrom, Mohammad Alzrigat, Marcela Franco, Cecilia Krona, Donald P. Cameron, Cecilia Dyberg, Thale Kristin Olsen, Vasiliki Verschut, Linnea Schmidt, Sheryl Y. Lim, Loay Mahmoud, Per Hydbring, Soren Lehmann, Laura Baranello, Sven Nelander, John Inge Johnsen, Lars-Gunnar Larsson
Summary: This study identified a molecule called MYCMI-7 that efficiently inhibits the interaction between MYC and its partner MAX, resulting in the degradation of MYC and MYCN proteins. MYCMI-7 effectively induces growth arrest and apoptosis in tumor cells while sparing normal cells. It shows high efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth and prolonging survival in mouse tumor models of MYC-driven cancer. MYCMI-7 has the potential to be developed into clinically useful drugs for the treatment of MYC-driven cancer.
CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Johannes Thunberg, Savannah C. Zacharias, Merima Hasani, Olayinka A. Oyetunji, Francoise M. Amombo Noa, Gunnar Westman, Lars Ohrstrom
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks are attracting attention for applications like gas adsorption, but require an environmentally friendly and renewable substrate for full potential. The hybrid material of cellulose nanofibrils and zeolitic imidazolate framework shows promise for gas adsorption, with a significantly enhanced surface area compared to CNF alone.