Effects of aminomethylphosphonic acid, the main breakdown product of glyphosate, on cellular and biochemical parameters of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

The effects of the breakdown products of herbicides on aquatic species are largely unknown. In a recent study, we evaluated the effects of glyphosate on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. This study was designed to evaluate for the first time the impact of aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) - the main breakdown product of glyphosate - on cellular and biochemical parameters of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Bivalves were exposed for 7, 14 and 21 days to 1, 10 and 100 µg/L of AMPA and various biomarkers were measured in haemolymph (total haemocyte counts, haemocyte diameter and volume, haemolymph pH, haemocyte proliferation, haemolymph lactate dehydrogenase activity, haemocyte lysate lysozyme and acid phosphatase activities), as well as in gills and digestive gland (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase and acetylcholinesterase activities). AMPA concentrations in seawater samples from the experimental tanks were also measured in order to correlate the biomarker responses of mussels with their exposure to the actual concentrations of AMPA. The MANOVA analysis demonstrated that the experimental variables considered (exposure dose, exposure duration, and their interaction) affected significantly biomarker responses. Nevertheless, the two-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant effects of AMPA on most of the biomarkers measured. The overall results of this study demonstrated that AMPA can affect cellular and biochemical parameters in mussels, similarly to glyphosate.

EV20/Omomyc: A novel dual MYC/HER3 targeting immunoconjugate.

MYC is one of the most important therapeutic targets in human cancer. Many attempts have been made to develop small molecules that could be used to curb its activity in patients, but most failed to identify a suitable direct inhibitor. After years of preclinical characterization, a tissue-penetrating peptide MYC inhibitor, called Omomyc, has been recently successfully used in a Phase I dose escalation study in late-stage, all-comers solid tumour patients. The study showed drug safety and positive signs of clinical activity, prompting the beginning of a new Phase Ib combination study currently ongoing in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients. In this manuscript, we have explored the possibility to improve Omomyc targeting to specific cancer subtypes by linking it to a therapeutic antibody. The new immunoconjugate, called EV20/Omomyc, was developed by linking a humanised anti-HER3 antibody, named EV20, to Omomyc using a bifunctional linker. EV20/Omomyc shows antigen-dependent penetrating activity and therapeutic efficacy in a metastatic model of neuroblastoma. This study suggests that directing Omomyc into specific cell types using antibodies recognising tumour antigens could improve its therapeutic activity in specific indications, like in the paediatric setting.

HPLC-DAD validated method for DM4 and its metabolite S-Me-DM4 quantification in biological matrix for clinical and pharmaceutical applications.

The present study focuses on the development and validation of an HPLC-DAD methodology for the detection of a potent chemotherapeutic agent, Maytansinoid Ravtansine (DM4), and its metabolite, S-methyl-DM4 (S-Me-DM4), in plasma samples. Methodologically, after a simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile and after drying 1 mL of supernatant, the sample (suspended with N,N-Dimethylacetamide, DMA) was directly analyzed by HPLC under isocratic elution using a mobile phase comprising milliQ water and methanol (25:75, v:v), both acidified with 0.1 % v:v formic acid. Employing a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a reversed-phase GraceSmart RP18 column thermostated at 40 °C, we achieved complete resolution and separation of DM4 and S-Me-DM4 within 13 min. The optimized injection volume of 20 µL and the wavelength set at 254 nm were utilized for quantitative analyses. Rigorous validation has not only ensured its reliability and reproducibility but has also addressed potential limitations associated with methodological inconsistency. The limit of detection and quantification of the method were 0.025 and 0.06 µg/mL for both the analytes, respectively. The calibration curve showed a good linearity in the range 0.06-20 µg/mL. For both analytes, the intraday precision and trueness were 2.3-8.2 % and -1.1 to 3.1 %, respectively, while the interday values were 0.7-10.1 % and -10.4 to 7.5 %, respectively. The developed methodology enables the concurrent determination and quantification of free DM4 and its metabolite, free S-Me-DM4, making it a valuable tool for assessing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of DM4-based therapies. In addition, the procedure was successfully applied to analyse the presence of free DM4 or its metabolite, free S-Me-DM4, in human plasma samples spiked with the 1959-sss/DM4 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The utilization of the herein validated methodology allowed to confirm the presence of these analytes, thereby providing insights into their potential release from the ADC structure.