Probing the Impact of Surface Functionalization Module on the Performance of Mitoxantrone Prodrug Nanoassemblies: Improving the Effectiveness and Safety.

Prodrug nanoassemblies are emerging as a novel drug delivery system for chemotherapy, comprising four fundamental modules: a drug module, a modification module, a response module, and a surface functionalization module. Among these modules, surface functionalization is an essential process to enhance the biocompatibility and stability of the nanoassemblies. Here, we selected mitoxantrone (MTO) as the drug module and DSPE-PEG2K as surface functionalization module to develop MTO prodrug nanoassemblies. We systematically evaluated the effect of surface functionalization module ratios (10%, 20%, 40%, and 60% of prodrug, WDSPE-mPEG2000/Wprodrug) on the prodrug nanoassemblies. The results indicated that 40% NPs significantly improved the self-assembly stability and cellular uptake of prodrug nanoassemblies. Compared with MTO solution, 40% NPs showed better tumor specificity and pharmacokinetics, resulting in potent antitumor activity with a good safety profile. These findings highlighted the pivotal role of the surface functionalization module in regulating the performance of mitoxantrone prodrug nanoassemblies for cancer treatment.

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the Apoptosis-Related Genes TP63 and CD40 with Risk for Lung Cancer in a Chinese Han Population.

Apoptosis plays a critical role in tumorigenesis. TP63 inhibits the pro-apoptosis function of TP53, and CD40 increases expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs6790167 (g243059A>G) in intron 9 of TP63 and rs1535045 (g6194C>T) in intron 1 of CD40 respectively, may affect the susceptibility of lung cancer. To evaluate the association of these SNPs with lung cancer, we performed a case-control study with 258 patients, including 149 adenocarcinoma and 47 small cell lung cancer, and 270 controls. Genotyping was conducted using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and pyrosequencing. We found that rs6790167 and rs1535045 are associated with the risk of lung adenocarcinoma (P = 0.048) and small cell lung cancer (P = 0.019), respectively. Non-smoking males carrying the GG genotype of rs6790167 had higher risk for lung adenocarcinoma than individuals carrying the AA genotype (OR = 7.58, 95% CI: 2.43-23.65). Compared to the TT genotype of rs1535045, non-smoking women with the CC genotype had higher risk for lung adenocarcinoma (OR = 4.20, 95% CI: 1.34-13.12). After stratified analysis based on clinical characteristics, the frequency of the CC genotype of rs1535045 was higher in patients at I-II stages (P = 0.013) or patients whose tumor markers were negative (P = 0.003). Individuals carrying both the GG genotype of rs6790167 and the CC genotype of rs1535045 were associated with significantly higher risk for lung adenocarcinoma. Thus, the polymorphisms in the TP63 and CD40 genes are associated with lung cancer in a Chinese Han population.