Ru(II)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Transfer Hydrogenation of α-Ketophosphonates: Straightforward Access to Valuable Chiral α-Hydroxy Phosphonates.

Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH) is arguably one of the most powerful tools for the synthesis of chiral compounds. Despite tremendous advances in this field, the reduction of α-ketophosphonates remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report an efficient Ru-catalyzed ATH on a broad range of α-ketophosphonates. Compared with existing methods, our approach offers as advantages mild conditions, operational simplicity, limited waste generation, broad substrate scope (26 examples), good to excellent yields (75-93%), and excellent levels of stereoinduction (from 90% to >99% ee).

Phostine PST3.1a Targets MGAT5 and Inhibits Glioblastoma-Initiating Cell Invasiveness and Proliferation.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor and accounts for a significant proportion of all primary brain tumors. Median survival after treatment is around 15 months. Remodeling of N-glycans by the N-acetylglucosamine glycosyltransferase (MGAT5) regulates tumoral development. Here, perturbation of MGAT5 enzymatic activity by the small-molecule inhibitor 3-hydroxy-4,5-bis-benzyloxy-6-benzyloxymethyl-2-phenyl2-oxo-2λ5-[1,2]oxaphosphinane (PST3.1a) restrains GBM growth. In cell-based assays, it is demonstrated that PST3.1a alters the ß1,6-GlcNAc N-glycans of GBM-initiating cells (GIC) by inhibiting MGAT5 enzymatic activity, resulting in the inhibition of TGFßR and FAK signaling associated with doublecortin (DCX) upregulation and increase oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 (OLIG2) expression. PST3.1a thus affects microtubule and microfilament integrity of GBM stem cells, leading to the inhibition of GIC proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and clonogenic capacities. Orthotopic graft models of GIC revealed that PST3.1a treatment leads to a drastic reduction of invasive and proliferative capacity and to an increase in overall survival relative to standard temozolomide therapy. Finally, bioinformatics analyses exposed that PST3.1a cytotoxic activity is positively correlated with the expression of genes of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), while the expression of mitochondrial genes correlated negatively with cell sensitivity to the compound. These data demonstrate the relevance of targeting MGAT5, with a novel anti-invasive chemotherapy, to limit glioblastoma stem cell invasion. Mol Cancer Res; 15(10); 1376-87. ©2017 AACR.

Facilitating the adoption of digital technologies by the elderly.

This study examined the major criteria needed to facilitate the adoption of a technology that aims to support elderly autonomy. A User Centered Design process was instigated to design a digital tablet-based application. The two first stages consisted of a literature review and two focus groups that aimed respectively: to specify interaction principles, and to define the needs and expectations of the elderly and collect their feedback on the application's usability. The results show that to be accepted the technology has to provide relevant and useful information on nearby services, aids and social activities. It also has to facilitate the controlled sharing of information and the communication with close family/relations, and residential home and external services to both empower the elderly and counter loneliness. A summative evaluation will be organised after taking into account the current guidelines to further validate the usability of the application with elderly people.

C-glycoside mimetics inhibit glioma stem cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

This paper reports the design and synthesis of C-glycoside mimetics (d-glycero-d-talo- and d-glycero-d-galactopyranose analogues), a subset of the recently published phostines, belonging to the [1,2]oxaphosphinane core. Eighteen new compounds were tested against 11 cancer cell types belonging to six categories of tumor tissues and three different species. The hit compound 5.3d inhibited invasion and migration of both GBM stem cells (Gli7 and Gli4) and GBM cancer cell lines (C6, SNB75) on fibronectin, vitronectin, and laminin. Ki values for Gli7 and Gli4 migration inhibition on fibronectin were 16 and 31 nM respectively. Ki values for invasion inhibition in a 3D system were 46 nM for Gli7 and 290 nM for Gli4. These activities were associated with an antiproliferative effect on Gli4 (EC50 = 5.20 µM) and Gli7 (EC50 = 2.33 µM). In conclusion, the heptopyranose mimetic 5.3d, devoid of toxicity on astrocyte and cortical neuron cultures at concentrations below 100 µM, opens new therapeutic perspectives against glioblastoma.

Software as a medical device: regulatory critical issues.

The revised Medical Device Directive has been adopted by the EU in 2010. A major change is that software for certain purposes is now considered a medical device. This entails that a new view needs to be developed on the design, development, evaluation and post-market surveillance of medical software that meets the definition of a medical device. This paper identifies some issues at stake and discusses them.

Oxaphosphinanes: new therapeutic perspectives for glioblastoma.

This paper reports the design and the synthesis of a new family of compounds, the phostines, belonging to the [1,2]oxaphosphinane family. Twenty-six compounds have been screened for their antiproliferative activity against a large panel of NCI cancer cell lines. Because of its easy synthesis and low EC(50) value (500 nM against the C6 rat glioma cell line), compound 3.1a was selected for further biological study. Moreover, the specific biological effect of 3.1a on the glioblastoma phylogenetic cluster from the NCI is dependent on its stereochemistry. Within that cluster, 3.1a has a higher antiproliferative activity than Temozolomide and is more potent than paclitaxel for the SF295 and SNB75 cell lines. In constrast with paclitaxel and vincristine, 3.1a is devoid of astrocyte toxicity. The original activity spectrum of 3.1a on the NCI cancer cell line panel allows the development of this family for use in association with existing drugs, opening new therapeutic perspectives.