Photo-modulation of zinc phthalocyanine-treated breast cancer cell line ZR-75-1 inhibited the normal tumor activity in vitro.

Regarding post-complication of convenient therapies against breast cancer, the emergence of effective approaches is essential. Photodynamic therapy is touted as a novel invasive therapeutic approach by the application of a photosensitizer promoted by laser irradiation. This study aimed to investigate the combined regime of low-level laser irradiation with zinc phthalocyanine in human breast cancer ZR-75-1 cell line. Cells were treated with 0.01 and 5 µg/ml of ZnPc for 24 h and exposed to radiation (70 mW) for 60 s. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT and flow cytometry. Cell migration capacity was monitored by scratch test, Transwell migration insert, and gelatin zymography. The function of MDR in treated cells was examined by Rhodamine 123 exclusion test. The level of GALNT11 was measured by ELISA. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 genes was evaluated by real-time PCR. Laser irradiation and zinc phthalocyanine induced cell cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed the induction of apoptotic and necrotic changes in treated cells. We found a reduction in migration rate and MMP-9 activity in cells undergoing the experimental procedure (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence imaging revealed the intracellular accumulation of Rhodamine 123 coincided with a reduction in the level of GALNT11 in treated cells, showing the reduction of MDR activity and tumor cell resistance. Similar to flow cytometry assay, the reduction of Bcl-2 (approximately twofold) and upregulation of Bax genes were found in treated cells. Photodynamic therapy could be as an effective and alternative method for the treatment of breast cancer in a human.

Management of Mucositis During Chemotherapy: From Pathophysiology to Pragmatic Therapeutics.

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis is a common condition caused by the breakdown of the mucosal barrier. Symptoms can include pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, which can often necessitate chemotherapy treatment breaks or dose reductions, thus compromising survival outcomes. Despite the significant impact of mucositis, there are currently limited clinically effective pharmacological therapies for the pathology. New emerging areas of research have been proposed to play key roles in the development of mucositis, providing rationale for potential new therapeutics for the prevention, treatment or management of chemotherapy-induced mucositis. This review aims to address these new areas of research and to comment on the therapeutics arising from them.

Proton Therapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Thoracic Esophageal Cancer: Toxicity, Disease Control, and Survival Outcomes.

Purpose: When treating esophageal cancer with radiation therapy, it is critical to limit the dose to surrounding structures, such as the lung and/or heart, as much as possible. Proton radiation therapy allows a reduced radiation dose to both the heart and lungs, potentially reducing the risk of cardiopulmonary toxicity. Here, we report disease control, survival, and toxicity outcomes among patients with esophageal cancer treated with proton radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy (chemoradiation therapy; CRT) with or without surgery. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 17 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma on a prospective registry between 2010 and 2021. Patients received proton therapy to a median dose of 50.4-GyRBE (range, 50.4-64.8) in 1.8-Gy fractions.Acute and late toxicities were graded per the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0 (US National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland). In addition, disease control, patterns of failure, and survival outcomes were collected. Results: Nine patients received preoperative CRT, and 8 received definitive CRT. Overall, 88% of patients had adenocarcinoma, and 12% had squamous cell carcinoma. With a median follow-up of 2.1 years (range, 0.5-9.4), the 3-year local progression-free, disease-free, and overall survival rates were 85%, 66%, and 55%, respectively. Two patients (1 with adenocarcinoma and 1 with squamous cell carcinoma) recurred at the primary site after refusing surgery after a complete clinical response to CRT. The most common acute nonhematologic and hematologic toxicities, respectively, were grades 1 to 3 esophagitis and grades 1 to 4 leukopenia, both affecting 82% of patients. No acute cardiopulmonary toxicities were observed in the absence of surgical resection. Reagarding surgical complications, 3 postoperative cardiopulmonary complications occurred as follows: 1 grade 1 pleural effusion, 1 grade 3 pleural effusion, and 1 grade 2 anastomotic leak. Two severe late CRT toxicities occurred: 1 grade 5 tracheoesophageal fistula and 1 grade 3 esophageal stenosis requiring a feeding tube. Conclusion: Proton radiation therapy is a safe, effective treatment for esophageal cancer with increasing evidence supporting its role in reducing cardiopulmonary toxicity.

Use of Telemedicine to Improve Cognitive Functions and Psychological Well-Being in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Current Literature.

The diagnosis and side effects of breast cancer (BC) treatments greatly affect the everyday lives of women suffering from this disease, with relevant psychological and cognitive consequences. Several studies have reported the psychological effects of receiving a diagnosis of BC. Moreover, women undergoing anticancer therapies may exhibit cognitive impairment as a side effect of the treatments. The access to cognitive rehabilitation and psychological treatment for these patients is often limited by resources; women of childbearing age often encounter difficulties in completing rehabilitation programs requiring access to care institutions. Telemedicine, which provides health services using information and communication technologies, is a useful tool to overcome these limitations. In particular, telemedicine may represent an optimal way to guarantee cognitive rehabilitation, psychological support, and recovery to BC patients. Previous studies have reviewed the use of telemedicine to improve psychological well-being in BC patients, and a few have investigated the effect of telerehabilitation on cognitive deficits. This study systematically reviewed the evidence on the cognitive and psychological effects of telemedicine in BC patients. Current evidence suggests that telemedicine may represent a promising tool for the management of some psychological problems experienced by breast cancer patients, but more controlled studies are needed to clarify its effectiveness, especially for cognitive deficits. The results are also discussed in light of the intervening and modulating factors that may mediate both side effect occurrence and the success of the interventions.

Sexual dysfunction after therapy for cervical carcinoma.

PIP: Until the Kinsey report there had been very little published concerning sexual activity in the aging woman. Since then other authors have stated that chronic illness or lack of a sexual partner rather than age have placed limitations on their sexual activity. This study reports the effect of different modes of therapy for invasive carcinoma of the cervix on subsequent sexual function, and also tries to establish a correlation with the type of changes of the vaginal anatomy. Radiotherapy alone had been performed on 28 patients, surgery alone on 32, and combined treatment on 15. All were clinically free of cancer for 1 year after treatment was completed. The youngest was aged 23 and the oldest 68. Of the 28 patients treated with radiotherapy alone 22 had developed shortening or narrowing of the vagina sufficient to interfere markedly with sexual function. Only 2 of the 32 surgically treated patients had such a sexual interference. With combined treatment 60% showed some vaginal alterations and 33% sexual dysfunction. Questioning of patients revealed the importance of sexual function in the lives of middle-aged women. Therefore preference is expressed for radical surgery in the treatment of early carcinoma of the cervix because this mode of therapy interfers minimally with the sexual function.^ieng

[Examination of urinary estrogens in the women with uterine myoma, cervical and ovarian carcinomas as compared with those found in the women with functional bleedings during climacterium (author's transl)]. / Badania estrogenów w moczu kobiet z miesniakami macicy, z rakiem szyjki macicy i z rakiem jajnika w odniesieniu do kobiet z krwawieniami czynnosciowymi okresu przekwitania

PIP: The excretion of uterine estrogens was examined in 61 women: 20 with functional bleedings during climacterium, 15 with uterine myoma, 16 with cerivcal carcinomas, and 10 with ovarian carcinomas. Results showed that there were considerable individual variations in estrogen excretion and anunvanlanced relationship of the fractions with estriol prevailing in all the groups. There was no significant difference in the amounts of estrogen excreted by women with funcional bleedings and those found in women with uterine myoma. Those women with cervical carcinoma did show considerably lower excretions than those of the other groups. The lowest level of excretion was found in those women with ovarian carcinoma. THese examinations did illustrate the considerable disturbances in the biosynthesis of estrogens in the ovaries of afflicted patients. The more advanced the condition, the more prominent the disturbances were, with imbalance of estriol prevailing.^ieng