Anticancer efficiency of reovirus in normoxia and hypoxia.

Oncolytic viruses infect, replicate in, and lyse tumour cells but spare the normal ones. One of oncolytic viruses is a naturally occurring replication-competent reovirus (RV), which preferentially kills tumour cells with activated Ras signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to survey effects of RV on brain tumour-derived cells in vitro under hypoxic conditions since hypoxia causes resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. This study demonstrates that RV replicates preferentially in tumour cells and that the virus is able to overcome cellular adaptation to hypoxia and infect and kill hypoxic tumour cells. RV can both replicate in hypoxic tumour microenvironment and cause the cytopathic effect, subsequently inducing cell death. We found that a large proportion of cells are killed in hypoxia (1% O2) by caspase-independent mechanisms. Furthermore, we learned that the cell death induced by RV in hypoxic conditions is not caused by autophagy.

Neuroblastoma stem cells - mechanisms of chemoresistance and histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) form a small proportion of tumor cells that have stem cell properties: self-renewal capacity, the ability to develop into different lineages and proliferative potential. The interest in CSCs emerged from their expected role in initiation, progression and recurrence of many tumors. They are generally resistant to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There are two hypotheses about their origin: The first assumes that CSCs may arise from normal stem cells, and the second supposes that differentiated cells acquire the properties of CSCs. Both hypotheses are not mutually exclusive, as it is possible that CSCs have a diverse origin in different tumors. CD133+ cells (CD133 is marker of CSC in some tumors) isolated from NBL, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma cell lines are resistant to cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide and doxorubicin than the CD133- ones. Being resistant to chemotherapy, there were many attempts to target CSCs epigenetically including the use of histone deacetylase inhibitors. The diverse influence of valproic acid (histone deacetylase inhibitor) on normal and cancer stem cells was proved in different experiments. We have found an increase percentage of CD133+ NBL cells after their incubation with VPA in a dose that does not induce apoptosis. Further researches on CSCs and clinical application for their detection are necessary: (i) to define the CSC function in carcinogenesis, cancer development and their role in metastasis; (ii) to find a specific marker for CSCs in different tumors; (iii) to explain the role of different pathways that determine their behavior and (iv) to explain mechanisms of chemoresistance of CSCs.

Metallothionein--a promising tool for cancer diagnostics.

The latest research outcomes indicate that metallothionein (MT) levels in peripheral blood and serum from cancer patients can provide many interesting information about type or clinical stage of the disease, or response to therapy. MT plays a key role in transport of essential heavy metals, detoxification of toxic metals and protection of cells against oxidation stress. Serum MT levels of cancer patients are three times higher than control patients (0.5 microM). The elevated MT levels in cancer cells are probably related to their increased proliferation and protection against apoptosis. Automated electrochemical detection of MT allows its serial analysis in a very small volume with excellent sensitivity, reliability and reproducibility and therefore it can be considered as a new tool for cancer diagnosis (Fig. 4, Ref. 55). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

Reovirus - possible therapy of cancer.

Oncolytic viruses infect, replicate in, and eventually lyse tumor cells but spare normal ones. In addition to direct lysis, a result of viral replicative cycle, viruses also mediate tumor cell destruction by inducing nonspecific and specific antitumor immunity. Some viruses express proteins that are cytotoxic to tumor cells. Viruses recognized as oncolytic agents can therefore be divided into three categories: 1/ naturally occurring viruses (e.g. Newcastle disease virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, autonomous parvoviruses, some measles virus strains, reovirus) that selectively replicate in tumor cells, in some instances owing to their relative resistance to interferon action; 2/ virus mutants in which some genes essential for replication in normal cells but evitable in cancer cells have been deleted (e.g.adenovirus ONYX 015 that replicates only in cells with defected p53 or herpes virus G207 which exacts the presence of ribonucleotide reductase); 3/ virus mutants modified by the introduction of tissue-specific transcriptional elements that drive viral genes (e.g.adenovirus CV706 that has PSA restricted expression of E1A and E1B and adenovirus adMycTK that binds selectively on myc protein). Reovirus is prevalent in the human population but not associated with any known human disease. Studies have shown that reovirus multiplicate preferentially in tumor cells with activated gene of ras family or ras-signaling pathway while sparing normal cells. Activated ras or its pathway could be found in as many as 60-80% of human malignancies. In our studies we used cell lines that demonstrably express activated ras. We showed the cytopathic effect of reovirus (serotype 3 strain Dearing) on medulloblastoma cell lines and compared it with its acting on normal human fibroblasts. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. is currently guiding three Phase I or Phase I/II Reolysin studies, and has completed two clinical studies and concluded enrolment in a third one.

Application of photosynthetic N2-fixing cyanobacteria to the CELSS program.

The feasibility of using photosynthetic microalgae (cyanobacteria) as a subsystem component for the CELSS program, with particular emphasis on the manipulation of the biomass (protein/carbohydrate) has been addressed. Using factors which retard growth rates, but not photosynthetic electron flux, the partitioning of photosynthetically derived reductant may be dictated towards CO2 fixation (carbohydrate formation) and away from N2 fixation (protein formation). Cold shock treatment of fairly dense cultures markedly increases the glycogen content from 1% to 35% (dry weight), and presents a useful technique to change the protein/carbohydrate ratio of these organisms to a more nutritionally acceptable form.

The synergistic effects of DNA-targeted chemotherapeutics and histone deacetylase inhibitors as therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are a group of anticancer drugs which cause growth arrest and apoptosis of several tumor cells. HDAC inhibitors have been also found to increase the anticancer efficacy of several treatment modalities i.e. chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Here, we review the literature on combinations of HDAC inhibitors both with ionizing radiation and with other drugs, highlighting DNA-damaging compounds. The results of numerous studies with several types of cancer cells discussed in this review demonstrate that HDAC inhibitors enhance the effect of DNA damaging agents, such as inhibitors of topoisomerases, inhibitors of DNA synthesis, DNA-intercalators and agents covalently modifying DNA (i.e. doxorubicin, etoposid, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, melphalan, temozolomide and ellipticine) or of irradiation. Hence, the use of HDAC inhibitors combined with these antitumor drugs or ionizing radiation is a promising tool which may make treatment of patients suffering from many types of cancer more efficient. Several molecular mechanisms are responsible for the observed higher sensitivity of tumor cells towards therapeutic agents elicited by HDAC inhibitors. These mechanisms are discussed also in this review.

Insight to physiology and pathology of zinc(II) ions and their actions in breast and prostate carcinoma.

Zinc(II) ions contribute to a number of biological processes e.g. DNA synthesis, gene expression, enzymatic catalysis, neurotransmission, and apoptosis. Zinc(II) dysregulation, deficiency and over-supply are connected with various diseases, particularly cancer. 98 % of human body zinc(II) is localized in the intracellular compartment, where zinc(II) is bound with low affinity to metallothionein (MT). Zinc transporters ZIP and ZnT maintain transmembrane transport from/to cells or organelles. Imbalance of their regulation is described in cancers, particularly prostate (down-regulated zinc transporters ZIP1, 2, 3 and ZnT-2) and breast, notably its high-risk variant (up-regulated ZIP6, 7, 10). As a result, intracellular and even blood plasma zinc(II) levels are altered. MT protects cells against oxidative stress, because it cooperates with reduced glutathione (GSH). Recent studies indicate elevated serum level of MT in a number of malignancies, among others in breast, and prostate. MT together with zinc(II) affect apoptosis and proliferation, thus together with its antioxidative effects it may affect cancer. To date, only little is known about the influence of zinc(II) and MT on cancer, while these compounds may play an important role in pathogenesis. This review concludes current data regarding the impact of zinc(II) on the pathogenesis of breast and prostate cancers with potential outlines of new, targeted therapy and prevention. Moreover, blood plasma zinc(II) and MT levels and dietary zinc(II) intake are discussed in relation to breast and prostate cancer risk.

Valproic acid in the complex therapy of malignant tumors.

Valproic acid (VPA) has been used for epilepsy treatment since the 1970s. Recently, it was demonstrated that it inhibits histone deacetylases (HDAC), modulates cell cycle, induces tumor cell death and inhibits angiogenesis in various tumor models. The exact anticancer mechanisms of VPA remains unclear, but HDAC inhibition, extracellular-regulated kinase activation, protein kinase C inhibition, Wnt-signaling activation, proteasomal degradation of HDAC, possible downregulation of telomerase activity and DNA demethylation participate in its anticancer effect. Hyperacetylation of histones, as a result of HDAC inhibition, seems to be the most important mechanism of VPA's antitumor action. Preclinical data suggest that the anticancer effect of chemotherapy is augmented when VPA is used in combination with cytostatics. Besides the effects of pretreatment with HDAC inhibitors, which increases the efficiency of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, VP-16, ellipticine, doxorubicin and cisplatin, pre-exposure to VPA increases the cytotoxicity of topoisomerase II inhibitors. There are two suggested cell death mechanisms caused by potentiation of anticancer drugs by HDAC inhibitors that are neither exclusive nor synergistic. The first involves apoptosis and can be both p53 dependent or independent; the second involves mechanisms other than apoptosis. In resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), VPA restores sensitivity to imatinib. We have demonstrated the synergistic effects of VPA and cisplatin in neuroblastoma cells. VPA can be taken orally, crosses the blood brain barrier and can be used for extended periods. Clinical trials in patients with malignancies are being conducted. The use of VPA prior to or together with anticancer drugs may thus prove a beneficial treatment.