Targeting carbon nanotubes based on IGF-1R for photothermal therapy of orthotopic pancreatic cancer guided by optical imaging.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. The existing therapeutic regimen in the clinic for advanced inoperable carcinomas are far from satisfactory, thus it is urgent to seek more effective anticancer strategies. In the pursuit of novel, more effective interventions, photothermal therapy (PTT) based on nanomaterials has attracted increased attention. Recent advances in related fields have catalyzed the generation of novel nanoprobes, such as organic dyes, metal nanoparticles. However, organic dyes are poorly stable and easy to quench while metal nanoparticles with potential metal toxicity are difficult to degrade, both of which have low light-to-heat conversion efficiency, broad spectrum of anti-tumor effects, and lack of tumor targeting specificity. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can remedy the above inadequacies. Herein, we report our water-soluble, bio-stable and low-toxicity SWNTs with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency. Specific modifications can enable visualization of the aggregate characteristics of SWNTs at the macroscopic or microscopic level in tumors. The dye-conjugated SWNTs bound with targeting antibodies that can induce them specifically targeting to pancreatic tumors for purposes of performing dyes imaging-guided cytotoxic PTT. PTT using this method achieves precise and excellent curative effects with minimal adverse effects, thus providing a promising strategy for anticancer therapy.

[Effect of Fuzheng Peiben therapy on dendritic cell in patients with breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the repairing mechanism of Fuzheng Peiben Therapy on cellular immunofunction in patients with breast cancer on cellar and molecular level. METHODS: The tumor tissue and axillary lymph node samples were evaluated with the flow cytometry for CD83, CD80, CD86 before and after neoadujvant therapy. RESULTS: The levels of CD83, CD80, CD86 were singificantly decreased in group A (treated with surgery only), B (treated with neoadujvant chemotherapy plus surgery) and C (treated with neoadujvant chemotherapy plus surgery with shenqi Fuzheng Injection) compared with that in normal team (P < 0.05 or 0.01); The levels of CD83, CD80, CD86 were significantly decreased in group A, B and C compared between before and after neoadujvant chemotherapy (P < 0.05 or 0.01); They were not significantly decreased between group A and group C (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The cellular immunity was inpaired considerably by neoadujvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with Shenqi Fuzheng Injection can enhance the cellular immunity considerably.

[Effect of Leonurus Heterophyllus Sweet on tissue factor transcription and expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Leonurus Heterophyllus Sweet, (LHS) on tissue factor (TF) transcription and expression induced by thrombin in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). METHODS: HUVECs were incubated with different concentrations of LHS and the TF mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcript-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: LHS treatment of HUVECs at different concentrations and for different times resulted in significant differences in TF expression (Plt;0.01). The transcription of TF in LHS-treated cells was significantly different from that of the blank control group (Plt;0.01). CONCLUSION: LHS can decrease the expression of TF and intervene with TF transcription in HUVECs in vitro.