Myrtucommulone-A treatment decreases pluripotency- and multipotency-associated marker expression in bladder cancer cell line HTB-9.

Cancer and stem cells exhibit similar features, including self-renewal, differentiation and immortality. The expression of stem-cell-related genes in cancer cells is demonstrated to be potentially correlated with cancer cell behaviour, affecting both drug response and tumor recurrence. There is an emerging body of evidence that subpopulations of tumors carry a distinct molecular sign and are selectively resistant to chemotherapy. Therefore, it is important to find novel therapeutic agents that could suppress the stem-like features of cancer cells while inhibiting their proliferation. Myrtucommulone-A (MC-A) is an active compound of a nonprenylated acylphloroglucinol isolated from the leaves of myrtle. Here we have investigated the potential of MC-A in inhibiting the expression of self-renewal regulatory factors and cancer stem cell markers in a bladder cancer cell line HTB-9. We used RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, flow cytometry and western blotting to examine the expression of pluripotency- and multipotency-associated markers with or without treatment with MC-A. Treatment with MC-A not only decreased cancer cell viability and proliferation but also resulted in a decrease in the expression of pluripotency- and multipotency-associated markers such as NANOG, OCT-4, SOX-2, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, CD90, CD73 and CD44. MC-A treatment was also observed to decrease the sphere-forming ability of HTB-9 cells. In summary, this study provides valuable information on the presence of stem-cell marker expression in HTB-9 cells and our results imply that MC-A could be utilized to target cancer cells with stem-like characteristics.

Positive effects of oral ß-glucan on mucositis and leukopenia in colorectal cancer patients receiving adjuvant FOLFOX-4 combination chemotherapy.

The present study aimed to determine the effect of oral ß-glucan on mucositis and leukopenia in 62 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer treated with an adjuvant FOLFOX-4 regimen. The patients were retrospectively evaluated in 2 groups: one group received ß-glucan and the other did not (control group). Leucocytes, neutrophils, and platelets were evaluated before and 1 week after chemotherapy and oral mucositis and diarrhea were noted. Leucocyte and neutrophil counts after chemotherapy in the ß-glucan group were 7,300/mm3 and 3,800/mm3, respectively, and the reductions, as compared to baseline, were not significant (p=0.673 and 0.784). The median platelet count was 264,000/mm3 after chemotherapy in the ß-glucan group and the reduction, as compared to baseline, was borderline significant (p=0.048). In the control group, reduction in leucocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts was statistically significant. Oral mucositis and diarrhea were less common in the ß-glucan group. We conclude that ß-glucan can be used to reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy.

Results of adjuvant FOLFOX regimens in stage III colorectal cancer patients: retrospective analysis of 667 patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) regimens in clinical practice according to their efficacy and toxicity. METHODS: Patients who received oxaliplatin-containing regimens after curative resection for colorectal carcinoma from 10 different oncology centers between May 2004 and December 2009 were included in the study. All patients were treated with FOLFOX regimens. Patients with rectal carcinoma were also treated with chemoradiotherapy with 5-FU after 2 cycles of a FOLFOX regimen. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 56 years (range 17-78). Of the total 667 patients, 326 were given FOLFOX-4, 232 were given modified FOLFOX-4 and 109 were given FOLFOX-6. The distribution according to disease stage was 33 patients with stage IIIA colorectal cancer, 382 patients with stage IIIB and 252 patients with stage IIIC. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (54%), nausea (36.9%), neuropathy (38.2%) and anemia (33.1%) for all grades. The median follow-up time was 23 months (range 1-79). Three-year disease-free survival and overall survival were 65 and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The different oxaliplatin-containing 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in patients with stage III colorectal cancer seemed to be at least equal in terms of efficacy regardless of the method of 5-FU administration or oxaliplatin dose.