Nanoparticle-induced intraperitoneal hyperthermia and targeted photoablation in treating ovarian cancer.

Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is effective in treating various intra-abdominal malignancies. However, this therapeutic modality can only be performed during surgical operations and cannot be used repeatedly. We propose repeatedly noninvasive hyperthermia mediated by pegylated silica-core gold nanoshells (pSGNs) in vivo with external near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. This study demonstrated that repeated photothermal treatment can effectively eliminate intraperitoneal tumors in mouse ovarian cancer models without damage of normal tissues. By conjugating pSGNs with anti-human CD47 monoclonal antibody, a significant photoablative effect can be achieved using lower amount of pSGNs and shorter NIR laser irradiation. Conjugated pSGNs specifically targeted and bound to cancer cells inside the peritoneal cavity. Our results indicate the possibility of a noninvasive method of repeated hyperthermia and photoablative therapies using nanoparticles. This has substantial clinical potential in treating ovarian and other intraperitoneal cancers.

Intra-peritoneal hyperthermia combining α-galactosylceramide in the treatment of ovarian cancer.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect and potential mechanisms of i.p. hyperthermia in combination with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer) for the treatment of ovarian cancer. In this study, immuno-competent tumor models were established using murine ovarian cancer cell lines and treated with i.p. hyperthermia combining α-GalCer. Th1/Th2 cytokine expression profiles in the serum, NK cell cytotoxicity and phagocytic activities of dendritic cells (DCs) were assayed. We also analyzed the number of CD8(+)/IFN-γ(+) tumor specific cytotoxic T cells, as well as the tumor growth based on depletion of lymphocyte sub-population. Therapeutic effect on those ovarian tumors was monitored by a non-invasive luminescent imaging system. Intra-peritoneal hyperthermia induced significant pro-inflammatory cytokines expression, and sustained the response of NK and DCs induced by α-GalCer treatment. The combination treatment enhanced the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response in two mouse ovarian cancer models. This novel treatment modality by combination of hyperthermia and glycolipid provides a pronounced anti-tumor immune response and better survival. In conclusion, intra-peritoneal hyperthermia enhanced the pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and phagocytic activity of DCs stimulated by α-GalCer. The subsequent CTL immune response induced by α-GalCer was further strengthened by combining with i.p. hyperthermia. Both innate and adaptive immunities were involved and resulted in a superior therapeutic effect in treating the ovarian cancer.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) inhibits growth and induces differentiation of human leukemic U937 cells through activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food worldwide for centuries. In this study, the growth-inhibiting and immunopotentiating effects of commonly used rice were examined. The growth of human leukemic U937 cells was significantly inhibited by the peripheral blood mononuclear cell-conditioned medium (MNC-CM) derived from water extracts of Japonica rice milled Taiwan 9 (MT9) and brown Taiwan 9 (BT9). Furthermore, these MNC-CMs induced differentiation of U937 cells into mature monocytes/macrophages expressing superoxide-producing and phagocytic activity. The amounts of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma in MNC-CMs prepared with MT9 and BT9 were greater than normal MNC-CM. However, growth of U937 cells was not inhibited by normal MNC-CM or rice extracts alone. The possible active components of MT9 and BT9, other than PHA-like glycoproteins and heat-sensitive proteins and lipopolysaccharides, remain to be determined. Our results demonstrate that MT9 and BT9 can inhibit growth and induce differentiation of leukemic U937 cells through activation of human peripheral blood MNC in vitro. These two types of rice as energy-providing food could be biological response modifiers for augmenting anti-leukemia immunity.

Furocoumarin glycosides from the leaves of Ficus ruficaulis Merr. var. antaoensis.

From the methanolic extract of the leaves of Ficus ruficaulis Merr. var. antaoensis, 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-6-hydroxyangelicin (1), 6-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5-hydroxyangelicin (2), 5,6-O-beta-D-diglucopyranosylangelicin (3), 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-5-hydroxypsoralen (4), 5-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8-hydroxypsoralen (5), 3,4,5-trihydroxydehydro-alpha-ionol-9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), rutin (7), and isoquercitrin (8) were isolated. The structures of compounds 1-4 were elucidated by the analysis of their spectroscopic data. Their in vitro antiproliferation activities were also evaluated.

Compound 278E, structurally modified from tanshinone, induces monocytic differentiation and regulates proto-oncogene expression in human leukemic HL-60 cells.

Tanshinone derivative compounds, isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae), have been reported as microtubule inhibitors with antimitotic activity. In this study, we examined the growth-inhibiting and differentiation-inducing effect of these compounds on human leukemic HL-60 cells. The expression of protein kinase C (PKC) and proto-oncogenes in 278E-treated cells was also assessed. All tanshinone derivative compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effects on HL-60 cells, but only 278E induced cell differentiation. Morphological observation of 278E-treated HL-60 cells showed a greater percentage of monocytes and macrophages (Mo/Mphi). Treatment with 5 microg/ml 278E resulted in a marked increase in the percentages of superoxide-producing (up to 95.5+/-1.8%) and non-specific esterase-positive cells (up to 80.3+/-9.1%). The differentiated cells also expressed cell surface antigens characteristic of Mo/Mphi, including CD11b, CD14 and CD68. Neither cellular changes in isozymes of PKC nor translocation of these isozymes from cytosol to cell membrane were seen in 278E-treated HL-60 cells. 278E caused a downregulation of c-myc as well as an up-regulation of c-fms, c-jun and c-fos.