Nanoporous Anodic Alumina-Based Sensor for miR-99a-5p Detection as an Effective Early Breast Cancer Diagnostic Tool.

Circulating microRNAs have emerged as potential diagnostic biomarkers. The deregulation of the microRNA miR-99a-5p has been previously described as an effective biomarker of early breast cancer. Herein, we present a new nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA)-based biosensor that can detect plasma miR-99a-5p with high sensitivity and selectivity. NAA pores are loaded with rhodamine B and capped with a specific oligonucleotide that is able to block cargo release until the target is present. In the presence of miR-99a-5p, the capping oligonucleotide recognizes the miR-99a-5p sequence and displaces it allowing the release of the encapsulated dye. This method is able to successfully distinguish healthy controls from breast cancer patients, even at early stages with high efficiency, showing the presented system as a promising tool for breast cancer detection.

Clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ramucirumab in the treatment of colorectal cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. The prognosis of colorectal cancer patients still remains dismal and half of them will develop metastatic disease. Angiogenesis plays an essential role in colorectal tumorigenesis, and the VEGF pathway is one of the targets that has been validated up to now. The use of antiangiogenics along with chemotherapy has become an accepted standard for colorectal cancer. AREAS COVERED: This review discusses the efficacy and safety profile of ramucirumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), for the treatment of second-line metastatic colorectal cancer upon progression to first-line chemotherapy including anti-angiogenics. EXPERT OPINION: Ramucirumab in combination with chemotherapy represents a valid option in second-line treatment of advanced colorectal cancer patients, who progressed on previous bevacizumab-based combinations. This agent demonstrates a similar benefit in terms of overall survival to other angiogenesis inhibitors (bevacizumab and ziv-aflibercept) used in this setting.