Small molecule inhibitor TW-37 is tolerable and synergistic with chemotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Chemotherapy is a crucial adjuvant therapy of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, enhancing sensitivity and tolerance of chemotherapeutics in NPC treatment have been challenging. Both Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, 2 pro-survival proteins of Bcl-2 family, play essential roles on the chemotherapy tolerance of numerous cancers. In the present study, we explored the influences of TW-37, a small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1, on the efficiency of chemotherapy for NPC. Oncomine cancer database shows that NPC tissues have higher expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 than those of normal nasopharyngeal epithelial (NPE) tissues. And our results reveal that chemotherapeutics, Cisplatin (CDDP) and 5-Fluoracil (5-FU), result in the greater decrease of protein level of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 in NPC cells than those in NPE cells. TW-37 does not have significant impact on the chemotherapeutics-treated NPE cell viability at a dosage that efficiently reduces chemotherapeutics-treated NPC cell viability. Moreover, impacts of TW-37 on the cell viability of chemotherapeutics-treated NPC cells are dependent on the expression of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 in NPC cells. Further explorations suggest that TW-37 prominently promotes apoptosis in NPC cells under chemotherapeutics treatments but not in NPE cells. Meanwhile, TW-37 also remarkably reduces colony formation ability of chemotherapeutics-treated NPC cells. Importantly, in vivo models, TW-37 observably increases chemosensitivity of NPC tumors but has not markedly influence on the normal tissues in mice. In conclusion, our results point to TW-37 as a promising ancillary drug for the chemotherapy of NPC.

[Clinical observation of sarcandra glabra combined chemoradiotherapy for treating patients with local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the short-term efficacy and radiotherapy induced acute reactions of sarcandra glabra (SG) combined chemoradiotherapy for treating patients with local advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Totally 100 nasopharyngeal carcinoma phase III - IVa patients were randomly assigned to the control group and the observation group, 50 patients in each group. All patients received chemoradiotherapy. Patients in the observation group took SG decoction at the daily dose of 20 g. RESULTS: Totally 98 patients completed the treatment. There was no statistical difference in the complete remission rate, the partial remission rate, 1-year and 2-year total survival rates, or disease free progression rate between the two groups. The occurrence rate of II - III degree radioactive oral mucositis and dry mouth were obviously lower in the observation group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: SG combined chemoradiotherapy could attenuate radiotherapy induced acute adverse reactions in treating advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

[Research on the quality changes in pre-and-post-processed pieces of Radix Polygalae].

OBJECTIVE: To study the quality changes in pre-and-post-processed pieces of Radix Polygalae. METHODS: The changes of the content of senegenin and polygalacic acid were studied. RESULTS: The content of polygalacic acid in post-processed piece was lower than that in pre-processed piece. The content of senegenin had no obvious difference. CONCLUSION: The processing can make the quality change.

[Clinical observation on treatment of 75 mid-late stage cancer patients with yanshu Injection].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Yanshu Injection (YI) used in comprehensive treatment on mid-late stage cancer. METHODS: One hundred and fifty patients with malignant cancer were equally randomized into the comprehensive treatment group (group A) and the control group (group B), both groups were treated systematically according to the NCCN 2005 cancer practice guideline, but 20 ml of YI was given additionally to group A every day. RESULTS: After treatment, the level of plasma CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly lower in group B than those in group A (P < 0.05); the response rate (RR) was 32.00% (24/75) and 38.67% (29/75) in group B and A respectively, showing insignificant difference (P>0.05), and the clinical benefit rate (CBR)was 58.67% (44/75) in group A, lower than that in group B (85.33% (64/75), P< 0.05); the quality of life (QOL) in group A was superior to that in group B (P<0.05); and the incidence of main adverse reaction to chemotherapeutic agents was significantly lower in group A as compared to that in group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: YI could regulate the function of T-lymphocyte subsets, raise the CBR and QOL and reduce adverse reaction of chemotherapy in patients with mid-late stage cancer.