Risk management recommendations and patient acceptance vary with high-risk breast lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal and lobular hyperplasia (AH) increase breast cancer risk. We examined risk management recommendations (RMR) and acceptance in AH/LCIS. METHODS: All patients with AH/LCIS on core needle biopsy from 2013 to 2016 at our institution were identified; cancer patients were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analysis examined factors associated with management. RESULTS: 98 % of patients were evaluated by breast surgeons and 53 % underwent risk model calculation (RC). 77 % had new RMR. RMR of MRI screening (MRI), genetic counselling (GC) and medical oncology (MO) referral were 41 %, 18 %, 77 %, respectively. MRI screening was more likely recommended in those with strong family history (p = 0.01), and high RC (p < 0.001). Uptake of at least one RMR did not occur in 84 % of patients. Use of RC correlated with MO acceptance (p = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of atypia has the potential to change risk management for most, however only 16 % of patients accepted all RMR.

Pancreatic regenerating protein I in chronic pancreatitis and aging: implications for new therapeutic approaches to diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the relationship of pancreatic regenerating protein (reg) in models of acinar cell atrophy and aging, and the effect of reg I protein replacement on glucose tolerance. METHODS: Rats underwent pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) and were followed through 12 months. Aging rats were studied at 12 and 20 months. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTTs) were performed, pancreatic reg I, reg I receptor, insulin gene expression, and reg I protein levels were measured. Pancreatic duct ligation and aged animals were treated with exogenous reg I protein and assessed for glucose metabolism. RESULTS: After PDL, chronic atrophic pancreatitis developed, with a progressive loss of acinar cells and pancreatic reg I. During aging, a similar depression of reg I gene expression was also noted. The reg I levels correlated with pancreatic insulin levels. Twelve months after PDL, IPGTT results were abnormal, which were significantly improved by administration of reg I protein. Aged animals demonstrated depressed IPGTT, which marginally improved after reg I administration. Anti-reg antibody administration to young rats depressed IPGTT to elderly levels. CONCLUSIONS: Depletion of the acinar product reg I is associated with the pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance of pancreatitis-associated diabetes and aging, and replacement therapy could be useful in these patients. Reg I is an acinar cell product, which affects islet function.

Sophorolipids and their derivatives are lethal against human pancreatic cancer cells.

INTRODUCTION: We have previously demonstrated that sophorolipids, a class of easily chemoenzymatically modifiable glycolipids, possess anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Since glycolipids have been shown to have anticancer activity, we investigated the effects of sophorolipids and their derivatives against pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human pancreatic carcinoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of sophorolipid natural mixture or select derivatives (ethyl ester, methyl ester, ethyl ester monoacetate, ethyl ester diacetate, acidic sophorolipid [AS], lactonic sophorolipid diacetate [LSD]) for 24 h and assessed for cell necrosis (cytotoxicity-lactate dehydrogenase release). Controls consisted of cells treated with media or vehicle alone and sophorolipid treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Sophorolipids demonstrated anticancer activity against human pancreatic carcinoma cells. Natural mixture mediated consistent cytotoxicity at all doses tested (20 +/- 4%). However, methyl ester derivative mediated much greater levels of cytotoxicity (63 +/- 5%) compared with other derivatives (ethyl ester diacetate, 36 +/- 6%, ethyl ester monoacetate, 18 +/- 7%; P < 0.05). In contrast, LSD- and AS-mediated toxicity was inversely proportional with dose (LSD, 40.3% at 0.5 mg/mL, 3.4% at 2.0 mg/mL; AS, 49% at 0.5 mg/mL, 0% at 2.0 mg/mL). Sophorolipid treatment did not affect peripheral blood mononuclear cells at all doses tested. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that sophorolipids and select derivatives may be effective in treating human pancreatic cancer. Furthermore select derivatives may use different mechanisms toward this end. The ability to chemoenzymatically modify sophorolipids can provide effective lead compounds toward the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Sophorolipids improve sepsis survival: effects of dosing and derivatives.

INTRODUCTION: Sophorolipids, a family of natural and easily chemo-enzymatically modified microbial glycolipids, are promising modulators of the immune response. We have previously demonstrated that sophorolipids mediate anti-inflammatory effects, including decreasing sepsis-related mortality at 36 h in vivo in a rat model of septic peritonitis and in vitro by decreasing nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokine production. Here we assessed the effect of sophorolipids on sepsis-related mortality when administered as a (1) single bolus versus sequential dosing and (2) natural mixture versus individual derivatives compared with vehicle alone. METHODS: Intra-abdominal sepsis was induced in male, Sprague Dawley rats, 200 to 240 g, via cecal ligation and puncture. Sophorolipids (5-750 mg/kg) or vehicle (ethanol/sucrose/physiological saline) were injected intravenously (i.v.) via tail vein or inferior vena cava at the end of the operation either as a single dose or sequentially (q24 h x 3 doses); natural mixture was compared with select sophorolipid derivatives (n = 10-15 per group). Sham-operated animals served as nonsepsis controls. Survival rates were compared at 1 through 6 d post sepsis induction and tissue was analyzed by histopathology. Significance was determined by Kruskal-Wallis analysis with Bonferroni adjustment and Student's t-test. RESULTS: Sophorolipid treatment at 5 mg/kg body weight improved survival in rats with cecal ligation and puncture-induced septic shock by 28% at 24 h and 42% at 72 h for single dose, 39% at 24 h and 26% at 72 h for sequential doses, and 23% overall survival for select sophorolipid derivatives when compared with vehicle control (P < 0.05 for sequential dosing). Toxicity was evident and dose-dependent with very high doses of sophorolipid (375-750 mg/kg body weight) with histopathology demonstrating interstitial and intra-alveolar edema with areas of microhemorrhage in pulmonary tissue when compared with vehicle controls (P < 0.05). No mortality was observed in sham operated controls at all doses tested. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of sophorolipids after induction of intra-abdominal sepsis improves survival. The demonstration that sophorolipids can reduce sepsis-related mortality with different dosing regimens and derivatives provides continuing evidence toward a promising new therapy. Toxicity is evident at 75 to 150x the therapeutic dose in septic animals.