A Promising, Novel Radiosensitizer Nanodrug Complex for Oral Cavity Cancer: Cetuximab and Cisplatin-Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: Nanomedicine has provided promising tools for the imaging, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) may be useful in enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy, such as radiosensitization, in cancer therapy. AIMS: To develop a nanodrug complex containing cetuximab (C225,CTX) and cisplatin (CDDP) conjugated with GNPs and to investigate its cytotoxic effects on oral cavity cancer cells when combined with radiotherapy. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro cell culture study. METHODS: The GNPs were synthesized and successfully conjugated with cetuximab and cisplatin. Cell viability was monitored by the xCELLigence real-time cell analysis (RTCA) single-plate (SP) system in GNP-treated UPCI-SCC-131 cells for 48 hours. Cells with/without GNPs were irradiated with 6 MV X-rays, and colony formation was assayed to investigate the long-term effects of GNPs and the nanodrug complex after irradiation on radiotherapy-resistant oral cavity cancer cells. RESULTS: The GNPs entered the tumor cells, and GNP-CDDP (P <.0001) and GNP-CDDP-CTX (P < .0001) were shown to cause a decrease in cell viability. GNP and GNP-CTX combined with radiotherapy led to greater reduction on UPCI-SCC-131 colony numbers, than radiation alone (P = .0369) and radiation with free CTX, with sensitizing enhancement ratios of 1 : 2 and 1 : 9, respectively. CONCLUSION: The cetuximab and cisplatin-conjugated gold nanodrug complex has a great potential to increase cytotoxicity and overcome resistance to radiotherapy, in the treatment of oral cavity cancer.

Assessment of distraction regenerate using quantitative bone scintigraphy.

In this study, we examined whether quantitative bone scintigraphy can be used to assess new bone formation following distraction osteogenesis (DO). A vertical osteotomy was performed on the right hemimandible of male Sprague-Dawley rats, and a custom-made distraction device was applied. Following the gradual distraction, rats were divided into 2 subgroups, the second and fourth week. Cephalograms were taken and scintigraphic and histomorphometric analysis was performed at the second and fourth week. Scintigraphic findings showed good correlation with histomorphometric results. Results were compared with sham-operated (skin and muscle incision and placement of pin but no osteotomy) and acute distraction (5-mm acute distraction) groups. Scintigraphic mean uptake ratios were significantly higher in the gradual distraction group compared with the sham-operated and acute distraction groups. Quantitative bone scintigraphy is a promising method for the assessment of DO and consolidation. It could offer objective qualitative and quantitative data for the noninvasive evaluation of bony regenerate.

Treatment of 'en coup de sabre' deformity with porous polyethylene implant.

Linear scleroderma "en coup de saber" (LSCS) deformity is a subgroup of scleroderma characterized by unilateral atrophy and depression above the level of the eyebrow. In rare cases where it involves the whole unilateral face it can be mistaken with Parry-Romberg syndrome. Involvement of the trunk and extremities together with facial lesions has been extremely rare in the literature. We report an unusual case of linear scleroderma "en coup de sabre" where there is concomitant involvement of the ipsilateral side of the trunk and lower extremity. The patient's facial deformity is reconstructed with a polyethylene implant.