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Keywords = 60 cell line study

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35 pages, 7970 KiB  
Article
Heteroaryl-Capped Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives with Varied Linkers: Synthesis and Anticancer Evaluation with Various Apoptosis Analyses in Breast Cancer Cells, Including Docking, Simulation, DFT, and ADMET Studies
by Ekta Shirbhate, Biplob Koch, Vaibhav Singh, Akanksha Dubey, Haya Khader Ahmad Yasin and Harish Rajak
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(8), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18081148 (registering DOI) - 1 Aug 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Cancer suffers from unresolved therapeutic challenges owing to the lack of targeted therapies and heightened recurrence risk. This study aimed to investigate the new series of hydroxamate by structurally modifying the pharmacophore of vorinostat. Methods: The present work involves the synthesis [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Cancer suffers from unresolved therapeutic challenges owing to the lack of targeted therapies and heightened recurrence risk. This study aimed to investigate the new series of hydroxamate by structurally modifying the pharmacophore of vorinostat. Methods: The present work involves the synthesis of 15 differently substituted 2H-1,2,3-triazole-based hydroxamide analogs by employing triazole ring as a cap with varied linker fragments. The compounds were evaluated for their anticancer effect, especially their anti-breast cancer response. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to examine binding interactions. Results: Results indicated that among all synthesized hybrids, the molecule VI(i) inhibits the growth of MCF-7 and A-549 cells (GI50 < 10 μg/mL) in an antiproliferative assay. Compound VI(i) was also tested for cytotoxic activity by employing an MTT assay against A549, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, and the findings indicate its potent anticancer response, especially against MCF-7 cells with IC50 of 60 µg/mL. However, it experiences minimal toxicity towards the normal cell line (HEK-293). Mechanistic studies revealed a dual-pathway activation: first, apoptosis (17.18% of early and 10.22% of late apoptotic cells by annexin V/PI analysis); second, cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phases. It also promotes ROS generation in a concentration-dependent manner. The HDAC–inhibitory assay, extended in silico molecular docking, and MD simulation experiments further validated its significant binding affinity towards HDAC 1 and 6 isoforms. DFT and ADMET screening further support the biological proclivity of the title compounds. The notable biological contribution of VI(i) highlights it as a potential candidate, especially against breast cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry)
20 pages, 2015 KiB  
Article
Origanum majorana Extracts: A Preliminary Comparative Study on Phytochemical Profiles and Bioactive Properties of Valuable Fraction and By-Product
by Simone Bianchi, Rosaria Acquaviva, Claudia Di Giacomo, Laura Siracusa, Leeyah Issop-Merlen, Roberto Motterlini, Roberta Foresti, Donata Condorelli and Giuseppe Antonio Malfa
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2264; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152264 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 272
Abstract
Origanum majorana L. (O. majorana) (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic Mediterranean plant widely used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine due to its aroma and rich content of bioactive compounds. While its leaves and flowers are commonly utilized, lignified stems are often [...] Read more.
Origanum majorana L. (O. majorana) (Lamiaceae) is an aromatic Mediterranean plant widely used in food, cosmetics, and traditional medicine due to its aroma and rich content of bioactive compounds. While its leaves and flowers are commonly utilized, lignified stems are often discarded. This study compared hydroalcoholic extracts from the leaves and flowers (valuable fraction, VF) and stems (by-product, BP). Phytochemical analysis revealed qualitatively similar profiles, identifying 20 phenolic compounds, with Rosmarinic acid and Salvianolic acid B as the most and second most abundant, respectively. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using DPPH (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 30.11 ± 3.46; BP 31.72 ± 1.46), H2O2 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 103.09 ± 4.97; BP 119.55 ± 10.58), and O2•− (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 0.71 ± 0.062; BP 0.79 ± 0.070). Both extracts (20 µg/mL) fully restored oxidative balance in hemin-stressed AC16 cardiomyocytes, without altering the expression of catalase, heme-oxygenase 1, superoxide dismutase 2, or ferritin. Anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages showed that VF (IC50 400 µg/mL) reduced NO release to control levels, while BP achieved a ~60% reduction. Cytotoxicity was assessed on cancer cell lines: CaCo-2 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 154.1 ± 6.22; BP 305.2 ± 15.94), MCF-7 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 624.6 ± 10.27; BP 917.9 ± 9.87), and A549 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 720.8 ± 13.66; BP 920.2 ± 16.79), with no cytotoxicity on normal fibroblasts HFF-1 (IC50 > 1000 µg/mL for both extracts). Finally, both extracts slightly inhibited only CYP1A2 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 497.45 ± 9.64; BP 719.72 ± 11.37) and CYP2D6 (IC50 [µg/mL]: VF 637.15 ± 14.78, BP 588.70 ± 11.01). These results support the potential reuse of O. majorana stems as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and health-related applications. Full article
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14 pages, 690 KiB  
Article
Ibrutinib in Combination with Lenalidomide Revlimid/Dexamethasone in Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma (AFT-15)
by Yvonne Efebera, Vera Suman, Shira Dinner, Taylor O’Donnell, Ashley Rosko, John Mckay, Peter Barth, Patrick Hagen, Saad Usmani, Paul Richardson and Jacob Laubach
Cancers 2025, 17(15), 2433; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17152433 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 230
Abstract
Background: Studies have suggested a synergism between lenalidomide (LEN) and ibrutinib (IBR) in multiple myeloma (MM). Both downregulate IRF4, a key target and master transcriptional factor regulating myeloma cell survival. Method: A 3 + 3 phase I trial was conducted to determine the [...] Read more.
Background: Studies have suggested a synergism between lenalidomide (LEN) and ibrutinib (IBR) in multiple myeloma (MM). Both downregulate IRF4, a key target and master transcriptional factor regulating myeloma cell survival. Method: A 3 + 3 phase I trial was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of IBR in combination with LEN + dexamethasone (DEX) in patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) MM who had at least one prior line of therapy. Three dose levels (DLs) were planned. The cycle length was 28 days. IBR was administered orally daily in doses of 560 mg on DL1-2 and 840 mg on DL3, LEN was administered orally on days 1–21 in doses of 15 mg on DL1 and 25 mg on DL2-3, and DEX was administered orally on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 in a dose of 40 mg if age < 75 years or in a dose of 20 mg if it was ≥75 years for DL1-3. Patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 but ≥30 mL/min were treated in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions with LEN 10 mg. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) included the following: grade 4 neutropenia lasting more than 5 days, thrombocytopenia, febrile neutropenia, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; grade 3 thrombocytopenia with bleeding or platelet transfusion; and grade 3–4 hyperglycemia or a thrombotic/embolic event, and other nonhematologic toxicities. The overall response rate (ORR) was defined as the percentage of patients with a partial response (PR), very good partial response (VGPR), or complete response (CR) according to IMWG criteria on two consecutive evaluations at least 4 weeks apart. The clinical benefit rate (CBR) was defined as the percentage of patients with stable disease (SD) or a better outcome on two consecutive evaluations at weeks apart. Results: Fourteen patients (DL1: six patients; DL2: three patients; DL3: five patients) were registered for the study from March 2019 to May 2023, prior to its closure due to limited accrual. Thirteen patients are included in the summary of toxicities and response as one patient on DL3 halted participation prior to the start of the treatment. Two patients on DL3 were excluded from the determination of MTD: one having discontinued cycle 1 treatment due to COVID-19 infection and the another having mistakenly taken 280 mg/day of IBR instead of the assigned 840 mg/day dose during cycle 1. Only one patient developed a DLT, on DL1 with grade 3 non-viral hepatitis. The median number of cycles administered was 4 (range: 1–56). Severe toxicities reported included grade 4 lymphocytopenia (1), grade 4 thrombocytopenia (1), and grade 5 sepsis in the setting of PD (1). Disease responses included a VGPR on DL1 and CR on DL3. Thus, the ORR was 15.4% (90% CI: 2.8–41.0%). One patient on DL1 maintained SD for 4.6 years before discontinuing the treatment to undergo an alternative therapy. Another five patients maintained SD for ≥ 2 consecutive cycles. Thus, the CBR was 61.5% (90% CI: 35.5–83.4%). Conclusions: The combination of LEN with IBR in RR MM proved feasible, with manageable toxicities and the majority of discontinuations being due to disease progression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiple Myeloma: Diagnosis and Therapy)
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19 pages, 3731 KiB  
Article
Electric Field Measurement in Radiative Hyperthermia Applications
by Marco Di Cristofano, Luca Lalli, Giorgia Paglialunga and Marta Cavagnaro
Sensors 2025, 25(14), 4392; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25144392 - 14 Jul 2025
Viewed by 378
Abstract
Oncological hyperthermia (HT) is a medical technique aimed at heating a specific region of the human body containing a tumour. The heat makes the tumour cells more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Electromagnetic (EM) HT devices radiate a single-frequency [...] Read more.
Oncological hyperthermia (HT) is a medical technique aimed at heating a specific region of the human body containing a tumour. The heat makes the tumour cells more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Electromagnetic (EM) HT devices radiate a single-frequency EM field that induces a temperature increase in the treated region of the body. The typical radiative HT frequencies are between 60 and 150 MHz for deep HT applications, while 434 MHz and 915 MHz are used for superficial HT. The input EM power can reach up to 2000 W in deep HT and 250 W in superficial applications, and the E-field should be linearly polarized. This study proposes the development and use of E-field sensors to measure the distribution and evaluate the polarization of the E-field radiated by HT devices inside equivalent phantoms. This information is fundamental for the validation and assessment of HT systems. The sensor is constituted by three mutually orthogonal probes. Each probe is composed of a dipole, a diode, and a high-impedance transmission line. The fundamental difference in the operability of this sensor with respect to the standard E-field square-law detectors lies in the high-power values of the considered EM sources. Numerical analyses were performed to optimize the design of the E-field sensor in the whole radiative HT frequency range and to characterize the sensor behaviour at the power levels of HT. Then the sensor was realized, and measurements were carried out to evaluate the E-field radiated by commercial HT systems. The results show the suitability of the developed sensor to measure the E-field radiated by HT applicators. Additionally, in the measured devices, the linear polarization is evidenced. Accordingly, the work shows that in these devices, a single probe can be used to completely characterize the field distribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microwaves for Biomedical Applications and Sensing)
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32 pages, 6617 KiB  
Article
Hyaluronan-Containing Injectable Magnesium–Calcium Phosphate Cements Demonstrated Improved Performance, Cytocompatibility, and Ability to Support Osteogenic Differentiation In Vitro
by Natalia S. Sergeeva, Polina A. Krokhicheva, Irina K. Sviridova, Margarita A. Goldberg, Dinara R. Khayrutdinova, Suraya A. Akhmedova, Valentina A. Kirsanova, Olga S. Antonova, Alexander S. Fomin, Ivan V. Mikheev, Aleksander V. Leonov, Pavel A. Karalkin, Sergey A. Rodionov, Sergey M. Barinov, Vladimir S. Komlev and Andrey D. Kaprin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6624; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146624 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 378
Abstract
Due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, injectability, and self-setting properties, calcium–magnesium phosphate cements (MCPCs) have proven to be effective biomaterials for bone defect filling. Two types of MCPC powders based on the magnesium whitlockite or stanfieldite phases with MgO with different magnesium contents (20 [...] Read more.
Due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, injectability, and self-setting properties, calcium–magnesium phosphate cements (MCPCs) have proven to be effective biomaterials for bone defect filling. Two types of MCPC powders based on the magnesium whitlockite or stanfieldite phases with MgO with different magnesium contents (20 and 60%) were synthesised. The effects of magnesium ions (Mg2+) on functional properties such as setting time, temperature, mechanical strength, injectability, cohesion, and in vitro degradation kinetics, as well as cytocompatibility in the MG-63 cell line and the osteogenic differentiation of BM hMSCs in vitro, were analysed. The introduction of NaHA into the cement liquid results in an increase in injectability of up to 83%, provides a compressive strength of up to 22 MPa, and shows a reasonable setting time of about 20 min without an exothermic reaction. These cements had the ability to support MG-63 cell adhesion, proliferation, and spread and the osteogenic differentiation of BM hMSCs in vitro, stimulating ALPL, SP7, and RUNX2 gene expression and ALPL production. The combination of the studied physicochemical and biological properties of the developed cement compositions characterises them as bioactive, cytocompatible, and promising biomaterials for bone defect reconstruction. Full article
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18 pages, 1575 KiB  
Article
Novel 3,19-(N-Phenyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-pyrazole) Acetal of Andrographolide Promotes Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
by Siva Kumar Rokkam, Shahjalal Chowdhury, Yashwanth Inabathina, Lakshminath Sripada, Srinivas Nanduri, Balasubramanyam Karanam and Nageswara Rao Golakoti
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(7), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18071026 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
Background: Natural products play a crucial role in cancer treatment due to their ability to selectively target cancer cells. Andrographolide, a major constituent of Andrographis paniculata, exhibits potential anticancer properties. Considering the pharmacological importance of nitrogen-based heteroaromatic scaffolds, particularly pyrazole motifs, this [...] Read more.
Background: Natural products play a crucial role in cancer treatment due to their ability to selectively target cancer cells. Andrographolide, a major constituent of Andrographis paniculata, exhibits potential anticancer properties. Considering the pharmacological importance of nitrogen-based heteroaromatic scaffolds, particularly pyrazole motifs, this study aimed to integrate the pyrazole pharmacophore with the andrographolide scaffold to develop novel therapeutic candidates. Methods: Twenty novel 3,19-(N-phenyl-3-aryl-pyrazole) acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide were synthesized and characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, NMR, and HRMS. Initial anticancer screening was conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA, against 60 human cancer cell lines. The most promising compound, 1f (R = 4-F), was selected for further biological evaluation in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Results: The MTT assay results demonstrated that compound 1f exhibited strong, dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects. The apoptosis analysis of 1f revealed a time-dependent increase in apoptotic cells, and cell cycle studies indicated S phase arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. Antioxidant activity via the DPPH assay identified compounds 1b (R = 3-NO2) and 2b (R = 3-NO2) as the most effective radical scavengers. The most active compounds were also evaluated for drug-likeness using in silico Lipinski’s rule assessments. Conclusions: The synthesized 3,19-(N-phenyl-3-aryl-pyrazole) acetals of andrographolide and isoandrographolide exhibited promising anticancer and antioxidant properties. Among them, compound 1f showed the most significant activity, supporting its potential as a lead candidate for further anticancer drug development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploring Natural Products with Antioxidant and Anticancer Properties)
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12 pages, 789 KiB  
Article
Feasibility of Adjuvant Radiotherapy or Chemoradiation for Elderly Patients with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck, and Its Correlation with Different Comorbidity Scores: A Retrospective Cohort Study
by Christoph Suess, Matthias Hipp, Tobias Ettl, Julian Kuenzel, Julia Maurer, Anna Ratzisberger, Fabian Baier, Felix Steger, Oliver Koelbl and Matthias Hautmann
Cancers 2025, 17(14), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17142283 - 9 Jul 2025
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Background: With aging populations, the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) among elderly patients is increasing. Although adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiation is a well-established component of multimodal treatment, elderly patients remain underrepresented in clinical trials. This study [...] Read more.
Background: With aging populations, the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) among elderly patients is increasing. Although adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiation is a well-established component of multimodal treatment, elderly patients remain underrepresented in clinical trials. This study evaluates the feasibility of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemoradiation in patients over 70 years with SCCHN and explores the correlation between treatment feasibility and various comorbidity scores. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients over 70 years of age who received adjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiation at the University Hospital Regensburg between 2004 and 2018. A total of 71 patients, with a median age of 75 years, were included. The majority were classified as UICC stage IVa. Median follow-up was 27 months. Results: Sixty-two patients completed treatment without interruption, and sixty-five received at least 95% of the prescribed radiation dose. The median total dose was 64 Gy. Acute toxicity of grade III or IV (CTC) occurred in 37 patients. Local tumor control rates were 99% at 12 months, 88% at 24 months, and 76% at 5 years. Overall survival rates were 87% at 12 months, 67% at 24 months, and 41% at 60 months, with a median overall survival of 51 months. The Elixhauser Comorbidity Score showed significant predictive value for treatment feasibility (p = 0.006). Conclusions: Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemoradiation are feasible and effective treatment options for elderly patients with SCCHN. The favorable local and locoregional control rates reported here suggest, in line with other recent reports in the literature, that age alone should not be a justification for treatment de-intensification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (2nd Edition))
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17 pages, 1587 KiB  
Article
Triazole-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles Able to Counteract Melanoma Cell Survival Without Compromising the Viability of Healthy Keratinocytes
by Chiara Brullo, Barbara Marengo, Cinzia Domenicotti, Matteo Lusardi, Elena Cichero, Annalisa Salis, Debora Caviglia, Eleonora Russo and Andrea Spallarossa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6312; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136312 - 30 Jun 2025
Viewed by 303
Abstract
To further extend the structure–activity relationships on previously identified anti-proliferative imidazo-pyrazoles, a novel series of compounds was designed and synthesized. In the obtained derivatives (1), the imidazo-pyrazole scaffold was formally condensed with a substituted triazole moiety, known for its biological properties. [...] Read more.
To further extend the structure–activity relationships on previously identified anti-proliferative imidazo-pyrazoles, a novel series of compounds was designed and synthesized. In the obtained derivatives (1), the imidazo-pyrazole scaffold was formally condensed with a substituted triazole moiety, known for its biological properties. All derivatives were tested for anti-proliferative activity on a panel of 60 different cancer cell lines and compound 1h was identified as the most promising derivative, being highly effective against melanoma cells. Additional investigations demonstrated a cytotoxic and pro-oxidant action of the compound 1h on human metastatic melanoma cell lines (MeOV and MeTA) but not on healthy keratinocytes (HaCAT), confirming the selective activity of the compound. In silico calculations predicted favorable drug-like and pharmacokinetic properties and pre-formulation studies evaluated the effect of Tween 80 on 1h solubility. Overall, the collected data confirmed the pharmacological potential of the imidazo-pyrazole scaffold and indicated 1h as an interesting lead structure for the development of novel anti-melanoma agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pharmacology)
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10 pages, 620 KiB  
Communication
MET and SLFN11 as a Players in the SCLC Molecular Subtyping Game
by Anna Grenda, Natalia Galant, Aleksandra Łomża-Łaba, Paweł Krawczyk, Tomasz Jankowski, Izabela Chmielewska, Michał Szczyrek, Robert Kieszko and Janusz Milanowski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(13), 6095; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26136095 - 25 Jun 2025
Viewed by 383
Abstract
The possibilities of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) therapy were strictly limited for years, leading to high patient mortality rates. New approaches to SCLC treatment are being proposed, including chemoimmunotherapy. However, biomarkers enabling appropriate personalization of therapy in SCLC patients have not been identified [...] Read more.
The possibilities of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) therapy were strictly limited for years, leading to high patient mortality rates. New approaches to SCLC treatment are being proposed, including chemoimmunotherapy. However, biomarkers enabling appropriate personalization of therapy in SCLC patients have not been identified yet. Even though molecular subtyping (ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, and YAP1) seems pivotal in the management of SCLC, expression of other genes might be potentially valuable during patients’ stratification. Due to their crucial role in tumorigenesis and SCLC invasiveness, benefits arising from MET and SLFN11 gene evaluation are suggested. Our study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the mRNA expression of these genes and chemoimmunotherapy efficacy in SCLC patients. A total of 35 patients with extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy were involved in the study. mRNA expression of MET and SLFN11 genes was evaluated using the RT-qPCR technique in FFPE tissue collected from all patients. Molecular results were correlated with clinicopathological features and outcome of disease (OS, PFS). We detected SLFN11 expression in 60% (21 of 35) of the samples. SLFN11 expression was higher in patients with longer PFS (p = 0.05) and with the T4 feature in the TNM scale (p = 0.08). MET mRNA was expressed in all FFPE tissues. We observed that risk of progression and death was higher in patients with higher expression of MET mRNA (p = 0.06 and p = 0.04, respectively). Our study showed that MET and SLFN11 expression might serve as additional biomarkers for prediction of chemoimmunotherapy efficacy in ES-SCLC patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Oncology)
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30 pages, 8229 KiB  
Article
RNA-Seq Uncovers Association of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals with Hub Genes and Transcription Factors in Aggressive Prostate Cancer
by Diaaidden Alwadi, Quentin Felty, Mayur Doke, Deodutta Roy, Changwon Yoo and Alok Deoraj
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5463; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125463 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 721
Abstract
This study analyzes publicly available RNA-seq data to comprehensively include the complex heterogeneity of prostate cancer (PCa) etiology. It combines prostate and prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, representing primary PCa cells, Gleason scores, ages, and PCa of different racial origins. Additionally, some cell [...] Read more.
This study analyzes publicly available RNA-seq data to comprehensively include the complex heterogeneity of prostate cancer (PCa) etiology. It combines prostate and prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines, representing primary PCa cells, Gleason scores, ages, and PCa of different racial origins. Additionally, some cell lines were exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The research aims to identify hub genes and transcription factors (TFs) of the prostate carcinogenesis pathway as molecular targets for clinical investigations to elucidate EDC-induced aggressiveness and to develop potential biomarkers for their exposure risk assessments. PCa cells rely on androgen receptor (AR)-mediated signaling to survive, develop, and function. Fifteen various RNA-seq datasets were normalized for distribution, and the significance (p-value < 0.05) threshold of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was set based on |log2FC| ≥ 2 change. Through integrated bioinformatics, we applied cBioPortal, UCSC-Xena, TIMER2.0, and TRRUST platforms, among others, to associate hub genes and their TFs based on their biologically meaningful roles in aggressive prostate carcinogenesis. Among all RNA-Seq datasets, we found 75 overlapping DEGs, with BUB1B (32%) and CCNB1 (29%) genes exhibiting the highest degree of mutation, amplification, and deletion. EDC-associated CCNB1, BUB1B, and CCNA2 in PCa cells exposed to EDCs were consistently shown to be associated with high Gleason scores (≥4 + 3) and in the >60 age group of patients. Selected TFs (E2F4, MYC, and YBX1) were also significantly associated with DEGs (NCAPG, MKI67, CCNA2, CCNB1, CDK1, CCNB2, AURKA, UBE2C, BUB1B) and influenced the overall survival (p-value < 0.05) of PCa cases. This is one of the first comprehensive studies combining 15 publicly available RNA-seq datasets to demonstrate the association of EDC-associated hub genes and their TFs aligning with the aggressive carcinogenic pathways in the higher age group (>60 years) of patients. The findings highlight the potential of these hub genes as candidates for further studies to develop molecular biomarkers for assessing the EDC-related PCa risk, diagnosing PCa aggressiveness, and identifying therapeutic targets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Epigenome and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals)
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20 pages, 4435 KiB  
Article
89Zr-Radiolabelling of p-NCS-Bz-DFO-Anti-HER2 Affibody Immunoconjugate: Characterization and Assessment of In Vitro Potential in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Imaging
by Maria-Roxana Tudoroiu-Cornoiu, Radu Marian Șerban, Diana Cocioabă, Dragoș Andrei Niculae, Doina Drăgănescu, Radu Leonte, Alina Catrinel Ion and Dana Niculae
Pharmaceutics 2025, 17(6), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17060739 - 4 Jun 2025
Viewed by 658
Abstract
Background: The 89Zr radioisotope is increasingly vital in positron emission tomography (PET), especially immuno-PET, due to its long half-life of 78.4 h, allowing extended tracking of biological processes. This makes it particularly suitable for researching medicines with slow pharmacokinetics and enhances the [...] Read more.
Background: The 89Zr radioisotope is increasingly vital in positron emission tomography (PET), especially immuno-PET, due to its long half-life of 78.4 h, allowing extended tracking of biological processes. This makes it particularly suitable for researching medicines with slow pharmacokinetics and enhances the precision of molecular imaging, especially in oncology. Despite zirconium’s potential for skeletal accumulation, effective chelation with agents like deferoxamine (DFO) enables high-resolution imaging of antigen-specific tumours, such as HER2-positive breast cancer, offering insights into tumour biology and treatment response. Methods: 89Zr was produced at the ACSI TR-19 cyclotron via 89Y(p,n)89Zr reaction. Natural yttrium foils (250 μm) were irradiated with 12.9 MeV protons on target, with 100 μA·h. An HER2-targeting affibody was synthesized and conjugated with p-NCS-Bz-DFO (1:4 mass ratio) at 37 °C for 60 min (pH 9.2 ± 0.2), then purified on a PD-10 column. Radiolabelling was performed with [89Zr]Zr-oxalate at pH ranging from 7.0 to 9.0, with concentrations from 110 to 460 MBq/mL. Results: Final activity reached 2.95 ± 0.31 GBq/batch (EOB corrected), with ≥ 99.9% radionuclide and ≥95% radiochemical purities. The anti-HER2 affibody was successfully radiolabelled with 89Zr, resulting in a radiochemical purity of over 85% with molar activity of 26.5 ± 4.4 and 11.45 MBq/nmol at pH 7.0–7.5. In vitro tests on BT-474 and MCF-7 cell lines confirmed high uptake in HER2-positive cells, validating specificity and stability. Conclusions: The successful synthesis and labelling of the [89Zr]Zr-p-NCS-Bz-DFO-anti-HER2 affibody are promising achievements for its further application in targeted immuno-PET imaging for HER2-positive malignancies. Further in vivo studies are needed to support its clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Physical Pharmacy and Formulation)
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19 pages, 3199 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis of Isoflavones from Fabaceae Species and Their Chemopreventive Potential on Breast Cancer Cells
by Wojciech Paździora, Karolina Grabowska, Paweł Zagrodzki, Paweł Paśko, Ewelina Prochownik, Irma Podolak and Agnieszka Galanty
Molecules 2025, 30(11), 2379; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30112379 - 29 May 2025
Viewed by 547
Abstract
The Fabaceae family is known for the presence of isoflavones—phytoestrogens with potential chemopreventive effects against hormone-dependent cancers. This study aimed to optimize isoflavones extraction using a fractional factorial design and to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze 32 Fabaceae species native to Polish flora by [...] Read more.
The Fabaceae family is known for the presence of isoflavones—phytoestrogens with potential chemopreventive effects against hormone-dependent cancers. This study aimed to optimize isoflavones extraction using a fractional factorial design and to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze 32 Fabaceae species native to Polish flora by HPLC-UV-VIS to indicate new, rich plant sources of isoflavones. The optimal extraction method was a 60 min reflux with 50% methanol and a plant material-to-solvent ratio of 1:125. The highest isoflavone levels were found in Trifolium medium (26.70 mg/g d.m.), Genista tinctoria (19.65 mg/g d.m.), and Trifolium pratense (12.56 mg/g d.m.). The obtained extracts were further evaluated for cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity against MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Genista tinctoria showed the highest cytotoxicity against MCF7, while Cytisus scoparius and Ononis arvensis were most effective against MDA-MB-231 at a dose of 500 µg/mL. The extracts were also characterized by varied, potent antioxidant properties, important in chemoprevention. A strong correlation was observed between isoflavone content and cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity exclusively in the estrogen receptor-positive MCF7 cell line. Importantly, the tested extracts demonstrated no toxic effects on normal human liver (HepG2), thyroid (Nthy-ori 3-1), or breast (MCF10A) cells, indicating a favorable safety profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Benefits and Applications of Bioactive Phenolic Compounds)
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17 pages, 4115 KiB  
Article
Uncovering SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Epidemiology Across the Pandemic Transition: Insights into Transmission in Clinical and Environmental Samples
by Vrushali D. Patil, Rashmi Chowdhary, Anvita Gupta Malhotra, Jitendra Singh, Debasis Biswas, Rajnish Joshi and Jagat Rakesh Kanwar
Viruses 2025, 17(5), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/v17050726 - 19 May 2025
Viewed by 825
Abstract
Background: Respiratory droplets are the main way in which the COVID-19 pandemic’s causal agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), spreads. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, especially in lung cells, allow the virus to enter host cells. However, ACE2 expression in intestinal cells [...] Read more.
Background: Respiratory droplets are the main way in which the COVID-19 pandemic’s causal agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), spreads. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, especially in lung cells, allow the virus to enter host cells. However, ACE2 expression in intestinal cells has sparked worries about possible fecal transfer, particularly in poor-sanitation areas like India. Methods: Between July 2021 and July 2024, clinical (nasopharyngeal, saliva, and stool samples) and sewage samples were collected from outpatient departments and sewage treatment plants (STPs), respectively, from the high-population-density area under study in order to investigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Results: This proof-of-concept study analyzed clinical samples from n = 60 COVID-19-positive patients at a central Indian tertiary care hospital and n = 156 samples from hospital STPs. Variants of SARS-CoV-2 were found using qRT-PCR and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). Of the n = 37 qRT-PCR-positive patients who gave their assent, 30% had stool samples that tested positive for viral RNA. In 70% of positive NP and 65% of positive saliva samples, along with two stool samples from immunocompromised patients, the live virus was identified using Vero E6 cell lines. Although 18% of the tests reported qRT-PCR-positive results, no live virus was detected in sewage samples despite NGS validation. The detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the absence of confirmed clinical cases may indicate the silent circulation of the virus within the community, suggesting that sewage surveillance can serve as an early warning system before an outbreak occurs. Conclusions: These findings provide critical insights into the importance of continuous environmental surveillance, silent virus circulation, changes in viral epidemiology throughout the years, and strategies to mitigate coronavirus outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2, 4th Edition)
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25 pages, 2932 KiB  
Systematic Review
Assessing the Impact of Nanoplastics in Biological Systems: Systematic Review of In Vitro Animal Studies
by Maria Viana, Fernanda S. Tonin and Carina Ladeira
J. Xenobiot. 2025, 15(3), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/jox15030075 - 17 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3562
Abstract
Nanoplastic (NP) pollution has emerged as a growing concern due to its potential impact on human health, although its adverse effects on different organ systems are not yet fully understood. This systematic scoping review, conducted in accordance with international guidelines, aimed to map [...] Read more.
Nanoplastic (NP) pollution has emerged as a growing concern due to its potential impact on human health, although its adverse effects on different organ systems are not yet fully understood. This systematic scoping review, conducted in accordance with international guidelines, aimed to map the current evidence on the biological effects of NPs. In vitro animal studies assessing cellular damage caused by exposure to any type of NP were searched on PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Data on primary outcomes related to genotoxicity and cytotoxicity (cell viability, oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA and cytoplasmic damage, apoptosis) were extracted from the included studies, and overall reporting quality was assessed. A total of 108 articles published between 2018 and 2024, mostly by China (54%), Spain (14%), and Italy (9%), were included. Polystyrene (PS) was the most frequently studied polymer (85%). NP sizes in solution ranged from 15 to 531 nm, with a higher prevalence in the 40–100 nm range (38%). The overall quality of studies was rated as moderate (60%), with many lacking essential details about cell culture conditions (e.g., pH of the medium, passage number, substances used). A higher frequency of negative effects from NP exposure was observed in respiratory cell lines, while immune, digestive, and hepatic cell lines showed greater resistance. Nervous, urinary, and connective tissue systems were impacted by NPs. Positively charged and smaller PS particles were consistently associated with higher toxicity across all systems. In summary, this review highlights the multifactorial nature of NP toxicity, influenced by size, surface charge, and polymer type. It also reveals a significant knowledge gap, stemming from the predominant use of immortalized monocultures exposed to commercially available PS NPs, the limited use of environmentally relevant particles, and the underutilization of advanced experimental models (e.g., organ-on-chip systems) that better mimic physiological conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Nanotoxicology and Nanopharmacology)
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18 pages, 3048 KiB  
Article
Colchicine Binding Site Tubulin Inhibitors Impair Vincristine-Resistant Neuroblastoma Cell Function
by Cinthia N. Reed, Kaylee B. Garrison, Joshua Thammathong, Jindrich Cinatl, Martin Michaelis, Souvik Banerjee and April M. Weissmiller
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2186; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102186 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 984
Abstract
High-risk neuroblastoma remains a clinically challenging pediatric cancer, with an approximate five-year survival rate of ~60%. Frontline therapy for this group of patients includes surgery and intensive chemotherapy that involves combinations of the tubulin inhibitor vincristine with several other chemotherapeutics. Unfortunately, unresponsiveness to [...] Read more.
High-risk neuroblastoma remains a clinically challenging pediatric cancer, with an approximate five-year survival rate of ~60%. Frontline therapy for this group of patients includes surgery and intensive chemotherapy that involves combinations of the tubulin inhibitor vincristine with several other chemotherapeutics. Unfortunately, unresponsiveness to therapy and relapse are common, with tumors often displaying resistance to vincristine. Recently, we characterized a novel set of tubulin inhibitors that are distinct from vincristine and bind within the colchicine binding site present on tubulin monomers. Colchicine binding site inhibitors (CBSIs) have gained traction as improved chemotherapeutics due to their potential to overcome tubulin inhibitor-induced resistance. In this study, we investigate the functional impact of CBSI treatment on multiple neuroblastoma cell lines, including those that are vincristine-resistant. We demonstrate that our newly developed compounds are effective at disrupting cell division in non-resistant and resistant cells and have cellular activity against vincristine-resistant cell lines. Interestingly, we find that vincristine-resistant cell lines differ in their ability to undergo apoptotic cell death in response to CBSI treatment. Taken together, these findings provide a solid foundation to further investigate the utility of CBSIs for neuroblastoma treatment, while highlighting the distinct resistance mechanisms that can emerge in these childhood cancers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 10th Anniversary of the Bioorganic Chemistry Section of Molecules)
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