Fenugreek: a naturally occurring edible spice as an anticancer agent.

In recent years, various dietary components that can potentially be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer have been identified. In this study, we demonstrate that extract (FE) from the seeds of the plant Trigonella foenum graecum, commonly called fenugreek, are cytotoxic in vitro to a panel of cancer but not normal cells. Treatment with 10-15 ug/mL of FE for 72 h was growth inhibitory to breast, pancreatic and prostate cancer cell lines (PCa).

A direct pancreatic cancer xenograft model as a platform for cancer stem cell therapeutic development.

There is an enormous gap between the antiproliferative and in vivo antitumor efficacy of gemcitabine in cell line-based models and its clinical efficacy. This may be due to insensitiveness of the precursor, cancer stem cell (CSC) compartment to cytotoxic agents. The hedgehog pathway is associated with CSC signaling and control.

New scaffolds for the design of selective estrogen receptor modulators.

In the present work we report the synthesis of four new ER ligands which can be used as scaffolds for the introduction of the basic side chains necessary for antiestrogenic activity. Affinities and agonist/antagonist characterization of the ligands for both ERalpha and ERbeta have been determined in a competitive radioligand assay, and in an in vitro coactivator recruitment functional assay, respectively. Molecular modelling techniques have been used in order to rationalize the experimental results.

Phase I study of ON 01910.Na, a novel modulator of the Polo-like kinase 1 pathway, in adult patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: We conducted a first-in-man (to our knowledge) phase I study to determine the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), characterize the pharmacokinetic profile, and document any antitumor activity of ON 01910.Na, a new chemical entity that arrests cancer cells in G(2)/M by modulating mitotic regulatory pathways including polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1).

Patients And Methods: Patients had solid tumors refractory to standard therapy.

Antitumor activity and molecular effects of the novel heat shock protein 90 inhibitor, IPI-504, in pancreatic cancer.

Targeting Hsp90 is an attractive strategy for anticancer therapy because the diversity and relevance of biological processes are regulated by these proteins in most cancers. However, the role and mode of action of Hsp90 inhibitors in pancreatic cancer has not been studied. This study aimed to assess the antitumor activity of the Hsp90 inhibitor, IPI-504, in pancreatic cancer and to determine the biological effects of the agent.

Response to endothelin-1 in arteries from human colorectal tumours: role of endothelin receptors.

To examine the reaction of tumour arteries to endothelin-1, we obtained arteries supplying blood flow to colorectal tumours from patients, as well as mesenteric arteries supplying the normal colon tissue from the same patients and mesenteric arteries from patients without a colorectal tumour pathology. The contraction in response to endothelin-1 and the relaxation produced by bradykinin was recorded in each of these arteries. Accordingly, the sensitivity to endothelin-1 but not the maximal response, was higher in the arteries supplying colorectal tumours than in mesenteric arteries supplying normal colon or in mesenteric arteries from patients with no tumour pathology.

Activated epidermal growth factor receptor as a novel target in pancreatic cancer therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most fatal among all solid malignancies. Targeted therapeutic approaches have the potential to transform cancer therapy as exemplified by the success of several tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Prompted by this, comprehensive profiling of tyrosine kinases and their substrates was carried out using a panel of low passage pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Novel microtubule-interacting phenoxy pyridine and phenyl sulfanyl pyridine analogues for cancer therapy.

Current microtubule inhibitory agents used in the clinic to treat cancer have severe side effects, and development of resistance is frequent. We have evaluated the antitumor effect of a novel 30-compound library of phenoxy pyridine and phenyl sulfanyl pyridine derivatives. MTT assays revealed that, of all 30 compounds tested, compounds 2 and 3 showed the largest decrease in proliferation (low muM range) against Panc1 and HS766T human pancreatic cancer cells.

Core signaling pathways in human pancreatic cancers revealed by global genomic analyses.

There are currently few therapeutic options for patients with pancreatic cancer, and new insights into the pathogenesis of this lethal disease are urgently needed. Toward this end, we performed a comprehensive genetic analysis of 24 pancreatic cancers. We first determined the sequences of 23,219 transcripts, representing 20,661 protein-coding genes, in these samples.

A phase I study of EKB-569 in combination with capecitabine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), characterize the principal toxicities, and assess the pharmacokinetics of EKB-569, an oral selective irreversible inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase, in combination with capecitabine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Experimental Design: Patients were treated with EKB-569 daily for 21 days and capecitabine twice daily for 14 days of a 21-day cycle. The dose levels of EKB-569 (mg/day) and capecitabine (mg/m(2) twice daily) assessed were 25/750, 50/750, 50/1,000 and 75/1,000.

Pharmacodynamic-guided modified continuous reassessment method-based, dose-finding study of rapamycin in adult patients with solid tumors.

Purpose: Pharmacodynamic studies are frequently incorporated into phase I trials, but it is uncommon that they guide dose selection. We conducted a dose selection study with daily rapamycin (sirolimus) in patients with solid tumors employing a modified continuous reassessment method (mCRM) using real-time pharmacodynamic data as primary dose-estimation parameter.

Patients And Methods: We adapted the mCRM logit function from its classic toxicity-based input data to a pharmacodynamic-based input.

Analysis of fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation after pancreaticoduodenectomy for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: results of a large, prospectively collected database at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of adjuvant chemoradiotherapy after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) in patients undergoing resection at Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH; Baltimore, MD).

Patients And Methods: Between August 30, 1993, and February 28, 2005, a total of 908 patients underwent PD for PC at JHH. A prospective database was reviewed to determine which patients received fluorouracil (FU) -based CRT.

Genome-wide profiling of methylated promoters in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: Many genes undergo aberrant methylation in human cancers, and microarray platforms enable more comprehensive profiling of aberrant DNA methylation patterns.

Results: 1,010 of 87,922 probes on the 88 K promoter array (606 genes) had a higher signal (log(2) > 2) in the pancreatic cancer line, Panc-1 compared to the non-neoplastic pancreatic duct line, HPDE. Using this cut-off, bisulfite sequencing and/or MSP confirmed differential methylation of all 27 genes (66 probes) predicted to be methylated by the MCA array.

Determination of salirasib (S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid) in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) assay was developed for the quantitative determination of salirasib (S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid, FTS) in human plasma. Sample pretreatment involved liquid-liquid extraction with methyl t-butyl ether of 0.5-mL aliquots of lithium heparin plasma spiked with the internal standard, S-trans,trans-5-fluoro-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (5-F-FTS).

Methylation alterations are not a major cause of PTTG1 misregulation.

Background: On its physiological cellular context, PTTG1 controls sister chromatid segregation during mitosis. Within its crosstalk to the cellular arrest machinery, relies a checkpoint of integrity for which gained the over name of securin. PTTG1 was found to promote malignant transformation in 3T3 fibroblasts, and further found to be overexpressed in different tumor types.

Coordinated epidermal growth factor receptor pathway gene overexpression predicts epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor sensitivity in pancreatic cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib is approved for treatment of pancreatic cancer but the overall activity is minimal, and known predictive factors for EGFR inhibitor efficacy are infrequent in this disease. We tested the hypothesis that global activation of the EGFR pathway is predictive of EGFR inhibitor efficacy. Pancreatic cancer tumors directly xenografted at surgery were treated with the EGFR inhibitors erlotinib and cetuximab and analyzed for biological features.

Phase I trial of weekly trabectedin (ET-743) and gemcitabine in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Purpose: To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of trabectedin plus gemcitabine administered on a weekly schedule in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Methods: Patients with ECOG performance status 0-1 and adequate organ function were enrolled. On days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle, patients received gemcitabine (starting dose, 800 mg/m(2)) followed by trabectedin (starting dose, 0.

EGFR inhibitor-mediated apoptosis in solid tumors.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays an important role in the development and progression of solid tumors. Growing evidence suggests that EGFR activation also mediates resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Studies elucidating the biochemical basis of these observations have demonstrated that EGFR inhibition down-modulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) or PI3-K/Akt-dependent survival pathways in many tumor types and is associated with a proapoptotic shift in Bcl-2 expression and/or activation.

Exploiting novel molecular targets in gastrointestinal cancers.

Novel molecular targets are being discovered as we learn more about the aberrant processes underlying various cancers. Efforts to translate this knowledge are starting to impact on the care of patients with gastrointestinal cancers. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and angiogenesis have been targeted successfully in colorectal cancer with cetuximab, panitunumab and bevacizumab.

A randomized, phase II trial of two dose levels of temsirolimus (CCI-779) in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer who have responding or stable disease after induction chemotherapy: a trial of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (E1500).

Hypothesis: To study the progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity with 25- or 250-mg doses of temsirolimus (CCI-779) after induction chemotherapy in patients with extensive small-cell lung cancer.

Methods: Patients with either stable or responding disease to four to six cycles of cisplatin or carboplatin plus etoposide or irinotecan were randomized between 4 and 8 weeks after completion of induction therapy to receive either 25 or 250 mg of temsirolimus intravenously every week until disease progression.

Results: Eighty-seven patients entered between January 2002 and December 2003, of whom 85 were eligible: 44 received 25 mg (arm A), and 41 received 250 mg (arm B).

Expression of epiregulin and amphiregulin and K-ras mutation status predict disease control in metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with cetuximab.

Purpose: The antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody cetuximab shows activity in multiple epithelial tumor types; however, responses are seen in only a subset of patients. This study was conducted to identify markers that are associated with disease control in patients treated with cetuximab.

Patients And Methods: One hundred ten patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled onto a cetuximab monotherapy trial.

Pyrosequencing protocol using a universal biotinylated primer for mutation detection and SNP genotyping.

DNA sequencing has markedly changed the nature of biomedical research, identifying millions of polymorphisms along the human genome that now require further analysis to study the genetic basis of human diseases. Among the DNA-sequencing platforms available, Pyrosequencing has become a useful tool for medium-throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, mutation detection, copy-number studies and DNA methylation analysis. Its 96-well genotyping format allows reliable results to be obtained at reasonable costs in a few minutes.

Morphometric classification of Spanish thoroughbred stallion sperm heads.

This work used semen samples collected from 12 stallions and assessed for sperm morphometry by the Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA) computer-assisted system. A discriminant analysis was performed on the morphometric data from that sperm to obtain a classification matrix for sperm head shape. Thereafter, we defined six types of sperm head shape.