The Anticancer Potential of Quassinoids-A Mini-Review

The anticancer potential of quassinoids has attracted a great deal of attention for decades,and scientific data revealing their possible applications in cancer management are continuously increasing in the literature.Aside from the potent cytotoxic and antitumor properties of these degraded triterpenes,several quassinoids have exhibited synergistic effects with anticancer drugs.This article provides an overview of the potential anticancer properties of quassinoids,including their cytotoxic and antitumor activities,mechanisms of action,safety evaluation,and potential benefits in combination with anticancer drugs.

Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Anticancer Drug-Induced Interstitial Lung Disease

Drug-induced interstitial lung disease(DILD)is the most common pulmonary adverse event of anticancer drugs.In recent years,the incidence of anticancer DILD has gradually increased with the rapid development of novel anticancer agents.Due to the diverse clinical manifestations and the lack of specific diagnostic criteria,DILD is difficult to diagnose and may even become fatal if not treated properly.Herein,a multidisciplinary group of experts from oncology,respiratory,imaging,pharmacology,pathology,and radiology departments in China has reached the“expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of anticancer DILD”after several rounds of a comprehensive investigation.This consensus aims to improve the awareness of clinicians and provide recommendations for the early screening,diagnosis,and treatment of anticancer DILD.This consensus also emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration while managing DILD.

Comparison of Anticancer Drug Preparation Techniques between Chemotherapy Specialist Pharmacists and Non-Chemotherapy Pharmacists Using Eye-Tracking Techniques

Anticancer drug preparation by pharmacists is a critical task directly related to medical incidents. This study examined the factors influencing medical errors in chemotherapy, that is, errors by specialist pharmacists (CPh) and pharmacists in other departments (NCPh), by measuring their gaze during the preparation of anticancer drugs. The eye-tracking results showed that the gazing time of NCPh was significantly longer than that of CPh for items such as “preparation of a closed-system device” and “preparation of the syringe” and all preparation times (P < 0.05). The NCPh were not assigned to prepare drugs on a regular basis, indicating their lack of familiarity with the process. There was no significant difference in gaze ratio between CPh and NCPh. This outcome was suggested to be a result of the use of an anticancer drug preparation support system. The results for the pupil diameter variation rate showed that NCPh were significantly more mydriatic in the “mixing injections” category than CPh. However, CPh tended to be more mydriatic in the “checking” category. CPh exhibited a smooth workflow and focused on the important items to be checked. This study showed that the differences in procedure flow and concentration points may lead to errors. Furthermore, the results are of interest from the perspective of medical incident prevention. They will be useful in identifying potential human factors, such as where the pharmacist focuses their attention by measuring eye movements.

Targeting cancer cytoskeleton: the mechanical properties of natural anticancerdrugs

Anticancer drugs are one of the most direct means of cancer therapy.However,the various cancer progressions hamper the development and discovery of anticancer drugs.In fact,the mechanical properties of the tumor cytoskeleton are extremely vital for any phase of cancer,especially in tumor invasion and metastasis.However,in the current category of anticancer drugs,the cytoskeleton-targeting drugs are limited and their role in tumor progression is unclear.Here,we present the mechanical characteristics of tumor stiffness that are tightly regulated by the cancer cytoskeleton,including actin filaments and microtubules during tumor initiation,growth and metastasis,and review the natural drugs that target the cancer cytoskeleton.We define cytoskeleton dynamics as target mechanisms for anticancer drugs and summarize the plant,microbial and marine sources of natural products.Furthermore,this paper also provides a material pathway to study active tumor mechanics,and introduces the unique advantages and future application potential of tumor cytoskeleton-targeting drugs in clinical use.The material approaches to active cancer mechanics are supplied in this review.We aim to promote the development of anticancer drugs that target tumor mechanics by using those material approaches and finding their pharmacological application.

Anticancer Drugs ( Ⅳ )——New Derivatives of Podophyllotoxin

Four new derivatives of podophyllotoxin, N'-podophyllic acid-N-[3-(2, 2, 5, 5-te-tramethyl-pyrrolinenyloxy)] semicarbazide(GP-11, 6), podophyllic acid [3-(2,2,5,5-te-tramethyl-pyrrolinenyloxy)]hydrazone (GP-12, 7), podophyllic acid-[4-(2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-1-hydroxy piperidine)]hydrazone(GP-1-OH, 8) and podophyllic acid[4-(2,2, 6, 6-tetramethyl piperidine)]hydrazone(GP-1-H, 9) were synthesized. The inhibition effect of the four new compounds on L-1210 cells were determined. The antitumor activity and toxicity of GP-1(2), GP-1-OH(8), GP-1-H(9) and VP-16-213(1) were discussed.

Deep lingual arterial chemoembolization of tongue carcinoma with microcapsuled anticancer drug

Objective: Microcapsule chemoembolism is a promising treatment of tumors. We describe a deep lingual arterial embolization of tongue carcinoma with microcapsuled carboplatinum. Methods: Lingual artery cast specimens from cadavers were microscopically examined, and 78 patients with tongue cancer were recruited and treated with the deep lingual arterial embolization therapy. Results: Microcapsule embolism occurred approximately at the fifth or sixth level of the deep lingual artery branches. The five-year survival rate was 88.5% (69 out of 78), and the ten-year survival rate 52.6% (41 out of 78). Conclusion: The deep lingual arterial embolization of tongue carcinoma with microcapsuled carboplatinum is an effective therapy to treat carcinoma in mid-margin or mid-body of the tongue.

Anticancer Drugs (V)─—Synthesis of Etoposide Derivatives

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Research progress in nanoparticles as anticancer drug carrier

Nanoparticles drug delivery system has sustained and controlled release features as well as targeted drug delivery, which can change the characteristics of drug distribution in vivo. It can increase the stability of the drug and enhance drug bioavailability. The selective targeting of nanoparticles can be achieved through enhanced permeability and retention effect and a conjugated specific ligand or through the effects of physiological conditions, such as pH and temperature. Nanoparticles can be prepared by using a wide range of materials and can be used to encapsulate chemotherapeutic agents to reduce toxicity, which can be used for imaging, therapy, and diagnosis. In this research, recent progress on nanoparticles as a targeted drug delivery system will be reviewed, including positive-targeting, negative-targeting, and physicochemical-targeting used as anticancer drug carriers.

Overview of Research and Development for Anticancer Drugs

Anticancer drugs research and development have been the largest market area in the pharmaceutical industry in terms of the number of project, clinical trials and spending. In the last 10 - 30 years, targeting therapy for cancers has been developed and achieved enormous clinical effectiveness by transforming some previously deadly malignancies into chronically manageable conditions, but cure problem still remains. This mini review outlined the current status of anticancer drugs development and hinted the opinions of how to further increase the accuracy and efficacy of discovery for cancer treatment.

Inorganic nanoparticles for hydrophobic anticancer drug delivery

OBJECTIVE Many drug candidates identified from natural products are poorly water-soluble.The surfactants used to disperse the hydrophobic anticancer drugs in water may cause a serious of acute hypersensitivity reactions.Nanotechnology provides an alternative strategy for delivery of anticancer drugs.In the present study,different inorganic nanoparticles are utilized as hydrophobic anticancer drug carriers.METHODS Different inorganic superparamagnetic iron oxide,platinum and gold nanoparticles were synthesized.The hydrophobic anticancer drugs such as curcumin,gambogic acid and doxorubicin(DOX)base were loaded into the porous area or onto the surface of the nanoparticles.Cellular uptake and biocompatibility of nanoparticles were studied in human glioblastoma U-87 MG cells.The anticancer effect of drug loaded nanoparticles was compared with that of free drugs.Photothermal conversion of platinum and gold nanoparticles was studied by irradiation of nanoparticles with a near-infrared laser.RESULTS The synthesized nanoparticles are readily internalized by U-87 MG cells,and the internalized nanoparticles are mainly localized in endosomes/lysosomes in cells.The nanoparticle-based drug carrier provides the aqueous dispersions of the hydrophobic drugs.In endosomes/lysosomes mimicking buffers with a pH of 4.5-5.5,pH-dependent drug release was observed from drug loaded nanoparticles.The intracellular drug content and cytotoxicity are significantly higher for drug loaded nanoparticles than free drug.Photothermal treatment has a synergistic effect on drug′s anticancer activity.CONCLUSION These results suggested inorganic nanoparticles is a promising intracellular carrier for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.

Serendipity in anticancer drug discovery

It was found that the discovery of 5.8%(84/1437) of all drugs on the market involved serendipity. Of these drugs, 31(2.2%) were discovered following an incident in the laboratory and 53(3.7%) were discovered in a clinical setting. In addition, 263(18.3%) of the pharmaceuticals in clinical use today are chemical derivatives of the drugs discovered with the aid of serendipity. Therefore, in total, 24.1%(347/1437) of marketed drugs can be directly traced to serendipitous events confirming the importance of this elusive phenomenon. In the case of anticancer drugs, 35.2%(31/88) can be attributed to a serendipitous event, which is somewhat larger than for all drugs. The therapeutic field that has benefited the most from serendipity are central nervous system active drugs reflecting the difficulty in designing compounds to pass the blood-brain-barrier and the lack of laboratory-based assays for many of the diseases of the mind.

Self-assembly Polyrotaxanes Nanoparticles as Carriers for Anticancer Drug Methotrexate Delivery

α-Cyclodextrin/poly(ethylene glycol)(α-CD/PEG) polyrotaxane nanoparticles were prepared via a self-assembly method. Anticancer drug methotrexate(MTX) was loaded in the nanoparticles. The interaction between MTX and polyrotaxane was investigated. The formation, morphology, drug release and in vitro anticancer activity of the MTX loaded polyrotaxane nanoparticles were studied. The results show that the MTX could be efficiently absorbed on the nanoparticles, and hydrogen bonds were formed between MTX andα-CDs. The typical channel-type stacking assembly style of polyrotaxane nanoparticles was changed after MTX was loaded. The mean diameter of drug loaded polyrotaxane nanoparticles were around 200 nm and the drug loading content was as high as about 20%. Drug release profiles show that most of the loaded MTX was released within 8 hours and the cumulated release rate was as high as 98%. The blank polyrotaxane nanoparticles were nontoxicity to cells. The in vitro anticancer activity of the MTX loaded polyrotaxane nanoparticles was higher than that of free MTX.

Body Composition as A Determinant of Pharmacokinetics and Toxicity of Anticancer Drugs

Chemotherapy-induced toxicity,resulting from inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics is emerging as a highly active area of investigation.Body composition analysis,primarily concerning the amount of fat mass(FM)and lean body mass(LBM),has provided a proof-concept that the inter-individual variability in pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles may be partially explained by the discrepancies of FM and LBM in patients.Recent research suggests a close relationship among body composition,pharmacokinetics and toxicity of anticancer drugs.Because LBM and FM,significantly influence the exposure to drugs,they are considered as the promising predictors of chemotherapy-induced toxicity and a potential basis for optimizing the dosing of oncology drugs and the outcomes.Our review summarizes the recent studies rendering the aforementioned correlations to highlight that a critical evaluation of body composition has initiated a new era for dose standardization.

The synthesis of potential anticancer drugs related to mitoxantrone

ABSTRACT In an attempt at a rational design for anticancer drugs, two new potential anticancer compounds related to mitoxantrone were prepared. Compounds 4. 1.4-dihydroxy-6-aminoethyl-9.10-anthracenedione was synthesized in 6 steps starting with 4-methyl-phthalic acid, and compound 5, 2(4-aminobutyl)-l 4-dihvdroxv-9,10-anthracenedione was synthesized in 5 steps from N-3-bromopropylphthalimide.

Analysis of a Questionnaire Survey regarding Current Conditions against Exposure to Anticancer Drugs and Reports of Cancer Chemotherapy at Outpatient Departments in Japan

[Background] Medical staff have many occasions to be exposed to anticancer drugs (ACDs) in the process of performing cancer chemotherapy. Although guidelines for the safe handling of ACDs have been published, actual measures against exposure to ACDs differ between hospitals, and no surveillance data regarding the conditions of each hospital in relation to performing chemotherapy in Japan are available. [Methods] To understand current measures against exposure to ACDs and problems related to cancer chemotherapy at outpatient departments, we conducted a questionnaire survey on doctors, pharmacists, and nurses in 10 leading hospitals for cancer chemotherapy in Japan. [Results] Responses were received from all 10 institutions. The hospital pharmacists prepared all ACDs for outpatients in each institution. All hospitals took basic measures against ACD exposure, such as using personal protective equipment and penetration-resistant waste containers. Conditions against exposure to ACDs generally improved between 2012 and 2015, especially in terms of conveyance of ACDs and use of a closed-system drug transfer device. However, no measures linking ACDs with administration routes or injection sites were commonly taken in any of the hospitals in 2015. [Conclusions] Conditions against ACD exposure improved between 2012 and 2015, possibly because new guidelines were issued. To improve measures for ACD exposure in Japan, preparing more appropriate manuals and offering more opportunities to medical staff for continuing education are considered important.

Hollow-structured nanoparticles as an anticancer drug carrier

Many drug candidates identified from natural products are poorly water-soluble.The surfactants used to disperse the hydrophobic anticancer drugs in water may cause a serious of acute hypersensitivity reactions.Nanotechnology provides an alternative strategy for delivery of anticancer drugs.Drugs can be encapsulated or attached to the nanomaterials such as lipids,polymers and solid-core nanoparticles.In the present study,porous inorganic nanoparticles have been utilized for delivery of water-insoluble anticancer drugs.The synthesized nanoparticles were functionalized with different organic polymers.The porous nanoparticles were readily internalized by human glioblastoma U-87 MG cells,and didn′t display cytotoxicity.The internalized nanoparticles were mainly localized in endosomes/lysosomes in cells.With the hydrophobic curcumin and carfilzomib as model drugs,intracellular delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs by the porous inorganic nanoparticles was studied.The porous nanoparticle-based encapsulation of hydrophobic drug provides the aqueous dispersion of the drugs.In endosomes/lysosomes mimicking buffers with a pH of 4.5-5.5,pH-dependent drug release was observed from drug loaded nanoparticles.The intracellular drug content and cytotoxicity were significantly higher for drug loaded nanoparticles than free drug.These results suggested porous inorganic nanoparticles might be a promising intracellular carrier for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.

<i>In Vitro</i>Evaluation of Anticancer Drugs with Kinetic and Static Alternating Cell Culture System

Variable bioreactors have been developed for the evaluation of anti-cancer drug efficacy. The Kinetic and Static Alternating Cell Culture System (KSACCS) combines the advantages of kinetic bioreactors and static cultures to improve cell growth by providing adequate metabolic support while minimizing shear-stress. In the current studies, the KSACCS in the ZYX Bioreactor could significantly increase the sensitivity of lung cancer cells (PLS008) and leukemia cells (HL60) to anticancer drugs Cisplatin and 5-FU by accelerating the apoptosis of cancer cells. It was also shown that excessive agitation of the cells could lead to severe cell damage, which resulted in a diminished sensitivity of anticancer drug evaluation, and co-culture systems tend to reduce the sensitivity of anticancer drug evaluation although it might better mimic in vivo conditions.

Molecular interactions between anticancer drugs and iodinated contrast media: An in vitro spectroscopic study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess molecular interactions between several anticancer drugs and an iodinated contrast medium by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Materials and Methods: Iopamidol (IPM) was used as an iodinated contrast medium, and mitomycin C (MTI), epirubicin hydrochloride (EPI), cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5FU), irinotecan hydrochloride (CPT11), gemcitabine hydrochloride (dFdC), carboplatin (CBDCA), oxaliplatin (1OHP), paclitaxel hydrochloride (TAX) and docetaxel trihydrate (TXT) were used as anticancer drugs. For FT-IR, the purified IPM was mixed stoichiometrically with each anticancer drug as well as with a combination of MTI and EPI. After measuring each separated sample and the mixtures, the spectra of the mixtures were compared with the spectra of the sum of pure samples or the combination. For UV-Vis, IPM and anticancer drugs were dissolved in pure water;subsequently for the titration experiments, the mixtures were prepared by varying the molar ratio. IR absorption corresponds to stretching vibrations between atoms having covalent bonding, whereas UV-Vis spectra depend on molecular dynamics and shapes. Both UV-Vis and IR spectra change when there are molecular interactions such as aromatic ring stacking and hydrogen bonding. Result: IPM exhibited molecular interactions with MTI, EPI, CDDP, dFdC, CBDCA, 1OHP, TAX and TXT, as well as with the combination of MTI and EPI on FT-IR. However, molecular interactions were not observed on UV-Vis. Conclusion: Several anticancer drugs have molecular interactions with IPM, which could be clinically utilized for superselective intraarterial infusion chemotherapy.

Determination of Impurity Silicon in Anticancer Drug (Ge-132) by Electrothermally Atomised Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Optical Temperature Control Accessory

The present paper describes the ashing and atomization processes in silicon analysis by electrothermally atomised atomic absorption spectrometry(EAAAS) with an uncoat-ed graphite tube, a pyrolytically coated graphite tube and a tungsten-coated graphitetube. The sensitivity and linear range of three graphite tubes were compared. By using optical temperature control accessory, the signals are enhanced by a factor of 2 and the germanium interferences in the determination of silicon are eliminated. The effects of time constant and carrier gas flow-rate on the determination of silicon were also tested. The sample can be directly analyzed in its aqueous solution without any pretreatment. The measurements of samples containing 0. 2 μg/mL and 0. 4 μg/mL silicon were run ten times and the variation coefficient is 4. 9% and 2.6%, respectively. The recovery tests for carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide(Ge-132) synthesized and imported were performed, and the recoveries are 97. 0% and 110%, respectively. Keywords Carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide, Electrothermally atomised atomic absorption spectrometry, Silicon

PROGRESS OF RESEARCH IN THE PREPARATION OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL AND HERBAL DRUGS WITH ANTICANCER ACTIVITY

Research into anticancer substances madefrom Chinese herbal drugs and their clinicalapplication is gaining international attention bythe medical profession of the more than 20analogues of camptothecine isolated from Camp-totheca tree in China, most exhibited anticanceractivity. Among them, 10-hydroxycamptothe-cine has a wide anticancer spectrum and is lesstoxic. In suspension, it exhibits some therapeu-tic effects on primary hepatic cancer, gastriccarcinoma, cancer of the urinary bladder andleukemia.