Sample records for acquired tamoxifen resistance

  1. Proteomic analysis of acquired tamoxifen resistance in MCF-7 cells reveals expression signatures associated with enhanced migration

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Introduction Acquired tamoxifen resistance involves complex signaling events that are not yet fully understood. Successful therapeutic intervention to delay the onset of hormone resistance depends critically on mechanistic elucidation of viable molecular targets associated with hormone resistance. This study was undertaken to investigate the global proteomic alterations in a tamoxifen resistant MCF-7 breast cancer cell line obtained by long term treatment of the wild type MCF-7 cell line with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OH Tam). Methods We cultured MCF-7 cells with 4-OH Tam over a period of 12 months to obtain the resistant cell line. A gel-free, quantitative proteomic method was used to identify and quantify the proteome of the resistant cell line. Nano-flow high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry was used to analyze fractionated peptide mixtures that were isobarically labeled from the resistant and control cell lysates. Real time quantitative PCR and Western blots were used to verify selected proteomic changes. Lentiviral vector transduction was used to generate MCF-7 cells stably expressing S100P. Online pathway analysis was performed to assess proteomic signatures in tamoxifen resistance. Survival analysis was done to evaluate clinical relevance of altered proteomic expressions. Results Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed a wide breadth of signaling events during transition to acquired tamoxifen resistance. A total of 629 proteins were found significantly changed with 364 up-regulated and 265 down-regulated. Collectively, these changes demonstrated the suppressed state of estrogen receptor (ER) and ER-regulated genes, activated survival signaling and increased migratory capacity of the resistant cell line. The protein S100P was found to play a critical role in conferring tamoxifen resistance and enhanced cell motility. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that the adaptive changes in the proteome of

  2. AIB1 is required for the acquisition of epithelial growth factor receptor-mediated tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhao Wenhui; Zhang Qingyuan; Kang Xinmei

    2009-03-13

    Acquired resistance to tamoxifen has become a serious obstacle in breast cancer treatment. The underlying mechanism responsible for this condition has not been completely elucidated. In this study, a tamoxifen-resistant (Tam-R) MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was developed to mimic the occurrence of acquired tamoxifen resistance as seen in clinical practice. Increased expression levels of HER1, HER2 and the estrogen receptor (ER)-AIB1 complex were found in tamoxifen-resistant cells. EGF stimulation and gefitinib inhibition experiments further demonstrated that HER1/HER2 signaling and AIB1 were involved in the proliferation of cells that had acquired Tam resistance. However, when AIB1 was silenced with AIB1-siRNAmore » in Tam-R cells, the cell growth stimulated by the HER1/HER2 signaling pathway was significantly reduced, and the cells were again found to be inhibited by tamoxifen. These results suggest that the AIB1 protein could be a limiting factor in the HER1/HER2-mediated hormone-independent growth of Tam-R cells. Thus, AIB1 may be a new therapeutic target, and the removal of AIB1 may decrease the crosstalk between ER and the HER1/HER2 pathway, resulting in the restoration of tamoxifen sensitivity in tamoxifen-resistant cells.« less

  3. Phosphoproteomic Analysis Identifies Focal Adhesion Kinase 2 (FAK2) as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer*

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Xinyan; Zahari, Muhammad Saddiq; Renuse, Santosh; Nirujogi, Raja Sekhar; Kim, Min-Sik; Manda, Srikanth S.; Stearns, Vered; Gabrielson, Edward; Sukumar, Saraswati; Pandey, Akhilesh

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor-α (ER) antagonist, is an important agent for the treatment of breast cancer. However, this therapy is complicated by the fact that a substantial number of patients exhibit either de novo or acquired resistance. To characterize the signaling mechanisms underlying this resistance, we treated the MCF7 breast cancer cell line with tamoxifen for over six months and showed that this cell line acquired resistance to tamoxifen in vitro and in vivo. We performed SILAC-based quantitative phosphoproteomic profiling on the tamoxifen resistant and vehicle-treated sensitive cell lines to quantify the phosphorylation alterations associated with tamoxifen resistance. From >5600 unique phosphopeptides identified, 1529 peptides exhibited hyperphosphorylation and 409 peptides showed hypophosphorylation in the tamoxifen resistant cells. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that focal adhesion pathway was one of the most enriched signaling pathways activated in tamoxifen resistant cells. Significantly, we showed that the focal adhesion kinase FAK2 was not only hyperphosphorylated but also transcriptionally up-regulated in tamoxifen resistant cells. FAK2 suppression by specific siRNA knockdown or a small molecule inhibitor repressed cellular proliferation in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. More importantly, our survival analysis revealed that high expression of FAK2 is significantly associated with shorter metastasis-free survival in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen. Our studies suggest that FAK2 is a potential therapeutic target for the management of hormone-refractory breast cancers. PMID:26330541

  4. Identification of a putative protein profile associating with tamoxifen therapy resistance in breast cancer

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Umar, Arzu; Kang, Hyuk; Timmermans, A. M.

    2009-06-01

    Tamoxifen-resistance is a major cause of death in patients with recurrent breast cancer. Current clinical factors can correctly predict therapy response in only half of the treated patients. Identification of proteins that associate with tamoxifen-resistance is a first step towards better response prediction and tailored treatment of patients. In the present study we intended to identify putative protein biomarkers indicative of tamoxifen therapy-resistance in breast cancer, using nanoLC coupled with FTICR MS. Comparative proteome analysis was performed on ~5,500 pooled tumor cells (corresponding to ~550 ng protein lysate/analysis) obtained through laser capture microdissection (LCM) from two independently processed data setsmore » (n=24 and n=27) containing both tamoxifen therapy-sensitive and therapy-resistant tumors. Peptides and proteins were identified by matching mass and elution time of newly acquired LC-MS features to information in previously generated accurate mass and time tag (AMT) reference databases.« less

  5. Tamoxifen resistance: from cell culture experiments towards novel biomarkers.

    PubMed

    Nass, Norbert; Kalinski, Thomas

    2015-03-01

    Tamoxifen is still the most frequently used antiestrogen for the treatment of patients with premenopausal, estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. However, in 20-30% of these cases, tamoxifen therapy fails due to an existing or developing resistance. The prediction of tamoxifen resistance by appropriate biomarker analysis and the development of novel therapies for tamoxifen resistance in premenopausal breast cancer is, therefore, an important goal of ongoing research. Tamoxifen resistance is associated with altered estrogen receptor expression especially on the plasma membrane, including the alternative G-protein coupled receptor GPR-30 (GPER) and estrogen receptor splice products, such as ERα36. Tamoxifen resistant cells often use alternative pathways to promote proliferation in the absence of genomic estrogen signaling. These pathways involve the epidermal growth factor EGF, the inflammation associated transcription factor NF-κB- and the IGF-1 pathway. Tamoxifen resistant mamma carcinoma cell lines are useful models to understand tamoxifen resistance in-vitro and to search for prognostic or predictive biomarkers. Furthermore, such cell lines can be used to identify potential targets for therapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  6. Sox2 promotes tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    Piva, Marco; Domenici, Giacomo; Iriondo, Oihana; Rábano, Miriam; Simões, Bruno M; Comaills, Valentine; Barredo, Inmaculada; López-Ruiz, Jose A; Zabalza, Ignacio; Kypta, Robert; Vivanco, Maria d M

    2014-01-01

    Development of resistance to therapy continues to be a serious clinical problem in breast cancer management. Cancer stem/progenitor cells have been shown to play roles in resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Here, we examined their role in the development of resistance to the oestrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen. Tamoxifen-resistant cells were enriched for stem/progenitors and expressed high levels of the stem cell marker Sox2. Silencing of the SOX2 gene reduced the size of the stem/progenitor cell population and restored sensitivity to tamoxifen. Conversely, ectopic expression of Sox2 reduced tamoxifen sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Gene expression profiling revealed activation of the Wnt signalling pathway in Sox2-expressing cells, and inhibition of Wnt signalling sensitized resistant cells to tamoxifen. Examination of patient tumours indicated that Sox2 levels are higher in patients after endocrine therapy failure, and also in the primary tumours of these patients, compared to those of responders. Together, these results suggest that development of tamoxifen resistance is driven by Sox2-dependent activation of Wnt signalling in cancer stem/progenitor cells. PMID:24178749

  7. Identification of a putative protein profile associated with tamoxifen therapy resistance in breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Umar, Arzu; Kang, Hyuk; Timmermans, Annemieke M; Look, Maxime P; Meijer-van Gelder, Marion E; den Bakker, Michael A; Jaitly, Navdeep; Martens, John W M; Luider, Theo M; Foekens, John A; Pasa-Tolić, Ljiljana

    2009-06-01

    Tamoxifen resistance is a major cause of death in patients with recurrent breast cancer. Current clinical factors can correctly predict therapy response in only half of the treated patients. Identification of proteins that are associated with tamoxifen resistance is a first step toward better response prediction and tailored treatment of patients. In the present study we intended to identify putative protein biomarkers indicative of tamoxifen therapy resistance in breast cancer using nano-LC coupled with FTICR MS. Comparative proteome analysis was performed on approximately 5,500 pooled tumor cells (corresponding to approximately 550 ng of protein lysate/analysis) obtained through laser capture microdissection (LCM) from two independently processed data sets (n = 24 and n = 27) containing both tamoxifen therapy-sensitive and therapy-resistant tumors. Peptides and proteins were identified by matching mass and elution time of newly acquired LC-MS features to information in previously generated accurate mass and time tag reference databases. A total of 17,263 unique peptides were identified that corresponded to 2,556 non-redundant proteins identified with > or = 2 peptides. 1,713 overlapping proteins between the two data sets were used for further analysis. Comparative proteome analysis revealed 100 putatively differentially abundant proteins between tamoxifen-sensitive and tamoxifen-resistant tumors. The presence and relative abundance for 47 differentially abundant proteins were verified by targeted nano-LC-MS/MS in a selection of unpooled, non-microdissected discovery set tumor tissue extracts. ENPP1, EIF3E, and GNB4 were significantly associated with progression-free survival upon tamoxifen treatment for recurrent disease. Differential abundance of our top discriminating protein, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, was validated by tissue microarray in an independent patient cohort (n = 156). Extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer levels were

  8. Oxidative stress contributes to the tamoxifen-induced killing of breast cancer cells: implications for tamoxifen therapy and resistance

    PubMed Central

    Bekele, Raie T.; Venkatraman, Ganesh; Liu, Rong-Zong; Tang, Xiaoyun; Mi, Si; Benesch, Matthew G. K.; Mackey, John R.; Godbout, Roseline; Curtis, Jonathan M.; McMullen, Todd P. W.; Brindley, David N.

    2016-01-01

    Tamoxifen is the accepted therapy for patients with estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-positive breast cancer. However, clinical resistance to tamoxifen, as demonstrated by recurrence or progression on therapy, is frequent and precedes death from metastases. To improve breast cancer treatment it is vital to understand the mechanisms that result in tamoxifen resistance. This study shows that concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites, which accumulate in tumors of patients, killed both ERα-positive and ERα-negative breast cancer cells. This depended on oxidative damage and anti-oxidants rescued the cancer cells from tamoxifen-induced apoptosis. Breast cancer cells responded to tamoxifen-induced oxidation by increasing Nrf2 expression and subsequent activation of the anti-oxidant response element (ARE). This increased the transcription of anti-oxidant genes and multidrug resistance transporters. As a result, breast cancer cells are able to destroy or export toxic oxidation products leading to increased survival from tamoxifen-induced oxidative damage. These responses in cancer cells also occur in breast tumors of tamoxifen-treated mice. Additionally, high levels of expression of Nrf2, ABCC1, ABCC3 plus NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone-1 in breast tumors of patients at the time of diagnosis were prognostic of poor survival after tamoxifen therapy. Therefore, overcoming tamoxifen-induced activation of the ARE could increase the efficacy of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer. PMID:26883574

  9. Differential effect of EGFR inhibitors on tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sangmin; Lee, Jeongmin; Oh, Soo Jin; Nam, Seok Jin; Lee, Jeong Eon

    2015-09-01

    Although tamoxifen is the most common and effective therapy for treatment of estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) breast cancer patients, resistance of endocrine therapy occurs, either de novo or acquired during therapy. Here, we investigated the clinical value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) patients and the differential effect of EGFR inhibitors, neratinib and gefitinib, on TamR breast cancer cell model. The morphology of TamR MCF7 cells showed mesenchymal phenotypes and did not induce cell death by tamoxifen treatment compared with tamoxifen‑sensitive (TamS) MCF7 cells. In addition, mesenchymal marker proteins, including N-cadherin (N-cad), fibronectin (FN), and Slug, significantly increased in TamR cells. In contrast, ER-α and E-cadherin (E-cad) were greatly decreased. We also found that the levels of EGFR and HER2 expression were increased in TamR cells. Furthermore, we observed that EGFR expression was directly involved with poor prognosis of tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients using the GSE1378 date set. Thus, we treated TamR and TamS cells with EGFR inhibitors, neratinib and gefitinib, respectively. Interestingly, neratinib induced apoptotic cell death of TamR but not gefitinib. Cleaved PARP-1 expression was also increased by neratinib treatment in TamR cells. Therefore, we suggest that neratinib may be a potential therapeutic drug for treating TamR breast cancer.

  10. Role of RBP2-Induced ER and IGF1R-ErbB Signaling in Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Choi, Hee-Joo; Joo, Hyeong-Seok; Won, Hee-Young; Min, Kyueng-Whan; Kim, Hyung-Yong; Son, Taekwon; Oh, Young-Ha; Lee, Jeong-Yeon; Kong, Gu

    2018-04-01

    Despite the benefit of endocrine therapy, acquired resistance during or after treatment still remains a major challenge in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. We investigated the potential role of histone demethylase retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (RBP2) in endocrine therapy resistance of breast cancer. Survival of breast cancer patients according to RBP2 expression was analyzed in three different breast cancer cohorts including METABRIC (n = 1980) and KM plotter (n = 1764). RBP2-mediated tamoxifen resistance was confirmed by invitro sulforhodamine B (SRB) colorimetric, colony-forming assays, and invivo xenograft models (n = 8 per group). RNA-seq analysis and receptor tyrosine kinase assay were performed to identify the tamoxifen resistance mechanism by RBP2. All statistical tests were two-sided. RBP2 was associated with poor prognosis to tamoxifen therapy in ER-positive breast cancer (P = .04 in HYU cohort, P = .02 in KM plotter, P = .007 in METABRIC, log-rank test). Furthermore, RBP2 expression was elevated in patients with tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer (P = .04, chi-square test). Knockdown of RBP2 conferred tamoxifen sensitivity, whereas overexpression of RBP2 induced tamoxifen resistance invitro and invivo (MCF7 xenograft: tamoxifen-treated control, mean [SD] tumor volume = 70.8 [27.9] mm3, vs tamoxifen-treated RBP2, mean [SD] tumor volume = 387.9 [85.1] mm3, P < .001). Mechanistically, RBP2 cooperated with ER co-activators and corepressors and regulated several tamoxifen resistance-associated genes, including NRIP1, CCND1, and IGFBP4 and IGFBP5. Furthermore, epigenetic silencing of IGFBP4/5 by RBP2-ER-NRIP1-HDAC1 complex led to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) activation. RBP2 also increased IGF1R-ErbB crosstalk and subsequent PI3K-AKT activation via demethylase activity-independent ErbB protein stabilization. Combinational treatment with tamoxifen and PI3K inhibitor could overcome RBP2-mediated tamoxifen

  11. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Tamoxifen Resistance in Luminal Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Abdel-Hafiz, Hany A

    2017-07-06

    Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cancer is the most frequent subtype representing more than 70% of breast cancers. These tumors respond to endocrine therapy targeting the ER pathway including selective ER modulators (SERMs), selective ER downregulators (SERDs) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs). However, resistance to endocrine therapy associated with disease progression remains a significant therapeutic challenge. The precise mechanisms of endocrine resistance remain unclear. This is partly due to the complexity of the signaling pathways that influence the estrogen-mediated regulation in breast cancer. Mechanisms include ER modifications, alteration of coregulatory function and modification of growth factor signaling pathways. In this review, we provide an overview of epigenetic mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive luminal breast cancer. We highlight the effect of epigenetic changes on some of the key mechanisms involved in tamoxifen resistance, such as tumor-cell heterogeneity, ER signaling pathway and cancer stem cells (CSCs). It became increasingly recognized that CSCs are playing an important role in driving metastasis and tamoxifen resistance. Understanding the mechanism of tamoxifen resistance will provide insight into the design of novel strategies to overcome the resistance and make further improvements in breast cancer therapeutics.

  12. C-Cbl reverses HER2-mediated tamoxifen resistance in human breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Li, Wei; Xu, Ling; Che, Xiaofang; Li, Haizhou; Zhang, Ye; Song, Na; Wen, Ti; Hou, Kezuo; Yang, Yi; Zhou, Lu; Xin, Xing; Xu, Lu; Zeng, Xue; Shi, Sha; Liu, Yunpeng; Qu, Xiujuan; Teng, Yuee

    2018-05-02

    Tamoxifen is a frontline therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer in premenopausal women. However, many patients develop resistance to tamoxifen, and the mechanism underlying tamoxifen resistance is not well understood. Here we examined whether ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation is involved in tamoxifen resistance. MTT and colony formation assays were used to measure cell viability and proliferation. Western blot was used to detect protein expression and protein complex formations were detected by immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence. SiRNA was used to examine the function of HER2 in of BT474 cells. An in vivo xenograft animal model was established to examine the role of c-Cbl in tumor growth. MTT and colony formation assay showed that BT474 cells are resistant to tamoxifen and T47D cells are sensitive to tamoxifen. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation in BT474 cells but not in T47D cells. However, ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation was detected after overexpressing HER2 in T47D cells and these cells were more resistant to tamoxifen. HER2 knockdown by siRNA in BT474 cells reduced ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation and reversed tamoxifen resistance. ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation was also disrupted and tamoxifen resistance was reversed in BT474 cells by the c-Src inhibitor PP2 and HER2 antibody trastuzumab. Nystatin, a lipid raft inhibitor, reduced ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation and partially reversed tamoxifen resistance. ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation was disrupted by overexpression of c-Cbl but not by the c-Cbl ubiquitin ligase mutant. In addition, c-Cbl could reverse tamoxifen resistance in BT474 cells, but the ubiquitin ligase mutant had no effect. The effect of c-Cbl was validated in BT474 tumor-bearing nude mice in vivo. Immunofluorescence also revealed ER-c-Src-HER2 complex formation was reduced in tumor tissues of nude mice with c-Cbl overexpression. Our results suggested that c-Cbl can reverse tamoxifen

  13. Proteomics of xenografted human breast cancer indicates novel targets related to tamoxifen resistance.

    PubMed

    Besada, Vladimir; Diaz, Maylin; Becker, Michael; Ramos, Yassel; Castellanos-Serra, Lila; Fichtner, Iduna

    2006-02-01

    Tamoxifen is the most frequently used drug for hormone therapy of breast cancer patients, even though a high percentage of women are (or become) refractory to this treatment. The proteins involved in tamoxifen resistance of breast tumor cells as well as the mechanisms by which they interact, are still unknown. Some years ago, we established the xenograft breast tumor 3366, sensitive to tamoxifen and the 3366/TAM, resistant to tamoxifen, derived after two years of in vivo passages of the parental 3366 under tamoxifen treatment. Here, we compare the protein expression levels of both xenografts. 2-DE of proteins from total cell extracts showed very high reproducibility among tumors from each group (tamoxifen sensitive and tamoxifen resistant). The heuristic clustering analysis of these gels pooled them correctly in both groups. Twelve proteins were found up-regulated in the tamoxifen-resistant line, while nine were down-regulated. The proteins differentially expressed were identified by MS and sequence database analysis. Biological functions of these proteins are related to cell-cell adhesion and interaction, signal transduction, DNA and protein synthesis machinery, mitochondrial respiratory chain, oxidative stress processes and apoptosis. Three of the identified proteins (ALG-2 interacting protein and two GDP-dissociation inhibitors) could be directly involved in the resistance phenomenon.

  14. Comparison of tamoxifen and letrozole response in mammary preneoplasia of ER and aromatase overexpressing mice defines an immune-associated gene signature linked to tamoxifen resistance

    PubMed Central

    Dabydeen, Sarah A.; Kang, Keunsoo; Díaz-Cruz, Edgar S.; Alamri, Ahmad; Axelrod, Margaret L.; Bouker, Kerrie B.; Al-Kharboosh, Rawan; Clarke, Robert; Hennighausen, Lothar; Furth, Priscilla A.

    2015-01-01

    Response to breast cancer chemoprevention can depend upon host genetic makeup and initiating events leading up to preneoplasia. Increased expression of aromatase and estrogen receptor (ER) is found in conjunction with breast cancer. To investigate response or resistance to endocrine therapy, mice with targeted overexpression of Esr1 or CYP19A1 to mammary epithelial cells were employed, representing two direct pathophysiological interventions in estrogen pathway signaling. Both Esr1 and CYP19A1 overexpressing mice responded to letrozole with reduced hyperplastic alveolar nodule prevalence and decreased mammary epithelial cell proliferation. CYP19A1 overexpressing mice were tamoxifen sensitive but Esr1 overexpressing mice were tamoxifen resistant. Increased ER expression occurred with tamoxifen resistance but no consistent changes in progesterone receptor, pSTAT3, pSTAT5, cyclin D1 or cyclin E levels in association with response or resistance were found. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to seek a transcriptome predictive of tamoxifen resistance using these models and a second tamoxifen-resistant model, BRCA1 deficient/Trp53 haploinsufficient mice. Sixty-eight genes associated with immune system processing were upregulated in tamoxifen-resistant Esr1- and Brca1-deficient mice, whereas genes related to aromatic compound metabolic process were upregulated in tamoxifen-sensitive CYP19A1 mice. Interferon regulatory factor 7 was identified as a key transcription factor regulating these 68 immune processing genes. Two loci encoding novel transcripts with high homology to human immunoglobulin lambda-like polypeptide 1 were uniquely upregulated in the tamoxifen-resistant models. Letrozole proved to be a successful alternative to tamoxifen. Further study of transcriptional changes associated with tamoxifen resistance including immune-related genes could expand our mechanistic understanding and lead to biomarkers predictive of escape or response to endocrine therapies

  15. Clinical evidence on the magnitude of change in growth pathway activity in relation to Tamoxifen resistance is required.

    PubMed

    Mansouri, Sepideh; Farahmand, Leila; Teymourzadeh, Azin; Majidzadeh-A, Keivan

    2017-08-08

    Despite prolonged disease-free survival and overall survival rates in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive patients undergoing adjuvant treatment, Tamoxifen therapy tends to fail due to eventual acquisition of resistance. Although numerous studies have emphasized the role of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in the development of Tamoxifen resistance, inadequate clinical evidence is available regarding the alteration of biomarker expression during acquired resistance, thus undermining the validity of the findings. Results of two meta-analyses investigating the effect of HER2 status on the prognosis of Tamoxifen-receiving patients have demonstrated that despite HER2-negative patients having longer disease-free survival; there is no difference in overhaul survival between the two groups. Furthermore, due to the intricate molecular interactions among estrogen receptors including ERα36, ERα66, and also RTKs, it is not surprising that RTK suppression does not restore Tamoxifen sensitivity. In considering such a complex network, we speculate that by the time HER2/EGFR is suppressed via targeted therapies, activation of ERα66 and ERα36 initiate molecular signaling pathways downstream of RTKs, thereby enhancing cell proliferation even in the presence of both Tamoxifen and RTK inhibitors. Although clinical findings regarding the molecular pathways downstream of RTKs have been thoroughly discussed in this review, further clinical studies are required in determining a consistency between preclinical and clinical findings. Discovering the best targets in preventing tumor progression requires thorough comprehension of estrogen-dependent and estrogen-independent pathways during Tamoxifen resistance development. Indeed, exploring additional clinically-proven targets would allow for better characterized treatments being available for breast cancer patients. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  16. G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPR30 and tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Ignatov, Atanas; Ignatov, Tanja; Weissenborn, Christine; Eggemann, Holm; Bischoff, Joachim; Semczuk, Andrzej; Roessner, Albert; Costa, Serban Dan; Kalinski, Thomas

    2011-07-01

    Recently, we have shown that the new G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor GPR30 plays an important role in the development of tamoxifen resistance in vitro. This study was undertaken to evaluate the correlation between GPR30 and tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients. GPR30 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis in 323 patients with primary operable breast cancer. The association between GPR30 expression and tamoxifen resistance was confirmed in a second cohort of 103 patients treated only with tamoxifen. Additionally, we evaluated GPR30 expression in 33 primary tumors and in recurrent tumors from the same patients. GPR30 expression was detected in 56.7% of the breast cancer specimens investigated and it correlated with overexpression of HER-2 (P = 0.021), EGFR (P = 0.024) and lymph node status (P = 0.047). In a first cohort, survival analysis showed that GPR30 was negatively correlated with relapse-free survival (RFS) only in patients treated with tamoxifen (tamoxifen with or without chemotherapy). GPR30 expression was associated with shorter RFS (HR = 1.768; 95% CI, 1.156-2.703; P = 0.009). In a subset of patients treated only with tamoxifen, multivariate analysis revealed that GPR30 expression is an independent unfavorable factor for RFS (HR = 4.440; 95% CI, 1.408-13.997; P = 0.011). In contrast, GPR30 tended to be a favorable factor regarding RFS in patients who did not receive tamoxifen. In 33 paired biopsies obtained before and after adjuvant therapy, GPR30 expression significantly increased only under tamoxifen treatment (P = 0.001). GPR30 expression in breast cancer independently predicts a poor RFS in patients treated with tamoxifen.

  17. Nuclear respiratory factor-1 and bioenergetics in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Radde, Brandie N.; Ivanova, Margarita M.; Mai, Huy Xuan

    Acquired tamoxifen (TAM) resistance is a significant clinical problem in treating patients with estrogen receptor α (ERα)+ breast cancer. We reported that ERα increases nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1), which regulates nuclear-encoded mitochondrial gene transcription, in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and NRF-1 knockdown stimulates apoptosis. Whether NRF-1 and target gene expression is altered in endocrine resistant breast cancer cells is unknown. We measured NRF-1and metabolic features in a cell model of progressive TAM-resistance. NRF-1 and its target mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) were higher in TAM-resistant LCC2 and LCC9 cells than TAM-sensitive MCF-7 cells. Using extracellular flux assays we observed thatmore » LCC1, LCC2, and LCC9 cells showed similar oxygen consumption rate (OCR), but lower mitochondrial reserve capacity which was correlated with lower Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex, Subunit B in LCC1 and LCC2 cells. Complex III activity was lower in LCC9 than MCF-7 cells. LCC1, LCC2, and LCC9 cells had higher basal extracellular acidification (ECAR), indicating higher aerobic glycolysis, relative to MCF-7 cells. Mitochondrial bioenergetic responses to estradiol and 4-hydroxytamoxifen were reduced in the endocrine-resistant cells compared to MCF-7 cells. These results suggest the acquisition of altered metabolic phenotypes in response to long term antiestrogen treatment may increase vulnerability to metabolic stress. - Highlights: • NRF-1 and TFAM expression are higher in endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells. • Oxygen consumption rate is similar in endocrine-sensitive and resistant cells. • Mitochondrial reserve capacity is lower in endocrine-resistant cells. • Endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells have increased glycolysis. • Bioenergetic responses to E2 and tamoxifen are lower in endocrine-resistant cells.« less

  18. Inhibition of Aerobic Glycolysis Represses Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α Axis and Restores Tamoxifen Sensitivity in Antiestrogen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells

    PubMed Central

    Woo, Yu Mi; Shin, Yubin; Lee, Eun Ji; Lee, Sunyoung; Jeong, Seung Hun; Kong, Hyun Kyung; Park, Eun Young; Kim, Hyoung Kyu; Han, Jin; Chang, Minsun; Park, Jong-Hoon

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen resistance is often observed in the majority of estrogen receptor–positive breast cancers and it remains as a serious clinical problem in breast cancer management. Increased aerobic glycolysis has been proposed as one of the mechanisms for acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancer cells such as adriamycin. Herein, we report that the glycolysis rates in LCC2 and LCC9—tamoxifen-resistant human breast cancer cell lines derived from MCF7— are higher than those in MCF7S, which is the parent MCF7 subline. Inhibition of key glycolytic enzyme such as hexokinase-2 resulted in cell growth retardation at higher degree in LCC2 and LCC9 than that in MCF7S. This implies that increased aerobic glycolysis even under O2-rich conditions, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, is closely associated with tamoxifen resistance. We found that HIF-1α is activated via an Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in LCC2 and LCC9 cells without hypoxic condition. Importantly, specific inhibition of hexokinase-2 suppressed the activity of Akt/mTOR/HIF-1α axis in LCC2 and LCC9 cells. In addition, the phosphorylated AMPK which is a negative regulator of mTOR was decreased in LCC2 and LCC9 cells compared to MCF7S. Interestingly, either the inhibition of mTOR activity or increase in AMPK activity induced a reduction in lactate accumulation and cell survival in the LCC2 and LCC9 cells. Taken together, our data provide evidence that development of tamoxifen resistance may be driven by HIF-1α hyperactivation via modulation of Akt/mTOR and/or AMPK signaling pathways. Therefore, we suggest that the HIF-1α hyperactivation is a critical marker of increased aerobic glycolysis in accordance with tamoxifen resistance and thus restoration of aerobic glycolysis may be novel therapeutic target for treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. PMID:26158266

  19. GPR30 as an initiator of tamoxifen resistance in hormone-dependent breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Mo, Zhiqiang; Liu, Manran; Yang, Fangfang; Luo, Haojun; Li, Zhenhua; Tu, Gang; Yang, Guanglun

    2013-11-29

    Tamoxifen is widely used to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer, but its therapeutic benefit is limited by the development of drug resistance. Here, we investigated the role of estrogen G-protein coupled receptor 30 (GPR30) on Tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. Primary tumors (PTs) of breast cancer and corresponding metastases (MTs) were used to evaluate the expression of GPR30 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunohistochemically. Tamoxifen-resistant (TAM-R) subclones derived from parent MCF-7 cells were used to investigate the role of GPR30 in the development of tamoxifen resistance, using MTT assay, western blot, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, ELISA and flow cytometry. TAM-R xenografts were established to assess anti-tumor effects of combination therapy with GPR30 antagonist G15 plus 4-hydroxytamoxifen (Tam), using tumor volume measurement and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). In 53 human breast cancer specimens, GPR30 expression in MTs increased compared to matched PTs; in MTs, the expression patterns of GPR30 and EGFR were closely related. Compared to parent MCF-7 cells, TAM-R cells had greater growth responses to 17β-estradiol (E2), GPR30 agonist G1 and Tam, and significantly higher activation of Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases; but this increased activity was abolished by G15 or AG1478. In TAM-R cells, GPR30 cell-surface translocation facilitated crosstalk with EGFR, and reduced cAMP generation, attenuating inhibition of EGFR signaling. Combination therapy both promoted apoptosis in TAM-R cells and decreased drug-resistant tumor progression. Long-term endocrine treatment facilitates the translocation of GPR30 to cell surfaces, which interferes with the EGFR signaling pathway; GPR30 also attenuates the inhibition of MAP kinases. These factors contribute to tamoxifen resistance development in breast cancer. Combination therapy with GPR30 inhibitors and tamoxifen may provide a new therapeutic option

  20. Role of GPR30 in the mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer MCF-7 cells.

    PubMed

    Ignatov, Atanas; Ignatov, Tanja; Roessner, Albert; Costa, Serban Dan; Kalinski, Thomas

    2010-08-01

    Tamoxifen is the most frequently used anti-hormonal drug for treatment of women with hormone-dependent breast cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism of tamoxifen resistance and the impact of the new estrogen G-protein coupled receptor (GPR30). MCF-7 cells were continuously exposed to tamoxifen for 6 months to induce resistance to the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen. These tamoxifen-resistant cells (TAM-R) exhibited enhanced sensitivity to 17-ss-estradiol and GPR30 agonist, G1, when compared to the parental cells. In TAM-R cells, tamoxifen was able to stimulate the cell growth and MAPK phosphorylation. These effects were abolished by EGFR inhibitor AG1478, GPR30 anti-sense oligonucleotide, and the selective c-Src inhibitor PP2. Only EGFR basal expression was slightly elevated in the TAM-R cells, whereas GPR30 expression and the basal phosphorylation of Akt and MAPK remained unchanged when compared to the parental cells. Interestingly, estrogen treatment significantly increased GPR30 translocation to the cell surface, which was stronger in TAM-R cells. Continuous treatment of MCF-7 cells with GPR30 agonist G1 mimics the long-term treatment with tamoxifen and increases drastically its agonistic activity. This data suggests the important role of GPR30/EGFR receptor signaling in the development of tamoxifen resistance. The inhibition of this pathway is a valid option to improve anti-hormone response in breast cancer.

  1. Mitochondrial “power” drives tamoxifen resistance: NQO1 and GCLC are new therapeutic targets in breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Fiorillo, Marco; Sotgia, Federica; Sisci, Diego; Cappello, Anna Rita; Lisanti, Michael P.

    2017-01-01

    Here, we identified two new molecular targets, which are functionally sufficient to metabolically confer the tamoxifen-resistance phenotype in human breast cancer cells. Briefly, ~20 proteins were first selected as potential candidates, based on unbiased proteomics analysis, using tamoxifen-resistant cell lines. Then, the cDNAs of the most promising candidates were systematically transduced into MCF-7 cells. Remarkably, NQO1 and GCLC were both functionally sufficient to autonomously confer a tamoxifen-resistant metabolic phenotype, characterized by i) increased mitochondrial biogenesis, ii) increased ATP production and iii) reduced glutathione levels. Thus, we speculate that pharmacological inhibition of NQO1 and GCLC may be new therapeutic strategies for overcoming tamoxifen-resistance in breast cancer patients. In direct support of this notion, we demonstrate that treatment with a known NQO1 inhibitor (dicoumarol) is indeed sufficient to revert the tamoxifen-resistance phenotype. As such, these findings could have important translational significance for the prevention of tumor recurrence in ER(+) breast cancers, which is due to an endocrine resistance phenotype. Importantly, we also show here that NQO1 has significant prognostic value as a biomarker for the prediction of tumor recurrence. More specifically, higher levels of NQO1 mRNA strongly predict patient relapse in high-risk ER(+) breast cancer patients receiving endocrine therapy (mostly tamoxifen; H.R. > 2.15; p = 0.007). PMID:28411284

  2. Antrodia cinnamomea extract inhibits the proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells through apoptosis and skp2/microRNAs pathway.

    PubMed

    Lin, Yu-Shih; Lin, Yin-Yin; Yang, Yao-Hsu; Lin, Chun-Liang; Kuan, Feng-Che; Lu, Cheng-Nan; Chang, Geng-He; Tsai, Ming-Shao; Hsu, Cheng-Ming; Yeh, Reming-Albert; Yang, Pei-Rung; Lee, I-Yun; Shu, Li-Hsin; Cheng, Yu-Ching; Liu, Hung-Te; Lee, Kuan-Der; Chang, De-Ching; Wu, Ching-Yuan

    2018-05-09

    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and affects 1.38 million women worldwide per year. Antiestrogens such as tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, are widely used in clinics to treat ER-positive breast tumors. However, remissions of breast cancer are often followed by resistance to tamoxifen and disease relapse. Despite the increasing understanding of the resistance mechanisms, effective regimens for treating tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer are limited. Antrodia cinnamomea is a traditional medicinal mushroom native only to Taiwan. In this study, we aimed to examine in vitro effect of antrodia cinnamomea in the tamoxifen-resistant cancer. Antrodia cinnamomea was studied for its biological activity against proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer by XTT assay. Next, the underlying mechanism was studied by flow cytometry, qPCR and Western's blotting assay. Our results revealed that the ethanol extract of antrodia cinnamomea (AC) can inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells, including MCF-7 cell and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cell lines. Combination treatment with AC and 10 - 6  M tamoxifen have the better inhibitory effect on the proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells than only AC did. AC can induce apoptosis in these breast cancer cells. Moreover, it can suppress the mRNA expression of skp2 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 2) by increasing the expressions of miR-21-5p, miR-26-5p, and miR-30-5p in MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 cells. These results suggest that the ethanol extract of antrodia cinnamomea could be a novel anticancer agent in the armamentarium of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer management. Moreover, we hope to identify additional pure compounds that could serve as promising anti-breast cancer candidates for further clinical trials.

  3. Acquisition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype in the tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell: a new role for G protein-coupled estrogen receptor in mediating tamoxifen resistance through cancer-associated fibroblast-derived fibronectin and β1-integrin signaling pathway in tumor cells.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Jie; Liu, Manran; Yang, Li; Tu, Gang; Zhu, Qing; Chen, Maoshan; Cheng, Hong; Luo, Haojun; Fu, Weijie; Li, Zhenhua; Yang, Guanglun

    2015-05-21

    Acquired tamoxifen resistance remains the major obstacle to breast cancer endocrine therapy. β1-integrin was identified as one of the target genes of G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER), a novel estrogen receptor recognized as an initiator of tamoxifen resistance. Here, we investigated the role of β1-integrin in GPER-mediated tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. The expression of β1-integrin and biomarkers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition were evaluated immunohistochemically in 53 specimens of metastases and paired primary tumors. The function of β1-integrin was investigated in tamoxifen-resistant (MCF-7R) subclones, derived from parental MCF-7 cells, and MCF-7R β1-integrin-silenced subclones in MTT and Transwell assays. Involved signaling pathways were identified using specific inhibitors and Western blotting analysis. GPER, β1-integrin and mesenchymal biomarkers (vimentin and fibronectin) expression in metastases increased compared to the corresponding primary tumors; a close expression pattern of β1-integrin and GPER were in metastases. Increased β1-integrin expression was also confirmed in MCF-7R cells compared with MCF-7 cells. This upregulation of β1-integrin was induced by agonists of GPER and blocked by both antagonist and knockdown of it in MCF-7R cells. Moreover, the epidermal growth factor receptor/extracellular regulated protein kinase (EGFR/ERK) signaling pathway was involved in this transcriptional regulation since specific inhibitors of these kinases also reduced the GPER-induced upregulation of β1-integrin. Interestingly, silencing of β1-integrin partially rescued the sensitivity of MCF-7R cells to tamoxifen and the α5β1-integrin subunit is probably responsible for this phenomenon. Importantly, the cell migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by cancer-associated fibroblasts, or the product of cancer-associated fibroblasts, fibronectin, were reduced by knockdown of β1-integrin in MCF-7R cells. In addition

  4. Aspirin regulation of c-myc and cyclinD1 proteins to overcome tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Ran; Liu, Ya-Jing; Cui, Jun-Wei; Yang, Man; Liu, Xiao-Ling; Li, Peng; Wang, Zhan; Zhu, Li-Zhang; Lu, Si-Yi; Zou, Li; Wu, Xiao-Qin; Li, Yu-Xia; Zhou, You; Fang, Zheng-Yu; Wei, Wei

    2017-05-02

    Tamoxifen is still the most commonly used endocrine therapy drug for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients and has an excellent outcome, but tamoxifen resistance remains a great impediment to successful treatment. Recent studies have prompted an anti-tumor effect of aspirin. Here, we demonstrated that aspirin not only inhibits the growth of ER-positive breast cancer cell line MCF-7, especially when combined with tamoxifen, but also has a potential function to overcome tamoxifen resistance in MCF-7/TAM. Aspirin combined with tamoxifen can down regulate cyclinD1 and block cell cycle in G0/G1 phase. Besides, tamoxifen alone represses c-myc, progesterone receptor (PR) and cyclinD1 in MCF-7 cell line but not in MCF-7/TAM, while aspirin combined with tamoxifen can inhibit the expression of these proteins in the resistant cell line. When knocking down c-myc in MCF-7/TAM, cells become more sensitive to tamoxifen, cell cycle is blocked as well, indicating that aspirin can regulate c-myc and cyclinD1 proteins to overcome tamoxifen resistance. Our study discovered a novel role of aspirin based on its anti-tumor effect, and put forward some kinds of possible mechanisms of tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer cells, providing a new strategy for the treatment of ER-positive breast carcinoma.

  5. Non-Smad TGF-β signaling components are possible biomarkers of tamoxifen resistance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Babyshkina, N.; Zavyalova, M.; Patalyak, S.; Dronova, T.; Slonimskaya, E.; Cherdyntseva, N.

    2017-09-01

    A crosstalk between the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and tyrosine kinase receptors contribute to endocrine resistance. We investigated the effect of the four Smad-independent TGF-β signaling components and the distribution pattern of ERα expression on the response to adjuvant tamoxifen treatment in 122 estrogen positive breast cancer patients. We identified a low mRNA expression of TGF-βR1 in tamoxifen resistant group patients (TR) in contrast to tamoxifen sensitive group (TS). Similarly, negative TGF-βR1 expression was significantly higher in TR patients than in TS patients. The expression of TGF-βR1 was strongly correlated with the distribution pattern of ERα expression, level of CD44+/CD24-/low cells and Akt (pS473) expression. The patients with a low mRNA expression of TGF-βR1 as well as with a negative TGF-βR1 expression had an unfavorable prognosis concerning progression-free survival. The expression of TGF-βR1 and the distribution pattern of ERα expression can be considered as additional molecular predictive markers for estrogen positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen.

  6. Tamoxifen induces a pluripotency signature in breast cancer cells and human tumors.

    PubMed

    Notas, George; Pelekanou, Vassiliki; Kampa, Marilena; Alexakis, Konstantinos; Sfakianakis, Stelios; Laliotis, Aggelos; Askoxilakis, John; Tsentelierou, Eleftheria; Tzardi, Maria; Tsapis, Andreas; Castanas, Elias

    2015-11-01

    Tamoxifen is the treatment of choice in estrogen receptor alpha breast cancer patients that are eligible for adjuvant endocrine therapy. However, ∼50% of ERα-positive tumors exhibit intrinsic or rapidly acquire resistance to endocrine treatment. Unfortunately, prediction of de novo resistance to endocrine therapy and/or assessment of relapse likelihood remain difficult. While several mechanisms regulating the acquisition and the maintenance of endocrine resistance have been reported, there are several aspects of this phenomenon that need to be further elucidated. Altered metabolic fate of tamoxifen within patients and emergence of tamoxifen-resistant clones, driven by evolution of the disease phenotype during treatment, appear as the most compelling hypotheses so far. In addition, tamoxifen was reported to induce pluripotency in breast cancer cell lines, in vitro. In this context, we have performed a whole transcriptome analysis of an ERα-positive (T47D) and a triple-negative breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), exposed to tamoxifen for a short time frame (hours), in order to identify how early pluripotency-related effects of tamoxifen may occur. Our ultimate goal was to identify whether the transcriptional actions of tamoxifen related to induction of pluripotency are mediated through specific ER-dependent or independent mechanisms. We report that even as early as 3 hours after the exposure of breast cancer cells to tamoxifen, a subset of ERα-dependent genes associated with developmental processes and pluripotency are induced and this is accompanied by specific phenotypic changes (expression of pluripotency-related proteins). Furthermore we report an association between the increased expression of pluripotency-related genes in ERα-positive breast cancer tissues samples and disease relapse after tamoxifen therapy. Finally we describe that in a small group of ERα-positive breast cancer patients, with disease relapse after surgery and tamoxifen treatment, ALDH

  7. Src Drives Growth of Antiestrogen Resistant Breast Cancer Cell Lines and Is a Marker for Reduced Benefit of Tamoxifen Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Larsen, Sarah L.; Laenkholm, Anne-Vibeke; Duun-Henriksen, Anne Katrine; Bak, Martin; Lykkesfeldt, Anne E.; Kirkegaard, Tove

    2015-01-01

    The underlying mechanisms leading to antiestrogen resistance in estrogen-receptor α (ER)-positive breast cancer is still poorly understood. The aim of this study was therefore to identify biomarkers and novel treatments for antiestrogen resistant breast cancer. We performed a kinase inhibitor screen on antiestrogen responsive T47D breast cancer cells and T47D-derived tamoxifen and fulvestrant resistant cell lines. We found that dasatinib, a broad-spectrum kinase inhibitor, inhibited growth of the antiestrogen resistant cells compared to parental T47D cells. Furthermore western blot analysis showed increased expression and phosphorylation of Src in the resistant cells and that dasatinib inhibited phosphorylation of Src and also signaling via Akt and Erk in all cell lines. Immunoprecipitation revealed Src: ER complexes only in the parental T47D cells. In fulvestrant resistant cells, Src formed complexes with the Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor (HER)1 and HER2. Neither HER receptors nor ER were co-precipitated with Src in the tamoxifen resistant cell lines. Compared to treatment with dasatinib alone, combined treatment with dasatinib and fulvestrant had a stronger inhibitory effect on tamoxifen resistant cell growth, whereas dasatinib in combination with tamoxifen had no additive inhibitory effect on fulvestrant resistant growth. When performing immunohistochemical staining on 268 primary tumors from breast cancer patients who had received tamoxifen as first line endocrine treatment, we found that membrane expression of Src in the tumor cells was significant associated with reduced disease-free and overall survival. In conclusion, Src was identified as target for treatment of antiestrogen resistant T47D breast cancer cells. For tamoxifen resistant T47D cells, combined treatment with dasatinib and fulvestrant was superior to treatment with dasatinib alone. Src located at the membrane has potential as a new biomarker for reduced benefit of tamoxifen. PMID

  8. Sliding p21-activated kinase 1 to nucleus impacts tamoxifen sensitivity.

    PubMed

    Rayala, Suresh K; Kumar, Rakesh

    2007-08-01

    The anti-estrogen, tamoxifen is the most commonly used treatment for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha-positive breast cancer. Recent data suggest that levels of ER coregulatory proteins as well as extra- and intracellular signaling in response to growth factor stimulation of breast cancer cells play an important role in acquiring resistance to anti-estrogen action. P21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), a major target of the small GTPases, growth factors and lipid signaling, regulates cell motility, hormone action, invasiveness, and survival, all of which are required for both tumor development and normal mammary gland development. Over the years, the PAK1 has been regarded as cytosolic serine-threonine kinase with regulatory function in cytoskeleton reorganization and motility. However, emerging data now provide evidence of PAK1 function in the nucleus of breast cancer cells. Elevated PAK1 expression in premenopausal breast cancer patients correlates well with the lack of tamoxifen response despite the presence of ER-alpha expression, and such relationship was even distinctly stronger in breast tumors with nuclear PAK1. These typical effects of PAK1 are mechanistically linked with the ability of PAK1 to phosphorylate ER-alpha on serine 305, accompanied by secondary activation of serine 118, and such structural modifications may participate in the development of tamoxifen resistance. These findings suggest that the levels, subcellular localization, and activation status of PAK1 are likely to be important determinants of tamoxifen resistance, and that raising the possibility that tamoxifen resistance might be prevented or reversed by PAK1 inhibition.

  9. An Integrated Bioinformatics Approach Identifies Elevated Cyclin E2 Expression and E2F Activity as Distinct Features of Tamoxifen Resistant Breast Tumors

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Lei; Zhao, Shuangping; Frasor, Jonna M.; Dai, Yang

    2011-01-01

    Approximately half of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast tumors will fail to respond to endocrine therapy. Here we used an integrative bioinformatics approach to analyze three gene expression profiling data sets from breast tumors in an attempt to uncover underlying mechanisms contributing to the development of resistance and potential therapeutic strategies to counteract these mechanisms. Genes that are differentially expressed in tamoxifen resistant vs. sensitive breast tumors were identified from three different publically available microarray datasets. These differentially expressed (DE) genes were analyzed using gene function and gene set enrichment and examined in intrinsic subtypes of breast tumors. The Connectivity Map analysis was utilized to link gene expression profiles of tamoxifen resistant tumors to small molecules and validation studies were carried out in a tamoxifen resistant cell line. Despite little overlap in genes that are differentially expressed in tamoxifen resistant vs. sensitive tumors, a high degree of functional similarity was observed among the three datasets. Tamoxifen resistant tumors displayed enriched expression of genes related to cell cycle and proliferation, as well as elevated activity of E2F transcription factors, and were highly correlated with a Luminal intrinsic subtype. A number of small molecules, including phenothiazines, were found that induced a gene signature in breast cancer cell lines opposite to that found in tamoxifen resistant vs. sensitive tumors and the ability of phenothiazines to down-regulate cyclin E2 and inhibit proliferation of tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells was validated. Our findings demonstrate that an integrated bioinformatics approach to analyze gene expression profiles from multiple breast tumor datasets can identify important biological pathways and potentially novel therapeutic options for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancers. PMID:21789246

  10. Targeting of EGFR, VEGFR2, and Akt by Engineered Dual Drug Encapsulated Mesoporous Silica-Gold Nanoclusters Sensitizes Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Kumar, B N Prashanth; Puvvada, Nagaprasad; Rajput, Shashi; Sarkar, Siddik; Mahto, Madhusudan Kr; Yallapu, Murali M; Pathak, Amita; Emdad, Luni; Das, Swadesh K; Reis, Rui L; Kundu, S C; Fisher, Paul B; Mandal, Mahitosh

    2018-05-30

    Tamoxifen administration enhanced overall disease-free survival and diminished mortality rates in cancer patients. However, patients with breast cancer often fail to respond for tamoxifen therapy due to the development of a drug-resistant phenotype. Functional analysis and molecular studies suggest that protein mutation and dysregulation of survival signaling molecules such as epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and Akt contribute to tamoxifen resistance. Various strategies, including combinatorial therapies, show chemosensitize tamoxifen-resistant cancers. Based on chemotoxicity issues, researchers are actively investigating alternative therapeutic strategies. In the current study, we fabricate a mesoporous silica gold cluster nanodrug delivery system that displays exceptional tumor-targeting capability, thus promoting accretion of drug indices at the tumor site. We employ dual drugs, ZD6474, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that inhibit EGFR2, VEGFR2, and Akt signaling pathways since changes in these signaling pathways confer tamoxifen resistance in MCF 7 and T-47D cells. Mesoporous silica gold cluster nanodrug delivery of ZD6474 and EGCG sensitize tamoxifen-resistant cells to apoptosis. Western and immune-histochemical analyses confirmed the apoptotic inducing properties of the nanoformulation. Overall, results with these silica gold nanoclusters suggest that they may be a potent nanoformulation against chemoresistant cancers.

  11. Long Non-Coding RNA (lncRNA) Urothelial Carcinoma-Associated 1 (UCA1) Enhances Tamoxifen Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells via Inhibiting mTOR Signaling Pathway.

    PubMed

    Wu, Chihua; Luo, Jing

    2016-10-21

    BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) UCA1 is an oncogene in breast cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of UCA1 in tamoxifen resistance of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Tamoxifen sensitive MCF-7 cells were transfected for UCA1 overexpression, while tamoxifen resistant LCC2 and LCC9 cells were transfected with UCA siRNA for UCA1 knockdown. qRT-PCR was performed to analyze UCA1 expression. CCK-8 assay, immunofluorescence staining of cleaved caspase-9, and flow cytometric analysis of Annexin V/PI staining were used to assess tamoxifen sensitivity. Western blot analysis was performed to detect p-AKT and p-mTOR expression. RESULTS LncRNA UCA1 was significantly upregulated in tamoxifen resistant breast cancer cells compared to tamoxifen sensitive cells. LCC2 and LCC9 cells transfected with UCA1 siRNA had significantly higher ratio of apoptosis after tamoxifen treatment. UCA1 siRNA significantly decreased the protein levels of p-AKT and p-mTOR in LCC2 and LCC9 cells. Enforced UCA1 expression substantially reduced tamoxifen induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, while rapamycin treatment abrogated the protective effect of UCA1. CONCLUSIONS UCA1 upregulation was associated with tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. Mechanistically, UCA1 confers tamoxifen resistance to breast cancer cells partly via activating the mTOR signaling pathway.

  12. Expression of nuclear receptor interacting proteins TIF-1, SUG-1, receptor interacting protein 140, and corepressor SMRT in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Chan, C M; Lykkesfeldt, A E; Parker, M G; Dowsett, M

    1999-11-01

    Regulation of gene transcription as a consequence of steroid receptor-DNA interaction is mediated via nuclear receptor interacting proteins (RIPs), including coactivator or corepressor proteins, which interact with both the receptor and components of the basic transcriptional unit and vary between cell types. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that resistance of some breast carcinomas to tamoxifen was associated with inappropriate expression of some of these RIPs. Using Northern analysis, we observed no significant difference between the amount of either TIF-1 or SUG-1 mRNA expressed in parental MCF-7 and MCF-7 tamoxifen-resistant cell lines. However, the expression of RIP140 mRNA was lower in the resistant cell line and in the presence of estradiol, the level of RIP140 mRNA was higher in the resistant cells but not in the parental cells. In a cohort of 19 tamoxifen-resistant breast tumor samples, there was no significant difference in the level of the RIP140 and TIF-1 and corepressor SMRT mRNA compared with tamoxifen-treated tumors (n = 6) or untreated tumors (n = 21). However, SUG-1 mRNA was lower in resistant breast tumors. These data provide no support for increased expression of these RIPs or decreased expression of corepressor SMRT for being a mechanism for resistance of breast tumors to tamoxifen.

  13. Systematic drug screening reveals specific vulnerabilities and co-resistance patterns in endocrine-resistant breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Kangaspeska, Sara; Hultsch, Susanne; Jaiswal, Alok; Edgren, Henrik; Mpindi, John-Patrick; Eldfors, Samuli; Brück, Oscar; Aittokallio, Tero; Kallioniemi, Olli

    2016-07-04

    The estrogen receptor (ER) inhibitor tamoxifen reduces breast cancer mortality by 31 % and has served as the standard treatment for ER-positive breast cancers for decades. However, 50 % of advanced ER-positive cancers display de novo resistance to tamoxifen, and acquired resistance evolves in 40 % of patients who initially respond. Mechanisms underlying resistance development remain poorly understood and new therapeutic opportunities are urgently needed. Here, we report the generation and characterization of seven tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines from four parental strains. Using high throughput drug sensitivity and resistance testing (DSRT) with 279 approved and investigational oncology drugs, exome-sequencing and network analysis, we for the first time, systematically determine the drug response profiles specific to tamoxifen resistance. We discovered emerging vulnerabilities towards specific drugs, such as ERK1/2-, proteasome- and BCL-family inhibitors as the cells became tamoxifen-resistant. Co-resistance to other drugs such as the survivin inhibitor YM155 and the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel also occurred. This study indicates that multiple molecular mechanisms dictate endocrine resistance, resulting in unexpected vulnerabilities to initially ineffective drugs, as well as in emerging co-resistances. Thus, combatting drug-resistant tumors will require patient-tailored strategies in order to identify new drug vulnerabilities, and to understand the associated co-resistance patterns.

  14. ERR Gamma: Does an Orphan Nuclear Receptor Link Steroid Hormone Biogenesis to Endocrine Resistance?

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2007-09-01

    observed in cells resistant to fulvestrant [60]. Interferon-inducible genes have also been found to be differentially regu- lated in the MaCa 3366/TAM...xenograft model of acquired tamoxifen resistance when compared to the tamoxifen-sensitive MaCa 3366 counterpart [205]. Interestingly, loss of the...and its tamoxifen-resistant subline MaCa 3366/TAM, Mol. Cancer Ther. 4 (2005) 151–168. [206] M.L. Bowie, E.C. Dietze, J. Delrow, G.R. Bean, M.M. Troch

  15. Overexpression of the erythropoietin receptor in RAMA 37 breast cancer cells alters cell growth and sensitivity to tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Ilkovičová, Lenka; Trošt, Nina; Szentpéteriová, Erika; Solár, Peter; Komel, Radovan; Debeljak, Nataša

    2017-08-01

    Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main regulator of erythropoiesis, and its receptor (EPOR) is expressed in various tissues, including tumors. Expression of EPOR in breast cancer tissue has been shown to correlate with expression of the estrogen receptor (ER). However, EPOR promotes proliferation in an EPO-independent manner. In patients with breast cancer, EPOR is associated with impaired tamoxifen response in ER-positive tumors, but not in ER-negative tumors. Furthermore, a positive correlation between EPOR/ER status and increased local cancer recurrence has been demonstrated, and EPOR expression is associated with G-protein coupled ER (GPER). Herein, we assessed the effects of EPOR on cell physiology and tamoxifen response in the absence of EPO stimulation using two cell lines that differ only in their EPOR expression status: RAMA 37 cells (low EPOR expression) and RAMA 37-28 cells (high EPOR expression). Alterations in cell growth, morphology, response to tamoxifen cytotoxicity, and EPOR-activated signal transduction were observed. RAMA 37 cells showed higher proliferation capacity without tamoxifen treatment, while RAMA 37-28 cells were more resistant to tamoxifen and proliferated more rapidly in the presence of tamoxifen. EPOR overexpression induced cell-morphology changes upon tamoxifen treatment, which resulted in the production of cell protrusions and subsequent cell death. Short-term treatment with tamoxifen (6 h) prompted RAMA 37 cells to acquired longer protrusions than RAMA 37-28 cells, which indicated a pre-apoptotic stage. Furthermore, prolonged treatment with tamoxifen (72 h) caused a greater reduction in RAMA 37 cell numbers, which indicated a higher rate of cell death. RAMA 37-28 cells showed prolonged activation of AKT signaling. We propose sustained AKT phosphorylation in EPOR-overexpressing cells as a mechanism that can lead to EPOR-induced tamoxifen resistance.

  16. Up-regulation of HOXB cluster genes are epigenetically regulated in tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Yang, Seoyeon; Lee, Ji-Yeon; Hur, Ho; Oh, Ji Hoon; Kim, Myoung Hee

    2018-05-28

    Tamoxifen (TAM) is commonly used to treat estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer. Despite the remarkable benefits, resistance to TAM presents a serious therapeutic challenge. Since several HOX transcription factors have been proposed as strong candidates in the development of resistance to TAM therapy in breast cancer, we generated an in vitro model of acquired TAM resistance using ER-positive MCF7 breast cancer cells (MCF7-TAMR), and analyzed the expression pattern and epigenetic states of HOX genes. HOXB cluster genes were uniquely up-regulated in MCF7-TAMR cells. Survival analysis of in slico data showed the correlation of high expression of HOXB genes with poor response to TAM in ER-positive breast cancer patients treated with TAM. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments showed that the overexpression of multi HOXB genes in MCF7 renders cancer cells more resistant to TAM, whereas the knockdown restores TAM sensitivity. Furthermore, activation of HOXB genes in MCF7-TAMR was associated with histone modifications, particularly the gain of H3K9ac. These findings imply that the activation of HOXB genes mediate the development of TAM resistance, and represent a target for development of new strategies to prevent or reverse TAM resistance.

  17. Mechanisms of Resistance to Endocrine Therapy in Breast Cancer: Focus on Signaling Pathways, miRNAs and Genetically Based Resistance

    PubMed Central

    García-Becerra, Rocío; Santos, Nancy; Díaz, Lorenza; Camacho, Javier

    2013-01-01

    Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy diagnosed in women. Approximately 70% of breast tumors express the estrogen receptor (ER). Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are the most common and effective therapies for patients with ERα-positive breast cancer. Alone or combined with chemotherapy, tamoxifen significantly reduces disease progression and is associated with more favorable impact on survival in patients. Unfortunately, endocrine resistance occurs, either de novo or acquired during the course of the treatment. The mechanisms that contribute to hormonal resistance include loss or modification in the ERα expression, regulation of signal transduction pathways, altered expression of specific microRNAs, balance of co-regulatory proteins, and genetic polymorphisms involved in tamoxifen metabolic activity. Because of the clinical consequences of endocrine resistance, new treatment strategies are arising to make the cells sensitive to tamoxifen. Here, we will review the current knowledge on mechanisms of endocrine resistance in breast cancer cells. In addition, we will discuss novel therapeutic strategies to overcome such resistance. Undoubtedly, circumventing endocrine resistance should help to improve therapy for the benefit of breast cancer patients. PMID:23344024

  18. Berberine enhances the anti‑tumor activity of tamoxifen in drug‑sensitive MCF‑7 and drug‑resistant MCF‑7/TAM cells.

    PubMed

    Wen, Chunjie; Wu, Lanxiang; Fu, Lijuan; Zhang, Xue; Zhou, Honghao

    2016-09-01

    Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has been previously demonstrated to possess anti‑breast cancer properties. Tamoxifen is widely used in the prevention and treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess whether berberine enhanced the anticancer effect of tamoxifen, and the underlying mechanism involved in this combined effect in tamoxifen-sensitive (MCF-7) and tamoxifen-resistant (MCF-7/TAM) cells using MTS, flow cytometry and western blot assays. The results indicated that berberine demonstrated dose‑ and time‑dependent anti‑proliferative activity in MCF‑7 and MCF‑7/TAM cells. Furthermore, the combination of berberine and tamoxifen induced cell growth inhibition more effectively than tamoxifen alone. The present study also demonstrated that combinational treatment is more effective in inducing G1 phase arrest and activating apoptosis compared tamoxifen alone, which may be due to upregulation of P21 expression and downregulation of the B‑cell CLL/lymphoma 2(Bcl‑2)/Bcl‑2 associated X protein ratio. The results of the present study suggested that berberine may potentially be useful as an adjuvant agent in cancer chemotherapy to enhance the effect of tamoxifen, which will be useful for anti‑tumor therapy and further research.

  19. Clomiphene citrate plus tamoxifen versus laparoscopic ovarian drilling in women with clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome.

    PubMed

    Zakherah, Mahmoud S; Nasr, Ahmed; El Saman, Aly M; Shaaban, Omar M; Shahin, Ahmed Y

    2010-03-01

    To compare the efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) plus tamoxifen with that of laparoscopic ovarian drilling in clomiphene-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We randomly allocated 150 women with CC-resistant PCOS to a combined medication group (group 1) or a laparoscopic surgery group (group 2). The primary outcome was the live birth rate in each group; secondary outcomes were the rates of ovulation, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding rates of ovulation (81.3% vs 85.3%), pregnancy (53.3% vs 50.7%), or live births (49.3% vs 44.0%), but the mean endometrium thickness was significantly greater on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration in group 1 (P<0.001). Clomiphene citrate plus tamoxifen was as effective as laparoscopic ovarian drilling in promoting ovulation and pregnancy.

  20. Activity and safety of the antiestrogen EM-800, the orally active precursor of acolbifene, in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Labrie, Fernand; Champagne, Pierre; Labrie, Claude; Roy, Jean; Laverdière, Jacques; Provencher, Louise; Potvin, Martin; Drolet, Yvan; Pollak, Michael; Panasci, Lawrence; L'Espérance, Bernard; Dufresne, Jean; Latreille, Jean; Robert, Jean; Samson, Benoît; Jolivet, Jacques; Yelle, Louise; Cusan, Lionel; Diamond, Pierre; Candas, Bernard

    2004-03-01

    To determine the efficacy and safety of EM-800 (SCH-57050), the precursor of acolbifene, a new, highly potent, orally active, pure antiestrogen in the mammary gland and endometrium, for the treatment of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. Forty-three post menopausal/ovariectomized women with breast cancer who had received tamoxifen, either for metastatic disease or as adjuvant to surgery for > or = 1 year, and had relapsed were treated in a prospective, multicenter, phase II study with EM-800 (20 mg/d [n = 21] or 40 mg/d [n = 22] orally). Results Thirty-seven patients had estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors (>10 fmol/mg; mean, 146 fmol/mg cytosolic protein), three patients had ER-negative/progesterone receptor-positive tumors, and three patients had undetermined ER status. The objective response rate to EM-800 was 12%, with one complete response and four partial responses. Ten patients (23%) had stable disease for > or = 3 months, and 7 patients (16%) had stable disease for > or = 6 months. With a median follow-up of 29 months, median duration of response was 8 months (range, 7 to 71+ months). Treatment with EM-800 was well tolerated. No significant adverse events related to the study drug were observed clinically or biochemically. EM-800 produced responses in a significant proportion of patients with tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, thus showing that this highly potent, selective estrogen receptor modulator, which lacks estrogenic activity in the mammary gland and endometrium, has incomplete cross-resistance with tamoxifen, thus suggesting additional benefits in the treatment of breast cancer.

  1. Regulation of tamoxifen sensitivity by a PAK1–EBP1 signalling pathway in breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Ghosh, A; Awasthi, S; Peterson, J R; Hamburger, A W

    2013-01-01

    Background: EBP1, an ErbB3-binding protein, sensitises breast cancer cells to tamoxifen in part by decreasing ErbB2 protein levels. The p21-regulated serine/threonine kinase PAK1, implicated in tamoxifen resistance, phosphorylates EBP1 in vitro and in vivo at T261. Phosphorylation of EBP1 at this site induces tamoxifen resistance. We thus postulated that inhibition of PAK1 activity, by restoring EBP1 function, could ameliorate the hormone refractory phenotype of ErbB2-overexpressing breast cancer cells. Methods: Effects of EBP1 on ErbB2 levels were measured by western blotting. Effects of EBP1 and IPA-3 on tamoxifen sensitivity were measured using a tetrazolium based cell viability assay. Results: Transient transfection studies indicated that an EBP1 T261E mutant, which mimics EPB1 phosphorylated by PAK1, increased ErbB2 protein levels. An EBP1 T261A mutant, unable to be phosphorylated by PAK1, ameliorated PAK1-induced tamoxifen resistance, suggesting that phosphorylation of EBP1 by PAK1 contributes to tamoxifen resistance. We then tested if pharmacological inhibition of PAK1 activity might render hormone resistant cells, which endogenously overexpress PAK1, tamoxifen sensitive. IPA-3, a specific small MW PAK1 inhibitor, sensitised cells to tamoxifen only when EBP1 was ectopically expressed. IPA had no effect on tamoxifen resistance in T47D cells in which EBP1 protein had been ablated by shRNA. The IPA-induced increase in tamoxifen sensitivity was accompanied by a decrease in ErbB2 levels only in EBP1-overexpressing cells. Conclusion: These studies suggest that phosphorylation of EBP1 may be one mechanism of PAK1-induced hormone resistance and that PAK1 inhibitors may be useful in cells in which EBP1 is overexpressed. PMID:23361053

  2. Circadian and Melatonin Disruption by Exposure to Light at Night Drives Intrinsic Resistance to Tamoxifen Therapy in Breast Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Dauchy, Robert T.; Xiang, Shulin; Mao, Lulu; Brimer, Samantha; Wren, Melissa A.; Yuan, Lin; Anbalagan, Muralidharan; Hauch, Adam; Frasch, Tripp; Rowan, Brian G.; Blask, David E.; Hill, Steven M.

    2014-01-01

    Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major impediment to successful treatment of breast cancer. Preclinical and clinical evidence links resistance to anti-estrogen drugs in breast cancer cells with the overexpression and/or activation of various pro-oncogenic tyrosine kinases. Disruption of circadian rhythms by night shift work or disturbed sleep-wake cycles may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Moreover, light exposure at night (LEN) suppresses the nocturnal production of melatonin that inhibits breast cancer growth. In this study, we used a rat model of ERα+ MCF-7 tumor xenografts to demonstrate how altering light/dark cycles with dim LEN (dLEN) speeds the development of breast tumors, increasing their metabolism and growth and conferring an intrinsic resistance to tamoxifen therapy. These characters were not produced in animals where circadian rhythms were not disrupted, or in animals subjected to dLEN if they received nocturnal melatonin replacement. Strikingly, our results also showed that melatonin acted both as a tumor metabolic inhibitor and a circadian-regulated kinase inhibitor to re-establish the sensitivity of breast tumors to tamoxifen and tumor regression. Together, our findings show how dLEN-mediated disturbances in nocturnal melatonin production can render tumors insensitive to tamoxifen. PMID:25062775

  3. Circadian and melatonin disruption by exposure to light at night drives intrinsic resistance to tamoxifen therapy in breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Dauchy, Robert T; Xiang, Shulin; Mao, Lulu; Brimer, Samantha; Wren, Melissa A; Yuan, Lin; Anbalagan, Muralidharan; Hauch, Adam; Frasch, Tripp; Rowan, Brian G; Blask, David E; Hill, Steven M

    2014-08-01

    Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major impediment to successful treatment of breast cancer. Preclinical and clinical evidence links resistance to antiestrogen drugs in breast cancer cells with the overexpression and/or activation of various pro-oncogenic tyrosine kinases. Disruption of circadian rhythms by night shift work or disturbed sleep-wake cycles may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and other diseases. Moreover, light exposure at night (LEN) suppresses the nocturnal production of melatonin that inhibits breast cancer growth. In this study, we used a rat model of estrogen receptor (ERα(+)) MCF-7 tumor xenografts to demonstrate how altering light/dark cycles with dim LEN (dLEN) speed the development of breast tumors, increasing their metabolism and growth and conferring an intrinsic resistance to tamoxifen therapy. These characteristics were not observed in animals in which the circadian melatonin rhythm was not disrupted, or in animals subjected to dLEN if they received nocturnal melatonin replacement. Strikingly, our results also showed that melatonin acted both as a tumor metabolic inhibitor and a circadian-regulated kinase inhibitor to reestablish the sensitivity of breast tumors to tamoxifen and tumor regression. Together, our findings show how dLEN-mediated disturbances in nocturnal melatonin production can render tumors insensitive to tamoxifen. ©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.

  4. HRD1 sensitizes breast cancer cells to Tamoxifen by promoting S100A8 degradation

    PubMed Central

    Liang, XiuBin; Li, Min; Shi, Ming; Li, Yan; Jenkins, Gareth; Lin, XiaWen; Wei, XueFei; Jia, ZhiJun; Feng, XueFeng; Su, DongMing; Guo, WanHua

    2017-01-01

    Estrogen receptor alpha positive (ER+) of breast cancer could develop resistance to antiestrogens including Tamoxifen. Our previous study showed that the E3 ubiquitin ligase HRD1 played an important role in anti-breast cancer. However, its role in chemotherapy resistance hasn't been reported. In this study, we found that HRD1 expression was downregulated in Tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell line MCF7/Tam compared to the Tamoxifen sensitive cell line MCF7. Moreover, S100A8 is the direct target of HRD1 by proteome analysis. Our data showed that HRD1 decreased the protein level of S100A8 through ubiquitination while HRD1 was regulated by acetylation of histone. More importantly, HRD1 knockdown significantly increased the cell survival of MCF7 cells to the Tamoxifen treatment. HRD1 overexpression sensitized MCF7/Tam cells to the Tamoxifen treatment in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the decrease of HRD1 expression contributed to Tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer. PMID:28423597

  5. Extensive Drug Resistance Acquired During Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis

    PubMed Central

    Cegielski, J. Peter; Dalton, Tracy; Yagui, Martin; Wattanaamornkiet, Wanpen; Volchenkov, Grigory V.; Via, Laura E.; Van Der Walt, Martie; Tupasi, Thelma; Smith, Sarah E.; Odendaal, Ronel; Leimane, Vaira; Kvasnovsky, Charlotte; Kuznetsova, Tatiana; Kurbatova, Ekaterina; Kummik, Tiina; Kuksa, Liga; Kliiman, Kai; Kiryanova, Elena V.; Kim, HeeJin; Kim, Chang-ki; Kazennyy, Boris Y.; Jou, Ruwen; Huang, Wei-Lun; Ershova, Julia; Erokhin, Vladislav V.; Diem, Lois; Contreras, Carmen; Cho, Sang Nae; Chernousova, Larisa N.; Chen, Michael P.; Caoili, Janice Campos; Bayona, Jaime; Akksilp, Somsak; Calahuanca, Gloria Yale; Wolfgang, Melanie; Viiklepp, Piret; Vasilieva, Irina A.; Taylor, Allison; Tan, Kathrine; Suarez, Carmen; Sture, Ingrida; Somova, Tatiana; Smirnova, Tatyana G.; Sigman, Erika; Skenders, Girts; Sitti, Wanlaya; Shamputa, Isdore C.; Riekstina, Vija; Pua, Kristine Rose; Therese, M.; Perez, C.; Park, Seungkyu; Norvaisha, Inga; Nemtsova, Evgenia S.; Min, Seonyeong; Metchock, Beverly; Levina, Klavdia; Lei, Yung-Chao; Lee, Jongseok; Larionova, Elena E.; Lancaster, Joey; Jeon, Doosoo; Jave, Oswaldo; Khorosheva, Tatiana; Hwang, Soo Hee; Huang, Angela Song-En; Gler, M. Tarcela; Dravniece, Gunta; Eum, Seokyong; Demikhova, Olga V.; Degtyareva, Irina; Danilovits, Manfred; Cirula, Anda; Cho, Eunjin; Cai, Ying; Brand, Jeanette; Bonilla, Cesar; Barry, Clifton E.; Asencios, Luis; Andreevskaya, Sofia N.; Akksilp, Rattanawadee

    2014-01-01

    Background. Increasing access to drugs for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis is crucial but could lead to increasing resistance to these same drugs. In 2000, the international Green Light Committee (GLC) initiative began to increase access while attempting to prevent acquired resistance. Methods. To assess the GLC's impact, we followed adults with pulmonary MDR tuberculosis from the start to the end of treatment with monthly sputum cultures, drug susceptibility testing, and genotyping. We compared the frequency and predictors of acquired resistance to second-line drugs (SLDs) in 9 countries that volunteered to participate, 5 countries that met GLC criteria, and 4 countries that did not apply to the GLC. Results. In total, 832 subjects were enrolled. Of those without baseline resistance to specific SLDs, 68 (8.9%) acquired extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis, 79 (11.2%) acquired fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance, and 56 (7.8%) acquired resistance to second-line injectable drugs (SLIs). The relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) of acquired resistance was lower at GLC-approved sites: 0.27 (.16–.47) for XDR tuberculosis, 0.28 (.17–.45) for FQ, and 0.15 (.06–.39) to 0.60 (.34–1.05) for 3 different SLIs. The risk increased as the number of potentially effective drugs decreased. Controlling for baseline drug resistance and differences between sites, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.21 (.07–.62) for acquired XDR tuberculosis and 0.23 (.09–.59) for acquired FQ resistance. Conclusions. Treatment of MDR tuberculosis involves substantial risk of acquired resistance to SLDs, increasing as baseline drug resistance increases. The risk was significantly lower in programs documented by the GLC to meet specific standards. PMID:25057101

  6. ESR1 mutations as a mechanism for acquired endocrine resistance in breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Jeselsohn, Rinath; Buchwalter, Gilles; De Angelis, Carmine; Brown, Myles; Schiff, Rachel

    2016-01-01

    Most breast cancers are estrogen receptor α (ER)-positive (+) and are treated with endocrine therapies targeting ER activity. Despite efforts, the mechanisms of the frequent clinical resistance to these therapies remain largely unknown. Several recent parallel studies unveiled gain-of-function recurrent ESR1 mutations in up to 20% of patients with metastatic ER+ disease who all received endocrine therapies, which for more cases included an aromatase inhibitor. These mutations, clustered in a hotspot within the ligand-binding domain (LBD), lead to ligand independent ER activity and tumor growth, partial resistance to tamoxifen and fulvestrant, and potentially increased metastatic capacity. Together, these findings suggest that the ESR1 LBD mutations account for acquired endocrine resistance in a substantial fraction of patients with metastatic disease. The absence of detectable ESR1 mutations in treatment-naïve disease and the correlation with the number of endocrine treatments indicate a clonal expansion of rare mutant clones, selected under the pressure of treatment. New technologies to detect low/ultra rare ESR1 mutations together with tissue and liquid biopsies are required to fully expose their clinical relevance in prognosis and treatment. Pre-clinical and clinical development of rationale-based novel therapeutic strategies to inhibit these mutants has the potential to substantially improve treatment outcomes. PMID:26122181

  7. Omega-3 free fatty acids inhibit tamoxifen-induced cell apoptosis.

    PubMed

    Wu, Shufan; Guo, Yang; Wu, Yikuan; Zhu, Shenglong; He, Zhao; Chen, Yong Q

    2015-04-03

    Fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids mainly in the form of triglycerides, has benefits for reducing breast cancer risk, similar to tamoxifen action. However, it remains to be elucidated whether the combination of omega-3 free fatty acid (ω-3FFA) with tamoxifen leads to improved treatment in breast cancer. In this study, we observed that ω-3FFA induces MCF-7 cell apoptosis to suppress cell growth. The treatment of breast cancer cells with ω-3FFA attenuated tamoxifen-induced cell apoptosis. ω-3FFA and tamoxifen significantly increased Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation levels in a dose and time dependent manner. Compared to ω-3FFA alone, the combination of tamoxifen with ω-3FFA significantly increased Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation levels. Because Erk1/2 and Akt activation has been linked to tamoxifen-related anti-estrogen resistance in breast cancer patients, these results indicate that ω-3FFA may interfere with the effects of tamoxifen in the prevention of breast cancer risk. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Structural insights into selective agonist actions of tamoxifen on human estrogen receptor alpha.

    PubMed

    Chakraborty, Sandipan; Biswas, Pradip Kumar

    2014-08-01

    Tamoxifen-an anti-estrogenic ligand in breast tissues used as a first-line treatment in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers-is associated with the development of resistance followed by resumption of tumor growth in about 30 % of cases. Whether tamoxifen assists in proliferation in such cases or whether any ligand-independent pathway to transcription exists is not fully understood; also, no ERα mutants have been detected so far that could lead to tamoxifen resistance. Using in silico conformational analysis of the ERα ligand binding domain (LBD), in the absence and presence of selective agonist (diethylstilbestrol; DES), antagonist (Faslodex; ICI), and selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM; 4-hydroxy tamoxifen; 4-OHT) ligands, we have elucidated ligand-responsive structural modulations of the ERα-LBD dimer in its agonist and antagonist complexes to address the issue of "tamoxifen resistance". DES and ICI were found to stabilize the dimer in their agonist and antagonist conformations, respectively. The ERα-LBD dimer without the presence of any bound ligand also led to a stable structure in agonist conformation. However, binding of 4-OHT to the antagonist structure led to a flexible conformation allowing the protein to visit conformations populated by agonists as was evident from principal component analysis and radius of gyration plots. Further, the relaxed conformations of the 4-OHT bound protein exhibited a diminished size of the co-repressor binding pocket in the LBD, thus signaling a partial blockage of the co-repressor binding motif. Thus, the ability of 4-OHT-bound ERα-LBD to assume flexible conformations visited by agonists and reduced co-repressor binding surface at the LBD provide crucial structural insights into tamoxifen-resistance that complement our existing understanding.

  9. Tamoxifen enhances stemness and promotes metastasis of ERα36+ breast cancer by upregulating ALDH1A1 in cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Qiang; Jiang, Jun; Ying, Guoguang; Xie, Xiao-Qing; Zhang, Xia; Xu, Wei; Zhang, Xuemin; Song, Erwei; Bu, Hong; Ping, Yi-Fang; Yao, Xiao-Hong; Wang, Bin; Xu, Shilei; Yan, Ze-Xuan; Tai, Yanhong; Hu, Baoquan; Qi, Xiaowei; Wang, Yan-Xia; He, Zhi-Cheng; Wang, Yan; Wang, Ji Ming; Cui, You-Hong; Chen, Feng; Meng, Kun; Wang, Zhaoyi; Bian, Xiu-Wu

    2018-01-01

    The 66 kDa estrogen receptor alpha (ERα66) is the main molecular target for endocrine therapy such as tamoxifen treatment. However, many patients develop resistance with unclear mechanisms. In a large cohort study of breast cancer patients who underwent surgery followed by tamoxifen treatment, we demonstrate that ERα36, a variant of ERα66, correlates with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, tamoxifen directly binds and activates ERα36 to enhance the stemness and metastasis of breast cancer cells via transcriptional stimulation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1). Consistently, the tamoxifen-induced stemness and metastasis can be attenuated by either ALDH1 inhibitors or a specific ERα36 antibody. Thus, tamoxifen acts as an agonist on ERα36 in breast cancer cells, which accounts for hormone therapy resistance and metastasis of breast cancer. Our study not only reveals ERα36 as a stratifying marker for endocrine therapy but also provides a promising therapeutic avenue for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. PMID:29393296

  10. GPER promotes tamoxifen-resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells by reduced Bim proteins through MAPK/Erk-TRIM2 signaling axis.

    PubMed

    Yin, Heng; Zhu, Qing; Liu, Manran; Tu, Gang; Li, Qing; Yuan, Jie; Wen, Siyang; Yang, Guanglun

    2017-10-01

    Tamoxifen resistance is a major clinical challenge in breast cancer treatment. Our previous studies find that GPER and its down-stream signaling play a pivotal role in the development of tamoxifen (TAM) resistance. cDNA array analysis indicated a set of genes associated with cell apoptosis are aberrant in GPER activated and TAM-resistant MCF-7R cells compared with TAM-sensitive MCF-7 cells. Among these genes, Bim (also named BCL2-L11), a member of the BH3-only pro-apoptotic protein family is significantly decreased, and TRIM RING finger protein TRIM2 (a ubiquitin ligase) is highly expressed in MCF-7R. To understand the mechanism of TAM-resistance in GPER activated ER+ breast cancer, the function of TRIM2 and Bim inducing cell apoptosis was studied. By using immunohistochemical and western blot analysis, there is an adverse correlation between TRIM2 and Bim in TAM-resistant breast tumor tissues and MCF-7R cells. Knockdown Bim in TAM-sensitive MCF-7 cells or overexpression of Bim in TAM-resistant MCF-7 cells significantly changed its sensibility to TAM through altering the levels of cleaved PARP and caspase-3. Activation of GPER and its downstream signaling MAPK/ERK, not PI3K/AKT, led to enhanced TRIM2 protein levels and affected the binding between TRIM2 and Bim which resulted in a reduced Bim in TAM-resistant breast cancer cells. Thus, the present study provides a novel insight to TAM-resistance in ER-positive breast cancer cells.

  11. Nuclear p21-activated kinase 1 in breast cancer packs off tamoxifen sensitivity.

    PubMed

    Rayala, Suresh K; Molli, Poonam R; Kumar, Rakesh

    2006-06-15

    There is significant clinical interest in the factors that influence the development of tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha)-positive breast cancers. Recent studies suggest that in ER-positive breast tumor cells, elevated protein levels, and in particular, nuclear localization of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), is associated with the progressive limitation of tamoxifen sensitivity. These phenotypic effects of PAK1 in model systems are mechanistically linked with the ability of PAK1 to phosphorylate ER-alpha on serine 305 and subsequent secondary activation of serine 118. These findings prompt further investigation of how nuclear signaling by PAK1 may affect estrogen's action and whether tamoxifen resistance might be prevented or reversed by PAK1 inhibition.

  12. Inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 entry by chloride channel inhibitors tamoxifen and NPPB

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zheng, Kai; College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou; Chen, Maoyun

    2014-04-18

    Highlights: • We analyze the anti-HSV potential of chloride channel inhibitors. • Tamoxifen and NPPB show anti-HSV-1 and anti-ACV-resistant HSV-1 activities. • HSV-1 infection induces intracellular chloride concentration increasing. • Tamoxifen and NPPB inhibit HSV-1 early infection. • Tamoxifen and NPPB prevent the fusion process of HSV-1. - Abstract: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection is very common worldwide and can cause significant health problems from periodic skin and corneal lesions to encephalitis. Appearance of drug-resistant viruses in clinical therapy has made exploring novel antiviral agents emergent. Here we show that chloride channel inhibitors, including tamoxifen and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenyl-propylamino) benzoicmore » acid (NPPB), exhibited extensive antiviral activities toward HSV-1 and ACV-resistant HSV viruses. HSV-1 infection induced chloride ion influx while treatment with inhibitors reduced the increase of intracellular chloride ion concentration. Pretreatment or treatment of inhibitors at different time points during HSV-1 infection all suppressed viral RNA synthesis, protein expression and virus production. More detailed studies demonstrated that tamoxifen and NPPB acted as potent inhibitors of HSV-1 early entry step by preventing viral binding, penetration and nuclear translocation. Specifically the compounds appeared to affect viral fusion process by inhibiting virus binding to lipid rafts and interrupting calcium homeostasis. Taken together, the observation that tamoxifen and NPPB can block viral entry suggests a stronger potential for these compounds as well as other ion channel inhibitors in antiviral therapy against HSV-1, especially the compound tamoxifen is an immediately actionable drug that can be reused for treatment of HSV-1 infections.« less

  13. Genotype-guided tamoxifen therapy; time to pause for reflection?

    PubMed Central

    Lash, Timothy L.; Lien, Ernst A.; Sørensen, Henrik Toft; Hamilton-Dutoit, Stephen

    2010-01-01

    Tamoxifen remains a cornerstone of adjuvant therapy for early stage breast cancer patients with estrogen receptor-positive tumors. Accurate markers of tamoxifen resistance would allow prediction of tamoxifen response and personalization of combined therapies. Recently, it has been suggested that patients with inherited nonfunctional alleles of the cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 may be poor candidates for adjuvant tamoxifen therapy because women with these variant alleles have reduced concentrations of the tamoxifen metabolites that most strongly bind the estrogen receptor. In some studies, women with these alleles have a higher risk of recurrence than women with two functional alleles. However, dose-setting studies with clinical and biomarker outcomes, studies associating clinical outcomes with serum concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites, and a simple model of receptor binding, all suggest that tamoxifen and its metabolites should reach concentrations sufficient to achieve the therapeutic effect regardless of CYP2D6 inhibition. The ten epidemiology studies of the association between CYP2D6 genotype and breast cancer recurrence report widely heterogeneous results with relative risk estimates outside the range of reasonable bounds. None of the explanations proposed for the heterogeneity of results account adequately for the observed variability and no design feature sets apart any study or subset of studies as most likely to be accurate. The studies reporting a positive association may receive the most attention because they reported a result consistent with the profile of metabolite concentrations; not because they are more reliable by design. We argue that a recommendation for CYP2D6 genotyping of candidates for tamoxifen therapy, and its implicit conclusion regarding the association between genotype and recurrence risk, is premature. PMID:19647203

  14. Estrogen receptor (ESR1) mRNA expression and benefit from tamoxifen in the treatment and prevention of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Kim, Chungyeul; Tang, Gong; Pogue-Geile, Katherine L; Costantino, Joseph P; Baehner, Frederick L; Baker, Joffre; Cronin, Maureen T; Watson, Drew; Shak, Steven; Bohn, Olga L; Fumagalli, Debora; Taniyama, Yusuke; Lee, Ahwon; Reilly, Megan L; Vogel, Victor G; McCaskill-Stevens, Worta; Ford, Leslie G; Geyer, Charles E; Wickerham, D Lawrence; Wolmark, Norman; Paik, Soonmyung

    2011-11-01

    Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain tamoxifen resistance of estrogen receptor (ER) -positive tumors, but a clinically useful explanation for such resistance has not been described. Because the ER is the treatment target for tamoxifen, a linear association between ER expression levels and the degree of benefit from tamoxifen might be expected. However, such an association has never been demonstrated with conventional clinical ER assays, and the ER is currently used clinically as a dichotomous marker. We used gene expression profiling and ER protein assays to help elucidate molecular mechanism(s) responsible for tamoxifen resistance in breast tumors. We performed gene expression profiling of paraffin-embedded tumors from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) trials that tested the worth of tamoxifen as an adjuvant systemic therapy (B-14) and as a preventive agent (P-1). This was a retrospective subset analysis based on available materials. In B-14, ESR1 was the strongest linear predictor of tamoxifen benefit among 16 genes examined, including PGR and ERBB2. On the basis of these data, we hypothesized that, in the P-1 trial, a lower level of ESR1 mRNA in the tamoxifen arm was the main difference between the two study arms. Only ESR1 was downregulated by more than two-fold in ER-positive cancer events in the tamoxifen arm (P < .001). Tamoxifen did not prevent ER-positive tumors with low levels of ESR1 expression. These data suggest that low-level expression of ESR1 is a determinant of tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer. Strategies should be developed to identify, treat, and prevent such tumors.

  15. Estrogen Receptor (ESR1) mRNA Expression and Benefit From Tamoxifen in the Treatment and Prevention of Estrogen Receptor–Positive Breast Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Chungyeul; Tang, Gong; Pogue-Geile, Katherine L.; Costantino, Joseph P.; Baehner, Frederick L.; Baker, Joffre; Cronin, Maureen T.; Watson, Drew; Shak, Steven; Bohn, Olga L.; Fumagalli, Debora; Taniyama, Yusuke; Lee, Ahwon; Reilly, Megan L.; Vogel, Victor G.; McCaskill-Stevens, Worta; Ford, Leslie G.; Geyer, Charles E.; Wickerham, D. Lawrence; Wolmark, Norman; Paik, Soonmyung

    2011-01-01

    Purpose Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain tamoxifen resistance of estrogen receptor (ER) –positive tumors, but a clinically useful explanation for such resistance has not been described. Because the ER is the treatment target for tamoxifen, a linear association between ER expression levels and the degree of benefit from tamoxifen might be expected. However, such an association has never been demonstrated with conventional clinical ER assays, and the ER is currently used clinically as a dichotomous marker. We used gene expression profiling and ER protein assays to help elucidate molecular mechanism(s) responsible for tamoxifen resistance in breast tumors. Patients and Methods We performed gene expression profiling of paraffin-embedded tumors from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) trials that tested the worth of tamoxifen as an adjuvant systemic therapy (B-14) and as a preventive agent (P-1). This was a retrospective subset analysis based on available materials. Results In B-14, ESR1 was the strongest linear predictor of tamoxifen benefit among 16 genes examined, including PGR and ERBB2. On the basis of these data, we hypothesized that, in the P-1 trial, a lower level of ESR1 mRNA in the tamoxifen arm was the main difference between the two study arms. Only ESR1 was downregulated by more than two-fold in ER-positive cancer events in the tamoxifen arm (P < .001). Tamoxifen did not prevent ER-positive tumors with low levels of ESR1 expression. Conclusion These data suggest that low-level expression of ESR1 is a determinant of tamoxifen resistance in ER-positive breast cancer. Strategies should be developed to identify, treat, and prevent such tumors. PMID:21947828

  16. [Effect of Evn-50 on cell growth and apoptosis in tamoxifen-resistance human breast cancer cell line MCF-7/TAM-R].

    PubMed

    Hu, Hui-yong; Zhou, Jun; Wan, Fang; Dong, Li-feng; Zhang, Feng; Wang, Yi-ke; Chen, Fang-fang; Chen, Yi-ding

    2012-09-01

    To investigate the effect of Evn-50 extracted from Vitex negundo on human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and MCF-7/TAM-R cells in vitro. MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7/TAM-R cells were treated with Evn-50,tamoxifen or combination of Evn-50 and tamoxifen. Cell proliferation inhibition rates were determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis rate and the change of cell cycle were detected by PI staining flow cytometry. Protein expression of phospho-MAPK 44/42 (Thr202/Tyr204),MAPK P44/42, phospho-AKT (Ser473) and AKT were detected with Western blotting. The viability of MCF-7 cells was decreased in combination group [(28.65 ±11.43)%] and Evn-50 group [(53.02 ±15.14)%] compared with TAM group (P<0.01). The cell viability of MCF-7/TAM-R in combination group [(42.11 ±14.30)%] was significantly lower than that in TAM group [(92.18 ±13.16)%] (P<0.01). The cell apoptosis rate was dependent on the time of treatment in all groups,the effects on apoptosis and G2/M phase cells were most prominent at 72 h (P<0.01). Western blotting revealed that protein levels of phosphorylated AKT and p-MAPK44/42 decreased,while the expression of total AKT and MAPK44/42 was stable. In MCF-7/TAM-R cells,the expression of phosphorylation of AKT and MAPK44/42 protein was not changed in Evn-50 or TAM alone group,but significantly inhibited in the combination group at 72 h. Evn-50 can inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in MCF-7 and MCF-7/TAM-R cells,it can reverse tamoxifen-resistance of MCF-7/TAM-R cells.The mechanisms may be related to the down-regulation of phosphorylated ERK1/2 in MAPK signal pathway and phosphorylated AKT in AKT signal pathway.

  17. Bazedoxifene exhibits antiestrogenic activity in animal models of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer: implications for treatment of advanced disease.

    PubMed

    Wardell, Suzanne E; Nelson, Erik R; Chao, Christina A; McDonnell, Donald P

    2013-05-01

    There is compelling evidence to suggest that drugs that function as pure estrogen receptor (ER-α) antagonists, or that downregulate the expression of ER-α, would have clinical use in the treatment of advanced tamoxifen- and aromatase-resistant breast cancer. Although such compounds are currently in development, we reasoned, based on our understanding of ER-α pharmacology, that there may already exist among the most recently developed selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM) compounds that would have usage as breast cancer therapeutics. Thus, our objective was to identify among available SERMs those with unique pharmacologic activities and to evaluate their potential clinical use with predictive models of advanced breast cancer. A validated molecular profiling technology was used to classify clinically relevant SERMs based on their impact on ER-α conformation. The functional consequences of these observed mechanistic differences on (i) gene expression, (ii) receptor stability, and (iii) activity in cellular and animal models of advanced endocrine-resistant breast cancer were assessed. The high-affinity SERM bazedoxifene was shown to function as a pure ER-α antagonist in cellular models of breast cancer and effectively inhibited the growth of both tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant breast tumor xenografts. Interestingly, bazedoxifene induced a unique conformational change in ER-α that resulted in its proteasomal degradation, although the latter activity was dispensable for its antagonist efficacy. Bazedoxifene was recently approved for use in the European Union for the treatment of osteoporosis and thus may represent a near-term therapeutic option for patients with advanced breast cancer. ©2013 AACR.

  18. Integrated molecular analysis of Tamoxifen-resistant invasive lobular breast cancer cells identifies MAPK and GRM/mGluR signaling as therapeutic vulnerabilities.

    PubMed

    Stires, Hillary; Heckler, Mary M; Fu, Xiaoyong; Li, Zhao; Grasso, Catherine S; Quist, Michael J; Lewis, Joseph A; Klimach, Uwe; Zwart, Alan; Mahajan, Akanksha; Győrffy, Balázs; Cavalli, Luciane R; Riggins, Rebecca B

    2018-08-15

    Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) is an understudied malignancy with distinct clinical, pathological, and molecular features that distinguish it from the more common invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Mounting evidence suggests that estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER+) ILC has a poor response to Tamoxifen (TAM), but the mechanistic drivers of this are undefined. In the current work, we comprehensively characterize the SUM44/LCCTam ILC cell model system through integrated analysis of gene expression, copy number, and mutation, with the goal of identifying actionable alterations relevant to clinical ILC that can be co-targeted along with ER to improve treatment outcomes. We show that TAM has several distinct effects on the transcriptome of LCCTam cells, that this resistant cell model has acquired copy number alterations and mutations that impinge on MAPK and metabotropic glutamate receptor (GRM/mGluR) signaling networks, and that pharmacological inhibition of either improves or restores the growth-inhibitory actions of endocrine therapy. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Glucose impairs tamoxifen responsiveness modulating connective tissue growth factor in breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Ambrosio, Maria Rosaria; D'Esposito, Vittoria; Costa, Valerio; Liguoro, Domenico; Collina, Francesca; Cantile, Monica; Prevete, Nella; Passaro, Carmela; Mosca, Giusy; De Laurentiis, Michelino; Di Bonito, Maurizio; Botti, Gerardo; Franco, Renato; Beguinot, Francesco; Ciccodicola, Alfredo; Formisano, Pietro

    2017-12-12

    Type 2 diabetes and obesity are negative prognostic factors in patients with breast cancer (BC). We found that sensitivity to tamoxifen was reduced by 2-fold by 25 mM glucose (High Glucose; HG) compared to 5.5 mM glucose (Low Glucose; LG) in MCF7 BC cells. Shifting from HG to LG ameliorated MCF7 cell responsiveness to tamoxifen. RNA-Sequencing of MCF7 BC cells revealed that cell cycle-related genes were mainly affected by glucose. Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) was identified as a glucose-induced modulator of cell sensitivity to tamoxifen. Co-culturing MCF7 cells with human adipocytes exposed to HG, enhanced CTGF mRNA levels and reduced tamoxifen responsiveness of BC cells. Inhibition of adipocyte-released IL8 reverted these effects. Interestingly, CTGF immuno-detection in bioptic specimens from women with estrogen receptor positive (ER + ) BC correlated with hormone therapy resistance, distant metastases, reduced overall and disease-free survival. Thus, glucose affects tamoxifen responsiveness directly modulating CTGF in BC cells, and indirectly promoting IL8 release by adipocytes.

  20. Upregulation of mucin4 in ER-positive/HER2-overexpressing breast cancer xenografts with acquired resistance to endocrine and HER2-targeted therapies.

    PubMed

    Chen, Albert C; Migliaccio, Ilenia; Rimawi, Mothaffar; Lopez-Tarruella, Sara; Creighton, Chad J; Massarweh, Suleiman; Huang, Catherine; Wang, Yen-Chao; Batra, Surinder K; Gutierrez, M Carolina; Osborne, C Kent; Schiff, Rachel

    2012-07-01

    We studied resistance to endocrine and HER2-targeted therapies using a xenograft model of estrogen receptor positive (ER)/HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Here, we report a novel phenotype of drug resistance in this model. MCF7/HER2-18 xenografts were treated with endocrine therapy alone or in combination with lapatinib and trastuzumab (LT) to inhibit HER2. Archival tumor tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and with mucicarmine. RNA extracted from tumors at early time points and late after acquired resistance were analyzed for mucin4 (MUC4) expression by microarray and quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Protein expression of the MUC4, ER, and HER2 signaling pathways was measured by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The combination of the potent anti-HER2 regimen LT with either tamoxifen (Tam + LT) or estrogen deprivation (ED + LT) can cause complete eradication of ER-positive/HER2-overexpressing tumors in mice. Tumors developing resistance to this combination, as well as those acquiring resistance to endocrine therapy alone, exhibited a distinct histological and molecular phenotype-a striking increase in mucin-filled vacuoles and upregulation of several mucins including MUC4. At the onset of resistance, MUC4 mRNA and protein were increased. These tumors also showed upregulation and reactivation of HER2 signaling, while losing ER protein and the estrogen-regulated gene progesterone receptor. Mucins are upregulated in a preclinical model of ER-positive/HER2-overexpressing breast cancer as resistance develops to the combination of endocrine and anti-HER2 therapy. These mucin-rich tumors reactivate the HER2 pathway and shift their molecular phenotype to become more ER-negative/HER2-positive.

  1. Upregulation of Mucin4 in ER-positive/HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer Xenografts with Acquired Resistance to Endocrine and HER2-Targeted Therapies

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Albert C.; Migliaccio, Ilenia; Rimawi, Mothaffar; Lopez-Tarruella, Sara; Creighton, Chad J.; Massarweh, Suleiman; Huang, Catherine; Wang, Yen-Chao; Batra, Surinder K.; Gutierrez, M. Carolina; Osborne, C. Kent; Schiff, Rachel

    2012-01-01

    Background We studied resistance to endocrine and HER2-targeted therapies using a xenograft model of estrogen receptor positive (ER)/HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Here, we report a novel phenotype of drug resistance in this model. Methods MCF7/HER2-18 xenografts were treated with endocrine therapy alone or in combination with lapatinib and trastuzumab (LT) to inhibit HER2. Archival tumor tissues were stained with hematoxylin & eosin and mucicarmine. RNA extracted from tumors at early time points and late after acquired resistance were analyzed for mucin4 (MUC4) expression by microarray and quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR. Protein expression of the MUC4, ER and HER2 signaling pathways was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results The combination of the potent anti-HER2 regimen LT with either tamoxifen (Tam+LT) or estrogen deprivation (ED+LT) can cause complete eradication of ER-positive/HER2-overexpressing tumors in mice. Tumors developing resistance to this combination, as well as those acquiring resistance to endocrine therapy alone, exhibited a distinct histological and molecular phenotype—a striking increase in mucin-filled vacuoles and upregulation of several mucins including MUC4. At the onset of resistance, MUC4 mRNA and protein were increased. These tumors also showed upregulation and reactivation of HER2 signaling, while losing ER protein and the estrogen-regulated gene, progesterone receptor. Conclusions Mucins are upregulated in a preclinical model of ER-positive/HER2-overexpressing breast cancer as resistance develops to the combination of endocrine and anti-HER2 therapy. These mucin-rich tumors reactivate the HER2 pathway and shift their molecular phenotype to become more ER-negative/HER2-positive. PMID:22644656

  2. PIK3CA mutations, phosphatase and tensin homolog, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and adjuvant tamoxifen resistance in postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Beelen, Karin; Opdam, Mark; Severson, Tesa M; Koornstra, Rutger H T; Vincent, Andrew D; Wesseling, Jelle; Muris, Jettie J; Berns, Els M J J; Vermorken, Jan B; van Diest, Paul J; Linn, Sabine C

    2014-01-27

    Inhibitors of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway can overcome endocrine resistance in estrogen receptor (ER) α-positive breast cancer, but companion diagnostics indicating PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation and consequently endocrine resistance are lacking. PIK3CA mutations frequently occur in ERα-positive breast cancer and result in PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation in vitro. Nevertheless, the prognostic and treatment-predictive value of these mutations in ERα-positive breast cancer is contradictive. We tested the clinical validity of PIK3CA mutations and other canonic pathway drivers to predict intrinsic resistance to adjuvant tamoxifen. In addition, we tested the association between these drivers and downstream activated proteins. Primary tumors from 563 ERα-positive postmenopausal patients, randomized between adjuvant tamoxifen (1 to 3 years) versus observation were recollected. PIK3CA hotspot mutations in exon 9 and exon 20 were assessed with Sequenom Mass Spectometry. Immunohistochemistry was performed for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). We tested the association between these molecular alterations and downstream activated proteins (like phospho-protein kinase B (p-AKT), phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p-ERK1/2, and p-p70S6K). Recurrence-free interval improvement with tamoxifen versus control was assessed according to the presence or absence of canonic pathway drivers, by using Cox proportional hazard models, including a test for interaction. PIK3CA mutations (both exon 9 and exon 20) were associated with low tumor grade. An enrichment of PIK3CA exon 20 mutations was observed in progesterone receptor- positive tumors. PIK3CA exon 20 mutations were not associated with downstream-activated proteins. No significant interaction between PIK3CA mutations or any of the other canonic pathway

  3. The anticancer drug tamoxifen counteracts the pathology in a mouse model of duchenne muscular dystrophy.

    PubMed

    Dorchies, Olivier M; Reutenauer-Patte, Julie; Dahmane, Elyes; Ismail, Heham M; Petermann, Olivier; Patthey- Vuadens, Ophélie; Comyn, Sophie A; Gayi, Elinam; Piacenza, Tony; Handa, Robert J; Décosterd, Laurent A; Ruegg, Urs T

    2013-02-01

    Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe disorder characterized by progressive muscle wasting,respiratory and cardiac impairments, and premature death. No treatment exists so far, and the identification of active substances to fight DMD is urgently needed. We found that tamoxifen, a drug used to treat estrogen-dependent breast cancer, caused remarkable improvements of muscle force and of diaphragm and cardiac structure in the mdx(5Cv) mouse model of DMD. Oral tamoxifen treatment from 3 weeks of age for 15 months at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day stabilized myofiber membranes, normalized whole body force, and increased force production and resistance to repeated contractions of the triceps muscle above normal values. Tamoxifen improved the structure of leg muscles and diminished cardiac fibrosis by~ 50%. Tamoxifen also reduced fibrosis in the diaphragm, while increasing its thickness,myofiber count, and myofiber diameter, thereby augmenting by 72% the amount of contractile tissue available for respiratory function. Tamoxifen conferred a markedly slower phenotype to the muscles.Tamoxifen and its metabolites were present in nanomolar concentrations in plasma and muscles,suggesting signaling through high-affinity targets. Interestingly, the estrogen receptors ERa and ERb were several times more abundant in dystrophic than in normal muscles, and tamoxifen normalized the relative abundance of ERb isoforms. Our findings suggest that tamoxifen might be a useful therapy for DMD.

  4. Integrative Analysis of Response to Tamoxifen Treatment in ER-Positive Breast Cancer Using GWAS Information and Transcription Profiling.

    PubMed

    Hicks, Chindo; Kumar, Ranjit; Pannuti, Antonio; Miele, Lucio

    2012-01-01

    Variable response and resistance to tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer patients remains a major clinical problem. To determine whether genes and biological pathways containing SNPs associated with risk for breast cancer are dysregulated in response to tamoxifen treatment, we performed analysis combining information from 43 genome-wide association studies with gene expression data from 298 ER(+) breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen and 125 ER(+) controls. We identified 95 genes which distinguished tamoxifen treated patients from controls. Additionally, we identified 54 genes which stratified tamoxifen treated patients into two distinct groups. We identified biological pathways containing SNPs associated with risk for breast cancer, which were dysregulated in response to tamoxifen treatment. Key pathways identified included the apoptosis, P53, NFkB, DNA repair and cell cycle pathways. Combining GWAS with transcription profiling provides a unified approach for associating GWAS findings with response to drug treatment and identification of potential drug targets.

  5. ESR1 Promoter Hypermethylation Does Not Predict Atypia in RPFNA nor Persistent Atypia after 12 Months Tamoxifen Chemoprevention

    PubMed Central

    Baker, Joseph C.; Ostrander, Julie H.; Lem, Siya; Broadwater, Gloria; Bean, Gregory R.; D'Amato, Nicholas C.; Goldenberg, Vanessa K.; Rowell, Craig; Ibarra-Drendall, Catherine; Grant, Tracey; Pilie, Patrick G.; Vasilatos, Shauna N.; Troch, Michelle M.; Scott, Victoria; Wilke, Lee G.; Paisie, Carolyn; Rabiner, Sarah M.; Torres-Hernandez, Alejandro; Zalles, Carola M.; Seewaldt, Victoria L.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose Currently, we lack biomarkers to predict whether high-risk women with mammary atypia will respond to tamoxifen chemoprevention. Experimental Design Thirty-four women with cytologic mammary atypia from the Duke University High-Risk clinic were offered tamoxifen chemoprevention. We tested whether ESR1 promoter hypermethylation and/or estrogen receptor (ER) protein expression by immunohistochemistry predicted persistent atypia in 18 women who were treated with tamoxifen for 12 months and in 16 untreated controls. Results We observed a statistically significant decrease in the Masood score of women on tamoxifen chemoprevention for 12 months compared with control women. This was a significant interaction effect of time (0, 6, and 12 months) and treatment group (tamoxifen versus control) P = 0.0007. However, neither ESR1 promoter hypermethylation nor low ER expression predicted persistent atypia in Random Periareolar Fine Needle Aspiration after 12 months tamoxifen prevention. Conclusions Results from this single institution pilot study provide evidence that, unlike for invasive breast cancer, ESR1 promoter hypermethylation and/or low ER expression is not a reliable marker of tamoxifen-resistant atypia. PMID:18708376

  6. Uridine prevents tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Tamoxifen, an agonist of estrogen receptor, is widely prescribed for the prevention and long-term treatment of breast cancer. A side effect of tamoxifen is fatty liver, which increases the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Prevention of tamoxifen-induced fatty liver has the potential to improve the safety of long-term tamoxifen usage. Methods Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside with reported protective effects against drug-induced fatty liver, was co-administered with tamoxifen in C57BL/6J mice. Liver lipid levels were evaluated with lipid visualization using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scatting (CARS) microscopy, biochemical assay measurement of triacylglyceride (TAG), and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) measurement of membrane phospholipid. Blood TAG and cholesterol levels were measured. Mitochondrial respiration of primary hepatocytes in the presence of tamoxifen and/or uridine was evaluated by measuring oxygen consumption rate with an extracellular flux analyzer. Liver protein lysine acetylation profiles were evaluated with 1D and 2D Western blots. In addition, the relationship between endogenous uridine levels, fatty liver, and tamoxifen administration was evaluated in transgenic mice UPase1−/−and UPase1-TG. Results Uridine co-administration prevented tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation in mice. The most prominent effect of uridine co-administration with tamoxifen was the stimulation of liver membrane phospholipid biosynthesis. Uridine had no protective effect against tamoxifen-induced impairment to mitochondrial respiration of primary hepatocytes or liver TAG and cholesterol export. Uridine had no effect on tamoxifen-induced changes to liver protein acetylation profile. Transgenic mice UPase1−/−with increased pyrimidine salvage activity were protected against tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation. In contrast, UPase1-TG mice with increased pyrimidine catabolism activity had

  7. Uridine prevents tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation.

    PubMed

    Le, Thuc T; Urasaki, Yasuyo; Pizzorno, Giuseppe

    2014-05-23

    Tamoxifen, an agonist of estrogen receptor, is widely prescribed for the prevention and long-term treatment of breast cancer. A side effect of tamoxifen is fatty liver, which increases the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Prevention of tamoxifen-induced fatty liver has the potential to improve the safety of long-term tamoxifen usage. Uridine, a pyrimidine nucleoside with reported protective effects against drug-induced fatty liver, was co-administered with tamoxifen in C57BL/6J mice. Liver lipid levels were evaluated with lipid visualization using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scatting (CARS) microscopy, biochemical assay measurement of triacylglyceride (TAG), and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) measurement of membrane phospholipid. Blood TAG and cholesterol levels were measured. Mitochondrial respiration of primary hepatocytes in the presence of tamoxifen and/or uridine was evaluated by measuring oxygen consumption rate with an extracellular flux analyzer. Liver protein lysine acetylation profiles were evaluated with 1D and 2D Western blots. In addition, the relationship between endogenous uridine levels, fatty liver, and tamoxifen administration was evaluated in transgenic mice UPase1-/-and UPase1-TG. Uridine co-administration prevented tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation in mice. The most prominent effect of uridine co-administration with tamoxifen was the stimulation of liver membrane phospholipid biosynthesis. Uridine had no protective effect against tamoxifen-induced impairment to mitochondrial respiration of primary hepatocytes or liver TAG and cholesterol export. Uridine had no effect on tamoxifen-induced changes to liver protein acetylation profile. Transgenic mice UPase1-/-with increased pyrimidine salvage activity were protected against tamoxifen-induced liver lipid droplet accumulation. In contrast, UPase1-TG mice with increased pyrimidine catabolism activity had intrinsic liver lipid droplet

  8. Tamoxifen dose and serum concentrations of tamoxifen and six of its metabolites in routine clinical outpatient care.

    PubMed

    Jager, N G L; Rosing, H; Schellens, J H M; Linn, S C; Beijnen, J H

    2014-02-01

    A sensitive and selective HPLC-MS/MS assay was used to analyze steady-state serum concentrations of tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen (E)-endoxifen, (Z)-endoxifen, N-desmethyl-4'-hydroxytamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and 4'-hydroxytamoxifen to support therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in patients treated with tamoxifen according to standard of care. When the (Z)-endoxifen serum concentration was below the predefined therapeutic threshold concentration of 5.9 ng/mL, the clinician was advised to increase the tamoxifen dose and to collect another serum sample. Paired serum samples from patients at one dose level at different time points during the tamoxifen treatment were used to assess the intra-patient variability. A total of 251 serum samples were analyzed, obtained from 205 patients. Of these patients, 197 used 20 mg tamoxifen per day and 8 patients used 10 mg/day. There was wide variability in tamoxifen and metabolite concentrations within the dosing groups. The threshold concentration for (Z)-endoxifen was reached in one patient (12 %) in the 10 mg group, in 153 patients (78 %) in the 20 mg group, and in 26 (96 %) of the patients who received a dose increase to 30 or 40 mg/day. Dose increase from 20 to 30 or 40 mg per day resulted in a significant increase in the mean serum concentrations of all analytes (p < 0.001). The mean intra-patient variability was between 10 and 20 % for all analytes. These results support the suitability of TDM for optimizing the tamoxifen treatment. It is shown that tamoxifen dose is related to (Z)-endoxifen exposure and increasing this dose leads to a higher serum concentration of tamoxifen and its metabolites. The low intra-patient variability suggests that only one serum sample is needed for TDM, making this a relatively noninvasive way to optimize the patient's treatment.

  9. Annexin-A1 and caldesmon are associated with resistance to tamoxifen in estrogen receptor positive recurrent breast cancer.

    PubMed

    De Marchi, Tommaso; Timmermans, Anne M; Smid, Marcel; Look, Maxime P; Stingl, Christoph; Opdam, Mark; Linn, Sabine C; Sweep, Fred C G J; Span, Paul N; Kliffen, Mike; van Deurzen, Carolien H M; Luider, Theo M; Foekens, John A; Martens, John W; Umar, Arzu

    2016-01-19

    Tamoxifen therapy resistance constitutes a major cause of death in patients with recurrent estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. Through high resolution mass spectrometry (MS), we previously generated a 4-protein predictive signature for tamoxifen therapy outcome in recurrent breast cancer. ANXA1 and CALD1, which were not included in the classifier, were however the most differentially expressed proteins. We first evaluated the clinical relevance of these markers in our MS cohort, followed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining on an independent set of tumors incorporated in a tissue microarray (TMA) and regression analysis in relation to time to progression (TTP), clinical benefit and objective response. In order to assess which mechanisms ANXA1 and CALD1 might been involved in, we performed Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) on ANXA1 and CALD1 correlated proteins in our MS cohort. ANXA1 (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22-2.75; P = 0.003) and CALD1 (HR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.04-2.36; P = 0.039) based patient stratification showed significant association to TTP, while IHC staining on TMA showed that both ANXA1 (HR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.12-3.00; P = 0.016) and CALD1 (HR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.40-3.75; P = 0.001) expression was associated with shorter TTP independently of traditional predictive factors. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the majority of proteins correlated to ANXA1 also correlated with CALD1. IPA indicated that ANXA1 and CALD1 were associated with ER-downregulation and NFκB signaling. We hereby report that ANXA1 and CALD1 proteins are independent markers for tamoxifen therapy outcome and are associated to fast tumor progression.

  10. MiR-4653-3p and its target gene FRS2 are prognostic biomarkers for hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine therapy

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Zhu; Wang, Yu; Wang, YanPing; Qiu, Yan; Li, Li; Bu, Hong; Li, JiaYuan; Zheng, Hong

    2016-01-01

    Long-term tamoxifen treatment significantly improves the survival of hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer (BC) patients. However, tamoxifen resistance remains a challenge. We aimed to identify prognostic biomarkers for tamoxifen resistance and reveal the underlying mechanism. From March 2001 to September 2013, 400 HR+ BC women (stage I~III) were treated with adjuvant tamoxifen for 5 years or until relapse in West China Hospital. We included a discovery set of 6 patients who were refractory to tamoxifen, and a validation cohort of 88 patients including 35 cases with relapse. In the discovery set, microRNA microarray showed that miR-4653-3p decreased in recurrent/metastatic lesions compared to the matched primary lesions. In the validation cohort, real-time RT-PCR demonstrated that, following tamoxifen treatment, miR-4653-3p overexpression in the primary tumors decreased the risk of relapse (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] = 0.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.05~0.57, P = 0.004). Conversely, high expression of FRS2, the key adaptor protein required by FGFR signaling, predicted poor disease-free survival (DFS) (adjusted HR = 2.70, 95% CI = 1.11~6.56, P = 0.03). MiR-4653-3p down regulated FRS2 by binding to its 3′ untranslated region. Either overexpressing miR-4653-3p or attenuating FRS2 expression could restore TAM sensitivity in two tamoxifen-resistant BC cell lines. In conclusion, high miR-4653-3p level was the potential predictor for favorable DFS, while FRS2 overexpression was potential high-risk factor for relapse in HR+ BC patients receiving TAM adjuvant therapy. FGFR/FRS2 signaling might be a promising target for reversing tamoxifen resistance. PMID:27533459

  11. TAMOXIFEN RETINOPATHY DURING TREATMENT OF AN INOPERABLE DESMOID TUMOR.

    PubMed

    Furst, Meredith; Somogyi, Marie B; Wong, Robert W; Araujo, Dejka; Harper, Clio A

    2017-12-08

    To evaluate the clinical significance and rarity of tamoxifen retinopathy after a long-term tamoxifen treatment for an inoperable desmoid tumor. Case report. Tamoxifen retinopathy is a condition rarely observed in clinical practice. Although tamoxifen is typically a treatment for breast cancer patients, we present a 68-year-old woman taking tamoxifen for an inoperable desmoid tumor, an equally rare condition. She presented with bilaterally deteriorating vision over the course of a year. Fundoscopic examination revealed parafoveal deposits bilaterally. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography exhibited hyperreflective deposits in all layers of the retina. She had a cumulative treatment dose of 292 g of tamoxifen, and the medication was subsequently stopped. Her vision remained stable 3 months after the cessation of tamoxifen. The development of tamoxifen retinopathy in the treatment of a desmoid tumor makes this case a rare entity, and this is the first reported case of these two concomitant conditions to our knowledge. With the use of long-term tamoxifen as a primary treatment, we recommend screening at regular intervals by an ophthalmologist as an integral part of treatment.

  12. Therapeutic drug monitoring of tamoxifen using LC-MS/MS.

    PubMed

    Tchu, Simone M; Lynch, Kara L; Wu, Alan H B

    2012-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that is used widely in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer (ER+). Therapeutic monitoring of tamoxifen, and its metabolites N-desmethyltamoxifen (NDTam) and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen (endoxifen), may be clinically useful for guiding treatment decisions. Two significant barriers to tamoxifen efficacy are: (1) variability in conversion of tamoxifen into the potent antiestrogenic metabolite, endoxifen, and (2) poor compliance and adherence to tamoxifen therapy. Therapeutic monitoring can be used to address both of these issues. Low levels of endoxifen indicate either poor compliance or poor metabolism of tamoxifen. Low tamoxifen levels would suggest poor compliance while a low ratio of endoxifen to NDTam would be indicative of poor metabolism. Solid phase extraction of patient serum followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) detection enables rapid, accurate, detection of tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, and endoxifen.

  13. Crystalline maculopathy: a rare complication of tamoxifen therapy.

    PubMed

    Srikantia, Nirmala; Mukesh, S; Krishnaswamy, Malavika

    2010-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used in the treatment of hormone-responsive breast cancer. Tamoxifen-induced ocular complications are very rare. A post-menopausal woman, diagnosed and treated case of carcinoma of left breast, on follow-up presented with history of gradual diminution of vision in both eyes of 3 months duration. Patient was on tamoxifen therapy 20 mg daily for the last 2 years. Fundus examination showed crystalline maculopathy. Fluorescein angiography, ocular coherence tomography confirmed the diagnosis. Tamoxifen therapy was discontinued. Although ocular toxicity is rare, careful evaluation of patients with visual symptoms on tamoxifen therapy is required.

  14. Melanoma patient derived xenografts acquire distinct Vemurafenib resistance mechanisms

    PubMed Central

    Monsma, David J; Cherba, David M; Eugster, Emily E; Dylewski, Dawna L; Davidson, Paula T; Peterson, Chelsea A; Borgman, Andrew S; Winn, Mary E; Dykema, Karl J; Webb, Craig P; MacKeigan, Jeffrey P; Duesbery, Nicholas S; Nickoloff, Brian J; Monks, Noel R

    2015-01-01

    Variable clinical responses, tumor heterogeneity, and drug resistance reduce long-term survival outcomes for metastatic melanoma patients. To guide and accelerate drug development, we characterized tumor responses for five melanoma patient derived xenograft models treated with Vemurafenib. Three BRAFV600E models showed acquired drug resistance, one BRAFV600E model had a complete and durable response, and a BRAFV600V model was expectedly unresponsive. In progressing tumors, a variety of resistance mechanisms to BRAF inhibition were uncovered, including mutant BRAF alternative splicing, NRAS mutation, COT (MAP3K8) overexpression, and increased mutant BRAF gene amplification and copy number. The resistance mechanisms among the patient derived xenograft models were similar to the resistance pathways identified in clinical specimens from patients progressing on BRAF inhibitor therapy. In addition, there was both inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity in resistance mechanisms, accompanied by heterogeneous pERK expression immunostaining profiles. MEK monotherapy of Vemurafenib-resistant tumors caused toxicity and acquired drug resistance. However, tumors were eradicated when Vemurafenib was combined the MEK inhibitor. The diversity of drug responses among the xenograft models; the distinct mechanisms of resistance; and the ability to overcome resistance by the addition of a MEK inhibitor provide a scheduling rationale for clinical trials of next-generation drug combinations. PMID:26101714

  15. Influence of tangeretin on tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit in mammary cancer.

    PubMed

    Bracke, M E; Depypere, H T; Boterberg, T; Van Marck, V L; Vennekens, K M; Vanluchene, E; Nuytinck, M; Serreyn, R; Mareel, M M

    1999-02-17

    Tamoxifen and the citrus flavonoid tangeretin exhibit similar inhibitory effects on the growth and invasive properties of human mammary cancer cells in vitro; furthermore, the two agents have displayed additive effects in vitro. In this study, we examined whether tangeretin would enhance tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit in vivo. Female nude mice (n = 80) were inoculated subcutaneously with human MCF-7/6 mammary adenocarcinoma cells. Groups of 20 mice were treated orally by adding the following substances to their drinking water: tamoxifen (3 x 10(-5) M), tangeretin (1 x 10(-4) M), tamoxifen plus tangeretin (3 x 10(-5) M plus 1 x 10(-4) M), or solvent. Oral treatment of mice with tamoxifen resulted in a statistically significant inhibition of tumor growth compared with solvent treatment (two-sided P = .001). Treatment with tangeretin did not inhibit tumor growth, and addition of this compound to drinking water with tamoxifen completely neutralized tamoxifen's inhibitory effect. The median survival time of tumor-bearing mice treated with tamoxifen plus tangeretin was reduced in comparison with that of mice treated with tamoxifen alone (14 versus 56 weeks; two-sided P = .002). Tangeretin (1 x 10(-6) M or higher) inhibited the cytolytic effect of murine natural killer cells on MCF-7/6 cells in vitro, which may explain why tamoxifen-induced inhibition of tumor growth in mice is abolished when tangeretin is present in drinking water. We describe an in vivo model to study potential interference of dietary compounds, such as flavonoids, with tamoxifen, which could lead to reduced efficacy of adjuvant therapy. In our study, the tumor growth-inhibiting effect of oral tamoxifen was reversed upon addition of tangeretin to the diet. Our data argue against excessive consumption of tangeretin-added products and supplements by patients with mammary cancer during tamoxifen treatment.

  16. Tamoxifen resistance and metastasis of human breast cancer cells were mediated by the membrane-associated estrogen receptor ER-α36 signaling in vitro.

    PubMed

    Gu, Wenwen; Dong, Nian; Wang, Peng; Shi, Changgen; Yang, Jun; Wang, Jian

    2017-04-01

    The drug resistance and tumor metastasis have been the main obstacles for the longer-term therapeutic effects of tamoxifen (TAM) on estrogen receptor-positive (ER + ) breast cancer, but the mechanisms underlying the TAM resistance are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that the membrane-associated estrogen receptor ER-α36 signaling, but not the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (GPER1) signaling, might be involved in the TAM resistance and metastasis of breast cancer cells. In this study, a model of ER + breast cancer cell MCF-7 that involves the up-regulated expression of ER-α36 and unchanged expression of ER-α66 and GPER1 was established via the removal of insulin from the cell culture medium. The mechanism of TAM resistance in the ER + breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was investigated, and the results showed that the stimulating effect of insulin on susceptibility of MCF-7 to TAM was mediated by ER-α36 and that the expression level of ER-α36 in TAM-resistant MCF-7 cells was also significantly increased. Both TAM and estradiol (E2) could promote the migration of triple negative (ER-α66 - /PR - /HER2 - ) and ER-α36 + /GPER1 + breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. The migration of MDA-MB-231 cells was inhibited by the down-regulated intracellular expression of ER-α36 by transient transfection of specific small interfering RNA, whereas no effect of GPER1 down-regulation was observed. Meanwhile, the effect of TAM on the migration of ER-α36-down-regulated MDA-MB-231 cells was also reduced. Furthermore, it was found that TAM enhanced the distribution of integrin β1 on the cell surface but did not affect the expression of integrin β1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Collectively, these data suggested that ER-α36 signaling might play critical roles in acquired and de novo TAM resistance and metastasis of breast cancer, and ER-α36 might present a potential biomarker of TAM resistance in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ER + breast cancer.

  17. Restoration of Tamoxifen Sensitivity in Estrogen Receptor–Negative Breast Cancer Cells: Tamoxifen-Bound Reactivated ER Recruits Distinctive Corepressor Complexes

    PubMed Central

    Sharma, Dipali; Saxena, Neeraj K.; Davidson, Nancy E.; Vertino, Paula M.

    2010-01-01

    Breast tumors expressing estrogen receptor-α (ER) respond well to therapeutic strategies using selective ER modulators, such as tamoxifen. However, ~ 30% of invasive breast cancers are hormone independent because they lack ER expression due to hypermethylation of ER promoter. Treatment of ER-negative breast cancer cells with demethylating agents [5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC)] and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (trichostatin A) leads to expression of ER mRNA and functional protein. Here, we examined whether epigenetically reactivated ER is a target for tamoxifen therapy. Following treatment with trichostatin A and 5-aza-dC, the formerly unresponsive ER-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells became responsive to tamoxifen. Tamoxifen-mediated inhibition of cell growth in these cells is mediated at least in part by the tamoxifen-bound ER. Tamoxifen-bound reactivated ER induces transcriptional repression at estrogen-responsive genes by ordered recruitment of multiple distinct chromatin-modifying complexes. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we show recruitment of two different corepressor complexes to ER-responsive promoters in a mutually exclusive and sequential manner: the nuclear receptor corepressor-HDAC3 complex followed by nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation complex. The mechanistic insight provided by this study might help in designing therapeutic strategies directed toward epigenetic mechanisms in the prevention or treatment of breast cancer. PMID:16778215

  18. Effects of exemestane and tamoxifen on hormone levels within the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multicentre (TEAM) trial: results of a German substudy.

    PubMed

    Hadji, P; Kauka, A; Bauer, T; Tams, J; Hasenburg, A; Kieback, D G

    2012-10-01

    The aim of this study was to compare the effects of exemestane and tamoxifen on hormone levels in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer within a Germany substudy of the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial. Within the TEAM trial, patients were randomized to receive adjuvant treatment with exemestane for 5 years or tamoxifen for 2.5-3 years followed by exemestane for 2-2.5 years. Serum levels of testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and parathyroid hormone (PTH)-intact were measured at screening and after 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Data on hormone levels were available from 63 patients in the tamoxifen arm and 68 patients in the exemestane arm. Treatment with exemestane resulted in decreases from baseline in SHBG and PTH-intact levels, and increases from baseline in testosterone, DHEAS and FSH levels. Tamoxifen treatment resulted in increases from baseline in SHBG and PTH-intact, whereas levels of testosterone and FSH decreased and DHEAS levels did not change. At all time points assessed, the absolute change from baseline was significantly different between tamoxifen and exemestane for testosterone, SHBG, FSH and PTH-intact (all p < 0.0001). Exemestane and tamoxifen had statistically significantly different effects on hormone levels, including testosterone, SHBG, FSH and PTH-intact.

  19. Tamoxifen protects male mice nigrostriatal dopamine against methamphetamine-induced toxicity.

    PubMed

    Bourque, Mélanie; Liu, Bin; Dluzen, Dean E; Di Paolo, Thérèse

    2007-11-01

    The selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen and estradiol were shown to protect nigrostriatal dopamine concentration loss by methamphetamine in female mice whereas male mice were protected only by tamoxifen. The present study examined the protective properties of tamoxifen in male mice on several nigrostriatal dopaminergic markers and body temperature. Intact male mice were administered 12.5 or 50 microg tamoxifen 24 h before methamphetamine treatment. Basal body temperatures of male mice remained unchanged by the tamoxifen treatment. Methamphetamine reduced striatal dopamine and its metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid concentrations, striatal and substantia nigra dopamine and vesicular monoamine transporter specific binding as well substantia nigra dopamine and vesicular monoamine transporter mRNA levels and increased striatal preproenkephalin mRNA levels. These methamphetamine effects were not altered by 12.5 microg tamoxifen except for increased striatal dopamine metabolites and turnover. Tamoxifen at 50 microg reduced the methamphetamine effect on striatal dopamine concentration, dopamine transporter specific binding and prevented the increase in preproenkephalin mRNA levels; in the substantia nigra tamoxifen prevented the decrease of dopamine transporter mRNA levels. The present results show a tamoxifen dose-dependent prevention of loss of various dopaminergic markers against methamphetamine-induced toxicity in male mice. Since this is the only known hormonal protection of male mice against methamphetamine toxicity, these findings provide important new information on specific parameters of nigrostriatal dopaminergic function preserved by tamoxifen.

  20. Beneficial role of tamoxifen in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.

    PubMed

    Rayabarapu, Nihar; Patel, Bhoomika M

    2014-10-01

    ER-α and ER-β agonist 17β-estradiol is reported to attenuate cardiac hypertrophy. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator. Hence, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of tamoxifen in myocardial infarction. For this, tamoxifen was administered to Sprague-Dawley rats for 1-14 days, and isoproterenol (ISO) (100 mg·(kg body mass)(-1)·day(-1)) was administered subcutaneously on the 13th and 14th days of the study in order to induce myocardial infarction, after which, various biochemical, cardiac, and morphometric parameters were evaluated. ISO produced significant dyslipidemia, hypertension, bradycardia, oxidative stress, and an increase in serum cardiac markers. Treatment with tamoxifen significantly controlled dyslipidemia, hypertension, bradycardia, oxidative stress, and reduced serum cardiac markers. The ISO control rats exhibited significant increases in the infarct size of the left ventricle (LV), LV cavity area, cardiac and LV hypertrophic indices, LV-wall thickness, cardiomyocyte diameter, and area. Treatment with tamoxifen significantly reduced infarction as well as hypertrophic and morphometric parameters. ISO also produced significant increases in the LV collagen level, decreases in Na(+)K(+) ATPase activity, and a reduction in the rate of pressure development and decay, which were prevented by tamoxifen treatment. The protective effect of tamoxifen on myocardial infarct was further confirmed by histopathological examination. Our data thus suggest that tamoxifen exerts beneficial effects in ISO-induced myocardial infarction.

  1. Surveillance for Travel and Domestically Acquired Multidrug-Resistant Human Shigella Infections-Pennsylvania, 2006-2014.

    PubMed

    Li, Yu Lung; Tewari, Deepanker; Yealy, Courtney C; Fardig, David; M'ikanatha, Nkuchia M

    2016-01-01

    Shigellosis is a leading cause of enteric infections in the United States. We compared antimicrobial resistance in Shigella infections related to overseas travel (travel-associated) and in those acquired domestically by analyzing antimicrobial resistance patterns, geographic distributions, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. We tested samples (n = 204) from a collection of isolates recovered from patients in Pennsylvania between 2006 and 2014. Isolates were grouped into travel- and non-travel-associated categories. Eighty-one (79.4%) of the Shigella isolates acquired during international travel were resistant to multiple antibiotics compared to 53 (52.1%) of the infections transmitted in domestic settings. A majority (79.4%) of isolates associated with international travel demonstrated resistance to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines, whereas 47 (46.1%) of the infections acquired domestically were resistant to tetracycline. Almost all isolates (92.2%) transmitted in domestic settings were resistant to aminoglycosides, and 5 isolates from adult male patients were resistant to azithromycin, a drug often used for empiric treatment of severe shigellosis. Twenty (19.6%) isolates associated with illnesses acquired during overseas travel in 4 countries were resistant to quinolones. One S. sonnei PFGE pattern was traced to a multidrug-resistant isolate acquired overseas that had caused a multistate outbreak of shigellosis, suggesting global dissemination of a drug-resistant species. Resistance to certain drugs-for example, tetracycline-increased in both overseas- and domestic-acquired infections during the study period. The prevalence of resistance to macrolides (azithromycin) and third-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone) was less than 1%; however, efforts to better monitor changes in drug resistance over time combined with increased antimicrobial stewardship are essential at the local, national, and global levels.

  2. Modification of sphingolipid metabolism by tamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen in acute myelogenous leukemia – Impact on enzyme activity and response to cytotoxics

    PubMed Central

    Morad, Samy A. F.; Tan, Su-Fern; Feith, David J.; Kester, Mark; Claxton, David F.; Loughran, Thomas P.; Barth, Brian M.; Fox, Todd E.; Cabot, Myles C.

    2015-01-01

    The triphenylethylene antiestrogen, tamoxifen, can be an effective inhibitor of sphingolipid metabolism. This off-target activity makes tamoxifen an interesting ancillary for boosting the apoptosis-inducing properties of ceramide, a sphingolipid with valuable tumor censoring activity. Here we show for the first time that tamoxifen and metabolite, N –desmethyltamoxifen (DMT) block ceramide glycosylation and inhibit ceramide hydrolysis (by acid ceramidase, AC) in human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines and in AML cells derived from patients. Tamoxifen (1-10 μM) inhibition of AC in AML cells was accompanied by decreases in AC protein expression. Tamoxifen also depressed expression and activity of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), the enzyme catalyzing production of mitogenic sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1-P). Results from mass spectroscopy showed that tamoxifen and DMT, i ) increased the levels of endogenous C16:0- and C24:1 ceramide molecular species, ii) nearly totally halted production of respective glucosylceramide (GC) molecular species, iii ) drastically reduced levels of sphingosine ( to 9% of control), and iv ) reduced levels of S1-P by 85%, in vincristine-resistant HL-60/VCR cells. Co-administration of tamoxifen with either N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), a ceramide-generating retinoid, or a cell-deliverable form of ceramide, C6-ceramide, resulted in marked decreases in HL-60/VCR cell viability that far exceeded single agent potency. Combination treatments resulted in synergistic apoptotic cell death as gauged by increased Annexin V binding and DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3. These results show the versatility of adjuvant triphenylethylene with ceramide-centric therapies for magnifying therapeutic potential in AML. Such drug regimens could serve as effective strategies, even in the multidrug resistant setting. PMID:25769964

  3. A Research-Inspired Laboratory Sequence Investigating Acquired Drug Resistance

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Taylor, Elizabeth Vogel; Fortune, Jennifer A.; Drennan, Catherine L.

    2010-01-01

    Here, we present a six-session laboratory exercise designed to introduce students to standard biochemical techniques in the context of investigating a high impact research topic, acquired resistance to the cancer drug Gleevec. Students express a Gleevec-resistant mutant of the Abelson tyrosine kinase domain, the active domain of an oncogenic…

  4. Tamoxifen treatment of bleeding irregularities associated with Norplant use.

    PubMed

    Abdel-Aleem, Hany; Shaaban, Omar M; Amin, Ahmed F; Abdel-Aleem, Aly M

    2005-12-01

    To evaluate the possible role of tamoxifen (selective estrogen receptor modulators, SERM) in treating bleeding irregularities associated with Norplant contraceptive use. Randomized clinical trial including 100 Norplant users complaining of vaginal bleeding irregularities. The trial was conducted in the Family Planning Clinic of Assiut University Hospital. Women were assigned at random to receive tamoxifen tablets (10 mg) twice daily for 10 days or similar placebo. Women were followed-up for 3 months. The end points were percentage of women who stopped bleeding during treatment, bleeding/spotting days during the period of follow-up, effect of treatment on their lifestyle, and side effects and discontinuation of contraception. There was good compliance with treatment. At the end of treatment, a significantly higher percentage of tamoxifen users stopped bleeding in comparison to the control group (88% vs. 68%, respectively; p=.016). Women who used tamoxifen had significantly less bleeding and/or spotting days than women who used placebo, during the first and second months. During the third month, there were no significant differences between the two groups. Women who used tamoxifen reported improvement in performing household activities, religious duties and in sexual life, during the first 2 months. In the third month, there were no differences between the two groups. There were no significant differences between tamoxifen and placebo groups in reporting side effects. In the group who used tamoxifen, two women discontinued Norplant use because of bleeding vs. nine women in the placebo group. Tamoxifen use at a dose of 10 mg twice daily orally, for 10 days, has a beneficial effect on vaginal bleeding associated with Norplant use. In addition, the bleeding pattern was better in women who used tamoxifen for the following 2 months after treatment. However, these results have to be confirmed in a larger trial before advocating this line of treatment.

  5. Beneficial role of tamoxifen in experimentally induced cardiac hypertrophy.

    PubMed

    Patel, Bhoomika M; Desai, Vishal J

    2014-04-01

    Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is associated with cardiac hypertrophy (CH), fibrosis, inflammation and cardiac dysfunction. Tamoxifen is a PKC inhibitor. Despite these, reports on effect of tamoxifen on cardiac hypertrophy are not available. Hence, we have investigated effect of tamoxifen (2mg/kg/day, po) on CH. In isoproterenol (ISO) induced CH, ISO (5mg/kg/day, ip) was administered for 10 days in Wistar rats. For partial abdominal aortic constriction (PAAC), abdominal aorta was ligated by 4-0 silk thread around 7.0mm diameter blunt needle. Then the needle was removed to leave the aorta partially constricted for 30 days. Tamoxifen was given for 10 days and 30 days, respectively, in ISO and PAAC models and at end of each studies, animals were sacrificed and biochemical and cardiac parameters were evaluated. ISO and PAAC produced significant dyslipidemia, hypertension, bradycardia, oxidative stress and increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase-MB, C-reactive protein. Treatment with tamoxifen significantly controlled dyslipidemia, hypertension, bradycardia, oxidative stress and reduced serum cardiac markers. ISO control and PAAC control rats exhibited significantly increased cardiac and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophic index, LV thickness, cardiomyocyte diameter. Treatment with tamoxifen significantly reduced these hypertrophic indices. There was a significant increase in LV collagen level, decrease in Na(+)K(+)ATPase activity, and reduction in the rate of pressure development and decay. Tamoxifen significantly reduced LV collagen, increased Na(+)K(+)ATPase activity and improved hemodynamic function. This was further supported by histopathological studies, in which tamoxifen showed marked decrease in fibrosis and increase in extracellular spaces in the treated animals. Our data suggest that tamoxifen produces beneficial effects on cardiac hypertrophy and hence may be considered as a preventive measure for cardiac hypertrophy. Copyright © 2014

  6. Erlotinib is a viable treatment for tumors with acquired resistance to cetuximab

    PubMed Central

    Brand, Toni M; Dunn, Emily F; Iida, Mari; Myers, Rebecca A; Kostopoulos, Kellie T; Li, Chunrong; Peet, Chimera R

    2011-01-01

    The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an ubiquitously expressed receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and is recognized as a key mediator of tumorigenesis in many human tumors. Currently there are five EGFR inhibitors used in oncology, two monoclonal antibodies (panitumumab and cetuximab) and three tyrosine kinase inhibitors (erlotinib, gefitinib and lapatinib). Both strategies of EGFR inhibition have demonstrated clinical success; however, many tumors remain non-responsive or acquire resistance during therapy. To explore potential molecular mechanisms of acquired resistance to cetuximab we previously established a series of cetuximab-resistant clones by chronically exposing the NCI-H226 NSCLC cell line to escalating doses of cetuximab. Cetuximab-resistant clones exhibited a dramatic increase in the activation of EGFR, HER2 and HER3 receptors as well as increased signaling through the MAP K and AKT pathways. RNAi studies demonstrated dependence of cetuximab-resistant clones on the EGFR signaling network. These findings prompted investigation on whether or not cells with acquired resistance to cetuximab would be sensitive to the EGFR targeted TKI erlotinib. In vitro, erlotinib was able to decrease signaling through the EGFR axis, decrease cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis. To determine if erlotinib could have therapeutic benefit in vivo, we established cetuximab-resistant NCI-H226 mouse xenografts, and subsequently treated them with erlotinib. Mice harboring cetuximab-resistant tumors treated with erlotinib exhibited either a tumor regression or growth delay as compared with vehicle controls. Analysis of the erlotinib treated tumors demonstrated a decrease in cell proliferation and increased rates of apoptosis. The work presented herein suggests that (1) cells with acquired resistance to cetuximab maintain their dependence on EGFR and (2) tumors developing resistance to cetuximab can benefit from subsequent treatment with erlotinib, providing rationale

  7. 4-protein signature predicting tamoxifen treatment outcome in recurrent breast cancer.

    PubMed

    De Marchi, Tommaso; Liu, Ning Qing; Stingl, Cristoph; Timmermans, Mieke A; Smid, Marcel; Look, Maxime P; Tjoa, Mila; Braakman, Rene B H; Opdam, Mark; Linn, Sabine C; Sweep, Fred C G J; Span, Paul N; Kliffen, Mike; Luider, Theo M; Foekens, John A; Martens, John W M; Umar, Arzu

    2016-01-01

    Estrogen receptor (ER) positive tumors represent the majority of breast malignancies, and are effectively treated with hormonal therapies, such as tamoxifen. However, in the recurrent disease resistance to tamoxifen therapy is common and a major cause of death. In recent years, in-depth proteome analyses have enabled identification of clinically useful biomarkers, particularly, when heterogeneity in complex tumor tissue was reduced using laser capture microdissection (LCM). In the current study, we performed high resolution proteomic analysis on two cohorts of ER positive breast tumors derived from patients who either manifested good or poor outcome to tamoxifen treatment upon recurrence. A total of 112 fresh frozen tumors were collected from multiple medical centers and divided into two sets: an in-house training and a multi-center test set. Epithelial tumor cells were enriched with LCM and analyzed by nano-LC Orbitrap mass spectrometry (MS), which yielded >3000 and >4000 quantified proteins in the training and test sets, respectively. Raw data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifiers PXD000484 and PXD000485. Statistical analysis showed differential abundance of 99 proteins, of which a subset of 4 proteins was selected through a multivariate step-down to develop a predictor for tamoxifen treatment outcome. The 4-protein signature significantly predicted poor outcome patients in the test set, independent of predictive histopathological characteristics (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15 to 4.17; multivariate Cox regression p value = 0.017). Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of PDCD4, one of the signature proteins, on an independent set of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues provided and independent technical validation (HR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.92; multivariate Cox regression p value = 0.009). We hereby report the first validated protein predictor for tamoxifen treatment outcome in recurrent ER-positive breast

  8. Light-Induced Toxic Effects of Tamoxifen: A Chemotherapeutic and Chemopreventive Agent.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lei; Wang, Shuguang; Yin, Jun-Jie; Fu, Peter P; Yu, Hongtao

    2009-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a powerful drug used to treat breast cancer patients, and more than 500,000 women in the U. S. are being treated with this drug. In our study, tamoxifen is found to be photomutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA102 at concentrations as low as 0.08 muM and reaches maximum photomutagenicity at 0.4 muM under a light dose equivalent to 20 min sunlight. These concentrations are comparable to the plasma tamoxifen concentration of 0.4 to 3 muM for patients undergoing tamoxifen therapy. The toxicity seems to be the result of DNA damage and/or lipid peroxidation caused by light irradiation of tamoxifen. The DNA damage caused by irradiation of PhiX174 DNA in the presence of tamoxifen appears to be formation of DNA-tamoxifen covalent adducts, not single strand/double strand cleavages, and there is no oxygen involvement. This is confirmed by EPR experiments that carbon-centerd radicals are formed by light irradiation of tamoxifen and there is no singlet oxygen formation. Although superoxide radical is formed, it is not involved in DNA damage.

  9. ABCB1 as predominant resistance mechanism in cells with acquired SNS-032 resistance

    PubMed Central

    Rothweiler, Florian; Voges, Yvonne; Balónová, Barbora; Blight, Barry A.; Cinatl, Jindrich

    2016-01-01

    The CDK inhibitor SNS-032 had previously exerted promising anti-neuroblastoma activity via CDK7 and 9 inhibition. ABCB1 expression was identified as major determinant of SNS-032 resistance. Here, we investigated the role of ABCB1 in acquired SNS-032 resistance. In contrast to ABCB1-expressing UKF-NB-3 sub-lines resistant to other ABCB1 substrates, SNS-032-adapted UKF-NB-3 (UKF-NB-3rSNS- 032300nM) cells remained sensitive to the non-ABCB1 substrate cisplatin and were completely re-sensitized to cytotoxic ABCB1 substrates by ABCB1 inhibition. Moreover, UKF-NB-3rSNS-032300nM cells remained similarly sensitive to CDK7 and 9 inhibition as UKF-NB-3 cells. In contrast, SHEPrSNS-0322000nM, the SNS-032-resistant sub-line of the neuroblastoma cell line SHEP, displayed low level SNS-032 resistance also when ABCB1 was inhibited. This discrepancy may be explained by the higher SNS-032 concentrations that were used to establish SHEPrSNS-0322000nM cells, since SHEP cells intrinsically express ABCB1 and are less sensitive to SNS-032 (IC50 912 nM) than UKF-NB-3 cells (IC50 153 nM). In conclusion, we show that ABCB1 expression represents the primary (sometimes exclusive) resistance mechanism in neuroblastoma cells with acquired resistance to SNS-032. Thus, ABCB1 inhibitors may increase the SNS-032 efficacy in ABCB1-expressing cells and prolong or avoid resistance formation. PMID:27517323

  10. Handling a community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreak: emerging data.

    PubMed

    Elston, Dirk M

    2008-08-01

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) strains continue to emerge as important causes of sepsis, folliculitis, skin abscesses, necrotizing pneumonitis, empyema, and bone and joint infections. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus often affects young, previously healthy individuals, including athletes and children in day care. Drainage remains the most important intervention for an abscess. The most common CAMRSA strains in the United States, Canada, and Europe remain sensitive to sulfonamides and tetracycline. Rates of clindamycin resistance vary widely geographically, and physicians should be familiar with their local antibiogram data. Multidrug-resistant strains of CAMRSA are emerging, and the routine addition of antibiotics such as tetracycline to animal feed is contributing to the emergence of resistance. Recurrence and spread of infection can be reduced by addressing the carrier state. Strategies for treatment and elimination of staphylococcal carriage are discussed.

  11. Evaluation of Tamoxifen and metabolites by LC-MS/MS and HPLC Methods

    PubMed Central

    Heath, D.D.; Flatt, S.W.; Wu, A.H.B.; Pruitt, M.A.; Rock, C.L.

    2015-01-01

    Epidemiological and laboratory evidence suggests that quantification of serum or plasma levels of tamoxifen and the metabolites of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (endoxifen), Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4HT), N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (ND-tam) is a clinically useful tool in the assessment and monitoring of breast cancer status in patients taking adjuvant tamoxifen. A liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) was used to measure the blood levels of tamoxifen and the metabolites of tamoxifen. This fully automated analytical method is specific, accurate and sensitive. The LC-MS/MS automated technique has now become a widely accepted reference method. We analyzed a randomly selected batch of blood samples from participants enrolled in a breast cancer study to compare results from this reference method in 40 samples with those obtained from a recently developed high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection. The mean (SD) concentration for the LC-MS/MS (endoxifen 12.6 [7.5] ng/mL, tamoxifen 105 [44] ng/mL, 4-HT 1.9 [1.0] ng/mL, ND-tam 181 [69] ng/mL) and the HPLC (endoxifen 13.1 [7.8] ng/mL, tamoxifen 108[55]ng/mL, 4-HT 1.8 [0.8] ng/mL, ND-tam 184 [81] ng/mL), the methods did not show any significant differences. Our results confirm that the HPLC method offers an accurate and comparable alternative for the quantification of tamoxifen and tamoxifen metabolites. PMID:24693573

  12. Involvement of multiple cellular pathways in regulating resistance to tamoxifen in BIK-suppressed MCF-7 cells.

    PubMed

    Viedma-Rodríguez, Rubí; Ruiz Esparza-Garrido, Ruth; Baiza-Gutman, Luis Arturo; Velázquez-Flores, Miguel Ángel; García-Carrancá, Alejandro; Salamanca-Gómez, Fabio; Arenas-Aranda, Diego

    2015-09-01

    Majority of women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers initially respond to hormone therapies such as tamoxifen (TAM; antagonist of estrogen). However, many tumors eventually become resistant to TAM. Therefore, understanding the various cellular components involved in causing resistance to TAM is of paramount importance in designing novel entities for efficacious hormone therapy. Previously, we found that suppression of BIK gene expression induced TAM resistance in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. In order to understand the response of these cells to TAM and its association with resistance, a microarray analysis of gene expression was performed in the BIK-suppressed MCF-7 cells and compared it to the TAM-only-treated cells (controls). Several genes participating in various cellular pathways were identified. Molecules identified in the drug resistance pathway were 14-3-3z or YWHAZ, WEE1, PRKACA, NADK, and HSP90AA 1. Further, genes involved in cell cycle control, apoptosis, and cell proliferation were also found differentially expressed in these cells. Transcriptional and translational analysis of key molecules such as STAT2, AKT 3, and 14-3-3z revealed similar changes at the messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as at the protein level. Importantly, there was no cytotoxic effect of TAM on BIK-suppressed MCF-7 cells. Further, these cells were not arrested at the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle although 30 % of BIK-suppressed cells were arrested at the G2 phase of the cycle on TAM treatment. Furthermore, we found a relevant interaction between 14-3-3z and WEE1, suggesting that the cytotoxic effect of TAM was prevented in BIK-suppressed cells because this interaction leads to transitory arrest in the G2 phase leading to the repair of damaged DNA and allowing the cells to proliferate.

  13. Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant "Staphylococcus aureus": Considerations for School Nurses

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Alex, Aniltta; Letizia, MariJo

    2007-01-01

    Methicillin-resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (MRSA) is a disease-causing organism that has been present in hospital settings since the 1960s. However, a genetically distinct strain of MRSA, called community-acquired methicillin-resistant "Staphylococcus aureus" (CA-MRSA), has emerged in recent years in community settings among healthy…

  14. Association of tamoxifen with meningioma: a population-based study in Sweden

    PubMed Central

    Sundquist, Jan; Sundquist, Kristina

    2016-01-01

    Previous studies suggest that hormone therapy may play an important role in the development of meningioma. However, it is unclear whether medication with tamoxifen can prevent meningioma. Our study cohort included all women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1961 and 2010, and a total of 227 535 women were identified with breast cancer with a median age at diagnosis of 63 years. Women diagnosed with breast cancer after 1987 were defined as tamoxifen exposed; those diagnosed with breast cancer before or during 1987 were defined as not exposed to tamoxifen. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used to calculate the risk of subsequent meningioma. Of these women, 223 developed meningioma. For women without tamoxifen exposure, the risk of meningioma was significantly increased, with an SIR of 1.54 (95% confidence interval 1.30–1.81); the risk was not increased in those with tamoxifen exposure (SIR=1.06, 95% confidence interval 0.84–1.32). The increased risk of meningioma in women without tamoxifen exposure persisted during 10 years of follow-up. In this historical cohort study, we found that women diagnosed with breast cancer but not treated with tamoxifen had an increased incidence of meningioma, whereas the incidence was close to that of the general population in patients treated with tamoxifen. This suggests that tamoxifen may prevent the development of meningioma. PMID:25642792

  15. Tumor characteristics and survival outcomes of women with tamoxifen-related uterine carcinosarcoma.

    PubMed

    Matsuo, Koji; Ross, Malcolm S; Bush, Stephen H; Yunokawa, Mayu; Blake, Erin A; Takano, Tadao; Ueda, Yutaka; Baba, Tsukasa; Satoh, Shinya; Shida, Masako; Ikeda, Yuji; Adachi, Sosuke; Yokoyama, Takuhei; Takekuma, Munetaka; Takeuchi, Satoshi; Nishimura, Masato; Iwasaki, Keita; Yanai, Shiori; Klobocista, Merieme M; Johnson, Marian S; Machida, Hiroko; Hasegawa, Kosei; Miyake, Takahito M; Nagano, Tadayoshi; Pejovic, Tanja; Shahzad, Mian Mk; Im, Dwight D; Omatsu, Kohei; Ueland, Frederick R; Kelley, Joseph L; Roman, Lynda D

    2017-02-01

    To examine tumor characteristics and survival outcome of women with uterine carcinosarcoma who had a history of tamoxifen use. This is a multicenter retrospective study examining stage I-IV uterine carcinosarcoma cases based on history of tamoxifen use. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment pattern, and survival outcomes were compared between tamoxifen users and non-users. Sixty-six cases of tamoxifen-related uterine carcinosarcoma were compared to 1009 cases with no history of tamoxifen use. Tamoxifen users were more likely to be older (mean age, 69 versus 64, P<0.001) and had a past history of malignancy (100% versus 12.7%, P<0.001). Tamoxifen-related uterine carcinosarcoma was significantly associated with a higher proportion of stage IA disease (48.4% versus 29.9%) and a lower risk of stage IVB disease (7.8% versus 16.0%) compared to tamoxifen-unrelated carcinosarcoma (P=0.034). Deep myometrial tumor invasion was less common in uterine carcinosarcoma related to tamoxifen use (28.3% versus 48.8%, P=0.002). On univariate analysis, tamoxifen use was not associated with progression-free survival (5-year rates 44.5% versus 46.8%, P=0.48) and disease-specific survival (64.0% versus 59.1%, P=0.39). After adjusting for age, past history of malignancy, stage, residual disease status at surgery, and postoperative treatment patterns, tamoxifen use was not associated with progression-free survival (adjusted-hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.50 to 1.50, P=0.60) and disease-specific survival (adjusted-hazard ratio 0.68, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.29, P=0.24). Our study suggests that tamoxifen-related uterine carcinosarcoma may have favorable tumor characteristics but have comparable stage-specific survival outcomes compared to tamoxifen-unrelated uterine carcinosarcoma. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Drug Penetration Gradients Associated with Acquired Drug Resistance in Tuberculosis Patients.

    PubMed

    Dheda, Keertan; Lenders, Laura; Magombedze, Gesham; Srivastava, Shashikant; Raj, Prithvi; Arning, Erland; Ashcraft, Paula; Bottiglieri, Teodoro; Wainwright, Helen; Pennel, Timothy; Linegar, Anthony; Moodley, Loven; Pooran, Anil; Pasipanodya, Jotam G; Sirgel, Frederick A; van Helden, Paul D; Wakeland, Edward; Warren, Robin M; Gumbo, Tawanda

    2018-06-07

    Acquired resistance is an important driver of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, even with good treatment adherence. However, exactly what initiates the resistance, and how it arises remains poorly understood. To identify the relationship between drug concentrations and drug susceptibility readouts (MICs) in the tuberculosis cavity. We recruited patients with medically incurable tuberculosis who were undergoing therapeutic lung resection whilst on treatment with the cocktail of second line anti-tuberculosis drugs. On the day of surgery antibiotic concentrations were measured in the blood and at seven pre-specified biopsy sites within each cavity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was grown from each biopsy site, MICs of each drug identified, and whole genome sequencing performed. Spearman correlation coefficients between drug concentration and MIC were calculated. Fourteen patients treated for a median of 13 (range: 5-31) months were recruited. MICs and drug resistance-associated single nucleotide variants differed between the different geospatial locations within each cavity, and with pretreatment and serial sputum isolates, consistent with ongoing acquisition of resistance. However, pre-treatment sputum MIC had an accuracy of only 49.48% in predicting cavitary MICs. There were large concentration-distance gradients for each antibiotic. The location-specific concentrations inversely correlated with MICs (p<0.05), and therefore acquired resistance. Moreover, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic exposures known to amplify drug-resistant subpopulations were encountered in all positions. These data inform interventional strategies relevant to drug delivery, dosing, and diagnostics to prevent the development of acquired resistance. The role of high intracavitary penetration as a biomarker of antibiotic efficacy, when assessing new regimens, requires clarification.

  17. Oncogenic HER2Δ16 suppresses miR-15a/16 and deregulates BCL-2 to promote endocrine resistance of breast tumors

    PubMed Central

    Cittelly, Diana M.; Das, Partha M.; Salvo, Virgilio A.; Fonseca, Juan P.; Burow, Matthew E.; Jones, Frank E.

    2010-01-01

    Tamoxifen is the most commonly prescribed therapy for patients with estrogen receptor (ER)α-positive breast tumors. Tumor resistance to tamoxifen remains a serious clinical problem especially in patients with tumors that also overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Current preclinical models of HER2 overexpression fail to recapitulate the clinical spectrum of endocrine resistance associated with HER2/ER-positive tumors. Here, we show that ectopic expression of a clinically important oncogenic isoform of HER2, HER2Δ16, which is expressed in >30% of ER-positive breast tumors, promotes tamoxifen resistance and estrogen independence of MCF-7 xenografts. MCF-7/HER2Δ16 cells evade tamoxifen through upregulation of BCL-2, whereas mediated suppression of BCL-2 expression or treatment of MCF-7/HER2Δ16 cells with the BCL-2 family pharmacological inhibitor ABT-737 restores tamoxifen sensitivity. Tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7/HER2Δ16 cells upregulate BCL-2 protein levels in response to suppressed ERα signaling mediated by estrogen withdrawal, tamoxifen treatment or fulvestrant treatment. In addition, HER2Δ16 expression results in suppression of BCL-2-targeting microRNAs miR-15a and miR-16. Reintroduction of miR-15a/16 reduced tamoxifen-induced BCL-2 expression and sensitized MCF-7/HER2Δ16 to tamoxifen. Conversely, inhibition of miR-15a/16 in tamoxifen-sensitive cells activated BCL-2 expression and promoted tamoxifen resistance. Our results suggest that HER2Δ16 expression promotes endocrine-resistant HER2/ERα-positive breast tumors and in contrast to wild-type HER2, preclinical models of HER2Δ16 overexpression recapitulate multiple phenotypes of endocrine-resistant human breast tumors. The mechanism of HER2Δ16 therapeutic evasion, involving tamoxifen-induced upregulation of BCL-2 and suppression of miR-15a/16, provides a template for unique therapeutic interventions combining tamoxifen with modulation of microRNAs and/or ABT-737-mediated BCL-2

  18. Effects of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene on Memory and Other Cognitive Abilities: Cognition in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene

    PubMed Central

    Legault, Claudine; Maki, Pauline M.; Resnick, Susan M.; Coker, Laura; Hogan, Patricia; Bevers, Therese B.; Shumaker, Sally A.

    2009-01-01

    Purpose To compare the effects of two selective estrogen receptor modulators, tamoxifen and raloxifene, on global and domain-specific cognitive function. Patients and Methods The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) study was a randomized clinical trial of tamoxifen 20 mg/d or raloxifene 60 mg/d in healthy postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer. The 1,498 women who were randomly assigned in STAR were age 65 years and older, were not diagnosed with dementia, and were enrolled onto the Cognition in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (Co-STAR) trial, beginning 18 months after STAR enrollment started. A cognitive test battery modeled after the one used in the Women's Health Initiative Study of Cognitive Aging (WHISCA) was administered. Technicians were centrally trained to administer the battery and recertified every 6 months. Analyses were conducted on all participants and on 273 women who completed the first cognitive battery before they started taking their medications. Results Overall, there were no significant differences in adjusted mean cognitive scores between the two treatment groups across visits. There were significant time effects across the three visits for some of the cognitive measures. Similar results were obtained for the subset of women with true baseline measures. Conclusion Tamoxifen and raloxifene are associated with similar patterns of cognitive function in postmenopausal women at increased risk of breast cancer. Future comparisons between these findings and patterns of cognitive function in hormone therapy and placebo groups in WHISCA should provide additional insights into the effects of tamoxifen and raloxifene on cognitive function in older women. PMID:19770382

  19. Transcriptome profiling identified differentially expressed genes and pathways associated with tamoxifen resistance in human breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Men, Xin; Ma, Jun; Wu, Tong; Pu, Junyi; Wen, Shaojia; Shen, Jianfeng; Wang, Xun; Wang, Yamin; Chen, Chao; Dai, Penggao

    2018-01-01

    Tamoxifen (TAM) resistance is an important clinical problem in the treatment of breast cancer. In order to identify the mechanism of TAM resistance for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, we screened the transcriptome using RNA-seq and compared the gene expression profiles between the MCF-7 mamma carcinoma cell line and the TAM-resistant cell line TAMR/MCF-7, 52 significant differential expression genes (DEGs) were identified including SLIT2, ROBO, LHX, KLF, VEGFC, BAMBI, LAMA1, FLT4, PNMT, DHRS2, MAOA and ALDH. The DEGs were annotated in the GO, COG and KEGG databases. Annotation of the function of the DEGs in the KEGG database revealed the top three pathways enriched with the most DEGs, including pathways in cancer, the PI3K-AKT pathway, and focal adhesion. Then we compared the gene expression profiles between the Clinical progressive disease (PD) and the complete response (CR) from the cancer genome altas (TCGA). 10 common DEGs were identified through combining the clinical and cellular analysis results. Protein-protein interaction network was applied to analyze the association of ER signal pathway with the 10 DEGs. 3 significant genes (GFRA3, NPY1R and PTPRN2) were closely related to ER related pathway. These significant DEGs regulated many biological activities such as cell proliferation and survival, motility and migration, and tumor cell invasion. The interactions between these DEGs and drug resistance phenomenon need to be further elucidated at a functional level in further studies. Based on our findings, we believed that these DEGs could be therapeutic targets, which can be explored to develop new treatment options. PMID:29423105

  20. The endometrium in breast cancer patients on tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Dallenbach-Hellweg, G; Schmidt, D; Hellberg, P; Bourne, T; Kreuzwieser, E; Dören, M; Rydh, W; Rudenstam, G; Granberg, S

    2000-04-01

    We restudied histologically and immunohistochemically 17 endometrial carcinomas, 2 malignant mixed tumors and 180 endometria with benign changes during or after tamoxifen therapy. The carcinomas were subtyped according to the 1994 WHO-classification. Endometrial biopsies were taken only if the endometrial thickness was > 8 mm sonographically, when a polyp was seen, or for postmenopausal bleeding. About half of the endometrial specimens showed simple or cystic atrophy, 55-76% had cystic-atrophic polyps or regressive hyperplasia. Depending upon the dose of tamoxifen, 7-19% (30 mg) to 27-36% (20 mg) showed moderate glandular proliferation. 20-33% had foci of mucinous, clear cell or serous-papillary metaplasia. 68-70% revealed diffuse extensive fibrosis of the endometrial stroma. None of 11 patients biopsied before starting tamoxifen therapy had advanced endometrial glandular proliferation in the second endometrial biopsy after tamoxifen treatment. None of the 19 endometrial neoplasms after tamoxifen therapy was of the endometrioid type: 11 were mucinous adenocarcinomas, 4 clear cell carcinomas, 2 serous-papillary carcinomas, one carcinosarcoma and one malignant Mullerian mixed tumor. The reasons for discrepancies between suspicious sonograms and endometrial atrophy are discussed.

  1. Irreversible inhibitors of the EGF receptor may circumvent acquired resistance to gefitinib

    PubMed Central

    Kwak, Eunice L.; Sordella, Raffaella; Bell, Daphne W.; Godin-Heymann, Nadia; Okimoto, Ross A.; Brannigan, Brian W.; Harris, Patricia L.; Driscoll, David R.; Fidias, Panos; Lynch, Thomas J.; Rabindran, Sridhar K.; McGinnis, John P.; Wissner, Allan; Sharma, Sreenath V.; Isselbacher, Kurt J.; Settleman, Jeffrey; Haber, Daniel A.

    2005-01-01

    Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) with activating mutations in the kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) demonstrate dramatic, but transient, responses to the reversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors gefitinib (Iressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva). Some recurrent tumors have a common secondary mutation in the EGFR kinase domain, T790M, conferring drug resistance, but in other cases the mechanism underlying acquired resistance is unknown. In studying multiple sites of recurrent NSCLCs, we detected T790M in only a small percentage of tumor cells. To identify additional mechanisms of acquired resistance to gefitinib, we used NSCLC cells harboring an activating EGFR mutation to generate multiple resistant clones in vitro. These drug-resistant cells demonstrate continued dependence on EGFR and ERBB2 signaling for their viability and have not acquired secondary EGFR mutations. However, they display increased internalization of ligand-activated EGFR, consistent with altered receptor trafficking. Although gefitinib-resistant clones are cross-resistant to related anilinoquinazolines, they demonstrate sensitivity to a class of irreversible inhibitors of EGFR. These inhibitors also show effective inhibition of signaling by T790M-mutant EGFR and killing of NSCLC cells with the T790M mutation. Both mechanisms of gefitinib resistance are therefore circumvented by irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Our findings suggest that one of these, HKI-272, may prove highly effective in the treatment of EGFR-mutant NSCLCs, including tumors that have become resistant to gefitinib or erlotinib. PMID:15897464

  2. Amphiregulin and PTEN evoke a multimodal mechanism of acquired resistance to PI3K inhibition

    PubMed Central

    Edgar, Kyle A.; Crocker, Lisa; Cheng, Eric; Wagle, Marie-Claire; Wongchenko, Matthew; Yan, Yibing; Wilson, Timothy R.; Dompe, Nicholas; Neve, Richard M.; Belvin, Marcia; Sampath, Deepak; Friedman, Lori S.; Wallin, Jeffrey J.

    2014-01-01

    Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway alterations occur broadly in cancer and PI3K is a promising therapeutic target. Here, we investigated acquired resistance to GDC-0941, a PI3K inhibitor in clinical trials. Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells made to be resistant to GDC-0941 were discovered to secrete amphiregulin, which resulted in increased EGFR/MAPK signaling. Moreover, prolonged PI3K pathway inhibition in cultured cells over a period of months led to a secondary loss of PTEN in 40% of the CRC lines with acquired resistance to PI3K inhibition. In the absence of PI3K inhibitor, these PTEN-null PI3K inhibitor-resistant clones had elevated PI3K pathway signaling and decreased sensitivity to MAPK pathway inhibitors. Importantly, PTEN loss was not able to induce resistance to PI3K inhibitors in the absence of amphiregulin, indicating a multimodal mechanism of acquired resistance. The combination of PI3K and MAPK pathway inhibitors overcame acquired resistance in vitro and in vivo. PMID:25053989

  3. Amphiregulin and PTEN evoke a multimodal mechanism of acquired resistance to PI3K inhibition.

    PubMed

    Edgar, Kyle A; Crocker, Lisa; Cheng, Eric; Wagle, Marie-Claire; Wongchenko, Matthew; Yan, Yibing; Wilson, Timothy R; Dompe, Nicholas; Neve, Richard M; Belvin, Marcia; Sampath, Deepak; Friedman, Lori S; Wallin, Jeffrey J

    2014-03-01

    Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway alterations occur broadly in cancer and PI3K is a promising therapeutic target. Here, we investigated acquired resistance to GDC-0941, a PI3K inhibitor in clinical trials. Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells made to be resistant to GDC-0941 were discovered to secrete amphiregulin, which resulted in increased EGFR/MAPK signaling. Moreover, prolonged PI3K pathway inhibition in cultured cells over a period of months led to a secondary loss of PTEN in 40% of the CRC lines with acquired resistance to PI3K inhibition. In the absence of PI3K inhibitor, these PTEN-null PI3K inhibitor-resistant clones had elevated PI3K pathway signaling and decreased sensitivity to MAPK pathway inhibitors. Importantly, PTEN loss was not able to induce resistance to PI3K inhibitors in the absence of amphiregulin, indicating a multimodal mechanism of acquired resistance. The combination of PI3K and MAPK pathway inhibitors overcame acquired resistance in vitro and in vivo.

  4. EPHA2 blockade overcomes acquired resistance to EGFR kinase inhibitors in lung cancer

    PubMed Central

    Amato, Katherine R.; Wang, Shan; Tan, Li; Hastings, Andrew K.; Song, Wenqiang; Lovly, Christine M.; Meador, Catherine B.; Ye, Fei; Lu, Pengcheng; Balko, Justin M.; Colvin, Daniel C.; Cates, Justin M.; Pao, William; Gray, Nathanael S.; Chen, Jin

    2015-01-01

    Despite the success of treating EGFR mutant lung cancer patients with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), all patients eventually acquire resistance to these therapies. Although various resistance mechanisms have been described, there are currently no FDA-approved therapies that target alternative mechanisms to treat lung tumors with acquired resistance to first-line EGFR TKI agents. Here we found that EPHA2 is overexpressed in EGFR TKI resistant tumor cells. Loss of EPHA2 reduced the viability of erlotinib resistant tumor cells harboring EGFRT790M mutations in vitro and inhibited tumor growth and progression in an inducible EGFRL858R+T790M mutant lung cancer model in vivo. Targeting EPHA2 in erlotinib resistant cells decreased S6K1-mediated phosphorylation of cell death agonist BAD, resulting in reduced tumor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of EPHA2 by the small molecule inhibitor, ALW-II-41-27, decreased both survival and proliferation of erlotinib resistant tumor cells and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. ALW-II-41-27 was also effective in decreasing viability of cells with acquired resistance to the third generation EGFR TKI, AZD9291. Collectively, these data define a role for EPHA2 in the maintenance of cell survival of TKI resistant, EGFR mutant lung cancer and indicate that EPHA2 may serve as a useful therapeutic target in TKI resistant tumors. PMID:26744526

  5. Absence of death receptor translocation into lipid rafts in acquired TRAIL-resistant NSCLC cells.

    PubMed

    Ouyang, Wen; Yang, Chunxu; Zhang, Simin; Liu, Yu; Yang, Bo; Zhang, Junhong; Zhou, Fuxiang; Zhou, Yunfeng; Xie, Conghua

    2013-02-01

    Resistance to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a major limitation for its clinical use. The mechanisms of TRAIL resistance have been mostly studied in the context of cell lines that are intrinsically resistant to TRAIL. However, little is known about the molecular alterations that contribute to the development of acquired resistance during treatment with TRAIL. In this study, we established H460R, an isogenic cell line with acquired TRAIL resistance, from the TRAIL‑sensitive human lung cancer cell line H460 to investigate the mechanisms of acquired resistance. The acquired TRAIL‑resistant H460R cells remained sensitive to cisplatin. The mRNA and protein expression levels of death receptor 4 (DR4) and death receptor 5 (DR5) were not altered in either of the TRAIL-treated cell lines. Nevertheless, tests in which the DR4 or DR5 gene was overexpressed or silenced suggest that death receptor expression is necessary but not sufficient for TRAIL‑induced apoptosis. Compared with parental TRAIL-sensitive H460 cells, H460R cells showed a decreased TRAIL-induced translocation of DR4/DR5 into lipid rafts. Further studies showed that nystatin partially prevented lipid raft aggregation and DR4 and DR5 clustering and reduced apoptosis in H460 cells again. Analysis of apoptotic molecules showed that more pro-caspase-8, FADD, caspase-3 and Bid, but less cFLIP in H460 cells than in H460R cells. Our findings suggest that the lack of death receptor redistribution negatively impacts DISC assembly in lipid rafts, which at least partially leads to the development of acquired resistance to TRAIL in H460R cells.

  6. Socioeconomic and Behavioral Factors Leading to Acquired Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics in Developing Countries

    PubMed Central

    Okeke, Iruka N.; Lamikanra, Adebayo

    1999-01-01

    In developing countries, acquired bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents is common in isolates from healthy persons and from persons with community-acquired infections. Complex socioeconomic and behavioral factors associated with antibiotic resistance, particularly regarding diarrheal and respiratory pathogens, in developing tropical countries, include misuse of antibiotics by health professionals, unskilled practitioners, and laypersons; poor drug quality; unhygienic conditions accounting for spread of resistant bacteria; and inadequate surveillance. PMID:10081668

  7. EPHA2 Blockade Overcomes Acquired Resistance to EGFR Kinase Inhibitors in Lung Cancer.

    PubMed

    Amato, Katherine R; Wang, Shan; Tan, Li; Hastings, Andrew K; Song, Wenqiang; Lovly, Christine M; Meador, Catherine B; Ye, Fei; Lu, Pengcheng; Balko, Justin M; Colvin, Daniel C; Cates, Justin M; Pao, William; Gray, Nathanael S; Chen, Jin

    2016-01-15

    Despite the success of treating EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), all patients eventually acquire resistance to these therapies. Although various resistance mechanisms have been described, there are currently no FDA-approved therapies that target alternative mechanisms to treat lung tumors with acquired resistance to first-line EGFR TKI agents. Here we found that EPHA2 is overexpressed in EGFR TKI-resistant tumor cells. Loss of EPHA2 reduced the viability of erlotinib-resistant tumor cells harboring EGFR(T790M) mutations in vitro and inhibited tumor growth and progression in an inducible EGFR(L858R+T790M)-mutant lung cancer model in vivo. Targeting EPHA2 in erlotinib-resistant cells decreased S6K1-mediated phosphorylation of cell death agonist BAD, resulting in reduced tumor cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, pharmacologic inhibition of EPHA2 by the small-molecule inhibitor ALW-II-41-27 decreased both survival and proliferation of erlotinib-resistant tumor cells and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. ALW-II-41-27 was also effective in decreasing viability of cells with acquired resistance to the third-generation EGFR TKI AZD9291. Collectively, these data define a role for EPHA2 in the maintenance of cell survival of TKI-resistant, EGFR-mutant lung cancer and indicate that EPHA2 may serve as a useful therapeutic target in TKI-resistant tumors. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  8. Tamoxifen Inhibition of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 Channels

    PubMed Central

    Ferrer, Tania; Aréchiga-Figueroa, Ivan Arael; Shapiro, Mark S.; Tristani-Firouzi, Martin; Sanchez-Chapula, José A.

    2013-01-01

    KCNQ genes encode five Kv7 K+ channel subunits (Kv7.1–Kv7.5). Four of these (Kv7.2–Kv7.5) are expressed in the nervous system. Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 are the principal molecular components of the slow voltage-gated M-channel, which regulates neuronal excitability. In this study, we demonstrate that tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist used in the treatment of breast cancer, inhibits Kv7.2/Kv7.3 currents heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells. Current inhibition by tamoxifen was voltage independent but concentration-dependent. The IC50 for current inhibition was 1.68 ± 0.44 µM. The voltage-dependent activation of the channel was not modified. Tamoxifen inhibited Kv7.2 homomeric channels with a higher potency (IC50 = 0.74 ± 0.16 µM). The mutation Kv7.2 R463E increases phosphatidylinositol- 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) - channel interaction and diminished dramatically the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen compared with that for wild type Kv7.2. Conversely, the mutation Kv7.2 R463Q, which decreases PIP2 -channel interaction, increased tamoxifen potency. Similar results were obtained on the heteromeric Kv7.2 R463Q/Kv7.3 and Kv7.2 R463E/Kv7.3 channels, compared to Kv7.2/Kv7.3 WT. Overexpression of type 2A PI(4)P5-kinase (PIP5K 2A) significantly reduced tamoxifen inhibition of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 and Kv7.2 R463Q channels. Our results suggest that tamoxifen inhibited Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels by interfering with PIP2-channel interaction because of its documented interaction with PIP2 and the similar effect of tamoxifen on various PIP2 sensitive channels. PMID:24086693

  9. Tamoxifen inhibition of kv7.2/kv7.3 channels.

    PubMed

    Ferrer, Tania; Aréchiga-Figueroa, Ivan Arael; Shapiro, Mark S; Tristani-Firouzi, Martin; Sanchez-Chapula, José A

    2013-01-01

    KCNQ genes encode five Kv7 K(+) channel subunits (Kv7.1-Kv7.5). Four of these (Kv7.2-Kv7.5) are expressed in the nervous system. Kv7.2 and Kv7.3 are the principal molecular components of the slow voltage-gated M-channel, which regulates neuronal excitability. In this study, we demonstrate that tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor antagonist used in the treatment of breast cancer, inhibits Kv7.2/Kv7.3 currents heterologously expressed in human embryonic kidney HEK-293 cells. Current inhibition by tamoxifen was voltage independent but concentration-dependent. The IC50 for current inhibition was 1.68 ± 0.44 µM. The voltage-dependent activation of the channel was not modified. Tamoxifen inhibited Kv7.2 homomeric channels with a higher potency (IC50 = 0.74 ± 0.16 µM). The mutation Kv7.2 R463E increases phosphatidylinositol- 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) - channel interaction and diminished dramatically the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen compared with that for wild type Kv7.2. Conversely, the mutation Kv7.2 R463Q, which decreases PIP2 -channel interaction, increased tamoxifen potency. Similar results were obtained on the heteromeric Kv7.2 R463Q/Kv7.3 and Kv7.2 R463E/Kv7.3 channels, compared to Kv7.2/Kv7.3 WT. Overexpression of type 2A PI(4)P5-kinase (PIP5K 2A) significantly reduced tamoxifen inhibition of Kv7.2/Kv7.3 and Kv7.2 R463Q channels. Our results suggest that tamoxifen inhibited Kv7.2/Kv7.3 channels by interfering with PIP2-channel interaction because of its documented interaction with PIP2 and the similar effect of tamoxifen on various PIP2 sensitive channels.

  10. Evaluation of tamoxifen and metabolites by LC-MS/MS and HPLC methods.

    PubMed

    Heath, D D; Flat, S W; Wu, A H B; Pruitt, M A; Rock, C L

    2014-01-01

    Epidemiological and laboratory evidence suggests that quantification of serum or plasma levels of tamoxifen and its metabolites, 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (endoxifen), Z-4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT), N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (ND-tam), is a clinically useful tool in the assessment and monitoring of breast cancer status in patients taking adjuvant tamoxifen. A liquid chromatographic mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) was used to measure the blood levels of tamoxifen and its metabolites. This fully automated analytical method is specific, accurate and sensitive. The LC-MS/MS automated technique has now become a widely accepted reference method. This study analysed a randomly selected batch of blood samples from participants enrolled in a breast cancer study to compare results from this reference method in 40 samples with those obtained from a recently developed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection. The mean (SD) concentrations for the LC-MS/MS method (endoxifen 12.6 [7.5] ng/mL, tamoxifen 105 [44] ng/mL, 4-HT 1.9 [1.0] ng/mL, ND-tam 181 [69] ng/mL) and the HPLC method (endoxifen 13.1 [7.8] ng/mL, tamoxifen 108 [55] ng/mL, 4-HT 1.8 [0.8] ng/mL, ND-tam 184 [81] ng/mL) did not show any significant differences. The results confirm that the HPLC method offers an accurate and comparable alternative for the quantification of tamoxifen and tamoxifen metabolites.

  11. Presence and mechanisms of acquired antimicrobial resistance in Belgian Brachyspira hyodysenteriae isolates belonging to different clonal complexes.

    PubMed

    Mahu, M; Pasmans, F; Vranckx, K; De Pauw, N; Vande Maele, L; Vyt, Philip; Vandersmissen, Tamara; Martel, A; Haesebrouck, F; Boyen, F

    2017-08-01

    Swine dysentery (SD) is an economically important disease for which antimicrobial treatment still occupies an important place to control outbreaks. However, acquired antimicrobial resistance is increasingly observed in Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. In this study, the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of six antimicrobial compounds for 30 recent Belgian B. hyodysenteriae isolates were determined using a broth microdilution method. In addition, relevant regions of the 16S rRNA, 23S rRNA and the L3 protein encoding genes were sequenced to reveal mutations associated with acquired resistance. Finally, a phylogeny was reconstructed using minimal spanning tree analysis of multi locus sequence typing of the isolates. For lincomycin, doxycycline, tylosin and tylvalosin, at least 70% of the isolates did not belong to the wild-type population and were considered to have acquired resistance. For valnemulin and tiamulin, this was over 50%. In all isolates with acquired resistance to doxycycline, the G1058C mutation was present in their 16S rRNA gene. All isolates showing acquired resistance to lincomycin and both macrolides displayed the A2058T mutation in their 23S rRNA gene. Other mutations in this gene and the N148S mutation in the L3 protein were present in both wild-type isolates and isolates considered to have acquired resistance. Multi locus sequence analysis revealed a previously undescribed clonal complex, with 4 novel sequence types in which the majority of isolates showed acquired resistance to all tested antimicrobial products. In conclusion, acquired antimicrobial resistance is widespread among Belgian B. hyodysenteriae isolates. The emergence of multi-resistant clonal complexes can pose a threat to swine industry. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Intrinsic, adaptive and acquired antimicrobial resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.

    PubMed

    Arzanlou, Mohsen; Chai, Wern Chern; Venter, Henrietta

    2017-02-28

    Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for a large proportion of antimicrobial-resistant infections in humans and animals. Among this class of bacteria are also some of the most successful environmental organisms. Part of this success is their adaptability to a variety of different niches, their intrinsic resistance to antimicrobial drugs and their ability to rapidly acquire resistance mechanisms. These mechanisms of resistance are not exclusive and the interplay of several mechanisms causes high levels of resistance. In this review, we explore the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance in Gram-negative organisms and how these different mechanisms enable them to survive many different stress conditions. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.

  13. Identification of tamoxifen and metabolites in human male urine by GC/MS.

    PubMed

    Mihailescu, R; Aboul-Enein, H Y; Efstatide, M D

    2000-05-01

    Tamoxifen is an antiestrogenic drug which is used in the treatment of breast cancer and nonmalignant breast disorders. It also has a stimulating effect on the secretion of hypofisar gonadotropic hormones and is generally used in the treatment of infertility. In males, tamoxifen causes an increase of endogenous production of androgenic steroids, and therefore is used by athletes. A method for identification of tamoxifen and metabolites in urine, using the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry system (GC/MS) is described. This study also reports the extraction methodology of tamoxifen and metabolites in urine samples of healthy male volunteers and the GC/MS conditions used to identify tamoxifen and its metabolites.

  14. Concurrent tamoxifen-related Müllerian adenofibromas in uterus and ovary.

    PubMed

    Shi, Haiyan; Chen, Xiaoduan; Lv, Bingjian; Zhang, Xiaofei

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a widely used in anti-oestrogen treatment of breast cancer. Previous reports showed that tamoxifen is associated with proliferative endometrial lesions. We herein reported an unusual case of concurrent hyperplastic lesions in the uterine cavity and right ovary in a 45-year-old woman with tamoxifen therapy. Regular vaginal ultrasonography showed the progressive endometrial thickening and right ovary enlargement during the period of drug use. Both lesions in the uterine cavity and right ovary showed characteristics resembling that of Müllerian adenofibroma. There were also foci of endometriosis in her bilateral ovarian surfaces. We suggest that women taking tamoxifen with a known history of endometriosis should be followed with transvaginal ultrasonography periodically.

  15. Hot flashes are not predictive for serum concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Tamoxifen has dramatically reduced the recurrence and mortality rate of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. However, the efficacy of tamoxifen varies between individuals and 40% of patients will have a recurrence despite adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. Factors that predict tamoxifen efficacy would be helpful for optimizing treatment. Serum concentrations of the active metabolite, endoxifen, may be positively related to treatment outcome. In addition, hot flashes are suggested to be positively associated with tamoxifen treatment outcome. Methods We investigated in a series of 109 patients whether the frequency and severity of hot flashes were related to concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites. A serum sample of all patients was analyzed for the concentration of tamoxifen, N-desmethyltamoxifen, endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, as well as for estradiol concentrations and several single nucleotide polymorphisms in CYP2D6. Additionally, these patients completed a questionnaire concerning biometric data and treatment side effects. Results We found no evidence supporting an association between concentrations of tamoxifen or metabolites and either the frequency or severity of hot flashes in the covariate unadjusted analyses. However, including interactions with menopausal status and pre-treatment hot flash (PTHF) history indicated that post-menopausal women with PTHF experienced an increasing frequency of hot flashes with increasing serum concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites. This finding was not altered when adjusting for potential confounding factors (duration of tamoxifen treatment, CYP2D6 phenotype, estradiol serum concentration, age and body mass index). In addition we observed a positive association between body mass index and both hot flash frequency (p = 0.04) and severity (p < 0.0001). We also observed that patients with lower estradiol levels reported more severe hot flashes (p = 0.02). Conclusions No univariate

  16. miR-378a-3p modulates tamoxifen sensitivity in breast cancer MCF-7 cells through targeting GOLT1A

    PubMed Central

    Ikeda, Kazuhiro; Horie-Inoue, Kuniko; Ueno, Toshihide; Suzuki, Takashi; Sato, Wataru; Shigekawa, Takashi; Osaki, Akihiko; Saeki, Toshiaki; Berezikov, Eugene; Mano, Hiroyuki; Inoue, Satoshi

    2015-01-01

    Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent cancer and usually treated with endocrine therapy using aromatase inhibitors or anti-estrogens such as tamoxifen. A majority of breast cancer, however, will often fail to respond to endocrine therapy. In the present study, we explored miRNAs associated with endocrine therapy resistance in breast cancer. High-throughput miRNA sequencing was performed using RNAs prepared from breast cancer MCF-7 cells and their derivative clones as endocrine therapy resistant cell models, including tamoxifen-resistant (TamR) and long-term estrogen-deprived (LTED) MCF-7 cells. Notably, miR-21 was the most abundantly expressed miRNA in MCF-7 cells and overexpressed in TamR and LTED cells. We found that miR-378a-3p expression was downregulated in TamR and LTED cells as well as in clinical breast cancer tissues. Additionally, lower expression levels of miR-378a-3p were associated with poor prognosis for tamoxifen-treated patients with breast cancer. GOLT1A was selected as one of the miR-378a-3p candidate target genes by in silico analysis. GOLT1A was overexpressed in breast cancer specimens and GOLT1A-specific siRNAs inhibited the growth of TamR cells. Low GOLT1A levels were correlated with better survival in patients with breast cancer. These results suggest that miR-378a-3p-dependent GOLT1A expression contributes to the mechanisms underlying breast cancer endocrine resistance. PMID:26255816

  17. Tamoxifen dosing for Cre-mediated recombination in experimental bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

    PubMed

    Ruiz-Camp, Jordi; Rodríguez-Castillo, José Alberto; Herold, Susanne; Mayer, Konstantin; Vadász, István; Tallquist, Michelle D; Seeger, Werner; Ahlbrecht, Katrin; Morty, Rory E

    2017-02-01

    Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common complication of preterm birth characterized by blunted post-natal lung development. BPD can be modelled in mice by exposure of newborn mouse pups to elevated oxygen levels. Little is known about the mechanisms of perturbed lung development associated with BPD. The advent of transgenic mice, where genetic rearrangements can be induced in particular cell-types at particular time-points during organogenesis, have great potential to explore the pathogenic mechanisms at play during arrested lung development. Many inducible, conditional transgenic technologies available rely on the application of the estrogen-receptor modulator, tamoxifen. While tamoxifen is well-tolerated and has been widely employed in adult mice, or in healthy developing mice; tamoxifen is not well-tolerated in combination with hyperoxia, in the most widely-used mouse model of BPD. To address this, we set out to establish a safe and effective tamoxifen dosing regimen that can be used in newborn mouse pups subjected to injurious stimuli, such as exposure to elevated levels of environmental oxygen. Our data reveal that a single intraperitoneal dose of tamoxifen of 0.2 mg applied to newborn mouse pups in 10 μl Miglyol vehicle was adequate to successfully drive Cre recombinase-mediated genome rearrangements by the fifth day of life, in a murine model of BPD. The number of recombined cells was comparable to that observed in regular tamoxifen administration protocols. These findings will be useful to investigators where tamoxifen dosing is problematic in the background of injurious stimuli and mouse models of human and veterinary disease.

  18. The Genomic Basis of Intrinsic and Acquired Antibiotic Resistance in the Genus Serratia

    PubMed Central

    Sandner-Miranda, Luisa; Vinuesa, Pablo; Cravioto, Alejandro; Morales-Espinosa, Rosario

    2018-01-01

    Serratia marcescens, a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family, was long thought to be a non-pathogenic bacterium prevalent in environmental habitats. Together with other members of this genus, it has emerged in recent years as an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen causing various types of infections. One important feature of pathogens belonging to this genus is their intrinsic and acquired resistance to a variety of antibiotic families, including β-lactam, aminoglycosides, quinolones and polypeptide antibiotics. The aim of this study was to elucidate which genes participate in the intrinsic and acquired antibiotic resistance of this genus in order to determine the Serratia genus resistome. We performed phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses using 32 Serratia spp. genomes deposited in the NCBI GenBank from strains isolated from different ecological niches and different lifestyles. S. marcescens strain SmUNAM836, which was previously isolated from a Mexican adult with obstructive pulmonary disease, was included in this study. The results show that most of the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were found on the chromosome, and to a lesser degree, on plasmids and transposons acquired through horizontal gene transfer. Four strains contained the gyrA point mutation in codon Ser83 that confers quinolone resistance. Pathogenic and environmental isolates presented a high number of ARGs, especially genes associated with efflux systems. Pathogenic strains, specifically nosocomial strains, presented more acquired resistance genes than environmental isolates. We may conclude that the environment provides a natural reservoir for antibiotic resistance, which has been underestimated in the medical field. PMID:29867787

  19. Antimicrobial Resistance in Hospital-Acquired Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections

    PubMed Central

    Mehrad, Borna; Clark, Nina M.; Zhanel, George G.

    2015-01-01

    Aerobic gram-negative bacilli, including the family of Enterobacteriaceae and non-lactose fermenting bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter species, are major causes of hospital-acquired infections. The rate of antibiotic resistance among these pathogens has accelerated dramatically in recent years and has reached pandemic scale. It is no longer uncommon to encounter gram-negative infections that are untreatable using conventional antibiotics in hospitalized patients. In this review, we provide a summary of the major classes of gram-negative bacilli and their key mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, discuss approaches to the treatment of these difficult infections, and outline methods to slow the further spread of resistance mechanisms. PMID:25940252

  20. Oncogenic drivers, targeted therapies, and acquired resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Gower, Arjan; Wang, Yisong; Giaccone, Giuseppe

    2014-07-01

    In the past decade, a shift toward targeted therapies in non-small-cell lung cancer following molecular profiling has dramatically changed the way advanced adenocarcinoma is treated. However, tumor cells inevitably acquire resistance to such therapies, circumventing any sustained clinical benefit. As the genomic classification of lung cancer continues to evolve and as the mechanisms of acquired resistance to targeted therapies become elucidated and more improved target-specific drugs come into sight, the future will see more promising results from the clinic through the development of new therapeutic strategies to overcome, or prevent the development of, resistance for lung cancer patients.

  1. Imaging, biodistribution and therapy potential of halogenated tamoxifen analogues.

    PubMed

    Yang, D J; Li, C; Kuang, L R; Price, J E; Buzdar, A U; Tansey, W; Cherif, A; Gretzer, M; Kim, E E; Wallace, S

    1994-01-01

    Tamoxifen binds to estrogen receptors (ERs) and prevents breast cancer cell proliferation. This study is aimed at developing a ligand for imaging ER (+) breast tumors by positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). [18F]-Labeled tamoxifen analogue ([18F]FTX) was prepared in 30-40% yield and [131I]-labeled tamoxifen analogue ([131I]ITX) was prepared in 20-25% yield. In mammary tumor-bearing rats, the biodistribution of [18F]FTX at 2 h showed a tumor uptake value (% injected dose/gram tissue) of 0.41 +/- 0.07; when rats were pretreated with diethylstilbestrol (DES), the value changed to 0.24 +/- 0.017. [131I]ITX at 6 h showed a tumor uptake value of 0.26 +/- 0.166; when rats were pretreated with DES, the value changed to 0.22 +/- 0.044. Priming tumor-bearing rats with estradiol, a tumor uptake value for [131I]ITX was increased to 0.48 +/- 0.107 at 6 h. In the [3H]estradiol receptor assay, tumors had a mean estrogen receptor density of 7.5 fmol/mg of protein. In gamma scintigraphic imaging studies with [131I]ITX, the rabbit uterus uptake can be blocked by pretreatment with DES. Both iodo-tamoxifen and tamoxifen reduced ER(+) breast tumor growth at the dose of 50 micrograms in tumor-bearing mice. The findings indicate that tamoxifen analogue uptake in tumors occurs via an ER-mediated process. Both analogues should have potential for diagnosing functioning ER(+) breast cancer.

  2. Multidrug-resistant, extensively drug-resistant and pandrug-resistant bacteria: an international expert proposal for interim standard definitions for acquired resistance.

    PubMed

    Magiorakos, A-P; Srinivasan, A; Carey, R B; Carmeli, Y; Falagas, M E; Giske, C G; Harbarth, S; Hindler, J F; Kahlmeter, G; Olsson-Liljequist, B; Paterson, D L; Rice, L B; Stelling, J; Struelens, M J; Vatopoulos, A; Weber, J T; Monnet, D L

    2012-03-01

    Many different definitions for multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR) and pandrug-resistant (PDR) bacteria are being used in the medical literature to characterize the different patterns of resistance found in healthcare-associated, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. A group of international experts came together through a joint initiative by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to create a standardized international terminology with which to describe acquired resistance profiles in Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Enterobacteriaceae (other than Salmonella and Shigella), Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp., all bacteria often responsible for healthcare-associated infections and prone to multidrug resistance. Epidemiologically significant antimicrobial categories were constructed for each bacterium. Lists of antimicrobial categories proposed for antimicrobial susceptibility testing were created using documents and breakpoints from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). MDR was defined as acquired non-susceptibility to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial categories, XDR was defined as non-susceptibility to at least one agent in all but two or fewer antimicrobial categories (i.e. bacterial isolates remain susceptible to only one or two categories) and PDR was defined as non-susceptibility to all agents in all antimicrobial categories. To ensure correct application of these definitions, bacterial isolates should be tested against all or nearly all of the antimicrobial agents within the antimicrobial categories and selective reporting and suppression of results should be avoided. © 2011 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. No claim to original US government works.

  3. Amphibians acquire resistance to live and dead fungus overcoming fungal immunosuppression.

    PubMed

    McMahon, Taegan A; Sears, Brittany F; Venesky, Matthew D; Bessler, Scott M; Brown, Jenise M; Deutsch, Kaitlin; Halstead, Neal T; Lentz, Garrett; Tenouri, Nadia; Young, Suzanne; Civitello, David J; Ortega, Nicole; Fites, J Scott; Reinert, Laura K; Rollins-Smith, Louise A; Raffel, Thomas R; Rohr, Jason R

    2014-07-10

    Emerging fungal pathogens pose a greater threat to biodiversity than any other parasitic group, causing declines of many taxa, including bats, corals, bees, snakes and amphibians. Currently, there is little evidence that wild animals can acquire resistance to these pathogens. Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis is a pathogenic fungus implicated in the recent global decline of amphibians. Here we demonstrate that three species of amphibians can acquire behavioural or immunological resistance to B. dendrobatidis. Frogs learned to avoid the fungus after just one B. dendrobatidis exposure and temperature-induced clearance. In subsequent experiments in which B. dendrobatidis avoidance was prevented, the number of previous exposures was a negative predictor of B. dendrobatidis burden on frogs and B. dendrobatidis-induced mortality, and was a positive predictor of lymphocyte abundance and proliferation. These results suggest that amphibians can acquire immunity to B. dendrobatidis that overcomes pathogen-induced immunosuppression and increases their survival. Importantly, exposure to dead fungus induced a similar magnitude of acquired resistance as exposure to live fungus. Exposure of frogs to B. dendrobatidis antigens might offer a practical way to protect pathogen-naive amphibians and facilitate the reintroduction of amphibians to locations in the wild where B. dendrobatidis persists. Moreover, given the conserved nature of vertebrate immune responses to fungi and the fact that many animals are capable of learning to avoid natural enemies, these results offer hope that other wild animal taxa threatened by invasive fungi might be rescued by management approaches based on herd immunity.

  4. The effect of exemestane and tamoxifen on bone health within the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial: a meta-analysis of the US, German, Netherlands, and Belgium sub-studies.

    PubMed

    Hadji, Peyman; Asmar, Lina; van Nes, Johanna G H; Menschik, Thomas; Hasenburg, Annette; Kuck, Joachim; Nortier, Johan W R; van de Velde, Cornelis J H; Jones, Stephen E; Ziller, May

    2011-06-01

    We performed a meta-analysis of three sub-studies of the randomized Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial to determine the effects of exemestane and tamoxifen on bone health. Patients received exemestane or tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of treatment. Bone turnover markers were also measured. Patients receiving tamoxifen showed a mean increase from baseline in lumbar spine BMD of 1.2% at month 12 and 0.2% at month 24. Patients receiving exemestane showed a mean decrease from baseline of 2.6% after 12 months and 3.5% after 24 months. There were significant differences in the changes in lumbar spine BMD between treatment groups (P < 0.0001 at both time points). Changes in BMD from baseline at the total hip were also significantly different between exemestane and tamoxifen (P < 0.05 at both time points). Bone turnover markers decreased from baseline with tamoxifen and increased with exemestane. Exemestane resulted in decreases in BMD and increases in bone turnover markers. BMD increased and bone turnover markers decreased with tamoxifen.

  5. Mammographic density changes following discontinuation of tamoxifen in premenopausal women with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Kim, Won Hwa; Cho, Nariya; Kim, Young-Seon; Yi, Ann

    2018-04-06

    To evaluate the changes in mammographic density after tamoxifen discontinuation in premenopausal women with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancers and the underlying factors METHODS: A total of 213 consecutive premenopausal women with breast cancer who received tamoxifen treatment after curative surgery and underwent three mammograms (baseline, after tamoxifen treatment, after tamoxifen discontinuation) were included. Changes in mammographic density after tamoxifen discontinuation were assessed qualitatively (decrease, no change, or increase) by two readers and measured quantitatively by semi-automated software. The association between % density change and clinicopathological factors was evaluated using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. After tamoxifen discontinuation, a mammographic density increase was observed in 31.9% (68/213, reader 1) to 22.1% (47/213, reader 2) by qualitative assessment, with a mean density increase of 1.8% by quantitative assessment compared to density before tamoxifen discontinuation. In multivariate analysis, younger age (≤ 39 years) and greater % density decline after tamoxifen treatment (≥ 17.0%) were independent factors associated with density change after tamoxifen discontinuation (p < .001 and p = .003, respectively). Tamoxifen discontinuation was associated with mammographic density change with a mean density increase of 1.8%, which was associated with younger age and greater density change after tamoxifen treatment. • Increased mammographic density after tamoxifen discontinuation can occur in premenopausal women. • Mean density increase after tamoxifen discontinuation was 1.8%. • Density increase is associated with age and density decrease after tamoxifen.

  6. Tamoxifen enhances choline acetyltransferase mRNA expression in rat basal forebrain cholinergic neurons.

    PubMed

    McMillan, Pamela J; LeMaster, Ann M; Dorsa, Daniel M

    2002-06-30

    Novel estrogen-like molecules known as SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulators) produce many of the beneficial estrogen-like actions without the detrimental side-effects. The SERM, tamoxifen, an estrogen-like molecule with both agonist and antagonist properties, is widely prescribed for the treatment of breast cancer. While the effects of tamoxifen are being evaluated in many peripheral tissues, its effects in the central nervous system (CNS) have been largely ignored. In the present study, we begin to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen in the rat basal forebrain, a region known to be highly responsive to estrogen. We compared the effects of short-term (24 h) tamoxifen treatment to that of estrogen on ChAT mRNA expression in cholinergic neurons. In addition, we examined the effect of tamoxifen in the presence and absence of estrogen. Our results indicate that tamoxifen enhances ChAT expression in a manner similar to that of estrogen in several basal forebrain regions. In contrast, tamoxifen exhibits antagonist properties with respect to estrogen-induction of progesterone receptor mRNA in the medial preoptic nucleus. These results indicate tamoxifen has estrogenic properties with respect to cholinergic neurons, suggesting a previously unidentified effect of this agent in the CNS. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.

  7. Gamma shielding properties of Tamoxifen drug

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kanberoglu, Gulsah Saydan; Oto, Berna; Gulebaglan, Sinem Erden

    2017-02-01

    Tamoxifen (MW=371 g/mol) is an endocrine therapeutic drug widely prescribed as chemopreventive in women to prevent and to treat all stages of breast cancer. It is also being studied for other types of cancer. In this study, we have calculated some gamma shielding parameters such as mass attenuation coefficient (μρ), effective atomic number (Zeff) and electron density (Nel) for Tamoxifen drug. The values of μρ were calculated using WinXCom computer program and then the values of Zeff and Nel were derived using μρ values in the wide energy range (1 keV - 100 GeV).

  8. Treatment with tamoxifen reduces hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats.

    PubMed

    Feng, Yangzheng; Fratkins, Jonathan D; LeBlanc, Michael H

    2004-01-19

    Tamoxifen, an estrogen receptor modulator, is neuroprotective in adult rats. Does tamoxifen reduce brain injury in the rat pup? Seven-day-old rat pups had the right carotid artery permanently ligated followed by 2.5 h of hypoxia (8% oxygen). Tamoxifen (10 mg/kg) or vehicle was given i.p. 5 min prior to hypoxia, or 5 min after reoxygenation, with a second dose given 6 h after the first. Brain damage was evaluated by weight deficit of the right hemisphere 22 days following hypoxia and gross and microscopic morphology. Tamoxifen pre-treatment reduced brain weight loss from 21.5+/-4.0% in vehicle pups (n=27) to 2.6+/-2.5% in the treated pups (n=22, P<0.05). Treatment 5 min after reoxygenation reduced brain weight loss from 27.5+/-4.0% in vehicle pups (n=42) to 12.0+/-3.9% in the treated pups (n=30, P<0.05). Tamoxifen reduces brain injury in the neonatal rat.

  9. Pattern of secondary acquired drug resistance to antituberculosis drug in Mumbai, India--1991-1995.

    PubMed

    Chowgule, R V; Deodhar, L

    1998-01-01

    A retrospective observational study was conducted to find out whether secondary acquired drug resistance to isoniazid and ethambutol is high and to rifamycin and pyrazinamide is low, as is commonly believed in India. There were 2033 patients, whose sputum samples (6099) were reviewed from a specimen registry of the microbiology laboratory for the years 1991 to 1995. Of these, 521 (25.6%) patients [335 males and 186 females; age ranged from 11 to 75 years] had sputum positive culture and sensitivity for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). The drug resistance patterns in our study were: isoniazid (H) 15%, rifamycin (R) 66.8%, pyrazinamide (Z) 72.2%, ethambutol (E) 8.4%, streptomycin (S) 53.6%, cycloserine (C) 39.2% kanamycin (K) 25.1% and ethionamide (Eth) 65.3%. The resistance to streptomycin showed a significant fall over a year while there was a rise in resistance to cycloserine and kanamycin which is significant. The rate of secondary acquired resistance of isoniazid and ethambutol was low, and the rate of secondary acquired resistance to rifamycin and pyrazinamide was high, which is contarary to the common belief regarding these drugs in India. This implies that isoniazid is still a valuable drug in the treatment of multidrug resistance in India.

  10. The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR): Questions and Answers

    Cancer.gov

    Learn about the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) clinical trial, which is comparing the drug raloxifene (Evista®) with the drug tamoxifen (Nolvadex®) in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in at-risk postmenopausal women.

  11. CSC-3436 switched tamoxifen-induced autophagy to apoptosis through the inhibition of AMPK/mTOR pathway.

    PubMed

    Wu, Sheng-Tang; Sun, Guang-Huan; Cha, Tai-Lung; Kao, Chien-Chang; Chang, Sun-Yran; Kuo, Sheng-Chu; Way, Tzong-Der

    2016-08-15

    Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks specific therapeutic target and limits to chemotherapy and is essential to develop novel therapeutic regimens. Increasing studies indicated that tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), has anti-tumor therapeutic effect in estrogen receptor α (ERα)-negative tumor. Here, we determined whether autophagy was activated by tamoxifen in TNBC cells. Moreover, CSC-3436 displayed strong and selective growth inhibition on cancer cells. Next, we investigated the anti-proliferation effect of combination of CSC-3436 plus tamoxifen on cell death in TNBC cells. Our study found that tamoxifen induces autophagy in TNBC cells. Endoplasmic reticulum stress and AMPK/mTOR contributed tamoxifen-induced autophagy. Interestingly, in combination treatment with CSC-3436 enhanced the anti-proliferative effect of tamoxifen. We found that CSC-3436 switched tamoxifen-induced autophagy to apoptosis via cleavage of ATG-5. Moreover, AMPK/mTOR pathway may involve in CSC-3436 switched tamoxifen-induced autophagy to apoptosis. The combination of tamoxifen and CSC-3436 produced stronger tumor growth inhibition compared with CSC-3436 or tamoxifen alone treatments in vivo. These data indicated that CSC-3436 combined with tamoxifen may be a potential approach for treatment TNBC.

  12. Interaction of Tamoxifen and noise induced damage to the cochlea

    PubMed Central

    Pillai, Jagan A; Siegel, Jonathan H

    2011-01-01

    Tamoxifen has been used extensively in the treatment of breast cancer and other neoplasms. In addition to its well-known action on estrogen receptors it is also known to acutely block chloride channels that participate in cell volume regulation. Tamoxifen’s role in preventing cochlear outer hair cell (OHC) swelling in vitro suggested that OHC swelling noted following noise exposure could potentially be a therapeutic target for Tamoxifen in its role as a chloride channel blocker to help prevent noise induced hearing loss. To investigate this possiblity, the effects of exposure to Tamoxifen on physiologic measures of cochlear function in the presence and absence of subsequent noise exposure were studied. Male Mongolian gerbils (2–4 months old) were randomly assigned to different groups. Tamoxifen at ~10 mg/kg was administered to one of the groups. Five hours later they were exposed to a one-third octave band of noise centered at 8 kHz in a sound isolation chamber for 30 minutes at 108dB SPL. Compound action potential (CAP) thresholds and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) levels were measured 30–35 days following noise exposure. Tamoxifen administration did not produce any changes in CAP thresholds and DPOAE levels when administered by itself in the absence of noise. Tamoxifen causes a significant increase in CAP thresholds from 8–15 kHz following noise exposure compared to CAP thresholds in animals exposed to noise alone. No significant differences were seen in the DPOAE levels the f2 = 8–15 kHz frequency range where maximum noise-induced increases in CAP thresholds were seen. Contrary to our original expectation, it is concluded that Tamoxifen potentiates the degree of damage to the cochlea resulting from noise exposure. PMID:21907781

  13. Adjuvant tamoxifen influences the lipid profile in breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Lin, Che; Chen, Li-Sheng; Kuo, Shou-Jen; Chen, Dar-Ren

    2014-02-01

    Currently there is a debate regarding whether tamoxifen used in breast cancer has an impact on lipid profiles. The aim of this study was to determine whether tamoxifen has an impact on the serum lipid profile in Taiwanese women. Data of 109 patients were collected from the routine clinical follow-up for women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who were treated between July 2005 and March 2008. These patients were divided into 2 subgroups, based on their tumor grade and lymph node status. Subgroup 1 patients had tumor grade I/II and a negative lymph node status. Those patients with tumor grade III or a positive lymph node status were defined as subgroup 2. In the 109 patients, the mean serum total cholesterol (TC) levels after tamoxifen treatment, as well as the serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, were lower than the baseline levels, with statistically significant differences. Treatment with tamoxifen lowered the serum TC and LDL-C levels in both subgroups. The results indicate that tamoxifen has an impact on the serum lipid profile of breast cancer patients in Taiwan. Physicians should follow up the lipid profile in these patients.

  14. Tamoxifen treatment in hamsters induces protection during taeniosis by Taenia solium.

    PubMed

    Escobedo, Galileo; Palacios-Arreola, M Isabel; Olivos, Alfonso; López-Griego, Lorena; Morales-Montor, Jorge

    2013-01-01

    Human neurocysticercosis by Taenia solium is considered an emergent severe brain disorder in developing and developed countries. Discovery of new antiparasitic drugs has been recently aimed to restrain differentiation and establishment of the T. solium adult tapeworm, for being considered a central node in the disease propagation to both pigs and humans. Tamoxifen is an antiestrogenic drug with cysticidal action on Taenia crassiceps, a close relative of T. solium. Thus, we evaluated the effect of tamoxifen on the in vitro evagination and the in vivo establishment of T. solium. In vitro, tamoxifen inhibited evagination of T. solium cysticerci in a dose-time dependent manner. In vivo, administration of tamoxifen to hamsters decreased the intestinal establishment of the parasite by 70%, while recovered tapeworms showed an 80% reduction in length, appearing as scolices without strobilar development. Since tamoxifen did not show any significant effect on the proliferation of antigen-specific immune cells, intestinal inflammation, and expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines in spleen and duodenum, this drug could exert its antiparasite actions by having direct detrimental effects upon the adult tapeworm. These results demonstrate that tamoxifen exhibits a strong cysticidal and antitaeniasic effect on T. solium that should be further explored in humans and livestock.

  15. Tamoxifen with ovarian function suppression versus tamoxifen alone as an adjuvant treatment for premenopausal breast cancer: a meta-analysis of published randomized controlled trials

    PubMed Central

    Yan, Shunchao; Li, Kai; Jiao, Xin; Zou, Huawei

    2015-01-01

    Background Ovarian function suppression (OFS) significantly downregulates the concentration of plasma estrogens. However, it is unclear whether it offers any survival benefits if combined with adjuvant tamoxifen treatment in premenopausal women. This meta-analysis was designed to assess data from previous studies involving adjuvant tamoxifen treatment plus OFS in premenopausal breast cancer. Methods Electronic literature databases (PubMed, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library) were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials published prior to February 1, 2015. Only randomized controlled trials that compared tamoxifen alone with tamoxifen plus OFS for premenopausal women with breast cancer were selected. The evaluated endpoints were disease-free survival and overall survival. Results Four randomized controlled trials comprising 6,279 patients (OFS combination, n=3,133; tamoxifen alone, n=3,146) were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant improvement in disease-free survival or overall survival with addition of OFS in either the whole population or the hormone receptor-positive subgroup. The risk of distant recurrence was not reduced with the addition of OFS in the whole population. A subgroup analysis showed that addition of OFS significantly improved overall survival in patients who were administered chemotherapy. Conclusion Based on the available studies, concurrent administration of OFS and adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for premenopausal women with breast cancer has no effect on prolonging disease-free survival and overall survival, excluding patients who were administered chemotherapy. It should not be widely recommended, except perhaps for women who were hormone-receptor positive and who were also administered adjuvant chemotherapy. PMID:26109867

  16. Analysis of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in endometrial explants by MS and 32P-postlabeling.

    PubMed

    Beland, Frederick A; Churchwell, Mona I; Hewer, Alan; Phillips, David H; Gamboa da Costa, Gonçalo; Marques, M Matilde

    2004-07-23

    The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen increases the risk of endometrial cancer; however, the mechanism for the induction of these tumors is not known. Recently, Sharma et al. [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 307 (2003) 157], using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with online postcolumn photochemical activation and fluorescence detection, reported the presence of (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin- N2-yl)tamoxifen in DNA from human endometrial explants incubated with tamoxifen. Inasmuch as the methodology used by these investigators does not allow unambiguous characterization of tamoxifen-DNA adducts, we have used two additional techniques (HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry and 32P-postlabeling analyses) to assay for the presence of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in the human endometrial explant DNA. Tamoxifen-DNA adducts were not detected by either method.

  17. Acquired Flucytosine Resistance during Combination Therapy with Caspofungin and Flucytosine for Candida glabrata Cystitis

    PubMed Central

    El Sissy, Carine; Bachelier-Bassi, Sophie; Scemla, Anne; Quesne, Gilles; Sitterlé, Emilie; Legendre, Christophe; Lortholary, Olivier; Bougnoux, Marie-Elisabeth

    2015-01-01

    Treatment of Candida glabrata cystitis remains a therapeutic challenge, and an antifungal combination using flucytosine is one option. We describe two patients with refractory C. glabrata cystitis who failed flucytosine combined with caspofungin with early-acquired high-level resistance to flucytosine due to nonsense mutations in the FUR1 gene. Rapidly acquired flucytosine resistance with microbiological failure should discourage combination of caspofungin and flucytosine during urinary candidiasis. PMID:26525799

  18. Exemestane Following Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrences and Prolongs Survival

    Cancer.gov

    Postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer had delayed disease recurrence and longer survival after taking 2-3 years of tamoxifen followed by exemestane for a total of 5 years compared to taking tamoxifen for 5 years.

  19. CYP2D6 genotype in relation to hot flashes as tamoxifen side effect in a Dutch cohort of the tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational (TEAM) trial.

    PubMed

    Dezentjé, Vincent O; Gelderblom, Hans; Van Schaik, Ron H N; Vletter-Bogaartz, Judith M; Van der Straaten, Tahar; Wessels, Judith A M; Kranenbarg, Elma Meershoek-Klein; Berns, Els M; Seynaeve, Caroline; Putter, Hein; Van de Velde, Cornelis J H; Nortier, Johan W R; Guchelaar, Henk-Jan

    2014-01-01

    In tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients the occurrence of hot flashes may be associated with effective estrogen receptor antagonism dependent on genetic variations of metabolic enzymes and the estrogen receptor. Early breast cancer patients who were randomized to receive tamoxifen, followed by exemestane within the tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational trial were genotyped for five CYP2D6 alleles. CYP2D6 genotypes and phenotypes were related to the occurrence of hot flashes as adverse event during the first year of tamoxifen use (primary aim) and the time to the occurrence of hot flashes as AE during the complete time on tamoxifen (secondary aim). In addition, exploratory analyses on 22 genetic variants of other metabolic enzymes and two common polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor-1 were performed. No association was found between the CYP2D6 genotype/phenotype or any other genetic variant and hot flashes during the first year. Only higher age was related to a lower incidence of hot flashes in the first year (adjusted odds ratio 0.94, 95 % CI 0.92-0.96; p < 0.001). The ESR1 PvuII XbaI CG haplotype was associated with the time to the occurrence of hot flashes during the complete time on tamoxifen (CG/CG vs. CG/other + other/other: adjusted hazard ratio 0.49, 95 % CI 0.25-0.97; p = 0.04). In conclusion, the CYP2D6 genotypes and phenotypes were not associated with the occurrence of hot flashes. Common polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor-1 might predict hot flashes as common tamoxifen side effect, although this finding needs replication.

  20. Free radicals mediate systemic acquired resistance.

    PubMed

    Wang, Caixia; El-Shetehy, Mohamed; Shine, M B; Yu, Keshun; Navarre, Duroy; Wendehenne, David; Kachroo, Aardra; Kachroo, Pradeep

    2014-04-24

    Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a form of resistance that protects plants against a broad spectrum of secondary infections. However, exploiting SAR for the protection of agriculturally important plants warrants a thorough investigation of the mutual interrelationships among the various signals that mediate SAR. Here, we show that nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as inducers of SAR in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, genetic mutations that either inhibit NO/ROS production or increase NO accumulation (e.g., a mutation in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase [GSNOR]) abrogate SAR. Different ROS function additively to generate the fatty-acid-derived azelaic acid (AzA), which in turn induces production of the SAR inducer glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P). Notably, this NO/ROS→AzA→G3P-induced signaling functions in parallel with salicylic acid-derived signaling. We propose that the parallel operation of NO/ROS and SA pathways facilitates coordinated regulation in order to ensure optimal induction of SAR. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Embryonic transcription factor SOX9 drives breast cancer endocrine resistance.

    PubMed

    Jeselsohn, Rinath; Cornwell, MacIntosh; Pun, Matthew; Buchwalter, Gilles; Nguyen, Mai; Bango, Clyde; Huang, Ying; Kuang, Yanan; Paweletz, Cloud; Fu, Xiaoyong; Nardone, Agostina; De Angelis, Carmine; Detre, Simone; Dodson, Andrew; Mohammed, Hisham; Carroll, Jason S; Bowden, Michaela; Rao, Prakash; Long, Henry W; Li, Fugen; Dowsett, Mitchell; Schiff, Rachel; Brown, Myles

    2017-05-30

    The estrogen receptor (ER) drives the growth of most luminal breast cancers and is the primary target of endocrine therapy. Although ER blockade with drugs such as tamoxifen is very effective, a major clinical limitation is the development of endocrine resistance especially in the setting of metastatic disease. Preclinical and clinical observations suggest that even following the development of endocrine resistance, ER signaling continues to exert a pivotal role in tumor progression in the majority of cases. Through the analysis of the ER cistrome in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, we have uncovered a role for an RUNX2-ER complex that stimulates the transcription of a set of genes, including most notably the stem cell factor SOX9, that promote proliferation and a metastatic phenotype. We show that up-regulation of SOX9 is sufficient to cause relative endocrine resistance. The gain of SOX9 as an ER-regulated gene associated with tamoxifen resistance was validated in a unique set of clinical samples supporting the need for the development of improved ER antagonists.

  2. Embryonic transcription factor SOX9 drives breast cancer endocrine resistance

    PubMed Central

    Jeselsohn, Rinath; Cornwell, MacIntosh; Pun, Matthew; Buchwalter, Gilles; Nguyen, Mai; Bango, Clyde; Huang, Ying; Kuang, Yanan; Paweletz, Cloud; Fu, Xiaoyong; Nardone, Agostina; De Angelis, Carmine; Detre, Simone; Dodson, Andrew; Mohammed, Hisham; Carroll, Jason S.; Bowden, Michaela; Rao, Prakash; Long, Henry W.; Li, Fugen; Dowsett, Mitchell; Schiff, Rachel; Brown, Myles

    2017-01-01

    The estrogen receptor (ER) drives the growth of most luminal breast cancers and is the primary target of endocrine therapy. Although ER blockade with drugs such as tamoxifen is very effective, a major clinical limitation is the development of endocrine resistance especially in the setting of metastatic disease. Preclinical and clinical observations suggest that even following the development of endocrine resistance, ER signaling continues to exert a pivotal role in tumor progression in the majority of cases. Through the analysis of the ER cistrome in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, we have uncovered a role for an RUNX2–ER complex that stimulates the transcription of a set of genes, including most notably the stem cell factor SOX9, that promote proliferation and a metastatic phenotype. We show that up-regulation of SOX9 is sufficient to cause relative endocrine resistance. The gain of SOX9 as an ER-regulated gene associated with tamoxifen resistance was validated in a unique set of clinical samples supporting the need for the development of improved ER antagonists. PMID:28507152

  3. The role of hormonal therapy in patients with relapsed high-grade ovarian carcinoma: a retrospective series of tamoxifen and letrozole.

    PubMed

    George, Angela; McLachlan, Jennifer; Tunariu, Nina; Della Pepa, Chiara; Migali, Cristina; Gore, Martin; Kaye, Stan; Banerjee, Susana

    2017-06-30

    Hormonal therapy is used as a treatment option in high-grade ovarian carcinoma (HGOC), but the role and choice of treatment remains unclear. Agents used include tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of tamoxifen (T) and letrozole (L) in HGOC in clinical practice and investigate factors influencing clinical outcome. A retrospective review of patients with relapsed HGOC treated with either tamoxifen or letrozole at the Royal Marsden Hospital between 2007 and 2012 was performed. The primary endpoint of the study was objective response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included CA125 response, clinical benefit rate (CBR) and duration of response. Platinum-sensitivity and ER-status were evaluated as predictors of treatment response. 97 patients were included (43 T, 54 L); median age 63 years (20-92); 91% high-grade serous; median number of lines of prior chemotherapy 3 (1-8); 60% platinum-resistant, 40% platinum-sensitive; 52% ER + ve, 1% ER-ve, 47% unknown. 14 patients (6 T, 8 L) achieved a partial response, with ORR (RECIST) of 14% (T) and 15% (L). The CBR for ≥3 months was 65% (22/43) for tamoxifen and 56% (22/54) for letrozole. There was no significant difference in ORR (p = 0.99) or CBR (p = 0.14) between tamoxifen and letrozole. 22 patients (23%) had a CA-125 response with hormonal therapy (10 T - 23% and 12 L - 22%). ORR did not differ by platinum sensitivity (p = 0.42); or ER-status (positive vs unknown, p = 0.12). Responders to letrozole had longer durations of response than responders to tamoxifen (26 vs 11.5 months, p = 0.03), but equivalent disease stability duration (9.6 vs 7.2 months respectively, p = 0.11). Within the constraints of a retrospective study, we identified that patients treated with letrozole had a significantly longer duration of response than those treated with tamoxifen. Treatment with either tamoxifen or letrozole is a rational treatment option for patients with ER + ve HGOC

  4. Acquired BRAF V600E Mutation as Resistant Mechanism after Treatment with Osimertinib.

    PubMed

    Ho, Chao-Chi; Liao, Wei-Yu; Lin, Chih-An; Shih, Jin-Yuan; Yu, Chong-Jen; Chih-Hsin Yang, James

    2017-03-01

    AZD9291 (osimertinib) is designed for acquired T790M mutation after first- and second-generation EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been used. Some of the resistance mechanisms that present after osimertinib treatment, including a newly acquired EGFR C797S mutation, have been identified. It is unclear, however, whether the bypass pathway is also a mechanism of resistance in patients after osimertinib treatment. Cells from malignant pleural effusion were collected and cultured at the time of progression in a patient being treated with osimertinib. Tumor genotyping was done by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. EGFR, AKT, MEK, and ERK phosphorylation were determined. An anchorage-dependent colony formation assay was used for drug sensitivity. An acquired mutation, BRAF V600E, was found in the patient at the time of progression while being treated with osimertinib. Cells grown from malignant pleural effusion were sensitive to BRAF V600E inhibitor and were more vulnerable to a combination treatment with osimertinib. A potential mechanism of acquired resistance to osimertinib in patients with T790M is through the BRAF pathway. Simultaneous blockade of the BRAF and EGFR had a significant inhibitory effect. Copyright © 2016 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Long-Term Data from 20 Trials Confirm Tamoxifen's Long-Lasting Benefit

    Cancer.gov

    Women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who received about 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen had a lower risk of recurrence in the 15 years after treatment than women who did not receive tamoxifen.

  6. Primary and acquired drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in western region of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya.

    PubMed

    Elghoul, M T; Joshi, R M; Rizghalla, T

    1989-10-01

    Drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains prevalent in the Western Region of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya was studied for the years 1984, 1985 and 1986 at the regional tuberculosis control centre at Gurgi, Tripoli. Records of resistance to streptomycin, isoniazid, ethambutol and rifampicin were analysed. Whereas primary drug resistance was observed in 5.1%, 19.5% and 3.8%, acquired drug resistance was found in 12.2%, 34.0% and 15.3% of the strains in 1984, 1985 and 1986 respectively. Only 3 out of 598 strains (1.2%) were found to show acquired resistance to rifampicin. No primary resistance to rifampicin was observed. The situation of drug resistance in pulmonary tuberculosis in the Jamahiriya is discussed.

  7. Acquired Flucytosine Resistance during Combination Therapy with Caspofungin and Flucytosine for Candida glabrata Cystitis.

    PubMed

    Charlier, Caroline; El Sissy, Carine; Bachelier-Bassi, Sophie; Scemla, Anne; Quesne, Gilles; Sitterlé, Emilie; Legendre, Christophe; Lortholary, Olivier; Bougnoux, Marie-Elisabeth

    2016-01-01

    Treatment of Candida glabrata cystitis remains a therapeutic challenge, and an antifungal combination using flucytosine is one option. We describe two patients with refractory C. glabrata cystitis who failed flucytosine combined with caspofungin with early-acquired high-level resistance to flucytosine due to nonsense mutations in the FUR1 gene. Rapidly acquired flucytosine resistance with microbiological failure should discourage combination of caspofungin and flucytosine during urinary candidiasis. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  8. Estrous cycle and ovarian changes in a rat mammary carcinogenesis model after irradiation, tamoxifen chemoprevention, and aging.

    PubMed

    Karim, Baktiar O; Landolfi, Jennifer A; Christian, Archie; Ricart-Arbona, Rodolfo; Qiu, Weiping; McAlonis, Melissa; Eyabi, Paul O; Khan, Khalid A; Dicello, John F; Mann, Jill F; Huso, David L

    2003-10-01

    Variation in the effects of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) on the estrous cycle and reproductive organs during aging could play an important role in the observed heterogeneity of tamoxifen chemoprevention efficacy against breast cancer. Of the 1,022 female Sprague Dawley rats enrolled in a long-term tamoxifen chemoprevention study, 87 were randomly chosen from four groups (irradiated, irradiated and tamoxifen treated, tamoxifen treated, and control). Vaginal smears were evaluated for determination of cycle stage, and vaginal pathologic changes. Correlation with the histologic features of reproductive tissues in 43 animals was made. More tamoxifen-treated (21.9%; 7/32) rats had irregular cycling than did control (9%; 3/23) rats. Ovarian granulosa cell hyperplasia was present in 50% (3/6) of tamoxifen-treated rats, and 20% (2/10) of control rats. Endometrial-type cells (ETCs) were present only in tamoxifen-treated (tamoxifen alone 6.25% [2/32]) and tamoxifen/ radiation-treated (28.6% [4/14]) rats. The modified Papanicolaou stain used here provided excellent morphologic detail for evaluating the estrous cycle in rodents. Tamoxifen altered vaginal cytologic and ovarian histologic features during aging. Results indicated that tamoxifen had direct and indirect effects on the reproductive tract, causing disturbance of the estrous cycle, shedding of ETCs, and promoting granulosa cell hyperplasia. Understanding of the heterogeneous response to tamoxifen chemoprevention during aging in rodents may provide important insights into the basis for tamoxifen chemoprevention failures in humans.

  9. Characterization of fecal vancomycin-resistant enterococci with acquired and intrinsic resistance mechanisms in wild animals, Spain.

    PubMed

    Lozano, Carmen; Gonzalez-Barrio, David; Camacho, Maria Cruz; Lima-Barbero, Jose Francisco; de la Puente, Javier; Höfle, Ursula; Torres, Carmen

    2016-11-01

    The objectives were to evaluate the presence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci with acquired (VRE-a) and intrinsic (VRE-i) resistance mechanisms in fecal samples from different wild animals, and analyze their phenotypes and genotypes of antimicrobial resistance. A total of 348 cloacal/rectal samples from red-legged partridges (127), white storks (81), red kites (59), and wild boars (81) (June 2014/February 2015) were inoculated in Slanetz-Bartley agar supplemented with vancomycin (4 μg/mL). We investigated the susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials and the presence of 19 antimicrobial resistance and five virulence genes. In addition, we performed multilocus sequence typing, detection of IS16 and studied Tn1546 structure. One VRE-a isolate was identified in one wild boar. This isolate was identified as Enterococcus faecium, harbored vanA gene included into Tn1546 (truncated with IS1542/IS1216), and belonged to the new ST993. This isolate contained the erm(A), erm(B), tet(M), dfrG, and dfrK genes. Neither element IS16 nor the studied virulence genes were detected. Ninety-six VRE-i isolates were identified (89 Enterococcus gallinarum and seven Enterococcus casseliflavus), with the following prevalence: red kites (71.2 %), white storks (46.9 %), red-legged partridges (7.9 %), and wild boars (4.9 %). Most E. gallinarum isolates showed resistance to tetracycline (66.3 %) and/or erythromycin (46.1 %). High-level resistance to aminoglycosides was present among our VRE-i isolates: kanamycin (22.9 %), streptomycin (11.5 %), and gentamicin (9.4 %). In general, VRE-i isolates of red kites showed higher rates of resistance for non-glycopeptide agents than those of other animal species. The dissemination of acquired resistance mechanisms in natural environments could have implications in the global spread of resistance with public health implications.

  10. Bioanalytical methods for determination of tamoxifen and its phase I metabolites: a review.

    PubMed

    Teunissen, S F; Rosing, H; Schinkel, A H; Schellens, J H M; Beijnen, J H

    2010-12-17

    The selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen is used in the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer and in selected cases for breast cancer prevention in high-risk subjects. The cytochrome P450 enzyme system and flavin-containing monooxygenase are responsible for the extensive metabolism of tamoxifen into several phase I metabolites that vary in toxicity and potencies towards estrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ER beta. An extensive overview of publications on the determination of tamoxifen and its phase I metabolites in biological samples is presented. In these publications techniques were used such as capillary electrophoresis, liquid, gas and thin layer chromatography coupled with various detection techniques (mass spectrometry, ultraviolet or fluorescence detection, liquid scintillation counting and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy). A trend is seen towards the use of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). State-of-the-art LC-MS equipment allowed for identification of unknown metabolites and quantification of known metabolites reaching lower limit of quantification levels in the sub pg mL(-1) range. Although tamoxifen is also metabolized into phase II metabolites, the number of publications reporting on phase II metabolism of tamoxifen is scarce. Therefore the focus of this review is on phase I metabolites of tamoxifen. We conclude that in the past decades tamoxifen metabolism has been studied extensively and numerous metabolites have been identified. Assays have been developed for both the identification and quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolites in an array of biological samples. This review can be used as a resource for method transfer and development of analytical methods used to support pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of tamoxifen and its phase I metabolites. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  11. Effects of Topical Tamoxifen on Wound Healing of Burned Skin in Rats

    PubMed Central

    Mehrvarz, Shaban; Ebrahimi, Ali; Sahraei, Hedayat; Bagheri, Mohammad Hasan; Fazili, Sima; Manoochehry, Shahram; Rasouli, Hamid Reza

    2017-01-01

    Background This study aimed to assess the effects of the topical application of tamoxifen on wound healing of burned skin in Wistar rats by evaluating 3 healing characteristics: fibrotic tissue thickness (FTT), scar surface area (SSA), and angiogenesis in the healed scar tissue. Methods Eighteen male Wistar rats were used in this study. A third-degree burn wound was made on the shaved animals’ back, measuring 2×2×2 cm. In the first group, a 2% tamoxifen ointment was applied to the wound twice daily for 8 weeks. The second group received a placebo ointment during the same period. The third group did not receive any treatment and served as the control group. Results The median (interquartile range=[Q1, Q3]) FTT was 1.35 (1.15, 1.62) mm, 1.00 (0.95, 1.02) mm, and 1.25 (0.8, 1.5) mm in the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.069). However, the FTT in the tamoxifen group was less than in the placebo and control groups. The median angiogenesis was 3.5 (3.00, 6.25), 8.00 (6.75, 9.25), and 7.00 (5.50, 8.25) vessels per high-power field for the control, tamoxifen, and placebo groups, respectively (P=0.067). However, the median angiogenesis was higher in the tamoxifen group than in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the mean SSA between the tamoxifen group and the control group (P=0.990). Conclusions Local application of tamoxifen increased angiogenesis and decreased the FTT, with no change in the SSA in burned skin areas. These effects are expected to expedite the wound healing process, reducing contracture and preventing hypertrophic scar and keloid formation. PMID:28946718

  12. Comparison of the effects of the antiestrogens EM-800 and tamoxifen on the growth of human breast ZR-75-1 cancer xenografts in nude mice.

    PubMed

    Couillard, S; Gutman, M; Labrie, C; Bélanger, A; Candas, B; Labrie, F

    1998-01-01

    Although estrone supplementation in ovariectomized (OVX) nude mice bearing ZR-75-1 xenografts caused a 365% increase in average tumor size during the 4-month treatment period, administration of the antiestrogen EM-800 at the daily oral doses of 50, 150, or 400 microg completely prevented estrogen-stimulated tumor growth. At the same doses of tamoxifen, tumor size was inhibited to 189, 117, and 120% above pretreatment values. However, when EM-800 (150 microg/day) was added to the daily 150- and 400-microg doses of tamoxifen, final tumor size was decreased further to 12 and 38% above pretreatment values, respectively. EM-800 (400 microg daily) administered to estrone-supplemented OVX mice caused complete, partial, and stable responses in 11, 22, and 49% of estrone-stimulated tumors, respectively, whereas 19% (7 of 37) progressed. At the same dose of tamoxifen, the corresponding responses were 3% (complete response), 3% (partial response), and 25% (no change), whereas 69% (22 of 32) of tumors progressed. In the absence of estrone supplementation, tamoxifen (400 microg) alone administered to OVX mice stimulated tumor growth to 161% compared with initial size whereas the same dose of EM-800 reduced tumor size by 55%, a value superimposable to that observed in OVX control animals. The agonistic effect of tamoxifen is thus illustrated by the observation that 73% of tumors progressed when tamoxifen was administered alone to OVX animals whereas no tumor progressed with EM-800. The present data strongly suggest that at least part of the initial lack of response and resistance to tamoxifen during tamoxifen treatment in women is due to the estrogenic activity of this compound, whereas the new antiestrogen EM-800 exerts pure antagonistic action.

  13. Oncoprotein HBXIP enhances HOXB13 acetylation and co-activates HOXB13 to confer tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Liu, Bowen; Wang, Tianjiao; Wang, Huawei; Zhang, Lu; Xu, Feifei; Fang, Runping; Li, Leilei; Cai, Xiaoli; Wu, Yue; Zhang, Weiying; Ye, Lihong

    2018-02-23

    Resistance to tamoxifen (TAM) frequently occurs in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. Accumulating evidences indicate that transcription factor HOXB13 is of great significance in TAM resistance. However, the regulation of HOXB13 in TAM-resistant breast cancer remains largely unexplored. Here, we were interested in the potential effect of HBXIP, an oncoprotein involved in the acceleration of cancer progression, on the modulation of HOXB13 in TAM resistance of breast cancer. The Kaplan-Meier plotter cancer database and GEO dataset were used to analyze the association between HBXIP expression and relapse-free survival. The correlation of HBXIP and HOXB13 in ER+ breast cancer was assessed by human tissue microarray. Immunoblotting analysis, qRT-PCR assay, immunofluorescence staining, Co-IP assay, ChIP assay, luciferase reporter gene assay, cell viability assay, and colony formation assay were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism by which HBXIP modulates HOXB13. Cell viability assay, xenograft assay, and immunohistochemistry staining analysis were utilized to evaluate the effect of the HBXIP/HOXB13 axis on the facilitation of TAM resistance in vitro and in vivo. The analysis of the Kaplan-Meier plotter and the GEO dataset showed that mono-TAM-treated breast cancer patients with higher HBXIP expression levels had shorter relapse-free survivals than patients with lower HBXIP expression levels. Overexpression of HBXIP induced TAM resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells. The tissue microarray analysis revealed a positive association between the expression levels of HBXIP and HOXB13 in ER+ breast cancer patients. HBXIP elevated HOXB13 protein level in breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, HBXIP prevented chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA)-dependent degradation of HOXB13 via enhancement of HOXB13 acetylation at the lysine 277 residue, causing the accumulation of HOXB13. Moreover, HBXIP was able to act as a co-activator of HOXB13 to

  14. An UPLC-MS/MS method for separation and accurate quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolites isomers.

    PubMed

    Arellano, Cécile; Allal, Ben; Goubaa, Anwar; Roché, Henri; Chatelut, Etienne

    2014-11-01

    A selective and accurate analytical method is needed to quantify tamoxifen and its phase I metabolites in a prospective clinical protocol, for evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of tamoxifen and its metabolites in adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. The selectivity of the analytical method is a fundamental criteria to allow the quantification of the main active metabolites (Z)-isomers from (Z)'-isomers. An UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of (Z)-tamoxifen, (Z)-endoxifen, (E)-endoxifen, Z'-endoxifen, (Z)'-endoxifen, (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen, (Z)-4'-hydroxytamoxifen, N-desmethyl tamoxifen, and tamoxifen-N-oxide. The validation range was set between 0.5ng/mL and 125ng/mL for 4-hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen isomers, and between 12.5ng/mL and 300ng/mL for tamoxifen, tamoxifen N-desmethyl and tamoxifen-N-oxide. The application to patient plasma samples was performed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Bayesian model of signal rewiring reveals mechanisms of gene dysregulation in acquired drug resistance in breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Azad, A. K. M.; Keith, Jonathan M.

    2017-01-01

    Small molecule inhibitors, such as lapatinib, are effective against breast cancer in clinical trials, but tumor cells ultimately acquire resistance to the drug. Maintaining sensitization to drug action is essential for durable growth inhibition. Recently, adaptive reprogramming of signaling circuitry has been identified as a major cause of acquired resistance. We developed a computational framework using a Bayesian statistical approach to model signal rewiring in acquired resistance. We used the p1-model to infer potential aberrant gene-pairs with differential posterior probabilities of appearing in resistant-vs-parental networks. Results were obtained using matched gene expression profiles under resistant and parental conditions. Using two lapatinib-treated ErbB2-positive breast cancer cell-lines: SKBR3 and BT474, our method identified similar dysregulated signaling pathways including EGFR-related pathways as well as other receptor-related pathways, many of which were reported previously as compensatory pathways of EGFR-inhibition via signaling cross-talk. A manual literature survey provided strong evidence that aberrant signaling activities in dysregulated pathways are closely related to acquired resistance in EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Our approach predicted literature-supported dysregulated pathways complementary to both node-centric (SPIA, DAVID, and GATHER) and edge-centric (ESEA and PAGI) methods. Moreover, by proposing a novel pattern of aberrant signaling called V-structures, we observed that genes were dysregulated in resistant-vs-sensitive conditions when they were involved in the switch of dependencies from targeted to bypass signaling events. A literature survey of some important V-structures suggested they play a role in breast cancer metastasis and/or acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs, where the mRNA changes of TGFBR2, LEF1 and TP53 in resistant-vs-sensitive conditions were related to the dependency switch from targeted to bypass signaling links

  16. Study of experimental endometriosis using fluorescence of eosin-tamoxifen association

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brogniez, A.; Mordon, Serge R.; Devoisselle, Jean-Marie; Querleu, Denis; Brunetaud, Jean Marc

    1993-08-01

    The main problem of endometriosis is the detection of microscopic and atypical lesions. The successful destruction of these endometriotic sites depends on their detection. This study aimed to develop a spectrofluorometric method to increase the sensitivity of detection of endometriosis. A surgical-induced endometriosis was performed in ten rabbits. Five weeks later, the fluorescence of these endometriotic lesions was studied after injection of tamoxifen and local application of eosin. This fluorescence was compared with that of healthy broad ligament and that obtained without tamoxifen and without eosin. A spectral analysis showed a specific fluorescence of eosin-tamoxifen association, more intense than autofluorescence and selectively observed within endometriosis.

  17. Smart coumarin-tagged imprinted polymers for the rapid detection of tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Ray, Judith V; Mirata, Fosca; Pérollier, Celine; Arotcarena, Michel; Bayoudh, Sami; Resmini, Marina

    2016-03-01

    A signalling molecularly imprinted polymer was synthesised for easy detection of tamoxifen and its metabolites. 6-Vinylcoumarin-4-carboxylic acid (VCC) was synthesised from 4-bromophenol to give a fluorescent monomer, designed to switch off upon binding of tamoxifen. Clomiphene, a chlorinated analogue, was used as the template for the imprinting, and its ability to quench the coumarin fluorescence when used in a 1:1 ratio was demonstrated. Tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen were also shown to quench coumarin fluorescence. Imprinted and non-imprinted polymers were synthesised using VCC, methacrylic acid as a backbone monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker, and were ground and sieved to particle sizes ranging between 45 and 25 μm. Rebinding experiments demonstrate that the imprinted polymer shows very strong affinity for both clomiphene and tamoxifen, while the non-imprinted polymer shows negligible rebinding. The fluorescence of the imprinted polymer is quenched by clomiphene, tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen. The switch off in fluorescence of the imprinted polymer under these conditions could also be detected under a UV lamp with the naked eye, making this matrix suitable for applications when coupled with a sample preparation system.

  18. Tamoxifen-Dependent Induction of AGR2 Is Associated with Increased Aggressiveness of Endometrial Cancer Cells.

    PubMed

    Hrstka, Roman; Podhorec, Jan; Nenutil, Rudolf; Sommerova, Lucia; Obacz, Joanna; Durech, Michal; Faktor, Jakub; Bouchal, Pavel; Skoupilova, Hana; Vojtesek, Borivoj

    2017-05-28

    Tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer patients is associated with increased risk of endometrial malignancies. Significantly, higher AGR2 expression was found in endometrial cancers that developed in women previously treated with tamoxifen compared to those who had not been exposed to tamoxifen. An association of elevated AGR2 level with myometrial invasion occurrence and invasion depth was also found. In vitro analyses identified a stimulatory effect of AGR2 on cellular proliferation. Although adverse tamoxifen effects on endometrial cells remain elusive, our work identifies elevated AGR2 as a candidate tamoxifen-dependent mechanism of action responsible for increased incidence of endometrial cancer.

  19. Tamoxifen Therapy to Treat Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

    ClinicalTrials.gov

    2018-05-16

    Hypertension; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; Lung Diseases; Tamoxifen; Estrogen Receptor Antagonist; Hormone Antagonists; Estrogens

  20. Ex vivo permeation of tamoxifen and its 4-OH metabolite through rat intestine from lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles.

    PubMed

    Barbieri, S; Buttini, F; Rossi, A; Bettini, R; Colombo, P; Ponchel, G; Sonvico, F; Colombo, G

    2015-08-01

    Tamoxifen citrate is an anticancer drug slightly soluble in water. Administered orally, it shows great intra- and inter-patient variations in bioavailability. We developed a nanoformulation based on phospholipid and chitosan able to efficiently load tamoxifen and showing an enzyme triggered release. In this work the permeation of tamoxifen released from lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles across excised rat intestinal wall mounted in an Ussing chamber was investigated. Compared to tamoxifen citrate suspension, the amount of the drug permeated using the nanoformulation was increased from 1.5 to 90 times, in absence or in presence of pancreatin or lipase, respectively. It was also evidenced the formation of an active metabolite of tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy tamoxifen, however, the amount of metabolite permeated remained roughly constant in all experiments. The effect of enzymes on intestinal permeation of tamoxifen was shown only when tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles were in intimate contact with the mucosal surface. The encapsulation of tamoxifen in lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles improved the non-metabolized drug passing through the rat intestinal tissue via paracellular transport. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Tamoxifen accelerates the repair of demyelinated lesions in the central nervous system

    PubMed Central

    Gonzalez, Ginez A.; Hofer, Matthias P.; Syed, Yasir A.; Amaral, Ana I.; Rundle, Jon; Rahman, Saifur; Zhao, Chao; Kotter, Mark R. N.

    2016-01-01

    Enhancing central nervous system (CNS) myelin regeneration is recognized as an important strategy to ameliorate the devastating consequences of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Previous findings have indicated that myelin proteins, which accumulate following demyelination, inhibit remyelination by blocking the differentiation of rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) via modulation of PKCα. We therefore screened drugs for their potential to overcome this differentiation block. From our screening, tamoxifen emerges as a potent inducer of OPC differentiation in vitro. We show that the effects of tamoxifen rely on modulation of the estrogen receptors ERα, ERβ, and GPR30. Furthermore, we demonstrate that administration of tamoxifen to demyelinated rats in vivo accelerates remyelination. Tamoxifen is a well-established drug and is thus a promising candidate for a drug to regenerate myelin, as it will not require extensive safety testing. In addition, Tamoxifen plays an important role in biomedical research as an activator of inducible genetic models. Our results highlight the importance of appropriate controls when using such models. PMID:27554391

  2. Lecithin/chitosan controlled release nanopreparations of tamoxifen citrate: loading, enzyme-trigger release and cell uptake.

    PubMed

    Barbieri, Stefano; Sonvico, Fabio; Como, Caterina; Colombo, Gaia; Zani, Franca; Buttini, Francesca; Bettini, Ruggero; Rossi, Alessandra; Colombo, Paolo

    2013-05-10

    Tamoxifen citrate (TAM), an anticancer drug with amphiphilic properties, was loaded in lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles (LCN) with a view to oral administration. The influence of tamoxifen loading on the physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles was studied. Size, surface charge and morphological properties of tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles (LCN-TAM) were assessed. The increase in the tamoxifen amount in the LCN-TAM preparation up to 60 mg/100 ml maintained the positive zeta potential value of about +45 mV. A statistically significant decrease in particle size was observed for TAM amounts between 5 and 20mg. A strong influence of loaded tamoxifen on the structure of lecithin/chitosan nanoparticles was observed, supported by the quantification of free chitosan and morphological analysis. A loading of tamoxifen in nanoparticles of around 19% was obtained. The release of the drug from the LCN-TAM colloidal dispersion was measured, showing that tamoxifen citrate was released very slowly in simulated gastro-intestinal fluids without enzymes. When enzymes able to dismantle the nanoparticle structure were added to the dissolution medium, drug release was triggered and continued in a prolonged manner. Tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles showed cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells comparable to that obtained with tamoxifen citrate solution, but the rate of this toxic effect was dependent on drug release. Caco-2 cells, used as a model of the intestinal epithelium, were shown to take up the TAM loaded nanoparticles extensively. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Investigation of discriminant metabolites in tamoxifen-resistant and choline kinase-alpha-downregulated breast cancer cells using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hoe Suk; Tian, Lianji; Kim, Hyeonjin; Moon, Woo Kyung

    2017-01-01

    Metabolites linked to changes in choline kinase-α (CK-α) expression and drug resistance, which contribute to survival and autophagy mechanisms, are attractive targets for breast cancer therapies. We previously reported that autophagy played a causative role in driving tamoxifen (TAM) resistance of breast cancer cells (BCCs) and was also promoted by CK-α knockdown, resulting in the survival of TAM-resistant BCCs. There is no comparative study yet about the metabolites resulting from BCCs with TAM-resistance and CK-α knockdown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the discriminant metabolic biomarkers responsible for TAM resistance as well as CK-α expression, which might be linked with autophagy through a protective role. A total of 33 intracellular metabolites, including a range of amino acids, energy metabolism-related molecules and others from cell extracts of the parental cells (MCF-7), TAM-resistant cells (MCF-7/TAM) and CK-α knockdown cells (MCF-7/shCK-α, MCF-7/TAM/shCK-α) were analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMRS). Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) revealed the existence of differences in the intracellular metabolites to separate the 4 groups: MCF-7 cells, MCF-7/TAM cells, MCF-7-shCK-α cells, and MCF-7/TAM/shCK-α cells. The metabolites with VIP>1 contributed most to the differentiation of the cell groups, and they included fumarate, UA (unknown A), lactate, myo-inositol, glycine, phosphocholine, UE (unknown E), glutamine, formate, and AXP (AMP/ADP/ATP). Our results suggest that these altered metabolites would be promising metabolic biomarkers for a targeted therapeutic strategy in BCCs that exhibit TAM-resistance and aberrant CK-α expression, which triggers a survival and drug resistance mechanism.

  4. Therapeutic Effects of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Formula Plus Tamoxifen vs. Tamoxifen for the Treatment of Mammary Gland Hyperplasia: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials

    PubMed Central

    Li, Hao-Tian; Liu, Hong-Hong; Yang, Yu-Xue; Wang, Tao; Zhou, Xue-Lin; Yu, Yang; Li, Su-Na; Zheng, Yi; Zhang, Ping; Wang, Rui-Lin; Li, Jian-Yu; Wei, Shi-Zhang; Li, Kun; Li, Peng-Yan; Qian, Li-Qi

    2018-01-01

    As a common disorder that accounts for over 70% of all breast disease cases, mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) causes a severe problem for the quality of patients' life, and confers an increased risk of breast carcinoma. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of MGH remain unclear, and the safety and efficacy of current western drug therapy for MGH still need to be improved. Therefore, a meta-analysis was conducted by our team to determine whether a TCM formula named Ru-Pi-Xiao in combination with tamoxifen or Ru-Pi-Xiao treated alone can show more prominent therapeutic effects against MGH with fewer adverse reactions than that of tamoxifen. Studies published before June 2017 were searched based on standardized searching rules in several mainstream medical databases. A total of 27 articles with 4,368 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the combination of Ru-Pi-Xiao and tamoxifen could exhibit better therapeutic effects against MGH than that of tamoxifen (OR: 3.79; 95% CI: 3.09–4.65; P < 0.00001) with a lower incidence of adverse reactions (OR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.28–0.43; P < 0.00001). The results also suggested that this combination could improve the level of progesterone (MD: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.72–2.71; P < 0.00001) and decrease the size of breast lump (MD: −0.67; 95% CI: −0.86 to −0.49; P < 0.00001) to a greater extent, which might provide a possible explanation for the pharmacodynamic mechanism of Ru-Pi-Xiao plus tamoxifen. In conclusion, Ru-Pi-Xiao and related preparations could be recommended as auxiliary therapy combined tamoxifen for the treatment of MGH. PMID:29456506

  5. Differential effects of tamoxifen and anastrozole on optic cup size in breast cancer survivors

    PubMed Central

    Toomey, Maureen D.; Falardeau, Julie; Samples, John R.; Vetto, John T.

    2007-01-01

    Introduction The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the optic cups of tamoxifen users and anastrozole users differ in size, with the cups of the tamoxifen users being smaller. Methods Optic nerve head (ONH) topography was measured using a commercially available, confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope for three populations of amenorrheic women ages 40–69 years: subjects using (1) tamoxifen (20 mg/day) or (2) anastrozole (1 mg/day) for ≤ 2 years as adjuvant therapy after successful primary treatment for breast cancer, and (3) control subjects with no breast cancer histories and not using any hormonal medication. All subjects had excellent visual acuity and healthy eyes, based on conventional photographic assessment. Results The cup volumes of the tamoxifen users were shown to be significantly smaller than the cup volumes of the anastrozole users, which were indistinguishable from normal. Because the cup volumes of the tamoxifen users decreased markedly with age at about 50 years and because anastrozole is indicated only for post-menopausal women, comparisons were reassessed for subjects older than 50 years. For these subjects, the cup volumes of the tamoxifen users averaged less than half of the volumes for each of the other two subject groups, and significant between-group differences existed in both the lateral (cup area) and axial (cup depth) directions. In contrast, any between-group differences at the ONH margin were small and not significant. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the ONH be assessed biomorphometrically for tamoxifen users reporting visual change that cannot be attributed to non-tamoxifen causes. The ability of modern intraocular imaging techniques to reveal anatomic change on the order of tens of microns may be useful for assessing tamoxifen-induced effects occurring simultaneously elsewhere in the brain, particularly since the presence of small cups is consistent with the possibility of tamoxifen

  6. Staphylococcus aureus PBP4 Is Essential for β-Lactam Resistance in Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Strains▿

    PubMed Central

    Memmi, Guido; Filipe, Sergio R.; Pinho, Mariana G.; Fu, Zhibiao; Cheung, Ambrose

    2008-01-01

    Recent cases of infections caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (CA-MRSA) strains in healthy individuals have raised concerns worldwide. CA-MRSA strains differ from hospital-acquired MRSAs by virtue of their genomic background and increased virulence in animal models. Here, we show that in two common CA-MRSA isolates, USA300 and MW2 (USA400), a loss of penicillin binding protein 4 (PBP4) is sufficient to cause a 16-fold reduction in oxacillin and nafcillin resistance, thus demonstrating that mecA, encoding PBP2A, is not the sole determinant of methicillin resistance in CA-MRSA. The loss of PBP4 was also found to severely affect the transcription of PBP2 in cells after challenge with oxacillin, thus leading to a significant decrease in peptidoglycan cross-linking. Autolysis, which is commonly associated with the killing mechanism of penicillin and β-lactams, does not play a role in the reduced resistance phenotype associated with the loss of PBP4. We also showed that cefoxitin, a semisynthetic β-lactam that binds irreversibly to PBP4, is synergistic with oxacillin in killing CA-MRSA strains, including clinical CA-MRSA isolates. Thus, PBP4 represents a major target for drug rediscovery against CA-MRSA, and a combination of cefoxitin and synthetic penicillins may be an effective therapy for CA-MRSA infections. PMID:18725435

  7. Emergence of CTNNB1 mutation at acquired resistance to KIT inhibitor in metastatic melanoma.

    PubMed

    Cho, J; Kim, S Y; Kim, Y J; Sim, M H; Kim, S T; Kim, N K D; Kim, K; Park, W; Kim, J H; Jang, K-T; Lee, J

    2017-10-01

    The KIT inhibitor, imatinib, has shown promising efficacy in patients with KIT-mutated melanoma; however, acquisition of resistance to imatinib occurs rapidly in the majority of patients. The mechanisms of acquired resistance to imatinib in melanoma remain unclear. We analyzed biopsy samples from paired baseline and post-treatment tumor lesions in one patient with KIT-mutated melanoma who had had an initial objective tumor regression in response to imatinib treatment followed by disease progression 8 months later. Targeted deep sequencing from post-treatment biopsy samples detected an additional mutation in CTNNB1 (S33C) with original KIT L576P mutation. We examined the functional role of the additional CTNNB1 S33C mutation in resistance to imatinib indirectly using the Ba/F3 cell model. Ba/F3 cell lines transfected with both the L576P KIT mutation and the CTNNB1 S33C mutation demonstrated no growth inhibition despite imatinib treatment, whereas growth inhibition was observed in the Ba/F3 cell line transfected with the L576 KIT mutation alone. We report the first identification of the emergence of a CTNNB1 mutation that can confer acquired resistance to imatinib. Further investigation into the causes of acquired resistance to imatinib will be essential to improve the prognosis for patients with KIT-mutated melanoma.

  8. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in tamoxifen retinopathy--a case report.

    PubMed

    Nair, Sandhya Narayanan; Anantharaman, Giridhar; Gopalakrishnan, Mahesh; Vyas, Jyothiprakash

    2013-01-01

    To report spectral domain optical coherence tomography findings in a case of typical tamoxifen retinopathy. In this observational case report, a patient with tamoxifen retinopathy was imaged with spectral domain optical coherence tomography and fundus auto fluorescence. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography showed numerous hyperreflective spots within the retina, mainly in the inner retinal layers in both the eyes. The external limiting membrane, the Inner Segment-Outer Segment junction, and the photoreceptors were not discernable at the fovea in the right eye. In the left eye, there was foveal atrophy with total loss of photoreceptors. The autofluorescent images showed macular hypofluorescence with foveal hyperfluorescence. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography demonstrated abnormalities in the outer retinal layers in tamoxifen retinopathy. There were also characteristic alterations in the autofluorescence pattern at the macula in tamoxifen retinopathy.

  9. SGK3 sustains ERα signaling and drives acquired aromatase inhibitor resistance through maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yuanzhong; Zhou, Dujin; Phung, Sheryl; Warden, Charles; Rashid, Rumana; Chan, Nymph; Chen, Shiuan

    2017-02-21

    Many estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancers initially respond to aromatase inhibitors (AIs), but eventually acquire resistance. Here, we report that serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 3 (SGK3), a kinase transcriptionally regulated by ERα in breast cancer, sustains ERα signaling and drives acquired AI resistance. SGK3 is up-regulated and essential for endoplasmic reticulum (EnR) homeostasis through preserving sarcoplasmic/EnR calcium ATPase 2b (SERCA2b) function in AI-resistant cells. We have further found that EnR stress response down-regulates ERα expression through the protein kinase RNA-like EnR kinase (PERK) arm, and SGK3 retains ERα expression and signaling by preventing excessive EnR stress. Our study reveals regulation of ERα expression mediated by the EnR stress response and the feed-forward regulation between SGK3 and ERα in breast cancer. Given SGK3 inhibition reduces AI-resistant cell survival by eliciting excessive EnR stress and also depletes ERα expression/function, we propose SGK3 inhibition as a potential effective treatment of acquired AI-resistant breast cancer.

  10. Dextromethorphan as a phenotyping test to predict endoxifen exposure in patients on tamoxifen treatment.

    PubMed

    de Graan, Anne-Joy M; Teunissen, Sebastiaan F; de Vos, Filip Y F L; Loos, Walter J; van Schaik, Ron H N; de Jongh, Felix E; de Vos, Aad I; van Alphen, Robbert J; van der Holt, Bronno; Verweij, Jaap; Seynaeve, Caroline; Beijnen, Jos H; Mathijssen, Ron H J

    2011-08-20

    Tamoxifen, a widely used agent for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, is mainly metabolized by CYP2D6 and CYP3A to form its most abundant active metabolite, endoxifen. Interpatient variability in toxicity and efficacy of tamoxifen is substantial. Contradictory results on the value of CYP2D6 genotyping to reduce the variable efficacy have been reported. In this pharmacokinetic study, we investigated the value of dextromethorphan, a known probe drug for both CYP2D6 and CYP3A enzymatic activity, as a potential phenotyping probe for tamoxifen pharmacokinetics. In this prospective study, 40 women using tamoxifen for invasive breast cancer received a single dose of dextromethorphan 2 hours after tamoxifen intake. Dextromethorphan, tamoxifen, and their respective metabolites were quantified. Exposure parameters of all compounds were estimated, log transformed, and subsequently correlated. A strong and highly significant correlation (r = -0.72; P < .001) was found between the exposures of dextromethorphan (0 to 6 hours) and endoxifen (0 to 24 hours). Also, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve of dextromethorphan (0 to 6 hours) and daily trough endoxifen concentration was strongly correlated (r = -0.70; P < .001). In a single patient using the potent CYP2D6 inhibitor paroxetine, the low endoxifen concentration was accurately predicted by dextromethorphan exposure. Dextromethorphan exposure after a single administration adequately predicted endoxifen exposure in individual patients with breast cancer taking tamoxifen. This test could contribute to the personalization and optimization of tamoxifen treatment, but it needs additional validation and simplification before being applicable in future dosing strategies.

  11. Avenanthramide biosynthesis in oat cultivars treated with systemic acquired resistance elicitors

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The synthetic systemic acquired resistance elicitor benzothiadiazole (BTH) has been shown to elicit avenanthramide biosynthesis in the oat cultivar ‘Belle’. This report investigates the response of multiple oat cultivars to BTH as well as 2,6- dichloroisonicotinic acid (INA) at different growth stag...

  12. Tamoxifen inhibits macrophage FABP4 expression through the combined effects of the GR and PPARγ pathways.

    PubMed

    Jiang, Meixiu; Zhang, Ling; Ma, Xingzhe; Hu, Wenquan; Chen, Yuanli; Yu, Miao; Wang, Qixue; Li, Xiaoju; Yin, Zhinan; Zhu, Yan; Gao, Xiumei; Hajjar, David P; Duan, Yajun; Han, Jihong

    2013-09-15

    Macrophage adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4) plays an important role in foam cell formation and development of atherosclerosis. Tamoxifen inhibits this disease process. In the present study, we determined whether the anti-atherogenic property of tamoxifen was related to its inhibition of macrophage FABP4 expression. We initially observed that tamoxifen inhibited macrophage/foam cell formation, but the inhibition was attenuated when FABP4 expression was selectively inhibited by siRNA.We then observed that tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen inhibited FABP4 protein expression in primary macrophages isolated from both the male and female wild-type mice, suggesting that the inhibition is sex-independent. Tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen inhibited macrophage FABP4 protein expression induced either by activation of GR (glucocorticoid receptor) or PPARγ (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ). Associated with the decreased protein expression, Fabp4 mRNA expression and promoter activity were also inhibited by tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, indicating transcriptional regulation. Analysis of promoter activity and EMSA/ChIP assays indicated that tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen activated the nGRE (negative glucocorticoid regulatory element), but inhibited the PPRE (PPARγ regulatory element) in the Fabp4 gene. In vivo, administration of tamoxifen to ApoE (apolipoprotein E)-deficient (apoE-/-) mice on a high-fat diet decreased FABP4 expression in macrophages and adipose tissues as well as circulating FABP4 levels. Tamoxifen also inhibited FABP4 protein expression by human blood monocyte-derived macrophages. Taken together, the results of the present study show that tamoxifen inhibited FABP4 expression through the combined effects of GR and PPARγ signalling pathways. Our findings suggest that the inhibition of macrophage FABP4 expression can be attributed to the antiatherogenic properties of tamoxifen.

  13. The anticancer estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen impairs consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory through estrogen receptor alpha.

    PubMed

    Lichtenfels, Martina; Dornelles, Arethuza da Silva; Petry, Fernanda Dos Santos; Blank, Martina; de Farias, Caroline Brunetto; Roesler, Rafael; Schwartsmann, Gilberto

    2017-11-01

    Over two-thirds of women with breast cancer have positive tumors for hormone receptors, and these patients undergo treatment with endocrine therapy, tamoxifen being the most widely used agent. Despite being very effective in breast cancer treatment, tamoxifen is associated with side effects that include cognitive impairments. However, the specific aspects and mechanisms underlying these impairments remain to be characterized. Here, we have investigated the effects of tamoxifen and interaction with estrogen receptors on formation of memory for inhibitory avoidance conditioning in female rats. In the first experiment, Wistar female rats received a single oral dose of tamoxifen (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg) or saline by gavage immediately after training and were tested for memory consolidation 24 h after training. In the second experiment, rats received a single dose of 1 mg/kg tamoxifen or saline by gavage 3 h after training and were tested 24 h after training for memory consolidation. In the third experiment, rats received a subcutaneous injection with estrogen receptor α agonist or estrogen receptor beta agonist 30 min before the training. After training, rats received a single oral dose of tamoxifen 1 mg/kg or saline and were tested 24 h after training. In the fourth experiment, rats were trained and tested 24 h later. Immediately after test, rats received a single dose of tamoxifen (1 mg/kg) or saline by gavage and were given four additional daily test trials followed by a re-instatement. Tamoxifen at 1 mg/kg impaired memory consolidation when given immediately after training and the estrogen receptor alpha agonist improved the tamoxifen-related memory impairment. Moreover, tamoxifen impairs memory consolidation of the test. These findings indicate that estrogen receptors regulate the early phase of memory consolidation and the effects of tamoxifen on memory consolidation.

  14. Inhibition of BMP signaling overcomes acquired resistance to cetuximab in oral squamous cell carcinomas.

    PubMed

    Yin, Jinlong; Jung, Ji-Eun; Choi, Sun Il; Kim, Sung Soo; Oh, Young Taek; Kim, Tae-Hoon; Choi, Eunji; Lee, Sun Joo; Kim, Hana; Kim, Eun Ok; Lee, Yu Sun; Chang, Hee Jin; Park, Joo Yong; Kim, Yeejeong; Yun, Tak; Heo, Kyun; Kim, Youn-Jae; Kim, Hyunggee; Kim, Yun-Hee; Park, Jong Bae; Choi, Sung Weon

    2018-02-01

    Despite expressing high levels of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a majority of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients show limited response to cetuximab and ultimately develop drug resistance. However, mechanism underlying cetuximab resistance in OSCC is not clearly understood. Here, using a mouse orthotopic xenograft model of OSCC, we show that bone morphogenic protein-7-phosphorylated Smad-1, -5, -8 (BMP7-p-Smad1/5/8) signaling contributes to cetuximab resistance. Tumor cells isolated from the recurrent cetuximab-resistant xenograft models exhibited low EGFR expression but extremely high levels of p-Smad1/5/8. Treatment with the bone morphogenic protein receptor type 1 (BMPRI) inhibitor, DMH1 significantly reduced cetuximab-resistant OSCC tumor growth, and combined treatment of DMH1 and cetuximab remarkably reduced relapsed tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, p-Smad1/5/8 level was elevated in cetuximab-resistant patients and this correlated with poor prognosis. Collectively, our results indicate that the BMP7-p-Smad1/5/8 signaling is a key pathway to acquired cetuximab resistance, and demonstrate that combination therapy of cetuximab and a BMP signaling inhibitor as potentially a new therapeutic strategy for overcoming acquired resistance to cetuximab in OSCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Ceramide-tamoxifen regimen targets bioenergetic elements in acute myelogenous leukemia1

    PubMed Central

    Morad, Samy A. F.; Ryan, Terence E.; Neufer, P. Darrell; Zeczycki, Tonya N.; Davis, Traci S.; MacDougall, Matthew R.; Fox, Todd E.; Tan, Su-Fern; Feith, David J.; Loughran, Thomas P.; Kester, Mark; Claxton, David F.; Barth, Brian M.; Deering, Tye G.; Cabot, Myles C.

    2016-01-01

    The objective of our study was to determine the mechanism of action of the short-chain ceramide analog, C6-ceramide, and the breast cancer drug, tamoxifen, which we show coactively depress viability and induce apoptosis in human acute myelogenous leukemia cells. Exposure to the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen combination elicited decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and complex I respiration, increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and release of mitochondrial proapoptotic proteins. Decreases in ATP levels, reduced glycolytic capacity, and reduced expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins also resulted. Cytotoxicity of the drug combination was mitigated by exposure to antioxidant. Cells metabolized C6-ceramide by glycosylation and hydrolysis, the latter leading to increases in long-chain ceramides. Tamoxifen potently blocked glycosylation of C6-ceramide and long-chain ceramides. N-desmethyltamoxifen, a poor antiestrogen and the major tamoxifen metabolite in humans, was also effective with C6-ceramide, indicating that traditional antiestrogen pathways are not involved in cellular responses. We conclude that cell death is driven by mitochondrial targeting and ROS generation and that tamoxifen enhances the ceramide effect by blocking its metabolism. As depletion of ATP and targeting the “Warburg effect” represent dynamic metabolic insult, this ceramide-containing combination may be of utility in the treatment of leukemia and other cancers. PMID:27140664

  16. Self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems of tamoxifen citrate: design and optimization.

    PubMed

    Elnaggar, Yosra S R; El-Massik, Magda A; Abdallah, Ossama Y

    2009-10-01

    Tamoxifen citrate is an antiestrogen for peroral breast cancer treatment. The drug delivery encounters problems of poor water solubility and vulnerability to enzymatic degradation in both intestine and liver. In the current study, tamoxifen citrate self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (SNEDDS) were prepared in an attempt to circumvent such obstacles. Preliminary screening was carried out to select proper ingredient combinations. All surfactants screened were recognized for their bioactive aspects. Ternary phase diagrams were then constructed and an optimum system was designated. Three tamoxifen SNEDDS were then compared for optimization. The systems were assessed for robustness to dilution, globule size, cloud point, surface morphology and drug release. An optimum system composed of tamoxifen citrate (1.6%), Maisine 35-1 (16.4%), Caproyl 90 (32.8%), Cremophor RH40 (32.8%) and propylene glycol (16.4%) was selected. The system was robust to different dilution volumes and types. It possessed a mean globule size of 150 nm and a cloud point of 80 degrees C. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated spherical particle morphology. The drug release from the selected formulation was significantly higher than other SNEDDS and drug suspension, as well. Realizing drug incorporation into an optimized nano-sized SNEDD system that encompasses a bioactive surfactant, our results proposed that the prepared system could be promising to improve oral efficacy of the tamoxifen citrate.

  17. The distribution pattern of ERα expression, ESR1 genetic variation and expression of growth factor receptors: association with breast cancer prognosis in Russian patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Babyshkina, Nataliya; Vtorushin, Sergey; Zavyalova, Marina; Patalyak, Stanislav; Dronova, Tatyana; Litviakov, Nikolay; Slonimskaya, Elena; Kzhyshkowska, Julia; Cherdyntseva, Nadejda; Choynzonov, Evgeny

    2017-08-01

    Identification of additional biomarkers associated with ER genomic and nongenomic pathways could be very useful to distinguish patients who will benefit from tamoxifen treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of the distribution pattern of ERα expression, ESR1 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms and expression levels of growth factor receptors in Russian hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from 97 patients were examined for the distribution pattern of ERα expression, as well as for EGFR and TGF-βR1 expression by immunohistochemistry. Genotypes for ESR1 +30T>C (rs2077647) and ESR1 2014G>A (rs2228480) were analyzed using a TaqMan assay. Progression-free survival (PFS) was used as an endpoint for the survival analyses. We found that patients with the heterogeneous distribution of ERα expression had poor prognosis on tamoxifen treatment (P = 0.021). We identified a high EGFR expression in patients who developed distant metastasis or recurrence during tamoxifen treatment (a tamoxifen-resistant group-TR) in contrast to the distant metastasis-free patients (a tamoxifen-sensitive group-TS) (80.0 vs. 41.9 %, respectively, P = 0.009). Carriers of the ESR12014A mutant allele were more prevalent among the TR patients compared to the TS patients (26.3 vs. 8.0 %, respectively, P = 0.009). EGFR expression and the distribution pattern of ERα expression were associated with the response to tamoxifen by both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The presence of these markers either alone or in combination was correlated with the worse PFS for all patients. Analysis of the distribution pattern of ERα expression and the EGFR status in tumor tissue may be valuable for patient selection for tamoxifen adjuvant therapy.

  18. Antiarrhythmic effect of tamoxifen on the vulnerability induced by hyperthyroidism to heart ischemia/reperfusion damage.

    PubMed

    Pavón, Natalia; Hernández-Esquivel, Luz; Buelna-Chontal, Mabel; Chávez, Edmundo

    2014-09-01

    Hyperthyroidism, known to have deleterious effects on heart function, and is associated with an enhanced metabolic state, implying an increased production of reactive oxygen species. Tamoxifen is a selective antagonist of estrogen receptors. These receptors make the hyperthyroid heart more susceptible to ischemia/reperfusion. Tamoxifen is also well-known as an antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to explore the possible protective effect of tamoxifen on heart function in hyperthyroid rats. Rats were injected daily with 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine at 2mg/kg body weight during 5 days to induce hyperthyroidism. One group was treated with 10mg/kg tamoxifen and another was not. The protective effect of the drug on heart rhythm was analyzed after 5 min of coronary occlusion followed by 5 min reperfusion. In hyperthyroid rats not treated with tamoxifen, ECG tracings showed post-reperfusion arrhythmias, and heart mitochondria isolated from the ventricular free wall lost the ability to accumulate and retain matrix Ca(2+) and to form a high electric gradient. Both of these adverse effects were avoided with tamoxifen treatment. Hyperthyroidism-induced oxidative stress caused inhibition of cis-aconitase and disruption of mitochondrial DNA, effects which were also avoided by tamoxifen treatment. The current results support the idea that tamoxifen inhibits the hypersensitivity of hyperthyroid rat myocardium to reperfusion damage, probably because its antioxidant activity inhibits the mitochondrial permeability transition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Five Years of Tamoxifen Continues to Benefit Women 15 Years after Treatment

    Cancer.gov

    In a large randomized clinical trial, women with early-stage breast cancer who received 5 years of adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen had better outcomes up to 15 years after the start of treatment than those who received 2 years of tamoxifen therapy.

  20. Gene expression profiling reveals underlying molecular mechanisms of the early stages of tamoxifen-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Pogribny, Igor P.; Bagnyukova, Tetyana V.; Tryndyak, Volodymyr P.

    2007-11-15

    Tamoxifen is a widely used anti-estrogenic drug for chemotherapy and, more recently, for the chemoprevention of breast cancer. Despite the indisputable benefits of tamoxifen in preventing the occurrence and re-occurrence of breast cancer, the use of tamoxifen has been shown to induce non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, which is a life-threatening fatty liver disease with a risk of progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years, the high-throughput microarray technology for large-scale analysis of gene expression has become a powerful tool for increasing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and for identifying new biomarkers with diagnostic and predictive values. Inmore » the present study, we used the high-throughput microarray technology to determine the gene expression profiles in the liver during early stages of tamoxifen-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Female Fisher 344 rats were fed a 420 ppm tamoxifen containing diet for 12 or 24 weeks, and gene expression profiles were determined in liver of control and tamoxifen-exposed rats. The results indicate that early stages of tamoxifen-induced liver carcinogenesis are characterized by alterations in several major cellular pathways, specifically those involved in the tamoxifen metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell cycle signaling, and apoptosis/cell proliferation control. One of the most prominent changes during early stages of tamoxifen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is dysregulation of signaling pathways in cell cycle progression from the G{sub 1} to S phase, evidenced by the progressive and sustained increase in expression of the Pdgfc, Calb3, Ets1, and Ccnd1 genes accompanied by the elevated level of the PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt1/2, Akt3, and cyclin B, D1, and D3 proteins. The early appearance of these alterations suggests their importance in the mechanism of neoplastic cell transformation induced by tamoxifen.« less

  1. CIPROFLOXACIN RESISTANCE PATTERN AMONG BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED URINARY TRACT INFECTION

    PubMed Central

    REIS, Ana Carolina Costa; SANTOS, Susana Regia da Silva; de SOUZA, Siane Campos; SALDANHA, Milena Góes; PITANGA, Thassila Nogueira; OLIVEIRA, Ricardo Riccio

    2016-01-01

    SUMMARY Objective: To identify the main bacterial species associated with community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI) and to assess the pattern of ciprofloxacin susceptibility among bacteria isolated from urine cultures. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in all the patients with community-acquired UTI seen in Santa Helena Laboratory, Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil during five years (2010-2014). All individuals who had a positive urine culture result were included in this study. Results: A total of 1,641 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Despite the fact that participants were female, we observed a higher rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin in males. The most frequent pathogens identified in urine samples were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Antimicrobial resistance has been observed mainly for ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin. Moreover, E. coli has shown the highest rate of ciprofloxacin resistance, reaching 36% of ciprofloxacin resistant strains in 2014. Conclusion: The rate of bacterial resistance to ciprofloxacin observed in the studied population is much higher than expected, prompting the need for rational use of this antibiotic, especially in infections caused by E. coli. Prevention of bacterial resistance can be performed through control measures to limit the spread of resistant microorganisms and a rational use of antimicrobial policy. PMID:27410913

  2. Characterization of in vivo-acquired resistance to macrolides of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains isolated from poultry

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    The macrolide class of antibiotics, including tylosin and tilmicosin, is widely used in the veterinary field for prophylaxis and treatment of mycoplasmosis. In vitro susceptibility testing of 50 strains of M. gallisepticum isolated in Israel during the period 1997-2010 revealed that acquired resistance to tylosin as well as to tilmicosin was present in 50% of them. Moreover, 72% (13/18) of the strains isolated from clinical samples since 2006 showed acquired resistance to enrofloxacin, tylosin and tilmicosin. Molecular typing of the field isolates, performed by gene-target sequencing (GTS), detected 13 molecular types (I-XIII). Type II was the predominant type prior to 2006 whereas type X, first detected in 2008, is currently prevalent. All ten type X strains were resistant to both fluoroquinolones and macrolides, suggesting selective pressure leading to clonal dissemination of resistance. However, this was not a unique event since resistant strains with other GTS molecular types were also found. Concurrently, the molecular basis for macrolide resistance in M. gallisepticum was identified. Our results revealed a clear-cut correlation between single point mutations A2058G or A2059G in domain V of the gene encoding 23S rRNA (rrnA, MGA_01) and acquired macrolide resistance in M. gallisepticum. Indeed, all isolates with MIC ≥ 0.63 μg/mL to tylosin and with MIC ≥ 1.25 μg/mL to tilmicosin possess one of these mutations, suggesting an essential role in decreased susceptibility of M. gallisepticum to 16-membered macrolides. PMID:21810258

  3. Thrombosis of digital arteries associated with tamoxifen use: case report.

    PubMed

    Hutchison, Richard L; Rayan, Ghazi M

    2012-02-01

    Arterial thrombosis in the upper extremity occurs often at the wrist. We report a unique case of thrombosis that involved multiple digital arteries, without radial or ulnar artery involvement, which developed only after using tamoxifen despite chronic occupational blunt percussive hand use. Revascularization was achieved after thrombectomy. Multiple digital arterial thromboses may complicate the use of tamoxifen. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

  4. Estrogenic activity of tamoxifen on normal mammary parenchyma in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

    PubMed

    Facina, G; de Lima, G R; Simões, M J; Novo, N F; Gebrim, L H

    1997-01-01

    Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogenic drug used in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer, deserves more investigation for the determination of its efficacy as a prophylactic agent against breast cancer in high risk women. Thus, the action of tamoxifen on the human mammary gland was studied by measuring the number of lysosomes in normal mammary epithelium during the administration of tamoxifen. Tamoxifen was administered only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle to avoid interference with corpus luteum formation. A fragment of breast tissue adjacent to a fibroadenoma was obtained during surgery from 35 premenopausal women aged 15 to 37 years who had been eumenorrheic for at least 6 months; 18 of these patients were treated with tamoxifen and 17 were used as controls. Lysosome counts were performed under the light microscope on slides submitted to the acid phosphatase cytochemical technique and the data were analyzed statistically by the Mann-Whitney test. The fragments from the group treated with tamoxifen showed a significant decrease in lysosome numbers. Tamoxifen administered after ovulation significantly decreases the number of lysosomes in the cells of normal mammary epithelium, demonstrating the antiestrogenic effect of the drug on this target tissue.

  5. Toxic shock syndrome due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection: Two case reports and a literature review in Japan.

    PubMed

    Sada, Ryuichi; Fukuda, Saori; Ishimaru, Hiroyasu

    2017-01-01

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been spreading worldwide, including in Japan. However, few cases of toxic shock syndrome caused by Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have been reported in Japan. We report 2 cases, in middle-aged women, of toxic shock syndrome due to Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via a vaginal portal of entry. The first patient had used a tampon and the second patient had vaginitis due to a cleft narrowing associated with vulvar lichen sclerosus. Both patients were admitted to our hospital with septic shock and severe acute kidney injury and subsequently recovered with appropriate antibiotic treatment. In our review of the literature, 8 cases of toxic shock syndrome caused by Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were reported in Japan. In these 8 cases, the main portals of entry were the skin and respiratory tract; however, the portal of entry of Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from a vaginal lesion has not been reported in Japan previously.

  6. Unrecognized hepatic steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in adjuvant tamoxifen for breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Murata, Y; Ogawa, Y; Saibara, T; Nishioka, A; Fujiwara, Y; Fukumoto, M; Inomata, T; Enzan, H; Onishi, S; Yoshida, S

    2000-01-01

    Adjuvant tamoxifen has become the treatment of choice against estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Adverse effects are rarely observed and since symptoms of hepatic steatosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and cirrhosis are usually negligible, such effects are not well characterized despite large cohort studies of adjuvant tamoxifen. This issue remains to be systematically studied. The present study consisted of 136 breast cancer patients treated with or without tamoxifen. Patients had laboratory tests once each month and underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) annually for 5 years. The extent of hepatic steatosis was assessed by CT as the liver/spleen ratio. While receiving adjuvant tamoxifen, 40 of 105 patients developed hepatic steatosis (liver/spleen ratio <0.9) without obvious changes in body mass index. Twenty-one had a liver spleen ratio of <0.5, whereas none of the 31 patients treated without tamoxifen had a ratio <0.9 or <0.5 (p<0.0001 and p<0.0001, respectively). Hepatic steatosis was recognized in 35 of the 40 patients within the first 2 years of receiving adjuvant tamoxifen and 21 of the 40 had increased transaminase levels. Liver biopsy revealed NASH in 6 of 7 patients among the 21 with a liver/spleen ratio of <0.5. A subset of individuals given adjuvant tamoxifen developed progressive hepatic steatosis without significant changes in the body mass index. We suggest a liver/spleen ratio of <0.5 as a criterion upon which liver biopsy should be recommended since NASH frequently occurred in such patients.

  7. Acquired resistance mechanisms to tyrosine kinase inhibitors in lung cancer with activating epidermal growth factor receptor mutation--diversity, ductility, and destiny.

    PubMed

    Suda, Kenichi; Mizuuchi, Hiroshi; Maehara, Yoshihiko; Mitsudomi, Tetsuya

    2012-12-01

    Lung cancers that harbor somatic activating mutations in the gene for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) depend on mutant EGFR for their proliferation and survival; therefore, lung cancer patients with EGFR mutations often dramatically respond to orally available EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, emergence of acquired resistance is virtually inevitable, thus limiting improvement in patient outcomes. To elucidate and overcome this acquired resistance, multidisciplinary basic and clinical investigational approaches have been applied, using in vitro cell line models or samples obtained from lung cancer patients treated with EGFR-TKIs. These efforts have revealed several acquired resistance mechanisms and candidates, including EGFR secondary mutations (T790M and other rare mutations), MET amplification, PTEN downregulation, CRKL amplification, high-level HGF expression, FAS-NFκB pathway activation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and conversion to small cell lung cancer. Interestingly, cancer cells harbor potential destiny and ductility together in acquiring resistance to EGFR-TKIs, as shown in in vitro acquired resistance models. Molecular mechanisms of "reversible EGFR-TKI tolerance" that occur in early phase EGFR-TKI exposure have been identified in cell line models. Furthermore, others have reported molecular markers that can predict response to EGFR-TKIs in clinical settings. Deeper understanding of acquired resistance mechanisms to EGFR-TKIs, followed by the development of molecular target drugs that can overcome the resistance, might turn this fatal disease into a chronic disorder.

  8. Quality of life in relation to tamoxifen or exemestane treatment in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: a Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) Trial side study.

    PubMed

    van Nes, J G H; Fontein, D B Y; Hille, E T M; Voskuil, D W; van Leeuwen, F E; de Haes, J C J M; Putter, H; Seynaeve, C; Nortier, J W R; van de Velde, C J H

    2012-07-01

    Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors are associated with side effects which can significantly impact quality of life (QoL). We assessed QoL in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) Trial and compared these data with reported adverse events in the main database. 2,754 Dutch postmenopausal early breast cancer patients were randomized between 5 years of exemestane, or tamoxifen (2.5-3 years) followed by exemestane (2.5-2 years). 742 patients were invited to participate in the QoL side study and complete questionnaires at 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) years after start of endocrine treatment. Questionnaires comprised the EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 questionnaires, supplemented with FACT-ES questions. 543 patients completed questionnaires at T1 and 454 patients (84%) at T2. Overall QoL and most functioning scales improved over time. The only clinically relevant and statistically significant difference between treatment types concerned insomnia; exemestane-treated patients reported more insomnia than tamoxifen-treated patients. Discrepancy was observed between QoL issue scores reported by the patients and adverse events reported by physicians. Certain QoL issues are treatment- and/or time-specific and deserve attention by health care providers. There is a need for careful inquiry into QoL issues by those prescribing endocrine treatment to optimize QoL and treatment adherence.

  9. Quantification of tamoxifen and three of its phase-I metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography/triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Binkhorst, Lisette; Mathijssen, Ron H J; Ghobadi Moghaddam-Helmantel, Inge M; de Bruijn, Peter; van Gelder, Teun; Wiemer, Erik A C; Loos, Walter J

    2011-12-15

    In view of future pharmacokinetic studies, a highly sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of tamoxifen and three of its main phase I metabolites in human lithium heparinized plasma. The analytical method has been thoroughly validated in agreement with FDA recommendations. Plasma samples of 200 μl were purified by liquid-liquid extraction with 1 ml n-hexane/isopropanol, after deproteination through addition of 50 μl acetone and 50 μl deuterated internal standards in acetonitrile. Tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen were chromatographically separated on an Acquity UPLC(®) BEH C18 1.7 μm 2.1 mm×100 mm column eluted at a flow-rate of 0.300 ml/min on a gradient of 0.2mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile, both acidified with 0.1% formic acid. The overall run time of the method was 10 min, with elution times of 2.9, 3.0, 4.1 and 4.2 min for endoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen and tamoxifen, respectively. Tamoxifen and its metabolites were quantified by triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry in the positive ion electrospray ionization mode. The multiple reaction monitoring transitions were set at 372>72 (m/z) for tamoxifen, 358>58 (m/z) for N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 388>72 (m/z) for 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and 374>58 (m/z) for endoxifen. The analytical method was highly sensitive with the lower limit of quantification validated at 5.00 nM for tamoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen and 0.500 nM for 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen, which is equivalent to 1.86, 1.78, 0.194 and 0.187 ng/ml for tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen, respectively. The method was also precise and accurate, with within-run and between-run precisions within 12.0% and accuracy ranging from 89.5 to 105.3%. The method has been applied to samples from a clinical study and cross-validated with a validated LC

  10. Acquired resistance to IDH inhibition through trans or cis dimer-interface mutations.

    PubMed

    Intlekofer, Andrew M; Shih, Alan H; Wang, Bo; Nazir, Abbas; Rustenburg, Ariën S; Albanese, Steven K; Patel, Minal; Famulare, Christopher; Correa, Fabian M; Takemoto, Naofumi; Durani, Vidushi; Liu, Hui; Taylor, Justin; Farnoud, Noushin; Papaemmanuil, Elli; Cross, Justin R; Tallman, Martin S; Arcila, Maria E; Roshal, Mikhail; Petsko, Gregory A; Wu, Bin; Choe, Sung; Konteatis, Zenon D; Biller, Scott A; Chodera, John D; Thompson, Craig B; Levine, Ross L; Stein, Eytan M

    2018-06-27

    Somatic mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 gene (IDH2) contribute to the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) through the production of the oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) 1-8 . Enasidenib (AG-221) is an allosteric inhibitor that binds to the IDH2 dimer interface and blocks the production of 2HG by IDH2 mutants 9,10 . In a phase I/II clinical trial, enasidenib inhibited the production of 2HG and induced clinical responses in relapsed or refractory IDH2-mutant AML 11 . Here we describe two patients with IDH2-mutant AML who had a clinical response to enasidenib followed by clinical resistance, disease progression, and a recurrent increase in circulating levels of 2HG. We show that therapeutic resistance is associated with the emergence of second-site IDH2 mutations in trans, such that the resistance mutations occurred in the IDH2 allele without the neomorphic R140Q mutation. The in trans mutations occurred at glutamine 316 (Q316E) and isoleucine 319 (I319M), which are at the interface where enasidenib binds to the IDH2 dimer. The expression of either of these mutant disease alleles alone did not induce the production of 2HG; however, the expression of the Q316E or I319M mutation together with the R140Q mutation in trans allowed 2HG production that was resistant to inhibition by enasidenib. Biochemical studies predicted that resistance to allosteric IDH inhibitors could also occur via IDH dimer-interface mutations in cis, which was confirmed in a patient with acquired resistance to the IDH1 inhibitor ivosidenib (AG-120). Our observations uncover a mechanism of acquired resistance to a targeted therapy and underscore the importance of 2HG production in the pathogenesis of IDH-mutant malignancies.

  11. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: community transmission, pathogenesis, and drug resistance.

    PubMed

    Yamamoto, Tatsuo; Nishiyama, Akihito; Takano, Tomomi; Yabe, Shizuka; Higuchi, Wataru; Razvina, Olga; Shi, Da

    2010-08-01

    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is able to persist not only in hospitals (with a high level of antimicrobial agent use) but also in the community (with a low level of antimicrobial agent use). The former is called hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) and the latter community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). It is believed MRSA clones are generated from S. aureus through insertion of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), and outbreaks occur as they spread. Several worldwide and regional clones have been identified, and their epidemiological, clinical, and genetic characteristics have been described. CA-MRSA is likely able to survive in the community because of suitable SCCmec types (type IV or V), a clone-specific colonization/infection nature, toxin profiles (including Pantone-Valentine leucocidin, PVL), and narrow drug resistance patterns. CA-MRSA infections are generally seen in healthy children or young athletes, with unexpected cases of diseases, and also in elderly inpatients, occasionally surprising clinicians used to HA-MRSA infections. CA-MRSA spreads within families and close-contact groups or even through public transport, demonstrating transmission cores. Re-infection (including multifocal infection) frequently occurs, if the cores are not sought out and properly eradicated. Recently, attention has been given to CA-MRSA (USA300), which originated in the US, and is growing as HA-MRSA and also as a worldwide clone. CA-MRSA infection in influenza season has increasingly been noted as well. MRSA is also found in farm and companion animals, and has occasionally transferred to humans. As such, the epidemiological, clinical, and genetic behavior of CA-MRSA, a growing threat, is focused on in this study.

  12. Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and 32P-postlabeling analyses of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in humans.

    PubMed

    Beland, Frederick A; Churchwell, Mona I; Doerge, Daniel R; Parkin, Daniel R; Malejka-Giganti, Danuta; Hewer, Alan; Phillips, David H; Carmichael, Paul L; Gamboa da Costa, Gonçalo; Marques, M Matilde

    2004-07-21

    Although the nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen is used as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer and as a chemopreventive agent in women with elevated risk of breast cancer, it has also been reported to increase the risk of endometrial cancer. Reports of low levels of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in human endometrial tissue have suggested that tamoxifen induces endometrial cancer by a genotoxic mechanism. However, these findings have been controversial. We used electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS) and 32P-postlabeling analyses to investigate the presence of tamoxifen-DNA adducts in human endometrial tissue. Endometrial DNA from eight tamoxifen-treated women and eight untreated women was hydrolyzed to nucleosides and assayed for (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-tamoxifen (dG-Tam) and (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-N-desmethyltamoxifen (dG-desMeTam), the two major tamoxifen-DNA adducts that have been reported to be present in humans and/or experimental animals treated with tamoxifen, using on-line sample preparation coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ES-MS/MS. The same DNA samples were assayed for the presence of dG-Tam and dG-desMeTam by (32)P-postlabeling methodology, using two different DNA digestion and labeling protocols, followed by both thin-layer chromatography and HPLC. We did not detect either tamoxifen-DNA adduct by HPLC-ES-MS/MS analyses (limits of detection for dG-Tam and dG-desMeTam were two adducts per 10(9) nucleotides and two adducts per 10(8) nucleotides, respectively) or by 32P-postlabeling analyses (limit of detection for both adducts was one adduct per 10(9) nucleotides) in any of the endometrial DNA samples. The initiation of endometrial cancer by tamoxifen is probably not due to a genotoxic mechanism involving the formation of dG-Tam or dG-desMeTam.

  13. Oral low dose and topical tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention: modern approaches for an old drug

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a drug that has been in worldwide use for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer for over 30 years; it has been used in both the metastatic and adjuvant settings. Tamoxifen's approval for breast cancer risk reduction dates back to 1998, after results from the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, showed a 49% reduction in the incidence of invasive, ER-positive breast cancer in high-risk women. Despite these positive findings, however, the public's attitude toward breast cancer chemoprevention remains ambivalent, and the toxicities associated with tamoxifen, particularly endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events, have hampered the drug's uptake by high-risk women who should benefit from its preventive effects. Among the strategies to overcome such obstacles to preventive tamoxifen, two novel and potentially safer modes of delivery of this agent are discussed in this paper. Low-dose tamoxifen, expected to confer fewer adverse events, is being investigated in both clinical biomarker-based trials and observational studies. A series of systemic biomarkers (including lipid and insulin-like growth factor levels) and tissue biomarkers (including Ki-67) are known to be favorably affected by conventional tamoxifen dosing and have been shown to be modulated in a direction consistent with a putative anti-cancer effect. These findings suggest possible beneficial clinical preventive effects by low-dose tamoxifen regimens and they are supported by observational studies. An alternative approach is topical administration of active tamoxifen metabolites directly onto the breast, the site where the cancer is to be prevented. Avoidance of systemic administration is expected to reduce the distribution of drug to tissues susceptible to tamoxifen-induced toxicity. Clinical trials of topical tamoxifen with biological endpoints are still ongoing

  14. Tamoxifen therapy benefit for patients with 70-gene signature high and low risk.

    PubMed

    van 't Veer, Laura J; Yau, Christina; Yu, Nancy Y; Benz, Christopher C; Nordenskjöld, Bo; Fornander, Tommy; Stål, Olle; Esserman, Laura J; Lindström, Linda Sofie

    2017-11-01

    Breast cancer molecular prognostic tools that predict recurrence risk have mainly been established on endocrine-treated patients and thus are not optimal for the evaluation of benefit from endocrine therapy. The Stockholm tamoxifen (STO-3) trial which randomized postmenopausal node-negative patients to 2-year tamoxifen (followed by an optional randomization for an additional 3-year tamoxifen vs nil), versus no adjuvant treatment, provides a unique opportunity to evaluate long-term 20-year benefit of endocrine therapy within prognostic risk classes of the 70-gene prognosis signature that was developed on adjuvantly untreated patients. We assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis 20-year breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and 10-year distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) for 538 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, STO-3 trial patients with retrospectively ascertained 70-gene prognosis classification. Multivariable analysis of long-term (20 years) BCSS by STO-3 trial arm in the 70-gene high-risk and low-risk subgroups was performed using Cox proportional hazard modeling adjusting for classical patient and tumor characteristics. Tamoxifen-treated, 70-gene low- and high-risk patients had 20-year BCSS of 90 and 83%, as compared to 80 and 65% for untreated patients, respectively (log-rank p < 0.0001). Notably, there is equivalent tamoxifen benefit in both high (HR 0.42 (0.21-0.86), p = 0.018) and low (HR 0.46 (0.25-0.85), p = 0.013) 70-gene risk categories even after adjusting for clinico-pathological factors for BCSS. Limited tamoxifen exposure as given in the STO-3 trial provides persistent benefit for 10-15 years after diagnosis in a time-varying analysis. 10-year DMFS was 93 and 85% for low- and high-risk tamoxifen-treated, versus 83 and 70% for low- and high-risk untreated patients, respectively (log-rank p < 0.0001). Patients with ER-positive breast cancer, regardless of high or low 70-gene risk classification, receive significant survival benefit lasting over

  15. Breast density measurements using ultrasound tomography for patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sak, Mark; Duric, Neb; Littrup, Peter; Li, Cuiping; Bey-Knight, Lisa; Sherman, Mark; Boyd, Norman; Gierach, Gretchen

    2013-03-01

    Women with high breast density have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Women treated with the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen for estrogen receptor positive breast cancer experience a 50% reduction in risk of contralateral breast cancer and overall reduction of similar magnitude has been identified among high-risk women receiving the drug for prevention. Tamoxifen has been shown to reduce mammographic density, and in the IBIS-1 chemoprevention trial, risk reduction and decline in density were significantly associated. Ultrasound tomography (UST) is an imaging modality that can create tomographic sound speed images of the breast. These sound speed images are useful because breast density is proportional to sound speed. The aim of this work is to examine the relationship between USTmeasured breast density and the use of tamoxifen. So far, preliminary results for a small number of patients have been observed and are promising. Correlations between the UST-measured density and mammographic density are strong and positive, while relationships between UST density with some patient specific risk factors behave as expected. Initial results of UST examinations of tamoxifen treated patients show that approximately 45% of the patients have a decrease in density in the contralateral breast after only several months of treatment. The true effect of tamoxifen on UST-measured density cannot yet be fully determined until more data are collected. However, these promising results suggest that UST can be used to reliably assess quantitative changes in breast density over short intervals and therefore suggest that UST may enable rapid assessment of density changes associated with therapeutic and preventative interventions.

  16. Benefit/Risk Assessment for Breast Cancer Chemoprevention With Raloxifene or Tamoxifen for Women Age 50 Years or Older

    PubMed Central

    Freedman, Andrew N.; Yu, Binbing; Gail, Mitchell H.; Costantino, Joseph P.; Graubard, Barry I.; Vogel, Victor G.; Anderson, Garnet L.; McCaskill-Stevens, Worta

    2011-01-01

    Purpose The Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) demonstrated that raloxifene was as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer (IBC) in postmenopausal women and had lower risks of thromboembolic events, endometrial cancer, and cataracts but had a nonstatistically significant higher risk of noninvasive breast cancer. There is a need to summarize the risks and benefits of these agents. Patients and Methods Baseline incidence rates of IBC and other health outcomes, absent raloxifene and tamoxifen, were estimated from breast cancer chemoprevention trials; the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program; and the Women's Health Initiative. Effects of raloxifene and tamoxifen were estimated from STAR and the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial. We assigned weights to health outcomes to calculate the net benefit from raloxifene compared with placebo and tamoxifen compared with placebo. Results Risks and benefits of treatment with raloxifene or tamoxifen depend on age, race, breast cancer risk, and history of hysterectomy. Over a 5-year period, postmenopausal women with an intact uterus had a better benefit/risk index for raloxifene than for tamoxifen. For postmenopausal women without a uterus, the benefit/risk ratio was similar. The benefits and risks of raloxifene and tamoxifen are described in tables that can help identify groups of women for whom the benefits outweigh the risks. Conclusion We developed a benefit/risk index to quantify benefits from chemoprevention with tamoxifen or raloxifene. This index can complement clinical evaluation in deciding whether to initiate chemoprevention and in comparing the benefits and risks of raloxifene versus tamoxifen. PMID:21537036

  17. Mitochondrial markers predict recurrence, metastasis and tamoxifen-resistance in breast cancer patients: Early detection of treatment failure with companion diagnostics.

    PubMed

    Sotgia, Federica; Fiorillo, Marco; Lisanti, Michael P

    2017-09-15

    Here, we used a data-mining and informatics approach to discover new biomarkers of resistance to hormonal therapy in breast cancer. More specifically, we investigated whether nuclear-encoded genes associated with mitochondrial biogenesis can be used to predict tumor recurrence, distant metastasis and treatment failure in high-risk breast cancer patients. Overall, this strategy allowed us to directly provide in silico validation of the prognostic value of these mitochondrial components in large and clinically relevant patient populations, with >15 years of follow-up data. For this purpose, we employed a group of 145 ER(+) luminal A breast cancer patients, with lymph-node (LN) metastasis at diagnosis, that were treated with tamoxifen, but not any chemotherapy agents. Using this approach, we identified >60 new individual mitochondrial biomarkers that predicted treatment failure and tumor recurrence, with hazard-ratios (HR) of up to 4.17 ( p =2.2e-07). These include mitochondrial chaperones (HSPD1, HSPA9), membrane proteins (VDAC2, TOMM70A) and anti-oxidants (SOD2), as well as 18 different mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) and >20 distinct components of the OXPHOS complexes. In addition, we combined 4 mitochondrial proteins (HSPD1, UQCRB, MRPL15, COX17), to generate a compact mitochondrial gene signature, associated with a HR of 5.34 ( p =1e-09). This signature also successfully predicted distant metastasis and was effective in larger groups of ER(+) ( N =2,447), basal ( N =540) and HER2(+) ( N =193) breast cancers. It was also effective in all breast cancers ( N =3,180), if considered together as a single group. Based on this analysis, we conclude that mitochondrial biogenesis should be considered as a new therapeutic target for overcoming tumor recurrence, distant metastasis and treatment failure in patients with breast cancer. In summary, we identified individual mitochondrial biomarkers and 2 compact mitochondrial gene signatures that can be used to predict

  18. Acquired drug resistance conferred by a KRAS gene mutation following the administration of cetuximab: a case report

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Although a number of studies have reported acquired drug resistance due to administration of epidermal growth factor receptor antibody inhibitors, the underlying causes of this phenomenon remain unclear. Case presentation Here we report a case of a 75-year-old man with liver metastasis at 3 years after a successful transverse colectomy to treat KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer. While initial administration of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors proved effective, continued use of the same treatment resulted in new peritoneal seeding. An acquired KRAS mutation was found in a resected tissue specimen from one such area. This mutation, possibly caused by administration of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, appears to have conferred drug resistance. Conclusion The present findings suggest that administration of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors results in an acquired KRAS mutation that confers drug resistance. PMID:24304820

  19. Tamoxifen Provides Structural and Functional Rescue in Murine Models of Photoreceptor Degeneration

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Xu; Ma, Wenxin; Gonzalez, Shaimar R.; Kretschmer, Friedrich; Badea, Tudor C.

    2017-01-01

    Photoreceptor degeneration is a cause of irreversible vision loss in incurable blinding retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and atrophic age-related macular degeneration. We found in two separate mouse models of photoreceptor degeneration that tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator and a drug previously linked with retinal toxicity, paradoxically provided potent neuroprotective effects. In a light-induced degeneration model, tamoxifen prevented onset of photoreceptor apoptosis and atrophy and maintained near-normal levels of electroretinographic responses. Rescue effects were correlated with decreased microglial activation and inflammatory cytokine production in the retina in vivo and a reduction of microglia-mediated toxicity to photoreceptors in vitro, indicating a microglia-mediated mechanism of rescue. Tamoxifen also rescued degeneration in a genetic (Pde6brd10) model of RP, significantly improving retinal structure, electrophysiological responses, and visual behavior. These prominent neuroprotective effects warrant the consideration of tamoxifen as a drug suitable for being repurposed to treat photoreceptor degenerative disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Photoreceptor degeneration is a cause of irreversible blindness in a number of retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and atrophic age-related macular degeneration. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator approved for the treatment of breast cancer and previously linked to a low incidence of retinal toxicity, was unexpectedly found to exert marked protective effects against photoreceptor degeneration. Structural and functional protective effects were found for an acute model of light-induced photoreceptor injury and for a genetic model for RP. The mechanism of protection involved the modulation of microglial activation and the production of inflammatory cytokines, highlighting the role of inflammatory mechanisms in photoreceptor degeneration. Tamoxifen may be

  20. The formation of estrogen-like tamoxifen metabolites and their influence on enzyme activity and gene expression of ADME genes.

    PubMed

    Johänning, Janina; Kröner, Patrick; Thomas, Maria; Zanger, Ulrich M; Nörenberg, Astrid; Eichelbaum, Michel; Schwab, Matthias; Brauch, Hiltrud; Schroth, Werner; Mürdter, Thomas E

    2018-03-01

    Tamoxifen, a standard therapy for breast cancer, is metabolized to compounds with anti-estrogenic as well as estrogen-like action at the estrogen receptor. Little is known about the formation of estrogen-like metabolites and their biological impact. Thus, we characterized the estrogen-like metabolites tamoxifen bisphenol and metabolite E for their metabolic pathway and their influence on cytochrome P450 activity and ADME gene expression. The formation of tamoxifen bisphenol and metabolite E was studied in human liver microsomes and Supersomes™. Cellular metabolism and impact on CYP enzymes was analyzed in upcyte® hepatocytes. The influence of 5 µM of tamoxifen, anti-estrogenic and estrogen-like metabolites on CYP activity was measured by HPLC MS/MS and on ADME gene expression using RT-PCR analyses. Metabolite E was formed from tamoxifen by CYP2C19, 3A and 1A2 and from desmethyltamoxifen by CYP2D6, 1A2 and 3A. Tamoxifen bisphenol was mainly formed from (E)- and (Z)-metabolite E by CYP2B6 and CYP2C19, respectively. Regarding phase II metabolism, UGT2B7, 1A8 and 1A3 showed highest activity in glucuronidation of tamoxifen bisphenol and metabolite E. Anti-estrogenic metabolites (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen, (Z)-endoxifen and (Z)-norendoxifen inhibited the activity of CYP2C enzymes while tamoxifen bisphenol consistently induced CYPs similar to rifampicin and phenobarbital. On the transcript level, highest induction up to 5.6-fold was observed for CYP3A4 by tamoxifen, (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen, tamoxifen bisphenol and (E)-metabolite E. Estrogen-like tamoxifen metabolites are formed in CYP-dependent reactions and are further metabolized by glucuronidation. The induction of CYP activity by tamoxifen bisphenol and the inhibition of CYP2C enzymes by anti-estrogenic metabolites may lead to drug-drug-interactions.

  1. Next-generation systemic acquired resistance.

    PubMed

    Luna, Estrella; Bruce, Toby J A; Roberts, Michael R; Flors, Victor; Ton, Jurriaan

    2012-02-01

    Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a plant immune response to pathogen attack. Recent evidence suggests that plant immunity involves regulation by chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation. We investigated whether SAR can be inherited epigenetically following disease pressure by Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000). Compared to progeny from control-treated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana; C(1)), progeny from PstDC3000-inoculated Arabidopsis (P(1)) were primed to activate salicylic acid (SA)-inducible defense genes and were more resistant to the (hemi)biotrophic pathogens Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis and PstDC3000. This transgenerational SAR was sustained over one stress-free generation, indicating an epigenetic basis of the phenomenon. Furthermore, P(1) progeny displayed reduced responsiveness of jasmonic acid (JA)-inducible genes and enhanced susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. This shift in SA- and JA-dependent gene responsiveness was not associated with changes in corresponding hormone levels. Instead, chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that SA-inducible promoters of PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE1, WRKY6, and WRKY53 in P(1) plants are enriched with acetylated histone H3 at lysine 9, a chromatin mark associated with a permissive state of transcription. Conversely, the JA-inducible promoter of PLANT DEFENSIN1.2 showed increased H3 triple methylation at lysine 27, a mark related to repressed gene transcription. P(1) progeny from the defense regulatory mutant non expressor of PR1 (npr1)-1 failed to develop transgenerational defense phenotypes, demonstrating a critical role for NPR1 in expression of transgenerational SAR. Furthermore, the drm1drm2cmt3 mutant that is affected in non-CpG DNA methylation mimicked the transgenerational SAR phenotype. Since PstDC3000 induces DNA hypomethylation in Arabidopsis, our results suggest that transgenerational SAR is transmitted by hypomethylated genes that direct priming

  2. Emergence of KRAS mutations and acquired resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal cancer.

    PubMed

    Misale, Sandra; Yaeger, Rona; Hobor, Sebastijan; Scala, Elisa; Janakiraman, Manickam; Liska, David; Valtorta, Emanuele; Schiavo, Roberta; Buscarino, Michela; Siravegna, Giulia; Bencardino, Katia; Cercek, Andrea; Chen, Chin-Tung; Veronese, Silvio; Zanon, Carlo; Sartore-Bianchi, Andrea; Gambacorta, Marcello; Gallicchio, Margherita; Vakiani, Efsevia; Boscaro, Valentina; Medico, Enzo; Weiser, Martin; Siena, Salvatore; Di Nicolantonio, Federica; Solit, David; Bardelli, Alberto

    2012-06-28

    A main limitation of therapies that selectively target kinase signalling pathways is the emergence of secondary drug resistance. Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds the extracellular domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is effective in a subset of KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancers. After an initial response, secondary resistance invariably ensues, thereby limiting the clinical benefit of this drug. The molecular bases of secondary resistance to cetuximab in colorectal cancer are poorly understood. Here we show that molecular alterations (in most instances point mutations) of KRAS are causally associated with the onset of acquired resistance to anti-EGFR treatment in colorectal cancers. Expression of mutant KRAS under the control of its endogenous gene promoter was sufficient to confer cetuximab resistance, but resistant cells remained sensitive to combinatorial inhibition of EGFR and mitogen-activated protein-kinase kinase (MEK). Analysis of metastases from patients who developed resistance to cetuximab or panitumumab showed the emergence of KRAS amplification in one sample and acquisition of secondary KRAS mutations in 60% (6 out of 10) of the cases. KRAS mutant alleles were detectable in the blood of cetuximab-treated patients as early as 10 months before radiographic documentation of disease progression. In summary, the results identify KRAS mutations as frequent drivers of acquired resistance to cetuximab in colorectal cancers, indicate that the emergence of KRAS mutant clones can be detected non-invasively months before radiographic progression and suggest early initiation of a MEK inhibitor as a rational strategy for delaying or reversing drug resistance.

  3. Tamoxifen treatment for pubertal gynecomastia in two siblings with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.

    PubMed

    Saito, Reiko; Yamamoto, Yukiyo; Goto, Motohide; Araki, Shunsuke; Kubo, Kazuyasu; Kawagoe, Rinko; Kawada, Yasusada; Kusuhara, Koichi; Igarashi, Maki; Fukami, Maki

    2014-01-01

    Although tamoxifen has been shown to be fairly safe and effective for idiopathic pubertal gynecomastia, it remains unknown whether it is also beneficial for gynecomastia associated with endocrine disorders. Here, we report the effect of tamoxifen on pubertal gynecomastia in 2 siblings with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (PAIS). Cases 1 and 2 presented with persistent pubertal gynecomastia at 13 and 16 years of age, respectively. Physical examinations revealed breast of Tanner stage 3 and normal male-type external genitalia in both cases. Clinical features such as female-type pubic hair and borderline small testis indicated mildly impaired masculinization. Molecular analysis identified a previously reported p.Arg789Ser mutation in the androgen receptor gene (AR) in the 2 cases. Two months of oral administration of tamoxifen ameliorated gynecomastia to Tanner stage 2 with no adverse events. Additional treatment with testosterone enanthate showed negligible effects on body hair and penile length. Hormone values of the 2 cases during tamoxifen treatment remained similar to those in previously reported untreated patients with PAIS. The results indicate that tamoxifen was effective in treating pubertal gynecomastia in these 2 patients with PAIS and may be considered as a therapeutic option in this situation pending further studies.

  4. Tamoxifen decreases the myofibroblast count in the healing bile duct tissue of pigs

    PubMed Central

    Siqueira, Orlando Hiroshi Kiono; Filho, Benedito Herani; de Paula, Rafael Erthal; Áscoli, Fábio Otero; da Nóbrega, Antonio Cláudio Lucas; Carvalho, Angela Cristina Gouvêa; Pires, Andréa Rodrigues Cordovil; Gaglionone, Nicolle Cavalcante; Cunha, Karin Soares Gonçalves; Granjeiro, José Mauro

    2013-01-01

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral tamoxifen treatment on the number of myofibroblasts present during the healing process after experimental bile duct injury. METHODS: The sample consisted of 16 pigs that were divided into two groups (the control and study groups). Incisions and suturing of the bile ducts were performed in the two groups. Tamoxifen (20 mg/day) was administered only to the study group. The animals were sacrificed after 30 days. Quantification of myofibroblasts in the biliary ducts was made through immunohistochemistry analysis using anti-alpha smooth muscle actin of the smooth muscle antibody. Immunohistochemical quantification was performed using a digital image system. RESULTS: In the animals treated with tamoxifen (20 mg/day), there was a significant reduction in immunostaining for alpha smooth muscle actin compared with the control group (0.1155 vs. 0.2021, p = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen reduced the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin in the healing tissue after bile duct injury, suggesting a decrease in myofibroblasts in the scarred area of the pig biliary tract. These data suggest that tamoxifen could be used in the prevention of biliary tract stenosis after bile duct surgeries. PMID:23420165

  5. CYP2D6 genotype in relation to tamoxifen efficacy in a Dutch cohort of the tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational (TEAM) trial.

    PubMed

    Dezentjé, V O; van Schaik, R H N; Vletter-Bogaartz, J M; van der Straaten, T; Wessels, J A M; Kranenbarg, E M-K; Berns, E M; Seynaeve, C; Putter, H; van de Velde, C J H; Nortier, J W R; Gelderblom, H; Guchelaar, H-J

    2013-07-01

    The clinical importance of CYP2D6 genotype as predictor of tamoxifen efficacy is still unclear. Recent genotyping studies on CYP2D6 using DNA derived from tumor blocks have been criticized because loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumors may lead to false genotype assignment. Postmenopausal early breast cancer patients who were randomized to receive tamoxifen, followed by exemestane in a large randomized controlled trial were genotyped for five CYP2D6 alleles. CYP2D6 genotypes and phenotypes were related to disease-free survival during tamoxifen use (DFS-t) in 731 patients. By analyzing microsatellites flanking the CYP2D6 gene, patients whose genotyping results were potentially affected by LOH were excluded. In addition, exploratory analyses on 24 genetic variants of other metabolic enzymes and the estrogen receptor were performed. For the CYP2D6 analysis, only 2.3 % of the samples were excluded, because influence of LOH could not be ruled out. No association was found between the CYP2D6 genotype or predicted phenotype and DFS-t (poor vs. extensive metabolizers: unadjusted hazard ratio 1.33, 95 % CI 0.52-3.43; P = 0.55). DFS-t was associated with UGT2B15*2 (Vt/Vt + Wt/Vt vs. Wt/Wt: adjusted hazard ratio 0.47, 95 % CI 0.25-0.89; P = 0.019) and the estrogen receptor-1 polymorphism ESR1 PvuII (gene-dose effect: adjusted hazard ratio 1.63, 95 % CI 1.04-2.54; P = 0.033). In postmenopausal early breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant tamoxifen followed by exemestane neither CYP2D6 genotype nor phenotype did affect DFS-t. This is in accordance with two recent studies in the BIG1-98 and ATAC trials. Our study is the first CYP2D6 association study using DNA from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue in which potentially false interpretation of genotyping results because of LOH was excluded. Polymorphisms in the estrogen receptor-1 and UGT2B15 may be associated with tamoxifen efficacy, but these findings need replication.

  6. Cognitive function in postmenopausal women receiving adjuvant letrozole or tamoxifen for breast cancer in the BIG 1-98 randomized trial

    PubMed Central

    Phillips, Kelly Anne; Ribi, Karin; Sun, Zhuoxin; Stephens, Alisa; Thompson, Alastair; Harvey, Vernon; Thürlimann, Beat; Cardoso, Fatima; Pagani, Olivia; Coates, Alan S.; Goldhirsch, Aron; Price, Karen N.; Gelber, Richard D.; Bernhard, Jürg

    2010-01-01

    Summary Cognitive function in postmenopausal women receiving letrozole or tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine treatment was compared during the fifth year of treatment in a substudy of the BIG 1-98 trial. In BIG 1-98 patients were randomized to receive adjuvant A) 5-years tamoxifen, B) 5-years letrozole, C) 2-years tamoxifen followed by 3-years letrozole, or D) 2-years letrozole followed by 3-years tamoxifen. The primary comparison was the difference in composite score for patients taking letrozole (B+C; N=65) versus tamoxifen (A+D; N=55). The patients taking letrozole had better overall cognitive function than those taking tamoxifen (difference in mean composite z-scores =0.28, p=0.04, 95% CI:0.02, 0.54, Cohen's D = 0.40 indicating small to moderate effect). In this substudy, breast cancer patients taking adjuvant letrozole during the fifth year of treatment had better cognitive function than those taking tamoxifen, suggesting aromatase inhibitors do not adversely impact cognition compared with tamoxifen. PMID:20385495

  7. Relationship between Genotypes Sult1a2 and Cyp2d6 and Tamoxifen Metabolism in Breast Cancer Patients

    PubMed Central

    Fernández-Santander, Ana; Gaibar, María; Novillo, Apolonia; Romero-Lorca, Alicia; Rubio, Margarita; Chicharro, Luis Miguel; Tejerina, Armando; Bandrés, Fernando

    2013-01-01

    Tamoxifen is a pro-drug widely used in breast cancer patients to prevent tumor recurrence. Prior work has revealed a role of cytochrome and sulfotransferase enzymes in tamoxifen metabolism. In this descriptive study, correlations were examined between concentrations of tamoxifen metabolites and genotypes for CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, SULT1A1, SULT1A2 and SULT1E1 in 135 patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Patients were genotyped using the Roche-AmpliChip® CYP450 Test, and Real-Time and conventional PCR-RFLP. Plasma tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, endoxifen and tamoxifen-N-oxide were isolated and quantified using a high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. Significantly higher endoxifen levels were detected in patients with the wt/wt CYP2D6 compared to the v/v CYP2D6 genotype (p<0.001). No differences were detected in the remaining tamoxifen metabolites among CYP2D6 genotypes. Patients featuring the SULT1A2*2 and SULT1A2*3 alleles showed significantly higher plasma levels of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen (p = 0.025 and p = 0.006, respectively), as likely substrates of the SULT1A2 enzyme. Our observations indicate that besides the CYP2D6 genotype leading to tamoxifen conversion to potent hydroxylated metabolites in a manner consistent with a gene-dose effect, SULT1A2 also seems to play a role in maintaining optimal levels of both 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen. PMID:23922954

  8. Co-option of Liver Vessels and Not Sprouting Angiogenesis Drives Acquired Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Kuczynski, Elizabeth A; Yin, Melissa; Bar-Zion, Avinoam; Lee, Christina R; Butz, Henriett; Man, Shan; Daley, Frances; Vermeulen, Peter B; Yousef, George M; Foster, F Stuart; Reynolds, Andrew R; Kerbel, Robert S

    2016-08-01

    The anti-angiogenic Sorafenib is the only approved systemic therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, acquired resistance limits its efficacy. An emerging theory to explain intrinsic resistance to other anti-angiogenic drugs is 'vessel co-option,' ie, the ability of tumors to hijack the existing vasculature in organs such as the lungs or liver, thus limiting the need for sprouting angiogenesis. Vessel co-option has not been evaluated as a potential mechanism for acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic agents. To study sorafenib resistance mechanisms, we used an orthotopic human HCC model (n = 4-11 per group), where tumor cells are tagged with a secreted protein biomarker to monitor disease burden and response to therapy. Histopathology, vessel perfusion assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and miRNA sequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to monitor changes in tumor biology. While sorafenib initially inhibited angiogenesis and stabilized tumor growth, no angiogenic 'rebound' effect was observed during development of resistance unless therapy was stopped. Instead, resistant tumors became more locally infiltrative, which facilitated extensive incorporation of liver parenchyma and the co-option of liver-associated vessels. Up to 75% (±10.9%) of total vessels were provided by vessel co-option in resistant tumors relative to 23.3% (±10.3%) in untreated controls. miRNA sequencing implicated pro-invasive signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal-like transition during resistance development while functional imaging further supported a shift from angiogenesis to vessel co-option. This is the first documentation of vessel co-option as a mechanism of acquired resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy and could have important implications including the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting vessel co-option in conjunction with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling. © The Author 2016. Published by

  9. Pneumonia acquired in the community through drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

    PubMed

    Ewig, S; Ruiz, M; Torres, A; Marco, F; Martinez, J A; Sanchez, M; Mensa, J

    1999-06-01

    The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for drug resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae, and its impact on the outcome among hospitalized patients of pneumococcal pneumonia acquired in the community. Consecutive patients with culture-proven pneumococcal pneumonia were prospectively studied with regard to the incidence of pneumococcal drug resistance, potential risk factors, and in-hospital outcome variables. A total of 101 patients were studied. Drug resistance to penicillin, cephalosporin, or a macrolide drug was found in pneumococci from 52 of the 101 (52%) patients; 49% of these isolates were resistant to penicillin (16% intermediate resistance, 33% high resistance), 31% to cephalosporin (22% intermediate and 9% high resistance), and 27% to a macrolide drug. In immunocompetent patients, age > 65 yr was significantly associated with resistance to cephalosporin (odds ratio [OR]: 5.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3 to 18.8, p = 0. 01), and with the presence of > 2 comorbidities with resistance to penicillin (OR: 4.7; 95% CI: 1.2 to 19.1; p < 0.05). In immunosuppressed patients, bacteremia was inversely associated with resistance to penicillin and cephalosporin (OR: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.45; p < 0.005; and OR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.93; p < 0.05, respectively). Length of hospital stay, severity of pneumonia, and complications were not significantly affected by drug resistance. Mortality was 15% in patients with any drug resistance, as compared with 6% in those without resistance. However, any drug resistance was not significantly associated with death (relative risk [RR]: 2. 5; 95% CI: 0.7 to 8.9; p = 0.14). Moreover, attributable mortality in the presence of discordant antimicrobial treatment was 12%, as compared with 10% (RR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.3 to 5.3; p = 0.67) in the absence of such treatment. We conclude that the incidence of drug-resistant pneumococci was high. Risk factors for drug resistance included advanced age

  10. Genomic and Molecular Screenings Identify Different Mechanisms for Acquired Resistance to MET Inhibitors in Lung Cancer Cells.

    PubMed

    Gimenez-Xavier, Pol; Pros, Eva; Bonastre, Ester; Moran, Sebastian; Aza, Ana; Graña, Osvaldo; Gomez-Lopez, Gonzalo; Derdak, Sophia; Dabad, Marc; Esteve-Codina, Anna; Hernandez Mora, Jose R; Salinas-Chaparro, Diana; Esteller, Manel; Pisano, David; Sanchez-Cespedes, Montse

    2017-07-01

    The development of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) limits the long-term efficacy of cancer treatments involving them. We aimed to understand the mechanisms that underlie acquired resistance (AR) to MET inhibitors in lung cancer. EBC1 cells, which have MET amplification and are sensitive to TKIs against MET, were used to generate multiple clones with AR to a MET-TKI. Whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and global DNA methylation analysis were used to scrutinize the genetic and molecular characteristics of the resistant cells. AR to the MET-TKI involved changes common to all resistant cells, that is, phenotypic modifications, specific changes in gene expression, and reactivation of AKT, ERK, and mTOR. The gene expression, global DNA methylation, and mutational profiles distinguished at least two groups of resistant cells. In one of these, the cells have acquired sensitivity to erlotinib, concomitantly with mutations of the KIRREL, HDAC11, HIATL1 , and MAPK1IP1L genes, among others. In the other group, some cells have acquired inactivation of neurofibromatosis type 2 ( NF2 ) concomitantly with strong overexpression of NRG1 and a mutational profile that includes changes in LMLN and TOMM34 Multiple independent and simultaneous strategies lead to AR to the MET-TKIs in lung cancer cells. The acquired sensitivity to erlotinib supports the known crosstalk between MET and the HER family of receptors. For the first time, we show inactivation of NF2 during acquisition of resistance to MET-TKI that may explain the refractoriness to erlotinib in these cells. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(7); 1366-76. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

  11. Antibacterial resistance patterns of pediatric community-acquired urinary infection: Overview.

    PubMed

    Konca, Capan; Tekin, Mehmet; Uckardes, Fatih; Akgun, Sadik; Almis, Habip; Bucak, Ibrahim Hakan; Genc, Yeliz; Turgut, Mehmet

    2017-03-01

    Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in children. The aim of this study was therefor to construct a guide for the empirical antibiotic treatment of community-acquired UTI by investigating the etiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of uropathogens and analyzing the epidemiological and clinical patient characteristics. A total of 158 children with positive urine culture were included in the study. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with Vitek 2 Compact for 28 commonly used antimicrobials. Mean age was 3.36 ± 3.38 years (range, 45 days-15 years). Escherichia coli (60.1%), and Klebsiella spp. (16.5%) were the most common uropathogens. For all Gram-negative isolates, a high level of resistance was found against ampicillin/sulbactam (60.1%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (44.2%), cefazolin (36.2%), cefuroxime sodium (33.5%), and amoxicillin/clavulanate (31.5%). A low level of resistance was noted against cefepime (8.7%), ertapenem (4.6%), norfloxacin (1.3%), and meropenem (0.7%). There was no resistance against amikacin. There is high antibiotic resistance in children with UTI. The patterns of uropathogen antimicrobial resistance vary in susceptibility to antimicrobials depending on region and time. Thus, the trends of antibiotic susceptibility patterns should be analyzed periodically to select the appropriate regimen for UTI treatment. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society.

  12. Long-distance communication and signal amplification in systemic acquired resistance

    PubMed Central

    Shah, Jyoti; Zeier, Jürgen

    2013-01-01

    Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an inducible defense mechanism in plants that confers enhanced resistance against a variety of pathogens. SAR is activated in the uninfected systemic (distal) organs in response to a prior (primary) infection elsewhere in the plant. SAR is associated with the activation of salicylic acid (SA) signaling and the priming of defense responses for robust activation in response to subsequent infections. The activation of SAR requires communication by the primary infected tissues with the distal organs. The vasculature functions as a conduit for the translocation of factors that facilitate long-distance intra-plant communication. In recent years, several metabolites putatively involved in long-distance signaling have been identified. These include the methyl ester of SA (MeSA), the abietane diterpenoid dehydroabietinal (DA), the dicarboxylic acid azelaic acid (AzA), and a glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P)-dependent factor. Long-distance signaling by some of these metabolites also requires the lipid-transfer protein DIR1 (DEFECTIVE IN INDUCED RESISTANCE 1). The relative contribution of these factors in long-distance signaling is likely influenced by environmental conditions, for example light. In the systemic leaves, the AGD2-LIKE DEFENSE RESPONSE PROTEIN1 (ALD1)-dependent production of the lysine catabolite pipecolic acid (Pip), FLAVIN-DEPENDENT MONOOXYGENASE1 (FMO1) signaling, as well as SA synthesis and downstream signaling are required for the activation of SAR. This review summarizes the involvement and interaction between long-distance SAR signals and details the recently discovered role of Pip in defense amplification and priming that allows plants to acquire immunity at the systemic level. Recent advances in SA signaling and perception are also highlighted. PMID:23440336

  13. The effect of tamoxifen on pubertal bone development in adolescents with pubertal gynecomastia.

    PubMed

    Akgül, Sinem; Derman, Orhan; Kanbur, Nuray

    2016-01-01

    During puberty, estrogen has a biphasic effect on epiphyses; at low levels, it leads to an increase in height and bone mass, whereas at high levels, it leads to closure of the epiphysis. Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been used in the treatment of pubertal gynecomastia. Although it has not been approved for this indication, studies have shown it to be both successful and safe. In males, the peak of pubertal bone development occurs during Tanner stage 3-4, which is also when pubertal gynecomastia reaches its highest prevalence. Thus tamoxifen treatment could potentially effect pubertal bone development. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of tamoxifen on bone mineral density (BMD) and skeletal maturation when used for pubertal gynecomastia. We evaluated 20 boys with pubertal gynecomastia receiving tamoxifen for at least 4 months. BMD was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Z-score and absolute BMD (g/cm(2)) was determined at baseline and 2 months after completing tamoxifen treatment. Bone age and height was evaluated before treatment and again one year later. Using absolute BMD (g/cm(2)), the mean difference from baseline was significant between the two groups both at spine (p=0.002) and femur (p=0.001), but not with the Z-score. This result was attributed to the expected increase during puberty according to sex and age. No significant effect on skeletal maturation was found (p=1.112). We conclude that when pubertal bone development is concerned, tamoxifen is safe for the treatment of pubertal gynecomastia as neither bone mineralization nor growth potential was affected.

  14. Tamoxifen Alters the Plasma Concentration of Molecules Associated with Cardiovascular Risk in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

    PubMed Central

    Romero, Walckiria G.; Da Silva, Fabrício B.; Borgo, Mariana V.; Bissoli, Nazaré S.; Gouvêa, Sonia A.

    2012-01-01

    Objectives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tamoxifen on blood markers that are associated with cardiovascular risk, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), apolipoprotein A-1 (Apo-A), and apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B), in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. Methods. Over a period of 12 months, we followed 60 women with breast cancer. The women were divided into the following groups: a group that received only chemotherapy (n = 23), a group that received chemotherapy plus tamoxifen (n = 21), and a group that received only tamoxifen (n = 16). Plasma CRP levels were assessed at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months, and Apo-A and Apo B levels as well as the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio were assessed at 0 and 12 months. Results. We found increases in the plasma concentration of CRP in the chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy plus tamoxifen groups after 3 and 6 months of treatment (before the introduction of tamoxifen). However, after 12 months of treatment, women who used tamoxifen (the chemotherapy plus tamoxifen and tamoxifen alone groups) showed a significant reduction in CRP and Apo-B levels and a decrease in the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio. A significant increase in serum Apo-A levels was observed in the group receiving chemotherapy alone as a treatment for breast cancer. Conclusion. The use of tamoxifen after chemotherapy for the treatment of breast cancer significantly reduces the levels of cardiovascular disease risk markers (CRP, Apo-B, and the Apo-B/Apo-A ratio). PMID:22491005

  15. Approaches for predicting effects of unintended environmental exposure to an endocrine active pharmaceutical, tamoxifen

    EPA Science Inventory

    Tamoxifen is an endocrine-active pharmaceutical (EAP) that is used world-wide. Because tamoxifen is a ubiquitous pharmaceutical and interacts with estrogen receptors, a case study was conducted with this compound to (1) determine effects on reproductive endpoints in a nontarget s...

  16. Use of dried blood spots for the determination of serum concentrations of tamoxifen and endoxifen.

    PubMed

    Jager, N G L; Rosing, H; Schellens, J H M; Beijnen, J H; Linn, S C

    2014-07-01

    The anti-estrogenic effect of tamoxifen is suggested to be mainly attributable to its metabolite (Z)-endoxifen, and a minimum therapeutic threshold for (Z)-endoxifen in serum has been proposed. The objective of this research was to establish the relationship between dried blood spot (DBS) and serum concentrations of tamoxifen and (Z)-endoxifen to allow the use of DBS sampling, a simple and patient-friendly alternative to venous sampling, in clinical practice. Paired DBS and serum samples were obtained from 50 patients using tamoxifen and analyzed using HPLC-MS/MS. Serum concentrations were calculated from DBS concentrations using the formula calculated serum concentration = DBS concentration/([1-haematocrit (Hct)] + blood cell-to-serum ratio × Hct). The blood cell-to-serum ratio was determined ex vivo by incubating a batch of whole blood spiked with both analytes. The average Hct for female adults was imputed as a fixed value. Calculated and analyzed serum concentrations were compared using weighted Deming regression. Weighted Deming regression analysis comparing 44 matching pairs of DBS and serum samples showed a proportional bias for both analytes. Serum concentrations were calculated using [Tamoxifen] serum, calculated  = [Tamoxifen] DBS /0.779 and [(Z)-Endoxifen] serum, calculated = [(Z)-Endoxifen] DBS /0.663. Calculated serum concentrations were within 20 % of analyzed serum concentrations in 84 and 100 % of patient samples for tamoxifen and (Z)-endoxifen, respectively. In conclusion, DBS concentrations of tamoxifen and (Z)-endoxifen were equal to serum concentrations after correction for Hct and blood cell-to-serum ratio. DBS sampling can be used in clinical practice.

  17. Overcoming acquired BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma via targeted inhibition of Hsp90 with ganetespib.

    PubMed

    Acquaviva, Jaime; Smith, Donald L; Jimenez, John-Paul; Zhang, Chaohua; Sequeira, Manuel; He, Suqin; Sang, Jim; Bates, Richard C; Proia, David A

    2014-02-01

    Activating BRAF kinase mutations serve as oncogenic drivers in over half of all melanomas, a feature that has been exploited in the development of new molecularly targeted approaches to treat this disease. Selective BRAF(V600E) inhibitors, such as vemurafenib, typically induce initial, profound tumor regressions within this group of patients; however, durable responses have been hampered by the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we examined the activity of ganetespib, a small-molecule inhibitor of Hsp90, in melanoma lines harboring the BRAF(V600E) mutation. Ganetespib exposure resulted in the loss of mutant BRAF expression and depletion of mitogen-activated protein kinase and AKT signaling, resulting in greater in vitro potency and antitumor efficacy compared with targeted BRAF and MAP-ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitors. Dual targeting of Hsp90 and BRAF(V600E) provided combinatorial benefit in vemurafenib-sensitive melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, ganetespib overcame mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance to vemurafenib, the latter of which was characterized by reactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. Continued suppression of BRAF(V600E) by vemurafenib potentiated sensitivity to MEK inhibitors after acquired resistance had been established. Ganetespib treatment reduced, but not abolished, elevations in steady-state ERK activity. Profiling studies revealed that the addition of a MEK inhibitor could completely abrogate ERK reactivation in the resistant phenotype, with ganetespib displaying superior combinatorial activity over vemurafenib. Moreover, ganetespib plus the MEK inhibitor TAK-733 induced tumor regressions in vemurafenib-resistant xenografts. Overall these data highlight the potential of ganetespib as a single-agent or combination treatment in BRAF(V600E)-driven melanoma, particularly as a strategy to overcome acquired resistance to selective BRAF inhibitors.

  18. Tamoxifen as the First Targeted Long Term Adjuvant Therapy for Breast Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Jordan, V. Craig

    2014-01-01

    Tamoxifen is an unlikely pioneering medicine in medical oncology. Nevertheless, the medicine has continued to surprise us, perform and save lives for the past 40 years. Unlike any other medicine in oncology, it is used to treat all stages of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, male breast cancer, pioneered the use of chemoprevention by reducing the incidence of breast cancer in women at high risk and induces ovulation in subfertile women! The impact of tamoxifen is ubiquitous. However, the power to save lives from this unlikely success story came from the first laboratory studies which defined that “longer was going to be better” when tamoxifen was being considered as an adjuvant therapy (Jordan 1978 Use of the DMBA-induced rat mammary carcinoma system for the evaluation of tamoxifen as a potential adjuvant therapy Reviews in Endocrine Related Cancer. October Supplement: 49–55.). This is that success story, with a focus on the interdependent components of: excellence in drug discovery, investment in self-selecting young investigators, a conversation with Nature, a conversation between the laboratory and the clinic, and the creation of the Oxford Overview Analysis. Each of these factors was essential to propel the progress of tamoxifen to evolve as an essential part of the fabric of society. “Science is adventure, discovery, new horizons, insight into our world, a means of predicting the future and enormous power to help others”(Hoagland 1990).- Mahlon Hoagland, MD. Director, Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology (1970–85) PMID:24659478

  19. The impact of tamoxifen brand switch on side effects and patient compliance in hormone receptor positive breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Zeidan, B; Anderson, K; Peiris, L; Rainsbury, D; Laws, S

    2016-10-01

    In 2006 Nolvadex was discontinued and replaced by a variety of alternative generic tamoxifen brands for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Anecdotally, patients are switching brands and taking alternative medications to reduce treatment related symptoms. Nevertheless, more severe side effects may equate to better relapse prevention. This study evaluates generic tamoxifen adherence and its correlation with side effects and brand switch. Consecutive disease free ER positive patients (stage I-III) were invited to respond to a questionnaire. 165 of 327 questionnaires were returned (50% response). Pearson's Chi Square test was used for data analysis. 63 patients (38%) reported a switch between generic tamoxifen. 59% of all patients experienced side effects associated with tamoxifen treatment of which 53% were severe. Patients experiencing differential symptoms dependent on tamoxifen brand reported more severe side effects (p = 0.02). Non-prescribed supplements were taken by 42% of all patients with no significant improvement in climacteric symptoms (p = 0.05). The concomitant use of SSRIs appeared to have no effect on symptoms. A significant number of patients considered discontinuing tamoxifen because of the side effects (p = 0.001), yet this did not translate into discontinuation or non-adherence (p = 0.8 and 0.08 respectively). Severe tamoxifen side effects are commonly experienced by breast cancer patients and can be significantly altered by change in tamoxifen brand. Most patients will continue to take tamoxifen, despite side effects to avoid cancer relapse. Supplementation and antidepressants did not improve tamoxifen related side effects in our cohort. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Acquired antibiotic resistance among wild animals: the case of Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus).

    PubMed

    Sousa, Margarida; Gonçalves, Alexandre; Silva, Nuno; Serra, Rodrigo; Alcaide, Eva; Zorrilla, Irene; Torres, Carmen; Caniça, Manuela; Igrejas, Gilberto; Poeta, Patrícia

    2014-01-01

    The selective pressure generated by the clinical misuse of antibiotics has been the major driving force leading to the emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacteria. Antibiotics or even resistant bacteria are released into the environment and contaminate the surrounding areas. Human and animal populations in contact with these sources are able to become reservoirs of these resistant organisms. Then, due to the convergence between habitats, the contact of wild animals with other animals, humans, or human sources is now more common and this leads to an increase in the exchange of resistance determinants between their microbiota. Indeed, it seems that wildlife populations living in closer proximity to humans have higher levels of antibiotic resistance. Now, the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a part of this issue, being suggested as natural reservoir of acquired resistant bacteria. The emerging public health concern regarding microbial resistance to antibiotics is becoming true: the bacteria are evolving and are now affecting unintentional hosts.

  1. Bioconcentration of (15)N-tamoxifen at environmental concentration in liver, gonad and muscle of Danio rerio.

    PubMed

    Orias, Frédéric; Simon, Laurent; Mialdea, Gladys; Clair, Angéline; Brosselin, Vanessa; Perrodin, Yves

    2015-10-01

    Pharmaceutical compounds (PCs) are ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems. In addition to the direct ecotoxicological risk presented by certain PCs, others can accumulate inside organisms and along trophic webs, subsequently contaminating whole ecosystems. We studied the bioconcentration of a bioaccumulative PC already found several times in the environment: tamoxifen. To this end, we exposed Danio rerio for 21d to (15)N-tamoxifen concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10µg/L and used an analytic method based on stable isotopes to evaluate the tamoxifen content in these organisms. The evolution of the (15)N/(14)N ratio was thus measured in liver, muscle and gonads of exposed fish compared to control fish. We succeeded in quantifying (15)N-tamoxifen bioconcentrations at all the exposure concentrations tested. The highest bioconcentration factors of tamoxifen measured were 14,920 in muscle, 73,800 in liver and 85,600 in gonads of fish after 21d exposure at a nominal concentration of 10µg/L. However, these bioconcentration factors have to be considered as maximal values (BCFMAX). Indeed, despite its proven stability, tamoxifen can be potentially partially degraded during experiments. We now need to refine these results by using a direct analytic method (i.e. LC-MS/MS). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli that cause childhood community-acquired urinary tract infections in Northern Italy.

    PubMed

    Caracciolo, Alessandra; Bettinelli, Alberto; Bonato, Claudio; Isimbaldi, Clementina; Tagliabue, Alessandro; Longoni, Laura; Bianchetti, Mario G

    2011-01-06

    Resistance rate of Escherichia coli against antimicrobials that are commonly prescribed in pediatric urinary tract infections is currently a matter of concern. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to the common antibimcrobials ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, coamoxyclav, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin were determined in 177 children aged from 2 to 36 months. They presented with their first symptomatic community acquired urinary tract infection at the Department of Pediatrics, San Leopoldo Mandic Hospital, Merate-Lecco. High rates of ampicillin (inpatients: 50%; outpatients: 52%) resistance were identified. The resistance for cotrimoxazole (inpatients: 22%; outpatients: 15%) and especially coamoxyclav (inpatients: 6%; outpatients: 10%) was less pronounced than that to ampicillin. No resistance or less than 1% of resistance was identified for ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin both in inpatients and in outpatients. Italian children affected with a community acquired urinary tract infection are initially managed orally with coamoxyclav or parenterally with ceftriaxone. The results of the present retrospective analysis support this attitude. Parenteral ceftriaxone or an aminoglycoside should be considered for patients on antimicrobial prophylaxis or recently prescribed antimicrobials.

  3. Tamoxifen citrate loaded ethosomes for transdermal drug delivery system: preparation and characterization.

    PubMed

    Sarwa, Khomendra Kumar; Suresh, Preeti K; Debnath, Manabendra; Ahmad, Mohammad Zaki

    2013-08-01

    Long term tamoxifen citrate therapy is imperative to treat several dermatological and hormonal sensitive disorders. Successful oral and parenteral administration of tamoxifen citrate has been challenging since it undergoes enzymatic degradation and has poor aqueous solubility issues. In the present work, tamoxifen citrate loaded ethosomes were prepared and characterized for transdermal applications. The prepared formulations were characterized for morphological features, particle size distribution, calorimetric attributes, zeta potential and drug entrapment. Permeation profile of prepared ethosomes was compared with liposomes and hydroethonalic solution across cellophane membrane and human cadaver skin. Results of the permeation studies indicate that ethosomes were able to deliver >90% drug within 24 hours of application, while liposomes and hydroethanolic solution delivered only 39.04% and 36.55% respectively. Skin deposition and stability studies are also reported.

  4. Investigational study of tamoxifen phase I metabolites using chromatographic and spectroscopic analytical techniques.

    PubMed

    Teunissen, S F; Rosing, H; Seoane, M Dominguez; Brunsveld, L; Schellens, J H M; Schinkel, A H; Beijnen, J H

    2011-06-01

    A comprehensive overview is presented of currently known phase I metabolites of tamoxifen consisting of their systematic name and molecular structure. Reference standards are utilized to elucidate the MS(n) fragmentation patterns of these metabolites using a linear ion trap mass spectrometer. UV-absorption spectra are recorded and absorption maxima are defined. Serum extracts from ten breast cancer patients receiving 40mg tamoxifen once daily were qualitatively analyzed for tamoxifen phase I metabolites using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry set-up. In total, 19 metabolites have been identified in these serum samples. Additionally a synthetic method for the preparation of the putative metabolite 3',4'-dihydroxytamoxifen is described. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Primary and acquired resistance to biologic therapies in gastrointestinal cancers.

    PubMed

    Lubner, Sam J; Uboha, Nataliya V; Deming, Dustin A

    2017-06-01

    Improvements in the understanding of cancer biology have led to therapeutic advances in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Drugs which target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways have led the way in colon cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as bevacizumab, ramucirumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, have improved progression free survival and overall survival (OS) for colorectal cancers and were quickly adopted. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has demonstrated significant benefit for gastroesophageal cancers and in the setting of HER2 amplification, trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has become the standard of care. However, responses have not been as durable nor as robust as once hoped. Mechanisms of resistance for each of these biologic compounds have been hypothesized and are in the process of being better elucidated. This review will approach the innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance of the above compounds. Additionally, we will explore some ongoing clinical trials to capitalize on the mechanisms of resistance in the hopes of retaining the promise of targeting these pathways.

  6. Primary and acquired resistance to biologic therapies in gastrointestinal cancers

    PubMed Central

    Lubner, Sam J.; Uboha, Nataliya V.; Deming, Dustin A.

    2017-01-01

    Improvements in the understanding of cancer biology have led to therapeutic advances in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. Drugs which target the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways have led the way in colon cancer. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as bevacizumab, ramucirumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab, have improved progression free survival and overall survival (OS) for colorectal cancers and were quickly adopted. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has demonstrated significant benefit for gastroesophageal cancers and in the setting of HER2 amplification, trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has become the standard of care. However, responses have not been as durable nor as robust as once hoped. Mechanisms of resistance for each of these biologic compounds have been hypothesized and are in the process of being better elucidated. This review will approach the innate and acquired mechanisms of resistance of the above compounds. Additionally, we will explore some ongoing clinical trials to capitalize on the mechanisms of resistance in the hopes of retaining the promise of targeting these pathways. PMID:28736637

  7. Induction of UO-44 gene expression by tamoxifen in the rat uterus and ovary.

    PubMed

    Huynh, H; Ng, C Y; Lim, K B; Ong, C K; Ong, C S; Tran, E; Tuyen Nguyen, T T; Chan, T W

    2001-07-01

    A complementary DNA, uterine-ovarian-specific gene 44 (UO-44), has been isolated from tamoxifen-induced rat uterine complementary DNA library using differential display techniques. UO-44 transcripts are found to be abundant in the uterus and ovary. UO-44 gene expression in the uterus is strictly regulated by estrogens, tamoxifen, and GH, whereas the pure antiestrogen ICI 182780 is inhibitory. Treatment of ovariectomized rats and hypophysectomized rats with tamoxifen and GH, respectively, resulted in up-regulation of UO-44 expression in a dose-dependent manner. In situ hybridization revealed that UO-44 gene expression was restricted to the luminal and glandular epithelial cells of the uterus and to granulosa cells of medium-size ovarian follicles. Transfection studies showed that UO-44 was a membrane-associated protein. Because estrogens, tamoxifen, and GH are stimulators of uterine luminal epithelial cell growth in vivo, UO-44 protein may serve as a mediator of the effect of these compounds in inducing epithelial proliferation and differentiation in these tissues.

  8. Effects of tamoxifen on bone mineral density and metabolism in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Zidan, Jamal; Keidar, Zohar; Basher, Walid; Israel, Ora

    2004-01-01

    At the present time, tamoxifen is the most widely used anti-estrogen for adjuvant therapy and metastatic disease in postmenopausal women with breast cancer, a population at high risk for osteoporosis. This prospective study was designed to evaluate the effect of adjuvant tamoxifen on bone mineral density and all biochemical markers concomitantly in women with early-stage breast cancer in one study. Using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, prior to and 12 mo after tamoxifen treatment, bone mineral density in lumbar spine and femoral neck was measured in 44 women with T1-T2N0M0 estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer receiving adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen 20 mg/d. Biomarkers that can affect bone mineral metabolism were measured before and after 3 and 12 mo of tamoxifen treatment. Bone mineral density was minimally increased in lumbar spine and femoral neck after 12 mo treatment with tamoxifen (p = 0.79 and 0.55, respectively). No differences were found in serum levels of calcium, phosphate, creatinine, ALAT, albumin, LDH, calcitonin, or estradiol. A significant decrease in osteocalcin levels was found after 3 and 12 mo (p < or = 0.01). TSH and PTH levels were increased (p < or = 0.05) after 3 mo, returning to baseline after 12 mo. In conclusion, tamoxifen has an estrogen-like effect on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women and is associated with preservation of bone mineral density in lumbar spine and femoral neck. Changes in serum concentration of biochemical markers may reflect decreased bone turnover or bone remodeling and add to the understanding of tamoxifen's effect on bone mineral density.

  9. Tamoxifen and vitamin E treatments delay symptoms in the mouse model of Niemann-Pick C.

    PubMed

    Bascuñan-Castillo, Eric C; Erickson, Robert P; Howison, Christy M; Hunter, Robert J; Heidenreich, Randall H; Hicks, Chad; Trouard, Theodore P; Gillies, Robert J

    2004-01-01

    Niemann-Pick C disease (NPC) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder without current treatment. It is the result of deficient intracellular cholesterol movement. We investigated the effects of tamoxifen and vitamin E (D-alpha tocopherol) treatment on patterns of weight loss and motor function in the mouse model of Niemann-Pick C disease (Npc1-/- mice). Tamoxifen has multiple metabolic effects, including reducing oxidative damage, while vitamin E primarily has this property. Npc1-/- mice were identified and treatment was initiated at an approximate age of 21 days. Tamoxifen suspended in peanut oil was administered via intraperitoneal injection (weekly, at a dose calculated to deliver 0.023 microg/g/day). Vitamin E (25 IU) was administered orally via gavage once a week. Weight loss and Rota-Rod performance were analyzed by using Kaplan-Meyer survival curves. Tamoxifen treatment by itself significantly delayed weight loss (an endpoint of neurodegeneration) in male and female mice compared to untreated controls. Motor function was evaluated by performance on a Rota-Rod. Tamoxifen maintained Rota-Rod performance for about an extra week. Vitamin E treatment significantly delayed weight loss in females only. Rota-Rod performance was maintained slightly longer in mice treated with vitamin E. Simultaneous use of both treatments did not delay weight loss longer than tamoxifen-only treatment but had a greater effect than either treatment alone on Rota-Rod performance and demonstrated a significant positive effect on the early "learning curve" portion of the Rota-Rod evaluations. We found significant but relatively small improvements in rate of disease progression by treating Npc1-/- mice with tamoxifen and/or vitamin E. Some sex differences in response and an early improvement in Rota-Rod performance suggest areas for further study.

  10. Effect of tamoxifen on cholesterol synthesis in HepG2 cells and cultured rat hepatocytes.

    PubMed

    Holleran, A L; Lindenthal, B; Aldaghlas, T A; Kelleher, J K

    1998-12-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which tamoxifen modifies cholesterol metabolism in cellular models of liver metabolism, HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes. The effect of tamoxifen on cholesterol and triglyceride-palmitate synthesis was measured using isotopomer spectral analysis (ISA) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and compared with the effects of progesterone, estradiol, the antiestrogen ICI 182,780, and an oxysterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC). Cholesterol synthesis in cells incubated in the presence of either [1-(13)C]acetate, [U-13C]glucose, or [4,5-(13)C]mevalonate for 48 hours was reduced in the presence of 10 micromol/L tamoxifen and 12.4 micromol/L 25OHC in both HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes. The ISA methodology allowed a clear distinction between effects on synthesis and effects on precursor enrichment, and indicated that these compounds did not affect enrichment of the precursors of squalene. Progesterone was effective in both cell types at 30 micromol/L and only in HepG2 cells at 10 micromol/L. Estradiol and ICI 182,780 at 10 micromol/L did not inhibit cholesterol synthesis. None of the compounds altered the synthesis of triglyceride-palmitate in either cell type. Treatment of cells with tamoxifen produced accumulation of three sterol precursors of cholesterol, zymosterol, desmosterol, and delta8 cholesterol. This pattern of precursors indicates inhibition of delta24,25 reduction in addition to the previously described inhibition of delta8 isomerase. We conclude that tamoxifen is an effective inhibitor of the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol in cellular models at concentrations comparable to those present in the plasma of tamoxifen-treated individuals. Our findings indicate that this mechanism may contribute to the effect of tamoxifen in reducing plasma cholesterol in humans.

  11. An Antiestrogenic Activity Score for tamoxifen and its metabolites is associated with breast cancer outcome

    PubMed Central

    Alexi, X.; van Werkhoven, E.; Madlensky, L.; Natarajan, L.; Flatt, S. W.; Zwart, W.; Linn, S. C.; Parker, B. A.; Wu, A. H. B.; Pierce, J. P.; Huitema, A. D. R.; Beijnen, J. H.

    2018-01-01

    Purpose Endoxifen concentrations have been associated with breast cancer recurrence in tamoxifen-treated patients. However, tamoxifen itself and other metabolites also show antiestrogenic anti-tumor activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive Antiestrogenic Activity Score (AAS), which accounts for concentration and antiestrogenic activity of tamoxifen and three metabolites. An association between the AAS and recurrence-free survival was investigated and compared to a previously published threshold for endoxifen concentrations of 5.97 ng/mL. Patients and methods The antiestrogenic activities of tamoxifen, (Z)-endoxifen, (Z)-4-hydroxytamoxifen, and N-desmethyltamoxifen were determined in a cell proliferation assay. The AAS was determined by calculating the sum of each metabolite concentration multiplied by an IC50 ratio, relative to tamoxifen. The AAS was calculated for 1370 patients with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer. An association between AAS and recurrence was investigated using Cox regression and compared with the 5.97 ng/mL endoxifen threshold using concordance indices. Results An AAS threshold of 1798 was associated with recurrence-free survival, hazard ratio (HR) 0.67 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47–0.96), bias corrected after bootstrap HR 0.69 (95% CI 0.48–0.99). The concordance indices for AAS and endoxifen did not significantly differ; however, using the AAS threshold instead of endoxifen led to different dose recommendations for 5.2% of the patients. Conclusions Endoxifen concentrations can serve as a proxy for the antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen and metabolites. However, for the aggregate effect of tamoxifen and three metabolites, defined by an integrative algorithm, a trend towards improving treatment is seen and moreover, is significantly associated with breast cancer recurrence. PMID:28005246

  12. Activation of EGFR Bypass Signaling by TGFα Overexpression Induces Acquired Resistance to Alectinib in ALK-Translocated Lung Cancer Cells.

    PubMed

    Tani, Tetsuo; Yasuda, Hiroyuki; Hamamoto, Junko; Kuroda, Aoi; Arai, Daisuke; Ishioka, Kota; Ohgino, Keiko; Miyawaki, Masayoshi; Kawada, Ichiro; Naoki, Katsuhiko; Hayashi, Yuichiro; Betsuyaku, Tomoko; Soejima, Kenzo

    2016-01-01

    Alectinib is a highly selective ALK inhibitor and shows promising efficacy in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) harboring the EML4-ALK gene rearrangement. The precise mechanism of acquired resistance to alectinib is not well defined. The purpose of this study was to clarify the mechanism of acquired resistance to alectinib in ALK-translocated lung cancer cells. We established alectinib-resistant cells (H3122-AR) from the H3122 NSCLC cell line, harboring the EML4-ALK gene rearrangement, by long-term exposure to alectinib. The mechanism of acquired resistance to alectinib in H3122-AR cells was evaluated by phospho-receptor tyrosine kinase (phospho-RTK) array screening and Western blotting. No mutation of the ALK-TK domain was found. Phospho-RTK array analysis revealed that the phosphorylation level of EGFR was increased in H3122-AR cells compared with H3122. Expression of TGFα, one of the EGFR ligands, was significantly increased and knockdown of TGFα restored the sensitivity to alectinib in H3122-AR cells. We found combination therapy targeting ALK and EGFR with alectinib and afatinib showed efficacy both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft model. We propose a preclinical rationale to use the combination therapy with alectinib and afatinib in NSCLC that acquired resistance to alectinib by the activation of EGFR bypass signaling. ©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.

  13. Prescribing tamoxifen in primary care for the prevention of breast cancer: a national online survey of GPs' attitudes.

    PubMed

    Smith, Samuel G; Foy, Robbie; McGowan, Jennifer A; Kobayashi, Lindsay C; DeCensi, Andrea; Brown, Karen; Side, Lucy; Cuzick, Jack

    2017-06-01

    The cancer strategy for England (2015-2020) recommends GPs prescribe tamoxifen for breast cancer primary prevention among women at increased risk. To investigate GPs' attitudes towards prescribing tamoxifen. In an online survey, GPs in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales ( n = 928) were randomised using a 2 × 2 between-subjects design to read one of four vignettes describing a healthy patient seeking a tamoxifen prescription. In the vignette, the hypothetical patient's breast cancer risk (moderate versus high) and the clinician initiating the prescription (GP prescriber versus secondary care clinician [SCC] prescriber) were manipulated in a 1:1:1:1 ratio. Outcomes were willingness to prescribe, comfort discussing harms and benefits, comfort managing the patient, factors affecting the prescribing decision, and awareness of tamoxifen and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline CG164. Half (51.7%) of the GPs knew tamoxifen can reduce breast cancer risk, and one-quarter (24.1%) were aware of NICE guideline CG164. Responders asked to initiate prescribing (GP prescriber) were less willing to prescribe tamoxifen than those continuing a prescription initiated in secondary care (SCC prescriber) (68.9% versus 84.6%, P <0.001). The GP prescribers reported less comfort discussing tamoxifen (53.4% versus 62.5%, P = 0.01). GPs willing to prescribe were more likely to be aware of the NICE guideline ( P = 0.039) and to have acknowledged the benefits of tamoxifen ( P <0.001), and were less likely to have considered its off-licence status ( P <0.001). Initiating tamoxifen prescriptions for preventive therapy in secondary care before asking GPs to continue the patient's care may overcome some prescribing barriers. © British Journal of General Practice 2017.

  14. A critical role for Arabidopsis MILDEW RESISTANCE LOCUS O2 in systemic acquired resistance.

    PubMed

    Gruner, Katrin; Zeier, Tatyana; Aretz, Christina; Zeier, Jürgen

    2018-04-16

    Members of the MILDEW RESISTANCE LOCUS O (MLO) gene family confer susceptibility to powdery mildews in different plant species, and their existence therefore seems to be disadvantageous for the plant. We recognized that expression of the Arabidopsis MLO2 gene is induced after inoculation with the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, promoted by salicylic acid (SA) signaling, and systemically enhanced in the foliage of plants exhibiting systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Importantly, distinct mlo2 mutant lines were unable to systemically increase resistance to bacterial infection after inoculation with P. syringae, indicating that the function of MLO2 is necessary for biologically induced SAR in Arabidopsis. Our data also suggest that the close homolog MLO6 has a supportive but less critical role in SAR. In contrast to SAR, basal resistance to bacterial infection was not affected in mlo2. Remarkably, SAR-defective mlo2 mutants were still competent in systemically increasing the levels of the SAR-activating metabolites pipecolic acid (Pip) and SA after inoculation, and to enhance SAR-related gene expression in distal plant parts. Furthermore, although MLO2 was not required for SA- or Pip-inducible defense gene expression, it was essential for the proper induction of disease resistance by both SAR signals. We conclude that MLO2 acts as a critical downstream component in the execution of SAR to bacterial infection, being required for the translation of elevated defense responses into disease resistance. Moreover, our data suggest a function for MLO2 in the activation of plant defense priming during challenge by P. syringae. © 2018 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  15. THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIC FIELDS ON INHIBITION OF MCF-7 CELL GROWTH BY TAMOXIFEN

    EPA Science Inventory

    THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIC FIELDS ON INHIBITION OF MCF-7 CELL GROWTH BY TAMOXIFEN.
    Harland and Liburdy (1) reported that 1.2-uT, 60-Hz magnetic fields could significantly block the inhibitory action of pharmacological levels of tamoxifen (10-7 M) on the growth of MCF-7 human br...

  16. Combining Src inhibitors and aromatase inhibitors: a novel strategy for overcoming endocrine resistance and bone loss.

    PubMed

    Hiscox, Stephen; Barrett-Lee, Peter; Borley, Annabel C; Nicholson, Robert I

    2010-08-01

    Aromatase inhibitors have largely replaced tamoxifen as the first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with metastatic, hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. However, many patients develop clinical resistance with prolonged treatment, and oestrogen deprivation following aromatase inhibition can result in loss of bone mineral density. Furthermore, most patients with metastatic breast cancer develop bone metastases, and the resulting adverse skeletal-related events are a significant cause of patient morbidity. Src, a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, is a component of signalling pathways that regulate breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis as well as osteoclast-mediated bone turnover. Preclinical evidence also suggests a role for Src in acquired endocrine resistance. As such, Src inhibition represents a logical strategy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In vitro, combination therapy with Src inhibitors and endocrine agents, including aromatase inhibitors, has been shown to inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of both endocrine-responsive and endocrine-resistant breast cancer cell lines more effectively than either of the therapy alone. Src inhibition has also been shown to suppress osteoclast formation and activity. Combination therapy with aromatase inhibitors and Src inhibitors therefore represents a novel approach through which the development of both acquired resistance and bone pathology could be delayed. Data from clinical trials utilising such combinations will reveal if this strategy has the potential to improve patient outcomes. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Quantification of tamoxifen DNA adducts using on-line sample preparation and HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Gamboa da Costa, Gonçalo; Marques, M Matilde; Beland, Frederick A; Freeman, James P; Churchwell, Mona I; Doerge, Daniel R

    2003-03-01

    The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen is used as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of all stages of hormone-dependent breast cancer and more recently as a chemopreventive agent in women with elevated risk of developing the disease. While clearly beneficial for the treatment of breast cancer, tamoxifen has been reported to increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women. Furthermore, it has been shown to be hepatocarcinogenic in rats. Tamoxifen is clearly genotoxic in rat liver, as indicated by the formation of DNA adducts; the occurrence of tamoxifen DNA adducts in human endometrial tissue is more controversial. The detection and quantitation of tamoxifen DNA adducts have relied primarily upon (32)P-postlabeling, with other techniques, such as immunoassays and accelerator mass spectrometry, being used to a much lesser extent. To expand the range of available analytical methodologies for quantifying tamoxifen DNA adducts, we have developed an assay using on-line sample preparation, coupled with HPLC and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS). alpha-Acetoxytamoxifen was reacted with salmon testis DNA at ratios between 0.1 ng and 1 mg alpha-acetoxytamoxifen per mg DNA. After enzymatic hydrolysis to nucleosides, the most highly modified DNA samples were analyzed by HPLC-UV, which indicated the presence of two adduct peaks in approximately a 1:4 ratio. The major adduct was isolated, rigorously characterized as (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)tamoxifen, and quantified on the basis of its molar extinction coefficient. A similar reaction was conducted with [N(CD(3))(2)]-alpha-acetoxytamoxifen to prepare a deuterated adduct that could serve as an internal standard for ES-MS/MS. The limit of detection for the HPLC-ES-MS/MS method was approximately 5 adducts/10(9) nucleotides, with an intra- and interassay precision of 3% relative standard deviation. The method was validated over the range of 8-1 520,000 adducts/10(8) nucleotides

  18. Acquired Resistance to Crizotinib from a Mutation in CD74–ROS1

    PubMed Central

    Awad, Mark M.; Katayama, Ryohei; McTigue, Michele; Liu, Wei; Deng, Ya-Li; Brooun, Alexei; Friboulet, Luc; Huang, Donghui; Falk, Matthew D.; Timofeevski, Sergei; Wilner, Keith D.; Lockerman, Elizabeth L.; Khan, Tahsin M.; Mahmood, Sidra; Gainor, Justin F.; Digumarthy, Subba R.; Stone, James R.; Mino-Kenudson, Mari; Christensen, James G.; Iafrate, A. John; Engelman, Jeffrey A.; Shaw, Alice T.

    2013-01-01

    Summary Crizotinib, an inhibitor of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), has also recently shown efficacy in the treatment of lung cancers with ROS1 translocations. Resistance to crizotinib developed in a patient with metastatic lung adenocarcinoma harboring a CD74–ROS1 rearrangement who had initially shown a dramatic response to treatment. We performed a biopsy of a resistant tumor and identified an acquired mutation leading to a glycine-to-arginine substitution at codon 2032 in the ROS1 kinase domain. Although this mutation does not lie at the gatekeeper residue, it confers resistance to ROS1 kinase inhibition through steric interference with drug binding. The same resistance mutation was observed at all the meta-static sites that were examined at autopsy, suggesting that this mutation was an early event in the clonal evolution of resistance. (Funded by Pfizer and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00585195.) PMID:23724914

  19. Tamoxifen Activation of Cre-Recombinase Has No Persisting Effects on Adult Neurogenesis or Learning and Anxiety

    PubMed Central

    Rotheneichner, Peter; Romanelli, Pasquale; Bieler, Lara; Pagitsch, Sebastian; Zaunmair, Pia; Kreutzer, Christina; König, Richard; Marschallinger, Julia; Aigner, Ludwig; Couillard-Després, Sébastien

    2017-01-01

    Adult neurogenesis is a tightly regulated process continuously taking place in the central nervous system of most mammalian species. In neuroscience research, transgenic animals bearing the tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2-Lox system are widely used. In this study, we made use of a Nestin-CreERT2/R26R-YFP transgenic mouse model in which the CreERT2 activates the expression of YFP in multipotent neural stem cells upon tamoxifen application. Humoral factors, such as the levels of estrogens, have been reported to affect the hippocampal neurogenesis. The application of tamoxifen, a mixed agonist/antagonist of the estrogen receptor that permeates the blood-brain-barrier, could thus influence adult neurogenesis. Although the functions of adult neurogenesis are yet to be fully deciphered, a reciprocal interaction between rates of neurogenesis on the one hand and learning and mood regulation on the other hand, has been suggested. The impact of tamoxifen on neurogenesis and behavior was therefore addressed following five daily applications according to the open field test, the elevated plus maze, and Morris water maze. In addition, the impact of short-term tamoxifen application on progenitor cell proliferation, morphology, and fate in the neurogenic niche of the dentate gyrus were investigated. Finally, the influence of the route of administration (oral vs. intra-peritoneal) and gender-specific response were scrutinized. The sub-acute analysis did neither reveal significant differences in behavior, such as voluntary motor activity, anxiety behavior, and spatial learning, nor in cell proliferation, cell survival, dendritic arborization or maturation rate within the dentate gyrus between saline solution-, corn oil-, and tamoxifen-treated groups. Finally, neither the route of application, nor the gender of treated mice influenced the response to tamoxifen. We conclude that short tamoxifen treatments used to activate the CreERT2 system in transgenic mouse models does not have a

  20. Acquired resistance and clonal evolution in melanoma during BRAF inhibitor therapy

    PubMed Central

    Kong, Xiangju; Hong, Aayoung; Koya, Richard C.; Moriceau, Gatien; Chodon, Thinle; Guo, Rongqing; Johnson, Douglas B.; Dahlman, Kimberly B.; Kelley, Mark C.; Kefford, Richard F.; Chmielowski, Bartosz; Glaspy, John A.; Sosman, Jeffrey A.; van Baren, Nicolas; Long, Georgina V.; Ribas, Antoni; Lo, Roger S.

    2013-01-01

    BRAF inhibitors elicit rapid anti-tumor responses in the majority of patients with V600BRAF mutant melanoma, but acquired drug resistance is almost universal. We sought to identify the core resistance pathways and the extent of tumor heterogeneity during disease progression. We show that MAPK reactivation mechanisms were detected among 70% of disease-progressive tissues, with RAS mutations, mutant BRAF amplification and alternative splicing being most common. We also detected PI3K-PTEN-AKT-upregulating genetic alterations among 22% of progressive melanomas. Distinct molecular lesions, in both core drug escape pathways, were commonly detected concurrently in the same tumor or among multiple tumors from the same patient. Beyond harboring extensively heterogeneous resistance mechanisms, melanoma re-growth emerging from BRAF inhibitor selection displayed branched evolution marked by altered mutational spectra/signatures and increased fitness. Thus, melanoma genomic heterogeneity contributes significantly to BRAF inhibitor treatment failure, implying upfront, co-targeting of two core pathways as an essential strategy for durable responses. PMID:24265155

  1. Sym004, a Novel EGFR Antibody Mixture, Can Overcome Acquired Resistance to Cetuximab1

    PubMed Central

    Iida, Mari; Brand, Toni M; Starr, Megan M; Li, Chunrong; Huppert, Evan J; Luthar, Neha; Pedersen, Mikkel W; Horak, Ivan D; Kragh, Michael; Wheeler, Deric L

    2013-01-01

    The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a central regulator of tumor progression in a variety of human cancers. Cetuximab is an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody that has been approved for head and neck and colorectal cancer treatment, but many patients treated with cetuximab don't respond or eventually acquire resistance. To determine how tumor cells acquire resistance to cetuximab, we previously developed a model of acquired resistance using the non-small cell lung cancer line NCI-H226. These cetuximab-resistant (CtxR) cells exhibit increased steady-state EGFR expression secondary to alterations in EGFR trafficking and degradation and, further, retained dependence on EGFR signaling for enhanced growth potential. Here, we examined Sym004, a novel mixture of antibodies directed against distinct epitopes on the extracellular domain of EGFR, as an alternative therapy for CtxR tumor cells. Sym004 treatment of CtxR clones resulted in rapid EGFR degradation, followed by robust inhibition of cell proliferation and down-regulation of several mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. To determine whether Sym004 could have therapeutic benefit in vivo, we established de novo CtxR NCI-H226 mouse xenografts and subsequently treated CtxR tumors with Sym004. Sym004 treatment of mice harboring CtxR tumors resulted in growth delay compared to mice continued on cetuximab. Levels of total and phospho-EGFR were robustly decreased in CtxR tumors treated with Sym004. Immunohistochemical analysis of these Sym004-treated xenograft tumors further demonstrated decreased expression of Ki67, and phospho-rpS6, as well as a modest increase in cleaved caspase-3. These results indicate that Sym004 may be an effective targeted therapy for CtxR tumors. PMID:24204198

  2. Antimicrobial resistance among Escherichia coli that cause childhood community-acquired urinary tract infections in Northern Italy

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Abstracts Background Resistance rate of Escherichia coli against antimicrobials that are commonly prescribed in pediatric urinary tract infections is currently a matter of concern. Methods The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains to the common antibimcrobials ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, coamoxyclav, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin were determined in 177 children aged from 2 to 36 months. They presented with their first symptomatic community acquired urinary tract infection at the Department of Pediatrics, San Leopoldo Mandic Hospital, Merate-Lecco. Results High rates of ampicillin (inpatients: 50%; outpatients: 52%) resistance were identified. The resistance for cotrimoxazole (inpatients: 22%; outpatients: 15%) and especially coamoxyclav (inpatients: 6%; outpatients: 10%) was less pronounced than that to ampicillin. No resistance or less than 1% of resistance was identified for ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamycin both in inpatients and in outpatients. Conclusions Italian children affected with a community acquired urinary tract infection are initially managed orally with coamoxyclav or parenterally with ceftriaxone. The results of the present retrospective analysis support this attitude. Parenteral ceftriaxone or an aminoglycoside should be considered for patients on antimicrobial prophylaxis or recently prescribed antimicrobials. PMID:21211026

  3. Multidrug-Resistant CTX-M-(15, 9, 2)- and KPC-2-Producing Enterobacter hormaechei and Enterobacter asburiae Isolates Possessed a Set of Acquired Heavy Metal Tolerance Genes Including a Chromosomal sil Operon (for Acquired Silver Resistance).

    PubMed

    Andrade, Leonardo N; Siqueira, Thiago E S; Martinez, Roberto; Darini, Ana Lucia C

    2018-01-01

    Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is concern in healthcare-associated infections. On the other hand, bacterial tolerance to other antimicrobials, like heavy metals, has been neglected and underestimated in hospital pathogens. Silver has long been used as an antimicrobial agent and it seems to be an important indicator of heavy metal tolerance. To explore this perspective, we searched for the presence of acquired silver resistance genes ( sil operon: silE, silS, silR, silC, silF, silB, silA , and silP ) and acquired extended-spectrum cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance genes ( bla CTX-M and bla KPC ) in Enterobacter cloacae Complex (EcC) ( n = 27) and Enterobacter aerogenes ( n = 8) isolated from inpatients at a general hospital. Moreover, the genetic background of the silA (silver-efflux pump) and the presence of other acquired heavy metal tolerance genes, pcoD (copper-efflux pump), arsB (arsenite-efflux pump), terF (tellurite resistance protein), and merA (mercuric reductase) were also investigated. Outstandingly, 21/27 (78%) EcC isolates harbored silA gene located in the chromosome. Complete sil operon was found in 19/21 silA -positive EcC isolates. Interestingly, 8/20 (40%) E. hormaechei and 5/6 (83%) E. asburiae co-harbored silA/pcoD genes and bla CTX-M-(15,2,or9) and/or bla KPC-2 genes. Frequent occurrences of arsB, terF , and merA genes were detected, especially in silA/pcoD -positive, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and/or CTX-M-producing isolates. Our study showed co-presence of antibiotic and heavy metal tolerance genes in MDR EcC isolates. In our viewpoint, there are few studies regarding to bacterial heavy metal tolerance and we call attention for more investigations and discussion about this issue in different hospital pathogens.

  4. Multidrug-Resistant CTX-M-(15, 9, 2)- and KPC-2-Producing Enterobacter hormaechei and Enterobacter asburiae Isolates Possessed a Set of Acquired Heavy Metal Tolerance Genes Including a Chromosomal sil Operon (for Acquired Silver Resistance)

    PubMed Central

    Andrade, Leonardo N.; Siqueira, Thiago E. S.; Martinez, Roberto; Darini, Ana Lucia C.

    2018-01-01

    Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is concern in healthcare-associated infections. On the other hand, bacterial tolerance to other antimicrobials, like heavy metals, has been neglected and underestimated in hospital pathogens. Silver has long been used as an antimicrobial agent and it seems to be an important indicator of heavy metal tolerance. To explore this perspective, we searched for the presence of acquired silver resistance genes (sil operon: silE, silS, silR, silC, silF, silB, silA, and silP) and acquired extended-spectrum cephalosporin and carbapenem resistance genes (blaCTX−M and blaKPC) in Enterobacter cloacae Complex (EcC) (n = 27) and Enterobacter aerogenes (n = 8) isolated from inpatients at a general hospital. Moreover, the genetic background of the silA (silver-efflux pump) and the presence of other acquired heavy metal tolerance genes, pcoD (copper-efflux pump), arsB (arsenite-efflux pump), terF (tellurite resistance protein), and merA (mercuric reductase) were also investigated. Outstandingly, 21/27 (78%) EcC isolates harbored silA gene located in the chromosome. Complete sil operon was found in 19/21 silA-positive EcC isolates. Interestingly, 8/20 (40%) E. hormaechei and 5/6 (83%) E. asburiae co-harbored silA/pcoD genes and blaCTX−M−(15,2,or9) and/or blaKPC−2 genes. Frequent occurrences of arsB, terF, and merA genes were detected, especially in silA/pcoD-positive, multidrug-resistant (MDR) and/or CTX-M-producing isolates. Our study showed co-presence of antibiotic and heavy metal tolerance genes in MDR EcC isolates. In our viewpoint, there are few studies regarding to bacterial heavy metal tolerance and we call attention for more investigations and discussion about this issue in different hospital pathogens. PMID:29628916

  5. Targeting the PD-L1/DNMT1 axis in acquired resistance to sorafenib in human hepatocellular carcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Jianhua; Liu, Yahui; Meng, Lingyu; Liu, Kai; Ji, Bai

    2017-01-01

    Molecule-targeted therapy, such as sorafenib, is one of the effectively therapeutic options for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, acquired resistance to sorafenib has been found in some HCC patients, resulting in poor prognosis. It is reported that PD-L1 and DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) contribute to drug resistance. In this study, by inducing sorafenib-resistant HCC cell lines, we investigated their molecular and functional characteristics. Our data indicated that highly upregulated DNMT1 was positively correlated with PD-L1 overexpression in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. We demonstrate that PD-L1 regulate DNMT1 through STAT3 signaling pathway. Knockdown of PD-L1 induced DNMT1-dependent DNA hypomethylation and restored the expression of methylation-silenced CDH1. Moreover, inactivation of NFκB blocked PD-L1/STAT3/DNMT1 pathway in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Functionally, genetic or pharmacological disruption of PD-L1 or/and DNMT1 sensitize HCC resistance to sorafenib. Importantly, dual inactivation of PD-L1 and DNMT1 by their inhibitor synergistically disrupts the colony formation of sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. These results demonstrate that targeting NFκB/PDL1/STAT3/DNMT1 axis is a new therapeutic strategy for preventing or overcoming the acquired resistance to sorafenib in HCC patients. PMID:28627705

  6. Nationwide Case-Control Study Examining the Association between Tamoxifen Use and Alzheimer's Disease in Aged Women with Breast Cancer in Taiwan.

    PubMed

    Liao, Kuan-Fu; Lin, Cheng-Li; Lai, Shih-Wei

    2017-01-01

    Background and Objectives: Little is known about the association between tamoxifen use and Alzheimer's disease in women with breast cancer. The study aimed to explore the association between tamoxifen use and Alzheimer's disease in aged women with breast cancer in Taiwan. Methods : We conducted a retrospective nationwide case-control study using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Totally, 173 female subjects with breast cancer aged ≥ 65 years with newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease from 2000 to 2011 were identified as the cases. Additionally, 684 female subjects with breast cancer aged ≥ 65 years without any type of dementia were selected as the matched controls. The cases and the matched controls were matched with age and comorbidities. Ever use of tamoxifen was defined as subjects who had at least a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. Never use of tamoxifen was defined as subjects who never had a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. We used the logistic regression model to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of Alzheimer's disease associated with tamoxifen use. Results : The OR of Alzheimer's disease was 3.09 for subjects with ever use of tamoxifen (95% CI 2.10, 4.55), compared with never use. The OR of Alzheimer's disease was 1.23 for subjects with increasing cumulative duration of tamoxifen use for every 1 year (95% CI 1.13, 1.34), compared with never use. Conclusion: The increased odds of Alzheimer's disease associated with tamoxifen use may be due to the survival effect, not the toxic effect. That is, the longer the tamoxifen use, the longer the patients survive, and the greater the likelihood that she may have a chance to develop Alzheimer's disease.

  7. The Effect of Tamoxifen on Thin Endometrium in Patients Undergoing Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer.

    PubMed

    Ke, Hanni; Jiang, Jingjing; Xia, Mingdi; Tang, Rong; Qin, Yingying; Chen, Zi-Jiang

    2018-06-01

    Tamoxifen has played a vital role in endocrine therapy for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. We examined the effect of tamoxifen in patients with a thin endometrium in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cycles and compared the improvement in endometrial thickness (EMT) and pregnancy outcomes stratified by different etiologies of thin endometrium. A total of 226 women were recruited for a new tamoxifen protocol; all had an EMT of less than 7.5 mm in previous cycles, including natural cycle (NC), hormone replacement treatment (HRT), and ovulation induction (OI) cycles. Compared with previous cycles, tamoxifen cycles showed a significantly increased EMT (from 6.11 ± 0.98 mm to 7.87 ± 1.48 mm in the NC group, from 6.24 ± 1.01 mm to 8.22 ± 1.67 mm in the HRT group, and from 6.34 ± 1.03 mm to 8.05 ± 1.58 mm in the OI group; all P < .001). Patients were further divided into 3 groups based on the causes of their thin endometrium: (1) history of intrauterine adhesion (n = 34), (2) history of uterine curettage (n = 141), and (3) polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS; n = 51). Patients with PCOS obtained the thickest EMT (9.31 ± 1.55 mm), the lowest cycle cancellation rate (11.76%), and the highest rate of clinical pregnancy (60%) and live birth (55.56%) per transfer ( P < .001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that EMT was related to live birth (odds ratio: 1.487; 95% confidence interval: 1.172-1.887). A tamoxifen protocol improves EMT in patients after NC, HRT, and OI cycles during FET. Patients with PCOS show the most benefit from tamoxifen and achieve better pregnancy outcomes.

  8. Tumors acquire inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP)-mediated apoptosis resistance through altered specificity of cytosolic proteolysis.

    PubMed

    Hong, Xu; Lei, Lu; Glas, Rickard

    2003-06-16

    Many tumors overexpress members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. IAPs contribute to tumor cell apoptosis resistance by the inhibition of caspases, and are degraded by the proteasome to allow further progression of apoptosis. Here we show that tumor cells can alter the specificity of cytosolic proteolysis in order to acquire apoptosis resistance, which promotes formation of rapidly growing tumors. Survival of tumor cells with low proteasomal activity can occur in the presence of high expression of Tri-peptidyl-peptidase II (TPP II), a large subtilisin-like peptidase that complements proteasomal activity. We find that this state leaves tumor cells unable of effectively degrading IAPs, and that cells in this state form rapidly growing tumors in vivo. We also find, in studies of apoptosis resistant cells derived from large in vivo tumors, that these have acquired an altered peptidase activity, with up-regulation of TPP II activity and decreased proteasomal activity. Importantly, we find that growth of subcutaneous tumors is limited by maintenance of the apoptosis resistant phenotype. The apoptosis resistant phenotype was reversed by increased expression of Smac/DIABLO, an antagonist of IAP molecules. Our data suggest a reversible mechanism in regulation of apoptosis resistance that drives tumor progression in vivo. These data are relevant in relation to the multitude of therapy-resistant clinical tumors that have increased levels of IAP molecules.

  9. The Working Memory and Dorsolateral Prefrontal-Hippocampal Functional Connectivity Changes in Long-Term Survival Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Tamoxifen

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Xingui; Tao, Longxiang; Li, Jingjing; Wu, Jiaonan; Zhu, Chunyan; Yu, Fengqiong; Zhang, Lei; Zhang, Jingjie; Qiu, Bensheng; Yu, Yongqiang; He, Xiaoxuan

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Background: Tamoxifen is the most widely used drug for treating patients with estrogen receptor-sensitive breast cancer. There is evidence that breast cancer patients treated with tamoxifen exhibit cognitive dysfunction. However, the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying working memory deficits in combination with functional connectivity changes in premenopausal women with breast cancer who received long-term tamoxifen treatment. Methods: A total of 31 premenopausal women with breast cancer who received tamoxifen and 32 matched healthy control participants were included. The participants completed n-back tasks and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, which measure working memory performance and brain functional connectivity, respectively. A seed-based functional connectivity analysis within the whole brain was conducted, for which the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was chosen as the seed region. Results: Our results indicated that the tamoxifen group had significant deficits in working memory and general executive function performance and significantly lower functional connectivity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with the right hippocampus compared with the healthy controls. There were no significant changes in functional connectivity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex within the whole brain between the tamoxifen group and healthy controls. Moreover, significant correlations were found in the tamoxifen group between the functional connectivity strength of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with the right hippocampus and decreased working memory performance. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus may be affected by tamoxifen treatment, supporting an antagonistic role of tamoxifen in the long-term treatment of breast cancer patients. PMID:28177081

  10. Antimicrobial resistance in Hispanic patients hospitalized in San Antonio, TX with community-acquired pneumonia.

    PubMed

    Restrepo, Marcos I; Velez, Maria I; Serna, Gloria; Anzueto, Antonio; Mortensen, Eric M

    2010-11-01

    Limited information is available on the antimicrobial resistance of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) depending on their ethnicity. Our aim was to compare the clinical characteristics, etiology, and microbiological resistance of Hispanic versus non-Hispanic white patients. A retrospective cohort of 601 patients with a diagnosis of CAP included 288 non-Hispanic whites and 313 Hispanics. Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae was more common among Hispanic patients (21.7% vs 0%; P=0.03) but there were no significant differences in macrolide-resistant S pneumoniae, drug-resistant S pneumoniae, or potential or actual multidrug-resistant pathogens (eg, drug-resistant S pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp., and Acinetobacter spp.). There were no differences among groups in length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or 30-day mortality. This study suggests that Hispanic patients with CAP have a higher rate of penicillin-resistant S pneumoniae, but no differences in antimicrobial resistance, 30-day mortality, ICU admission, or length of stay when compared with non-Hispanic white patients.

  11. A selective estrogen receptor modulator, tamoxifen, and membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in normotensive and hypertensive postmenopausal women: an electron paramagnetic resonance investigation.

    PubMed

    Tsuda, Kazushi; Nishio, Ichiro

    2005-08-01

    Recent studies have shown that tamoxifen, which belongs to a group called selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), may exert protective effects against cardiovascular diseases and stroke in postmenopausal women. On the other hand, abnormalities in physical properties of the cell membranes may underlie the defects that are strongly linked to hypertension, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. The present study was performed to investigate the effects of tamoxifen on cell membrane fluidity (a reciprocal value of membrane microviscosity) in normotensive and hypertensive postmenopausal women. We used an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin-labeling method. Tamoxifen significantly decreased the order parameter (S) for 5-nitroxide stearate (5-NS) and the peak height ratio (h(o)/h(-1)) for 16-NS obtained from EPR spectra of erythrocyte membranes in normotensive postmenopausal women (mean +/- SEM, order parameter value; control 0.719 +/- 0.002, n = 41; tamoxifen 1 x 10(-7) mol/L 0.704 +/- 0.002, n = 41, P < .0001; tamoxifen 1 x 10(-6) mol/L 0.696 +/- 0.002, n = 41, P < .0001; tamoxifen 1 x 10(-5) mol/L 0.692 +/- 0.002, n = 41, P < .0001). The finding indicated that tamoxifen increased the membrane fluidity and improved the membrane microviscosity of erythrocytes. The membrane action of tamoxifen was antagonized by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. The effect of tamoxifen was significantly potentiated by the nitric oxide (NO) donors, l-arginine and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, and a cGMP analog 8-bromo-cGMP. In contrast, the change evoked by tamoxifen was counteracted by the NO synthase inhibitors N(G)-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester and asymmetric dimethyl-l-arginine. In hypertensive postmenopausal women, the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes was significantly lower than in normotensive postmenopausal women. The effect of tamoxifen on the membrane fluidity was more pronounced in hypertensive postmenopausal women than in normotensive

  12. [Biochemical and genetic mechanisms for bacteria to acquire aminoglycoside antibiotic resistance].

    PubMed

    Hotta, K

    1997-05-01

    Aminoglycoside (AG)-modifying enzymes are the major biochemical basis for the AG resistance of clinically-occurring bacteria. Recent AG resistance profiles can be characterized by the involvement of AAC(6') in combination with other modifying enzymes in Gram negative bacteria. AAC(6')/APH(2") in Staphylococcus aureus is also remarkable. Genetic basis for the emergence or alteration of AG resistance profiles includes point mutations in the regulatory region or specific sites of the coding region of AG-modifying enzyme genes, and rearrangement of the genes caused by transposon and/or integron. In addition, semisynthetic AG antibiotics such as amikacin, arbekacin (ABK) and isepamicin were also reviewed for their stability to AG-modifying enzymes. ABK that has been widely used as an anti-MRSA drug in Japan is distinct from the other AGs because its monoacetylated derivatives (3"-N-acetylABK and 2'-N-acetylABK) by AG acetyltransferases, AAC(3) and AAC(2'), respectively, retain clear antibiotic activities. Based on this novel aspect and the lack of modification sites for APH(3') and ANT(4'), ABK should be regarded as the most refractory AG for bacteria to acquire resistance.

  13. Cytochrome P450 Genetic Variation Associated with Tamoxifen Biotransformation in American Indian and Alaska Native People

    PubMed Central

    Khan, Burhan A.; Robinson, Renee; Fohner, Alison E.; Muzquiz, LeeAnna I.; Schilling, Brian D.; Beans, Julie A.; Olnes, Matthew J.; Trawicki, Laura; Frydenlund, Holly; Laukes, Cindi; Beatty, Patrick; Phillips, Brian; Nickerson, Deborah; Howlett, Kevin; Dillard, Denise A.; Thornton, Timothy A.; Thummel, Kenneth E.

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Despite evidence that pharmacogenetics can improve tamoxifen pharmacotherapy, there are few studies with American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) people. We examined variation in cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes (CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP2C9) and tamoxifen biotransformation in AIAN patients with breast cancer (n = 42) from the Southcentral Foundation in Alaska and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Montana. We tested for associations between CYP diplotypes and plasma concentrations of tamoxifen and metabolites. Only the CYP2D6 variation was significantly associated with concentrations of endoxifen (P = 0.0008) and 4‐hydroxytamoxifen (P = 0.0074), tamoxifen's principal active metabolites, as well as key metabolic ratios. The CYP2D6 was also the most significant predictor of active metabolites and metabolic ratios in a multivariate regression model, including all four genes as predictors, with minor roles for other CYP genes. In AIAN populations, CYP2D6 is the largest contributor to tamoxifen bioactivation, illustrating the importance of validating pharmacogenetic testing for therapy optimization in an understudied population. PMID:29436156

  14. A pooled analysis of CYP2D6 genotype in breast cancer prevention trials of low-dose tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Johansson, Harriet; Gandini, Sara; Serrano, Davide; Gjerde, Jennifer; Lattanzi, Monia; Macis, Debora; Guerrieri-Gonzaga, Aliana; Aristarco, Valentina; Mellgren, Gunnar; Lien, Ernst; DeCensi, Andrea; Bonanni, Bernardo

    2016-08-01

    Decreased CYP2D6 activity is associated with lower levels of active tamoxifen metabolites. We examined the impact of CYP2D6 genotype on tamoxifen pharmacokinetics, biomarker activity, and efficacy in a pooled analysis of low-dose tamoxifen. Four randomized breast cancer prevention trials of very-low-dose (1 mg/day, n = 52 or 10 mg/week, n = 152) or low-dose tamoxifen (5 mg/day, n = 171) were pooled. DNA from 367 subjects was genotyped for CYP2D6 alleles associated with absent (PM allele: *3, *4, *5, *6, *7, *8, *12, and *14), reduced (IM allele: *9, *10, *17, *29, *41), normal (EM allele), or increased (UM: *XN) enzyme activity. Associations of tamoxifen, metabolites, activity biomarkers, and event-free survival with rapid (UM/EM, UM/IM, EM/EM, EM/IM, or EM/PM alleles) versus slow metabolizers (PM/IM or PM/PM) were investigated through random effects models, with 'study' as the random factor, and Cox regression models, adjusting for confounders. Rapid metabolizers had higher endoxifen levels than slow metabolizers: 15.3 versus 12.2 ng/mL (P = 0.018) with 5 mg/day, and 3.8 versus 2.8 ng/mL (P = 0.004) with 1 mg/day or 10 mg/week tamoxifen. The IGF-I decrease correlated with endoxifen (P = 0.002) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen levels, demonstrating steeper decreases at higher metabolite levels (P = 0.001). After a median follow-up of 12 years, rapid metabolizers with prior history of breast neoplasms allocated to tamoxifen 5 mg/day had a 60 % reduction of risk of recurrences (HR = 0.40, 95 % CI: 0.16-0.99) compared to slow metabolizers. CYP2D6 genotype may have an impact on tamoxifen efficacy at low doses. Trials investigating tamoxifen dose adjustments based on the woman's hormonal context and CYP2D6 genotype are warranted.

  15. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an emerging cause of acute bacterial parotitis.

    PubMed

    Nicolasora, Nelson P; Zacharek, Mark A; Malani, Anurag N

    2009-02-01

    Staphylococcus aureus has long been recognized as a cause of acute bacterial parotitis. A case of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) parotitis is presented, highlighting the emergence of this increasingly important pathogen to cause a wide variety of infections. Also reviewed are the salient clinical and microbiologic features of this novel infection.

  16. Monoterpenes Support Systemic Acquired Resistance within and between Plants

    PubMed Central

    Ghirardo, Andrea; Knappe, Claudia; Koch, Kerstin; Dey, Sanjukta; Parker, Jane E.

    2017-01-01

    This study investigates the role of volatile organic compounds in systemic acquired resistance (SAR), a salicylic acid (SA)-associated, broad-spectrum immune response in systemic, healthy tissues of locally infected plants. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analyses of SAR-related emissions of wild-type and non-SAR-signal-producing mutant plants associated SAR with monoterpene emissions. Headspace exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to a mixture of the bicyclic monoterpenes α-pinene and β-pinene induced defense, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and expression of SA- and SAR-related genes, including the SAR regulatory AZELAIC ACID INDUCED1 (AZI1) gene and three of its paralogs. Pinene-induced resistance was dependent on SA biosynthesis and signaling and on AZI1. Arabidopsis geranylgeranyl reductase1 mutants with reduced monoterpene biosynthesis were SAR-defective but mounted normal local resistance and methyl salicylate-induced defense responses, suggesting that monoterpenes act in parallel with SA. The volatile emissions from SAR signal-emitting plants induced defense in neighboring plants, and this was associated with the presence of α-pinene, β-pinene, and camphene in the emissions of the “sender” plants. Our data suggest that monoterpenes, particularly pinenes, promote SAR, acting through ROS and AZI1, and likely function as infochemicals in plant-to-plant signaling, thus allowing defense signal propagation between neighboring plants. PMID:28536145

  17. Monoterpenes Support Systemic Acquired Resistance within and between Plants.

    PubMed

    Riedlmeier, Marlies; Ghirardo, Andrea; Wenig, Marion; Knappe, Claudia; Koch, Kerstin; Georgii, Elisabeth; Dey, Sanjukta; Parker, Jane E; Schnitzler, Jörg-Peter; Vlot, A Corina

    2017-06-01

    This study investigates the role of volatile organic compounds in systemic acquired resistance (SAR), a salicylic acid (SA)-associated, broad-spectrum immune response in systemic, healthy tissues of locally infected plants. Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analyses of SAR-related emissions of wild-type and non-SAR-signal-producing mutant plants associated SAR with monoterpene emissions. Headspace exposure of Arabidopsis thaliana to a mixture of the bicyclic monoterpenes α-pinene and β-pinene induced defense, accumulation of reactive oxygen species, and expression of SA- and SAR-related genes, including the SAR regulatory AZELAIC ACID INDUCED1 ( AZI1 ) gene and three of its paralogs. Pinene-induced resistance was dependent on SA biosynthesis and signaling and on AZI1 Arabidopsis geranylgeranyl reductase1 mutants with reduced monoterpene biosynthesis were SAR-defective but mounted normal local resistance and methyl salicylate-induced defense responses, suggesting that monoterpenes act in parallel with SA The volatile emissions from SAR signal-emitting plants induced defense in neighboring plants, and this was associated with the presence of α-pinene, β-pinene, and camphene in the emissions of the "sender" plants. Our data suggest that monoterpenes, particularly pinenes, promote SAR, acting through ROS and AZI1 , and likely function as infochemicals in plant-to-plant signaling, thus allowing defense signal propagation between neighboring plants. © 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

  18. Extraction of tamoxifen and its metabolites from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues: an innovative quantitation method using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Ng, Ella S M; Kangarloo, S Bill; Konno, Mie; Paterson, Alexander; Magliocco, Anthony M

    2014-03-01

    Tamoxifen is a key therapeutic option for breast cancer treatment. Understanding its complex metabolism and pharmacokinetics is important for dose optimization. We examined the possibility of utilizing archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue as an alternative sample source for quantification since well-annotated retrospective samples were always limited. Six 15 μm sections of FFPE tissues were deparaffinized with xylene and purified using solid-phase extraction. Tamoxifen and its metabolites were separated and detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using multiple-reaction monitoring. This method was linear between 0.4 and 200 ng/g for 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen, and 4-2,000 ng/g for tamoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen. Inter- and intra-assay precisions were <9 %, and mean accuracies ranged from 81 to 106 %. Extraction recoveries were between 83 and 88 %. The validated method was applied to FFPE tissues from two groups of patients, who received 20 mg/day of tamoxifen for >6 months, and were classified into breast tumor recurrence and non-recurrence. Our preliminary data show that levels of tamoxifen metabolites were significantly lower in patients with recurrent cancer, suggesting that inter-individual variability in tamoxifen metabolism might partly account for the development of cancer recurrence. Nevertheless, other causes such as non-compliance or stopping therapy of tamoxifen could possibly lead to the concentration differences. The ability to successfully study tamoxifen metabolism in such tissue samples will rapidly increase our knowledge of how tamoxifen's action, metabolism and tissue distribution contribute to breast cancer control. However, larger population studies are required to understand the underlying mechanism of tamoxifen metabolism for optimization of its treatment.

  19. New Real-Time PCR Assays for Detection of Inducible and Acquired Clarithromycin Resistance in the Mycobacterium abscessus Group.

    PubMed

    Shallom, Shamira J; Moura, Natalia S; Olivier, Kenneth N; Sampaio, Elizabeth P; Holland, Steven M; Zelazny, Adrian M

    2015-11-01

    Members of the Mycobacterium abscessus group (MAG) cause lung, soft tissue, and disseminated infections. The oral macrolides clarithromycin and azithromycin are commonly used for treatment. MAG can display clarithromycin resistance through the inducible erm(41) gene or via acquired mutations in the rrl (23S rRNA) gene. Strains harboring a truncation or a T28C substitution in erm(41) lose the inducible resistance trait. Phenotypic detection of clarithromycin resistance requires extended incubation (14 days), highlighting the need for faster methods to detect resistance. Two real-time PCR-based assays were developed to assess inducible and acquired clarithromycin resistance and tested on a total of 90 clinical and reference strains. A SYBR green assay was designed to distinguish between a full-length and truncated erm(41) gene by temperature shift in melting curve analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) allele discrimination assays were developed to distinguish T or C at position 28 of erm(41) and 23S rRNA rrl gene mutations at position 2058 and/or 2059. Truncated and full-size erm(41) genes were detected in 21/90 and 69/90 strains, respectively, with 64/69 displaying T at nucleotide position 28 and 5/69 containing C at that position. Fifteen isolates showed rrl mutations conferring clarithromycin resistance, including A2058G (11 isolates), A2058C (3 isolates), and A2059G (1 isolate). Targeted sequencing and phenotypic assessment of resistance concurred with molecular assay results. Interestingly, we also noted cooccurring strains harboring an active erm(41), inactive erm(41), and/or acquired mutational resistance, as well as slowly growing MAG strains and also strains displaying an inducible resistance phenotype within 5 days, long before the recommended 14-day extended incubation. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  20. Trend and seasonality of community-acquired Escherichia coli antimicrobial resistance and its dynamic relationship with antimicrobial use assessed by ARIMA models.

    PubMed

    Asencio Egea, María Ángeles; Huertas Vaquero, María; Carranza González, Rafael; Herráez Carrera, Óscar; Redondo González, Olga; Arias Arias, Ángel

    2017-12-04

    We studied the trend and seasonality of community-acquired Escherichia coli resistance and quantified its correlation with the previous use of certain antibiotics. A time series study of resistant community-acquired E. coli isolates and their association with antibiotic use was conducted in a Primary Health Care Area from 2008 to 2012. A Poisson regression model was constructed to estimate the trend and seasonality of E. coli resistance. A significant increasing trend in mean E. coli resistance to cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and nitrofurantoin was observed. Seasonal resistance to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid was significantly higher in autumn-winter. There was a delay of 7, 10 and 12 months between the use of cotrimoxazole (P<0.038), fosfomycin (P<0.024) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (P<0.015), respectively, and the occurrence of E. coli resistance. An average delay of 10 months between the previous use of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole and fosfomycin and the appearance of resistant community-acquired E. coli strains was detected. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

  1. Risk of skin cancer following tamoxifen treatment in more than 16,000 breast cancer patients: a cohort study.

    PubMed

    Praestegaard, Camilla; Kjaer, Susanne K; Andersson, Michael; Steding-Jensen, Marianne; Frederiksen, Kirsten; Mellemkjaer, Lene

    2016-11-01

    Women with breast cancer are at increased risk of developing skin cancer. Little is known about how tamoxifen affects this risk. We aimed to investigate whether tamoxifen treatment following breast cancer is associated with skin cancer. A cohort consisting of 44,589 women diagnosed with breast cancer during 1977-2007 from the nationwide clinical database of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group, was followed for a primary skin cancer [basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or melanoma] in the Danish Cancer Registry supplemented by data on BCC and SCC from the Danish Pathology Register. We investigated incidence of skin cancer among 16,214 women treated with tamoxifen compared to 28,375 women not treated with tamoxifen by calculating incidence rate ratios (IRRs) in Cox regression models. Tamoxifen users were followed for a median of 2.9 years. The median duration of tamoxifen treatment increased from around 1 year among women diagnosed before 1999 to nearly 2.5 years among women diagnosed in 1999 or later. Women treated with tamoxifen had an IRR 1.06 (95 % CI 0.72-1.55) for SCC and an IRR 1.40 (95 % CI 0.95-2.08) for melanoma when compared to non-users. The observed number of these types of cancer (37 SCCs and 38 melanomas among users) did not allow stratification on calendar-period. The overall IRR for BCC was 0.96 (95 % CI 0.84-1.09), but the IRR differed by menopausal status and calendar-period at diagnosis of breast cancer. Our overall results indicate that tamoxifen is not associated with skin cancer. However, the inconsistency of results from stratifications prevents a firm conclusion.

  2. Endocrine effects of adjuvant letrozole compared with tamoxifen in hormone-responsive postmenopausal patients with early breast cancer: the HOBOE trial.

    PubMed

    Rossi, Emanuela; Morabito, Alessandro; Di Rella, Francesca; Esposito, Giuseppe; Gravina, Adriano; Labonia, Vincenzo; Landi, Gabriella; Nuzzo, Francesco; Pacilio, Carmen; De Maio, Ermelinda; Di Maio, Massimo; Piccirillo, Maria Carmela; De Feo, Gianfranco; D'Aiuto, Giuseppe; Botti, Gerardo; Chiodini, Paolo; Gallo, Ciro; Perrone, Francesco; de Matteis, Andrea

    2009-07-01

    PURPOSE We compared the endocrine effects of 6 and 12 months of adjuvant letrozole versus tamoxifen in postmenopausal patients with hormone-responsive early breast cancer within an ongoing phase III trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were randomly assigned to receive tamoxifen, letrozole, or letrozole plus zoledronic acid. Serum values of estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S), progesterone, and cortisol were measured at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of treatment. For each hormone, changes from baseline at 6 and 12 months were compared between treatment groups, and differences over time for each group were analyzed. Results Hormonal data were available for 139 postmenopausal patients with a median age of 62 years, with 43 patients assigned to tamoxifen and 96 patients assigned to letrozole alone or combined with zoledronic acid. Baseline values were similar between the two groups for all hormones. Many significant changes were observed between drugs and for each drug over time. Namely, three hormones seemed significantly affected by one drug only: estradiol that decreased and progesterone that increased with letrozole and cortisol that increased with tamoxifen. Both drugs affected FSH (decreasing with tamoxifen and slightly increasing with letrozole), LH (decreasing more with tamoxifen than with letrozole), testosterone (slightly increasing with letrozole but not enough to differ from tamoxifen), and DHEA-S (increasing with both drugs but not differently between them). Zoledronic acid did not have significant impact on hormonal levels. CONCLUSION Adjuvant letrozole and tamoxifen result in significantly distinct endocrine effects. Such differences can explain the higher efficacy of letrozole as compared with tamoxifen.

  3. AMPK activation and metabolic reprogramming by tamoxifen through estrogen receptor-independent mechanisms suggests new uses for this therapeutic modality in cancer treatment

    PubMed Central

    Daurio, Natalie A.; Tuttle, Stephen W.; Worth, Andrew J.; Song, Ethan Y.; Davis, Julianne M.; Snyder, Nathaniel W.; Blair, Ian A.; Koumenis, Constantinos

    2016-01-01

    Tamoxifen is the most widely used adjuvant chemotherapeutic for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer, yet a large body of clinical and preclinical data indicates that tamoxifen can modulate multiple cellular processes independently of ER status. Here, we describe the ER-independent effects of tamoxifen on tumor metabolism. Using combined pharmacological and genetic knockout approaches, we demonstrate that tamoxifen inhibits oxygen consumption via inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, resulting in an increase in the AMP/ATP ratio and activation of the AMPK signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. AMPK in turn promotes glycolysis, and alters fatty acid metabolism. We also show that tamoxifen-induced cytotoxicity is modulated by isoform-specific effects of AMPK signaling, in which AMPKα1 promotes cell death through inhibition of the mTOR pathway and translation. By using agents which concurrently target distinct adaptive responses to tamoxifen-mediated metabolic reprogramming, we demonstrate increased cytotoxicity through synergistic therapeutic approaches. Our results demonstrate novel metabolic perturbations by tamoxifen in tumor cells which can be exploited to expand the therapeutic potential of tamoxifen treatment beyond ER+ breast cancer. PMID:27020861

  4. Estrogen receptor antagonism uncovers gender-dimorphic suppression of whole body fat oxidation in humans: differential effects of tamoxifen on the GH and gonadal axes.

    PubMed

    Birzniece, Vita; Ho, Ken K Y

    2015-10-01

    Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, suppresses GH secretion in women but not in men. It increases testosterone levels in men. As GH and testosterone stimulate fat metabolism, the metabolic consequences of tamoxifen may be greater in women than in men. To determine whether tamoxifen suppresses fat oxidation (Fox) to a greater degree in women than in men. An open-label study of ten healthy postmenopausal women and ten healthy men receiving 2-week treatment with tamoxifen (20  mg/day). GH response to arginine stimulation, serum levels of IGF1, testosterone and LH (men only), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and whole body basal and postprandial Fox. In women, tamoxifen significantly reduced the mean GH response to arginine stimulation (Δ -87%, P<0.05) and circulating IGF1 levels (Δ -23.5±5.4%, P<0.01). Tamoxifen reduced postprandial Fox in women (Δ -34.6±10.3%; P<0.05). In men, tamoxifen did not affect the GH response to arginine stimulation but significantly reduced mean IGF1 levels (Δ -24.8±6.1%, P<0.01). Tamoxifen increased mean testosterone levels (Δ 52±14.2%; P<0.01). Fox was not significantly affected by tamoxifen in men. Tamoxifen attenuated the GH response to stimulation and reduced postprandial Fox in women but not in men. We conclude that at a therapeutic dose, the suppressive effect of tamoxifen on fat metabolism is gender-dependent. Higher testosterone levels may mitigate the suppression of GH secretion and Fox during tamoxifen treatment in men. © 2015 European Society of Endocrinology.

  5. Tamoxifen in the treatment of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

    PubMed

    Thigpen, T; Brady, M F; Homesley, H D; Soper, J T; Bell, J

    2001-01-15

    In two large Gynecologic Oncology Group studies of patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma and no previous systemic therapy, progestins have demonstrated activity against advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma with response rates between 15% and 25%. Tamoxifen has been reported as variously active or inactive with or without previous systemic therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether tamoxifen exhibits enough activity in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, who have not received systemic therapy, to warrant a phase III trial. Sixty-eight eligible patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma received oral tamoxifen 20 mg bid until toxicity was unacceptable or disease progressed. Three complete (4%) and four partial (6%) responses were observed for an overall response rate of 10% (90% confidence interval [CI], 5.7% to 17.9%). Patients with tumors that were more anaplastic tended to respond less frequently. The median progression-free survival for all 68 eligible patients was 1.9 months (90% CI, 1.7 to 3.2 months). The median survival was 8.8 months (90% CI, 7.0 to 10.1 months). Tamoxifen demonstrated modest activity at best against endometrial carcinoma and does not warrant further investigation as a single agent for this disease. Ongoing trials will assess the sequential use of tamoxifen and progestational agents.

  6. Identification of genes differentially expressed in association with acquired cisplatin resistance

    PubMed Central

    Johnsson, A; Zeelenberg, I; Min, Y; Hilinski, J; Berry, C; Howell, S B; Los, G

    2000-01-01

    The goal of this study was to identify genes whose mRNA levels are differentially expressed in human cells with acquired cisplatin (cDDP) resistance. Using the parental UMSCC10b head and neck carcinoma cell line and the 5.9-fold cDDP-resistant subline, UMSCC10b/Pt-S15, two suppressive subtraction hybridization (SSH) cDNA libraries were prepared. One library represented mRNAs whose levels were increased in the cDDP resistant variant (the UP library), the other one represented mRNAs whose levels were decreased in the resistant cells (the DOWN library). Arrays constructed with inserts recovered from these libraries were hybridized with SSH products to identify truly differentially expressed elements. A total of 51 cDNA fragments present in the UP library and 16 in the DOWN library met the criteria established for differential expression. The sequences of 87% of these cDNA fragments were identified in Genbank. Among the mRNAs in the UP library that were frequently isolated and that showed high levels of differential expression were cytochrome oxidase I, ribosomal protein 28S, elongation factor 1α, α-enolase, stathmin, and HSP70. The approach taken in this study permitted identification of many genes never before linked to the cDDP-resistant phenotype. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign PMID:10993653

  7. [Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children].

    PubMed

    Frick, Marie Antoinette; Moraga-Llop, Fernando A; Bartolomé, Rosa; Larrosa, Nieves; Campins, Magda; Roman, Yuani; Vindel, Ana; Figueras, Concepció

    2010-12-01

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections were first reported in the 1990s. Young, healthy individuals are frequently affected. The incidence of CA-MRSA in Spain is increasing. All children seen between August 2006 and January 2009 with CA-MRSA infections were included. The S. aureus isolates were studied by conventional techniques, their antibiotic susceptibility by agar disk diffusion, the presence of mecA gene was detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the gene encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) by conventional PCR. CA-MRSA colonization was studied both in patients and their family members. CA-MRSA was isolated in 15 samples from 12 patients, aged between 6 days and 14 years. Half of them were not native. Eight patients required hospital admission. The most common clinical presentation was skin and soft tissue infection (92%). Secondary CA-MRSA bacteraemia was present in two patients. All strains were PVL producers and two were resistant to macrolides associated to methicillin resistance and one of them was also resistant to lincosamides. An intra-familial transmission was identified. The clinical outcome was favourable in all patients. CA-MRSA infections are emerging in Spain. Empirical treatment of skin and soft tissue infections should not be changed, since their incidence is still low. The drainage of CA-MRSA suppurative infections plays an important role in their treatment. Clindamycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole should be used for mild or moderate skin and soft tissue infections. Controlling the spread of these strains presents a challenge in the community today. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

  8. Update on HIV-1 acquired and transmitted drug resistance in Africa.

    PubMed

    Ssemwanga, Deogratius; Lihana, Raphael W; Ugoji, Chinenye; Abimiku, Alash'le; Nkengasong, John; Dakum, Patrick; Ndembi, Nicaise

    2015-01-01

    The last ten years have witnessed a significant scale-up and access to antiretroviral therapy in Africa, which has improved patient quality of life and survival. One major challenge associated with increased access to antiretroviral therapy is the development of antiretroviral resistance due to inconsistent drug supply and/or poor patient adherence. We review the current state of both acquired and transmitted drug resistance in Africa over the past ten years (2001-2011) to identify drug resistance associated with the different drug regimens used on the continent and to help guide affordable strategies for drug resistance surveillance. A total of 161 references (153 articles, six reports and two conference abstracts) were reviewed. Antiretroviral resistance data was available for 40 of 53 African countries. A total of 5,541 adult patients from 99 studies in Africa were included in this analysis. The pooled prevalence of drug resistance mutations in Africa was 10.6%, and Central Africa had the highest prevalence of 54.9%. The highest prevalence of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor mutations was in the west (55.3%) and central (54.8%) areas; nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor mutations were highest in East Africa (57.0%) and protease inhibitors mutations highest in Southern Africa (16.3%). The major nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor mutation in all four African regions was M184V. Major nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor as well as protease inhibitor mutations varied by region. The prevalence of drug resistance has remained low in several African countries although the emergence of drug resistance mutations varied across countries. Continued surveillance of antiretroviral therapy resistance remains crucial in gauging the effectiveness of country antiretroviral therapy programs and strategizing on effective and affordable strategies for successful treatment.

  9. Overcoming acquired drug resistance in colorectal cancer cells by targeted delivery of 5-FU with EGF grafted hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Lijue; She, Xiaodong; Wang, Tao; He, Li; Shigdar, Sarah; Duan, Wei; Kong, Lingxue

    2015-08-01

    Acquired drug resistance (ADR) can be developed in colorectal cancer cells after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment and diminish the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In this work, acquired 5-FU resistance in the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was obtained with the up-regulation of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene expression which can convert 5-FU to its inactive metabolite. To overcome ADR in colorectal cancer, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) grafted with epidermal growth factor (EGF) were used as nanocarriers to deliver 5-FU to colorectal cancer cells with acquired drug resistance. The effect and mechanism of 5-FU loaded EGF grafted HMSNs (EGF-HMSNs-5-FU) in overcoming acquired drug resistance in SW480/ADR cells were studied. The EGF-HMSNs were demonstrated to be specifically internalized in EGFR overexpressed SW480/ADR cells via a receptor-mediated endocytosis and can escape from endo-lysosomes. The EGF-HMSNs-5-FU exhibited much higher cytotoxicity on SW480/ADR cells than HMSNs-5-FU and free 5-FU while the plain HMSNs did not show significant cytotoxicity. The mechanism of EGF-HMSNs-5-FU in overcoming drug resistance in SW480/ADR cells could be attributed to the specific internalization of EGF-HMSNs-5-FU in EGFR overexpressed cells which can lead to high intracellular drug accumulation and cause cell death through S phase arrest.Acquired drug resistance (ADR) can be developed in colorectal cancer cells after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) treatment and diminish the effectiveness of chemotherapy. In this work, acquired 5-FU resistance in the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 was obtained with the up-regulation of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) gene expression which can convert 5-FU to its inactive metabolite. To overcome ADR in colorectal cancer, hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) grafted with epidermal growth factor (EGF) were used as nanocarriers to deliver 5-FU to colorectal cancer cells with acquired drug resistance. The

  10. Induction of MEK/ERK activity by AZD8055 confers acquired resistance in neuroblastoma.

    PubMed

    Xu, Dong-Qing; Toyoda, Hidemi; Qi, Lei; Morimoto, Mari; Hanaki, Ryo; Iwamoto, Shotaro; Komada, Yoshihiro; Hirayama, Masahiro

    2018-05-15

    Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex (mTORC) is frequently activated in diverse cancers. Although dual mTORC1/2 inhibitors are currently under development to treat various malignancies, the emergence of drug resistance has proven to be a major complication. AZD8055 is a novel, potent ATP-competitive and specific inhibitor of mTOR kinase activity, which blocks both mTORC1 and mTORC2 activation. In this study, we acquired AZD8055-resistant neuroblastoma (NB) cell sublines by using prolonged stepwise escalation of AZD8055 exposure (4-12 weeks). Here we demonstrate that the AZD8055-resistant sublines (TGW-R and SMS-KAN-R) exhibited marked resistance to AZD8055 compared to the parent cells (TGW and SMS-KAN). The cell cycle G1/S transition was advanced in resistant cells. In addition, the resistance against AZD8055 correlated with over-activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, combination of AZD8055 and MEK inhibitor U0126 enhanced the growth inhibition of resistant cells significantly in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, these data show that targeting mTOR kinase and MEK/ERK signaling simultaneously might help to overcome AZD8055 resistance in NB. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Tamoxifen metabolite isomer separation and quantification by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Jaremko, Malgorzata; Kasai, Yumi; Barginear, Myra F; Raptis, George; Desnick, Robert J; Yu, Chunli

    2010-12-15

    Tamoxifen (Tam), the antiestrogen used to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is a pro-drug that is converted to its major active metabolites, endoxifen and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen (4-OH-Tam) by various biotransformation enzymes of which cytochrome P450-2D6 (CYP2D6) is key. The usual Tam dose is 20 mg daily; however, the plasma active metabolite concentrations vary due to common genetic variants encoding the biotransformation enzymes and environmental factors (e.g., concomitant drugs) that inhibit these enzymes. Effective treatment depends on adequate Tam conversion to its active isomers. To monitor metabolite plasma levels, a novel liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to separate and quantitate Tam, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (ND-Tam), and tamoxifen-N-oxide (Tam-N-oxide), and the E, Z, and Z' isomers of endoxifen and 4-OH-Tam. Known standards were used to identify each metabolite/isomer. Quantitation of these metabolites in plasma was linear from 0.6 to 2000 nM. Intra- and inter-assay reproducibilities were 0.2-8.4% and 0.6-6.3%, respectively. Accuracy determined by spike experiments with known standards was 86-103%. Endoxifen, 4-OH-Tam, and their isomers were stable in fresh frozen plasma for ≥6 months. This method provides the first sensitive, specific, accurate, and reproducible quantitation of Tam and its metabolite isomers for monitoring Tam-treated breast cancer patients.

  12. STAT3-targeted treatment with silibinin overcomes the acquired resistance to crizotinib in ALK-rearranged lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Cuyàs, Elisabet; Pérez-Sánchez, Almudena; Micol, Vicente; Menendez, Javier A; Bosch-Barrera, Joaquim

    2016-12-16

    The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been suggested to play a prominent role in mediating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) resistance to some tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-mediated therapies. Using a model of anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene (ALK)-translocated NSCLC with acquired resistance to the ALK TKI crizotinib, but lacking amplifications or mutations in the kinase domain of ALK, we herein present evidence that STAT3 activation is a novel mechanism of crizotinib resistance that involves the upregulation of immune escape and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling pathways. Taking advantage of the flavonolignan silibinin as a naturally occurring STAT3-targeted pharmacological inhibitor, we confirmed that STAT3 activation protects ALK-translocated NSCLC from crizotinib. Accordingly, silibinin-induced inhibition of STAT3 worked synergistically with crizotinib to reverse acquired resistance and restore sensitivity in crizotinib-resistant cells. Moreover, silibinin treatment significantly inhibited the upregulation of the immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 and also EMT regulators (e.g., SLUG, VIM, CD44) in crizotinib-refractory cells. These findings provide a valuable strategy to potentially improve the efficacy of ALK inhibition by cotreatment with silibinin-based therapeutics, which merit clinical investigation for ALK TKI-resistant NSCLC patients.

  13. Adjuvant tamoxifen and exemestane in early breast cancer (TEAM): a randomised phase 3 trial.

    PubMed

    van de Velde, Cornelis J H; Rea, Daniel; Seynaeve, Caroline; Putter, Hein; Hasenburg, Annette; Vannetzel, Jean-Michel; Paridaens, Robert; Markopoulos, Christos; Hozumi, Yasuo; Hille, Elysee T M; Kieback, Dirk G; Asmar, Lina; Smeets, Jan; Nortier, Johan W R; Hadji, Peyman; Bartlett, John M S; Jones, Stephen E

    2011-01-22

    Aromatase inhibitors improved disease-free survival compared with tamoxifen when given as an initial adjuvant treatment or after 2-3 years of tamoxifen to postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. We therefore compared the long-term effects of exemestane monotherapy with sequential treatment (tamoxifen followed by exemestane). The Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) phase 3 trial was conducted in hospitals in nine countries. Postmenopausal women (median age 64 years, range 35-96) with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to open-label exemestane (25 mg once a day, orally) alone or following tamoxifen (20 mg once a day, orally) for 5 years. Randomisation was by use of a computer-generated random permuted block method. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years. Main analyses were by intention to treat. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00279448, NCT00032136, and NCT00036270; NTR 267; Ethics Commission Trial27/2001; and UMIN, C000000057. 9779 patients were assigned to sequential treatment (n=4875) or exemestane alone (n=4904), and 4868 and 4898 were analysed by intention to treat, respectively. 4154 (85%) patients in the sequential group and 4186 (86%) in the exemestane alone group were disease free at 5 years (hazard ratio 0·97, 95% CI 0·88-1·08; p=0·60). In the safety analysis, sequential treatment was associated with a higher incidence of gynaecological symptoms (942 [20%] of 4814 vs 523 [11%] of 4852), venous thrombosis (99 [2%] vs 47 [1%]), and endometrial abnormalities (191 [4%] vs 19 [<1%]) than was exemestane alone. Musculoskeletal adverse events (2448 [50%] vs 2133 [44%]), hypertension (303 [6%] vs 219 [5%]), and hyperlipidaemia (230 [5%] vs 136 [3%]) were reported more frequently with exemestane alone. Treatment regimens of exemestane alone or after tamoxifen might be judged to be appropriate options for postmenopausal women with

  14. [GPER silence inhibits the stimulation of growth and inhibition of apoptosis induced by tamoxifen in breast cancer-associated fibroblasts].

    PubMed

    Yan, Yuzhao; Yu, Tenghua; Tu, Gang; Liu, Manran; Yuan, Jie; Yang, Guanglun

    2015-09-01

    To construct a lentiviral vector (Lenti-GPER-shRNA) targeting G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) and explore the role of GPER in the effect of tamoxifen on cell proliferation and apoptosis in breast cancer associated fibroblasts (BCAFs). The target sequence of GPER gene and negative control were cloned into lentiviral vectors. The recombinant lentivirus and control were extracted after HEK293T cells were transfected with the recombinant vector and helper vectors. After infection of BCAFs with the GPER lentiviral vector under the best interfering condition, GPER expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting. BCAFs were divided into negative control group, GPER-RNAi group, negative control combined with tamoxifen (10(-8) mmol/L) group and GPER-RNAi combined with tamoxifen (10(-8) mmol/L) group. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation and annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (annexin V-FITC/PI) combined with flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of BCAFs after the treatment of tamoxifen. Lenti-GPER-shRNA significantly interfered the expression of GPER in BCAFs. Tamoxifen promoted the growth of BCAFs, which could be attenuated by knockdown of GPER. Moreover, the apoptosis of BCAFs was reduced by tamoxifen, which was also reversed by knockdown of GPER. Lenti-GPER-shRNA could effectively silence the GPER expression in BCAFs. The ability of tamoxifen to accelerate cell proliferation and decrease cell apoptosis could be weakened by knockdown of GPER.

  15. Functional polymorphisms in UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and recurrence in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer survivors

    PubMed Central

    Ahern, Thomas P.; Christensen, Mariann; Cronin-Fenton, Deirdre P.; Lunetta, Kathryn L.; Søiland, Håvard; Gjerde, Jennifer; Garne, Jens Peter; Rosenberg, Carol L.; Silliman, Rebecca A.; Sørensen, Henrik Toft; Lash, Timothy L.; Hamilton-Dutoit, Stephen

    2011-01-01

    Background Tamoxifen is oxidized by cytochrome-P450 enzymes (e.g., CYP2D6) to two active metabolites, which are eliminated via glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). We measured the association between functional polymorphisms in key UGTs (UGT2B15*2, UGT2B7*2, and UGT1A8*3) and the recurrence rate among breast cancer survivors. Methods We used the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group registry to identify 541 cases of recurrent breast cancer among women with estrogen receptor-positive tumors treated with tamoxifen for at least one year (ER+/TAM+), and 300 cases of recurrent breast cancer among women with estrogen receptor-negative tumors who were not treated with tamoxifen (ER−/TAM−). We matched 1 control to each case on ER status, menopausal status, stage, calendar period, and county. UGT polymorphisms were genotyped from archived primary tumors. We estimated the recurrence odds ratio for the UGT polymorphisms using logistic regression models, with and without stratification on CYP2D6*4 genotype. Results No UGT polymorphism was associated with breast cancer recurrence in either the ER+/TAM+ or ER-/TAM- groups [in the ER+TAM+ group, compared with two normal alleles: adjusted OR for two UGT2B15*2 variant alleles = 1.0 (95% CI: 0.70, 1.5); adjusted OR for two for UGT2B7*2 variant alleles = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.65, 1.3); adjusted OR for 1 or 2 UGT1A8*3 variant alleles = 0.75 (0.41, 1.4)]. Associations were similar within strata of CYP2D6*4 genotype. Conclusions Functional polymorphisms in key tamoxifen-metabolizing enzymes were not associated with breast cancer recurrence risk. Impact Our results do not support the genotyping of key metabolic enzyme polymorphisms to predict response to tamoxifen therapy. PMID:21750172

  16. Size and oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein particles in breast cancer patients with tamoxifen-induced fatty liver.

    PubMed

    Wakatsuki, Akihiko; Ogawa, Yasuhiro; Saibara, Toshiji; Okatani, Yuji; Fukaya, Takao

    2002-08-01

    The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of tamoxifen on the size and oxidative susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles in breast cancer patients with tamoxifen-induced fatty liver. We investigated the following breast cancer patients: 13 receiving no tamoxifen (group A), 13 receiving tamoxifen 40 mg daily but without fatty liver (group B), and 13 receiving tamoxifen 40 mg daily with fatty liver (group C). Plasma lipids and diameter of LDL particles were measured. Susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was analyzed by incubation with CuSO(4) while monitoring conjugated diene formation and assaying thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Plasma total and LDL cholesterol concentrations in groups B and C were significantly lower than those in group A. In group C, concentrations of plasma triglyceride (TG) and TBARS were significantly greater, but LDL particle diameter and lag time for LDL oxidation were significantly smaller than those in groups A and B. Plasma TG concentrations correlated negatively with computed tomography ratio of liver to spleen (r = -0.76; P < 0.001). LDL particle diameter correlated negatively with plasma TG (r = -0.62; P < 0.001) and TBARS (r = -0.44; P < 0.01), but positively with LDL lag time (r = 0.47; P < 0.01). Tamoxifen-induced fatty liver in breast cancer patients may be atherogenic, via increased TG and consequent small, easily oxidized LDL particles.

  17. Highly sensitive simultaneous quantification of estrogenic tamoxifen metabolites and steroid hormones by LC-MS/MS.

    PubMed

    Johänning, Janina; Heinkele, Georg; Precht, Jana C; Brauch, Hiltrud; Eichelbaum, Michel; Schwab, Matthias; Schroth, Werner; Mürdter, Thomas E

    2015-09-01

    Tamoxifen is a mainstay in the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and is metabolized to more than 30 different compounds. Little is known about in vivo concentrations of estrogenic metabolites E-metabolite E, Z-metabolite E, and bisphenol and their relevance for tamoxifen efficacy. Therefore, we developed a highly sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS quantification method for tamoxifen metabolites bisphenol, E-metabolite E, and Z-metabolite E as well as for the sex steroid hormones estradiol, estrone, testosterone, androstenedione, and progesterone. Plasma samples were subjected to protein precipitation followed by solid phase extraction. Upon derivatization with 3-[(N-succinimide-1-yl)oxycarbonyl]-1-methylpyridinium iodide, all analytes were separated on a sub-2-μm column with a gradient of acetonitrile in water with 0.1 % of formic acid. Analytes were detected on a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Our method demonstrated high sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The lower limits of quantification were 12, 8, and 25 pM for bisphenol, E-metabolite E, and Z-metabolite E, respectively, and 4 pM for estradiol and estrogen, 50 pM for testosterone and androstenedione, and 25 pM for progesterone. The method was applied to plasma samples of postmenopausal patients taken at baseline and under tamoxifen therapy. Graphical Abstract Sample preparation and derivatization for highly sensitive quantification of estrogenic tamoxifen metabolites and steroid hormones by HPLC-MS/MS.

  18. Pneumococcal antimicrobial resistance: therapeutic strategy and management in community-acquired pneumonia.

    PubMed

    Aspa, Javier; Rajas, Olga; de Castro, Felipe Rodríguez

    2008-02-01

    Streptococcus pneumoniae has been consistently shown to represent the most frequent causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and pneumococcal antibiotic resistance towards different families of antibiotics continues to be a much-debated issue. Microbial resistance causes a great deal of confusion in choosing an empirical treatment for pneumonia and this makes it necessary to know which factors actually determine the real impact of antimicrobial resistance on the outcome of pneumococcal infections. Several different aspects have to be taken into account when analyzing this matter, such as the study design, the condition of the patient at the time of diagnosis, the choice of the initial antimicrobial regimen (combination or monotherapy) and the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic variables of the chosen antibiotic. It is generally accepted that in the treatment of beta-lactam-resistant pneumococcal infections, the use of standard antipneumococcal beta-lactam agents is unlikely to impact negatively on the outcome of CAP when appropriate agents are given in sufficient doses. As a general rule, for infections with penicillin-sensitive strains, penicillin or an aminopenicillin in a standard dosage will be effective; in the cases of strains with intermediate resistance, beta-lactam agents are still considered appropriate treatment although higher dosages are recommended; finally, infections with isolates of high-level penicillin resistance should be treated with alternative agents such as the third-generation cephalosporins or the new antipneumococcal fluoroquinolones. In areas of high prevalence of high-level macrolide resistance, empirical monotherapy with a macrolide is not optimal for the treatment of hospitalised patients with moderate or moderately-severe CAP. Fluoroquinolones are considered to be excellent antibiotics in the treatment of pneumococcal CAP in adults, but their general recommendation has been withheld due to fears of a widespread development

  19. The Effect of Undaria pinnatifida Fucoidan on the Pharmacokinetics of Letrozole and Tamoxifen in Patients With Breast Cancer.

    PubMed

    Tocaciu, Shreya; Oliver, Lesley J; Lowenthal, Ray M; Peterson, Gregory M; Patel, Rahul; Shastri, Madhur; McGuinness, Georgia; Olesen, Inger; Fitton, J Helen

    2018-03-01

    Although the use of complementary and alternative medicines is widespread in cancer patients, clinical evidence of their benefits is sparse. Furthermore, while they are often assumed to be safe with regard to concurrent use of anticancer therapies, few studies have been carried out to investigate possible interactions. Fucoidans are a group of sulfated carbohydrates, derived from marine brown algae, which have long been used as dietary supplements due to their reported medicinal properties, including anticancer activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of co-administration of fucoidan, derived from Undaria pinnatifida, on the pharmacokinetics of 2 commonly used hormonal therapies, letrozole and tamoxifen, in patients with breast cancer. This was an open label non-crossover study in patients with active malignancy taking letrozole or tamoxifen (n = 10 for each group). Patients took oral fucoidan, given in the form of Maritech extract, for a 3-week period (500 mg twice daily). Trough plasma concentrations of letrozole, tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and endoxifen were measured using HPLC-CAD (high-performance liquid chromatography charged aerosol detector), at baseline and after concomitant administration with fucoidan. No significant changes in steady-state plasma concentrations of letrozole, tamoxifen, or tamoxifen metabolites were detected after co-administration with fucoidan. In addition, no adverse effects of fucoidan were reported, and toxicity monitoring showed no significant differences in all parameters measured over the study period. Administration of Undaria pinnatifida fucoidan had no significant effect on the steady-state trough concentrations of letrozole or tamoxifen and was well tolerated. These results suggest that fucoidan in the studied form and dosage could be taken concomitantly with letrozole and tamoxifen without the risk of clinically significant interactions.

  20. Prevalence of quinolone resistance mechanisms in Enterobacteriaceae producing acquired AmpC β-lactamases and/or carbapenemases in Spain.

    PubMed

    Machuca, Jesús; Agüero, Jesús; Miró, Elisenda; Conejo, María Del Carmen; Oteo, Jesús; Bou, Germán; González-López, Juan José; Oliver, Antonio; Navarro, Ferran; Pascual, Álvaro; Martínez-Martínez, Luis

    2017-10-01

    Quinolone resistance in Enterobacteriaceae species has increased over the past few years, and is significantly associated to beta-lactam resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of chromosomal- and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in acquired AmpC β-lactamase and/or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates. The presence of chromosomal- and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms [mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR) of gyrA and parC and qnr, aac(6')-Ib-cr and qepA genes] was evaluated in 289 isolates of acquired AmpC β-lactamase- and/or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae collected between February and July 2009 in 35 Spanish hospitals. Plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes were detected in 92 isolates (31.8%), qnr genes were detected in 83 isolates (28.7%), and the aac(6')-Ib-cr gene was detected in 20 isolates (7%). qnrB4 gene was the most prevalent qnr gene detected (20%), associated, in most cases, with DHA-1. Only 14.6% of isolates showed no mutations in gyrA or parC with a ciprofloxacin MIC of 0.5mg/L or higher, whereas PMQR genes were detected in 90% of such isolates. qnrB4 gene was the most prevalent PMQR gene detected, and was significantly associated with acquired AmpC β-lactamase DHA-1. PMQR determinants in association with other chromosomal-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms, different to mutations in gyrA and parC (increased energy-dependent efflux, altered lipopolysaccharide or porin loss), could lead to ciprofloxacin MIC values that exceed breakpoints established by the main international committees to define clinical antimicrobial susceptibility breakpoints. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.

  1. Tamoxifen affects glucose and lipid metabolism parameters, causes browning of subcutaneous adipose tissue and transient body composition changes in C57BL/6NTac mice

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hesselbarth, Nico; Pettinelli, Chiara; Gericke, Martin

    Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator which is widely used to generate inducible conditional transgenic mouse models. Activation of ER signaling plays an important role in the regulation of adipose tissue (AT) metabolism. We therefore tested the hypothesis that tamoxifen administration causes changes in AT biology in vivo. 12 weeks old male C57BL/6NTac mice were treated with either tamoxifen (n = 18) or vehicle (n = 18) for 5 consecutive days. Tamoxifen treatment effects on body composition, energy homeostasis, parameters of AT biology, glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated up to an age of 18 weeks. We found that tamoxifen treatment causes: I)more » significantly increased HbA{sub 1c}, triglyceride and free fatty acid serum concentrations (p < 0.01), II) browning of subcutaneous AT and increased UCP-1 expression, III) increased AT proliferation marker Ki67 mRNA expression, IV) changes in adipocyte size distribution, and V) transient body composition changes. Tamoxifen may induce changes in body composition, whole body glucose and lipid metabolism and has significant effects on AT biology, which need to be considered when using Tamoxifen as a tool to induce conditional transgenic mouse models. Our data further suggest that tamoxifen-treated wildtype mice should be characterized in parallel to experimental transgenic models to control for tamoxifen administration effects. - Highlights: • Tamoxifen treatment causes significantly increased HbA{sub 1c}, triglyceride and free fatty acid serum concentrations. • Tamoxifen induces browning of subcutaneous AT and increased UCP-1 expression. • Tamoxifen changes adipocyte size distribution, and transient body composition.« less

  2. Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Chicory and Milk Thistle on Serum Concentrations of Copper, Zinc, and Manganese in Tamoxifen-Treated Rats.

    PubMed

    Abbasalipourkabir, Roghayeh; Ziamajidi, Nasrin; Nasiri, Abolfazl; Behrouj, Hamid

    2016-09-01

    Some medications may change trace element levels in the body. Extracts of various plants, due to having the several elements, can have beneficial effects. Consumption of herbal extracts with chemical drugs may reduce adverse effects of medication. The goal of this study was to evaluate copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) concentrations in serum of rats treated with tamoxifen, chicory, and/or milk thistle extracts. Therefore, 36 adult female Wistar rats were divided into six groups: normal control, chicory control, milk thistle control, tamoxifen, tamoxifen-chicory, and tamoxifen-milk thistle. At the end of the study, the blood samples were collected and sera isolated by centrifugation and analyzed by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cu, Zn, and Mn levels. The Zn concentration increased in milk thistle-supplemented groups. The Cu level increased in the chicory control group only. Tamoxifen had no affect on Cu, Zn, and Mn levels, but seed extract of milk thistle increased Zn concentration, and chicory root extract increased Cu concentration. Although elevated levels of Cu in rats receiving tamoxifen-chicory were milder than rats treated only with chicory, it seems that the extract and tamoxifen impact on the Cu are in conflict with each other.

  3. Effect of dietary administration of letrozole and tamoxifen on gonadal development, sex differentiation and biochemical changes in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).

    PubMed

    Singh, Atul K; Srivastava, P P; Verma, Rita; Srivastava, Sharad C; Kumar, Dinesh; Ansari, Abubakar

    2015-03-01

    The effect of letrozole and tamoxifen on the specific growth rate (SGR; % day(-1)), gonado-somatic index (GSI), total haemoglobin (g%), gonadal and serum protein as well as lipid, sex differentiation and 17β-oestradiol levels were studied in sexually undifferentiated Cyprinus carpio fingerlings 30 days post fertilisation (30 dpf) for 60 days. Results showed decreased GSI with tamoxifen treatment whereas letrozole increased it. There were reduced protein, lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol levels after treatment with tamoxifen and letrozole during gonadal development. Tamoxifen (200mgkg(-1) feed) induced 82.5% masculinisation, whereas letrozole in the same dose produced 98.5% males. Gonadal 17β-oestradiol significantly declined from 86.0±1.41pg per 100mg (control) to 45.5±1.94pg per 100mg with tamoxifen and 36.0±0.72pg per 100mg with letrozole treatment. Similarly, serum 17β-oestradiol levels also decreased after tamoxifen and letrozole treatments. Testicular development in 37.8% of fish treated with tamoxifen and letrozole was found to be more advanced (spermatocytes) than in the control (spermatogonium); however, there was reduced ovarian growth and increased atresia. It was concluded that letrozole and tamoxifen both significantly affect sex differentiation and gonadal maturity in C. carpio leading to the production of sex-reversed males, yet the effect of letrozole was more potent.

  4. Effects of Pharmacokinetic Processes and Varied Dosing Schedules on the Dynamics of Acquired Resistance to Erlotinib in EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Foo, Jasmine; Chmielecki, Juliann; Pao, William; Michor, Franziska

    2013-01-01

    Introduction Erlotinib (Tarceva) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which effectively targets EGFR-mutant driven non–small-cell lung cancer. However, the evolution of acquired resistance because of a second-site mutation (T790M) within EGFR remains an obstacle to successful treatment. Methods We used mathematical modeling and available clinical trial data to predict how different pharmacokinetic parameters (fast versus slow metabolism) and dosing schedules (low dose versus high dose; missed doses with and without make-up doses) might affect the evolution of T790M-mediated resistance in mixed populations of tumor cells. Results We found that high-dose pulses with low-dose continuous therapy impede the development of resistance to the maximum extent, both pre- and post-emergence of resistance. The probability of resistance is greater in fast versus slow drug metabolizers, suggesting a potential mechanism, unappreciated to date, influencing acquired resistance in patients. In case of required dose modifications because of toxicity, little difference is observed in terms of efficacy and resistance dynamics between the standard daily dose (150 mg/d) and 150 mg/d alternating with 100 mg/d. Missed doses are expected to lead to resistance faster, even if make-up doses are attempted. Conclusions For existing and new kinase inhibitors, this novel framework can be used to rationally and rapidly design optimal dosing strategies to minimize the development of acquired resistance. PMID:22982659

  5. Targeting the Golgi apparatus to overcome acquired resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

    PubMed Central

    Katayama, Ryohei; Fang, Siyang; Tsutsui, Saki; Akatsuka, Akinobu; Shan, Mingde; Choi, Hyeong-Wook; Fujita, Naoya; Yoshimatsu, Kentaro; Shiina, Isamu; Yamori, Takao; Dan, Shingo

    2018-01-01

    Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) were demonstrated to provide survival benefit in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring activating mutations of EGFR; however, emergence of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs has been shown to cause poor outcome. To overcome the TKI resistance, drugs with different mode of action are required. We previously reported that M-COPA (2-methylcoprophilinamide), a Golgi disruptor, suppressed the growth of gastric cancers overexpressing receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) via downregulating their cell surface expression. In this study, we examined the antitumor effect of M-COPA on NSCLC cells with TKI resistance. As a result, M-COPA effectively downregulated cell surface EGFR and its downstream signals, and finally exerted in vivo antitumor effect in NSCLC cells harboring secondary (T790M/del19) and tertiary (C797S/T790M/del19) mutated EGFR, which exhibit acquired resistance to first- and third generation EGFR-TKIs, respectively. M-COPA also downregulated MET expression potentially involved in the acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs via bypassing the EGFR pathway blockade. These results provide the first evidence that targeting the Golgi apparatus might be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the vicious cycle of TKI resistance in EGFR-mutated NSCLC cells via downregulating cell surface RTK expression. PMID:29416720

  6. Tamoxifen Downregulates Ets-oncogene Family Members ETV4 and ETV5 in Benign Breast Tissue: Implications for Durable Risk Reduction

    PubMed Central

    Euhus, David; Bu, Dawei; Xie, Xian-Jin; Sarode, Venetia; Ashfaq, Raheela; Hunt, Kelly; Xia, Weiya; O’Shaughnessy, Joyce; Grant, Michael; Arun, Banu; Dooley, William; Miller, Alexander; Flockhart, David; Lewis, Cheryl

    2011-01-01

    Background Five years of tamoxifen reduces breast cancer risk by nearly 50% but is associated with significant side-effects and toxicities. A better understanding of the direct and indirect effects of tamoxifen in benign breast tissue could elucidate new mechanisms of breast carcinogenesis, suggest novel chemoprevention targets, and provide relevant early response biomarkers for Phase II prevention trials. Methods Seventy-three women at increased risk for breast cancer were randomized to tamoxifen (20 mg daily) or placebo for three months. Blood and breast tissue samples were collected at baseline and post-treatment. Sixty-nine women completed all study activities (37 tamoxifen and 32 placebo). The selected biomarkers focused on estradiol and IGFs in the blood, DNA methylation and cytology in random periareolar fine needle aspirates, and tissue morphometry, proliferation, apoptosis, and gene expression (microarray and RT-PCR) in the tissue core samples. Results Tamoxifen downregulated ets-oncogene transcription factor family members ETV4 and ETV5 and reduced breast epithelial cell proliferation independent of CYP2D6 genotypes or effects on estradiol, ESR1 or IGFs. Reduction in proliferation was correlated with downregulation of ETV4 and DNAJC12. Tamoxifen reduced the expression of ETV4- and ETV5-regulated genes implicated in epithelial-stromal interaction and tissue remodeling. Three months of tamoxifen did not affect breast tissue composition, cytological atypia, preneoplasia or apoptosis. Conclusions A plausible mechanism for the chemopreventive effects of tamoxifen is restriction of lobular expansion into stroma through downregulation of ETV4 and ETV5. Multipotential progenitor cap cells of terminal end buds may be the primary target. PMID:21778330

  7. Atypia in random periareolar fine-needle aspiration affects the decision of women at high risk to take tamoxifen for breast cancer chemoprevention.

    PubMed

    Goldenberg, Vanessa K; Seewaldt, Victoria L; Scott, Victoria; Bean, Gregory R; Broadwater, Gloria; Fabian, Carol; Kimler, Bruce; Zalles, Carola; Lipkus, Isaac M

    2007-05-01

    Random periareolar fine-needle aspiration (RPFNA) is a research procedure designed to (a) evaluate short-term breast cancer risk in women at high risk for developing breast cancer, and (b) track response to chemoprevention. Of import, cellular atypia in breast RPFNA is prospectively associated with a 5.6-fold increase in breast cancer risk in women at high risk. Among 99 women attending a clinic for high-risk breast cancer, we explored the effects of RPFNA cytology results on decision making pertaining to the use of tamoxifen for breast cancer chemoprevention. No patient with nonproliferative or hyperplastic cytology subsequently elected to take tamoxifen. Only 7% of subjects with borderline atypia elected to take tamoxifen. In contrast, 50% with atypia elected to take tamoxifen. These results suggest that the provision of a biomarker of short-term risk can affect the motivation to take tamoxifen for chemoprevention. This conclusion is informative given that tamoxifen, due to its side effects, is often underused by women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which RPFNA results affect the decision to use tamoxifen, or any other breast cancer chemopreventive agent.

  8. Tamoxifen for breast cancer risk reduction: impact of alternative approaches to quality-of-life adjustment on cost-effectiveness analysis.

    PubMed

    Melnikow, Joy; Birch, Stephen; Slee, Christina; McCarthy, Theodore J; Helms, L Jay; Kuppermann, Miriam

    2008-09-01

    In cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), the effects of health-care interventions on multiple health dimensions typically require consideration of both quantity and quality of life. To explore the impact of alternative approaches to quality-of-life adjustment using patient preferences (utilities) on the outcome of a CEA on use of tamoxifen for breast cancer risk reduction. A state transition Markov model tracked hypothetical cohorts of women who did or did not take 5 years of tamoxifen for breast cancer risk reduction. Incremental quality-adjusted effectiveness and cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for models including and excluding a utility adjustment for menopausal symptoms were compared with each other and to a global utility model. Two hundred fifty-five women aged 50 and over with estimated 5-year breast cancer risk >or=1.67% participated in utility assessment interviews. Standard gamble utilities were assessed for specified tamoxifen-related health outcomes, current health, and for a global assessment of possible outcomes of tamoxifen use. Inclusion of a utility for menopausal symptoms in the outcome-specific models substantially increased the ICER; at the threshold 5-year breast cancer risk of 1.67%, tamoxifen was dominated. When a global utility for tamoxifen was used in place of outcome-specific utilities, tamoxifen was dominated under all circumstances. CEAs may be profoundly affected by the types of outcomes considered for quality-of-life adjustment and how these outcomes are grouped for utility assessment. Comparisons of ICERs across analyses must consider effects of different approaches to using utilities for quality-of-life adjustment.

  9. Col2-Cre and tamoxifen-inducible Col2-CreER target different cell populations in the knee joint

    PubMed Central

    Nagao, Masashi; Cheong, Chan Wook; Olsen, Bjorn

    2015-01-01

    Objective Collagen type 2 (Col2)-Cre or tamoxifen-inducible Col2-CreER transgenic mouse lines have been used for studies to explore the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study is to investigate whether the targeted cells are the same or different in the two mouse lines. Methods We crossed tamoxifen inducible Col2-CreER and Col2-Cre mice with Rosa tdTomato reporter mice and analyzed the labeling patterns at different time points. Results In the Col2-CreER mice, 90.8 [95% confidence interval (CI) (88.3, 93.2)] and 82.8 (77.4, 88.3) % of the articular surface cells are Tomato positive when tamoxifen was administered at 2 and 2.5 weeks of age and strong activity was observed even 4.5 months after injection. However, 46.0 (32.8, 59.1) and 22.2 (11.7, 32.6) % of the surface cells were Tomato positive when tamoxifen was administered at 3 and 4 weeks of age, respectively. Little to no Tomato activity in the articular surface cells was observed when tamoxifen was administered at 8 weeks of age. At any stage of tamoxifen injection, the Tomato activity was detected in growth plate and epiphyseal bone in addition to articular chondrocytes, but little in endothelium and not in the synovium and ligament. In contrast, the targeted tissues in the Col2-Cre mouse line were articular cartilage, growth plate, meniscus, endosteum, ligament, bone and synovium. Conclusions This study demonstrates that the pattern of targeted cells in the inducible Col2-CreER mice are partially overlapping with but different from that of targeted cells in Col2-Cre mice and the pattern varies dependent on when tamoxifen is administered. PMID:26256767

  10. Relationship of ZNF423 and CTSO with breast cancer risk in two randomised tamoxifen prevention trials.

    PubMed

    Brentnall, Adam R; Cuzick, Jack; Byers, Helen; Segal, Corrinne; Reuter, Caroline; Detre, Simone; Sestak, Ivana; Howell, Anthony; Powles, Trevor J; Newman, William G; Dowsett, Mitchell

    2016-08-01

    A case-control study from two randomised breast cancer prevention trials of tamoxifen and raloxifene (P-1 and P-2) identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or near genes ZNF423 and CTSO as factors which predict which women will derive most anti-cancer benefit from selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM) therapy. In this article, we further examine this question using blood samples from two randomised tamoxifen prevention trials: the International Breast Cancer Intervention Study I (IBIS-I) and the Royal Marsden trial (Marsden). A nested case-control study was designed with 2:1 matching in IBIS-I and 1:1 matching in Marsden. The OncoArray was used for genotyping and included two SNPs previously identified (rs8060157 in ZNF423 and rs10030044 near CTSO), and 102 further SNPs within the same regions. Overall, there were 369 cases and 662 controls, with 148 cases and 268 controls from the tamoxifen arms. Odds ratios were estimated by conditional logistic regression, with Wald 95 % confidence intervals. In the tamoxifen arms, the per-allele odds ratio for rs8060157 was 0.99 (95 %CI 0.73-1.34) and 1.00 (95 %CI 0.76-1.33) for rs10030044. In the placebo arm, the odds ratio was 1.10 (95 %CI 0.87-1.40) for rs8060157 and 1.01 (95 %CI 0.79-1.29) for rs10030044. There was no evidence to suggest that other SNPs in the surrounding regions of these SNPs might predict response to tamoxifen. Results from these two prevention trials do not support the earlier findings. rs8060157 in ZNF423 and rs10030044 near CTSO do not appear to predict response to tamoxifen.

  11. Studies on acquired resistance to Schistosoma mansoni in mice exposed to X-irradiated cercariae

    PubMed Central

    Perlowagora-Szumlewicz, Alina

    1964-01-01

    In the first part of this paper current information on acquired resistance to schistosomes is reviewed and related to factors which have led to divergent interpretations of experimental results. The author then reports on and discusses experiments performed by her on the development of challenge infections in mice exposed to X-irradiated cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni. While there is some evidence that resistance to S. mansoni may be developed by such exposure, the author considers present findings equivocal and stresses that further research is needed to clarify the situation. ImagesFIG. 2FIG. 3FIG. 4 PMID:14165059

  12. No effect on pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen by multiple doses of red clover capsule in rats

    PubMed Central

    Raju, Kanumuri Siva Rama; Taneja, Isha; Valicherla, Guru Raghavendra; Challagundla, Murali Krishna; Rashid, Mamunur; Syed, Anees Ahmed; Gayen, Jiaur Rahman; Singh, Sheelendra Pratap; Wahajuddin, Muhammad

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen is used in clinical practice for breast cancer patients and to prevent osteoporosis. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) preparations are consumed worldwide as dietary supplements for relieving postmenopausal symptoms. In the present study we investigated the possible herb-drug interaction between red clover and tamoxifen in rats. 15 days pre-treatment with red clover did not alter the tamoxifen and its active metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen pharmacokinetics significantly (p > 0.05). Therefore the therapeutic efficacy of the tamoxifen may not be compromised by the co-administration with red clover. Tamoxifen metabolism is primarily mediated by CYP2D6, CYP3A4 with minor contribution from CYP2C9, CYP2E1 and CYP1A2 isoforms. Although, red clover pre-treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the mRNA expression and activity of CYP3a2, no effect on CYP2d4 and increased expression and activity of CYP2c11 could be the plausible reasons for lack of effect on tamoxifen and its metabolite pharmacokinetics in rats. CYP1a1 and CYP2b2 mRNA expression and activity were also significantly reduced by red clover. To extend the clinical utility of the present study, effect of red clover extract on major CYPs using human liver microsomes and HepG2 cell lines were also determined. Similar finding were observed in the human liver preparations as in rats. PMID:26530625

  13. The vibrational spectroscopic studies and molecular property analysis of Estradiol, Tamoxifen and their interaction by density functional theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Borah, Mukunda Madhab; Gomti Devi, Th.

    2018-07-01

    In the present work Tamoxifen, Estradiol and their interaction are studied using the experimental and theoretical methodologies. The spectral characterization was made by using Raman, FTIR, DFT and VEDA calculation. The optimization of the molecules have been studied using basis set B3LYP/6-31 G(d,p). Complete vibrational assignment of Tamoxifen, Estradiol and Estradiol + Tamoxifen have been attempted and the potential energy distribution and normal mode analysis had also been carried out to determine the contributions of bond oscillators in each normal mode. We have optimized several binding modes of Estradiol and Tamoxifen and taken the lowest energy conformer in our interest. The molecular geometry, HOMO-LUMO energy gap, molecular hardness (η), ionization energy (IE), electron affinity (EA), total energy and dipole moment were analyzed. The observed experimental and the scaled theoretical results were found in good agreement.

  14. An ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem MS assay for tamoxifen metabolites profiling in plasma: first evidence of 4'-hydroxylated metabolites in breast cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Dahmane, E; Mercier, T; Zanolari, B; Cruchon, S; Guignard, N; Buclin, T; Leyvraz, S; Zaman, K; Csajka, C; Decosterd, L A

    2010-12-15

    There is increasing evidence that the clinical efficacy of tamoxifen, the first and most widely used targeted therapy for estrogen-sensitive breast cancer, depends on the formation of the active metabolites 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen (endoxifen). Large inter-individual variability in endoxifen plasma concentrations has been observed and related both to genetic and environmental (i.e. drug-induced) factors altering CYP450s metabolizing enzymes activity. In this context, we have developed an ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (UPLC-MS/MS) requiring 100 μL of plasma for the quantification of tamoxifen and three of its major metabolites in breast cancer patients. Plasma is purified by a combination of protein precipitation, evaporation at room temperature under nitrogen, and reconstitution in methanol/20 mM ammonium formate 1:1 (v/v), adjusted to pH 2.9 with formic acid. Reverse-phase chromatographic separation of tamoxifen, N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen is performed within 13 min using elution with a gradient of 10 mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% formic acid. Analytes quantification, using matrix-matched calibration samples spiked with their respective deuterated internal standards, is performed by electrospray ionization-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry using selected reaction monitoring detection in the positive mode. The method was validated according to FDA recommendations, including assessment of relative matrix effects variability, as well as tamoxifen and metabolites short-term stability in plasma and whole blood. The method is precise (inter-day CV%: 2.5-7.8%), accurate (-1.4 to +5.8%) and sensitive (lower limits of quantification comprised between 0.4 and 2.0 ng/mL). Application of this method to patients' samples has made possible the identification of two further metabolites, 4'-hydroxy-tamoxifen and 4'-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen

  15. Development and validation of an UPLC-MS/MS method for the quantification of tamoxifen and its main metabolites in human scalp hair.

    PubMed

    Drooger, Jan C; Jager, Agnes; Lam, Mei-Ho; den Boer, Mathilda D; Sleijfer, Stefan; Mathijssen, Ron H J; de Bruijn, Peter

    2015-10-10

    The aim of this study was to validate an earlier developed high-performance highly sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of tamoxifen and its three main metabolites (N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen) in scalp hair. This non-invasive method might, by segmental analysis of hair, be useful in the determination of the concentration of drugs and its metabolites over time, which can be used to study a wide variety of clinical relevant questions. Hair samples (150-300 hair strands, cut as close to the scalp as possible from the posterior vertex region of the head) were collected from female patients taking tamoxifen 20mg daily (n=19). The analytes were extracted using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure with carbonate buffer at pH 8.8 and a mixture of n-hexane/isopropranol method, followed by UPLC-MS/MS chromatography, based on an earlier validated method. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 1.00-200 pmol for tamoxifen and N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, with lower limit of quantitation of 1.00 pmol and 0.100-20.0 pmol with lower limit of quantitation of 0.100 pmol for endoxifen and 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. Assay performance was fair with a within-run and between-run variability less than 9.24 at the three quality control samples and less than 15.7 for the lower limit of quantitation. Importantly, a steep linear decline was observed from distal to proximal hair segments. Probably, this is due to UV exposure as we showed degradation of tamoxifen and its metabolites after exposure to UV-light. Furthermore, higher concentrations of tamoxifen were found in black hair samples compared to blond and brown hair samples. We conclude that measurement of the concentration of tamoxifen and its main metabolites in hair is possible, with the selective, sensitive, accurate and precise UPLC-MS/MS method. However, for tamoxifen, it seems not possible to determine

  16. Risk of mortality with concomitant use of tamoxifen and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: multi-database cohort study.

    PubMed

    Donneyong, Macarius M; Bykov, Katsiaryna; Bosco-Levy, Pauline; Dong, Yaa-Hui; Levin, Raisa; Gagne, Joshua J

    2016-09-30

     To compare differences in mortality between women concomitantly treated with tamoxifen and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that are potent inhibitors of the cytochrome-P450 2D6 enzyme (CYP2D6) versus tamoxifen and other SSRIs.  Population based cohort study.  Five US databases covering individuals enrolled in private and public health insurance programs from 1995 to 2013.  Two cohorts of women who started taking tamoxifen. In cohort 1, women started taking an SSRI during tamoxifen treatment. In cohort 2, women were already taking an SSRI when they started taking tamoxifen.  All cause mortality in each cohort in women taking SSRIs that are potent inhibitors of CYP2D6 (paroxetine, fluoxetine) versus other SSRIs. Propensity scores were used to match exposure groups in a variable ratio fashion. Results were measured separately for each cohort and combined hazard ratios calculated from Cox regression models across the two cohorts with random effects meta-analysis.  There were 6067 and 8465 new users of tamoxifen in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. Mean age was 55. A total of 991 and 1014 deaths occurred in cohorts 1 and 2 during a median follow-up of 2.2 (interquartile range 0.9-4.5) and 2.0 (0.8-3.9) years, respectively. The pooled hazard ratio for death for potent inhibitors (rate 58.6/1000 person years) compared with other SSRIs (rate 57.9/1000 person years) across cohorts 1 and 2 was 0.96 (95% confidence interval 0.88 to 1.06). Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses.  Concomitant use of tamoxifen and potent CYP2D6 inhibiting SSRIs versus other SSRIs was not associated with an increased risk of death. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

  17. Acquired EGFR L718V mutation mediates resistance to osimertinib in non-small cell lung cancer but retains sensitivity to afatinib.

    PubMed

    Liu, Yutao; Li, Yan; Ou, Qiuxiang; Wu, Xue; Wang, Xiaonan; Shao, Yang W; Ying, Jianming

    2018-04-01

    Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are promising targeted therapies for EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, acquired resistance inevitably develops. Comprehensive and dynamic companion genomic diagnosis can gain insights into underlying resistance mechanisms, thereby help oncologists and patients to make informed decision on the potential benefit of the treatment. A 67-year-old male who was initially diagnosed of EGFR L858R-mediated NSCLC received multiple lines of chemotherapy and EGFR TKI therapies after surgery. The EGFR mutational status of individual metastatic lesion was determined by genetic testing of the tumor tissue biopsies using next generation sequencing (NGS) throughout the patient's clinical course. An acquired potentially drug-resistant EGFR mutation was functionally validated in vitro and its sensitivity to different EGFR TKIs was assessed simultaneously. We have identified distinct resistance mechanisms to EGFR blockade in different metastatic lung lesions. Acquired EGFR T790M was first detected that leads to the resistance to the gefitinib treatment. Consequently, osimertinib was administrated and the response lasted until disease progressed. We identified a newly acquired EGFR L718V mutation in one lesion in conjunction with L858R, but not T790M, which showed stable disease on the following erlotinib treatment, while EGFR C797S together with L858R/T790M was detected in the other lesion that continuously progressed. In vitro functional studies demonstrated that EGFR-L858R/L718V confers resistance to osimertinib, but retains sensitivity to the second generation TKI afatinib. We reported that distinct resistance mechanisms could arise in different metastases within the same patient in response to EGFR blockade. We also demonstrated in vitro that EGFR L718V mutation mediates resistance to osimertinib, but retains sensitivity to afatinib. We evidenced that dynamic companion genomic

  18. Tamoxifen inhibits tumor cell invasion and metastasis in mouse melanoma through suppression of PKC/MEK/ERK and PKC/PI3K/Akt pathways

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Matsuoka, Hiroshi; Department of Pharmacy, Nara Hospital, Kinki University School of Medicine, 1248-1 Ikoma, Nara 630-0293; Tsubaki, Masanobu

    2009-07-15

    In melanoma, several signaling pathways are constitutively activated. Among these, the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways are activated through multiple signal transduction molecules and appear to play major roles in melanoma progression. Recently, it has been reported that tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen reagent, inhibits PKC signaling in estrogen-negative and estrogen-independent cancer cell lines. Thus, we investigated whether tamoxifen inhibited tumor cell invasion and metastasis in mouse melanoma cell line B16BL6. Tamoxifen significantly inhibited lung metastasis, cell migration, and invasion at concentrations that did not show anti-proliferative effects on B16BL6 cells. Tamoxifen also inhibited the mRNA expressions and protein activities ofmore » matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Furthermore, tamoxifen suppressed phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt through the inhibition of PKC{alpha} and PKC{delta} phosphorylation. However, other signal transduction factor, such as p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) was unaffected. The results indicate that tamoxifen suppresses the PKC/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ERK and PKC/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways, thereby inhibiting B16BL6 cell migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, tamoxifen markedly inhibited not only developing but also clinically evident metastasis. These findings suggest that tamoxifen has potential clinical applications for the treatment of tumor cell metastasis.« less

  19. Identification of the major tamoxifen-DNA adducts in rat liver by mass spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Rajaniemi, H; Rasanen, I; Koivisto, P; Peltonen, K; Hemminki, K

    1999-02-01

    We present here the first mass spectroscopic (MS) identification of the main tamoxifen-induced DNA adducts in rat liver. The two main adducts were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and identified by MS, MS-MS and ultraviolet spectroscopy. Adduct 1 was the N-desmethyltamoxifen-deoxyguanosine adduct in which the alpha-position of the metabolite N-desmethyltamoxifen is linked covalently to the amino group of deoxyguanosine. Adduct 2 was confirmed to be the trans isomer of alpha-(N2-deoxyguanosinyl)tamoxifen, as previously suggested by co-chromatography.

  20. Acquired resistance to chlorhexidine - is it time to establish an 'antiseptic stewardship' initiative?

    PubMed

    Kampf, G

    2016-11-01

    Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is an antimicrobial agent used for different types of applications in hand hygiene, skin antisepsis, oral care, and patient washing. Increasing use raises concern regarding development of acquired bacterial resistance. Published data from clinical isolates with CHG minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were reviewed and compared to epidemiological cut-off values to determine resistance. CHG resistance is rarely found in Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus or coagulase-negative staphylococci. In Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Providencia spp. and Enterococcus spp., however, isolates are more often CHG resistant. CHG resistance may be detected in multi-resistant isolates such as extremely drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Isolates with a higher MIC are often less susceptible to CHG for disinfection. Although cross-resistance to antibiotics remains controversial, some studies indicate that the overall exposure to CHG increases the risk for resistance to some antibiotic agents. Resistance to CHG has resulted in numerous outbreaks and healthcare-associated infections. On an average intensive care unit, most of the CHG exposure would be explained by hand hygiene agents when liquid soaps or alcohol-based hand rubs contain CHG. Exposure to sub-lethal CHG concentration may enhance resistance in Acinetobacter spp., K. pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas spp., all species well known for emerging antibiotic resistance. In order to reduce additional selection pressure in nosocomial pathogens it seems to make sense to restrict the valuable agent CHG to those indications with a clear patient benefit and to eliminate it from applications without any benefit or with a doubtful benefit. Copyright © 2016 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Managing Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia Due to Community Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

    PubMed

    Kwong, Jason C; Chua, Kyra; Charles, Patrick G P

    2012-06-01

    Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a rare, but significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A number of virulence determinants have been implicated in the development of severe community MRSA pneumonia, characterized by multilobar cavitating necrosis in patients without usual risk-factors for pneumonia. Optimal management is uncertain, and is extrapolated from anecdotal experiences with small case series, randomized studies of hospital-acquired pneumonia, and laboratory investigations using in vitro experiments and animal models of MRSA pneumonia. Adequate clinical suspicion, early diagnosis and administration of appropriate antibiotics are necessary for best patient outcomes, although some patients will still do badly even with early anti-MRSA therapy. Vancomycin or linezolid have been recommended as first-line therapy, possibly in combination with other antibiotics. Newer antibiotics such as ceftaroline are still being evaluated.

  2. Tamoxifen therapy improves overall survival in luminal A subtype of ductal carcinoma in situ: a study based on nationwide Korean Breast Cancer Registry database.

    PubMed

    Hwang, Ki-Tae; Kim, Eun-Kyu; Jung, Sung Hoo; Lee, Eun Sook; Kim, Seung Il; Lee, Seokwon; Park, Heung Kyu; Kim, Jongjin; Oh, Sohee; Kim, Young A

    2018-06-01

    To determine the prognostic role of tamoxifen therapy for patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) according to molecular subtypes. Data of 14,944 patients with DCIS were analyzed. Molecular subtypes were classified into four categories based on expression of estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Kaplan-Meier estimator was used for overall survival analysis while Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Luminal A subtype (ER/PR+, HER2-) showed higher (P = .009) survival rate than triple-negative (TN) subtype. Tamoxifen therapy group showed superior (P < .001) survival than no-tamoxifen therapy group. It had survival benefit only for luminal A subtype (P = .001). Tamoxifen therapy resulted in higher survival rate in subgroups with positive ER (P = .006), positive PR (P = .009), and negative HER2 (P < .001). In luminal A subtype, tamoxifen therapy showed lower hazard ratio (HR) compared to no-tamoxifen therapy (HR, 0.420; 95% CI 0.250-0.705; P = .001). Tamoxifen therapy was a significant independent factor by multivariate analysis (HR, 0.538; 95% CI 0.306-0.946; P = .031) as well as univariate analysis. Tamoxifen therapy group showed superior prognosis than the no-tamoxifen therapy group. Its prognostic influence was only effective for luminal A subtype. Patients with luminal A subtype showed higher survival rate than those with TN subtype. Active tamoxifen therapy is recommended for DCIS patients with luminal A subtype, and routine tests for ER, PR, and HER2 should be considered for DCIS.

  3. Update of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) P-2 Trial: Preventing breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Vogel, Victor G; Costantino, Joseph P; Wickerham, D Lawrence; Cronin, Walter M; Cecchini, Reena S; Atkins, James N; Bevers, Therese B; Fehrenbacher, Louis; Pajon, Eduardo R; Wade, James L; Robidoux, André; Margolese, Richard G; James, Joan; Runowicz, Carolyn D; Ganz, Patricia A; Reis, Steven E; McCaskill-Stevens, Worta; Ford, Leslie G; Jordan, V Craig; Wolmark, Norman

    2010-06-01

    The selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen became the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved agent for reducing breast cancer risk but did not gain wide acceptance for prevention, largely because it increased endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events. The FDA approved the SERM raloxifene for breast cancer risk reduction following its demonstrated effectiveness in preventing invasive breast cancer in the Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR). Raloxifene caused less toxicity (versus tamoxifen), including reduced thromboembolic events and endometrial cancer. In this report, we present an updated analysis with an 81-month median follow-up. STAR women were randomly assigned to receive either tamoxifen (20 mg/d) or raloxifene (60 mg/d) for 5 years. The risk ratio (RR; raloxifene:tamoxifen) for invasive breast cancer was 1.24 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.47) and for noninvasive disease, 1.22 (95% CI, 0.95-1.59). Compared with initial results, the RRs widened for invasive and narrowed for noninvasive breast cancer. Toxicity RRs (raloxifene:tamoxifen) were 0.55 (95% CI, 0.36-0.83; P = 0.003) for endometrial cancer (this difference was not significant in the initial results), 0.19 (95% CI, 0.12-0.29) for uterine hyperplasia, and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.60-0.93) for thromboembolic events. There were no significant mortality differences. Long-term raloxifene retained 76% of the effectiveness of tamoxifen in preventing invasive disease and grew closer over time to tamoxifen in preventing noninvasive disease, with far less toxicity (e.g., highly significantly less endometrial cancer). These results have important public health implications and clarify that both raloxifene and tamoxifen are good preventive choices for postmenopausal women with elevated risk for breast cancer. 2010 AACR.

  4. Effects of In Vivo Exposure to Tamoxifen on a Non-Target Species, the Marine Fish Cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Tamoxifen is an endocrine-active pharmaceutical that is used world-wide to treat certain breast cancers. Because tamoxifen has been detected in aquatic environments, a study was undertaken to investigate its biological effects in a non-target species, the marine fish cunner (Taut...

  5. The battle against multi-resistant strains: Renaissance of antimicrobial essential oils as a promising force to fight hospital-acquired infections.

    PubMed

    Warnke, Patrick H; Becker, Stephan T; Podschun, Rainer; Sivananthan, Sureshan; Springer, Ingo N; Russo, Paul A J; Wiltfang, Joerg; Fickenscher, Helmut; Sherry, Eugene

    2009-10-01

    Hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to be major health concerns worldwide. Particularly problematic is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its ability to cause severe soft tissue, bone or implant infections. First used by the Australian Aborigines, Tea tree oil and Eucalyptus oil (and several other essential oils) have each demonstrated promising efficacy against several bacteria and have been used clinically against multi-resistant strains. Several common and hospital-acquired bacterial and yeast isolates (6 Staphylococcus strains including MRSA, 4 Streptococcus strains and 3 Candida strains including Candida krusei) were tested for their susceptibility for Eucalyptus, Tea tree, Thyme white, Lavender, Lemon, Lemongrass, Cinnamon, Grapefruit, Clove Bud, Sandalwood, Peppermint, Kunzea and Sage oil with the agar diffusion test. Olive oil, Paraffin oil, Ethanol (70%), Povidone iodine, Chlorhexidine and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) served as controls. Large prevailing effective zones of inhibition were observed for Thyme white, Lemon, Lemongrass and Cinnamon oil. The other oils also showed considerable efficacy. Remarkably, almost all tested oils demonstrated efficacy against hospital-acquired isolates and reference strains, whereas Olive and Paraffin oil from the control group produced no inhibition. As proven in vitro, essential oils represent a cheap and effective antiseptic topical treatment option even for antibiotic-resistant strains as MRSA and antimycotic-resistant Candida species.

  6. Population pharmacokinetic modelling to assess the impact of CYP2D6 and CYP3A metabolic phenotypes on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and endoxifen

    PubMed Central

    ter Heine, Rob; Binkhorst, Lisette; de Graan, Anne Joy M; de Bruijn, Peter; Beijnen, Jos H; Mathijssen, Ron H J; Huitema, Alwin D R

    2014-01-01

    Aims Tamoxifen is considered a pro-drug of its active metabolite endoxifen. The major metabolic enzymes involved in endoxifen formation are CYP2D6 and CYP3A. There is considerable evidence that variability in activity of these enzymes influences endoxifen exposure and thereby may influence the clinical outcome of tamoxifen treatment. We aimed to quantify the impact of metabolic phenotype on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and endoxifen. Methods We assessed the CYP2D6 and CYP3A metabolic phenotypes in 40 breast cancer patients on tamoxifen treatment with a single dose of dextromethorphan as a dual phenotypic probe for CYP2D6 and CYP3A. The pharmacokinetics of dextromethorphan, tamoxifen and their relevant metabolites were analyzed using non-linear mixed effects modelling. Results Population pharmacokinetic models were developed for dextromethorphan, tamoxifen and their metabolites. In the final model for tamoxifen, the dextromethorphan derived metabolic phenotypes for CYP2D6 as well as CYP3A significantly (P < 0.0001) explained 54% of the observed variability in endoxifen formation (inter-individual variability reduced from 55% to 25%). Conclusions We have shown that not only CYP2D6, but also CYP3A enzyme activity influences the tamoxifen to endoxifen conversion in breast cancer patients. Our developed model may be used to assess separately the impact of CYP2D6 and CYP3A mediated drug–drug interactions with tamoxifen without the necessity of administering this anti-oestrogenic drug and to support Bayesian guided therapeutic drug monitoring of tamoxifen in routine clinical practice. PMID:24697814

  7. Tamoxifen Use Correlates with Increased Risk of the First Episode of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease in Older Women with Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Taiwan

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Shih-Wei; Lin, Cheng-Li; Liao, Kuan-Fu

    2017-01-01

    Background and Objectives: There are inconsistent results about the association between ischemic cerebrovascular disease and tamoxifen use in women with breast cancer. The study aimed to evaluate the association between the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease and tamoxifen use in older women with breast cancer in Taiwan. Methods: We designed a retrospective, nationwide, case-control study using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. A total of 800 female subjects with breast cancer aged ≥65 years with the first episode of ischemic cerebrovascular disease from 2000 to 2011 were identified as the cases. Additionally, 2,876 female subjects with breast cancer aged ≥65 years without any type of cerebrovascular diseases were selected as the control subjects. The cases and the control subjects were matched with age and comorbidities. Ever use of tamoxifen was defined as a subject who had at least a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. Never use of tamoxifen was defined as a subject who never had a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. We used the multivariable logistic regression model to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for ischemic cerebrovascular disease associated with tamoxifen use. Results: After adjusting for confounding variables, the adjusted OR of ischemic cerebrovascular disease was 2.5 for subjects with ever use of tamoxifen (95% CI 2.10, 2.97), compared with never use of tamoxifen. In addition, the adjusted OR of ischemic cerebrovascular disease was 1.15 (95% CI 1.10, 1.21) in subjects with ever use of tamoxifen as increase in use duration per 1 year. The adjusted OR of ischemic cerebrovascular disease was 2.54 (95% CI 2.03, 3.17) in subjects with ever use of tamoxifen as increase in dosage per 1 mg. Conclusions: Tamoxifen use is significantly associated with 2.5-fold increased odds of ischemic cerebrovascular disease among older women with breast cancer in Taiwan. There

  8. Community acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia: an update for the emergency and intensive care physician.

    PubMed

    Karampela, I; Poulakou, G; Dimopoulos, G

    2012-08-01

    Pneumonia caused by community-acquired (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among individuals without healthcare-associated (HA) risk factors was first recognized a decade ago. CA-MRSA has now been established as a pathogen responsible for rapidly progressive, frequently fatal disease manifesting as necrotizing pneumonia, severe sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis. The frequency of occurrence, risk factors, and optimal treatment of CA-MRSA pneumonia remain unclear and vary significantly across countries. CA-MRSA is resistant to β-lactam antimicrobials due to the acquisition of novel methicillin resistance genetic cassettes. Additionally many CA-MRSA strains produce Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), due to which they probably exceed the virulence of hospital-acquired MRSA isolates (HA-MRSA). CA-MRSA pneumonia requires early suspicion -especially in young otherwise healthy individuals with rapidly evolving clinical picture presenting with cavitary consolidation, bilateral infiltrates, pleural effusion and hemoptysis. Prompt hospitalization and aggressive treatment with intravenous antibiotics is warranted to improve outcomes. Therapeutic approach for severe CA-MRSA infections and particularly pneumonia is generally the same as that for invasive HA-MRSA infections. New anti-MRSA agents and possible combinations are of great importance to be evaluated in the future.

  9. Selinexor is effective in acquired resistance to ibrutinib and synergizes with ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Hing, Zachary A; Mantel, Rose; Beckwith, Kyle A; Guinn, Daphne; Williams, Erich; Smith, Lisa L; Williams, Katie; Johnson, Amy J; Lehman, Amy M; Byrd, John C; Woyach, Jennifer A; Lapalombella, Rosa

    2015-05-14

    Despite the therapeutic efficacy of ibrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), complete responses are infrequent, and acquired resistance to Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition is being observed in an increasing number of patients. Combination regimens that increase frequency of complete remissions, accelerate time to remission, and overcome single agent resistance are of considerable interest. We previously showed that the XPO1 inhibitor selinexor is proapoptotic in CLL cells and disrupts B-cell receptor signaling via BTK depletion. Herein we show the combination of selinexor and ibrutinib elicits a synergistic cytotoxic effect in primary CLL cells and increases overall survival compared with ibrutinib alone in a mouse model of CLL. Selinexor is effective in cells isolated from patients with prolonged lymphocytosis following ibrutinib therapy. Finally, selinexor is effective in ibrutinib-refractory mice and in a cell line harboring the BTK C481S mutation. This is the first report describing the combined activity of ibrutinib and selinexor in CLL, which represents a new treatment paradigm and warrants further evaluation in clinical trials of CLL patients including those with acquired ibrutinib resistance. © 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.

  10. Histological transformation after acquired resistance to epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Shao, Yi; Zhong, Dian-Sheng

    2018-04-01

    Non-small-cell lung cancer patients with sensitive epidermal growth factor receptor mutations generally respond well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, acquired resistance will eventually develop place after 8-16 months. Several mechanisms contribute to the resistance including T790M mutation, c-Met amplification, epithelial mesenchymal transformation and PIK3CA mutation; however, histological transformation is a rare mechanism. The patterns and mechanisms underlying histological transformation need to be explored. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and search engines Google Scholar, Medical Matrix for literature related to histological transformation. Case reports, cases series, and clinical and basic medical research articles were reviewed. Sixty-one articles were included in this review. Cases of transformation to small-cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma and sarcoma after TKI resistance have all been reported. As the clinical course differed dramatically between cases, a new treatment scheme needs to be recruited. The mechanisms underlying histological transformation have not been fully elucidated and probably relate to cancer stem cells, driver genetic alterations under selective pressure or the heterogeneity of the tumor. When TKI resistance develops, we recommend that patients undergo a second biopsy to determine the reason, guide the next treatment and predict the prognosis.

  11. The human microbiota: novel targets for hospital-acquired infections and antibiotic resistance.

    PubMed

    Pettigrew, Melinda M; Johnson, J Kristie; Harris, Anthony D

    2016-05-01

    Hospital-acquired infections are increasing in frequency due to multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs), and the spread of MDROs has eroded our ability to treat infections. Health care professionals cannot rely solely on traditional infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship to prevent MDRO transmission. We review research on the microbiota as a target for infection control interventions. We performed a literature review of key research findings related to the microbiota as a target for infection control interventions. These data are summarized and used to outline challenges, opportunities, and unanswered questions in the field. The healthy microbiota provides protective functions including colonization resistance, which refers to the microbiota's ability to prevent colonization and/or expansion of pathogens. Antibiotic use and other exposures in hospitalized patients are associated with disruptions of the microbiota that may reduce colonization resistance and select for antibiotic resistance. Novel methods to exploit protective mechanisms provided by an intact microbiota may provide the key to preventing the spread of MDROs in the health care setting. Research on the microbiota as a target for infection control has been limited. Epidemiologic studies will facilitate progress toward the goal of manipulating the microbiota for control of MDROs in the health care setting. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. Serum-dependent effects of tamoxifen and cannabinoids upon C6 glioma cell viability.

    PubMed

    Jacobsson, S O; Rongård, E; Stridh, M; Tiger, G; Fowler, C J

    2000-12-15

    In the present study, the effects of the combination of tamoxifen ((Z)-2[p-(1,2-diphenyl-1-butenyl)phenoxy]-N,N-dimethylamine citrate) and three cannabinoids (Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol [Delta(9)-THC], cannabidiol, and anandamide [AEA]) upon the viability of C6 rat glioma cells was assessed at different incubation times and using different culturing concentrations of foetal bovine serum (FBS). Consistent with previous data for human glioblastoma cells, the tamoxifen sensitivity of the cells was increased as the FBS content of the culture medium was reduced from 10 to 0.4 and 0%. The cells expressed protein kinase C alpha and calmodulin (the concentration of which did not change significantly as the FBS concentration was reduced), but did not express estrogen receptors. Delta(9)-THC and cannabidiol, but not AEA, produced a modest reduction in cell viability after 6 days of incubation in serum-free medium, whereas no effects were seen in 10% FBS-containing medium. There was no observed synergy between the effects of tamoxifen and the cannabinoids upon cell viability.

  13. Ten Years of Tamoxifen Reduces Breast Cancer Recurrences, Improves Survival

    Cancer.gov

    Taking adjuvant tamoxifen for 10 years after primary treatment leads to a greater reduction in breast cancer recurrences and deaths than taking the drug for only 5 years, according to the results of a large international clinical trial.

  14. Mass spectrometric characterization of tamoxifene metabolites in human urine utilizing different scan parameters on liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Mazzarino, Monica; de la Torre, Xavier; Di Santo, Roberto; Fiacco, Ilaria; Rosi, Federica; Botrè, Francesco

    2010-03-01

    Different liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) scanning techniques were considered for the characterization of tamoxifene metabolites in human urine for anti-doping purpose. Five different LC/MS/MS scanning methods based on precursor ion scan (precursor ion scan of m/z 166, 152 and 129) and neutral loss scan (neutral loss of 72 Da and 58 Da) in positive ion mode were assessed to recognize common ions or common losses of tamoxifene metabolites. The applicability of these methods was checked first by infusion and then by the injection of solution of a mixture of reference standards of four tamoxifene metabolites available in our laboratory. The data obtained by the analyses of the mixture of the reference standards showed that the five methods used exhibited satisfactory results for all tamoxifene metabolites considered at a concentration level of 100 ng/mL, whereas the analysis of blank urine samples spiked with the same tamoxifene metabolites at the same concentration showed that the neutral loss scan of 58 Da lacked sufficient specificity and sensitivity. The limit of detection in urine of the compounds studied was in the concentration range 10-100 ng/mL, depending on the compound structure and on the selected product ion. The suitability of these approaches was checked by the analysis of urine samples collected after the administration of a single dose of 20 mg of tamoxifene. Six metabolites were detected: 4-hydroxytamoxifene, 3,4-dihydroxytamoxifene, 3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifene, N-demethyl-4-hydroxytamoxifene, tamoxifene-N-oxide and N-demethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methoxytamoxifene, which is in conformity to our previous work using a time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer in full scan acquisition mode. Copyright (c) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  15. Combination therapy of apatinib with icotinib for primary acquired icotinib resistance in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutation.

    PubMed

    Xia, Pinghui; Cao, Jinlin; Lv, Xiayi; Wang, Luming; Lv, Wang; Hu, Jian

    2018-05-01

    Multi-targeted agents represent the next generation of targeted therapies for solid tumors, and patients with acquired resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may also benefit from their combination with TKI therapy. Third-generation targeted drugs, such as osimertinib, are very expensive, thus a more economical solution is required. The aim of this study was to explore the use of apatinib combined with icotinib therapy for primary acquired resistance to icotinib in three patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations. We achieved favorable oncologic outcomes in all three patients, with progression-free survival of four to six months. Unfortunately, the patients ultimately had to cease combination therapy because of intolerable adverse effects of hand and foot syndrome and oral ulcers. Combination therapy of apatinib with icotinib for primary acquired resistance to icotinib may be an option for patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations, but physicians must also be aware of the side effects caused by such therapy. © 2018 The Authors. Thoracic Cancer published by China Lung Oncology Group and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

  16. The spatiotemporal system dynamics of acquired resistance in an engineered microecology.

    PubMed

    Datla, Udaya Sree; Mather, William H; Chen, Sheng; Shoultz, Isaac W; Täuber, Uwe C; Jones, Caroline N; Butzin, Nicholas C

    2017-11-22

    Great strides have been made in the understanding of complex networks; however, our understanding of natural microecologies is limited. Modelling of complex natural ecological systems has allowed for new findings, but these models typically ignore the constant evolution of species. Due to the complexity of natural systems, unanticipated interactions may lead to erroneous conclusions concerning the role of specific molecular components. To address this, we use a synthetic system to understand the spatiotemporal dynamics of growth and to study acquired resistance in vivo. Our system differs from earlier synthetic systems in that it focuses on the evolution of a microecology from a killer-prey relationship to coexistence using two different non-motile Escherichia coli strains. Using empirical data, we developed the first ecological model emphasising the concept of the constant evolution of species, where the survival of the prey species is dependent on location (distance from the killer) or the evolution of resistance. Our simple model, when expanded to complex microecological association studies under varied spatial and nutrient backgrounds may help to understand the complex relationships between multiple species in intricate natural ecological networks. This type of microecological study has become increasingly important, especially with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

  17. Impact of NICE guidance on tamoxifen prescribing in England 2011-2017: an interrupted time series analysis.

    PubMed

    Curtis, Helen J; Walker, Alex J; Goldacre, Ben

    2018-05-01

    Tamoxifen was recommended by NICE in 2013 for chemoprevention of breast cancer, but a recent survey suggested only a quarter of GPs are aware of this. We set out to measure the uptake of tamoxifen, and the alternative raloxifene, in national prescribing data sets. Tamoxifen and raloxifene data were extracted from England's monthly prescribing data sets, October 2010-October 2017. We used interrupted time series analysis to reveal national and local responses to guidelines. We investigated variation between practices by calculating percentiles for prescribing rates and ratios of change. We found an increase in monthly tamoxifen prescribing following release of the guidelines, with an increase in gradient (p = 0.001) but no step change (p = 0.342). Alongside a small change in raloxifene prescribing we estimate 8450 women took up chemoprevention between 2013 and 2016. We did not find evidence that this was limited to a small group of practices. Our results suggest that the uptake of new guidance on chemoprevention has been slow and has potentially left women exposed to avoidable risk. Improving dissemination of guidance to healthcare professionals and routinely monitoring implementation could help reduce this risk.

  18. Malignant mixed Mullerian tumour of uterus secondary to tamoxifen therapy for hormone responsive breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Mayank; Kiruthiga, Kala Gnanasekaran

    2015-06-29

    Tamoxifen is used in the treatment of hormone responsive breast cancer because of its antiestrogenic effect. However, it also has an estrogenic effect on the uterus, thereby increasing the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, endometrial polyp and endometrial neoplasms such as endometrial adenocarcinoma and malignant mixed Mullerian tumour (MMMT). This case describes the possible pathogenesis and risk of developing MMMT due to long-term tamoxifen intake in hormone responsive breast cancer. 2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

  19. Arachidonic acid-containing phosphatidylcholine characterized by consolidated plasma and liver lipidomics as an early onset marker for tamoxifen-induced hepatic phospholipidosis.

    PubMed

    Saito, Kosuke; Goda, Keisuke; Kobayashi, Akio; Yamada, Naohito; Maekawa, Kyoko; Saito, Yoshiro; Sugai, Shoichiro

    2017-08-01

    Lipid profiling has emerged as an effective approach to not only screen disease and drug toxicity biomarkers but also understand their underlying mechanisms of action. Tamoxifen, a widely used antiestrogenic agent for adjuvant therapy against estrogen-positive breast cancer, possesses side effects such as hepatic steatosis and phospholipidosis (PLD). In the present study, we administered tamoxifen to Sprague-Dawley rats and used lipidomics to reveal tamoxifen-induced alteration of the hepatic lipid profile and its association with the plasma lipid profile. Treatment with tamoxifen for 28 days caused hepatic PLD in rats. We compared the plasma and liver lipid profiles in treated vs. untreated rats using a multivariate analysis to determine differences between the two groups. In total, 25 plasma and 45 liver lipids were identified and altered in the tamoxifen-treated group. Of these lipids, arachidonic acid (AA)-containing phosphatidylcholines (PCs), such as PC (17:0/20:4) and PC (18:1/20:4), were commonly reduced in both plasma and liver. Conversely, tamoxifen increased other phosphoglycerolipids in the liver, such as phosphatidylethanolamine (18:1/18:1) and phosphatidylinositol (18:0/18:2). We also examined alteration of AA-containing PCs and some phosphoglycerolipids in the pre-PLD stage and found that these lipid alterations were initiated before pathological alteration in the liver. In addition, changes in plasma and liver levels of AA-containing PCs were linearly associated. Moreover, levels of free AA and mRNA levels of AA-synthesizing enzymes, such as fatty acid desaturase 1 and 2, were decreased by tamoxifen treatment. Therefore, our study demonstrated that AA-containing PCs might have potential utility as novel and predictive biomarkers for tamoxifen-induced PLD. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  20. Bioactivation of tamoxifen to metabolite E quinone methide: reaction with glutathione and DNA.

    PubMed

    Fan, P W; Bolton, J L

    2001-06-01

    Despite the beneficial effects of tamoxifen in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer, long-term usage of this popular antiestrogen has been linked to an increased risk of developing endometrial cancer in women. One of the suggested pathways leading to the potential toxicity of tamoxifen involves its oxidative metabolism to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which may be further oxidized to an electrophilic quinone methide. Alternatively, tamoxifen could undergo O-dealkylation to give cis/trans-1,2-diphenyl-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-but-1-ene, which is commonly known as metabolite E. Because of its structural similarity to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, metabolite E could also be biotransformed to a quinone methide, which has the potential to alkylate DNA and may contribute to the genotoxic effects of tamoxifen. To further probe the chemical reactivity/toxicity of such an electrophilic species, we have prepared metabolite E quinone methide chemically and enzymatically and examined its reactivity with glutathione (GSH) and DNA. Like 4-hydroxytamoxifen quinone methide, metabolite E quinone methide is quite stable; its half-life under physiological conditions is around 4 h, and its half-life in the presence of GSH is approximately 4 min. However, unlike the unstable GSH adducts of 4-hydroxytamoxifen quinone methide, metabolite E GSH adducts are stable enough to be isolated and characterized by NMR and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Reaction of metabolite E quinone methide with DNA generated exclusively deoxyguanosine adducts, which were characterized by LC/MS/MS. These data suggest that metabolite E has the potential to cause cytotoxicity/genotoxicity through the formation of a quinone methide.

  1. Evaluation of tamoxifen in persistent or recurrent nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

    PubMed

    Bigler, L R; Tate Thigpen, J; Blessing, J A; Fiorica, J; Monk, B J

    2004-01-01

    This study was undertaken to estimate the antitumor activity of tamoxifen in patients with persistent or recurrent nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. Furthermore, the nature and degree of adverse effects from tamoxifen in this cohort of individuals was examined. Tamoxifen citrate was to be administered at a dose of 10 mg per orally twice a day until disease progression or unacceptable side effects prevented further therapy. A total of 34 patients (median age: 49 years) were registered to this trial; two were declared ineligible. Thirty-two patients were evaluable for adverse effects and 27 were evaluable for response. There were only six grades 3 and 4 adverse effects reported: leukopenia (in one patient), anemia (in two), emesis (in one), gastrointestinal distress (in one), and neuropathy (in one). The objective response rate was 11.1%, with one complete and two partial responses. In conclusion, tamoxifen appears to have minimal activity in nonsquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.

  2. IKK phosphorylation of NF-κB at serine 536 contributes to acquired cisplatin resistance in head and neck squamous cell cancer

    PubMed Central

    Li, Zhipeng; Yang, Zejia; Lapidus, Rena G; Liu, Xuefeng; Cullen, Kevin J; Dan, Han C

    2015-01-01

    Current treatment methods for advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. For recurrent and metastatic HNSCC, cisplatin is the most common treatment option, but most of patients will eventually develop cisplatin resistance. Therefore, it is imperative to define the mechanisms involved in cisplatin resistance and find novel therapeutic strategies to overcome this deadly disease. In order to determine the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in contributing to acquired cisplatin resistance in HNSCC, the expression and activity of NF-κB and its upstream kinases, IKKα and IKKβ, were evaluated and compared in three pairs of cisplatin sensitive and resistant HNSCC cell lines, including a pair of patient derived HNSCC cell line. The experiments revealed that NF-κB p65 activity was elevated in cisplatin resistant HNSCC cells compared to that in their parent cells. Importantly, the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 at serine 536 and the phosphorylation of IKKα and IKKβ at their activation loops were dramatically elevated in the resistant cell lines. Furthermore, knockdown of NF-κB or overexpression of p65-S536 alanine (p65-S536A) mutant sensitizes resistant cells to cisplatin. Additionally, the novel IKKβ inhibitor CmpdA has been shown to consistently block the phosphorylation of NF-κB at serine 536 while also dramatically improving the efficacy of cisplatin in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in the cisplatin resistant cancer cells. These results indicated that IKK/NF-κB plays a pivotal role in controlling acquired cisplatin resistance and that targeting the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway may provide a possible therapeutic method to overcome the acquired resistance to cisplatin in HNSCC. PMID:26693062

  3. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Acquire Resistance to the ALK Inhibitor Alectinib by Activating Alternative Receptor Tyrosine Kinases.

    PubMed

    Isozaki, Hideko; Ichihara, Eiki; Takigawa, Nagio; Ohashi, Kadoaki; Ochi, Nobuaki; Yasugi, Masayuki; Ninomiya, Takashi; Yamane, Hiromichi; Hotta, Katsuyuki; Sakai, Katsuya; Matsumoto, Kunio; Hosokawa, Shinobu; Bessho, Akihiro; Sendo, Toshiaki; Tanimoto, Mitsune; Kiura, Katsuyuki

    2016-03-15

    Crizotinib is the standard of care for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion gene, but resistance invariably develops. Unlike crizotinib, alectinib is a selective ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with more potent antitumor effects and a favorable toxicity profile, even in crizotinib-resistant cases. However, acquired resistance to alectinib, as for other TKIs, remains a limitation of its efficacy. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms by which human NSCLC cells acquire resistance to alectinib. We established two alectinib-resistant cell lines that did not harbor the secondary ALK mutations frequently occurring in crizotinib-resistant cells. One cell line lost the EML4-ALK fusion gene, but exhibited increased activation of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3), and overexpressed the HER3 ligand neuregulin 1. Accordingly, pharmacologic inhibition of IGF1R and HER3 signaling overcame resistance to alectinib in this cell line. The second alectinib-resistant cell line displayed stimulated HGF autocrine signaling that promoted MET activation and remained sensitive to crizotinib treatment. Taken together, our findings reveal two novel mechanisms underlying alectinib resistance that are caused by the activation of alternative tyrosine kinase receptors rather than by secondary ALK mutations. These studies may guide the development of comprehensive treatment strategies that take into consideration the various approaches ALK-positive lung tumors use to withstand therapeutic insult. ©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.

  4. 17β-estradiol and Tamoxifen prevent gastric cancer by modulating leukocyte recruitment and oncogenic pathways in Helicobacter pylori-infected INS-GAS male mice

    PubMed Central

    Sheh, Alexander; Ge, Zhongming; Parry, Nicola M.A.; Muthupalani, Sureshkumar; Rager, Julia E.; Raczynski, Arkadiusz R.; Mobley, Melissa W.; McCabe, Amanda F.; Fry, Rebecca C.; Wang, Timothy C.; Fox, James G.

    2011-01-01

    Helicobacter pylori infection promotes male-predominant gastric adenocarcinoma in humans. Estrogens reduce gastric cancer risk and previous studies demonstrated that prophylactic 17β-estradiol (E2) in INS-GAS mice decreases H. pylori-induced carcinogenesis. We examined the effect of E2 and Tamoxifen, on H. pylori-induced gastric cancer in male and female INS-GAS mice. After confirming robust gastric pathology at 16 weeks post-infection (WPI), mice were implanted with E2, Tamoxifen, both E2 and Tamoxifen, or placebo pellets for 12 weeks. At 28 WPI, gastric histopathology, gene expression and immune cell infiltration were evaluated, and serum inflammatory cytokines measured. After treatment, no gastric cancer was observed in H. pylori-infected males receiving E2 and/or Tamoxifen, while 40% of infected untreated males developed gastric cancer. E2, Tamoxifen and their combination significantly reduced gastric precancerous lesions in infected males compared to infected untreated males (P<0.001, 0.01 and 0.01, respectively). However, Tamoxifen did not alter female pathology regardless of infection status. Differentially expressed genes from males treated with E2 or Tamoxifen (n=363 and n=144, Q<0.05) associated highly with cancer and cellular movement, indicating overlapping pathways in the reduction of gastric lesions. E2 or Tamoxifen deregulated genes associated with metastasis (PLAUR and MMP10) and Wnt inhibition (FZD6 and SFRP2). Compared to controls, E2 decreased gastric mRNA (Q<0.05) and serum levels (P<0.05) of CXCL1, a neutrophil chemokine, leading to decreased neutrophil infiltration (P<0.01). Prevention of H. pylori-induced gastric cancer by E2 and Tamoxifen may be mediated by estrogen signaling and is associated with decreased CXCL1, decreased neutrophil counts and downregulation of oncogenic pathways. PMID:21680705

  5. Targeting glucosylceramide synthase induction of cell surface globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in acquired cisplatin-resistance of lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tyler, Andreas, E-mail: andreas.tyler@medbio.umu.se; Johansson, Anders; Karlsson, Terese

    Background: Acquired resistance to cisplatin treatment is a caveat when treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Ceramide increases in response to chemotherapy, leading to proliferation arrest and apoptosis. However, a tumour stress activation of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) follows to eliminate ceramide by formation of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) such as globotriaosylceramide (Gb3), the functional receptor of verotoxin-1. Ceramide elimination enhances cell proliferation and apoptosis blockade, thus stimulating tumor progression. GSLs transactivate multidrug resistance 1/P-glycoprotein (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) expression which further prevents ceramide accumulation and stimulates drug efflux. We investigated the expressionmore » of Gb3, MDR1 and MRP1 in NSCLC and MPM cells with acquired cisplatin resistance, and if GCS activity or MDR1 pump inhibitors would reduce their expression and reverse cisplatin-resistance. Methods: Cell surface expression of Gb3, MDR1 and MRP1 and intracellular expression of MDR1 and MRP1 was analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy on P31 MPM and H1299 NSCLC cells and subline cells with acquired cisplatin resistance. The effect of GCS inhibitor PPMP and MDR1 pump inhibitor cyclosporin A for 72 h on expression and cisplatin cytotoxicity was tested. Results: The cisplatin-resistant cells expressed increased cell surface Gb3. Cell surface Gb3 expression of resistant cells was annihilated by PPMP whereas cyclosporin A decreased Gb3 and MDR1 expression in H1299 cells. No decrease of MDR1 by PPMP was noted in using flow cytometry, whereas a decrease of MDR1 in H1299 and H1299res was indicated with confocal microscopy. No certain co-localization of Gb3 and MDR1 was noted. PPMP, but not cyclosporin A, potentiated cisplatin cytotoxicity in all cells. Conclusions: Cell surface Gb3 expression is a likely tumour biomarker for acquired cisplatin

  6. Inhibition of Macrophage CD36 Expression and Cellular Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein (oxLDL) Accumulation by Tamoxifen: A PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR-ACTIVATED RECEPTOR (PPAR)γ-DEPENDENT MECHANISM.

    PubMed

    Yu, Miao; Jiang, Meixiu; Chen, Yuanli; Zhang, Shuang; Zhang, Wenwen; Yang, Xiaoxiao; Li, Xiaoju; Li, Yan; Duan, Shengzhong; Han, Jihong; Duan, Yajun

    2016-08-12

    Macrophage CD36 binds and internalizes oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) to facilitate foam cell formation. CD36 expression is activated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Tamoxifen, an anti-breast cancer medicine, has demonstrated pleiotropic functions including cardioprotection with unfully elucidated mechanisms. In this study, we determined that treatment of ApoE-deficient mice with tamoxifen reduced atherosclerosis, which was associated with decreased CD36 and PPARγ expression in lesion areas. At the cellular level, we observed that tamoxifen inhibited CD36 protein expression in human THP-1 monocytes, THP-1/PMA macrophages, and human blood monocyte-derived macrophages. Associated with decreased CD36 protein expression, tamoxifen reduced cellular oxLDL accumulation in a CD36-dependent manner. At the transcriptional level, tamoxifen decreased CD36 mRNA expression, promoter activity, and the binding of the PPARγ response element in CD36 promoter to PPARγ protein. Tamoxifen blocked ligand-induced PPARγ nuclear translocation and CD36 expression, but it increased PPARγ phosphorylation, which was due to that tamoxifen-activated ERK1/2. Furthermore, deficiency of PPARγ expression in macrophages abolished the inhibitory effect of tamoxifen on CD36 expression or cellular oxLDL accumulation both in vitro and in vivo Taken together, our study demonstrates that tamoxifen inhibits CD36 expression and cellular oxLDL accumulation by inactivating the PPARγ signaling pathway, and the inhibition of macrophage CD36 expression can be attributed to the anti-atherogenic properties of tamoxifen. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  7. A Novel Plant Sesquiterpene Lactone Derivative, DETD-35, Suppresses BRAFV600E Mutant Melanoma Growth and Overcomes Acquired Vemurafenib Resistance in Mice.

    PubMed

    Feng, Jia-Hua; Nakagawa-Goto, Kyoko; Lee, Kuo-Hsiung; Shyur, Lie-Fen

    2016-06-01

    Acquired resistance to vemurafenib develops through reactivation of RAF/MEK/ERK signaling or bypass mechanisms. Recent combination therapies such as a MEK inhibitor combined with vemurafenib show improvement in major clinical end points, but the percentage of patients with adverse toxic events is higher than with vemurafenib monotherapy and most patients ultimately relapse. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new antimelanoma drugs and/or adjuvant agents for vemurafenib therapy. In this study, we created a novel semiorganically modified derivative, DETD-35, from deoxyelephantopin (DET), a plant sesquiterpene lactone demonstrated as an anti-inflammatory and anti-mammary tumor agent. Our results show that DETD-35 inhibited proliferation of a panel of melanoma cell lines, including acquired vemurafenib resistance A375 cells (A375-R) established in this study, with superior activities to DET and no cytotoxicity to normal melanocytes. DETD-35 suppressed tumor growth and reduced tumor mass as effectively as vemurafenib in A375 xenograft study. Furthermore, DETD-35 also reduced tumor growth in both acquired (A375-R) and intrinsic (A2058) vemurafenib resistance xenograft models, where vemurafenib showed no antitumor activity. Notably, the combination of DETD-35 and vemurafenib exhibited the most significant effects in both in vitro and in vivo xenograft studies due to synergism of the compound and the drug. Mechanistic studies suggested that DETD-35 overcame acquired vemurafenib resistance at least in part through deregulating MEK-ERK, Akt, and STAT3 signaling pathways and promoting apoptosis of cancer cells. Overall, our results suggest that DETD-35 may be useful as a therapeutic or adjuvant agent against BRAF(V600E) mutant and acquired vemurafenib resistance melanoma. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(6); 1163-76. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  8. Up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and coenzyme Q(10) in a human oral cancer cell line with acquired bleomycin resistance.

    PubMed

    Yen, Hsiu-Chuan; Li, Sin-Hua; Majima, Hideyuki J; Huang, Yu-Hsiang; Chen, Chiu-Ping; Liu, Chia-Chi; Tu, Ya-Chi; Chen, Chih-Wei

    2011-06-01

    Bleomycin (BLM) is an anti-cancer drug that can induce formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To investigate the association between up-regulation of antioxidant enzymes and coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) in acquired BLM resistance, one BLM-resistant clone, SBLM24 clone, was selected from a human oral cancer cell line, SCC61 clone. The BLM resistance of SBLM24 clone relative to a sub-clone of SCC61b cells was confirmed by analysis of clonogenic ability and cell cycle arrest. CoQ(10) levels and levels of Mn superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase 1, catalase and thioredoxin reductase 1 were augmented in SBLM24 clone although there was also a mild increase in the expression of BLM hydrolase. Suppression of CoQ(10) levels by 4-aminobenzoate sensitized BLM-induced cytotoxicity. The results of suppression on enhanced ROS production by BLM and the cross-resistance to hydrogen peroxide in SBLM24 clone further demonstrated the development of adaptation to oxidative stress during the formation of acquired BLM resistance.

  9. Determination of Tamoxifen and its Major Metabolites in Exposed Fish

    EPA Science Inventory

    Tamoxifen (TAM), (Z)-1-(p-dimethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-1, 2-diphenyl-1-butene, is a nonsteroidal agent that has been used in breast cancer treatment for decades. Its major metabolites are 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), N-desmethyltamoxifen (DMT), and endoxifen. While TAM and metabolit...

  10. Induction of cytochrome P450 3A4 in primary human hepatocytes and activation of the human pregnane X receptor by tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Desai, Pankaj B; Nallani, Srikanth C; Sane, Rucha S; Moore, Linda B; Goodwin, Bryan J; Buckley, Donna J; Buckley, Arthur R

    2002-05-01

    Tamoxifen is a widely utilized antiestrogen in the treatment and chemoprevention of breast cancer. Clinical studies document that tamoxifen administration markedly enhances the systemic elimination of other drugs. Additionally, tamoxifen enhances its own clearance following repeated dosing. The mechanisms that underlie these clinically important events remain unresolved. Here, we report that tamoxifen and its metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen markedly induce cytochrome P450 3A4, a drug-metabolizing enzyme of central importance, in primary cultures of human hepatocytes. Tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (1-10 microM) significantly increased the CYP3A4 expression and activity (measured as the rate of testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation). Maximal induction was achieved at the 5 microM level. At this level, tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen caused a 1.5- to 3.3-fold (mean, 2.1-fold) and 3.4- to 17-fold (mean, 7.5-fold) increase in the CYP3A4 activity, respectively. In comparison, rifampicin treatment resulted in a 6- to 16-fold (mean, 10.5-fold) increase. We also observed corresponding increase in the CYP3A4 immunoreactive protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen efficaciously activated the human pregnane X receptor (hPXR; also known as the steroid xenobiotic receptor), a key regulator of CYP3A4 expression. The efficacy of tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen relative to rifampicin for hPXR activation was approximately 30 and 60%, respectively. Our results indicate that the mechanism of tamoxifen-mediated alteration in drug clearance pathways in humans may involve CYP3A4 induction by the parent drug and/or its metabolite. Furthermore, the CYP3A4 induction may be a result of hPXR activation. These findings have important implications for optimizing the use of tamoxifen and in the development of newer antiestrogens.

  11. Tamoxifen reduces P-gp-mediated multidrug resistance via inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in ER-negative human gastric cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Mao, Zonglei; Zhou, Jin; Luan, Junwei; Sheng, Weihua; Shen, Xiaochun; Dong, Xiaoqiang

    2014-03-01

    Multidrug resistance (MDR), mediated by overexpression of drug efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), is a major problem limiting successful chemotherapy of gastric cancer. Tamoxifen (TAM), a triphenylethylene nonsteroidal antiestrogen agent, shows broad-spectrum antitumor properties. Emerging studies demonstrated that TAM could significantly reduce the MDR in a variety of human cancers. Here we investigated the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of action of TAM on the reversion of MDR in ER-negative human gastric cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that in MDR phenotype SGC7901/CDDP gastric cancer cells TAM dramatically lowered the IC50 of CDDP, 5-FU and ADM, increased the intracellular Rhodamine123 accumulation and induced G0/G1 phase arrest, while G2/M phase decreased accordingly. Furthermore, at the molecular level, TAM substantially decreased the expression of P-gp, p-Akt and the Akt-regulated downstream effectors such as p-GSK-3β, p-BAD, Bcl-XL and cyclinD1 proteins without affecting the expression of t-Akt, t-GSK-3β, t-BAD proteins in SGC7901/CDDP cells. Thus, our findings demonstrate that TAM reverses P-gp-mediated gastric cancer cell MDR via inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  12. Steroid receptor coactivators, HER-2 and HER-3 expression is stimulated by tamoxifen treatment in DMBA-induced breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Moi, Line L Haugan; Flågeng, Marianne Hauglid; Gjerde, Jennifer; Madsen, Andre; Røst, Therese Halvorsen; Gudbrandsen, Oddrun Anita; Lien, Ernst A; Mellgren, Gunnar

    2012-06-15

    Steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs) may modulate estrogen receptor (ER) activity and the response to endocrine treatment in breast cancer, in part through interaction with growth factor receptor signaling pathways. In the present study the effects of tamoxifen treatment on the expression of SRCs and human epidermal growth factor receptors (HERs) were examined in an animal model of ER positive breast cancer. Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer were randomized to 14 days of oral tamoxifen 40 mg/kg bodyweight/day or vehicle only (controls). Tumors were measured throughout the study period. Blood samples and tumor tissue were collected at sacrifice and tamoxifen and its main metabolites were quantified using LC-MS/MS. The gene expression in tumor of SRC-1, SRC-2/transcription intermediary factor-2 (TIF-2), SRC-3/amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1), ER, HER-1, -2, -3 and HER-4, as well as the transcription factor Ets-2, was measured by real-time RT-PCR. Protein levels were further assessed by Western blotting. Tamoxifen and its main metabolites were detected at high concentrations in serum and accumulated in tumor tissue in up to tenfolds the concentration in serum. Mean tumor volume/rat decreased in the tamoxifen treated group, but continued to increase in controls. The mRNA expression levels of SRC-1 (P = 0.035), SRC-2/TIF-2 (P = 0.002), HER-2 (P = 0.035) and HER-3 (P = 0.006) were significantly higher in tamoxifen treated tumors compared to controls, and the results were confirmed at the protein level using Western blotting. SRC-3/AIB1 protein was also higher in tamoxifen treated tumors. SRC-1 and SRC-2/TIF-2 mRNA levels were positively correlated with each other and with HER-2 (P ≤ 0.001), and the HER-2 mRNA expression correlated with the levels of the other three HER family members (P < 0.05). Furthermore, SRC-3/AIB1 and HER-4 were positively correlated with each other and Ets-2 (P < 0.001). The expression of SRCs

  13. Steroid receptor coactivators, HER-2 and HER-3 expression is stimulated by tamoxifen treatment in DMBA-induced breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Steroid receptor coactivators (SRCs) may modulate estrogen receptor (ER) activity and the response to endocrine treatment in breast cancer, in part through interaction with growth factor receptor signaling pathways. In the present study the effects of tamoxifen treatment on the expression of SRCs and human epidermal growth factor receptors (HERs) were examined in an animal model of ER positive breast cancer. Methods Sprague-Dawley rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer were randomized to 14 days of oral tamoxifen 40 mg/kg bodyweight/day or vehicle only (controls). Tumors were measured throughout the study period. Blood samples and tumor tissue were collected at sacrifice and tamoxifen and its main metabolites were quantified using LC-MS/MS. The gene expression in tumor of SRC-1, SRC-2/transcription intermediary factor-2 (TIF-2), SRC-3/amplified in breast cancer 1 (AIB1), ER, HER-1, -2, -3 and HER-4, as well as the transcription factor Ets-2, was measured by real-time RT-PCR. Protein levels were further assessed by Western blotting. Results Tamoxifen and its main metabolites were detected at high concentrations in serum and accumulated in tumor tissue in up to tenfolds the concentration in serum. Mean tumor volume/rat decreased in the tamoxifen treated group, but continued to increase in controls. The mRNA expression levels of SRC-1 (P = 0.035), SRC-2/TIF-2 (P = 0.002), HER-2 (P = 0.035) and HER-3 (P = 0.006) were significantly higher in tamoxifen treated tumors compared to controls, and the results were confirmed at the protein level using Western blotting. SRC-3/AIB1 protein was also higher in tamoxifen treated tumors. SRC-1 and SRC-2/TIF-2 mRNA levels were positively correlated with each other and with HER-2 (P ≤ 0.001), and the HER-2 mRNA expression correlated with the levels of the other three HER family members (P < 0.05). Furthermore, SRC-3/AIB1 and HER-4 were positively correlated with each other and Ets-2 (P < 0

  14. Differences in metabolite-mediated toxicity of tamoxifen in rodents versus humans elucidated with DNA/microsome electro-optical arrays and nanoreactors.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Linlin; Krishnan, Sadagopan; Zhang, Yun; Schenkman, John B; Rusling, James F

    2009-02-01

    Tamoxifen, a therapeutic and chemopreventive breast cancer drug, was chosen as a model compound because of acknowledged species specific toxicity differences. Emerging approaches utilizing electro-optical arrays and nanoreactors based on DNA/microsome films were used to compare metabolite-mediated toxicity differences of tamoxifen in rodents versus humans. Hits triggered by liver enzyme metabolism were first provided by arrays utilizing a DNA damage end point. The arrays feature thin-film spots containing an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) ruthenium polymer ([Ru(bpy)(2)PVP(10)](2+); PVP, polyvinylpyridine), DNA, and liver microsomes. When DNA damage resulted from reactions with tamoxifen metabolites, it was detected by an increase in light from the oxidation of the damaged DNA by the ECL metallopolymer. The slope of ECL generation versus enzyme reaction time correlated with the rate of DNA damage. An approximate 2-fold greater ECL turnover rate was observed for spots with rat liver microsomes compared to that with human liver microsomes. These results were supported by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of reaction products using nanoreactors featuring analogous films on silica nanoparticles, allowing the direct measurement of the relative formation rate for alpha-(N(2)-deoxyguanosinyl)tamoxifen. We observed 2-5-fold more rapid formation rates for three major metabolites, i.e., alpha-hydroxytamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and tamoxifen N-oxide, catalyzed by rat liver microsomes compared to human liver microsomes. Comparable formation rates were observed for N-desmethyl tamoxifen with rat and human liver microsomes. A better detoxifying capacity for human liver microsomes than rat liver microsomes was confirmed utilizing glucuronyltransferase in microsomes together with UDP-glucuronic acid. Taken together, lower genotoxicity and higher detoxication rates presented by human liver microsomes correlate with the lower risk of tamoxifen in

  15. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein induces acquired resistance to imatinib in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells

    PubMed Central

    Peng, Xing-Xiang; Tiwari, Amit K.; Wu, Hsiang-Chun; Chen, Zhe-Sheng

    2012-01-01

    Imatinib, a breakpoint cluster region (BCR)-Abelson murine leukemia (ABL) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), has revolutionized the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, development of multidrug resistance (MDR) limits the use of imatinib. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the mechanisms of cellular resistance to imatinib in CML. Therefore, we established an imatinib-resistant human CML cell line (K562-imatinib) through a stepwise selection process. While characterizing the phenotype of these cells, we found that K562-imatinib cells were 124.6-fold more resistant to imatinib than parental K562 cells. In addition, these cells were cross-resistant to second- and third-generation BCR-ABL TKIs. Western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) demonstrated that P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and MDR1 mRNA levels were increased in K562-imatinib cells. In addition, accumulation of [14C]6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) was decreased, whereas the ATP-dependent efflux of [14C] 6-MP and [3H]methotrexate transport were increased in K562-imatinib cells. These data suggest that the overexpression of P-gp may play a crucial role in acquired resistance to imatinib in CML K562-imatinib cells. PMID:22098951

  16. Effect of United States buckwheat honey on antibiotic-resistant hospital acquired pathogens

    PubMed Central

    Hammond, Eric Nee-Armah; Duster, Megan; Musuuza, Jackson Ssentalo; Safdar, Nasia

    2016-01-01

    Introduction Due to an upsurge in antibiotic-resistant infections and lack of therapeutic options, new approaches are needed for treatment. Honey may be one such potential therapeutic option. We investigated the susceptibility of hospital acquired pathogens to four honeys from Wisconsin, United States, and then determined if the antibacterial effect of each honey against these pathogens is primarily due to the high sugar content. Methods Thirteen pathogens including: four Clostridium difficile, two Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, two Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, two Vancomycin-resistance Enterococcus, one Enterococcus faecalis and one Klebsiella pneumoniae were exposed to 1-50% (w/v) four Wisconsin honeys and Artificial honey to determine their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using the broth dilution method. Results Buckwheat honey predominantly exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against the tested pathogens, and this varied with each pathogen. C. difficile isolates were more sensitive to the Wisconsin buckwheat honey as compared to the other pathogens. Artificial honey at 50% (w/v) failed to kill any of the pathogens. The high sugar content of Wisconsin buckwheat honey is not the only factor responsible for its bactericidal activity. Conclusion Wisconsin buckwheat honey has the potential to be an important addition to therapeutic armamentarium against resistant pathogens and should be investigated further. PMID:28292167

  17. UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of tobacco-specific biomarker NNAL, tamoxifen and its main metabolites in rat plasma.

    PubMed

    Xiong, Wei; Zhao, Jiajia; Wang, Ling; Jiang, Xuehua

    2017-06-01

    Cigarette smoke is known to interact with tamoxifen-metabolizing enzymes and transporters and potentially affect its treatment outcome. 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is an important metabolite of 4-(methylnitro-samino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) because it is frequently used as a biomarker to assess human smoke exposure. In order to study the potential pharmacokinetic interaction between cigarette smoke and tamoxifen in rats a UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of NNAL and tamoxifen along with its metabolites in rat plasma has been developed and validated. Analytes were extracted with methanol and separated on a HSS T3 column by a gradient elution with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water. The lower limits of quantitation ranged from 0.05 to 0.62 ng/mL. Precisions showed RSD <15.8% and accuracy in the range 80.6-116.0%. Mean analyte recoveries ranged from 76.9 to 108.4%. The method was successfully applied to study the effects of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), NNK and benzo(a)pyrene pre-treatment on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites in rats. Significant effects of CSC, NNK, benzo(a)pyrene were observed on pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and its metabolites. We also found that plasma NNAL levels are statistically significant correlated with plasma 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen and endoxifen. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  18. Study Confirms Letrozole Prevents More Breast Cancer Recurrences than Tamoxifen

    Cancer.gov

    After a median of 8 years of follow-up, women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer who received 5 years of letrozole were less likely to have their cancer recur or to die during follow-up than women who received 5 years of tamoxifen.

  19. Reductive amination-assisted quantitation of tamoxifen and its metabolites by liquid phase chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Liang, Shih-Shin; Wang, Tsu-Nai; Chiu, Chien-Chih; Kuo, Po-Lin; Huang, Mei-Fang; Liu, Meng-Chieh; Tsai, Eing-Mei

    2016-02-19

    Tamoxifen, a hormonal therapy drug against estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, can be metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes such as CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, and converted to N-desmethyltamoxifen, which is subsequently, metabolized by CYP2D6 and inverted to form 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen (endoxifen). Conventional mass spectrometry (MS) analyses of tamoxifen and its metabolites require isotopic internal standards (ISs). In this study, endoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen amine groups were modified by reductive amination with formaldehyde-D2 to produce new metabolite molecules. Both endoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen generated their corresponding D2-methyl modified analogs. This method is expected to simplify MS detection and overcome the difficulty in selecting adequate ISs when tamoxifen metabolites are analyzed by absolute quantification. It identified tamoxifen, D2-methyl modified endoxifen, and D2-methyl modified N-desmethyltamoxifen with a linearity ranging from 2 to 5000 ng/mL with correlation coefficient (R(2)) values of 0.9868, 0.9849, and 0.9880, respectively. Furthermore, this reductive amination-based method may enhance the signal intensities of D2-methyl modified N-desmethyltamoxifen and endoxifen, thus facilitating the MS detection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Targeted conjugation of breast anticancer drug tamoxifen and its metabolites with synthetic polymers.

    PubMed

    Sanyakamdhorn, S; Agudelo, D; Bekale, L; Tajmir-Riahi, H A

    2016-09-01

    Conjugation of antitumor drug tamoxifen and its metabolites, 4-hydroxytamxifen and ednoxifen with synthetic polymers poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), methoxypoly (ethylene glycol) polyamidoamine (mPEG-PAMAM-G3) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM-G4) dendrimers was studied in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. Multiple spectroscopic methods, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular modeling were used to characterize the drug binding process to synthetic polymers. Structural analysis showed that drug-polymer binding occurs via both H-bonding and hydrophobic contacts. The order of binding is PAMAM-G4>mPEG-PAMAM-G3>PEG-6000 with 4-hydroxttamoxifen forming more stable conjugate than tamoxifen and endoxifen. Transmission electron microscopy showed significant changes in carrier morphology with major changes in the shape of the polymer aggregate as drug encapsulation occurred. Modeling also showed that drug is located in the surface and in the internal cavities of PAMAM with the free binding energy of -3.79 for tamoxifen, -3.70 for 4-hydroxytamoxifen and -3.69kcal/mol for endoxifen, indicating of spontaneous drug-polymer interaction at room temperature. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Aggressive fibromatosis response to tamoxifen: lack of correlation between MRI and symptomatic response.

    PubMed

    Libertini, M; Mitra, I; van der Graaf, W T A; Miah, A B; Judson, I; Jones, R L; Thomas, K; Moskovic, E; Szucs, Z; Benson, C; Messiou, C

    2018-01-01

    One of the commonly used systemic agents for the treatment of aggressive fibromatosis is the anti-oestrogen drug tamoxifen. However, data on efficacy and optimum methods of response assessment are limited, consisting mainly of small case series and reports. A retrospective database was used to identify consecutive patients diagnosed with aggressive fibromatosis (AF) and treated with tamoxifen plus/minus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at our tertiary referral centre between 2007 and 2014. MRI and symptom changes were recorded. Thirty-two patients (13 male 19 female, median age 41 years) were included. Median duration of treatment with tamoxifen was 316 days. Of 9 patients with progressive disease by RECIST 1.1 (28%): 4 patients experienced worsening symptoms; 3 patients had improved symptoms and 2 had no change in symptoms. Of 22 patients with stable disease (69%): 11 had no change in symptoms; 6 had improved symptoms and 5 patients had worsening symptoms. One patient achieved a partial response with improved symptoms. No relationship was identified between symptomatic benefit and response by RECIST 1.1 on MRI. Prospective studies in AF should incorporate endpoints focusing on patient symptoms.

  2. Motivators and barriers of tamoxifen use as risk-reducing medication amongst women at increased breast cancer risk: a systematic literature review.

    PubMed

    Meiser, B; Wong, W K T; Peate, M; Julian-Reynier, C; Kirk, J; Mitchell, G

    2017-01-01

    Selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as tamoxifen, reduce breast cancer risk by up to 50% in women at increased risk for breast cancer. Despite tamoxifen's well-established efficacy, many studies show that most women are not taking up tamoxifen. This systematic literature review aimed to identify the motivators and barriers to tamoxifen use 's amongst high-risk women. Using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase plus reviewing reference lists of relevant articles published between 1995 and 2016, 31 studies (published in 35 articles) were identified, which addressed high-risk women's decisions about risk-reducing medication to prevent breast cancer and were peer-reviewed primary clinical studies. A range of factors were identified as motivators of, and barriers to, tamoxifen uptake including: perceived risk, breast-cancer-related anxiety, health professional recommendation, perceived drug effectiveness, concerns about side-effects, knowledge and access to information about side-effects, beliefs about the role of risk-reducing medication, provision of a biomarker, preference for other forms of breast cancer risk reduction, previous treatment experience, concerns about randomization in clinical trial protocols and finally altruism. Results indicate that the decision for high-risk women regarding tamoxifen use or non-use as a risk-reducing medication is not straightforward. Support of women making this decision is essential and needs to encompass the full range of factors, both informational and psychological.

  3. Being Met as marked - patients' experiences of being infected with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

    PubMed

    Skyman, Eva; Lindahl, Berit; Bergbom, Ingegerd; Sjöström, Harrieth Thunberg; Åhrén, Christina

    2016-12-01

    It is known that patients who acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals suffer and feel as plague. Moreover, the patient interaction with nurses and physicians is described as frightening. Little is known about patient experiences after having acquired CA-MRSA concerning care and everyday life. To reveal and interpret otherwise healthy patients' lived experiences of receiving care and their everyday life after having acquired community MRSA (CA-MRSA). A phenomenological hermeneutic approach guided by Ricouer was conducted. Interviews with twelve patients were transcribed verbatim into a text. The text was analysed in three phases: naive understanding, structural analysis and comprehensive understanding to reveal a possible being in the world. In this study, this referred to what it means to be infected with CA-MRSA. The findings indicate that patients who acquired MRSA experience a changed body image. They suffer from ignorant and frightened behavior from healthcare workers, social contacts, and also of being bullied by colleagues. Despite this, patients assume great responsibility for protecting others. However, knowledgeable staff alleviate suffering and bring peace of mind to the patients. Preventing patient's feelings of being a pest, an outsider living with fear, requires urgent education and understanding about resistant bacteria and how to meet an infected patient. The results describing patients, affected with MRSA, may contribute and touch the readers to better understanding of patient's changed body image and suffering and how to mitigate these feelings. © 2016 Nordic College of Caring Science.

  4. Opposite effects of tamoxifen on metabolic syndrome-induced bladder and prostate alterations: a role for GPR30/GPER?

    PubMed

    Comeglio, P; Morelli, A; Cellai, I; Vignozzi, L; Sarchielli, E; Filippi, S; Maneschi, E; Corcetto, F; Corno, C; Gacci, M; Vannelli, G B; Maggi, M

    2014-01-01

    BPH and LUTS have been associated to obesity, hypogonadism, and metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS-induced prostate and bladder alterations, including inflammation and tissue remodeling, have been related to a low-testosterone and high-estrogen milieu. In addition to ERs, GPR30/GPER is able to mediate several estrogenic non-genomic actions. Supplementing a subgroup of MetS rabbits with tamoxifen, we analyzed the in vivo effects on MetS-induced prostate and bladder alterations. The effects of selective ER/GPER ligands and GPER silencing on prostate inflammation were also studied in vitro using hBPH cells. ERα, ERβ, and PR expression was upregulated in MetS bladder, where tamoxifen decreased ERα and PR expression, further stimulating ERβ. In addition, tamoxifen-dosing decreased MetS-induced overexpression of inflammatory and tissue remodeling genes. In prostate, sex steroid receptors, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes were upregulated in MetS. However, tamoxifen did not affect them and even increased COX-2. In hBPH cells, 17β-estradiol increased IL-8 secretion, an effect blunted by co-treatment with GPER antagonist G15 but not by ER antagonist ICI 182,780, which further increased it. GPER agonist G1 dose-dependently (IC50  = 1.6 nM) induced IL-8 secretion. In vitro analysis demonstrated that GPER silencing reverted these stimulatory effects. GPER can be considered the main mediator of estrogen action in prostate, whereas in bladder the mechanism appears to rely on ERα, as indicated by in vivo experiments with tamoxifen dosing. Limiting the effects of the MetS-induced estrogen action via GPER could offer new perspectives in the management of BPH/LUTS, whereas tamoxifen dosing showed potential benefits in bladder. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. Acquired resistance to the 16-membered macrolides tylosin and tilmicosin by Mycoplasma bovis.

    PubMed

    Lerner, Uri; Amram, Eytan; Ayling, Roger D; Mikula, Inna; Gerchman, Irena; Harrus, Shimon; Teff, Dina; Yogev, David; Lysnyansky, Inna

    2014-01-31

    The molecular mechanism of acquired resistance to the 16-membered macrolides tylosin (Ty) and tilmicosin (Tm) was investigated in Mycoplasma bovis field isolates. Sequence analysis of domains II and V of the two 23S rRNA alleles and ribosomal proteins L4 and L22 was performed on 54 M. bovis isolates showing different minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC). The presence of any one of the point mutations G748A, C752T, A2058G, A2059G or A2059C (Escherichia coli numbering) in one or both alleles of the 23S rRNAs was correlated with decreased susceptibility to Ty (8-1024 μg/ml) and to Tm (32 to >256 μg/ml) in 27/27 and 27/31 M. bovis isolates, respectively. Although a single mutation in domain II or V could be sufficient to cause decreased susceptibility to Ty, our data imply that a combination of mutations in two domains is necessary to achieve higher MICs (≥ 128 μg/ml). The influence of a combination of mutations in two domains II and V on enhancement of resistance to Tm was less clear. In addition, the amino acid (aa) substitution L22-Q90H was found in 24/32 representative M. bovis isolates with different MICs, but no correlation with decreased susceptibility to Ty or Tm was identified. Multiple aa substitutions were also identified in the L4 protein, including at positions 185-186 (positions 64 and 65 in E. coli) which are adjacent to the macrolide-binding site. This is the first description of the molecular mechanism of acquired resistance to the 16-membered macrolides in M. bovis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  6. Anti-tumor effects of retinoids combined with trastuzumab or tamoxifen in breast cancer cells: induction of apoptosis by retinoid/trastuzumab combinations.

    PubMed

    Koay, Debbie C; Zerillo, Cynthia; Narayan, Murli; Harris, Lyndsay N; DiGiovanna, Michael P

    2010-01-01

    HER2 and estrogen receptor (ER) are important in breast cancer and are therapeutic targets of trastuzumab (Herceptin) and tamoxifen, respectively. Retinoids inhibit breast cancer growth, and modulate signaling by HER2 and ER. We hypothesized that treatment with retinoids and simultaneous targeting of HER2 and/or ER may have enhanced anti-tumor effects. The effects of retinoids combined with trastuzumab or tamoxifen were examined in two human breast cancer cell lines in culture, BT474 and SKBR3. Assays of proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, cell cycle distribution, and receptor signaling were performed. In HER2-overexpressing/ER-positive BT474 cells, combining all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) with tamoxifen or trastuzumab synergistically inhibited cell growth, and altered cell differentiation and cell cycle. Only atRA/trastuzumab-containing combinations induced apoptosis. BT474 and HER2-overexpressing/ER-negative SKBR3 cells were treated with a panel of retinoids (atRA, 9-cis-retinoic acid, 13-cis-retinoic acid, or N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (fenretinide) (4-HPR)) combined with trastuzumab. In BT474 cells, none of the single agents except 4-HPR induced apoptosis, but again combinations of each retinoid with trastuzumab did induce apoptosis. In contrast, the single retinoid agents did cause apoptosis in SKBR3 cells; this was only modestly enhanced by addition of trastuzumab. The retinoid drug combinations altered signaling by HER2 and ER. Retinoids were inactive in trastuzumab-resistant BT474 cells. Combining retinoids with trastuzumab maximally inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in trastuzumab-sensitive cells. Treatment with such combinations may have benefit for breast cancer patients.

  7. Tamoxifen induces apoptotic neutrophil efferocytosis in horses.

    PubMed

    Olave, C; Morales, N; Uberti, B; Henriquez, C; Sarmiento, J; Ortloff, A; Folch, H; Moran, G

    2018-03-01

    Macrophages and neutrophils are important cellular components in the process of acute inflammation and its subsequent resolution, and evidence increasingly suggests that they play important functions during the resolution of chronic, adaptive inflammatory processes. Exacerbated neutrophil activity can be harmful to surrounding tissues; this is important in a range of diseases, including allergic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in humans, and equine asthma (also known as recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Tamoxifen (TX) is a non-steroidal estrogen receptor modulator with effects on cell growth and survival. Previous studies showed that TX treatment in horses with induced acute pulmonary inflammation promoted early apoptosis of blood and BALF neutrophils, reduction of BALF neutrophils, and improvement in animals' clinical status. The aim of this study was to describe if TX induces in vitro efferocytosis of neutrophils by alveolar macrophages. Efferocytosis assay, myeloperoxidase (MPO) detection and translocation phosphatidylserine (PS) were performed on neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood samples from five healthy horses. In in vitro samples from heathy horses, TX treatment increases the phenomenon of efferocytosis of peripheral neutrophils by alveolar macrophages. Similar increases in supernatant MPO concentration and PS translocation were observed in TX-treated neutrophils, compared to control cells. In conclusion, these results confirm that tamoxifen has a direct effect on equine peripheral blood neutrophils, through stimulation of the engulfment of apoptotic neutrophils by alveolar macrophages.

  8. Phase I Clinical Trial Assessing Temozolomide and Tamoxifen With Concomitant Radiotherapy for Treatment of High-Grade Glioma

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Patel, Shilpen, E-mail: Shilpenp@uw.edu; DiBiase, Steven; Meisenberg, Barry

    2012-02-01

    Purpose: The new standard treatment of glioblastoma multiforme is concurrent radiotherapy (RT) and temozolomide. The proliferation of high-grade gliomas might be partly dependent on protein kinase C-mediated pathways. Tamoxifen has been shown in vitro to inhibit protein kinase C through estrogen receptor-independent antineoplastic effects. This Phase I trial was designed to determine the maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of tamoxifen when given with temozolomide and concurrent RT to patients with high-grade gliomas. Methods and Materials: A total of 17 consecutive patients in four cohorts with World Health Organization Grade 3 (n = 2) and 4 (n = 15) gliomas were givenmore » tamoxifen twice daily during 6 weeks of concurrent RT and temozolomide. Eligibility included histologic diagnosis, age >18 years old, Karnofsky performance status {>=}60, and no previous brain RT or chemotherapy. The starting dose was 50 mg/m{sup 2} divided twice daily. If no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurred in 3 patients, the dose was escalated in 25-mg/m{sup 2} increments until the MTD was reached. When {>=}2 patients within a cohort experienced a DLT, the MTD had been exceeded. Temozolomide was given with RT at 75 mg/m{sup 2}. A dose of 60 Gy in 2 Gy/d fractions to a partial brain field was delivered. Results: A total of 6 patients in Cohort 4 had received tamoxifen at 125 mg/m{sup 2}. One patient was excluded, and the fourth patient developed Grade 4 thrombocytopenia (DLT). Thus, 3 more patients needed to be enrolled. A deep venous thrombosis (DLT) occurred in the sixth patient. Thus, the MTD was 100 mg/m{sup 2}. Conclusions: The MTD of tamoxifen was 100 mg/m{sup 2} when given concurrently with temozolomide 75 mg/m{sup 2} and RT. Tamoxifen might have a role in the initial treatment of high-grade gliomas and should be studied in future Phase II trials building on the newly established platform of concurrent chemoradiotherapy.« less

  9. Loss of Activating EGFR Mutant Gene Contributes to Acquired Resistance to EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Lung Cancer Cells

    PubMed Central

    Kubo, Takuya; Murakami, Yuichi; Kawahara, Akihiko; Azuma, Koichi; Abe, Hideyuki; Kage, Masayoshi; Yoshinaga, Aki; Tahira, Tomoko; Hayashi, Kenshi; Arao, Tokuzo; Nishio, Kazuto; Rosell, Rafael; Kuwano, Michihiko; Ono, Mayumi

    2012-01-01

    Non-small-cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations attains a meaningful response to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs could affect long-term outcome in almost all patients. To identify the potential mechanisms of resistance, we established cell lines resistant to EGFR-TKIs from the human lung cancer cell lines PC9 and11–18, which harbored activating EGFR mutations. One erlotinib-resistant cell line from PC9 and two erlotinib-resistant cell lines and two gefitinib-resistant cell lines from 11–18 were independently established. Almost complete loss of mutant delE746-A750 EGFR gene was observed in the erlotinib-resistant cells isolated from PC9, and partial loss of the mutant L858R EGFR gene copy was specifically observed in the erlotinib- and gefitinib-resistant cells from 11–18. However, constitutive activation of EGFR downstream signaling, PI3K/Akt, was observed even after loss of the mutated EGFR gene in all resistant cell lines even in the presence of the drug. In the erlotinib-resistant cells from PC9, constitutive PI3K/Akt activation was effectively inhibited by lapatinib (a dual TKI of EGFR and HER2) or BIBW2992 (pan-TKI of EGFR family proteins). Furthermore, erlotinib with either HER2 or HER3 knockdown by their cognate siRNAs also inhibited PI3K/Akt activation. Transfection of activating mutant EGFR complementary DNA restored drug sensitivity in the erlotinib-resistant cell line. Our study indicates that loss of addiction to mutant EGFR resulted in gain of addiction to both HER2/HER3 and PI3K/Akt signaling to acquire EGFR-TKI resistance. PMID:22815900

  10. Intraepithelial G3 adenocarcinoma of the endometrium after tamoxifen treatment.

    PubMed

    Marchesoni, Diego; Driul, L; Mozzanega, B; Nardelli, G B; Parenti, A

    2005-01-01

    In this paper we describe a case of endometrial carcinoma observed in a post-menopausal patient who was treated with tamoxifen for 5 years after a mastectomy for cancer. She came to our department because of vaginal bleeding 2 years after the end of tamoxifen treatment. She underwent hysteroscopy and a D and C. A polypoid endometrium completely filled the uterine cavity and was carefully removed by curettage; histology showed a highly undifferentiated neoplasia with a component of serous adenocarcinoma, which was likely to originate from endometrial polyps. The patient underwent radical hysterectomy, but no residual tumor was found in the uterus or in the tubes, ovary, or pelvic nodes, in spite of its low differentiation grade and high potential aggressiveness, and even though the patient was already symptomatic. Two years after surgery the patient is disease free, which is consistent with the evaluation of the surgical specimen, but unusual in poorly differentiated neoplasms.

  11. Novel Carbonyl Analogues of Tamoxifen: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasiotis, Konstantinos M.; Lambrinidis, George; Fokialakis, Nikolas; Tzanetou, Evangelia N.; Mikros, Emmanuel; Haroutounian, Serkos A.

    2017-09-01

    Aim of this work was to provide tamoxifen analogues with enhanced estrogen receptor binding affinity. Hence, several derivatives were prepared using an efficient triarylethylenes synthetic protocol. The novel compounds bioactivity was evaluated through the determination of their receptor binding affinity and their agonist/antagonist activity against breast cancer tissue using a MCF-7 cell-based assay. Phenyl esters 6a,b and 8a,b exhibited binding affinity to both ERα and ERβ higher than 4-hydroxytamoxifen while compounds 13 and 14 have shown cellular antiestrogenic activity similar to 4-hydroxytamoxifen and the known estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182,780. Theoretical calculations and molecular modelling were applied to investigate, support and explain the biological profile of the new compounds. The relevant data indicated an agreement between calculations and demonstrated biological activity allowing to extract useful structure-activity relationships. Results herein underline that modifications of tamoxifen structure still provide molecules with substantial activity, as portrayed in the inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation.

  12. A misdiagnosed Riedel's thyroiditis successfully treated by thyroidectomy and tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Wang, Chih-Jung; Wu, Ta-Jen; Lee, Chung-Ta; Huang, Shih-Ming

    2012-12-01

    Riedel's thyroiditis, known as invasive fibrous thyroiditis, is a very rare form of chronic thyroiditis. It is hard to make the diagnosis without surgical biopsy. We present a case of Riedel's thyroiditis in a 52-year-old female with past history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. She suffered from bilateral neck pain, which radiated to both lower jaws. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 125 mm/hour. Subacute thyroiditis superimposed on Hashimoto's thyroiditis was diagnosed and treated with steroid. However the response was poor and she had a history of severe peptic ulcer. To avoid inducing the peptic ulcer by steroid, she received bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy. During surgery, the thyroid had severe adhesion to surrounding soft tissue and the pathology showed Riedel's thyroiditis. The neck pain improved after thyroidectomy. Tamoxifen has been given for 8 months and the size of remnant thyroid decreased to 8 mm. We concluded that combined thyroidectomy and tamoxifen successfully cured a patient with Riedel's thyroiditis. Copyright © 2012. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  13. Simultaneous determination of centchroman and tamoxifen along with their metabolites in rat plasma using LC-MS/MS.

    PubMed

    Rama Raju, Kanumuri Siva; Taneja, Isha; Singh, Sheelendra Pratap; Tripathi, Amit; Mishra, Durga Prasad; Hussain, K Mahaboob; Gayen, Jiaur Rahman; Singh, Shio Kumar; Wahajuddin, Muhammad

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen and centchroman are two non-steroidal, selective estrogen receptors modulators, intended for long term therapy in the woman. Because of their wide spread use, there is a possibility of co-prescription of these agents. We studied the probable pharmacokinetic interaction between these agents in breast cancer model rats. A simple, sensitive and rapid LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of tamoxifen, centchroman and their active metabolites. The method was linear over a range of 0.2-200 ng/ml. All validation parameters met the acceptance criteria according to regulatory guidelines. LC-MS/MS method for determination of tamoxifen, centchroman and their metabolites was developed and validated. Results show the potential of drug-drug interaction upon co-administration these two marketed drugs.

  14. Establishment of a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-driver mouse strain for widespread and temporal genetic modification in adult mice.

    PubMed

    Ichise, Hirotake; Hori, Akiko; Shiozawa, Seiji; Kondo, Saki; Kanegae, Yumi; Saito, Izumu; Ichise, Taeko; Yoshida, Nobuaki

    2016-07-29

    Temporal genetic modification of mice using the ligand-inducible Cre/loxP system is an important technique that allows the bypass of embryonic lethal phenotypes and access to adult phenotypes. In this study, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-driver mouse strain for the purpose of widespread and temporal Cre recombination. The new line, named CM32, expresses the GFPneo-fusion gene in a wide variety of tissues before FLP recombination and tamoxifen-inducible Cre after FLP recombination. Using FLP-recombined CM32 mice (CM32Δ mice) and Cre reporter mouse lines, we evaluated the efficiency of Cre recombination with and without tamoxifen administration to adult mice, and found tamoxifen-dependent induction of Cre recombination in a variety of adult tissues. In addition, we demonstrated that conditional activation of an oncogene could be achieved in adults using CM32Δ mice. CM32Δ;T26 mice, which harbored a Cre recombination-driven, SV40 large T antigen-expressing transgene, were viable and fertile. No overt phenotype was found in the mice up to 3 months after birth. Although they displayed pineoblastomas (pinealoblastomas) and/or thymic enlargement due to background Cre recombination by 6 months after birth, they developed epidermal hyperplasia when administered tamoxifen. Collectively, our results suggest that the CM32Δ transgenic mouse line can be applied to the assessment of adult phenotypes in mice with loxP-flanked transgenes.

  15. Tool Weighs Benefits, Risks of Raloxifene or Tamoxifen to Prevent Breast Cancer

    Cancer.gov

    Researchers have developed a benefit-risk index to help guide decisions on whether postmenopausal women at increased risk of developing breast cancer should take raloxifene or tamoxifen to reduce that risk.

  16. An open, randomised, multicentre, phase 3 trial comparing the efficacy of two tamoxifen schedules in preventing gynaecomastia induced by bicalutamide monotherapy in prostate cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Bedognetti, Davide; Rubagotti, Alessandra; Conti, Giario; Francesca, Francesco; De Cobelli, Ottavio; Canclini, Luca; Gallucci, Michele; Aragona, Francesco; Di Tonno, Pasquale; Cortellini, Pietro; Martorana, Giuseppe; Lapini, Alberto; Boccardo, Francesco

    2010-02-01

    Bicalutamide monotherapy is a valuable option for prostate cancer (PCa) patients who wish to avoid the consequences of androgen deprivation; however, this treatment induces gynaecomastia and mastalgia in most patients. Tamoxifen is safe and effective in preventing breast events induced by bicalutamide monotherapy without affecting antitumor activity, but possible interference between bicalutamide and tamoxifen remains a matter of concern. To reduce the exposure to tamoxifen, we considered the putative advantages of weekly administration. To compare the efficacy of two different schedules of tamoxifen in preventing breast events. Toxicity, prostate-specific antigen behaviour, and sexual-functioning scores were also evaluated. This was a noninferiority trial. From December 2003 to February 2006, 80 patients with localised/locally advanced or biochemically recurrent PCa who were also candidates for bicalutamide single therapy were randomised to receive two different schedules of tamoxifen: daily (n=41) and weekly (n=39). Median follow-up was 24.2 mo. Daily bicalutamide (150 mg) plus daily tamoxifen 20mg continuously (daily group) or the same but with tamoxifen at 20mg weekly after the first 8 wk of daily treatment (weekly group). Three patients in the weekly group and one in the daily group were discontinued for adverse events. For gynaecomastia, we used ultrasonography. For mastalgia and sexual functioning, we used questionnaires. Gynaecomastia developed in 31.7% of patients in the daily group and in 74.4% of patients in the weekly group (p<0.0001), and it was more severe in patients who switched to weekly tamoxifen (p=0.001). Mastalgia occurred in 12.2% and 46.1% of patients, respectively (p=0.001). There were no major differences among treatment schedules relative to sexual functioning scores and incidence and severity of adverse events. No differences between groups in PSA behaviour and disease progression have been detected so far. This study demonstrated that

  17. In Vitro Metabolism of Tamoxifen in Human, Rat, and Fish Microsomes

    EPA Science Inventory

    Results from an in vivo study comparing biologically-active metabolites in the plasma of Wistar rats and cunner fish (Tautogolabrus adspersus) treated with tamoxifen indicate notable differences in circulating metabolite concentrations between these two species. After a single or...

  18. Importance of highly selective LC-MS/MS analysis for the accurate quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolites: focus on endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Jager, N G L; Rosing, H; Linn, S C; Schellens, J H M; Beijnen, J H

    2012-06-01

    The antiestrogenic effect of tamoxifen is mainly attributable to the active metabolites endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen. This effect is assumed to be concentration-dependent and therefore quantitative analysis of tamoxifen and metabolites for clinical studies and therapeutic drug monitoring is increasing. We investigated the large discrepancies in reported mean endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen concentrations. Two published LC-MS/MS methods are used to analyse a set of 75 serum samples from patients treated with tamoxifen. The method from Teunissen et al. (J Chrom B, 879:1677-1685, 2011) separates endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen from other tamoxifen metabolites with similar masses and fragmentation patterns. The second method, published by Gjerde et al. (J Chrom A, 1082:6-14, 2005) however lacks selectivity, resulting in a factor 2-3 overestimation of the endoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen levels, respectively. We emphasize the use of highly selective LC-MS/MS methods for the quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolites in biological samples.

  19. Identification of the Mechanisms Underlying Antiestrogen Resistance: Breast Cancer Research Partnership Between FIU-UM Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-06-01

    sulforaphane contributes to tam sensitivity in tam resistant LCC2 cells by increasing expression of p27. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of...Slingerland, J., and Roy, D. (2010) Modulation of thioredoxin reductase by sulforaphane may restore tamoxifen sensitivity in resistant LCC2 cells

  20. Proteomic Signatures of Acquired Letrozole Resistance in Breast Cancer: Suppressed Estrogen Signaling and Increased Cell Motility and Invasiveness*

    PubMed Central

    Tilghman, Syreeta L.; Townley, Ian; Zhong, Qiu; Carriere, Patrick P.; Zou, Jin; Llopis, Shawn D.; Preyan, Lynez C.; Williams, Christopher C.; Skripnikova, Elena; Bratton, Melyssa R.; Zhang, Qiang; Wang, Guangdi

    2013-01-01

    Aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole, have become the first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with estrogen-dependent breast cancer. However, acquired resistance remains a major clinical obstacle. Previous studies demonstrated constitutive activation of the MAPK signaling, overexpression of HER2, and down-regulation of aromatase and ERα in letrozole-resistant breast cancer cells. Given the complex signaling network involved in letrozole-refractory breast cancer and the lack of effective treatment for hormone resistance, further investigation of aromatase inhibitor resistance by a novel systems biology approach may reveal previously unconsidered molecular changes that could be utilized as therapeutic targets. This study was undertaken to characterize for the first time global proteomic alterations occurring in a letrozole-resistant cell line. A quantitative proteomic analysis of the whole cell lysates of LTLT-Ca (resistant) versus AC-1 cells (sensitive) was performed to identify significant protein expression changes. A total of 1743 proteins were identified and quantified, of which 411 were significantly up-regulated and 452 significantly down-regulated (p < 0.05, fold change > 1.20). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that acquired letrozole resistance is associated with a hormone-independent, more aggressive phenotype. LTLT-Ca cells exhibited 84% and 138% increase in migration and invasion compared with the control cells. The ROCK inhibitor partially abrogated the enhanced migration and invasion of the letrozole-resistant cells. Flow cytometric analyses also demonstrated an increase in vimentin and twist expression in letrozole-resistance cells, suggesting an onset of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, targeted gene expression arrays confirmed a 28-fold and sixfold up-regulation of EGFR and HER2, respectively, whereas ERα and pS2 were dramatically reduced by 28-fold and 1100-fold, respectively. Taken together, our study revealed global

  1. Molecular Basis for Necitumumab Inhibition of EGFR Variants Associated with Acquired Cetuximab Resistance.

    PubMed

    Bagchi, Atrish; Haidar, Jaafar N; Eastman, Scott W; Vieth, Michal; Topper, Michael; Iacolina, Michelle D; Walker, Jason M; Forest, Amelie; Shen, Yang; Novosiadly, Ruslan D; Ferguson, Kathryn M

    2018-02-01

    Acquired resistance to cetuximab, an antibody that targets the EGFR, impacts clinical benefit in head and neck, and colorectal cancers. One of the mechanisms of resistance to cetuximab is the acquisition of mutations that map to the cetuximab epitope on EGFR and prevent drug binding. We find that necitumumab, another FDA-approved EGFR antibody, can bind to EGFR that harbors the most common cetuximab-resistant substitution, S468R (or S492R, depending on the amino acid numbering system). We determined an X-ray crystal structure to 2.8 Å resolution of the necitumumab Fab bound to an S468R variant of EGFR domain III. The arginine is accommodated in a large, preexisting cavity in the necitumumab paratope. We predict that this paratope shape will be permissive to other epitope substitutions, and show that necitumumab binds to most cetuximab- and panitumumab-resistant EGFR variants. We find that a simple computational approach can predict with high success which EGFR epitope substitutions abrogate antibody binding. This computational method will be valuable to determine whether necitumumab will bind to EGFR as new epitope resistance variants are identified. This method could also be useful for rapid evaluation of the effect on binding of alterations in other antibody/antigen interfaces. Together, these data suggest that necitumumab may be active in patients who are resistant to cetuximab or panitumumab through EGFR epitope mutation. Furthermore, our analysis leads us to speculate that antibodies with large paratope cavities may be less susceptible to resistance due to mutations mapping to the antigen epitope. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(2); 521-31. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

  2. Tamoxifen and Risk of Contralateral Breast Cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Carriers

    PubMed Central

    Phillips, Kelly-Anne; Milne, Roger L.; Rookus, Matti A.; Daly, Mary B.; Antoniou, Antonis C.; Peock, Susan; Frost, Debra; Easton, Douglas F.; Ellis, Steve; Friedlander, Michael L.; Buys, Saundra S.; Andrieu, Nadine; Noguès, Catherine; Stoppa-Lyonnet, Dominique; Bonadona, Valérie; Pujol, Pascal; McLachlan, Sue Anne; John, Esther M.; Hooning, Maartje J.; Seynaeve, Caroline; Tollenaar, Rob A.E.M.; Goldgar, David E.; Beth Terry, Mary; Caldes, Trinidad; Weideman, Prue C.; Andrulis, Irene L.; Singer, Christian F.; Birch, Kate; Simard, Jacques; Southey, Melissa C.; Olsson, Håkan L.; Jakubowska, Anna; Olah, Edith; Gerdes, Anne-Marie; Foretova, Lenka; Hopper, John L.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose To determine whether adjuvant tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer (BC) is associated with reduced contralateral breast cancer (CBC) risk for BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 mutation carriers. Methods Analysis of pooled observational cohort data, self-reported at enrollment and at follow-up from the International BRCA1, and BRCA2 Carrier Cohort Study, Kathleen Cuningham Foundation Consortium for Research into Familial Breast Cancer, and Breast Cancer Family Registry. Eligible women were BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers diagnosed with unilateral BC since 1970 and no other invasive cancer or tamoxifen use before first BC. Hazard ratios (HRs) for CBC associated with tamoxifen use were estimated using Cox regression, adjusting for year and age of diagnosis, country, and bilateral oophorectomy and censoring at contralateral mastectomy, death, or loss to follow-up. Results Of 1,583 BRCA1 and 881 BRCA2 mutation carriers, 383 (24%) and 454 (52%), respectively, took tamoxifen after first BC diagnosis. There were 520 CBCs over 20,104 person-years of observation. The adjusted HR estimates were 0.38 (95% CI, 0.27 to 0.55) and 0.33 (95% CI, 0.22 to 0.50) for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers, respectively. After left truncating at recruitment to the cohort, adjusted HR estimates were 0.58 (95% CI, 0.29 to 1.13) and 0.48 (95% CI, 0.22 to 1.05) based on 657 BRCA1 and 426 BRCA2 mutation carriers with 100 CBCs over 4,392 person-years of prospective follow-up. HRs did not differ by estrogen receptor status of the first BC (missing for 56% of cases). Conclusion This study provides evidence that tamoxifen use is associated with a reduction in CBC risk for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Further follow-up of these cohorts will provide increased statistical power for future prospective analyses. PMID:23918944

  3. Bilateral macular edema in a patient treated with tamoxifen: a case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Zafeiropoulos, Paraskevas; Nanos, Panagiotis; Tsigkoulis, Evangelos; Stefaniotou, Maria

    2014-01-01

    We present a case of a 41-year-old female patient with progressive bilateral visual loss. On examination, her best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in her right eye was 3/10 and her BCVA in her left eye was 2/10. Fundus and optical coherence tomography examination revealed severe bilateral macular edema. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago and was receiving tamoxifen at a dosage of 20 mg/day ever since. Tamoxifen therapy was discontinued, and the patient received 250 mg of acetazolamide three times a day for a period of 1 month. Both foveae regained their normal contour within 2 months, and her vision was restored to 10/10 BCVA 3 months later. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported where bilateral intraretinal macular edema is the only retinal manifestation in a patient on oral tamoxifen.

  4. In vitro metabolic interactions between black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) and tamoxifen via inhibition of cytochromes P450 2D6 and 3A4

    PubMed Central

    Li, Jinghu; Gödecke, Tanja; Chen, Shao-Nong; Imai, Ayano; Lankin, David; Farnsworth, Norman R.; Pauli, Guido F.; van Breemen, Richard B.; Nikolić, Dejan

    2012-01-01

    Women who experience hot flashes as a side effect of tamoxifen therapy often try botanical remedies such as black cohosh to alleviate these symptoms. Since pharmacological activity of tamoxifen is dependent on the metabolic conversion into active metabolites by the action of cytochromes P450 2D6 and 3A4, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether black cohosh extracts can inhibit formation of active tamoxifen metabolites and possibly reduce its clinical efficacy.At 50 µg/ml, a 75% ethanolic extract of black cohosh inhibited formation of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen by 66.3%, N-desmethyl tamoxifen by 74.6% and α-hydroxy tamoxifen by 80.3%. In addition, using midazolam and dextromethorphan as probe substrates, this extract inhibited CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 with IC50 values of 16.5 and 50.1 µg/ml, respectively.Eight triterpene glycosides were identified as competitive CYP3A4 inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 2.3–5.1 µM, while the alkaloids protopine and allocryptopine were identified as competitive CYP2D6 inhibitors with Ki values of 78 and 122 nM, respectively.The results of this study suggests that co-administration of black cohosh with tamoxifen might interfere with the clinical efficacy of this drug. However, additional clinical studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these in vitro results. PMID:21827327

  5. Follow-up CT findings of tamoxifen-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) of breast cancer patients treated with bezafibrate.

    PubMed

    Ogawa, Yasuhiro; Murata, Yoriko; Saibara, Toshiji; Nishioka, Akihito; Kariya, Shinji; Yoshida, Shoji

    2003-01-01

    One-third of the breast cancer patients who underwent tamoxifen intake showed less than 0.9 of their liver/spleen CT (computed tomography) ratio on their annual CT study, and were diagnosed as having fatty liver (hepatic steatosis). Among them, patients who showed a lower liver/spleen CT ratio of less than 0.5 were recommended to undergo needle biopsy of the liver in order to obtain histopathological confirmation of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), with 15 patients undergoing needle biopsy of the liver. As a result, 14 out of the 15 patients were diagnosed as having NASH, and these patients were additionally administered bezafibrate in order to prevent possible progressive changes of NASH into liver cirrhosis. In this study, we show the changes of follow-up CT findings of 6 patients with histopathologically-proven NASH who continued to undergo bezafibrate intake after the diagnosis of NASH. Two patients showed almost complete improvement as indicated by the liver/spleen CT ratio several months after completion of a tamoxifen intake of 5 years, and another 3 showed partial improvement on their liver/spleen CT ratio by bezafibrate intake in spite of continuing tamoxifen intake. Another patient with diabetes mellitus (type II) showed a continually decreasing liver/spleen CT ratio during adjuvant tamoxifen in spite of bezafibrate intake. Therefore, we concluded that the progression of NASH could be prevented by bezafibrate without any interruption of adjuvant tamoxifen treatment. For patients with diabetes mellitus, critical follow-up using CT study and laboratory tests is considered essential.

  6. Endoxifen and Other Metabolites of Tamoxifen Inhibit Human Hydroxysteroid Sulfotransferase 2A1 (hSULT2A1)

    PubMed Central

    Squirewell, Edwin J.; Qin, Xiaoyan

    2014-01-01

    Although tamoxifen is a successful agent for treatment and prevention of estrogen-dependent breast cancer, its use has been limited by the low incidence of endometrial cancer. Human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase 2A1 (hSULT2A1) catalyzes the formation of an α-sulfooxy metabolite of tamoxifen that is reactive toward DNA, and this has been implicated in its carcinogenicity. Also, hSULT2A1 functions in the metabolism of steroid hormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and pregnenolone (PREG). These roles of hSULT2A1 in steroid hormone metabolism and in generating a reactive metabolite of tamoxifen led us to examine its interactions with tamoxifen and several of its major metabolites. We hypothesized that metabolites of tamoxifen may regulate the catalytic activity of hSULT2A1, either through direct inhibition or through serving as alternate substrates for the enzyme. We found that 4-hydroxy-N-desmethyltamoxifen (endoxifen) is a potent inhibitor of hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG and DHEA, with Ki values of 3.5 and 2.8 μM, respectively. In the hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHTAM) and N-desmethyltamoxifen (N-desTAM) exhibited Ki values of 12.7 and 9.8 μM, respectively, whereas corresponding Ki values of 19.4 and 17.2 μM were observed with DHEA as substrate. A Ki value of 9.1 μM was observed for tamoxifen-N-oxide with DHEA as substrate, and this increased to 16.9 μM for the hSULT2A1-catalyzed sulfation of PREG. Three metabolites were substrates for hSULT2A1, with relative sulfation rates of 4-OHTAM > N-desTAM > > endoxifen. These results may be useful in interpreting ongoing clinical trials of endoxifen and in improving the design of related molecules. PMID:25157097

  7. FREEQUNCY OF ESCHERICHIA COLI IN PATIENTS WITH COMMUNITY ACQUIRED URINARY TRACT INFECTION AND THEIR RESISTANCE PATTERN AGAINST SOME COMMONLY USED ANTI BACTERIALS.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Waseem; Jamshed, Fareeda; Ahmad, Wajeeha

    2015-01-01

    Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a very common health problem and Escherichia coli (E coli) are the most common organisms associated with community acquired UTI. Unfortunately these bacteria have developed extensive resistance against most of the commonly used antibacterials. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and resistance pattern of E. Coli in patients of community acquired UTI in an area in northern part of Pakistan. Urine specimens were collected from patients who were clinically diagnosed as community acquired UTI. Urine routine examination (Urine RE) was done and samples positive for UTI (Pus cells >10/High Power Field) were included in the study. These samples were inoculated on Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar plates and incubated at 37 degrees C for 36 hours. Suspected colonies were then inoculated further on EMB plates for pure cultures of E. Coli characterized by certain morphological characteristics. IMViC was applied for the confirmation of E coli. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility tests of E. Coli were performed with standardized commercial susceptibility discs (OXOID). Out of 50 specimens, positive for UTI by urine RE, 20 showed pure growth of E. Coli on culture (40%). The majority of the isolates (28%; n=14) were from women while only 12% (n=6) were from men. Escherichia coli showed a high rate of resistance towards Ampicillin (90%), Tetracycline (70%), Erythromycin (70%) and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (55%). Sparfloxacin showed better results (45%) than ciprofloxacin (50%). Out of 20 E. Coli isolates, two (10%) were resistant to all the antibacterials except chloramphenicol, eight isolates (40%) showed resistance to six or more than six while 14 (70%) were resistant to four or more than four drugs. Rate of resistance of E. Coli against commonly used antibacterials was quite high and majority of the strains showed multidrug resistance.

  8. Two novel ALK mutations mediate acquired resistance to the next generation ALK inhibitor alectinib

    PubMed Central

    Katayama, Ryohei; Friboulet, Luc; Koike, Sumie; Lockerman, Elizabeth L.; Khan, Tahsin M.; Gainor, Justin F.; Iafrate, A. John; Takeuchi, Kengo; Taiji, Makoto; Okuno, Yasushi; Fujita, Naoya; Engelman, Jeffrey A.; Shaw, Alice T.

    2014-01-01

    Purpose The first-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib is a standard therapy for patients with ALK-rearranged NSCLC. Several next-generation ALK-TKIs have entered the clinic and have shown promising activity in crizotinib-resistant patients. As patients still relapse even on these next-generation ALK-TKIs, we examined mechanisms of resistance to the next-generation ALK-TKI alectinib and potential strategies to overcome this resistance. Experimental Design We established a cell line model of alectinib resistance, and analyzed a resistant tumor specimen from a patient who had relapsed on alectinib. We developed Ba/F3 models harboring alectinib-resistant ALK mutations and evaluated the potency of other next-generation ALK-TKIs in these models. We tested the antitumor activity of the next-generation ALK-TKI ceritinib in the patient with acquired resistance to alectinib. To elucidate structure-activity-relationships of ALK mutations, we performed computational thermodynamic simulation with MP-CAFEE. Results We identified a novel V1180L gatekeeper mutation from the cell line model and a second novel I1171T mutation from the patient who developed resistance to alectinib. Both ALK mutations conferred resistance to alectinib as well as to crizotinib, but were sensitive to ceritinib and other next-generation ALK-TKIs. Treatment of the patient with ceritinib led to a marked response. Thermodynamics simulation suggests that both mutations lead to distinct structural alterations that decrease the binding affinity with alectinib. Conclusions We have identified two novel ALK mutations arising after alectinib exposure which are sensitive to other next generation ALK-TKIs. The ability of ceritinib to overcome alectinib-resistance mutations suggests a potential role for sequential therapy with multiple next-generation ALK-TKIs. PMID:25228534

  9. Two novel ALK mutations mediate acquired resistance to the next-generation ALK inhibitor alectinib.

    PubMed

    Katayama, Ryohei; Friboulet, Luc; Koike, Sumie; Lockerman, Elizabeth L; Khan, Tahsin M; Gainor, Justin F; Iafrate, A John; Takeuchi, Kengo; Taiji, Makoto; Okuno, Yasushi; Fujita, Naoya; Engelman, Jeffrey A; Shaw, Alice T

    2014-11-15

    The first-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) crizotinib is a standard therapy for patients with ALK-rearranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Several next-generation ALK-TKIs have entered the clinic and have shown promising activity in crizotinib-resistant patients. As patients still relapse even on these next-generation ALK-TKIs, we examined mechanisms of resistance to the next-generation ALK-TKI alectinib and potential strategies to overcome this resistance. We established a cell line model of alectinib resistance, and analyzed a resistant tumor specimen from a patient who had relapsed on alectinib. We developed Ba/F3 models harboring alectinib-resistant ALK mutations and evaluated the potency of other next-generation ALK-TKIs in these models. We tested the antitumor activity of the next-generation ALK-TKI ceritinib in the patient with acquired resistance to alectinib. To elucidate structure-activity relationships of ALK mutations, we performed computational thermodynamic simulation with MP-CAFEE. We identified a novel V1180L gatekeeper mutation from the cell line model and a second novel I1171T mutation from the patient who developed resistance to alectinib. Both ALK mutations conferred resistance to alectinib as well as to crizotinib, but were sensitive to ceritinib and other next-generation ALK-TKIs. Treatment of the patient with ceritinib led to a marked response. Thermodynamics simulation suggests that both mutations lead to distinct structural alterations that decrease the binding affinity with alectinib. We have identified two novel ALK mutations arising after alectinib exposure that are sensitive to other next-generation ALK-TKIs. The ability of ceritinib to overcome alectinib-resistance mutations suggests a potential role for sequential therapy with multiple next-generation ALK-TKIs. ©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.

  10. Naturally occurring dominant drug resistance mutations occur infrequently in the setting of recently acquired hepatitis C.

    PubMed

    Applegate, Tanya L; Gaudieri, Silvana; Plauzolles, Anne; Chopra, Abha; Grebely, Jason; Lucas, Michaela; Hellard, Margaret; Luciani, Fabio; Dore, Gregory J; Matthews, Gail V

    2015-01-01

    Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are predicted to transform hepatitis C therapy, yet little is known about the prevalence of naturally occurring resistance mutations in recently acquired HCV. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and frequency of drug resistance mutations in the viral quasispecies among HIV-positive and -negative individuals with recent HCV. The NS3 protease, NS5A and NS5B polymerase genes were amplified from 50 genotype 1a participants of the Australian Trial in Acute Hepatitis C. Amino acid variations at sites known to be associated with possible drug resistance were analysed by ultra-deep pyrosequencing. A total of 12% of individuals harboured dominant resistance mutations, while 36% demonstrated non-dominant resistant variants below that detectable by bulk sequencing (that is, <20%) but above a threshold of 1%. Resistance variants (<1%) were observed at most sites associated with DAA resistance from all classes, with the exception of sofosbuvir. Dominant resistant mutations were uncommonly observed in the setting of recent HCV. However, low-level mutations to all DAA classes were observed by deep sequencing at the majority of sites and in most individuals. The significance of these variants and impact on future treatment options remains to be determined. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00192569.

  11. Relevance of breast cancer hormone receptors and other factors to the efficacy of adjuvant tamoxifen: patient-level meta-analysis of randomised trials.

    PubMed

    Davies, C; Godwin, J; Gray, R; Clarke, M; Cutter, D; Darby, S; McGale, P; Pan, H C; Taylor, C; Wang, Y C; Dowsett, M; Ingle, J; Peto, R

    2011-08-27

    As trials of 5 years of tamoxifen in early breast cancer mature, the relevance of hormone receptor measurements (and other patient characteristics) to long-term outcome can be assessed increasingly reliably. We report updated meta-analyses of the trials of 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen. We undertook a collaborative meta-analysis of individual patient data from 20 trials (n=21,457) in early breast cancer of about 5 years of tamoxifen versus no adjuvant tamoxifen, with about 80% compliance. Recurrence and death rate ratios (RRs) were from log-rank analyses by allocated treatment. In oestrogen receptor (ER)-positive disease (n=10,645), allocation to about 5 years of tamoxifen substantially reduced recurrence rates throughout the first 10 years (RR 0·53 [SE 0·03] during years 0-4 and RR 0·68 [0·06] during years 5-9 [both 2p<0·00001]; but RR 0·97 [0·10] during years 10-14, suggesting no further gain or loss after year 10). Even in marginally ER-positive disease (10-19 fmol/mg cytosol protein) the recurrence reduction was substantial (RR 0·67 [0·08]). In ER-positive disease, the RR was approximately independent of progesterone receptor status (or level), age, nodal status, or use of chemotherapy. Breast cancer mortality was reduced by about a third throughout the first 15 years (RR 0·71 [0·05] during years 0-4, 0·66 [0·05] during years 5-9, and 0·68 [0·08] during years 10-14; p<0·0001 for extra mortality reduction during each separate time period). Overall non-breast-cancer mortality was little affected, despite small absolute increases in thromboembolic and uterine cancer mortality (both only in women older than 55 years), so all-cause mortality was substantially reduced. In ER-negative disease, tamoxifen had little or no effect on breast cancer recurrence or mortality. 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen safely reduces 15-year risks of breast cancer recurrence and death. ER status was the only recorded factor importantly predictive of the proportional

  12. Antibiotic Exposure in the Community and Resistance Patterns of Escherichia coli Community-Acquired Bloodstream Infection.

    PubMed

    Gottesman, Bat-Sheva; Shitrit, Pnina; Katzir, Michal; Chowers, Michal

    2018-06-01

    Increasing antibiotic resistance in the community results in greater use of empiric broad spectrum antibiotics for patients at hospital admission. As a measure of antibiotic stewardship it is important to identify a patient population that can receive narrow spectrum antibiotics. To evaluate resistance patterns of Escherichia coli bloodstream infection (BSI) from strictly community-acquired infection and the impact of recent antibiotic use on this resistance. This single center, historical cohort study of adult patients with E. coli BSI was conducted from January 2007 to December 2011. Patients had no exposure to any healthcare facility and no chronic catheters or chronic ulcers. Data on antibiotic use during the previous 90 days was collected and relation to resistance patterns was assessed. Of the total number of patients, 267 BSI cases met the entry criteria; 153 patients (57%) had bacteria sensitive to all antibiotics. Among 189 patients with no antibiotic exposure, 61% of isolates (116) were pan-sensitive. Resistance to any antibiotic appeared in 114 patients and 12 were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers. Quinolone use was the main driver of resistance to any antibiotic and to ESBL resistance patterns. In a multivariate analysis, older age (odds ratio 1.1) and quinolone use (odds ratio 7) were independently correlated to ESBL. At admission, stratification by patient characteristics and recent antibiotic use can help personalize primary empirical therapy.

  13. Acquired resistance to venetoclax (ABT-199) in t(14;18) positive lymphoma cells

    PubMed Central

    Bodo, Juraj; Zhao, Xiaoxian; Durkin, Lisa; Souers, Andrew J.; Phillips, Darren C.; Smith, Mitchell R.; Hsi, Eric D.

    2016-01-01

    The chromosomal translocation t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma (FL) is a primary oncogenic event resulting in BCL-2 over-expression. This study investigates activity of the BH3 mimetic venetoclax (ABT-199), which targets BCL-2, and mechanisms of acquired resistance in FL. The sensitivity of FL cells to venetoclax treatment correlated with BCL-2/BIM ratio. Cells with similar expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, but with higher levels of BIM were more sensitive to the treatment. Venetoclax induced dissociation of BCL-2/BIM complex and a decrease in mitochondrial potential. Interestingly the population of cells that survived venetoclax treatment showed increased p-ERK1/2 and p-BIM (S69), as well as a decrease in total BIM levels. Venetoclax resistant cells initially showed elevated levels of p-AKT and p-Foxo1/3a, a dissociation of BIM/BCL-2/BECLIN1 complex, and a decrease in SQSTM1/p62 level (indicating increased autophagy) together with a slight decline in BIM expression. After stable resistant cell lines were established, a significant reduction of BCL-2 levels and almost total absence of BIM was observed. The acquisition of these resistance phenotypes could be prevented via selective ERK/AKT inhibition or anti-CD20 antibody treatment, thus highlighting possible combination therapies for FL patients. PMID:27661108

  14. Acquired resistance to venetoclax (ABT-199) in t(14;18) positive lymphoma cells.

    PubMed

    Bodo, Juraj; Zhao, Xiaoxian; Durkin, Lisa; Souers, Andrew J; Phillips, Darren C; Smith, Mitchell R; Hsi, Eric D

    2016-10-25

    The chromosomal translocation t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma (FL) is a primary oncogenic event resulting in BCL-2 over-expression. This study investigates activity of the BH3 mimetic venetoclax (ABT-199), which targets BCL-2, and mechanisms of acquired resistance in FL.The sensitivity of FL cells to venetoclax treatment correlated with BCL-2/BIM ratio. Cells with similar expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, but with higher levels of BIM were more sensitive to the treatment. Venetoclax induced dissociation of BCL-2/ BIM complex and a decrease in mitochondrial potential. Interestingly the population of cells that survived venetoclax treatment showed increased p-ERK1/2 and p-BIM (S69), as well as a decrease in total BIM levels. Venetoclax resistant cells initially showed elevated levels of p-AKT and p-Foxo1/3a, a dissociation of BIM/BCL-2/BECLIN1 complex, and a decrease in SQSTM1/p62 level (indicating increased autophagy) together with a slight decline in BIM expression. After stable resistant cell lines were established, a significant reduction of BCL-2 levels and almost total absence of BIM was observed.The acquisition of these resistance phenotypes could be prevented via selective ERK/AKT inhibition or anti-CD20 antibody treatment, thus highlighting possible combination therapies for FL patients.

  15. Systemic acquired resistance: turning local infection into global defense.

    PubMed

    Fu, Zheng Qing; Dong, Xinnian

    2013-01-01

    Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is an induced immune mechanism in plants. Unlike vertebrate adaptive immunity, SAR is broad spectrum, with no specificity to the initial infection. An avirulent pathogen causing local programmed cell death can induce SAR through generation of mobile signals, accumulation of the defense hormone salicylic acid, and secretion of the antimicrobial PR (pathogenesis-related) proteins. Consequently, the rest of the plant is protected from secondary infection for a period of weeks to months. SAR can even be passed on to progeny through epigenetic regulation. The Arabidopsis NPR1 (nonexpresser of PR genes 1) protein is a master regulator of SAR. Recent study has shown that salicylic acid directly binds to the NPR1 adaptor proteins NPR3 and NPR4, regulates their interactions with NPR1, and controls NPR1 protein stability. However, how NPR1 interacts with TGA transcription factors to activate defense gene expression is still not well understood. In addition, redox regulators, the mediator complex, WRKY transcription factors, endoplasmic reticulum-resident proteins, and DNA repair proteins play critical roles in SAR.

  16. Synergistic Combination of Novel Tubulin Inhibitor ABI-274 and Vemurafenib Overcome Vemurafenib Acquired Resistance in BRAFV600E Melanoma

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Jin; Chen, Jianjun; Miller, Duane D.; Li, Wei

    2013-01-01

    Acquired clinical resistance to vemurafenib, a selective BRAFV600E inhibitor, arises frequently after short term chemotherapy. Since inhibitions of targets in the RAF-MEK-ERK pathway result in G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, vemurafenib-resistant cancer cells are expected to escape this cell cycle arrest and progress to subsequent G2/M phase. We hypothesized that a combined therapy using vemurafenib with a G2/M phase blocking agent will trap resistant cells and overcome vemurafenib resistance. To test this hypothesis, we first determined the combination index (CI) values of our novel tubulin inhibitor ABI-274 and vemurafenib on parental human A375 and MDA-MB-435 melanoma cell lines to be 0.32 and 0.1, respectively, suggesting strong synergy for the combination. We then developed an A375RF21 subline with significant acquired resistance to vemurafenib and confirmed the strong synergistic effect. Next we studied the potential mechanisms of overcoming vemurafenib resistance. Flow cytometry confirmed that the combination of ABI-274 and vemurafenib synergistically arrested cells in G1/G2/M phase, and significantly increased apoptosis in both parental A375 and the vemurafenib-resistant A375RF21 cells. Western blot analysis revealed that the combination treatment effectively reduced the level of phosphorylated and total AKT, activated the apoptosis cascade, and increased cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, but had no significant influence on the level of ERK phosphorylation. Finally, in vivo co-administration of vemurafenib with ABI-274 showed strong synergistic efficacy in the vemurafenib-resistant xenograft model in nude mice. Overall, these results offer a rational combination strategy to significantly enhance the therapeutic benefit in melanoma patients who inevitably become resistant to current vemurafenib therapy. PMID:24249714

  17. Development of biodegradable polymer based tamoxifen citrate loaded nanoparticles and effect of some manufacturing process parameters on them: a physicochemical and in-vitro evaluation.

    PubMed

    Sahana, Basudev; Santra, Kousik; Basu, Sumit; Mukherjee, Biswajit

    2010-09-07

    The aim of the present study was to develop nanoparticles of tamoxifen citrate, a non-steroidal antiestrogenic drug used for the treatment of breast cancer. Biodegradable poly (D, L- lactide-co-glycolide)-85:15 (PLGA) was used to develop nanoparticles of tamoxifen citrate by multiple emulsification (w/o/w) and solvent evaporation technique. Drug-polymer ratio, polyvinyl alcohol concentrations, and homogenizing speeds were varied at different stages of preparation to optimize the desired size and release profile of drug. The characterization of particle morphology and shape was performed by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and particle size distribution patterns were studied by direct light scattering method using zeta sizer. In vitro drug release study showed that release profile of tamoxifen from biodegradable nanoparticles varied due to the change in speed of centrifugation for separation. Drug loading efficiency varied from 18.60% to 71.98%. The FE-SEM study showed that biodegradable nanoparticles were smooth and spherical in shape. The stability studies of tamoxifen citrate in the experimental nanoparticles showed the structural integrity of tamoxifen citrate in PLGA nanoparticles up to 60°C in the tested temperatures. Nanoparticles containing tamoxifen citrate could be useful for the controlled delivery of the drug for a prolonged period.

  18. Loss of PEDF: A Novel Mechanism of Antihormone Resistance in Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2013-08-01

    phosphorylated ERa, Akt, and RET in these tumors. Discussion Resistance to endocrine therapy presents a major chal- lenge in the management of ERa-positive... Drury S, Dowsett M, Martin LA, Isacke CM: Targeting the receptor tyrosine kinase RET sensitizes breast cancer cells to tamoxifen treatment and reveals

  19. An Oral Formulation of YK-4-279: Preclinical Efficacy and Acquired Resistance Patterns in Ewing Sarcoma.

    PubMed

    Lamhamedi-Cherradi, Salah-Eddine; Menegaz, Brian A; Ramamoorthy, Vandhana; Aiyer, Ramani A; Maywald, Rebecca L; Buford, Adrianna S; Doolittle, Dannette K; Culotta, Kirk S; O'Dorisio, James E; Ludwig, Joseph A

    2015-07-01

    Ewing sarcoma is a transcription factor-mediated pediatric bone tumor caused by a chromosomal translocation of the EWSR1 gene and one of several genes in the ETS family of transcription factors, typically FLI1 or ERG. Full activity of the resulting oncogenic fusion protein occurs only after binding RNA helicase A (RHA), and novel biologically targeted small molecules designed to interfere with that interaction have shown early promise in the preclinical setting. Herein, we demonstrate marked preclinical antineoplastic activity of an orally bioavailable formulation of YK-4-279 and identify mechanisms of acquired chemotherapy resistance that may be exploited to induce collateral sensitivity. Daily enteral administration of YK-4-279 led to significant delay in Ewing sarcoma tumor growth within a murine model. In advance of anticipated early-phase human clinical trials, we investigated both de novo and acquired mechanism(s) by which Ewing sarcoma cells evade YK-4-279-mediated cell death. Drug-resistant clones, formed by chronic in vitro exposure to steadily increased levels of YK-4-279, overexpressed c-Kit, cyclin D1, pStat3(Y705), and PKC isoforms. Interestingly, cross-resistance to imatinib and enzastaurin (selective inhibitors of c-Kit and PKC-β, respectively), was observed and the use of YK-4-279 with enzastaurin in vitro led to marked drug synergy, suggesting a potential role for combination therapies in the future. By advancing an oral formulation of YK-4-279 and identifying prominent mechanisms of resistance, this preclinical research takes us one step closer to a shared goal of curing adolescents and young adults afflicted by Ewing sarcoma. ©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.

  20. 4-Hydroxylated metabolites of the antiestrogens tamoxifen and toremifene are metabolized to unusually stable quinone methides.

    PubMed

    Fan, P W; Zhang, F; Bolton, J L

    2000-01-01

    Tamoxifen is widely prescribed for the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancer, and it has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the chemoprevention of this disease. However, long-term usage of tamoxifen has been linked to increased risk of developing endometrial cancer in women. One of the suggested pathways leading to the potential toxicity of tamoxifen involves its oxidative metabolism to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, which may be further oxidized to an electrophilic quinone methide. The resulting quinone methide has the potential to alkylate DNA and may initiate the carcinogenic process. To further probe the chemical reactivity and toxicity of such an electrophilic species, we have prepared the 4-hydroxytamoxifen quinone methide chemically and enzymatically, examined its reactivity under physiological conditions, and quantified its reactivity with GSH. Interestingly, this quinone methide is unusually stable; its half-life under physiological conditions is approximately 3 h, and its half-life in the presence of GSH is approximately 4 min. The reaction between 4-hydroxytamoxifen quinone methide and GSH appears to be a reversible process because the quinone methide GSH conjugates slowly decompose over time, regenerating the quinone methide as indicated by LC/MS/MS data. The tamoxifen GSH conjugates were detected in microsomal incubations with 4-hydroxytamoxifen; however, none were observed in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) perhaps because very little quinone methides is formed. Toremifene, which is a chlorinated analogue of tamoxifen, undergoes similar oxidative metabolism to give 4-hydroxytoremifene, which is further oxidized to the corresponding quinone methide. The toremifene quinone methide has a half-life of approximately 1 h under physiological conditions, and its rate of reaction in the presence of excess GSH is approximately 6 min. More detailed analyses have indicated that the 4-hydroxytoremifene quinone methide reacts with two

  1. Long-term effects of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system on tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients: a meta-analysis

    PubMed Central

    Fu, Yun; Zhuang, Zhigang

    2014-01-01

    Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) on the tamoxifen-induced endometrial lesions in breast cancer patients. Methods: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for eligible studies. Odds ratios were obtained to estimate the association between the LNG-IUS and tamoxifen-induced endometrial lesions. The fixed effects or random-effects model was used to combine data depending on heterogeneity. Results: With three eligible randomized clinical trials involving 359 patients, this analysis demonstrated tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients using the LNG-IUS derived benefit from de novo polyps prevention (P < 0.0001, OR 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08-0.42). However, the LNG-IUS only showed a trend of maintaining endometrial proliferation or secretory status (P = 0.05, OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-1.02) and no statistical difference in atrophic or inactive changes (P = 0.13, OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.04-1.53) or endometrial hyperplasia without atypia (P = 0.08, OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04-1.18). The LNG-IUS didn’t have an increased incidence in breast cancer recurrence (P = 0.28, OR 1.75, 95% CI: 0.64-4.80) and cancer-induced death (P = 0.71, OR 1.22, 95% CI: 0.42-3.52). Bleeding in the treatment group was statistically more frequent than that in the control group (OR 6.20, 95% CI: 2.99-12.85, P < 0.00001). Conclusions: This analysis verifies the efficacy of the LNG-IUS in preventing tamoxifen-induced polyps. The LNG-IUS didn’t have an increased incidence in breast cancer recurrence and cancer-induced death. Long-term, large randomized studies of the LNG-IUS will be necessary to determine the benefit and risk in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients. PMID:25400720

  2. Tamoxifen from Failed Contraceptive Pill to Best-Selling Breast Cancer Medicine: A Case-Study in Pharmaceutical Innovation

    PubMed Central

    Quirke, Viviane M.

    2017-01-01

    Today, tamoxifen is one of the world's best-selling hormonal breast cancer drugs. However, it was not always so. Compound ICI 46,474 (as it was first known) was synthesized in 1962 within a project to develop a contraceptive pill in the pharmaceutical laboratories of ICI (now part of AstraZeneca). Although designed to act as an anti-estrogen, the compound stimulated, rather than suppressed ovulation in women. This, and the fact that it could not be patented in the USA, its largest potential market, meant that ICI nearly stopped the project. It was saved partly because the team's leader, Arthur Walpole, threatened to resign, and pressed on with another project: to develop tamoxifen as a treatment for breast cancer. Even then, its market appeared small, because at first it was mainly used as a palliative treatment for advanced breast cancer. An important turning point in tamoxifen's journey from orphan drug to best-selling medicine occurred in the 1980s, when clinical trials showed that it was also useful as an adjuvant to surgery and chemotherapy in the early stages of the disease. Later, trials demonstrated that it could prevent its occurrence or re-occurrence in women at high risk of breast cancer. Thus, it became the first preventive for any cancer, helping to establish the broader principles of chemoprevention, and extending the market for tamoxifen and similar drugs further still. Using tamoxifen as a case study, this paper discusses the limits of the rational approach to drug design, the role of human actors, and the series of feedback loops between bench and bedside that underpins pharmaceutical innovation. The paper also highlights the complex evaluation and management of risk that are involved in all therapies, but more especially perhaps in life-threatening and emotion-laden diseases like cancer. PMID:28955226

  3. Tamoxifen from Failed Contraceptive Pill to Best-Selling Breast Cancer Medicine: A Case-Study in Pharmaceutical Innovation.

    PubMed

    Quirke, Viviane M

    2017-01-01

    Today, tamoxifen is one of the world's best-selling hormonal breast cancer drugs. However, it was not always so. Compound ICI 46,474 (as it was first known) was synthesized in 1962 within a project to develop a contraceptive pill in the pharmaceutical laboratories of ICI (now part of AstraZeneca). Although designed to act as an anti-estrogen, the compound stimulated, rather than suppressed ovulation in women. This, and the fact that it could not be patented in the USA, its largest potential market, meant that ICI nearly stopped the project. It was saved partly because the team's leader, Arthur Walpole, threatened to resign, and pressed on with another project: to develop tamoxifen as a treatment for breast cancer. Even then, its market appeared small, because at first it was mainly used as a palliative treatment for advanced breast cancer. An important turning point in tamoxifen's journey from orphan drug to best-selling medicine occurred in the 1980s, when clinical trials showed that it was also useful as an adjuvant to surgery and chemotherapy in the early stages of the disease. Later, trials demonstrated that it could prevent its occurrence or re-occurrence in women at high risk of breast cancer. Thus, it became the first preventive for any cancer, helping to establish the broader principles of chemoprevention, and extending the market for tamoxifen and similar drugs further still. Using tamoxifen as a case study, this paper discusses the limits of the rational approach to drug design, the role of human actors, and the series of feedback loops between bench and bedside that underpins pharmaceutical innovation. The paper also highlights the complex evaluation and management of risk that are involved in all therapies, but more especially perhaps in life-threatening and emotion-laden diseases like cancer.

  4. Antibiotic Resistance, Virulence, and Genetic Background of Community-Acquired Uropathogenic Escherichia coli from Algeria.

    PubMed

    Yahiaoui, Merzouk; Robin, Frédéric; Bakour, Rabah; Hamidi, Moufida; Bonnet, Richard; Messai, Yamina

    2015-10-01

    The aim of the study was to investigate antibiotic resistance mechanisms, virulence traits, and genetic background of 150 nonrepetitive community-acquired uropathogenic Escherichia coli (CA-UPEC) from Algeria. A rate of 46.7% of isolates was multidrug resistant. bla genes detected were blaTEM (96.8% of amoxicillin-resistant isolates), blaCTX-M-15 (4%), overexpressed blaAmpC (4%), blaSHV-2a, blaTEM-4, blaTEM-31, and blaTEM-35 (0.7%). All tetracycline-resistant isolates (51.3%) had tetA and/or tetB genes. Sulfonamides and trimethoprim resistance genes were sul2 (60.8%), sul1 (45.9%), sul3 (6.7%), dfrA14 (25.4%), dfrA1 (18.2%), dfrA12 (16.3%), and dfrA25 (5.4%). High-level fluoroquinolone resistance (22.7%) was mediated by mutations in gyrA (S83L-D87N) and parC (S80I-E84G/V or S80I) genes. qnrB5, qnrS1, and aac(6')-Ib-cr were rare (5.3%). Class 1 and/or class 2 integrons were detected (40.7%). Isolates belonged to phylogroups B2+D (50%), A+B1 (36%), and F+C+Clade I (13%). Most of D (72.2%) and 38.6% of B2 isolates were multidrug resistant; they belong to 14 different sequence types, including international successful ST131, ST73, and ST69, reported for the first time in the community in Algeria and new ST4494 and ST4529 described in this study. Besides multidrug resistance, B2 and D isolates possessed virulence factors of colonization, invasion, and long-term persistence. The study highlighted multidrug-resistant CA-UPEC with high virulence traits and an epidemic genetic background.

  5. Endocrine effects of adjuvant letrozole + triptorelin compared with tamoxifen + triptorelin in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Rossi, Emanuela; Morabito, Alessandro; De Maio, Ermelinda; Di Rella, Francesca; Esposito, Giuseppe; Gravina, Adriano; Labonia, Vincenzo; Landi, Gabriella; Nuzzo, Francesco; Pacilio, Carmen; Piccirillo, Maria Carmela; D'Aiuto, Giuseppe; D'Aiuto, Massimiliano; Rinaldo, Massimo; Botti, Gerardo; Gallo, Ciro; Perrone, Francesco; de Matteis, Andrea

    2008-01-10

    To compare the endocrine effects of 6 months of adjuvant treatment with letrozole + triptorelin or tamoxifen + triptorelin in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer within an ongoing phase 3 trial (Hormonal Adjuvant Treatment Bone Effects study). Prospectively collected hormonal data were available for 81 premenopausal women, of whom 30 were assigned to receive tamoxifen + triptorelin and 51 were assigned letrozole + triptorelin +/- zoledronate. Serum 17-beta-estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), Delta4-androstenedione, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, progesterone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and cortisol were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. For each hormone, 6-month values were compared between treatment groups by the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney exact test. Median age was 44 years for both groups of patients. Letrozole + triptorelin (+/- zoledronate) induced a stronger suppression of median E2 serum levels (P = .0008), LH levels (P = .0005), and cortisol serum levels (P < .0001) compared with tamoxifen + triptorelin. Median FSH serum levels were suppressed in both groups, but such suppression was lower among patients receiving letrozole, who showed significantly higher median FSH serum levels (P < .0001). No significant differences were observed for testosterone, progesterone, ACTH, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone between the two groups of patients. Letrozole in combination with triptorelin induces a more intense estrogen suppression than tamoxifen + triptorelin in premenopausal patients with early breast cancer.

  6. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus can persist in the throat.

    PubMed

    Hamdan-Partida, Aida; González-García, Samuel; de la Rosa García, Estela; Bustos-Martínez, Jaime

    2018-06-01

    Colonization by Staphylococcus aureus is an important factor in infections caused by this microorganism. Among the colonization niches of staphylococci are the nose, skin, intestinal tract, and, recently, the throat has been given relevance. Infections caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) can be fatal. Persistence of S. aureus is an important process in the pathogenesis of this microorganism and must be studied. The aim of this study was to determine the persistence of S. aureus in the throat, and characterized the strains. We studied the persistence of S. aureus for 6 years in the throat of apparently healthy people. The isolated strains from the persistent carriers were characterized through PFGE, spa-typing, SCCmec typing, resistance to methicillin, presence of virulence genes (adhesins and toxins), and the formation of biofilm. We found persistent and intermittent carriers of S. aureus in the throat, with methicillin-sensitive (MSSA), methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains, and confirmed for the first time that CA-MRSA colonizes this niche. These strains can colonize persistently the throat for four years or more. Typification of strains through PFGE and spa-typing revealed that some carriers present the same strain, whereas others present different strains along the period of persistence. Almost all strains induced a strong biofilm formation. All strains presented adhesin and toxin genes, but no shared genotype was found. We conclude that S. aureus, including CA-MRSA strains, can remain persistently in the throat, finding a wide variability among the persistent strains. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  7. Targeting glycolysis by 3-bromopyruvate improves tamoxifen cytotoxicity of breast cancer cell lines.

    PubMed

    Attia, Yasmin M; El-Abhar, Hanan S; Al Marzabani, Mahmoud M; Shouman, Samia A

    2015-11-03

    Tamoxifen is the standard endocrine therapy for ER+ breast cancer; however, many women still relapse after long-term therapy. 3-Bromopyruvate, a glycolytic inhibitor, has shown high selective anti-tumor activity in vitro, and in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible augmentation of the effect of tamoxifen via reprograming cancer cell metabolism using 3-bromopyruvate. An in vitro screening of antitumor activity as well as the apoptotic, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic potentials of the combination therapy were carried out using different techniques on breast cancer cell lines MCF7and T47D. In addition the antitumor effect of the combined therapy was done on mice bearing tumor. Our results showed modulation in apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastatic potential by either drug alone; however, their combination has surpassed that of the individual one. Combination regimen enhanced activated caspases-3, 7 and 9, as well as oxidative stress, signified by increased malondialdehyde and decreased glutathione level. Additionally, the angiogenesis and metastasis markers, including hypoxia inducing factor-1α, vascular endothelia growth factor, and metaloproteinases-2 and 9 were decreased after using the combination regimen. These results were further confirmed by the in vivo study, which depicted a decrease in the tumor volume and angiogenesis and an increase in oxidative stress as well. 3-bromopyruvate could be a valuable compound when added with tamoxifen in breast cancer treatment.

  8. Tamoxifen for the management of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens in patients with prostate cancer: a systematic review

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Tamoxifen has emerged as a potential management option for gynecomastia and breast pain due to non-steroidal antiandrogens, and it is considered an alternative to surgery or radiotherapy. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the benefits and harms of tamoxifen, in comparison to other treatment options, for either the prophylaxis or treatment of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens in prostate cancer patients. Methods We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, reference lists, the abstracts of three major conferences and three trial registers to identify ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two authors independently screened the articles identified, assessed the trial quality and extracted data. The protocol was prospectively registered (CRD42011001320; http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO). Results Four studies were identified. Tamoxifen significantly reduced the risk of suffering from gynecomastia (risk ratio 9RR0 0.10, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.22) or breast pain (RR 0.06, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.17) at six months compared to untreated controls. Tamoxifen also showed a significant benefit for the prevention of gynecomastia (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.58) and breast pain (RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.64) when compared to anastrozole after a median of 12 months. One study showed a significant benefit of tamoxifen for the prevention of gynecomastia (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.65) and breast pain (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.65) when compared with radiotherapy at six months. Radiotherapy increased the risk of suffering from nipple erythema and skin irritation, but there were no significant differences for any other adverse events (all P > 0.05). Conclusions The currently available evidence suggests good efficacy of tamoxifen for the prevention and treatment of breast events induced by non-steroidal antiandrogens. The impact of tamoxifen therapy on long-term adverse events, disease progression and survival remains unclear. Further large, well

  9. Travel to Asia and traveller's diarrhoea with antibiotic treatment are independent risk factors for acquiring ciprofloxacin-resistant and extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae-a prospective cohort study.

    PubMed

    Reuland, E A; Sonder, G J B; Stolte, I; Al Naiemi, N; Koek, A; Linde, G B; van de Laar, T J W; Vandenbroucke-Grauls, C M J E; van Dam, A P

    2016-08-01

    Travel to (sub)tropical countries is a well-known risk factor for acquiring resistant bacterial strains, which is especially of significance for travellers from countries with low resistance rates. In this study we investigated the rate of and risk factors for travel-related acquisition of extended spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CIPR-E) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Data before and after travel were collected from 445 participants. Swabs were cultured with an enrichment broth and sub-cultured on selective agar plates for ESBL detection, and on plates with a ciprofloxacin disc. ESBL production was confirmed with the double-disc synergy test. Species identification and susceptibility testing were performed with the Vitek-2 system. All isolates were subjected to ertapenem Etest. ESBL and carbapenemase genes were characterized by PCR and sequencing. Twenty-seven out of 445 travellers (6.1%) already had ESBL-producing strains and 45 of 445 (10.1%) travellers had strains resistant to ciprofloxacin before travel. Ninety-eight out of 418 (23.4%) travellers acquired ESBL-E and 130 of 400 (32.5%) travellers acquired a ciprofloxacin-resistant strain. Of the 98 ESBL-E, predominantly Escherichia coli and predominantly blaCTX-M-15, 56% (55/98) were resistant to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and co-trimoxazole. Multivariate analysis showed that Asia was a high-risk area for ESBL-E as well as CIPR-E acquisition. Travellers with diarrhoea combined with antimicrobial use were significantly at higher risk for acquisition of resistant strains. Only one carbapenemase-producing isolate was acquired, isolated from a participant after visiting Egypt. In conclusion, travelling to Asia and diarrhoea combined with antimicrobial use are important risk factors for acquiring ESBL-E and CIPR-E. Copyright © 2016 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All

  10. Minimal impact of adjuvant exemestane or tamoxifen treatment on mammographic breast density in postmenopausal breast cancer patients: a Dutch TEAM trial analysis.

    PubMed

    van Nes, Johanna G H; Beex, Louk V A M; Seynaeve, Caroline; Putter, Hein; Sramek, Alexandr; Lardenoije, Susanne; Duijm-de Carpentier, Marjolijn; Van Rongen, Inge; Nortier, Johan W R; Zonderland, Harmien M; van de Velde, Cornelis J H

    2015-03-01

    Mammographic breast density is one of the strongest independent risk factors for developing breast cancer. We examined the effect of exemestane and tamoxifen on breast density in Dutch postmenopausal early breast cancer patients participating in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial. Analogue mammograms of selected TEAM participants before start, and after one and two (and if available after three) years of adjuvant endocrine therapy were collected centrally and reviewed. Study endpoints were change in breast density over time, and correlations between breast density and locoregional recurrence (LRR), distance recurrence (DR), and contralateral breast cancer (CBC). Mammograms of 378 patients (181 tamoxifen, 197 exemestane) were included in the current per protocol analyses. Baseline breast density was low (breast density score<50% in 75% of patients) and not different between patients randomised to exemestane or tamoxifen (coefficient 0.16, standard error 0.17). Breast density did not change during treatment in exemestane (p=0.25) or tamoxifen users (p=0.59). No relation was observed between breast density and the occurrence of a LRR [hazards ratio (HR) 0.87, 95% CI 0.45-1.68, p=0.67], a DR (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.77-1.35, p=0.90), or CBC (HR 1.31, 95% CI 0.63-2.72, p=0.48). The in general low breast density score in early postmenopausal breast cancer patients did not substantially change over time, and this pattern was not different between tamoxifen and exemestane users. Breast density was not a predictive marker for efficacy of adjuvant endocrine therapy.

  11. Structural elucidation of new urinary tamoxifen metabolites by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Lu, Jianghai; He, Chunji; He, Genye; Wang, Xiaobing; Xu, Youxuan; Wu, Yun; Dong, Ying; Ouyang, Gangfeng

    2014-07-01

    In this study, tamoxifen metabolic profiles were investigated carefully. Tamoxifen was administered to two healthy male volunteers and one female patient suffering from breast cancer. Urinary extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry using full scan and targeted MS/MS techniques with accurate mass measurement. Chromatographic peaks for potential metabolites were selected by using the theoretical [M + H](+) as precursor ion in full-scan experiment and m/z 72, 58 or 44 as characteristic product ions for N,N-dimethyl, N-desmethyl and N,N-didesmethyl metabolites in targeted MS/MS experiment, respectively. Tamoxifen and 37 metabolites were detected in extraction study samples. Chemical structures of seven unreported metabolites were elucidated particularly on the basis of fragmentation patterns observed for these metabolites. Several metabolic pathways containing mono- and di-hydroxylation, methoxylation, N-desmethylation, N,N-didesmethylation, oxidation and combinations were suggested. All the metabolites were detected in the urine samples up to 1 week. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  12. Antimicrobial-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii From Patients With Hospital-acquired or Ventilator-associated Pneumonia in Vietnam.

    PubMed

    Biedenbach, Douglas J; Giao, Phan Trong; Hung Van, Pham; Su Minh Tuyet, Nguyen; Thi Thanh Nga, Tran; Phuong, Doan Mai; Vu Trung, Nguyen; Badal, Robert E

    2016-09-01

    Multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens are becoming a significant problem worldwide. Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are problematic multidrug-resistant pathogens. This multicenter study in Vietnam determined the level of resistance to antimicrobial agents used to treat A baumannii and P aeruginosa infections in this country. Five medical centers in Vietnam provided 529 P aeruginosa and 971 Acinetobacter species (904 A baumannii) isolates from patients with hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia from 2012 to 2014. A central laboratory verified identification of the isolates and performed susceptibility testing using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methods. Resistance to cephalosporins, β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems, and fluoroquinolones was >90% against A baumannii. Aminoglycosides had only slightly better activity, with amikacin resistance >80%. Only colistin (MIC90, ≤0.25 mg/L) and tigecycline (MIC90, 4 mg/L) had appreciable activity against A baumannii. Similar activity was observed among the β-lactams tested against P aeruginosa. Cefepime demonstrated the highest activity (60.1% susceptible), which was similar to doripenem (58.6% susceptible), the most active carbapenem tested. Amikacin was the most active aminoglycoside tested against P aeruginosa, with susceptibility of 81.7% compared with tobramycin (58.0%) and gentamicin (56.5%). Fluoroquinolones had limited activity against P aeruginosa with susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (55.0%). All P aeruginosa isolates had colistin MIC values ≤2 mg/L. The data from this 3-year longitudinal study in Vietnam demonstrate that 2 of the most common nonfermentative gram-negative pathogens associated with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia are significantly resistant to most of the available treatment options and require combination therapies unless new antimicrobial agents become available. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  13. High-dosage tamoxifen as neoadjuvant treatment in minimally invasive surgery for Dupuytren disease in patients with a strong predisposition toward fibrosis: a randomized controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Degreef, Ilse; Tejpar, Sabine; Sciot, Raf; De Smet, Luc

    2014-04-16

    Tamoxifen, a synthetic nonsteroidal anti-estrogen known to modulate the production of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), has demonstrated effectiveness on fibroblast activity in vitro and in vivo. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tamoxifen on the outcome of surgery for Dupuytren contractures in patients with a strong predisposition toward fibrosis. We used a prospective, randomized, double-blind study protocol (conforming to the CONSORT standards) to investigate the influence of tamoxifen compared with placebo on the total passive extension deficit in the finger and patient satisfaction after subtotal fasciectomy in thirty patients with a strong predisposition toward fibrosis (grade, >4 according to the Abe scale). High-dosage tamoxifen (80 mg/day) was administered from six weeks prior until twelve weeks after surgery, and patients were monitored for two years. Three months after surgery, patients in the tamoxifen group had a smaller total passive extension deficit and higher satisfaction compared with the placebo group. This positive effect was lost over the two years following cessation of the medication. This study demonstrated that the short-term outcome of Dupuytren disease treatment could be influenced by use of tamoxifen as a neoadjuvant from six weeks prior to three months after subtotal fasciectomy in patients with a strong predisposition toward fibrosis. However, the beneficial effect disappeared within two years after surgery, with worsening of the contractures after the medication was discontinued. Thus, tamoxifen may have a short-term effect on the outcome of surgery for Dupuytren disease.

  14. A horizontally gene transferred copper resistance locus confers hyper‐resistance to antibacterial copper toxicity and enables survival of community acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 in macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Purves, Joanne; Thomas, Jamie; Riboldi, Gustavo P.; Zapotoczna, Marta; Tarrant, Emma; Andrew, Peter W.; Londoño, Alejandra; Planet, Paul J.; Geoghegan, Joan A.; Waldron, Kevin J.

    2018-01-01

    Summary Excess copper is highly toxic and forms part of the host innate immune system's antibacterial arsenal, accumulating at sites of infection and acting within macrophages to kill engulfed pathogens. We show for the first time that a novel, horizontally gene transferred copper resistance locus (copXL), uniquely associated with the SCCmec elements of the highly virulent, epidemic, community acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) USA300, confers copper hyper‐resistance. These genes are additional to existing core genome copper resistance mechanisms, and are not found in typical S. aureus lineages, but are increasingly identified in emerging pathogenic isolates. Our data show that CopX, a putative P1B‐3‐ATPase efflux transporter, and CopL, a novel lipoprotein, confer copper hyper‐resistance compared to typical S. aureus strains. The copXL genes form an operon that is tightly repressed in low copper environments by the copper regulator CsoR. Significantly, CopX and CopL are important for S. aureus USA300 intracellular survival within macrophages. Therefore, the emergence of new S. aureus clones with the copXL locus has significant implications for public health because these genes confer increased resistance to antibacterial copper toxicity, enhancing bacterial fitness by altering S. aureus interaction with innate immunity. PMID:29521441

  15. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among patients with puerperal mastitis requiring hospitalization.

    PubMed

    Stafford, Irene; Hernandez, Jennifer; Laibl, Vanessa; Sheffield, Jeanne; Roberts, Scott; Wendel, George

    2008-09-01

    To estimate the incidence of puerperal mastitis requiring hospital admission and to describe demographic and obstetric risk factors for this condition. We also sought to identify trends in bacteriology among isolates obtained from breast abscesses and breast-milk aspirates, with a focus on treatment strategies used for community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Patients with puerperal mastitis who were admitted to a county-based teaching hospital between January 1997 and December 2005 were identified by International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, codes (675.1, 675.2). Data collected included demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, treatment, duration of admission, premorbid antibiotic exposure, and bacteriology. Demographic variables and obstetric outcomes were compared with all other pregnant women delivered at our hospital. One hundred twenty-seven of 136,459 women delivered at our teaching hospital were admitted for puerperal mastitis (9.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 7.8-11.1] per 10,000 deliveries). The incidence of mastitis only during the study period was 6.7 (95% CI 5.4-8.3) per 10,000 deliveries, and the incidence of mastitis with breast abscess was 2.6 (95% CI 1.8-3.6) per 10,000 deliveries. Puerperal mastitis was significantly associated with younger women (23.4 years compared with 25.1 years, P<.001) and decreased parity (P=.02). Clinically significant breast abscess (n=35, 28%) was seen most commonly with community-acquired MRSA (n=18, 67%) during the data-collection period. The majority (15 [56%]) of women with culture-proven MRSA did not receive antibiotic therapy to which this organism was sensitive. They were discharged without complication, and there were no treatment failures. Community-acquired MRSA was most commonly associated with breast abscess. The empiric use of antibiotics ineffective against community-acquired MRSA did not adversely affect the outcomes in this study.

  16. Phenotype anchoring in zebrafish reveals a potential role for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tamoxifen's effects on skin epithelium

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Bugel, Sean M., E-mail: Sean.Bugel@oregonstate.edu; Wehmas, Leah C., E-mail: wehmasl@onid.oregonstate.edu; La Du, Jane K., E-mail: Jane.LaDu@oregonstate.edu

    The zebrafish is a powerful alternative model used to link phenotypes with molecular effects to discover drug mode of action. Using a zebrafish embryo-larval toxicity bioassay, we evaluated the effects of tamoxifen — a widely used anti-estrogen chemotherapeutic. Zebrafish exposed to ≥ 10 μM tamoxifen exhibited a unique necrotic caudal fin phenotype that was rapidly induced regardless of developmental life-stage when treatment was applied. To define tamoxifen's bioactivity resulting in this phenotype, targeted gene expression was used to evaluate 100 transcripts involved in tissue remodeling, calcium signaling, cell cycle and cell death, growth factors, angiogenesis and hypoxia. The most robustlymore » misregulated transcripts in the tail were matrix metalloproteinases mmp9 and mmp13a, induced 127 and 1145 fold, respectively. Expression of c-fos, c-jun, and ap1s1 were also moderately elevated (3–7 fold), consistent with AP-1 activity — a transcription factor that regulates MMP expression. Immunohistochemistry confirmed high levels of induction for MMP13a in affected caudal fin skin epithelial tissue. The necrotic caudal fin phenotype was significantly attenuated or prevented by three functionally unique MMP inhibitors: EDTA (metal chelator), GM 6001 (broad MMP inhibitor), and SR 11302 (AP-1 transcription factor inhibitor), suggesting MMP-dependence. SR 11302 also inhibited induction of mmp9, mmp13a, and a putative MMP target, igfbp1a. Overall, our studies suggest that tamoxifen's effect is the result of perturbation of the MMP system in the skin leading to ectopic expression, cytotoxicity, and the necrotic caudal fin phenotype. These studies help advance our understanding of tamoxifen's non-classical mode of action and implicate a possible role for MMPs in tissues such as skin. - Highlights: • Tamoxifen rapidly induced a unique necrotic caudal fin phenotype in zebrafish. • Apoptosis co-localized temporally and spatially in the necrotic tail. • The

  17. Circumventing Therapeutic Resistance and the Emergence of Disseminated Breast Cancer Cells Through Non-Invasive Optical Imaging

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-07-01

    vesicle degradation in vivo. Lastly, we have established four pairs of parental and isogenic matched tamoxifen ( tam )-resistant cell lines (MCF7, T47D...members of the HER receptor family (EGFR/HER1; HER2; HER3) are upregulated with the development of tam -resistance; furthermore, differences in receptor...Figure 4 Increased HER receptor expression in response to tam -treated MDA-MB-361 cells and tam -resistant 361 cells. Steady-state levels of the

  18. Impacts of the Glucuronidase Genotypes UGT1A4, UGT2B7, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 on Tamoxifen Metabolism in Breast Cancer Patients

    PubMed Central

    Romero-Lorca, Alicia; Novillo, Apolonia; Gaibar, María; Bandrés, Fernando; Fernández-Santander, Ana

    2015-01-01

    Tamoxifen is used to prevent and treat estrogen-dependent breast cancer. It is described as a prodrug since most of its antiestrogen effects are exerted through its hydroxylated metabolites 4-OH-tamoxifen and endoxifen. In prior work, we correlated optimal plasma levels of these metabolites with certain genotypes of CYP2D6 and SULT1A2. This descriptive study examines correlations between concentrations of tamoxifen's glucuronide metabolites and genotypes UGT1A4 Pro24Thr, UGT1A4 Leu48Val, UGT2B7 His268Tyr, UGT2B15 Asp85YTyr UGT2B15 Lys523Thr and UGT2B17del in 132 patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer under treatment with tamoxifen. Patients were genotyped by real-time and conventional PCR-RFLP. The glucuronides 4-OH-tamoxifen-N-glucuronide, 4-OH-tamoxifen-O-glucuronide and endoxifen-O-glucuronide were isolated from blood plasma and quantified using a high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system. Individuals who were homozygous for UGT1A448VAL showed significantly lower mean concentrations of both glucuronide metabolites compared to subjects genotyped as wt/wt plus wt/48Val (p=0.037 and p=0.031, respectively). Women homozygous for UGT2B7268Tyr also showed mean substrate/product ratios of 4-OH-tamoxifen/4-OH-tamoxifen-O-glucuronide and 4-OH-tamoxifen/4-OH-tamoxifen-N-glucuronide indicative of reduced glucuronidase activity compared to wt homozygotes or to heterozygotes for the polymorphism (p=0.005 and p=0.003, respectively). In contrast, UGT2B15 Lys523Thr and UGT2B17del were associated with possibly increased enzyme activity. Patients with at least one variant allele UGT2B15523Thr showed significantly higher 4-OH-tamoxifen-O-glucuronide and endoxifen-glucuronide levels (p=0.023 and p=0.025, respectively) indicating a variant gene-dose effect. Higher 4-OH-tamoxifen-N-glucuronide levels observed in UGT2B17del genotypes (p=0.042) could be attributed to a mechanism that compensates for the greater expression of other genes in UGT2B

  19. Prevalence of and risk factors for community-acquired methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus colonization in children seen in a practice-based research network.

    PubMed

    Fritz, Stephanie A; Garbutt, Jane; Elward, Alexis; Shannon, William; Storch, Gregory A

    2008-06-01

    We sought to define the prevalence of and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization in the St Louis pediatric population. Children from birth to 18 years of age presenting for sick and well visits were recruited from pediatric practices affiliated with a practice-based research network. Nasal swabs were obtained, and a questionnaire was administered. We enrolled 1300 participants from 11 practices. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S aureus nasal colonization varied according to practice, from 0% to 9% (mean: 2.6%). The estimated population prevalence of methicillin-resistant S aureus nasal colonization for the 2 main counties of the St Louis metropolitan area was 2.4%. Of the 32 methicillin-resistant S aureus isolates, 9 (28%) were health care-associated types and 21 (66%) were community-acquired types. A significantly greater number of children with community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus were black and were enrolled in Medicaid, in comparison with children colonized with health care-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus. Children with both types of methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization had increased contact with health care, compared with children without colonization. Methicillin-sensitive S aureus nasal colonization ranged from 9% to 31% among practices (mean: 24%). The estimated population prevalence of methicillin-sensitive S aureus was 24.6%. Risk factors associated with methicillin-sensitive S aureus colonization included pet ownership, fingernail biting, and sports participation. Methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization is widespread among children in our community and includes strains associated with health care-associated and community-acquired infections.

  20. Tamoxifen mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in livers of lambda/lacI transgenic rats: selective influence of phenobarbital promotion.

    PubMed

    Styles, J A; Davies, R; Fenwick, S; Walker, J; White, I N; Smith, L L

    2001-01-10

    Administration of tamoxifen (TAM) (20 mg/kg per day p.o.) for 6 weeks to female lambda/lacI transgenic rats caused a 4-fold increase in mutation frequency (MF) at the lacI gene locus in the livers of dosed animals compared with controls. After cessation of dosing, the MF showed a further increase with time at 2, 12 and 24 weeks, respectively. Phenobarbital promotion of similarly treated animals resulted in no increase in mutation frequency compared with TAM alone. Treatment with phenobarbital or TAM+phenobarbital resulted in time-dependent increases in liver weight compared with the corresponding controls. There was an increase in cell proliferation in the phenobarbital and TAM+phenobarbital groups, and at 24 weeks in the TAM dosed animals compared with controls. There was also a progressive increase in the number of GST-P expressing foci in the livers of TAM and TAM + phenobarbital rats compared with controls. The induction of cell proliferation and GSTP foci in the rat liver by phenobarbital is consistent with its ability to promote tamoxifen-initiated liver tumours in the rat. If the lacI gene is regarded as being representative of the rat genome in general (albeit that the gene is bacterial) the above observations suggest that promotion by tamoxifen confers selective advantage on mutated genes at loci that contribute to the tumour phenotype and that promotion of rat liver tumours by tamoxifen is not dependent simply upon the enhancement of cellular proliferation.

  1. Origin and Evolution of European Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

    PubMed Central

    Wirth, Thierry; Andersen, Paal S.; Skov, Robert L.; De Grassi, Anna; Simões, Patricia Martins; Tristan, Anne; Petersen, Andreas; Aziz, Maliha; Kiil, Kristoffer; Cirković, Ivana; Udo, Edet E.; del Campo, Rosa; Vuopio-Varkila, Jaana; Ahmad, Norazah; Tokajian, Sima; Peters, Georg; Schaumburg, Frieder; Olsson-Liljequist, Barbro; Givskov, Michael; Driebe, Elizabeth E.; Vigh, Henrik E.; Shittu, Adebayo; Ramdani-Bougessa, Nadjia; Rasigade, Jean-Philippe; Price, Lance B.; Vandenesch, Francois; Larsen, Anders R.; Laurent, Frederic

    2014-01-01

    ABSTRACT Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was recognized in Europe and worldwide in the late 1990s. Within a decade, several genetically and geographically distinct CA-MRSA lineages carrying the small SCCmec type IV and V genetic elements and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) emerged around the world. In Europe, the predominant CA-MRSA strain belongs to clonal complex 80 (CC80) and is resistant to kanamycin/amikacin and fusidic acid. CC80 was first reported in 1993 but was relatively rare until the late 1990s. It has since been identified throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with recent sporadic reports in sub-Saharan Africa. While strongly associated with skin and soft tissue infections, it is rarely found among asymptomatic carriers. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) CC80 strains are extremely rare except in sub-Saharan Africa. In the current study, we applied whole-genome sequencing to a global collection of both MSSA and MRSA CC80 isolates. Phylogenetic analyses strongly suggest that the European epidemic CA-MRSA lineage is derived from a PVL-positive MSSA ancestor from sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, the tree topology suggests a single acquisition of both the SCCmec element and a plasmid encoding the fusidic acid resistance determinant. Four canonical SNPs distinguish the derived CA-MRSA lineage and include a nonsynonymous mutation in accessory gene regulator C (agrC). These changes were associated with a star-like expansion into Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa in the early 1990s, including multiple cases of cross-continent imports likely driven by human migrations. PMID:25161186

  2. Disseminated cryptococcosis and fluconazole resistant oral candidiasis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

    PubMed

    Kothavade, Rajendra J; Oberai, Chetan M; Valand, Arvind G; Panthaki, Mehroo H

    2010-10-28

    Disseminated cryptococcosis and recurrent oral candidiasis was presented in a-heterosexual AIDS patient. Candida tropicalis (C.tropicalis) was isolated from the oral pseudomembranous plaques and Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) was isolated from maculopapular lesions on body parts (face, hands and chest) and body fluids (urine, expectorated sputum, and cerebrospinal fluid). In vitro drug susceptibility testing on the yeast isolates demonstrated resistance to fluconazole acquired by C. tropicalis which was a suggestive possible root cause of recurrent oral candidiasis in this patient.

  3. Lithium and Tamoxifen Modulate Behavior and Protein Kinase C Activity in the Animal Model of Mania Induced by Ouabain

    PubMed Central

    Dal-Pont, Gustavo C; Resende, Wilson R; Varela, Roger B; Peterle, Bruna R; Gava, Fernanda F; Mina, Francielle G; Cararo, José H; Carvalho, André F; Quevedo, João

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Background The intracerebroventricular injection of ouabain, a specific inhibitor of the Na+/K+-adenosine-triphosphatase (Na+/K+-ATPase) enzyme, induces hyperactivity in rats in a putative animal model of mania. Several evidences have suggested that the protein kinase C signaling pathway is involved in bipolar disorder. In addition, it is known that protein kinase C inhibitors, such as lithium and tamoxifen, are effective in treating acute mania. Methods In the present study, we investigated the effects of lithium and tamoxifen on the protein kinase C signaling pathway in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats submitted to the animal model of mania induced by ouabain. We showed that ouabain induced hyperlocomotion in the rats. Results Ouabain increased the protein kinase C activity and the protein kinase C and MARCKS phosphorylation in frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. Lithium and tamoxifen reversed the behavioral and protein kinase C pathway changes induced by ouabain. These findings indicate that the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition can lead to protein kinase C alteration. Conclusions The present study showed that lithium and tamoxifen modulate changes in the behavior and protein kinase C signalling pathway alterations induced by ouabain, underlining the need for more studies of protein kinase C as a possible target for treatment of bipolar disorder. PMID:29020306

  4. Astrocytes acquire resistance to iron-dependent oxidative stress upon proinflammatory activation

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Astrocytes respond to local insults within the brain and the spinal cord with important changes in their phenotype. This process, overall known as “activation”, is observed upon proinflammatory stimulation and leads astrocytes to acquire either a detrimental phenotype, thereby contributing to the neurodegenerative process, or a protective phenotype, thus supporting neuronal survival. Within the mechanisms responsible for inflammatory neurodegeneration, oxidative stress plays a major role and has recently been recognized to be heavily influenced by changes in cytosolic iron levels. In this work, we investigated how activation affects the competence of astrocytes to handle iron overload and the ensuing oxidative stress. Methods Cultures of pure cortical astrocytes were preincubated with proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor α) or conditioned medium from lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia to promote activation and then exposed to a protocol of iron overload. Results We demonstrate that activated astrocytes display an efficient protection against iron-mediated oxidative stress and cell death. Based on this evidence, we performed a comprehensive biochemical and molecular analysis, including a transcriptomic approach, to identify the molecular basis of this resistance. Conclusions We propose the protective phenotype acquired after activation not to involve the most common astrocytic antioxidant pathway, based on the Nrf2 transcription factor, but to result from a complex change in the expression and activity of several genes involved in the control of cellular redox state. PMID:24160637

  5. The use of Chinese herbal products and its influence on tamoxifen induced endometrial cancer risk among female breast cancer patients: a population-based study.

    PubMed

    Tsai, Yueh-Ting; Lai, Jung-Nien; Wu, Chien-Tung

    2014-09-11

    The increased practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) worldwide has raised concerns regarding herb-drug interactions. The purpose of our study was to analyze the use of Chinese herbal products (CHPs) and to estimate the influence of the use of CHP on tamoxifen induced endometrial cancer risk among female breast cancer patients in Taiwan. All patients newly diagnosed with invasive breast cancer receiving tamoxifen treatment from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2008 were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database. The usage, frequency of service, and CHPs prescribed among the 20,466 tamoxifen-treated female breast cancer patients were analyzed. The logistic regression method was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for utilization of CHPs. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for subsequent endometrial cancer for CHP non-users and CHP users among female breast cancer patients who had undergone tamoxifen treatment. More than half of the subjects had ever used a CHP. Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San (Augmented Rambling Powder) and Shu-Jing-Huo-Xue-Tang (Channel-Coursing Blood-Quickening Decoction) were the two most commonly used CHPs. The HR for the development of endometrial cancer among CHP users was 0.50-fold (95% CI=0.38-0.64) compared to that of CHP non-users. More than half of the study subjects had ever used a CHP. Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San was the most commonly used CHP. Among female breast cancer patients who had undergone tamoxifen therapy, CHP consumption decreased the risk of subsequent endometrial cancer. Exploring potential Chinese herb-tamoxifen interactions and integrating both healthcare approaches are beneficial to the overall health outcomes of tamoxifen-treated female breast cancer patients. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. Tamoxifen metabolism in rat liver microsomes: identification of a dimeric metabolite derived from free radical intermediates by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Jones, R M; Yuan, Z X; Lim, C K

    1999-01-01

    Tamoxifen has been shown to be a potent liver carcinogen in rats, and generates covalent DNA adducts. On-line high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS) has been used to further study the metabolites of tamoxifen formed by rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH with a view to identifying potential reactive metabolites which may be responsible for the formation of DNA adducts, and liver carcinogenesis. A metabolite has been detected with a protonated molecule at m/z 773. The mass of this compound is consistent with a dimer of hydroxylated tamoxifen (m/z 388). Analysis of 4-hydroxytamoxifen incubated with a rat liver microsomal preparation showed the formation of a similar metabolite with an apparent MH+ ion at m/z 773, believed to be a dimer of 4-hydroxytamoxifen formed by a free radical reaction. The retention time for this metabolite from 4-hydroxytamoxifen is identical to that of the tamoxifen metabolite, suggesting that these two compounds are the same. The levels of the dimer were higher when 4-hydroxytamoxifen was used as substrate and, in addition, two isomers were detected. It is proposed that tamoxifen was first converted to arene oxides which react with DNA or to 4-hydroxytamoxifen, either directly or via 3,4-epoxytamoxifen, which then undergoes activation via a free radical reaction to give reactive intermediates which can then react with DNA and protein, or with themselves, to give the dimers (m/z 773).

  7. Bone effect of adjuvant tamoxifen, letrozole or letrozole plus zoledronic acid in early-stage breast cancer: the randomized phase 3 HOBOE study.

    PubMed

    Nuzzo, F; Gallo, C; Lastoria, S; Di Maio, M; Piccirillo, M C; Gravina, A; Landi, G; Rossi, E; Pacilio, C; Labonia, V; Di Rella, F; Bartiromo, A; Buonfanti, G; De Feo, G; Esposito, G; D'Aniello, R; Maiolino, P; Signoriello, S; De Maio, E; Tinessa, V; Colantuoni, G; De Laurentiis, M; D'Aiuto, M; Di Bonito, M; Botti, G; Giordano, P; Daniele, G; Morabito, A; Normanno, N; de Matteis, A; Perrone, F

    2012-08-01

    To measure bone mineral density (BMD) reduction produced by letrozole as compared with tamoxifen and the benefit of the addition of zoledronic acid. A phase 3 trial comparing tamoxifen, letrozole or letrozole+zoledronic acid in patients with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer was conducted; triptorelin was given to premenopausal patients. Two comparisons were planned: letrozole versus tamoxifen and letrozole+zoledronic acid versus letrozole. Primary end point was the difference in 1-year change of T-score at lumbar spine (LTS) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Out of 483 patients enrolled, 459 were available for primary analyses. Median age was 50 (range 28-80). The estimated mean difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) in 1-year change of LTS was equal to -0.30 (95% CI -0.44 to -0.17) in the letrozole versus tamoxifen comparison (P<0.0001) and to +0.60 (95% CI +0.46 to +0.77) in the letrozole+zoledronic acid versus letrozole comparison (P<0.0001). Bone damage by letrozole decreased with increasing baseline body mass index in premenopausal, but not postmenopausal, patients (interaction test P=0.004 and 0.47, respectively). In the HOBOE (HOrmonal BOne Effects) trial, the positive effect of zoledronic acid on BMD largely counteracts damage produced by letrozole as compared with tamoxifen. Letrozole effect is lower among overweight/obese premenopausal patients.

  8. Regulation of drug resistance by human pregnane X receptor in breast cancer

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Yakun; Tang, Yong; Chen, Shuqing; Nie, Daotai

    2012-01-01

    Drug resistance is a significant barrier to an effective treatment of breast cancer. Human pregnane X receptor (hPXR), an orphan nuclear receptor known for its activation by many important clinical drugs, is a major transcription factor of drug metabolism enzymes (DMEs), such as cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), and efflux transporters such as multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1). hPXR has been detected in human breast cancers but its role in responses of cancers toward drugs remains unknown. In this study, hPXR expression was confirmed in breast cancer cell lines and in normal and cancerous human breast specimens. Preactivation of hPXR by SR12813 in MDA-MB-231 cells led to an increased resistance to Taxol at concentrations of 20 and 50 nmol/L. A significant increase in resistance toward tamoxifen was also observed in MCF-7 with hPXR preactivation. Activation of hPXR led to an increased expression of CYP3A4 and MDR1, two possible mediators for hPXR-mediated drug resistance in breast cancers. Furthermore, knockdown of hPXR via small hairpin RNA (shRNA) sensitized MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells to the treatment of Taxol, vinblastine or tamoxifen. The reduction in resistance of hPXR knockdown cells was further confirmed by reduced colony formation under the pressure of cancer treatment drugs. Taken together, our data suggest a potential role of hPXR in breast cancer resistance to drug treatments. PMID:19746521

  9. Acquired and intrinsic BRAF inhibitor resistance in BRAF V600E mutant melanoma

    PubMed Central

    Fedorenko, Inna V.; Paraiso, Kim H. T.; Smalley, Keiran S. M.

    2014-01-01

    The discovery of activating BRAF V600E mutations in 50% of all cutaneous melanomas has revolutionized the understanding of melanoma biology and provided new strategies for the therapeutic management of this deadly disease. Highly potent small molecule inhibitors of BRAF are now showing great promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for melanomas harboring activating BRAF V600E mutations and are associated with high levels of response. This commentary article discusses the latest data on the role of mutated BRAF in the development and progression of melanoma as the basis for understanding the mechanism of action of BRAF inhibitors in the preclinical and clinical settings. We further address the issue of BRAF inhibitor resistance and outline the latest insights into the mechanisms of therapeutic escape as well as describing approaches to prevent and abrogate the onset of both intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. It is likely that our evolving understanding of melanoma genetics and signaling will allow for the further personalization of melanoma therapy with the goal of improving clinical responses. PMID:21635872

  10. Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: The New Face of an Old Foe?

    PubMed Central

    Udo, Edet E.

    2013-01-01

    The burden of infections caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is increasing among different patient populations globally. As CA-MRSA has become established in healthcare facilities, the range of infections caused by them has also increased. Molecular characterization of CA-MRSA isolates obtained from different centers has revealed significant diversity in their genetic backgrounds. Although many CA-MRSA strains are still susceptible to non-β-lactam antibiotics, multiresistance to non-β-lactam agents has emerged in some clones, posing substantial problems for empirical and directed therapy of infections caused by these strains. Some CA-MRSA clones have acquired the capacity to spread locally and internationally. CA-MRSA belonging to ST80-MRSA-IV and ST30-MRSA-IV appear to be the dominant clones in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The emergence of pandemic CA-MRSA clones not only limits therapeutic options but also presents significant challenges for infection control. Continued monitoring of global epidemiology and emerging drug resistance data is critical for the effective management of these infections. PMID:24051949

  11. Acquired resistance to rechallenge injury in rats recovered from subclinical renal damage with uranyl acetate-Importance of proliferative activity of tubular cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Yuan; Fujigaki, Yoshihide, E-mail: yf0516@hama-med.ac.j; Sakakima, Masanori

    Animals recovered from acute renal failure are resistant to subsequent insult. We investigated whether rats recovered from mild proximal tubule (PT) injury without renal dysfunction (subclinical renal damage) acquire the same resistance. Rats 14 days after recovering from subclinical renal damage, which was induced by 0.2 mg/kg of uranyl acetate (UA) (sub-toxic dose), were rechallenged with 4 mg/kg of UA (nephrotoxic dose). Fate of PT cells and renal function were examined in response to nephrotoxic dose of UA. All divided cells after sub-toxic dose of UA insult were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) for 14 days then the number of PTmore » cells with or without BrdU-labeling was counted following nephrotoxic dose of UA insult. Rats recovered from subclinical renal damage gained resistance to nephrotoxic dose of UA with reduced renal dysfunction, less severity of peak damage (necrotic and TUNEL+ apoptotic cells) and accelerated PT cell proliferation, but with earlier peak of PT damage. The decrease in number of PT cells in the early phase of rechallenge injury with nephrotoxic UA was more in rats pretreated with sub-toxic dose of UA than vehicle pretreated rats. The exaggerated loss of PT cells was mainly caused by the exaggerated loss of BrdU+ divided cells. In contrast, accelerated cell proliferation in rats recovered from sub-toxic dose of UA was observed mainly in BrdU- non-divided cells. The findings suggest that rats recovered from subclinical renal damage showed partial acquired resistance to nephrotoxic insult. Accelerated recovery with increased proliferative activity of non-divided PT cells after subclinical renal damage may mainly contribute to acquired resistance.« less

  12. Tamoxifen has a proliferative effect in endometrial carcinoma mediated via the GPER/EGFR/ERK/cyclin D1 pathway: A retrospective study and an in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Lizhi; Li, Yanmin; Lan, Lan; Liu, Rong; Wu, Yanhong; Qu, Quanxin; Wen, Ke

    2016-12-05

    Tamoxifen has been widely used to treat breast cancer as an endocrine therapy. However, tamoxifen is known to enhance the risk of developing endometrial cancer. We want to examine the effect of tamoxifen on endometrial cancer. In our retrospective study, we found that high grade, high stage, and lymph node metastasis were more common in tamoxifen users. In vitro 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) induced cell proliferation and cell cycle promotion in type I and type II endometrial cancer cell lines, and this proliferation was blocked by GPER silencing. Treatment with OHT increased EGFR and ERK phosphorylation and the mRNA and protein levels of cyclin D1 and GPER. Taken together, our data demonstrate that endometrial cancer patients with tamoxifen treatment exhibit more aggressive histological subtypes and worse prognosis. OHT is a proliferation-inducing agent for endometrial cancer cells, and the GPER/EFGR/ERK/cyclin D1 pathway is involved in this process. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Circumventing Therapeutic Resistance and the Emergence of Disseminated Breast Cancer Cells Through Non-Invasive Optical Imaging

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2014-07-01

    vivo. Lastly, we have established four pairs of parental and isogenic matched tamoxifen ( tam )-resistant cell lines (MCF7, T47D, MDA-MB-361 and HCC1428...receptor family (EGFR/HER1; HER2; HER3) are upregulated with the development of tam -resistance; furthermore, differences in receptor expression between ER...Increased HER receptor expression in response to tam -treated MDA-MB-361 cells and tam -resistant 361 cells. Steady-state levels of the indicated proteins

  14. Genetic diversity of Streptococcus suis isolated from three pig farms of China obtained by acquiring antibiotic resistance genes.

    PubMed

    Huang, Jinhu; Shang, Kexin; Kashif, Jam; Wang, Liping

    2015-05-01

    Acquiring antibiotic resistance genes may change an organism's genetic characteristics and the effect of antibiotics, resulting in a rapid transmission of microbial pathogens. The objectives of this experiment were to identify the features of Streptococcus suis (S. suis) isolated from three pig farms in China which are geographically isolated. Among the isolates, 56.52% were sequence type 7 (ST7), followed by ST1 (26.09%), indicating that ST7 prevails in China, as revealed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Statistical analysis indicated an association between geography, sequence types and antibiotic resistance genotypes. 66.67% of the isolates in Sichuan province presented a (ermB(-) + mefA(-) + tetO(-) + tetM(-)) + ST7 type. The tetM(+) +ST7 type was the most prevalent in Jiangsu province, whereas the strains from Hebei province had a phenotype ermB(+) +tetO(+) +ST1 (63.64%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PGFE) pattern A2 with 100% similarity reflected the clonal dissemination between Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces. Strains carrying or not carrying antibiotic resistance genes presented different PFGE patterns in Hebei province. ST7 is widespread in many regions of China and a clonal dissemination occurred between Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces in diseased pigs. However, ST1 strains with macrolide and tetracycline resistance (ermB(+) +tetO(+) +ST1) isolated from a farm in Hebei province demonstrated that the genetic diversity was contributed by horizontal acquiring of ermB and tetO carrying elements. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

  15. Review on the targeted conjugation of anticancer drugs doxorubicin and tamoxifen with synthetic polymers for drug delivery.

    PubMed

    Sanyakamdhorn, S; Agudelo, D; Tajmir-Riahi, H A

    2017-08-01

    In this review, the binding and loading efficacy (LE) of anticancer drugs doxorubicin (DOX), tamoxifen (Tam) and its metabolites 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-Hydroxytam) and endoxifen (Endox) with several synthetic polymers poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), methoxypoly (ethylene glycol) polyamidoamine (mPEG-PAMAM-G3), and polyamidoamine (PAMAM-G4) dendrimers were compared in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. The results of multiple spectroscopic methods, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and molecular modeling of conjugated drug-polymer were examined. Structural analysis showed that drug-polymer conjugation occurs mainly via H-bonding and hydrophobic contacts. The order of binding is PAMAM-G4 > mPEG-PAMAM-G3 > PEG-6000 with 4-hydroxttamoxifen forming more stable conjugate than tamoxifen and endoxifen. Doxorubicin shows stronger affinity for PAMAM-G4 than tamoxifen and its metabolites. The drug LE was 30-55%. TEM showed significant changes in the carrier morphology upon drug encapsulation. Modeling also showed that drug is located in the surface and in the internal cavities of PAMAM with DOX forming more stable polymer conjugates.

  16. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA)--a rare cause of fulminant orbital cellulitis.

    PubMed

    Shome, Debraj; Jain, Vandana; Natarajan, Sundaram; Agrawal, Shyam; Shah, Kiran

    2008-01-01

    We report a 55-year-old female patient who developed a severe right-sided orbital cellulitis. Past history was significant for a boil on the right upper eyelid 2 days prior. Visual acuity at presentation was perception of light with inaccurate projection. Orbital computed tomography (CT) scan and routine blood investigations, including blood culture, urine examination, and urine culture, were performed. CT scan showed a superonasal orbital mass suggestive of an abscess. Abscess drainage followed by pus culture, sensitivity, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA) resistant to all antibiotics except vancomycin, cotrimoxazole, and amikacin. The condition completely resolved post antibiotic and steroid therapy. At 3 months follow-up, the vision in the right eye was 6/9. We report this case to highlight CAMRSA as a rare but virulent cause of orbital cellulitis; empiric antibiotic therapy should include coverage for CAMRSA until susceptibilities come back.

  17. The increasing importance of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.

    PubMed

    Agostino, Jason W; Ferguson, John K; Eastwood, Keith; Kirk, Martyn D

    2017-11-06

    To identify groups at risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, patterns of antimicrobial resistance, and the proportion of patients with MRSA infections but no history of recent hospitalisation. Case series of 39 231 patients with S. aureus isolates from specimens processed by the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) public pathology provider during 2008-2014. Proportion of MRSA infections among people with S. aureus isolates; antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolates; origin of MRSA infections (community- or health care-associated); demographic factors associated with community-associated MRSA infections. There were 71 736 S. aureus-positive specimens during the study period and MRSA was isolated from 19.3% of first positive specimens. Most patients (56.9%) from whom MRSA was isolated had not been admitted to a public hospital in the past year. Multiple regression identified that patients with community-associated MRSA were more likely to be younger (under 40), Indigenous Australians (odds ratio [OR], 2.6; 95% CI, 2.3-2.8), or a resident of an aged care facility (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 3.8-5.8). The proportion of MRSA isolates that included the dominant multi-resistant strain (AUS-2/3-like) declined from 29.6% to 3.4% during the study period (P < 0.001), as did the rates of hospital origin MRSA in two of the major hospitals in the region. The prevalence of MRSA in the HNELHD region decreased during the study period, and was predominantly acquired in the community, particularly by young people, Indigenous Australians, and residents of aged care facilities. While the dominance of the multi-resistant strain decreased, new strategies for controlling infections in the community are needed to reduce the prevalence of non-multi-resistant strains.

  18. Effects of repeated administration of chemotherapeutic agents tamoxifen, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil on the acquisition and retention of a learned response in mice

    PubMed Central

    Foley, John J.; Clark-Vetri, Rachel; Raffa, Robert B.

    2011-01-01

    Rationale A number of cancer chemotherapeutic agents have been associated with a loss of memory in breast cancer patients although little is known of the causality of this effect. Objectives To assess the potential cognitive effects of repeated exposure to chemotherapeutic agents, we administered the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen or the antimetabolite chemotherapy, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil, alone and in combination to mice and tested them in a learning and memory assay. Methods Swiss-Webster male mice were injected with saline, 32 mg/kg tamoxifen, 3.2 or 32 mg/kg methotrexate, 75 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil, 3.2 or 32 mg/kg methotrexate in combination with 75 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil once per week for 3 weeks. On days 23 and 24, mice were tested for acquisition and retention of a nose-poke response in a learning procedure called autoshaping. In addition, the acute effects of tamoxifen were assessed in additional mice in a similar procedure. Results The chemotherapeutic agents alone and in combination reduced body weight relative to saline treatment over the course of 4 weeks. Repeated treatment with tamoxifen produced both acquisition and retention effects relative to the saline-treated group although acute tamoxifen was without effect except at a behaviorally toxic dose. Repeated treatment with methotrexate in combination with 5-fluorouracil produced effects on retention, but the magnitude of these changes depended on the methotrexate dose. Conclusions These data demonstrate that repeated administration of tamoxifen or certain combination of methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil may produce deficits in the acquisition or retention of learned responses which suggest potential strategies for prevention or remediation might be considered in vulnerable patient populations. PMID:21537942

  19. Update on the prevention and control of community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).

    PubMed

    Skov, Robert; Christiansen, Keryn; Dancer, Stephanie J; Daum, Robert S; Dryden, Matthew; Huang, Yhu-Chering; Lowy, Franklin D

    2012-03-01

    The rapid dissemination of community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) since the early 2000s and the appearance of new successful lineages is a matter of concern. The burden of these infections varies widely between different groups of individuals and in different regions of the world. Estimating the total burden of disease is therefore problematic. Skin and soft-tissue infections, often in otherwise healthy young individuals, are the most common clinical manifestation of these infections. The antibiotic susceptibilities of these strains also vary, although they are often more susceptible to 'traditional' antibiotics than related hospital-acquired strains. Preventing the dissemination of these organisms throughout the general population requires a multifaceted approach, including screening and decolonisation, general hygiene and cleaning measures, antibiotic stewardship programmes and, in the future, vaccination. The current evidence on the prevention and control of CA-MRSA is appraised and summarised in this review. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

  20. Bioactivation of the Cancer Chemopreventive Agent Tamoxifen to Quinone Methides by Cytochrome P4502B6 and Identification of the Modified Residue on the Apoprotein

    PubMed Central

    Sridar, Chitra; D'Agostino, Jaime

    2012-01-01

    The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen was introduced as a treatment for breast cancer 3 decades ago. It has also been approved as a chemopreventive agent and is prescribed to women at high risk for this disease. However, several studies have shown that use of tamoxifen leads to increased risk of endometrial cancer in humans. One potential pathway of tamoxifen toxicity could involve metabolism via hydroxylation to give 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHtam), which may be further oxidized to form a quinone methide. CYP2B6 is a highly polymorphic drug-metabolizing enzyme, and it metabolizes a number of clinically important drugs. Earlier studies from our laboratory have shown that tamoxifen is a mechanism-based inactivator of CYP2B6. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible formation of reactive intermediates through detection of protein covalent binding and glutathione ethyl ester adduct (GSHEE) formation. The incubation of tamoxifen with 2B6 gave rise to an adduct of 4OHtam with glutathione, which was characterized as the 4OHtam quinone methide + GSHEE with an m/z value of 719, and the structure was characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The metabolic activation of tamoxifen in the CYP2B6 reconstituted system also resulted in the formation of an adduct to the P4502B6 apoprotein, which was identified using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. The site responsible for the inactivation of CYP2B6 was determined by proteolytic digestion and identification of the labeled peptide. This revealed a tryptic peptide 188FHYQDQE194 with the site of adduct formation localized to Gln193 as the site modified by the reactive metabolite formed during tamoxifen metabolism. PMID:22942317

  1. CYP2D6 gene variants: association with breast cancer specific survival in a cohort of breast cancer patients from the United Kingdom treated with adjuvant tamoxifen

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Introduction Tamoxifen is one of the most effective adjuvant breast cancer therapies available. Its metabolism involves the phase I enzyme, cytochrome P4502D6 (CYP2D6), encoded by the highly polymorphic CYP2D6 gene. CYP2D6 variants resulting in poor metabolism of tamoxifen are hypothesised to reduce its efficacy. An FDA-approved pre-treatment CYP2D6 gene testing assay is available. However, evidence from published studies evaluating CYP2D6 variants as predictive factors of tamoxifen efficacy and clinical outcome are conflicting, querying the clinical utility of CYP2D6 testing. We investigated the association of CYP2D6 variants with breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) in breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen. Methods This was a population based case-cohort study. We genotyped known functional variants (n = 7; minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.01) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (n = 5; MAF > 0.05) tagging all known common variants (tagSNPs), in CYP2D6 in 6640 DNA samples from patients with invasive breast cancer from SEARCH (Studies of Epidemiology and Risk factors in Cancer Heredity); 3155 cases had received tamoxifen therapy. There were 312 deaths from breast cancer, in the tamoxifen treated patients, with over 18000 years of cumulative follow-up. The association between genotype and BCSS was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results In tamoxifen treated patients, there was weak evidence that the poor-metaboliser variant, CYP2D6*6 (MAF = 0.01), was associated with decreased BCSS (P = 0.02; HR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.12-3.40). No other variants, including CYP2D6*4 (MAF = 0.20), previously reported to be associated with poorer clinical outcomes, were associated with differences in BCSS, in either the tamoxifen or non-tamoxifen groups. Conclusions CYP2D6*6 may affect BCSS in tamoxifen-treated patients. However, the absence of an association with survival in more frequent variants, including CYP2D6*4, questions the validity of

  2. Bacterial Etiology and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in a Cameroonian City.

    PubMed

    Nzalie, Rolf Nyah-Tuku; Gonsu, Hortense Kamga; Koulla-Shiro, Sinata

    2016-01-01

    Introduction. Community-acquired urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are usually treated empirically. Geographical variations in etiologic agents and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns are common. Knowledge of antibiotic resistance trends is important for improving evidence-based recommendations for empirical treatment of UTIs. Our aim was to determine the major bacterial etiologies of CAUTIs and their antibiotic resistance patterns in a cosmopolitan area of Cameroon for comparison with prescription practices of local physicians. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional descriptive study at two main hospitals in Yaoundé, collecting a clean-catch mid-stream urine sample from 92 patients having a clinical diagnosis of UTI. The empirical antibiotherapy was noted, and identification of bacterial species was done on CLED agar; antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results. A total of 55 patients had samples positive for a UTI. Ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid were the most empirically prescribed antibiotics (30.9% and 23.6%, resp.); bacterial isolates showed high prevalence of resistance to both compounds. Escherichia coli (50.9%) was the most common pathogen, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.4%). Prevalence of resistance for ciprofloxacin was higher compared to newer quinolones. Conclusions. E. coli and K. pneumoniae were the predominant bacterial etiologies; the prevalence of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics was high.

  3. [Clinical features and outcome of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia].

    PubMed

    Obed, Mora; García-Vidal, Carolina; Pessacq, Pedro; Mykietiuk, Analia; Viasus, Diego; Cazzola, Laura; Domínguez, M Angeles; Calmaggi, Anibal; Carratalà, Jordi

    2014-01-01

    The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological and clinical features, treatment and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in two different geographic regions where community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections have different frequencies. Observational study of patients admitted to two hospitals (one in Argentina, the other in Spain) between March 2008 and June 2012. We documented 16 cases of CAP caused by MRSA. MRSA accounted for 15 of 547 (2.7%) cases of CAP in Hospital Rodolfo Rossi and 1 of 1258 (0,08%) cases at the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge (P ≤ .001). Most patients were young and previously healthy. Multilobar infiltrates, cavitation and skin and soft tissue involvement were frequent. All patients had positive blood cultures. Five patients required admission to the intensive care unit. Early mortality (≤ 48 hours) was 19%, and overall mortality (≤ 30 days) was 25%. CAP caused by MRSA causes high morbidity and mortality rates. It should be suspected in areas with a high prevalence of CA-MRSA infections, and especially in young and healthy patients who present with multilobar pneumonia with cavitation. Mortality is mainly related to septic shock and respiratory failure and occurs early in most cases. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.

  4. Bone fractures among postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial.

    PubMed

    Rabaglio, M; Sun, Z; Price, K N; Castiglione-Gertsch, M; Hawle, H; Thürlimann, B; Mouridsen, H; Campone, M; Forbes, J F; Paridaens, R J; Colleoni, M; Pienkowski, T; Nogaret, J-M; Láng, I; Smith, I; Gelber, R D; Goldhirsch, A; Coates, A S

    2009-09-01

    To compare the incidence and timing of bone fractures in postmenopausal women treated with 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen or letrozole for endocrine-responsive early breast cancer in the Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98 trial. We evaluated 4895 patients allocated to 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial who received at least some study medication (median follow-up 60.3 months). Bone fracture information (grade, cause, site) was collected every 6 months during trial treatment. The incidence of bone fractures was higher among patients treated with letrozole [228 of 2448 women (9.3%)] versus tamoxifen [160 of 2447 women (6.5%)]. The wrist was the most common site of fracture in both treatment groups. Statistically significant risk factors for bone fractures during treatment included age, smoking history, osteoporosis at baseline, previous bone fracture, and previous hormone replacement therapy. Consistent with other trials comparing aromatase inhibitors to tamoxifen, letrozole was associated with an increase in bone fractures. Benefits of superior disease control associated with letrozole and lower incidence of fracture with tamoxifen should be considered with the risk profile for individual patients.

  5. Bone fractures among postmenopausal patients with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial

    PubMed Central

    Rabaglio, M.; Sun, Z.; Castiglione-Gertsch, M.; Hawle, H.; Thürlimann, B.; Mouridsen, H.; Campone, M.; Forbes, J. F.; Paridaens, R. J.; Colleoni, M.; Pienkowski, T.; Nogaret, J.-M.; Láng, I.; Smith, I.; Gelber, R. D.; Goldhirsch, A.; Coates, A. S.

    2009-01-01

    Background: To compare the incidence and timing of bone fractures in postmenopausal women treated with 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen or letrozole for endocrine-responsive early breast cancer in the Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98 trial. Methods: We evaluated 4895 patients allocated to 5 years of letrozole or tamoxifen in the BIG 1-98 trial who received at least some study medication (median follow-up 60.3 months). Bone fracture information (grade, cause, site) was collected every 6 months during trial treatment. Results: The incidence of bone fractures was higher among patients treated with letrozole [228 of 2448 women (9.3%)] versus tamoxifen [160 of 2447 women (6.5%)]. The wrist was the most common site of fracture in both treatment groups. Statistically significant risk factors for bone fractures during treatment included age, smoking history, osteoporosis at baseline, previous bone fracture, and previous hormone replacement therapy. Conclusions: Consistent with other trials comparing aromatase inhibitors to tamoxifen, letrozole was associated with an increase in bone fractures. Benefits of superior disease control associated with letrozole and lower incidence of fracture with tamoxifen should be considered with the risk profile for individual patients. PMID:19474112

  6. Acquired resistance to EGFR targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

    PubMed

    Lim, Sun Min; Syn, Nicholas L; Cho, Byoung Chul; Soo, Ross A

    2018-04-01

    The tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) directed at sensitizing mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene represents a critical pillar in non-small cell lung cancer treatment. Despite the excellent disease control with initial EGFR TKI therapy, acquired resistance is ubiquitous and remains a key challenge. Investigations into the mechanisms which foster resistance to EGFR TKIs has led to the discovery of novel biomarkers and drug targets, and in turn has enabled the development of third-generation TKIs and proposals for rational therapeutic combinations. The threonine-to-methionine substitution mutation at position 790 (T790M) is clinically validated to engender refractoriness to first- and second-generation TKIs, and is a standard-of-care predictive biomarker used in therapeutic stratification. Clinical use of liquid biopsy approaches for assessment of T790M mutations continues to increase, with growing advocacy for serial monitoring of tumor evolution. For patients who are T790M-negative, cytotoxic chemotherapy or protracted EGFR TKI treatment are acceptable treatment standards after disease progression, although combinations of targeted therapies and checkpoint blockade immunotherapy may offer promising alternatives in the future. Among T790M-positive patients, the third-generation EGFR TKI, osimertinib, has shown superiority over both platinum-doublet chemotherapy and 1st generation EGFR TKI in randomized clinical trials, and exhibits enhanced in vitro selectivity for mutant EGFR receptors and pharmacokinetics compared to earlier-generation TKIs. This article appraises the key literature on the contemporary management of non-small cell lung cancer patients with acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs, and envisions future directions in translational and clinical research. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Hyperactivation and Enhanced NRAS Expression Drive Acquired Vemurafenib Resistance in V600E BRAF Melanoma Cells*

    PubMed Central

    Lidsky, Michael; Antoun, Gamil; Speicher, Paul; Adams, Bartley; Turley, Ryan; Augustine, Christi; Tyler, Douglas; Ali-Osman, Francis

    2014-01-01

    Although targeting the V600E activating mutation in the BRAF gene, the most common genetic abnormality in melanoma, has shown clinical efficacy in melanoma patients, response is, invariably, short lived. To better understand mechanisms underlying this acquisition of resistance to BRAF-targeted therapy in previously responsive melanomas, we induced vemurafenib resistance in two V600E BRAF+ve melanoma cell lines, A375 and DM443, by serial in vitro vemurafenib exposure. The resulting approximately 10-fold more vemurafenib-resistant cell lines, A375rVem and D443rVem, had higher growth rates and showed differential collateral resistance to cisplatin, melphalan, and temozolomide. The acquisition of vemurafenib resistance was associated with significantly increased NRAS levels in A375rVem and D443rVem, increased activation of the prosurvival protein, AKT, and the MAPKs, ERK, JNK, and P38, which correlated with decreased levels of the MAPK inhibitor protein, GSTP1. Despite the increased NRAS, whole exome sequencing showed no NRAS gene mutations. Inhibition of all three MAPKs and siRNA-mediated NRAS suppression both reversed vemurafenib resistance significantly in A375rVem and DM443rVem. Together, the results indicate a mechanism of acquired vemurafenib resistance in V600E BRAF+ve melanoma cells that involves increased activation of all three human MAPKs and the PI3K pathway, as well as increased NRAS expression, which, contrary to previous reports, was not associated with mutations in the NRAS gene. The data highlight the complexity of the acquired vemurafenib resistance phenotype and the challenge of optimizing BRAF-targeted therapy in this disease. They also suggest that targeting the MAPKs and/or NRAS may provide a strategy to mitigate such resistance in V600E BRAF+ve melanoma. PMID:25063807

  8. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) hyperactivation and enhanced NRAS expression drive acquired vemurafenib resistance in V600E BRAF melanoma cells.

    PubMed

    Lidsky, Michael; Antoun, Gamil; Speicher, Paul; Adams, Bartley; Turley, Ryan; Augustine, Christi; Tyler, Douglas; Ali-Osman, Francis

    2014-10-03

    Although targeting the V600E activating mutation in the BRAF gene, the most common genetic abnormality in melanoma, has shown clinical efficacy in melanoma patients, response is, invariably, short lived. To better understand mechanisms underlying this acquisition of resistance to BRAF-targeted therapy in previously responsive melanomas, we induced vemurafenib resistance in two V600E BRAF+ve melanoma cell lines, A375 and DM443, by serial in vitro vemurafenib exposure. The resulting approximately 10-fold more vemurafenib-resistant cell lines, A375rVem and D443rVem, had higher growth rates and showed differential collateral resistance to cisplatin, melphalan, and temozolomide. The acquisition of vemurafenib resistance was associated with significantly increased NRAS levels in A375rVem and D443rVem, increased activation of the prosurvival protein, AKT, and the MAPKs, ERK, JNK, and P38, which correlated with decreased levels of the MAPK inhibitor protein, GSTP1. Despite the increased NRAS, whole exome sequencing showed no NRAS gene mutations. Inhibition of all three MAPKs and siRNA-mediated NRAS suppression both reversed vemurafenib resistance significantly in A375rVem and DM443rVem. Together, the results indicate a mechanism of acquired vemurafenib resistance in V600E BRAF+ve melanoma cells that involves increased activation of all three human MAPKs and the PI3K pathway, as well as increased NRAS expression, which, contrary to previous reports, was not associated with mutations in the NRAS gene. The data highlight the complexity of the acquired vemurafenib resistance phenotype and the challenge of optimizing BRAF-targeted therapy in this disease. They also suggest that targeting the MAPKs and/or NRAS may provide a strategy to mitigate such resistance in V600E BRAF+ve melanoma. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  9. Loss of EGFR confers acquired resistance to AZD9291 in an EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer cell line with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype.

    PubMed

    Xu, Jing; Zhao, Xiaoting; He, Dengfeng; Wang, Jinghui; Li, Weiying; Liu, Yinghui; Ma, Li; Jiang, Mei; Teng, Yu; Wang, Ziyu; Gu, Meng; Wu, Jianbin; Wang, Yue; Yue, Wentao; Zhang, Shucai

    2018-05-24

    AZD9291 is an irreversible, small-molecule inhibitor which has potency against mutant EGFR- and T790M-resistant mutation. Despite the encouraging efficacy in clinical, the acquired resistance will finally occur. Further study will need to be done to identify the acquired resistance mechanisms and determine the next treatment. We established an AZD9291-resistant cell line (HCC827/AZDR) from parental HCC827 cell line through stepwise pulsed selection of AZD9291. The expression of EGFR and its downstream pathways were determined by western blot analysis or immunofluorescence assay. The sensitivity to indicated agents were evaluated by MTS. Compared with parental HCC827 cells, the HCC827/AZDR cells showed high resistance to AZD9291 and other EGFR-TKIs, and exhibited a mesenchymal-like phenotype. Almost complete loss of EGFR expression was observed in HCC827/AZDR cells. But the activation of downstream pathway, MAPK signaling, was found in HCC827/AZDR cells even in the presence of AZD9291. Inhibition of MAPK signaling had no effect on cell viability of HCC827/AZDR and could not reverse AZD9291 resistance because of the subsequent activation of AKT signaling. When treated with the combination of AKT and MAPK inhibitor, HCC827/AZDR showed remarkable growth inhibition. Loss of EGFR could be proposed as a potential acquired resistance mechanism of AZD9291 in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells with an EMT phenotype. Despite the loss of EGFR, the activation of MAPK pathway which had crosstalk with AKT pathway could maintain the proliferation and survival of resistant cells. Blocking MAPK and AKT signaling may be a potential therapeutic strategy following AZD9291 resistance.

  10. Reversal of diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance by inducible genetic ablation of GRK2

    PubMed Central

    Vila-Bedmar, Rocio; Cruces-Sande, Marta; Lucas, Elisa; Willemen, Hanneke L.D.M.; Heijnen, Cobi J.; Kavelaars, Annemieke; Mayor, Federico; Murga, Cristina

    2015-01-01

    Insulin resistance is a common feature of obesity and predisposes individuals to various prevalent pathological conditions. G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) integrates several signal transduction pathways and is emerging as a physiologically relevant inhibitor of insulin signaling. GRK2 abundanceis increased in humans with metabolic syndrome and in different murine models of insulin resistance. To support GRK2 as a potential drug target in type 2 diabetes and obesity, we investigated whether lowering GRK2 abundance reversed an ongoing systemic insulin-resistant phenotype, using a mouse model of tamoxifen-induced GRK2 ablation after high fat diet-dependent obesity and insulin resistance. Tamoxifen-triggered GRK2 deletion impeded further body weight gain, normalized fa sting glycemia, improved glucose tolerance and was associated with preserved insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle and liver, thereby maintaining whole body glucose homeostasis. Moreover, when continued to be fed a high fat diet, these animals displayed reduced fat mass and smaller adipocytes, were resistant to the development of liver steatosis, and showed reduced expression of pro-inflammatory markers in the liver. Our results indicate that GRK2 acts as a hub to control metabolic functions in different tissues, which is key to controlling insulin resistance development in vivo. These data suggest that inhibiting GRK2 could reverse an established insulin-resistant and obese phenotype, thereby putting forward this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target linking glucose homeostasis and regulation of adiposity. PMID:26198359

  11. Characterisation of a LoVo subline resistant to a benzoyl mustard derivative of distamycin A (FCE 24517).

    PubMed Central

    Capolongo, L.; Melegaro, G.; Broggini, M.; Mongelli, N.; Grandi, M.

    1993-01-01

    Human colon adenocarcinoma cells (LoVo) resistant to the new antitumor agent FCE 24517 [benzoyl-mustard derivative of distamycin A] (LoVo/24517) are resistant to the selecting agent and related molecules as well as to vinblastine, with marginal or no resistance to other antitumour drugs. Treatment with verapamil, tamoxifen, nicergoline or cyclosporin A only partially restores the activity of FCE 24517 against LoVo/24517 cells. Such results suggest that resistance mechanisms possible specific for this class of compounds are operating. Images Figure 2 PMID:8105866

  12. Differential Regulation of Native Estrogen Receptor-Regulatory Elements by Estradiol, Tamoxifen, and Raloxifene

    PubMed Central

    Levy, Nitzan; Tatomer, Dierdre; Herber, Candice B.; Zhao, Xiaoyue; Tang, Hui; Sargeant, Toby; Ball, Lonnele J.; Summers, Jonathan; Speed, Terence P.; Leitman, Dale C.

    2008-01-01

    Estrogen receptors (ERs) regulate gene transcription by interacting with regulatory elements. Most information regarding how ER activates genes has come from studies using a small set of target genes or simple consensus sequences such as estrogen response element, activator protein 1, and Sp1 elements. However, these elements cannot explain the differences in gene regulation patterns and clinical effects observed with estradiol (E2) and selective estrogen receptor modulators. To obtain a greater understanding of how E2 and selective estrogen receptor modulators differentially regulate genes, it is necessary to investigate their action on a more comprehensive set of native regulatory elements derived from ER target genes. Here we used chromatin immunoprecipitation-cloning and sequencing to isolate 173 regulatory elements associated with ERα. Most elements were found in the introns (38%) and regions greater than 10 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site (38%); 24% of the elements were found in the proximal promoter region (<10 kb). Only 11% of the elements contained a classical estrogen response element; 23% of the elements did not have any known response elements, including one derived from the naked cuticle homolog gene, which was associated with the recruitment of p160 coactivators. Transfection studies found that 80% of the 173 elements were regulated by E2, raloxifene, or tamoxifen with ERα or ERβ. Tamoxifen was more effective than raloxifene at activating the elements with ERα, whereas raloxifene was superior with ERβ. Our findings demonstrate that E2, tamoxifen, and raloxifene differentially regulate native ER-regulatory elements isolated by chromatin immunoprecipitation with ERα and ERβ. PMID:17962382

  13. Efficacy of tamoxifen and radiotherapy for prevention and treatment of gynaecomastia and breast pain caused by bicalutamide in prostate cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Perdonà, Sisto; Autorino, Riccardo; De Placido, Sabino; D'Armiento, Massimo; Gallo, Antonio; Damiano, Rocco; Pingitore, Domenico; Gallo, Luigi; De Sio, Marco; Bianco, Angelo Raffaele; Di Lorenzo, Giuseppe

    2005-05-01

    Gynaecomastia and breast pain are frequent adverse events with bicalutamide monotherapy, and might cause some patients to withdraw from treatment. We aimed to compare tamoxifen with radiotherapy for prevention and treatment of gynaecomastia, breast pain, or both during bicalutamide monotherapy for prostate cancer. 51 patients were randomly assigned to 150 mg bicalutamide per day, 50 patients to 150 mg bicalutamide per day and to 10 mg tamoxifen per day for 24 weeks, and 50 patients to 150 mg bicalutamide per day and radiotherapy (one 12-Gy fraction on the day of starting bicalutamide). 35 of the 51 patients allocated bicalutamide alone developed gynaecomastia or breast pain and were subsequently randomly allocated to tamoxifen (n=17) or radiotherapy (n=18) soon after symptoms started (median 180 days, range 160-195). Gynaecomastia and breast pain were assessed once a month. Severity of gynaecomastia was scored on the basis of the largest diameter. Breast pain was scored as none, mild, moderate, or severe. The primary outcome was frequency of gynaecomastia or breast pain; secondary outcomes were safety and tolerability, relapse-free survival, as assessed by concentration of prostate specific antigen, and quality of life. Analyses were by intention to treat. 35 of 51 patients assigned bicalutamide alone developed gynaecomastia, compared with four of 50 assigned bicalutamide and tamoxifen (odds ratio [OR] 0.1 [95% CI 0.08-0.12], p=0.0009), and with 17 of 50 assigned bicalutamide and radiotherapy (0.51 [0.47-0.54], p=0.008). Breast pain was seen in 29 of 51 patients allocated bicalutamide alone, compared with three allocated bicalutamide and tamoxifen (0.1 [0.07-0.11], p=0.009), and with 15 allocated bicalutamide and radiotherapy (0.43 [0.40-0.45], p=0.02) In 35 patients assigned bicalutamide alone who subsequently developed gynaecomastia, breast pain, or both, tamoxifen significantly reduced the frequency of gynaecomastia (0.2 [0.18-0.22], p=0.02). Antioestrogen

  14. Community-acquired necrotizing pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST30-SCCmecIVc-spat019-PVL positive in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina.

    PubMed

    Fernandez, Silvina; Murzicato, Sofía; Sandoval, Orlando; Fernández-Canigia, Liliana; Mollerach, Marta

    2015-01-01

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is the first cause of skin and soft tissue infections, but can also produce severe diseases such as bacteremia, osteomyelitis and necrotizing pneumonia. Some S. aureus lineages have been described in cases of necrotizing pneumonia worldwide, usually in young, previously healthy patients. In this work, we describe a fatal case of necrotizing pneumonia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus clone ST30-SCCmecIVc-spat019-PVL positive in an immunocompetent adult patient. Copyright © 2014 Asociación Argentina de Microbiología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  15. The effect of exemestane, anastrozole, and tamoxifen on lipid profiles in Japanese postmenopausal early breast cancer patients: final results of National Surgical Adjuvant Study BC 04, the TEAM Japan sub-study.

    PubMed

    Hozumi, Y; Suemasu, K; Takei, H; Aihara, T; Takehara, M; Saito, T; Ohsumi, S; Masuda, N; Ohashi, Y

    2011-08-01

    In this Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Japan sub-study, we evaluated the time course of changes in serum lipids in postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer treated with exemestane, anastrozole, or tamoxifen for postoperative adjuvant therapy. A total of 154 breast cancer patients were assigned to receive exemestane, anastrozole, or tamoxifen in this randomized open-label study. Serum lipid parameters including triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured during 1 year of treatment. TC and LDL-C rapidly decreased in patients treated with tamoxifen at 3 months. Compared with anastrozole and exemestane patients, TC and LDL-C were significantly lower at all assessment time points in tamoxifen patients (P < 0.05). TG increased in tamoxifen patients; it was significantly higher compared with exemestane patients at all assessment time points (P < 0.05). HDL-C slightly decreased in exemestane patients; it was significantly lower compared with anastrozole patients at 3 months and 1 year (P = 0.0179 and 0.0013, respectively). Changes of lipid profiles in Japanese postmenopausal women treated with tamoxifen were relatively favorable, while exemestane and anastrozole had no clinically significant effect on the serum lipids.

  16. Role of human pregnane X receptor in tamoxifen- and 4-hydroxytamoxifen-mediated CYP3A4 induction in primary human hepatocytes and LS174T cells.

    PubMed

    Sane, Rucha S; Buckley, Donna J; Buckley, Arthur R; Nallani, Srikanth C; Desai, Pankaj B

    2008-05-01

    Previously we observed that the antiestrogens tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) induce CYP3A4 in primary human hepatocytes and activate human pregnane X receptor (PXR) in cell-based reporter assays. Given the complex cross-talk between nuclear receptors, tissue-specific expression of CYP3A4, and the potential for tamoxifen and 4OHT to interact with a myriad of receptors, this study was undertaken to gain mechanistic insights into the inductive effects of tamoxifen and 4OHT. First, we observed that transfection of the primary cultures of human hepatocytes with PXR-specific small interfering RNA reduced the PXR mRNA expression and the extent of CYP3A4 induction by tamoxifen and 4OHT by 50%. Second, in LS174T colon carcinoma cells, which were observed to have significantly lower PXR expression relative to human hepatocytes, neither tamoxifen nor 4OHT induced CYP3A4. Third, N-desmethyltamoxifen, which did not induce CYP3A4 in human hepatocytes, also did not activate PXR in LS174T cells. We then used cell-based reporter assay to evaluate the effects of other receptors such as glucocorticoid receptor GR alpha and estrogen receptor ER alpha on the transcriptional activation of PXR. The cotransfection of GR alpha in LS174T cells augmented PXR activation by tamoxifen and 4OHT. On the other hand, the presence of ER alpha inhibited PXR-mediated basal activation of CYP3A4 promoter, possibly via competing for common cofactors such as steroid receptor coactivator 1 and glucocorticoid receptor interacting protein 1. Collectively, our findings suggest that the CYP3A4 induction by tamoxifen and 4OHT is primarily mediated by PXR but the overall stoichiometry of other nuclear receptors and transcription cofactors also contributes to the extent of the inductive effect.

  17. Antibiotic Resistance-Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus thermophilus Isolated from Raw Milk and Genome Analysis of the Genetic Basis of Acquired Resistances

    PubMed Central

    Flórez, Ana B.; Mayo, Baltasar

    2017-01-01

    -10. Four strain-specific amino acid substitutions in the RsmG methyltransferase were scored in this strain; these might be associated to its streptomycin/neomycin resistance. Under yogurt manufacturing and storage conditions, no transfer of either tet(S) or ermB from S. thermophilus to L. delbrueckii was detected. The present results contribute toward characterisation of the antibiotic resistance profiles in S. thermophilus, provide evidence for the genetic basis of acquired resistances and deepen on their transference capability. PMID:29312272

  18. Stromal-Epithelial Interactions and Tamoxifen-Sensitivity: A Bench-to-Bedside Model of Chemoprevention

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-05-01

    effects of tamoxifen can be directly attributed to competitive interactions with ER. Tamox- ifen induces apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells and...Pickens A, et al. Apoptosis and tumorigenesis in human cholangiocarcinoma cells. Involvement of Fas/APO-1 (CD95) and calmodulin. Am J Pathol 1999;155:193

  19. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with climacteric complaints - a prospective observational study.

    PubMed

    Rostock, Matthias; Fischer, Julia; Mumm, Andreas; Stammwitz, Ute; Saller, Reinhard; Bartsch, Hans Helge

    2011-10-01

    The antihormonal therapy of breast cancer patients with the antiestrogen tamoxifen often induces or aggravates menopausal complaints. As estrogen substitution is contraindicated, herbal alternatives, e.g. extracts of black cohosh are often used. A prospective observational study was carried out in 50 breast cancer patients with tamoxifen treatment. All patients had had surgery, most of them had undergone radiation therapy (87%) and approximately 50% had received chemotherapy. Every patient was treated with an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (1-4 tablets, 2.5 mg) for 6 months. Patients recorded their complaints before therapy and after 1, 3, and 6 months of therapy using the menopause rating scale (MRS II). The reduction of the total MRS II score under black cohosh treatment from 17.6 to 13.6 was statistically significant. Hot flashes, sweating, sleep problems, and anxiety improved, whereas urogenital and musculoskeletal complaints did not change. In all, 22 patients reported adverse events, none of which were linked with the study medication; 90% reported the tolerability of the black cohosh extract as very good or good. Black cohosh extract seems to be a reasonable treatment approach in tamoxifen treated breast cancer patients with predominantly psychovegetative symptoms.

  20. Recruitment strategies for a possible tamoxifen trial.

    PubMed

    Kuller, L H

    1991-01-01

    Participants in a primary prevention trial using tamoxifen to prevent breast cancer should comprise a sample of (a) age-eligible women from the "general population," (b) higher risk sisters of breast cancer patients, (c) women participating in mammography screening programs, or (d) patients of (or other users of) primary care physicians' offices. The recruitment should consider the risk of breast cancer among eligible women, likelihood of adherence to protocol, and unbiased and accurate measurement of endpoints. The Risks for coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other cancers, especially uterine cancer, must also be evaluated. Recruitment is feasible and should not be the limiting factor in the decision to undertake a primary prevention trial.

  1. Trade-offs with stability modulate innate and mutationally acquired drug-resistance in bacterial dihydrofolate reductase enzymes.

    PubMed

    Matange, Nishad; Bodkhe, Swapnil; Patel, Maitri; Shah, Pooja

    2018-06-05

    Structural stability is a major constraint on the evolution of protein sequences. However, under strong directional selection, mutations that confer novel phenotypes but compromise structural stability of proteins may be permissible. During the evolution of antibiotic resistance, mutations that confer drug resistance often have pleiotropic effects on the structure and function of antibiotic-target proteins, usually essential metabolic enzymes. In this study, we show that trimethoprim-resistant alleles of dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli (EcDHFR) harbouring the Trp30Gly, Trp30Arg or Trp30Cys mutations are significantly less stable than the wild type making them prone to aggregation and proteolysis. This destabilization is associated with lower expression level resulting in a fitness cost and negative epistasis with other TMP-resistant mutations in EcDHFR. Using structure-based mutational analysis we show that perturbation of critical stabilizing hydrophobic interactions in wild type EcDHFR enzyme explains the phenotypes of Trp30 mutants. Surprisingly, though crucial for the stability of EcDHFR, significant sequence variation is found at this site among bacterial DHFRs. Mutational and computational analyses in EcDHFR as well as in DHFR enzymes from Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis demonstrate that natural variation at this site and its interacting hydrophobic residues, modulates TMP-resistance in other bacterial DHFRs as well, and may explain the different susceptibilities of bacterial pathogens to trimethoprim. Our study demonstrates that trade-offs between structural stability and function can influence innate drug resistance as well as the potential for mutationally acquired drug resistance of an enzyme. ©2018 The Author(s).

  2. [Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, ftorafur and tamoxifen (ACFT) in patients with advanced breast cancer].

    PubMed

    Imajo, K; Ogawa, M; Horikoshi, N; Inoue, K; Mukaiyama, T; Ozeki, H; Nagamine, D; Shinagawa, K; Fukutani, H

    1988-01-01

    One hundred and six patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with chemoendocrine therapy consisting of adriamycin (40 mg/m2) i.v. on day 1 and cyclophosphamide (130 mg/m2) i.v. daily for 5 days every 3 weeks, ftorafur (500 mg/m2) and tamoxifen (40 mg) orally daily. Of 82 evaluable patients, 16 showed complete response (20%), 32 partial response (39%), 32 no change (39%), and two progressive disease (2%). The overall response rate was 59%, and the median duration of response was 16.3 (3.5-67+) months with a median survival time from the start of chemoendocrine therapy of 25.5 (3.5-67+) months. The median survival time of responders (32.5 months) was significantly longer than that of non-responders (15.3 months). The major toxicities were hair loss, G1 symptoms, and hematological toxicity, but these were clinically well tolerated. No serious cardiac, renal or liver damage was seen. These results indicated that the addition of tamoxifen to the ACF regimen increased the number of complete responses and prolonged the survival time of responders.

  3. [Pathogen distribution and bacterial resistance in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia].

    PubMed

    Lu, Yun-Yun; Luo, Rong; Fu, Zhou

    2017-09-01

    To investigate the distribution of pathogens and bacterial resistance in children with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). A total of 522 children with severe CAP who were hospitalized in 2016 were enrolled as study subjects. According to their age, they were divided into infant group (402 infants aged 28 days to 1 year), young children group (73 children aged 1 to 3 years), preschool children group (35 children aged 3 to 6 years), and school-aged children group (12 children aged ≥6 years). According to the onset season, all children were divided into spring group (March to May, 120 children), summer group (June to August, 93 children), autumn group (September to November, 105 children), and winter group (December to February, 204 children). Sputum specimens from the deep airway were collected from all patients. The phoenix-100 automatic bacterial identification system was used for bacterial identification and drug sensitivity test. The direct immunofluorescence assay was used to detect seven common respiratory viruses. The quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). Of all the 522 children with severe CAP, 419 (80.3%) were found to have pathogens, among whom 190 (45.3%) had mixed infection. A total of 681 strains of pathogens were identified, including 371 bacterial strains (54.5%), 259 viral strains (38.0%), 12 fungal strains (1.8%), 15 MP strains (2.2%), and 24 CT strains (3.5%). There were significant differences in the distribution of bacterial, viral, MP, and fungal infections between different age groups (P<0.05). There were significant differences in the incidence rate of viral infection between different season groups (P<0.05), with the highest incidence rate in winter. The drug-resistance rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae to erythromycin, tetracycline, and clindamycin reached above 85%, and the drug-resistance rates of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillin, erythromycin, and clindamycin

  4. Effects of Tamoxifen and oestrogen on histology and radiographic density in high and low mammographic density human breast tissues maintained in murine tissue engineering chambers.

    PubMed

    Chew, G L; Huo, C W; Huang, D; Blick, T; Hill, P; Cawson, J; Frazer, H; Southey, M C; Hopper, J L; Britt, K; Henderson, M A; Haviv, I; Thompson, E W

    2014-11-01

    Mammographic density (MD) is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. It is altered by exogenous endocrine treatments, including hormone replacement therapy and Tamoxifen. Such agents also modify breast cancer (BC) risk. However, the biomolecular basis of how systemic endocrine therapy modifies MD and MD-associated BC risk is poorly understood. This study aims to determine whether our xenograft biochamber model can be used to study the effectiveness of therapies aimed at modulating MD, by examine the effects of Tamoxifen and oestrogen on histologic and radiographic changes in high and low MD tissues maintained within the biochamber model. High and low MD human tissues were precisely sampled under radiographic guidance from prophylactic mastectomy fresh specimens of high-risk women, then inserted into separate vascularized murine biochambers. The murine hosts were concurrently implanted with Tamoxifen, oestrogen or placebo pellets, and the high and low MD biochamber tissues maintained in the murine host environment for 3 months, before the high and low MD biochamber tissues were harvested for histologic and radiographic analyses. The radiographic density of high MD tissue maintained in murine biochambers was decreased in Tamoxifen-treated mice compared to oestrogen-treated mice (p = 0.02). Tamoxifen treatment of high MD tissue in SCID mice led to a decrease in stromal (p = 0.009), and an increase in adipose (p = 0.023) percent areas, compared to placebo-treated mice. No histologic or radiographic differences were observed in low MD biochamber tissue with any treatment. High MD biochamber tissues maintained in mice implanted with Tamoxifen, oestrogen or placebo pellets had dynamic and measurable histologic compositional and radiographic changes. This further validates the dynamic nature of the MD xenograft model, and suggests the biochamber model may be useful for assessing the underlying molecular pathways of Tamoxifen-reduced MD, and in testing of other

  5. Simultaneous targeting of EGFR, HER2, and HER4 by afatinib overcomes intrinsic and acquired cetuximab resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

    PubMed

    De Pauw, Ines; Lardon, Filip; Van den Bossche, Jolien; Baysal, Hasan; Fransen, Erik; Deschoolmeester, Vanessa; Pauwels, Patrick; Peeters, Marc; Vermorken, Jan Baptist; Wouters, An

    2018-06-01

    The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, HER1) is a therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). After initial promising results with EGFR-targeted therapies such as cetuximab, therapeutic resistance has become a major clinical problem, and new treatment options are therefore necessary. Moreover, the relationship between HER receptors, anti-EGFR therapies, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) status in HNSCC is not fully understood. In contrast to first-generation EGFR inhibitors, afatinib irreversibly inhibits multiple HER receptors simultaneously. Therefore, treatment with afatinib might result in a more pronounced therapeutic benefit, even in patients experiencing cetuximab resistance. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of afatinib as single agent and in combination with cisplatin was investigated in cetuximab-sensitive, intrinsically cetuximab-resistant, and acquired cetuximab-resistant HNSCC cell lines with different HPV status under normoxia and hypoxia. Furthermore, the influence of cetuximab resistance, HPV, and hypoxia on the expression of HER receptors was investigated. Our results demonstrated that afatinib was able to establish cytotoxicity in cetuximab-sensitive, intrinsically cetuximab-resistant, and acquired cetuximab-resistant HNSCC cell lines, independent of the HPV status. However, cross-resistance between cetuximab and afatinib might be possible. Treatment with afatinib caused a G 0 /G 1 cell cycle arrest as well as induction of apoptotic cell death. Additive to antagonistic interactions between afatinib and cisplatin could be observed. Neither cetuximab resistance nor HPV status significantly influenced the expression of HER receptors in HNSCC cell lines. In contrast, the expression of EGFR, HER2, and HER3 was significantly altered under hypoxia. Oxygen deficiency is a common characteristic of HNSCC tumors, and these hypoxic tumor regions often contain cells that are more resistant to treatment. However, we observed

  6. Differences in microbiological profile between community-acquired, healthcare-associated and hospital-acquired infections.

    PubMed

    Cardoso, Teresa; Ribeiro, Orquídea; Aragão, Irene; Costa-Pereira, Altamiro; Sarmento, António

    2013-01-01

    Microbiological profiles were analysed and compared for intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections according to place of acquisition: community-acquired, with a separate analysis of healthcare-associated, and hospital-acquired. Prospective cohort study performed at a university tertiary care hospital over 1 year. Inclusion criteria were meeting the Centers for Disease Control definition of intra-abdominal, urinary, respiratory and bloodstream infections. A total of 1035 patients were included in the study. More than 25% of intra-abdominal infections were polymicrobial; multi-drug resistant gram-negatives were 38% in community-acquired, 50% in healthcare-associated and 57% in hospital-acquired. E. coli was the most prevalent among urinary infections: 69% in community-acquired, 56% in healthcare-associated and 26% in hospital-acquired; ESBL producers' pathogens were 10% in healthcare-associated and 3% in community-acquired and hospital-acquired. In respiratory infections Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most prevalent in community-acquired (54%) and MRSA in healthcare-associated (24%) and hospital-acquired (24%). A significant association was found between MRSA respiratory infection and hospitalization in the previous year (adjusted OR = 6.3), previous instrumentation (adjusted OR = 4.3) and previous antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR = 5.7); no cases were documented among patients without risk factors. Hospital mortality rate was 10% in community-acquired, 14% in healthcare-associated and 19% in hospital-acquired infection. This study shows that healthcare-associated has a different microbiologic profile than those from community or hospital acquired for the four main focus of infection. Knowledge of this fact is important because the existing guidelines for community-acquired are not entirely applicable for this group of patients.

  7. Evolution of amoxicillin/clavulanate in the treatment of adults with acute bacterial rhinosinusitis and community-acquired pneumonia in response to antimicrobial-resistance patterns.

    PubMed

    File, Thomas M; Benninger, Michael S; Jacobs, Michael R

    2004-06-01

    Current treatment guidelines for community-acquired respiratory tract infections no longer depend solely on the characteristics of the patient and the clinical syndrome, but on those of the offending pathogen, including presence and level of antimicrobial resistance. The most common respiratory tract pathogens known to cause acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, especially b-lactum and macrolide resistance, among S pneumoniae and H influenzae has increased dramatically during the past 2 decades, diminishing the activity of many older antimicrobials against resistant organisms. A pharmacokinetically enhanced formulation of amoxicillin/clavulanate has been developed to fulfill the need for an oral b-lactam antimicrobial that achieves a greater time that the serum drug concentration exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (T > MIC) of antimicrobials against pathogens than conventional formulations to improve activity against S pneumoniae with reduced susceptibility to penicillin. The b-lactamase inhibitor clavulanate allows for coverage of b-lactamase-producing pathogens, such as H influenzae and M catarrhalis. This article reviews the rationale for, and evolution of, oral amoxicillin clavulanate for ABRS and CAP

  8. The impact of nosocomially-acquired resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in a burn unit.

    PubMed

    Armour, Alexis D; Shankowsky, Heather A; Swanson, Todd; Lee, Jonathan; Tredget, Edward E

    2007-07-01

    Nosocomially-acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a serious cause of infection and septic mortality in burn patients. This study was conducted to quantify the impact of nosocomially-transmitted resistant P. aeruginosa in a burn population. Using a TRACS burn database, 48 patients with P. aeruginosa resistant to gentamicin were identified (Pseudomonas group). Thirty-nine were case-matched to controls without resistant P. aeruginosa cultures (control group) for age, total body surface area, admission year, and presence of inhalation injury. Mortality and various morbidity endpoints were examined, as well as antibiotic costs. There was a significantly higher mortality rate in the Pseudomonas group (33% vs. 8%, p < 0.001) compared with in the control group. Length of stay was increased in the Pseudomonas group (73.4 +/- 11.6 vs. 58.3 +/- 8.3 days). Ventilatory days (23.9 +/- 5.4 vs. 10.8 +/- 2.4, p < 0.05), number of surgical procedures (5.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 3.4 +/- 0.4, p < 0.05), and amount of blood products used (packed cells 51.1 +/- 8.0 vs. 21.1 +/- 3.4, p < 0.01; platelets 11.9 +/- 3.0 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.7, p < 0.01) were all significantly higher in the Pseudomonas group. Cost of antibiotics was also significantly higher ($2,658.52 +/- $647.93 vs. $829.22 +/- $152.82, p < 0.01). Nosocomial colonization or infection, or both, of burn patients with aminoglycoside-resistant P. aeruginosa is associated with significantly higher morbidity, mortality, and cost of care. Increased resource consumption did not prevent significantly higher mortality rates when compared with that of control patients. Thus, prevention, identification, and eradication of nosocomial Pseudomonas contamination are critical for cost-effective, successful burn care.

  9. Expression of the human NAD(P)-metabolizing ectoenzyme CD38 compromises systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Xudong; Mou, Zhonglin

    2012-09-01

    Plant systemic acquired resistance (SAR) is a long-lasting, broad-spectrum immune response that is mounted after primary pathogen infection. Although SAR has been extensively researched, the molecular mechanisms underlying its activation have not been completely understood. We have previously shown that the electron carrier NAD(P) leaks into the plant extracellular compartment upon pathogen attack and that exogenous NAD(P) activates defense gene expression and disease resistance in local treated leaves, suggesting that extracellular NAD(P) [eNAD(P)] might function as a signal molecule activating plant immune responses. To further establish the function of eNAD(P) in plant immunity, we tested the effect of exogenous NAD(P) on resistance gene-mediated hypersensitive response (HR) and SAR. We found that exogenous NAD(P) completely suppresses HR-mediated cell death but does not affect HR-mediated disease resistance. Local application of exogenous NAD(P) is unable to induce SAR in distal tissues, indicating that eNAD(P) is not a sufficient signal for SAR activation. Using transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing the human NAD(P)-metabolizing ectoenzyme CD38, we demonstrated that altering eNAD(P) concentration or signaling compromises biological induction of SAR. This result suggests that eNAD(P) may play a critical signaling role in activation of SAR.

  10. Interpretation of deep directional resistivity measurements acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells using 3-D inversion

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Puzyrev, Vladimir; Torres-Verdín, Carlos; Calo, Victor

    2018-05-01

    The interpretation of resistivity measurements acquired in high-angle and horizontal wells is a critical technical problem in formation evaluation. We develop an efficient parallel 3-D inversion method to estimate the spatial distribution of electrical resistivity in the neighbourhood of a well from deep directional electromagnetic induction measurements. The methodology places no restriction on the spatial distribution of the electrical resistivity around arbitrary well trajectories. The fast forward modelling of triaxial induction measurements performed with multiple transmitter-receiver configurations employs a parallel direct solver. The inversion uses a pre-conditioned gradient-based method whose accuracy is improved using the Wolfe conditions to estimate optimal step lengths at each iteration. The large transmitter-receiver offsets, used in the latest generation of commercial directional resistivity tools, improve the depth of investigation to over 30 m from the wellbore. Several challenging synthetic examples confirm the feasibility of the full 3-D inversion-based interpretations for these distances, hence enabling the integration of resistivity measurements with seismic amplitude data to improve the forecast of the petrophysical and fluid properties. Employing parallel direct solvers for the triaxial induction problems allows for large reductions in computational effort, thereby opening the possibility to invert multiposition 3-D data in practical CPU times.

  11. Effects of femara and tamoxifen on proliferation of FM3A cells in culture.

    PubMed

    Topcul, Mehmet; Topcul, Funda; Cetin, Idil

    2013-01-01

    In this study, antiproliferative effects of the selective estrogen receptor modulator Tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole (Femara) were evaluated and compared using the FM3A cell line, originating from a C3H mouse mammary carcinoma and positive in terms of estrogen receptor (ER) expression. Cell kinetic parameters including labelling index, mitotic index and labelling index were assessed after exposure of the. FM3A cell line to 0.001μg/ml of Tamoxifen and 0.25μg/ml of Femara for 4, 8, 16 and 32 h for all parameters. The results showed that cell growth was inhibited by both agents. There was a significant decrease in labelling index and mitotic index and significant increase in apoptotic index for all experimental groups. The differences between control and all experimental groups were statistically significant (p<0.001) for all applications.

  12. Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant and ALK-Positive Lung Cancers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-08-01

    AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-13-1-0226 TITLE: Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies in...REPORT TYPE Annual 3. DATES COVERED 1 Aug 2014 - 31 Jul 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of...the time of resistance. We are now using these patient-derived cell lines to assess BIM levels and apoptotic response to next-generation inhibitors

  13. Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies in EGFR-Mutant and ALK-Positive Lung Cancers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-08-01

    AWARD NUMBER: W81XWH-13-1-0227 TITLE: Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic and Acquired Resistance to Targeted Therapies in...TYPE Annual 3. DATES COVERED 1 Aug 2014 - 31 Jul 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER Deficient BIM Expression as a Mechanism of Intrinsic...time of resistance. We are now using these patient-derived cell lines to assess BIM levels and apoptotic response to next-generation inhibitors. The

  14. Overexpression of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter ABCG2 as a Potential Mechanism of Acquired Resistance to Vemurafenib in BRAF(V600E) Mutant Cancer Cells

    PubMed Central

    Wu, Chung-Pu; Sim, Hong-May; Huang, Yang-Hui; Liu, Yen-Chen; Hsiao, Sung-Han; Cheng, Hsing-Wen; Li, Yan-Qing; Ambudkar, Suresh V.; Hsu, Sheng-Chieh

    2012-01-01

    Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer with a high potential for metastasis and very low survival rates. The discovery of constitutive activation of the BRAF kinase caused by activating BRAF(V600E) kinase mutation in most melanoma patients led to the discovery of the first potent BRAF(V600E) signaling inhibitor, vemurafenib. Vemurafenib was effective in treating advanced melanoma patients and was proposed for the treatment of other BRAF(V600E) mutant cancers as well. Unfortunately, the success of vemurafenib was hampered by the rapid development of acquired resistance in different types of BRAF(V600E) mutant cancer cells. It becomes important to identify and evaluate all of the potential mechanisms of cellular resistance to vemurafenib. In this study, we characterized the interactions of vemurafenib with three major ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, ABCB1, ABCC1 and ABCG2. We found that vemurafenib stimulated the ATPase activity and potently inhibited drug efflux mediated by ABCB1 and ABCG2. Vemurafenib also restored drug sensitivity in ABCG2-overexpressing cells. Moreover, we revealed that in the presence of functional ABCG2, BRAF kinase inhibition by vemurafenib is reduced in BRAF(V600E) mutant A375 cells. Taken together, our findings indicate that ABCG2 confers resistance to vemurafenib in A375 cells, suggesting involvement of this transporter in acquired resistance to vemurafenib. Thus, combination chemotherapy targeting multiple pathways could be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome acquired resistance to vemurafenib for cancers harboring the BRAF(V600E) mutation. PMID:23153455

  15. Acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be linked with the decreased sensitivity to X-ray irradiation

    PubMed Central

    Sorokin, Maxim; Kholodenko, Roman; Grekhova, Anna; Suntsova, Maria; Pustovalova, Margarita; Vorobyeva, Natalia; Kholodenko, Irina; Malakhova, Galina; Garazha, Andrew; Nedoluzhko, Artem; Vasilov, Raif; Poddubskaya, Elena; Kovalchuk, Olga; Adamyan, Leila; Prassolov, Vladimir; Allina, Daria; Kuzmin, Denis; Ignatev, Kirill; Osipov, Andreyan; Buzdin, Anton

    2018-01-01

    Acquired resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy is one of the major obstacles decreasing efficiency of treatment of the oncologic diseases. In this study, on the two cell lines (ovarian carcinoma SKOV-3 and neuroblastoma NGP-127), we modeled acquired resistance to five target anticancer drugs. The cells were grown on gradually increasing concentrations of the clinically relevant tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) Sorafenib, Pazopanib and Sunitinib, and rapalogs Everolimus and Temsirolimus, for 20 weeks. After 20 weeks of culturing, the half-inhibitory concentrations (IC50) increased by 25 – 186% for the particular combinations of the drugs and cell types. We next subjected cells to 10 Gy irradiation, a dose frequently used in clinical radiation therapy. For the SKOV-3, but not NGP-127 cells, for the TKIs Sorafenib, Pazopanib and Sunitinib, we noticed statistically significant increase in capacity to repair radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks compared to naïve control cells not previously treated with TKIs. These peculiarities were linked with the increased activation of ATM DNA repair pathway in the TKI-treated SKOV-3, but not NGP-127 cells. Our results provide a new cell culture model for studying anti-cancer therapy efficiency and evidence that there may be a tissue-specific radioresistance emerging as a side effect of treatment with TKIs. PMID:29435166

  16. Anastrozole is cost-effective vs tamoxifen as initial adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer: Canadian perspectives on the ATAC completed-treatment analysis.

    PubMed

    Rocchi, A; Verma, S

    2006-09-01

    To conduct an economic analysis comparing tamoxifen and anastrozole (Arimidex) in the adjuvant treatment of hormone receptor-positive (HR+), post-menopausal early breast cancer patients. An economic model examined typical patients (64 years of age, HR+, 64% node negative) from the Arimidex, tamoxifen alone, or in combination (ATAC) trial over a lifetime horizon. Rates of events were derived from ATAC trial results. Post-trial event rates were drawn from the literature for tamoxifen; event rates for anastrozole were modified by the relative risks observed in the ATAC trial. Resource utilization was drawn from Statistics Canada's Population Health Model for breast cancer, supplemented by an expert panel. A public health care system perspective, 2004 Canadian prices and a 5% discount rate were employed. Anastrozole-taking patients incurred additional hormonal treatment costs compared to tamoxifen-taking patients (incremental lifetime cost, 6,974 Canadian dollars per patient), partially offset by reduced downstream recurrences of breast cancer (1,143 Canadian dollars lifetime savings per patient) for a net incremental cost of 5,796 Canadian dollars per patient on anastrozole. The anastrozole-treated patients were projected to experience a 5.6% absolute risk reduction of first breast cancer recurrence and a 2.8% absolute risk reduction in breast cancer death. This corresponded to 30,000 Canadian dollars per life year gained and 28,000 Canadian dollars per quality-adjusted life year gained (95% confidence interval, 17,428 to 54,605 Canadian dollars). The results were affected by the duration and extent of anastrozole benefit under sensitivity analysis but remained cost-effective. Compared to tamoxifen, anastrozole therapy is effective and cost-effective as initial adjuvant therapy in post-menopausal, HR+ early breast cancer patients.

  17. MGMT Inhibition Restores ERα Functional Sensitivity to Antiestrogen Therapy

    PubMed Central

    Bobustuc, George C; Smith, Joshua S; Maddipatla, Sreeram; Jeudy, Sheila; Limaye, Arati; Isley, Beth; Caparas, Maria-Lourdes M; Constantino, Susan M; Shah, Nikita; Baker, Cheryl H; Srivenugopal, Kalkunte S; Baidas, Said; Konduri, Santhi D

    2012-01-01

    Antiestrogen therapy resistance remains a huge stumbling block in the treatment of breast cancer. We have found significant elevation of O6 methylguanine DNA methyl transferase (MGMT) expression in a small sample of consecutive patients who have failed tamoxifen treatment. Here, we show that tamoxifen resistance is accompanied by upregulation of MGMT. Further we show that administration of the MGMT inhibitor, O6-benzylguanine (BG), at nontoxic doses, leads to restoration of a favorable estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) phosphorylation phenotype (high p-ERα Ser167/low p-ERα Ser118), which has been reported to correlate with sensitivity to endocrine therapy and improved survival. We also show BG to be a dual inhibitor of MGMT and ERα. In tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, BG alone or in combination with antiestrogen (tamoxifen [TAM]/ICI 182,780 [fulvestrant, Faslodex]) therapy enhances p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) expression, cytochrome C release and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, all indicative of apoptosis. In addition, BG increases the expression of p21cip1/waf1. We also show that BG, alone or in combination therapy, curtails the growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. In tamoxifen-resistant MCF7 breast cancer xenografts, BG alone or in combination treatment causes significant delay in tumor growth. Immunohistochemistry confirms that BG increases p21cip1/waf1 and p-ERα Ser167 expression and inhibits MGMT, ERα, p-ERα Ser118 and ki-67 expression. Collectively, our results suggest that MGMT inhibition leads to growth inhibition of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer in vitro and in vivo and resensitizes tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells to antiestrogen therapy. These findings suggest that MGMT inhibition may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for overcoming antiestrogen resistance. PMID:22549111

  18. Direct and Systemic Administration of a CNS-Permeant Tamoxifen Analog Reduces Amphetamine-Induced Dopamine Release and Reinforcing Effects.

    PubMed

    Carpenter, Colleen; Zestos, Alexander G; Altshuler, Rachel; Sorenson, Roderick J; Guptaroy, Bipasha; Showalter, Hollis D; Kennedy, Robert T; Jutkiewicz, Emily; Gnegy, Margaret E

    2017-09-01

    Amphetamines (AMPHs) are globally abused. With no effective treatment for AMPH addiction to date, there is urgent need for the identification of druggable targets that mediate the reinforcing action of this stimulant class. AMPH-stimulated dopamine efflux is modulated by protein kinase C (PKC) activation. Inhibition of PKC reduces AMPH-stimulated dopamine efflux and locomotor activity. The only known CNS-permeant PKC inhibitor is the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen. In this study, we demonstrate that a tamoxifen analog, 6c, which more potently inhibits PKC than tamoxifen but lacks affinity for the estrogen receptor, reduces AMPH-stimulated increases in extracellular dopamine and reinforcement-related behavior. In rat striatal synaptosomes, 6c was almost fivefold more potent at inhibiting AMPH-stimulated dopamine efflux than [ 3 H]dopamine uptake through the dopamine transporter (DAT). The compound did not compete with [ 3 H]WIN 35,428 binding or affect surface DAT levels. Using microdialysis, direct accumbal administration of 1 μM 6c reduced dopamine overflow in freely moving rats. Using LC-MS, we demonstrate that 6c is CNS-permeant. Systemic treatment of rats with 6 mg/kg 6c either simultaneously or 18 h prior to systemic AMPH administration reduced both AMPH-stimulated dopamine overflow and AMPH-induced locomotor effects. Finally, 18 h pretreatment of rats with 6 mg/kg 6c s.c. reduces AMPH-self administration but not food self-administration. These results demonstrate the utility of tamoxifen analogs in reducing AMPH effects on dopamine and reinforcement-related behaviors and suggest a new avenue of development for therapeutics to reduce AMPH abuse.

  19. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an emerging pathogen in orthopaedics.

    PubMed

    Marcotte, Anthony L; Trzeciak, Marc A

    2008-02-01

    Staphylococcus aureus (S aureus) remains one of the most common pathogens for skin and soft-tissue infections encountered by the orthopaedic surgeon. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus (CA-MRSA) has become increasingly prevalent, particularly among athletes, children in day care, homeless persons, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men, military recruits, certain minorities (ie, Alaskan Natives, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders), and prison inmates. Risk factors include antibiotic use within the preceding year, crowded living conditions, compromised skin integrity, contaminated surfaces, frequent skin-to-skin contact, shared items, and suboptimal cleanliness. When a patient presents with a skin or soft-tissue infection, the clinician should determine whether an abscess or other infection needs to be surgically incised and drained. Cultures should be performed. When the patient is a member of an at-risk group or has any of the risk factors for CA-MRSA, beta-lactam antibiotics (eg, methicillin) are no longer a reasonable choice for treatment. Empiric treatment should consist of non-beta-lactam antibiotics active against CA-MRSA.

  20. Effect of tamoxifen on the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway in the different intraerythrocytic stages of the apicomplexa Plasmodium falciparum.

    PubMed

    Piñero, Tamara A; Landoni, Malena; Duschak, Vilma G; Katzin, Alejandro M; Couto, Alicia S

    2018-03-18

    Parasites of the genus Plasmodium responsible for Malaria are obligate intracellular pathogens residing in mammalian red blood cells, hepatocytes, or mosquito midgut epithelial cells. Regarding that detailed knowledge on the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway of the apicomplexan protozoan parasites is scarce, different stages of Plasmodium falciparum were treated with tamoxifen in order to evaluate the effects of this drug on the glycosphingolipid biosynthesis. Thin layer chromatography, High performance reverse phase chromatography and UV-MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry were the tools used for the analysis. In the ring forms, the increase of NBD-phosphatidyl inositol biosynthesis was notorious but differences at NBD-GlcCer levels were undetectable. In trophozoite forms, an abrupt decrease of NBD-acylated GlcDHCer and NBD-GlcDHCer in addition to an increase of NBD-PC biosynthesis was observed. On the contrary, in schizonts, tamoxifen seems not to be producing substantial changes in lipid biosynthesis. Our findings indicate that in this parasite, tamoxifen is exerting an inhibitory action on Glucosylceramidesynthase and sphingomyelin synthase levels. Moreover, regarding that Plasmodium does not biosynthesize inositolphosphoceramides, the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol should indicate an inhibitory action on glycosylinositol phospholipid synthesis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Acquired activated protein C resistance is associated with lupus anticoagulants and thrombotic events in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

    PubMed

    Male, C; Mitchell, L; Julian, J; Vegh, P; Joshua, P; Adams, M; David, M; Andrew, M E

    2001-02-15

    Acquired activated protein C resistance (APCR) has been hypothesized as a possible mechanism by which antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) cause thrombotic events (TEs). However, available evidence for an association of acquired APCR with APLAs is limited. More importantly, an association of acquired APCR with TEs has not been demonstrated. The objective of the study was to determine, in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whether (1) acquired APCR is associated with the presence of APLAs, (2) APCR is associated with TEs, and (3) there is an interaction between APCR and APLAs in association with TEs. A cross-sectional cohort study of 59 consecutive, nonselected children with SLE was conducted. Primary clinical outcomes were symptomatic TEs, confirmed by objective radiographic tests. Laboratory testing included lupus anticoagulants (LAs), anticardiolipin antibodies (ACLAs), APC ratio, protein S, protein C, and factor V Leiden. The results revealed that TEs occurred in 10 (17%) of 59 patients. Acquired APCR was present in 18 (31%) of 58 patients. Acquired APCR was significantly associated with the presence of LAs but not ACLAs. Acquired APCR was also significantly associated with TEs. There was significant interaction between APCR and LAs in the association with TEs. Presence of both APCR and LAs was associated with the highest risk of a TE. Protein S and protein C concentrations were not associated with the presence of APLAs, APCR, or TEs. Presence of acquired APCR is a marker identifying LA-positive patients at high risk of TEs. Acquired APCR may reflect interference of LAs with the protein C pathway that may represent a mechanism of LA-associated TEs. (Blood. 2001;97:844-849)

  2. News media coverage of screening mammography for women in their 40s and tamoxifen for primary prevention of breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Schwartz, Lisa M; Woloshin, Steven

    2002-06-19

    In the late 1990s, 3 events pertaining to breast cancer prevention received considerable attention in the US news media: a National Institutes of Health (NIH) consensus panel recommended against routine screening mammography for women in their 40s (January 1997), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) subsequently reversed the recommendation (March 1997), and an NCI-sponsored study demonstrated the efficacy of tamoxifen in the primary prevention of breast cancer (April 1998). To examine how the major US news media covered the potential benefits and harms of 2 breast cancer preventive strategies. Content analysis of US news stories reporting on the breast cancer prevention events. We used Lexis-Nexis to search for print news stories in the 10 highest-circulation US newspapers and requested transcripts from 3 major television networks to obtain all relevant news coverage in the 2 weeks following each event. Attitude toward preventive strategy (encourage, neutral, discourage); level of uncertainty about benefit and how benefits and harms were presented. Twenty-seven stories about the NIH consensus panel, 24 about the NCI reversal, and 34 about tamoxifen appeared in high-profile news media within 2 weeks of each event. Sixty-seven percent of NIH consensus panel stories left the impression that there was a lot of uncertainty about whether women aged 40 to 49 years should undergo screening, but 59% suggested that women should probably or definitely be screened. Only 4 stories suggested that women faced a genuine decision about what to do. The level of uncertainty reported was substantially lower following the NCI reversal (21% suggested a lot of uncertainty), and most stories (96%) suggested that women should be screened. In contrast, tamoxifen stories highlighted uncertainty about what women at high risk should do (62% suggested there was a lot of uncertainty), and none left the impression that women should definitely take the drug (24% suggested they probably should

  3. Stimulating the GPR30 estrogen receptor with a novel tamoxifen analogue activates SF-1 and promotes endometrial cell proliferation.

    PubMed

    Lin, Benjamin C; Suzawa, Miyuki; Blind, Raymond D; Tobias, Sandra C; Bulun, Serdar E; Scanlan, Thomas S; Ingraham, Holly A

    2009-07-01

    Estrogens and selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators such as tamoxifen are known to increase uterine cell proliferation. Mounting evidence suggests that estrogen signaling is mediated not only by ERalpha and ERbeta nuclear receptors, but also by GPR30 (GPER), a seven transmembrane (7TM) receptor. Here, we report that primary human endometriotic H-38 cells express high levels of GPR30 with no detectable ERalpha or ERbeta. Using a novel tamoxifen analogue, STX, which activates GPR30 but not ERs, significant stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways was observed in H-38 cells and in Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells expressing GPR30; a similar effect was observed in JEG3 choriocarcinoma cells. STX treatment also increased cellular pools of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) triphosphate, a proposed ligand for the nuclear hormone receptor SF-1 (NR5A1). Consistent with these findings, STX, tamoxifen, and the phytoestrogen genistein were able to increase SF-1 transcription, promote Ishikawa cell proliferation, and induce the SF-1 target gene aromatase in a GPR30-dependent manner. Our findings suggest a novel signaling paradigm that is initiated by estrogen activation of the 7TM receptor GPR30, with signal transduction cascades (PI3K and MAPK) converging on nuclear hormone receptors (SF-1/LRH-1) to modulate their transcriptional output. We propose that this novel GPR30/SF-1 pathway increases local concentrations of estrogen, and together with classic ER signaling, mediate the proliferative effects of synthetic estrogens such as tamoxifen, in promoting endometriosis and endometrial cancers.

  4. Identification of the Mechanisms Underlying Antiestrogen Resistance: Breast Cancer Research Partnership between FIU-UM Braman Family Breast Cancer Institute

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-06-01

    D. Increase in TrxR by sulforaphane contributes to tam sensitivity in tam resistant LCC2 cells by increasing expression of p27. In: Proceedings of...9. Penney R., Felty, Q., Slingerland, J., and Roy, D. (2010) Modulation of thioredoxin reductase by sulforaphane may restore tamoxifen sensitivity

  5. Tamoxifen regulation of bone growth and endocrine function in the ovariectomized rat: discrimination of responses involving estrogen receptor α/estrogen receptor β, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor, or estrogen-related receptor γ using fulvestrant (ICI 182780).

    PubMed

    Fitts, James M; Klein, Robert M; Powers, C Andrew

    2011-07-01

    Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, but it is also a deactivating ligand for estrogen-related receptor-γ (ERRγ) and a full agonist for the G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER). Fulvestrant is a selective ER down-regulator that lacks agonist effects on ERα/ERβ, is inactive on ERRγ, but acts as a full agonist on GPER. Fulvestrant effects on tamoxifen actions on uterine and somatic growth, bone, the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis, and pituitary prolactin were analyzed to pharmacologically discriminate tamoxifen effects that may be mediated by ERα/ERβ versus ERRγ versus GPER. Ovariectomized rats received tamoxifen (0.6 mg/kg/daily) plus fulvestrant at 0, 3, 6, or 12 mg/kg/daily for 5 weeks; controls received vehicle or 6 mg/kg fulvestrant daily. Tamoxifen effects to increase uterine weight, decrease serum IGF-I, increase pituitary prolactin, and increase bone mineral density could be fully blocked by fulvestrant, indicating mediation by ERα/ERβ. Tamoxifen effects to decrease pituitary GH, tibia length, and body weight were only partially blocked by fulvestrant, indicating involvement of mechanisms unrelated to ERα/ERβ. Fulvestrant did not inhibit tamoxifen actions to reduce total pituitary protein, again indicating effects not mediated by ERα/ERβ. Tamoxifen actions to reduce serum GH were mimicked rather than inhibited by fulvestrant, pharmacological features consistent with GPER involvement. However, fulvestrant alone increased IGF-I and also blocked tamoxifen-evoked IGF-I decreases; thus fulvestrant effects on serum GH might reflect increased IGF-I feedback inhibition. Fulvestrant alone had no effect on the other parameters. The findings indicate that mechanisms unrelated to ERα/ERβ contribute to tamoxifen effects on body weight, bone growth, and pituitary function.

  6. High Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at the Largest Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Costa Rica.

    PubMed

    Rojas, Irene; Barquero-Calvo, Elías; van Balen, Joany C; Rojas, Norman; Muñoz-Vargas, Lohendy; Hoet, Armando E

    2017-09-01

    Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen associated with severe infections in companion animals present in the community, and it is diagnosed in animals admitted to veterinary hospitals. However, reports that describe the circulation of MRSA in animal populations and veterinary settings in Latin America are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and investigate the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in the environment of the largest veterinary teaching hospital in Costa Rica. Preselected contact surfaces were sampled twice within a 6-week period. Antimicrobial resistance, SCCmec type, Panton-Valentine leukocidin screening, USA type, and clonality were assessed in all recovered isolates. Overall, MRSA was isolated from 26.5% (27/102) of the surfaces sampled, with doors, desks, and examination tables most frequently contaminated. Molecular analysis demonstrated a variety of surfaces from different sections of the hospital contaminated by three highly related clones/pulsotypes. All, but one of the isolates were characterized as multidrug-resistant SCCmec type IV-USA700, a strain sporadically described in other countries and often classified as community acquired. The detection and frequency of this unique strain in this veterinary setting suggest Costa Rica has a distinctive MRSA ecology when compared with other countries/regions. The high level of environmental contamination highlights the necessity to establish and enforce standard cleaning and disinfection protocols to minimize further spread of this pathogen and reduce the risk of nosocomial and/or occupational transmission of MRSA.

  7. High Prevalence of Multidrug-Resistant Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at the Largest Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Costa Rica

    PubMed Central

    Rojas, Irene; Barquero-Calvo, Elías; van Balen, Joany C.; Rojas, Norman; Muñoz-Vargas, Lohendy

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen associated with severe infections in companion animals present in the community, and it is diagnosed in animals admitted to veterinary hospitals. However, reports that describe the circulation of MRSA in animal populations and veterinary settings in Latin America are scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and investigate the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in the environment of the largest veterinary teaching hospital in Costa Rica. Preselected contact surfaces were sampled twice within a 6-week period. Antimicrobial resistance, SCCmec type, Panton-Valentine leukocidin screening, USA type, and clonality were assessed in all recovered isolates. Overall, MRSA was isolated from 26.5% (27/102) of the surfaces sampled, with doors, desks, and examination tables most frequently contaminated. Molecular analysis demonstrated a variety of surfaces from different sections of the hospital contaminated by three highly related clones/pulsotypes. All, but one of the isolates were characterized as multidrug-resistant SCCmec type IV-USA700, a strain sporadically described in other countries and often classified as community acquired. The detection and frequency of this unique strain in this veterinary setting suggest Costa Rica has a distinctive MRSA ecology when compared with other countries/regions. The high level of environmental contamination highlights the necessity to establish and enforce standard cleaning and disinfection protocols to minimize further spread of this pathogen and reduce the risk of nosocomial and/or occupational transmission of MRSA. PMID:28816638

  8. Shotgun ecotoxicoproteomics of Daphnia pulex: biochemical effects of the anticancer drug tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Borgatta, Myriam; Hernandez, Céline; Decosterd, Laurent Arthur; Chèvre, Nathalie; Waridel, Patrice

    2015-01-02

    Among pollutants released into the environment by human activities, residues of pharmaceuticals are an increasing matter of concern because of their potential impact on ecosystems. The aim of this study was to analyze differences of protein expression resulting from acute (2 days) and middle-term (7 days) exposure of aquatic microcrustacean Daphnia pulex to the anticancer drug tamoxifen. Using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry shotgun approach, about 4000 proteins could be identified, providing the largest proteomics data set of D. pulex published up to now. Considering both time points and tested concentrations, 189 proteins showed a significant fold change. The identity of regulated proteins suggested a decrease in translation, an increase in protein degradation and changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism as the major effects of the drug. Besides these impacted processes, which reflect a general stress response of the organism, some other regulated proteins play a role in Daphnia reproduction. These latter results are in accordance with our previous observations of the impact of tamoxifen on D. pulex reproduction and illustrate the potential of ecotoxicoproteomics to unravel links between xenobiotic effects at the biochemical and organismal levels. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD001257.

  9. Levonorgestrel intrauterine system for endometrial protection in women with breast cancer on adjuvant tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Dominick, Sally; Hickey, Martha; Chin, Jason; Su, H Irene

    2015-12-09

    Adjuvant tamoxifen reduces the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women with oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Tamoxifen also increases the risk of postmenopausal bleeding, endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer. The levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) causes profound endometrial suppression. This systematic review considered the evidence that the LNG-IUS prevents the development of endometrial pathology in women taking tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine therapy for breast cancer. To determine the effectiveness and safety of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) in pre- and postmenopausal women taking adjuvant tamoxifen following breast cancer for the outcomes of endometrial and uterine pathology including abnormal vaginal bleeding or spotting, and secondary breast cancer events. We searched the following databases: Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register (MDSG), Cochrane Breast Cancer Group Specialised Register (CBCG), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), The Cochrane Library, clinicaltrials.gov, The World Health Organisation International Trials Registry, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), PsycINFO, Web of Science, OpenGrey, LILACS, PubMed, and Google. The final search was performed in October 2015. Randomised controlled trials of women with breast cancer on adjuvant tamoxifen that compared endometrial surveillance alone (control condition) versus the LNG-IUS with endometrial surveillance (experimental condition) on the incidence of endometrial pathology. Study selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction were performed independently by two review authors. The primary outcome measure was endometrial pathology (including polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, or endometrial cancer) diagnosed at hysteroscopy or

  10. Hormonal Resistance and Metastasis: ER-coregulator-Src Signaling Targeted Therapy

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-09-01

    receptors and coregulators The human estrogen receptor (ER) is a key transcriptional regulator in breast cancer biology (Green and Carroll, 2007; Heldring...al, 1991) and over-expression of Cyclin D1 has been noted in over 50% of human breast tumors of all histological types (Gillett et al, 1994; Kenny et...CDK inhibitors Down regulation of p21 has been implicated with Tamoxifen resistant phenotype. Somatic deletion of p21 gene in human breast cancer

  11. The influence of CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 genotypes on the formation of the potent antioestrogen Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen in human liver.

    PubMed

    Coller, Janet K; Krebsfaenger, Niels; Klein, Kathrin; Endrizzi, Karin; Wolbold, Renzo; Lang, Thomas; Nüssler, Andreas; Neuhaus, Peter; Zanger, Ulrich M; Eichelbaum, Michel; Mürdter, Thomas E

    2002-08-01

    To investigate in a large panel of 50 human liver samples the contribution of CYP2C9, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 to the overall formation of the potent antioestrogen Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, and how various genotypes affect its formation from tamoxifen. The formation of Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen from 10 microm tamoxifen was studied in human liver microsomes (n=50), characterized for CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 expression, and CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 genotype. The effect of chemical and monoclonal antibody inhibitors, and the formation in supersomes expressing recombinant CYP isoforms was also investigated. Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen was quantified using LC-MS analysis. Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen was formed by supersomes expressing CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6, but not CYP3A4. In agreement with these data, the mean formation of Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen was inhibited 49% by sulphaphenazole (P=0.001), 38% by quinidine (P<0.05) and 13% by monoclonal antibody against CYP2B6 (MAB-2B6, P<0.05). Furthermore, Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen formation significantly correlated with both CYP2C9 expression (r(s)=0.256, P<0.05) and CYP2D6 expression (r(s)=0.309, P<0.05). Genotypes of CYP2D6, CYP2B6 and CYP2C9 had an effect on metabolite formation in such a way that samples with two nonfunctional CYP2D6, or two variant CYP2C9 or CYP2B6 alleles, showed lower enzyme activity compared with those with two functional or wild-type alleles, (5.0 vs 9.9 pmol mg(-1) protein min(-1), P=0.046, 5.1 vs 9.9 pmol mg(-1) protein min(-1), P=0.053, and 6.8 vs 9.4 pmol mg(-1) protein min(-1), P=0.054, respectively). CYP2D6 and CYP2C9 contribute on average 45 and 46%, respectively, to the overall formation of Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen. CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 genotypes all affected Z-4-hydroxy-tamoxifen formation and can predict individual ability to catalyse this reaction.

  12. Inhibition of tamoxifen's therapeutic benefit by tangeretin in mammary cancer.

    PubMed

    Depypere, H T; Bracke, M E; Boterberg, T; Mareel, M M; Nuytinck, M; Vennekens, K; Serreyn, R

    2000-09-01

    Tangeretin, a molecule present in citrus fruits and in certain 'natural' menopausal medications, is an effective tumour growth and invasion inhibitor in vitro of human MCF 7/6 breast cancer cells. However, when added to the drinking water of MCF 7/6 tumour-bearing mice it neutralises the beneficial tumour-suppressing effect of tamoxifen. Tangeretin reduces the number of natural killer cells. This may explain why the beneficial suppressive effect of tangeretin on MCF 7/6 cell proliferation in vitro is completely counteracted in vivo.

  13. Effects of exemestane, anastrozole and tamoxifen on bone mineral density and bone turnover markers in postmenopausal early breast cancer patients: results of N-SAS BC 04, the TEAM Japan substudy.

    PubMed

    Aihara, T; Suemasu, K; Takei, H; Hozumi, Y; Takehara, M; Saito, T; Ohsumi, S; Masuda, N; Ohashi, Y

    2010-01-01

    Use of aromatase inhibitors in women with postmenopausal breast cancer accompanies risks of bone loss. We evaluated changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover markers in patients treated with exemestane, anastrozole or tamoxifen for hormone-sensitive postmenopausal early breast cancer. Sixty-eight patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Japan bone substudy were randomly assigned to receive tamoxifen, exemestane or anastrozole. During a 2-year study period, lumbar spine BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and urinary type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX) and serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were also measured. BMD at 2 years of treatment was higher in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.2521 and p = 0.0753, respectively). BMD was higher in exemestane patients compared with anastrozole patients; however, the intergroup difference was not significant (p = 0.7059 and p = 0.8134, respectively). NTX and BAP were significantly lower in tamoxifen patients compared with exemestane and anastrozole patients at 1 and 2 years of treatment (p < 0.05). Tamoxifen may provide better bone protection compared with exemestane or anastrozole. The effect of exemestane and anastrozole on bone loss may be comparable in Japanese postmenopausal women. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  14. Change in genotype of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) affects the antibiogram of hospital-acquired MRSA.

    PubMed

    Harada, Dai; Nakaminami, Hidemasa; Miyajima, Eri; Sugiyama, Taku; Sasai, Nao; Kitamura, Yoshinobu; Tamura, Taku; Kawakubo, Takashi; Noguchi, Norihisa

    2018-07-01

    Recently, the dissemination of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) into hospitals has frequently been reported worldwide. Hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) strains exhibit high-level resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, whereas CA-MRSA strains are usually susceptible to non-β-lactams. Thus, it is predicted that the antibiogram of the HA-MRSA population would change along with the change in genotype of MRSA. Here, we investigated the changes in the MRSA population along with the MRSA antibiogram in a hospital between 2010 and 2016. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing showed that the predominant HA-MRSA strains in the hospital dramatically changed from SCCmec type II, which is the major type of HA-MRSA, to SCCmec type IV, which is the major type of CA-MRSA. Multilocus sequence typing revealed that the predominant SCCmec type IV strain was a clonal complex (CC) 8 clone, which is mainly found among CA-MRSA. Furthermore, the CC1-SCCmec type IV (CC1-IV) clone significantly increased. Both the CC8-IV and CC1-IV clones exhibited high antimicrobial susceptibility. The antibiogram change of the HA-MRSA population was consistent with the antimicrobial susceptibilities and increased prevalence of the CC8-IV and CC1-IV clones. Our data reveal that the change in the genotypes of MRSA strains could impact the antibiogram of HA-MRSA population. Copyright © 2018 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in children: a cohort study for 2010-2014.

    PubMed

    Pérez, Guadalupe; Martiren, Soledad; Reijtman, Vanesa; Romero, Romina; Mastroianni, Alejandra; Casimir, Lidia; Bologna, Rosa

    2016-12-01

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are a common, serious problem in pediatrics. To describe antibiotic resistance in community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (SA) bacteremias. To compare the characteristics of SA bacteremias in terms of methicillin resistance. Prospective cohort enrolled between January 2010 and December 2014. Inclusion criteria: infants and children between 30 days old and 16 years old hospitalized at the Hospital de Pediatria J. P. Garrahan due to community-acquired infections with SA growth identification in blood cultures. Exclusion criteria: having a history of recent hospitalization, attending a health care facility, living in a closed community, or having a venous catheter. Microbiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics were compared in terms of methicillin susceptibility. Statistical analysis: Stata10. A total of 208 children were included; boys: 141 (68%). Their median age was 60 months old (interquartile range: 29-130). Thirty-four patients (16%) had an underlying disease. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 136 children (65%). The rate of resistance to clindamycin was 9%. Significant statistical differences were observed in the rate of underlying disease, persistent bacteremia, sepsis at the time of admission, secondary source of infection, admission to the intensive care unit, and surgery requirement. Twelve patients (6%) died; community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified in all of them. In the studied cohort, methicillin-resistant S taphylococcus aureus was predominant. The rate of resistance to clindamycin was 9%. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections prevailed among healthy children. Among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections there was a higher rate of persistent bacteremia, admission to the ICU and surgery. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría

  16. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen in rat plasma: application to interaction study with biochanin A (an isoflavone).

    PubMed

    Singh, Sheelendra Pratap; Wahajuddin; Ali, Mushir M; Kohli, Kanchan; Jain, Girish Kumar

    2011-10-01

    Tamoxifen is the agent of choice for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a substrate of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and microsomal cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, and biochanin A (BCA) is an inhibitor of P-gp and CYP3A. Hence, it could be expected that BCA would affect the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen. In the present study we have developed and validated a simple, sensitive and specific LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of tamoxifen and its metabolite 4-hydroxytamoxifen with 100 μL rat plasma using centchroman as an internal standard (IS). Tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and IS were separated on a Supelco Discovery C18 (4.6 mm × 50 mm, 5.0 μm) column under isocratic condition using 0.0 1M ammonium acetate (pH 4.5):acetonitrile (10:90, v/v) as a mobile phase. The mobile phase was delivered at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The method was proved to be accurate and precise at linearity range of 0.78-200 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient (r) of ≥ 0.996. The intra- and inter-day assay precision ranged from 1.89 to 8.54% and 3.97 to 10.26%, respectively; and intra- and inter-day assay accuracy was between 87.63 and 109.06% and 96 and 103.89%, respectively for both the analytes. The method was successfully applied to study the effect of oral co-administration of BCA (an isoflavone) on the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen in female rats. The coadministration of BCA caused no significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen. However, the peak plasma concentration (C(max)) of 4-hydroxytamoxifen in BCA pretreated rats was significantly (P<0.05) lower than those from control group. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Application of PBPK Modeling and Virtual Clinical Study Approaches to Predict the Outcomes of CYP2D6 Genotype-Guided Dosing of Tamoxifen.

    PubMed

    Nakamura, Toshimichi; Toshimoto, Kota; Lee, Wooin; Imamura, Chiyo K; Tanigawara, Yusuke; Sugiyama, Yuichi

    2018-06-19

    The Tamoxifen Response by CYP2D6 Genotype-based Treatment-1 (TARGET-1) study (n = 180) was conducted from 2012-2017 in Japan to determine the efficacy of tamoxifen dosing guided by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotypes. To predict its outcomes prior to completion, we constructed the comprehensive physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models of tamoxifen and its metabolites and performed virtual TARGET-1 studies. Our analyses indicated that the expected probability to achieve the end point (demonstrating the superior efficacy of the escalated tamoxifen dose over the standard dose in patients carrying CYP2D6 variants) was 0.469 on average. As the population size of this virtual clinical study (VCS) increased, the expected probability was substantially increased (0.674 for n = 260). Our analyses also informed that the probability to achieve the end point in the TARGET-1 study was negatively impacted by a large variability in endoxifen levels. Our current efforts demonstrate the promising utility of the PBPK modeling and VCS approaches in prospectively designing effective clinical trials. © 2018 The Authors CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

  18. Alpha-hydroxytamoxifen, a genotoxic metabolite of tamoxifen in the rat: identification and quantification in vivo and in vitro.

    PubMed

    Boocock, D J; Maggs, J L; White, I N; Park, B K

    1999-01-01

    The metabolic formation of a-hydroxytamoxifen, a reactive metabolite of tamoxifen in rat liver, was characterized and quantified in vitro (hepatic microsomal incubations) and in vivo (bile-duct cannulated animals). This minor metabolite was identified by chromatographic and mass spectral comparisons with the authentic compound. The rates of formation of alpha-hydroxytamoxifen in incubations (30 min) of tamoxifen (25 microM) with liver microsomal preparations from women (pool of six), female CD1 mice or female Sprague-Dawley rats, as quantified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), were 1.15+/-0.03, 0.30+/-0.05 and 2.70+/-0.35 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Selective inhibition of microsomal P450 indicated that alpha-hydroxylation was catalysed predominantly by CYP3A in humans. Bile-duct cannulated and anaesthetized female rats and mice given [14C]tamoxifen (43 micromol/kg, i.v.) excreted, respectively, 24 and 21% of the administered radioactivity in bile over 5 and 3.5 h. The major radiolabelled biliary metabolite in rats, characterized by LC-MS after enzymic hydrolysis of conjugates, was the glucuronide of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (10% of dose) and only 0.1% of the dose was recovered as alpha-hydroxytamoxifen. After administration of alpha-hydroxytamoxifen (43 micromol/kg, i.v.) to rats, only 1.19% of the administered compound was recovered from a glucuronide metabolite in bile, indicating a possible 0.84% alpha-hydroxylation of tamoxifen in vivo. There was, however, no indication of the presence in bile of either O-sulphonate or glutathione conjugates derived from alpha-hydroxytamoxifen. This study shows for the first time that alpha-hydroxytamoxifen can be glucuronylated in rat liver. Whereas sulphonation results in electrophilic genotoxic intermediates, glucuronidation may represent a means of detoxifying alpha-hydroxytamoxifen.

  19. 17 beta-estradiol and tamoxifen upregulate estrogen receptor beta expression and control podocyte signaling pathways in a model of type 2 diabetes.

    PubMed

    Catanuto, Paola; Doublier, Sophie; Lupia, Enrico; Fornoni, Alessia; Berho, Mariana; Karl, Michael; Striker, Gary E; Xia, Xiaomei; Elliot, Sharon

    2009-06-01

    Diabetic nephropathy remains one of the most important causes of end-stage renal disease. This is particularly true for women from racial/ethnic minorities. Although administration of 17beta-estradiol to diabetic animals has been shown to reduce extracellular matrix deposition in glomeruli and mesangial cells, effects on podocytes are lacking. Given that podocyte injury has been implicated as a factor leading to the progression of proteinuria and diabetic nephropathy, we treated db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetic glomerulosclerosis, with 17beta-estradiol or tamoxifen to determine whether these treatments reduce podocyte injury and decrease glomerulosclerosis. We found that albumin excretion, glomerular volume, and extracellular matrix accumulation were decreased in these mice compared to placebo treatment. Podocytes isolated from all treatment groups were immortalized and these cell lines were found to express the podocyte markers WT-1, nephrin, and the TRPC6 cation channel. Tamoxifen and 17beta-estradiol treatment decreased podocyte transforming growth factor-beta mRNA expression but increased that of the estrogen receptor subtype beta protein. 17beta-estradiol, but not tamoxifen, treatment decreased extracellular-regulated kinase phosphorylation. These data, combined with improved albumin excretion, reduced glomerular size, and decreased matrix accumulation, suggest that both 17beta-estradiol and tamoxifen may protect podocytes against injury and therefore ameliorate diabetic nephropathy.

  20. Design, conduct, and analyses of Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98: a randomized, double-blind, phase-III study comparing letrozole and tamoxifen as adjuvant endocrine therapy for postmenopausal women with receptor-positive, early breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Giobbie-Hurder, Anita; Price, Karen N; Gelber, Richard D

    2009-06-01

    Aromatase inhibitors provide superior disease control when compared with tamoxifen as adjuvant therapy for postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive early breast cancer. To present the design, history, and analytic challenges of the Breast International Group (BIG) 1-98 trial: an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, phase-III study comparing the aromatase inhibitor letrozole with tamoxifen in this clinical setting. From 1998-2003, BIG 1-98 enrolled 8028 women to receive monotherapy with either tamoxifen or letrozole for 5 years, or sequential therapy of 2 years of one agent followed by 3 years of the other. Randomization to one of four treatment groups permitted two complementary analyses to be conducted several years apart. The first, reported in 2005, provided a head-to-head comparison of letrozole versus tamoxifen. Statistical power was increased by an enriched design, which included patients who were assigned sequential treatments until the time of the treatment switch. The second, reported in late 2008, used a conditional landmark approach to test the hypothesis that switching endocrine agents at approximately 2 years from randomization for patients who are disease-free is superior to continuing with the original agent. The 2005 analysis showed the superiority of letrozole compared with tamoxifen. The patients who were assigned tamoxifen alone were unblinded and offered the opportunity to switch to letrozole. Results from other trials increased the clinical relevance about whether or not to start treatment with letrozole or tamoxifen, and analysis plans were expanded to evaluate sequential versus single-agent strategies from randomization. Due to the unblinding of patients assigned tamoxifen alone, analysis of updated data will require ascertainment of the influence of selective crossover from tamoxifen to letrozole. BIG 1-98 is an example of an enriched design, involving complementary analyses addressing different questions several years

  1. Risk Factors for Acquisition of Drug Resistance during Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treatment, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, 2005–2010

    PubMed Central

    Ershova, Julia; Vlasova, Natalia; Nikishova, Elena; Tarasova, Irina; Eliseev, Platon; Maryandyshev, Andrey O.; Shemyakin, Igor G.; Kurbatova, Ekaterina; Cegielski, J. Peter

    2015-01-01

    Acquired resistance to antituberculosis drugs decreases effective treatment options and the likelihood of treatment success. We identified risk factors for acquisition of drug resistance during treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and evaluated the effect on treatment outcomes. Data were collected prospectively from adults from Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia, who had pulmonary MDR TB during 2005–2008. Acquisition of resistance to capreomycin and of extensively drug-resistant TB were more likely among patients who received <3 effective drugs than among patients who received >3 effective drugs (9.4% vs. 0% and 8.6% vs. 0.8%, respectively). Poor outcomes were more likely among patients with acquired capreomycin resistance (100% vs. 25.9%), acquired ofloxacin resistance (83.6% vs. 22.7%), or acquired extensive drug resistance (100% vs. 24.4%). To prevent acquired drug resistance and poor outcomes, baseline susceptibility to first- and second-line drugs should be determined quickly, and treatment should be adjusted to contain >3 effective drugs. PMID:25988954

  2. Polyclonal secondary FGFR2 mutations drive acquired resistance to FGFR inhibition in patients with FGFR2 fusion-positive cholangiocarcinoma

    PubMed Central

    Goyal, Lipika; Saha, Supriya K.; Liu, Leah Y.; Siravegna, Giulia; Leshchiner, Ignaty; Ahronian, Leanne G.; Lennerz, Jochen K.; Vu, Phuong; Deshpande, Vikram; Kambadakone, Avinash; Mussolin, Benedetta; Reyes, Stephanie; Henderson, Laura; Sun, Jiaoyuan Elisabeth; Van Seventer, Emily E.; Gurski, Joseph M.; Baltschukat, Sabrina; Schacher-Engstler, Barbara; Barys, Louise; Stamm, Christelle; Furet, Pascal; Ryan, David P.; Stone, James R.; Iafrate, A. John; Getz, Gad; Porta, Diana Graus; Tiedt, Ralph; Bardelli, Alberto; Juric, Dejan; Corcoran, Ryan B.; Bardeesy, Nabeel; Zhu, Andrew X.

    2017-01-01

    Genetic alterations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway are promising therapeutic targets in many cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The FGFR inhibitor BGJ398 displayed encouraging efficacy in patients with FGFR2 fusion-positive ICC in a phase II trial, but the durability of response was limited in some patients. Here, we report the molecular basis for acquired resistance to BGJ398 in three patients via integrative genomic characterization of cell-free circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA), primary tumors, and metastases. Serial analysis of cfDNA demonstrated multiple recurrent point mutations in the FGFR2 kinase domain at progression. Accordingly, biopsy of post-progression lesions and rapid autopsy revealed marked inter- and intra-lesional heterogeneity, with different FGFR2 mutations in individual resistant clones. Molecular modeling and in vitro studies indicated that each mutation lead to BGJ398 resistance and was surmountable by structurally distinct FGFR inhibitors. Thus, polyclonal secondary FGFR2 mutations represent an important clinical resistance mechanism that may guide development of future therapeutic strategies. PMID:28034880

  3. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment options for skin and soft tissue infection caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

    PubMed

    Farley, Jason E

    2008-02-01

    This article reviews the evolving epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and the appropriate outpatient management of CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue infection. Further, the paper will provide the basis upon which an individualized patient educational plan may be developed. To complete this review, a search of English language publications was conducted through Medline and CINAHL databases (1966-2006). The epidemiology of CA-MRSA is becoming increasingly complex. Research that addresses the impact of this organism in high-risk populations and within families is urgently needed. Nurse practitioners must remain informed of the epidemiology of common and emerging drug-resistant organisms in their patient populations.

  4. Acquired Resistance Mechanisms to Combination Met-TKI/EGFR-TKI Exposure in Met-Amplified EGFR-TKI-Resistant Lung Adenocarcinoma Harboring an Activating EGFR Mutation.

    PubMed

    Yamaoka, Toshimitsu; Ohmori, Tohru; Ohba, Motoi; Arata, Satoru; Kishino, Yasunari; Murata, Yasunori; Kusumoto, Sojiro; Ishida, Hiroo; Shirai, Takao; Hirose, Takashi; Ohnishi, Tsukasa; Sasaki, Yasutsuna

    2016-12-01

    Met-amplified EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring an activating EGFR mutation is responsive to concurrent EGFR-TKI and Met-TKI treatment in a preclinical model. Here, we determined that Met-amplified gefitinib-resistant cells acquire dual resistance to inhibition of EGFR and Met tyrosine kinase activities. PC-9 lung adenocarcinoma cells harboring 15-bp deletions (Del E746_A750) in EGFR exon 19 were treated with increasing concentrations of the Met-TKI PHA665752 and 1 μmol/L gefitinib for 1 year; three resistant clones were established via Met amplification. The three dual-resistance cell lines (PC-9DR2, PC-9DR4, and PC-9DR6, designated as DR2, DR4, and DR6, respectively) exhibited different mechanisms for evading both EGFR and Met inhibition. None of the clones harbored a secondary mutation of EGFR T790M or a Met mutation. Insulin-like growth factor (IGF)/IGF1 receptor activation in DR2 and DR4 cells acted as a bypass signaling pathway. Met expression was attenuated to a greater extent in DR2 than in PC-9 cells, but was maintained in DR4 cells by overexpression of IGF-binding protein 3. In DR6 cells, Met was further amplified by association with HSP90, which protected Met from degradation and induced SET and MYND domain-containing 3 (SMYD3)-mediated Met transcription. This is the first report describing the acquisition of dual resistance mechanisms in NSCLC harboring an activating EGFR mutation to Met-TKI and EGFR-TKI following previous EGFR-TKI treatment. These results might inform the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for NSCLC treatment. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(12); 3040-54. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  5. Origin and evolution of European community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

    PubMed

    Stegger, Marc; Wirth, Thierry; Andersen, Paal S; Skov, Robert L; De Grassi, Anna; Simões, Patricia Martins; Tristan, Anne; Petersen, Andreas; Aziz, Maliha; Kiil, Kristoffer; Cirković, Ivana; Udo, Edet E; del Campo, Rosa; Vuopio-Varkila, Jaana; Ahmad, Norazah; Tokajian, Sima; Peters, Georg; Schaumburg, Frieder; Olsson-Liljequist, Barbro; Givskov, Michael; Driebe, Elizabeth E; Vigh, Henrik E; Shittu, Adebayo; Ramdani-Bougessa, Nadjia; Rasigade, Jean-Philippe; Price, Lance B; Vandenesch, Francois; Larsen, Anders R; Laurent, Frederic

    2014-08-26

    Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was recognized in Europe and worldwide in the late 1990s. Within a decade, several genetically and geographically distinct CA-MRSA lineages carrying the small SCCmec type IV and V genetic elements and the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) emerged around the world. In Europe, the predominant CA-MRSA strain belongs to clonal complex 80 (CC80) and is resistant to kanamycin/amikacin and fusidic acid. CC80 was first reported in 1993 but was relatively rare until the late 1990s. It has since been identified throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, with recent sporadic reports in sub-Saharan Africa. While strongly associated with skin and soft tissue infections, it is rarely found among asymptomatic carriers. Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) CC80 strains are extremely rare except in sub-Saharan Africa. In the current study, we applied whole-genome sequencing to a global collection of both MSSA and MRSA CC80 isolates. Phylogenetic analyses strongly suggest that the European epidemic CA-MRSA lineage is derived from a PVL-positive MSSA ancestor from sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, the tree topology suggests a single acquisition of both the SCCmec element and a plasmid encoding the fusidic acid resistance determinant. Four canonical SNPs distinguish the derived CA-MRSA lineage and include a nonsynonymous mutation in accessory gene regulator C (agrC). These changes were associated with a star-like expansion into Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa in the early 1990s, including multiple cases of cross-continent imports likely driven by human migrations. With increasing levels of CA-MRSA reported from most parts of the Western world, there is a great interest in understanding the origin and factors associated with the emergence of these epidemic lineages. To trace the origin, evolution, and dissemination pattern of the European CA-MRSA clone (CC80), we sequenced a global collection

  6. Overcoming Acquired Resistance to AZD9291, A Third-Generation EGFR Inhibitor, through Modulation of MEK/ERK-Dependent Bim and Mcl-1 Degradation.

    PubMed

    Shi, Puyu; Oh, You-Take; Deng, Liang; Zhang, Guojing; Qian, Guoqing; Zhang, Shuo; Ren, Hui; Wu, Grant; Legendre, Benjamin; Anderson, Emily; Ramalingam, Suresh S; Owonikoko, Taofeek K; Chen, Mingwei; Sun, Shi-Yong

    2017-11-01

    Purpose: The mechanisms accounting for anticancer activity of AZD9291 (osimertinib or TAGRISSO), an approved third-generation EGFR inhibitor, in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and particularly for the subsequent development of acquired resistance are unclear and thus are the focus of this study. Experimental Design: AZD9219-resistant cell lines were established by exposing sensitive cell lines to AZD9291. Protein alterations were detected with Western blotting. Apoptosis was measured with annexin V/flow cytometry. Growth-inhibitory effects of tested drugs were evaluated in vitro with cell number estimation and colony formation assay and in vivo with mouse xenograft models. Protein degradation was determined by comparing protein half-lives and inhibiting proteasome. Gene knockdown were achieved with siRNA or shRNA. Results: AZD9291 potently induced apoptosis in EGFR-mutant NSCLC cell lines, in which ERK phosphorylation was suppressed accompanied with Bim elevation and Mcl-1 reduction likely due to enhanced Mcl-1 degradation and increased Bim stability. Blocking Bim elevation by gene knockdown or enforcing Mcl-1 expression attenuated or abolished AZD9291-induced apoptosis. Moreover, AZD9291 lost its ability to modulate Bim and Mcl-1 levels in AZD9291-resistant cell lines. The combination of a MEK inhibitor with AZD9291 restores the sensitivity of AZD9291-resistant cells including those with C797S mutation to undergo apoptosis and growth regression in vitro and in vivo Conclusions: Modulation of MEK/ERK-dependent Bim and Mcl-1 degradation critically mediates sensitivity and resistance of EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells to AZD9291 and hence is an effective strategy to overcome acquired resistance to AZD9291. Clin Cancer Res; 23(21); 6567-79. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

  7. Virginal Breast Hypertrophy: Different Presentations of 2 Cases and the Role of Tamoxifen as an Adjuvant Therapy.

    PubMed

    Karagüzel, Gülay; Bilen, Sevcan; Karaçal, Naci; Yıldız, Kadriye; Livaoğlu, Murat

    2016-10-01

    Virginal breast hypertrophy is a rapid and massive enlargement of one or both breasts. There are several proposed causes and treatment options for virginal breast hypertrophy, but the investigations to support these theories are lacking. We report two premenarchal girls with virginal breast hypertrophy who presented as different clinical cases. After their surgical interventions, their clinical courses were followed for more than 2 years with tamoxifen as an adjuvant therapy. Breast size and shape disorders can be a disturbing cosmetic problem for adolescents who worry about their body image. A combination treatment of breast reduction surgery and tamoxifen is reasonable and can eliminate the need for repeated surgeries for girls with virginal breast hypertrophy. Copyright © 2016 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Effect of chronic administration of mestranol, tamoxifen, and toremifene on hepatic ploidy in rats.

    PubMed

    Dragan, Y P; Shimel, R J; Bahnub, N; Sattler, G; Vaughan, J R; Jordan, V C; Pitot, H C

    1998-06-01

    The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen increases the incidence of rat liver cancer through a variety of mechanisms. To compare the effects of tamoxifen (TAM) and a structurally similar analog toremifene (TOR) on rat liver, we determined the ploidy distribution for hepatocytes isolated from rats treated for 18 months with these antiestrogens or the estrogenic compound mestranol (MS). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a 70% partial hepatectomy and administered the solvent, trioctanoin, or diethylnitrosamine (10 mg DEN/kg). After a 2-week recovery from the surgery, the rats were administered a basal diet or one containing TAM (250 or 500 ppm), TOR (250, 500, or 750 ppm), or MS (0.2 ppm) for 18 months. Pathologic changes in the liver were examined in the 15-22 rats per treatment group at the 18-month time point. An increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) was detected in the 500 ppm TAM group, but not with the other treatments that did not include DEN. Both TOR and TAM promoted formation of DEN-initiated HCCs. At sacrifice, four to five rats per group were perfused and the hepatocytes isolated and cultured. Karyotypic analysis was performed on colcemid-blocked cells after 2 days in culture. The hepatic ploidy distribution was characterized in Giemsa-stained metaphase spreads. These studies indicated that chronic treatment with TAM alone resulted in a shift from tetraploid to diploid, as was also observed for rats treated once with DEN. TOR and MS alone did not cause this change in hepatic ploidy at the doses examined. A shift toward an increased content of diploid hepatocytes occurred in all rats treated once with DEN followed by TAM, TOR, or MS. These results indicate that tamoxifen administration results in a shift toward growth of diploid hepatocytes, thus contributing to its carcinogenic action in the rat liver.

  9. Refined protocols of tamoxifen injection for inducible DNA recombination in mouse astroglia.

    PubMed

    Jahn, Hannah M; Kasakow, Carmen V; Helfer, Andreas; Michely, Julian; Verkhratsky, Alexei; Maurer, Hans H; Scheller, Anja; Kirchhoff, Frank

    2018-04-12

    Inducible DNA recombination of floxed alleles in vivo by liver metabolites of tamoxifen (TAM) is an important tool to study gene functions. Here, we describe protocols for optimal DNA recombination in astrocytes, based on the GLAST-Cre ERT2 /loxP system. In addition, we demonstrate that quantification of genomic recombination allows to determine the proportion of cell types in various brain regions. We analyzed the presence and clearance of TAM and its metabolites (N-desmethyl-tamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen and endoxifen) in brain and serum of mice by liquid chromatographic-high resolution-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS/MS) and assessed optimal injection protocols by quantitative RT-PCR of several floxed target genes (p2ry1, gria1, gabbr1 and Rosa26-tdTomato locus). Maximal recombination could be achieved in cortex and cerebellum by single daily injections for five and three consecutive days, respectively. Furthermore, quantifying the loss of floxed alleles predicted the percentage of GLAST-positive cells (astroglia) per brain region. We found that astrocytes contributed 20 to 30% of the total cell number in cortex, hippocampus, brainstem and optic nerve, while in the cerebellum Bergmann glia, velate astrocytes and white matter astrocytes accounted only for 8% of all cells.

  10. Limited predictive value of achieving beneficial plasma (Z)-endoxifen threshold level by CYP2D6 genotyping in tamoxifen-treated Polish women with breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Hennig, Ewa E; Piatkowska, Magdalena; Karczmarski, Jakub; Goryca, Krzysztof; Brewczynska, Elzbieta; Jazwiec, Radoslaw; Kluska, Anna; Omiotek, Robert; Paziewska, Agnieszka; Dadlez, Michal; Ostrowski, Jerzy

    2015-08-01

    Tamoxifen, the most frequently used drug for treating estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, must be converted into active metabolites to exert its therapeutic efficacy, mainly through CYP2D6 enzymes. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of CYP2D6 polymorphisms on (Z)-endoxifen-directed tamoxifen metabolism and to assess the usefulness of CYP2D6 genotyping for identifying patients who are likely to have insufficient (Z)-endoxifen concentrations to benefit from standard therapy. Blood samples from 279 Polish women with breast cancer receiving tamoxifen 20 mg daily were analyzed for CYP2D6 genotype and drug metabolite concentration. Steady-state plasma levels of tamoxifen and its 14 metabolites were measured by using the ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method. In nearly 60 % of patients, including over 30 % of patients with fully functional CYP2D6, (Z)-endoxifen concentration was below the predefined threshold of therapeutic efficacy. The most frequently observed CYP2D6 genotype was EM/PM (34.8 %), among which 83.5 % of patients had a combination of wild-type and *4 alleles. Plasma concentration of five metabolites was significantly correlated with CYP2D6 genotype. For the first time, we identified an association between decreased (E/Z)-4-OH-N-desmethyl-tamoxifen-β-D-glucuronide levels (r (2) = 0.23; p < 10(-16)) and increased CYP2D6 functional impairment. The strongest correlation was observed for (Z)-endoxifen, whose concentration was significantly lower in groups of patients carrying at least one CYP2D6 null allele, compared with EM/EM patients. The CYP2D6 genotype accounted for plasma level variability of (Z)-endoxifen by 27 % (p < 10(-16)) and for the variability of metabolic ratio indicating (Z)-endoxifen-directed metabolism of tamoxifen by 51 % (p < 10(-43)). The majority of breast cancer patients in Poland may not achieve a therapeutic level of (Z)-endoxifen upon receiving a standard dose

  11. Ultrasound tomography imaging with waveform sound speed: parenchymal changes in women undergoing tamoxifen therapy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sak, Mark; Duric, Neb; Littrup, Peter; Sherman, Mark; Gierach, Gretchen

    2017-03-01

    Ultrasound tomography (UST) is an emerging modality that can offer quantitative measurements of breast density. Recent breakthroughs in UST image reconstruction involve the use of a waveform reconstruction as opposed to a raybased reconstruction. The sound speed (SS) images that are created using the waveform reconstruction have a much higher image quality. These waveform images offer improved resolution and contrasts between regions of dense and fatty tissues. As part of a study that was designed to assess breast density changes using UST sound speed imaging among women undergoing tamoxifen therapy, UST waveform sound speed images were then reconstructed for a subset of participants. These initial results show that changes to the parenchymal tissue can more clearly be visualized when using the waveform sound speed images. Additional quantitative testing of the waveform images was also started to test the hypothesis that waveform sound speed images are a more robust measure of breast density than ray-based reconstructions. Further analysis is still needed to better understand how tamoxifen affects breast tissue.

  12. The BIM deletion polymorphism: A paradigm of a permissive interaction between germline and acquired TKI resistance factors in chronic myeloid leukemia.

    PubMed

    Ko, Tun Kiat; Chin, Hui San; Chuah, Charles T H; Huang, John W J; Ng, King-Pan; Khaw, Seong Lin; Huang, David C S; Ong, S Tiong

    2016-01-19

    Both germline polymorphisms and tumor-specific genetic alterations can determine the response of a cancer to a given therapy. We previously reported a germline deletion polymorphism in the BIM gene that was sufficient to mediate intrinsic resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), as well as other cancers [1]. The deletion polymorphism favored the generation of BIM splice forms lacking the pro-apoptotic BH3 domain, conferring a relative resistance to the TKI imatinib (IM). However, CML patients with the BIM deletion polymorphism developed both partial and complete IM resistance. To understand the mechanisms underlying the latter, we grew CML cells either with or without the BIM deletion polymorphism in increasing IM concentrations. Under these conditions, the BIM deletion polymorphism enhanced the emergence of populations with complete IM resistance, mimicking the situation in patients. Importantly, the combined use of TKIs with the BH3 mimetic ABT-737 overcame the BCR-ABL1-dependent and -independent resistance mechanisms found in these cells. Our results illustrate the interplay between germline and acquired genetic factors in confering TKI resistance, and suggest a therapeutic strategy for patients with complete TKI resistance associated with the BIM deletion polymorphism.

  13. Systemic acquired resistance in moss: further evidence for conserved defense mechanisms in plants.

    PubMed

    Winter, Peter S; Bowman, Collin E; Villani, Philip J; Dolan, Thomas E; Hauck, Nathanael R

    2014-01-01

    Vascular plants possess multiple mechanisms for defending themselves against pathogens. One well-characterized defense mechanism is systemic acquired resistance (SAR). In SAR, a plant detects the presence of a pathogen and transmits a signal throughout the plant, inducing changes in the expression of various pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. Once SAR is established, the plant is capable of mounting rapid responses to subsequent pathogen attacks. SAR has been characterized in numerous angiosperm and gymnosperm species; however, despite several pieces of evidence suggesting SAR may also exist in non-vascular plants6-8, its presence in non-vascular plants has not been conclusively demonstrated, in part due to the lack of an appropriate culture system. Here, we describe and use a novel culture system to demonstrate that the moss species Amblystegium serpens does initiate a SAR-like reaction upon inoculation with Pythium irregulare, a common soil-borne oomycete. Infection of A. serpens gametophores by P. irregulare is characterized by localized cytoplasmic shrinkage within 34 h and chlorosis and necrosis within 7 d of inoculation. Within 24 h of a primary inoculation (induction), moss gametophores grown in culture became highly resistant to infection following subsequent inoculation (challenge) by the same pathogen. This increased resistance was a response to the pathogen itself and not to physical wounding. Treatment with β-1,3 glucan, a structural component of oomycete cell walls, was equally effective at triggering SAR. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that this important defense mechanism exists in a non-vascular plant, and, together with previous studies, suggest that SAR arose prior to the divergence of vascular and non-vascular plants. In addition, this novel moss - pathogen culture system will be valuable for future characterization of the mechanism of SAR in moss, which is necessary for a better understanding of the evolutionary history of SAR in

  14. Role of major histocompatibility complex class II in resistance of mice to naturally acquired infection with Syphacia obvelata

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stewart, Patricia W.; Chapes, Stephen K.

    2003-01-01

    Genetics plays a substantial role in host resistance in many host-parasite interactions. We examined the prevalence of naturally acquired infection with Syphacia obvelata in a number of mouse strains housed in a non-barrier facility. These mice, which included cross-bred and congenic, inbred strains on various genetic backgrounds, differ in the loci for the immune function genes--major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII), toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4), and solute carrier family 11, member 1 (Slc11a1)--which allowed comparisons of the impact of these genes on resistance to pinworm infection. Male and female mice of various ages were sampled over an 18-month period; infection was determined by use of the cellophane tape test. Results indicated that mice that were MHCII+/+ had a significantly lower prevalence of infection than did mice that were MHCII-/-. Differences were not seen between male and female mice. Although MHCII+/+ mice had an age-associated decrease in infection prevalence, such decrease was not seen in MHCII-/- mice. In contrast, infection prevalence in mice with the normal Tlr4 gene (Tlr4(LPS-n/LPS-n)) gene did not differ significantly compared with that in mice that were homozygous for either the point mutation (Tlr4(LPS-d/LPS-d)) or deletion (Tlr4(LPS-del/LPS-del)) of that gene. Likewise, the presence (Sle11a1r/r) or absence (Slc11a1s/s) of functional alleles for Slc11a1 had no effect on the prevalence of infection with S. obvelata. In conclusion, presence of MHCII, but not Tlr4 or Slc11a1 significantly influences prevalence of naturally acquired infection with S. obvelata. These data justify further comprehensive analyses of the immune components that are involved in pinworm resistance.

  15. The Systemic Acquired Resistance Regulator OsNPR1 Attenuates Growth by Repressing Auxin Signaling through Promoting IAA-Amido Synthase Expression1[OPEN

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    Systemic acquired resistance is a long-lasting and broad-spectrum disease resistance to pathogens. Our previous study demonstrated that overexpression of NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES1 (OsNPR1), a master gene for systemic acquired resistance in rice (Oryza sativa), greatly enhanced resistance to bacterial blight caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae. However, the growth and development of the OsNPR1 overexpression (OsNPR1-OX) plants were restrained, and the mechanism remained elusive. In this study, we dissected the OsNPR1-induced growth inhibition. We found that the OsNPR1-OX lines displayed phenotypes mimicking auxin-defective mutants, with decreases in root system, seed number and weight, internode elongation, and tiller number. Whole-genome expression analysis revealed that genes related to the auxin metabolism and signaling pathway were differentially expressed between the OsNPR1-OX and wild-type plants. Consistently, the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content was decreased and the auxin distribution pattern was altered in OsNPR1-OX plants. Importantly, we found that some GH3 family members, in particular OsGH3.8 coding IAA-amido synthetase, were constitutively up-regulated in OsNPR1-OX plants. Decreased OsGH3.8 expression by RNA interference could partially restore IAA level and largely rescue the restrained growth and development phenotypes but did not affect the disease resistance of OsNPR1-OX plants. Taken together, we revealed that OsNPR1 affects rice growth and development by disrupting the auxin pathway at least partially through indirectly up-regulating OsGH3.8 expression. PMID:27378815

  16. Elimination study of the chemotherapy drug tamoxifen by different advanced oxidation processes: Transformation products and toxicity assessment.

    PubMed

    Ferrando-Climent, Laura; Gonzalez-Olmos, Rafael; Anfruns, Alba; Aymerich, Ignasi; Corominas, Lluis; Barceló, Damià; Rodriguez-Mozaz, Sara

    2017-02-01

    Tamoxifen is a chemotherapy drug considered as recalcitrant contaminant (with low biodegradability in conventional activated sludge wastewater treatment), bioaccumulative, ubiquitous, and potentially hazardous for the environment. This work studies the removal of Tamoxifen from water by advanced oxidation processes, paying special attention to the formation of transformation products (TPs) and to the evolution of toxicity (using the Microtox ® bioassay) during the oxidation processes. Five types of treatments were evaluated combining different technologies based on ozone, hydrogen peroxide and UV radiation: i) O 3 , ii) O 3 /UV, iii) O 3 /H 2 O 2 (peroxone), iv) UV and v) UV/H 2 O 2 . Complete removal of tamoxifen was achieved after 30 min for all the treatments carried out with O 3 while a residual concentration (about 10% of initial one) was observed in the treatments based on UV and UV/H 2 O 2 after 4 h of reaction. Eight TPs were tentatively identified and one (non-ionizable molecule) was suspected to be present by using ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. An increase of toxicity was observed during all the oxidation processes. In the case of ozone-based treatments that increase was attributed to the presence of some of the TPs identified, whereas in the case of UV-based treatments there was no clear correlation between toxicity and the identified TPs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. [Relationship between phenomenon of acquired activated protein C resistance and antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

    PubMed

    Hu, Y Q; Chen, F P; Xie, Q Z

    2001-10-28

    To determine the occurrence of activated protein C resistance (APCR), to identify APCR is associated with thrombotic events (TEs), and acquired APCR is associated with the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLAs) in 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Laboratory tests included dilute Russell's viper venom time assay for LA (dRVVT-LA), ELISA assay for ACL, APC sensitivity ratio, and factor V Leiden were detected by PCR-Mnl/I digestion. Acquired APCR was presented in 14(46.67%) of 30 patients. Factor V Leiden was not found in any patients. The incidence of TEs in the APCR-positive patients was significantly higher than that in the APCR-negative patients (42.85% vs 6.25%, P < 0.05). The incidence of TEs in the LA-positive patients was also significantly higher than that in the LA-negative patients (50% vs 11.1%, P < 0.05). The presence of either APCR or LAs is associated with one of the risk factors of TEs (P < 0.05). There is not a significant interaction between APCR and LAs in the association with TEs. Acquired APCR may not reflect the interference of LAs with the protein C pathway which may represent a mechanism of LA-associated TEs.

  18. Tamoxifen and estradiol improved locomotor function and increased spared tissue in rats after spinal cord injury: their antioxidant effect and role of estrogen receptor alpha.

    PubMed

    Mosquera, Laurivette; Colón, Jennifer M; Santiago, José M; Torrado, Aranza I; Meléndez, Margarita; Segarra, Annabell C; Rodríguez-Orengo, José F; Miranda, Jorge D

    2014-05-02

    17β-Estradiol is a multi-active steroid that imparts neuroprotection via diverse mechanisms of action. However, its role as a neuroprotective agent after spinal cord injury (SCI), or the involvement of the estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α) in locomotor recovery, is still a subject of much debate. In this study, we evaluated the effects of estradiol and of Tamoxifen (an estrogen receptor mixed agonist/antagonist) on locomotor recovery following SCI. To control estradiol cyclical variability, ovariectomized female rats received empty or estradiol filled implants, prior to a moderate contusion to the spinal cord. Estradiol improved locomotor function at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post injury (DPI), when compared to control groups (measured with the BBB open field test). This effect was ER-α mediated, because functional recovery was blocked with an ER-α antagonist. We also observed that ER-α was up-regulated after SCI. Long-term treatment (28 DPI) with estradiol and Tamoxifen reduced the extent of the lesion cavity, an effect also mediated by ER-α. The antioxidant effects of estradiol were seen acutely at 2 DPI but not at 28 DPI, and this acute effect was not receptor mediated. Rats treated with Tamoxifen recovered some locomotor activity at 21 and 28 DPI, which could be related to the antioxidant protection seen at these time points. These results show that estradiol improves functional outcome, and these protective effects are mediated by the ER-α dependent and independent-mechanisms. Tamoxifen׳s effects during late stages of SCI support the use of this drug as a long-term alternative treatment for this condition. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Diclofop-methyl affects microbial rhizosphere community and induces systemic acquired resistance in rice.

    PubMed

    Chen, Si; Li, Xingxing; Lavoie, Michel; Jin, Yujian; Xu, Jiahui; Fu, Zhengwei; Qian, Haifeng

    2017-01-01

    Diclofop-methyl (DM), a widely used herbicide in food crops, may partly contaminate the soil surface of natural ecosystems in agricultural area and exert toxic effects at low dose to nontarget plants. Even though rhizosphere microorganisms strongly interact with root cells, little is known regarding their potential modulating effect on herbicide toxicity in plants. Here we exposed rice seedlings (Xiushui 63) to 100μg/L DM for 2 to 8days and studied the effects of DM on rice rhizosphere microorganisms, rice systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and rice-microorganisms interactions. The results of metagenomic 16S rDNA Illumina tags show that DM increases bacterial biomass and affects their community structure in the rice rhizosphere. After DM treatment, the relative abundance of the bacterium genera Massilia and Anderseniella increased the most relative to the control. In parallel, malate and oxalate exudation by rice roots increased, potentially acting as a carbon source for several rhizosphere bacteria. Transcriptomic analyses suggest that DM induced SAR in rice seedlings through the salicylic acid (but not the jasmonic acid) signal pathway. This response to DM stress conferred resistance to infection by a pathogenic bacterium, but was not influenced by the presence of bacteria in the rhizosphere since SAR transcripts did not change significantly in xenic and axenic plant roots exposed to DM. The present study provides new insights on the response of rice and its associated microorganisms to DM stress. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  20. Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor-1 Promotes Environment-Mediated and Acquired Chemoresistance.

    PubMed

    Lifshitz, Veronica; Priceman, Saul J; Li, Wenzhao; Cherryholmes, Gregory; Lee, Heehyoung; Makovski-Silverstein, Adar; Borriello, Lucia; DeClerck, Yves A; Yu, Hua

    2017-11-01

    Drug resistance is a major barrier for the development of effective and durable cancer therapies. Overcoming this challenge requires further defining the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance, both acquired and environment-mediated drug resistance (EMDR). Here, using neuroblastoma (NB), a childhood cancer with high incidence of recurrence due to resistance to chemotherapy, as a model we show that human bone marrow-mesenchymal stromal cells induce tumor expression of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1PR1), leading to their resistance to chemotherapy. Targeting S1PR1 by shRNA markedly enhances etoposide-induced apoptosis in NB cells and abrogates EMDR, while overexpression of S1PR1 significantly protects NB cells from multidrug-induced apoptosis via activating JAK-STAT3 signaling. Elevated S1PR1 expression and STAT3 activation are also observed in human NB cells with acquired resistance to etoposide. We show in vitro and in human NB xenograft models that treatment with FTY720, an FDA-approved drug and antagonist of S1PR1, dramatically sensitizes drug-resistant cells to etoposide. In summary, we identify S1PR1 as a critical target for reducing both EMDR and acquired chemoresistance in NB. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(11); 2516-27. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.