Chemotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chemotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects, drugs.

Intra-brain microinjection of human mesenchymal stem cells decreases allodynia in neuropathic mice.

Siniscalco D, Giordano C, Galderisi U, Luongo L, Alessio N, Di Bernardo G, de Novellis V, Rossi F, Maione S

Division of Pharmacology L. Donatelli, Department of Experimental Medicine, Second University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy. dariosin@uab.edu

Neuropathic pain is a very complex disease, involving several molecular pathways. Current available drugs are usually not acting on the several mechanisms underlying the generation and propagation of pain. We used spared nerve injury model of neuropathic pain to assess the possible use of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) as anti-neuropathic tool. Human MSCs were transplanted in the mouse lateral cerebral ventricle. Stem cells injection was performed 4 days after sciatic nerve surgery. Neuropathic mice were monitored 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21 days after surgery. hMSCs were able to reduce pain-like behaviors, such as mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia, once transplanted in cerebral ventricle. Anti-nociceptive effect was detectable from day 10 after surgery (6 days post cell injection). Human MSCs reduced the mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory interleukin IL-1beta mouse gene, as well as the neural beta-galactosidase over-activation in prefrontal cortex of SNI mice. Transplanted hMSCs were able to reduce astrocytic and microglial cell activation.

Published 22 January 2010 in Cell Mol Life Sci, 67(4): 655-69.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

Articles on Chemotherapy published 12 January 2010:

Subconjunctival delivery of antibiotics in a controlled-release system: a novel anti-infective prophylaxis approach for cataract surgery.   Arch Ophthalmol, 128(1): 81-7.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of subconjunctival injection of a combination of triamcinolone and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, 2 mg/0.1 mL, in a controlled-release system (DuoCat) with that of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, 0.3%, eyedrops for infection prophylaxis. METHODS: Rabbit eyes were injected subconjunctivally with a combination of triamcinolone and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, 2 mg/0.1 mL, or ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, 2 mg/0.1 mL, alone. The aqueous and vitreous humor ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Chemotherapy published 8 January 2010:

The vulnerability of the heart as a pluricellular paracrine organ: lessons from unexpected triggers of heart failure in targeted ErbB2 anticancer therapy.   Circ Res, 106(1): 35-46.

In this review, we address clinical aspects and mechanisms of ventricular dysfunction induced by anticancer drugs targeted to the ErbB2 receptor. ErbB2 antagonists prolong survival in cancer, but also interfere with homeostatic processes in the heart. ErbB2 is a coreceptor for ErbB4, which is activated by neuregulin-1. This epidermal growth factor-like growth factor is released from endothelial cells in the endocardium and in the myocardial microcirculation, hence contributing to intercellular ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular toxicity of targeted cancer therapeutics.   Circ Res, 106(1): 21-34.

In 2002, Hoshijima and Chien drew largely theoretical parallels between the dysregulation of the signaling pathways driving cancer and those driving cardiac hypertrophy (Hoshijima M, Chien KR. J Clin Invest. 2002;109:849-855). On the surface, this statement appeared to stretch the limits of reason, given the fact that cancer cells are known for their proliferative capacity, and adult cardiomyocytes are, except under unusual circumstances, terminally differentiated and incapable of re-entering ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Distinct patterns of cytokine and angiogenic factor modulation and markers of benefit for vandetanib and/or chemotherapy in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.   J Clin Oncol, 28(2): 193-201.

PURPOSE: There is an unmet need for biomarkers for identifying patients likely to benefit from anticancer treatments, selecting dose, and understanding mechanisms of resistance. Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and soluble VEGF receptor 2 (sVEGFR-2) are known to be modulated by VEGF pathway inhibitors. It is unknown whether chemotherapy or VEGFR inhibitor/chemotherapy combinations induce changes in these or other cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) and whether such changes ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Bortezomib and high-dose melphalan as conditioning regimen before autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with de novo multiple myeloma: a phase 2 study of the Intergroupe Francophone du Myelome (IFM).   Blood, 115(1): 32-7.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is recommended for younger patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Achieving complete response (CR) or at least very good partial response (VGPR) is a major prognostic factor for survival with 20% to 30% of patients achieving CR after ASCT. Bortezomib has shown synergistic effects with melphalan and no prolonged hematologic toxicity. In this Intergroupe Francophone du Myélome (IFM) phase 2 study, 54 untreated patients were enrolled between ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Chemotherapy published 7 January 2010:

Nrf2: friend or foe for chemoprevention?   Carcinogenesis, 31(1): 90-9.

Health reflects the ability of an organism to adapt to stress. Stresses--metabolic, proteotoxic, mitotic, oxidative and DNA-damage stresses--not only contribute to the etiology of cancer and other chronic degenerative diseases but are also hallmarks of the cancer phenotype. Activation of the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)-NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)-signaling pathway is an adaptive response to environmental and endogenous stresses and serves to render animals resistant to ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Chemotherapy published 6 January 2010:

Adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus/Epstein-Barr virus-specific immune effector cells for therapeutic and preventive/preemptive treatment of pediatric allogeneic cell transplant recipients.   J Pediatr Hematol Oncol, 32(1): e31-7.

SUMMARY: This report describes a safe and effective therapy through adoptive transfer of donor cytomegalovirus (CMV)/Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) immune effector cells. The patients, from 3 to 10 years of age, suffering from hematologic diseases received haploidentical transplantation. All 3 patients developed varying levels of viremia from days 13 to 31 and 2 patients developed CMV-interstitial pneumonitis or interstitial inflammation after transplantation. Tapering down the dose of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Epstein Barré virus-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in an HIV-infected man with a durable complete remission on highly active antiretroviral therapy alone.   South Med J, 103(1): 76-80.

We report a unique case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected man with Epstein-Barré virus (EBV) negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that responded solely to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Our patient presented with a retroperitoneal mass, high viral load, CD4 288 and began therapy with HAART with marked improvement of symptoms. The patient declined chemotherapy since he felt better after HAART, and rescanning at that time demonstrated marked improvement of ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

© 2004-2010 Chemotherapy Research Today. All Rights Reserved.