Anticancer research
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Anticancer research · Nov 2006
Intratumoral application of standardized mistletoe extracts down regulates tumor weight via decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and necrosis in a murine model.
The cytotoxic in vitro activity of standardized mistletoe extracts (ME) was examined by established assays towards the human ductal breast carcinoma cell line BT474. A dose-dependent (optimum 25 mg/mL medium) and significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced cytotoxic activity towards the BT474 cells was demonstrated. In vivo experiments on the antitumor activity of ME-A and ME-M were performed in a BALB/c-mouse / BT474 ductal breast carcinoma model. ⋯ Histological investigations were performed comprising analysis of mitosis and proliferation rates (Ki67 expression), as well as necrosis and apoptosis induction (ssDNA detection). As compared to tumors of control mice with intratumoral phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) injections, tumors of the ME-A and ME-M treated groups showed a decreased cell proliferation rate, as well as an increased cell necrosis and apoptosis rate. Standardized mistletoe extracts, interfering with defined tumor cell functions, e.g., proliferation, necrosis and apoptosis, may have an impact on local cancer treatment.
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Surgery remains the only curative therapy for colon cancer. However, several studies during the last years have proved that systemic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting definitely improves the curative rate for those patients with localized colon cancer. ⋯ The role of adjuvant therapy in stage II cancers remains controversial and its routine use is recommended only in high risk patients. This review focuses on the efficacy, safety and toxicity of several drugs used in the adjuvant treatment of colon cancer and on clinical issues, such as the timing for initiation of chemotherapy, its duration and treatment of special patient subgroups, such as stage II or elderly patients.
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Anticancer research · Nov 2006
COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib suppresses tumor growth and lung metastasis of a murine mammary cancer.
The antitumor growth and antimetastatic actions of celecoxib [a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor] were investigated in a metastatic murine mammary cancer model. ⋯ Celecoxib may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for breast cancer containing p53 mutations due to its ability to both induce p53-independent mitochondria-mediated apoptosis and exert anti-angiogenic potential.