Clin Cancer Res
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Development of androgen independence and resistance to apoptosis in prostate cancer are often correlated with high levels of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in these patients. The loss of sensitivity to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in androgen-insensitive prostate carcinoma cells is due in part to constitutive activation of Rel/nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcription factors that regulate several cell survival and antiapoptotic genes. Our previous studies have demonstrated growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of apigenin, a common plant flavonoid, in a variety of human prostate carcinoma cells. Here we examined whether apigenin is effective in inhibiting NF-kappaB expression in androgen-insensitive human prostate carcinoma cells exhibiting high constitutive levels of NF-kappaB. ⋯ Our results indicate that inhibition of NF-kappaB by apigenin may lead to prostate cancer suppression by transcriptional repression of NF-kappaB-responsive genes as well as selective sensitization of prostate carcinoma cells to TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis.
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NY-ESO-1 is a 180 amino-acid human tumor antigen expressed by many different tumor types and belongs to the family of "cancer-testis" antigens. In humans, NY-ESO-1 is one of the most immunogenic tumor antigens and NY-ESO-1 peptides have been shown to induce NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) CTLs capable of altering the natural course of NY-ESO-1-expressing tumors in cancer patients. Here we describe the preclinical immunogenicity and efficacy of NY-ESO-1 protein formulated with the ISCOMATRIX adjuvant (NY-ESO-1 vaccine). ⋯ Furthermore, the NY-ESO-1 vaccine induced NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) CTLs in HLA-A2 transgenic mice that were capable of lysing human HLA-A2(+) NY-ESO-1(+) tumor cells. Finally, C57BL/6 mice, immunized with the NY-ESO-1 vaccine, were protected against challenge with a B16 melanoma cell line expressing NY-ESO-1. These data illustrate that the NY-ESO-1 vaccine represents a potent therapeutic anticancer vaccine.
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A new humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (MAb), IMMU-106, was evaluated to elucidate its action as an antilymphoma therapeutic, as a single agent, and in combination with the anti-CD22 MAb, epratuzumab. ⋯ It is expected that in humans IMMU-106 should be at least as effective as rituximab and, due to its human framework construction, it may exhibit different pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and therapy profiles. In addition, it may be possible to enhance efficacy by combination therapy comprised of anti-CD20 and other B-cell lineage targeting MAbs, such as epratuzumab. The current results emphasize that in vitro as well as in vivo studies with many of the NHL cell lines were generally predictive of the known activity of anti-CD20 MAbs in NHL patients, as well as the enhanced efficacy of epratuzumab combined with rituximab observed in early clinical trials.
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We have reported previously that successful immunoliposomal drug therapy with liposomal doxorubicin (DXR) against xenograft B-lymphoma models required targeting against an internalizing B-cell antigen, CD19 (P. Sapra and T. M. Allen. Cancer Res 2002;62:7190-4.). Here we compare targeting of immunoliposomal formulations of DXR with vincristine (VCR) targeted against CD19 versus a noninternalizing (CD20) epitope. We also examine the effect of targeting immunoliposomes with antibody combinations in an attempt to increase the total number of binding sites (apparent antigen density) at the target cell surface. ⋯ The success of immunoliposomal therapy in combination regimens varies with the type of encapsulated drug and the nature of the target epitopes.
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Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Clinical trial substantiates the predictive value of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation in glioblastoma patients treated with temozolomide.
In the setting of a prospective clinical trial, we determined the predictive value of the methylation status of the O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter for outcome in glioblastoma patients treated with the alkylating agent temozolomide. Expression of this excision repair enzyme has been associated with resistance to alkylating chemotherapy. ⋯ This prospective clinical trial identifies MGMT-methylation status as an independent predictor for glioblastoma patients treated with a methylating agent. The association of the epigenetic inactivation of the DNA repair gene MGMT with better outcome in this homogenous cohort may have important implications for the design of future trials and supports efforts to deplete MGMT by O-6-benzylguanine, a noncytotoxic substrate of this enzyme.