Oncol Lett
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Erianin, a natural bibenzyl compound, is present in Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl. (commonly known as Shihu in China), which is used as an antipyretic and analgesic in traditional Chinese medicine, and has been reported to exert inhibitory effects on cancer cells in vitro. Cervical cancer is the third-most common cancer in women worldwide, and has the highest morbidity rate of gynecological malignancies. Thus, the identification of effective chemotherapeutical agents to treat this disease is urgent. ⋯ Cells treated with paclitaxel were regarded as the positive group. Together, the results of the present study indicated that erianin could be considered as an effective drug candidate; in HeLa cells it inhibited cellular proliferation and promoted apoptosis via regulation of the ERK1/2 signaling and mitochondrial-based apoptosis pathways. Thus, erianin has the promise to be developed further for cervical cancer therapy.
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Radiotherapy (RT) may result in platelet activation and thrombosis development. To the best of our knowledge, the potential effect of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), a novel radiotherapy technique, on platelet function and microRNA (miRNA/miR) expression has not been previously investigated. The present study aimed to determine the effect of VMAT on the alterations in platelet function parameters and miRNA expression levels. ⋯ No significant differences were observed in the levels of platelet activation markers or miR-223 and miR-126 expression levels between the RT groups. Although RT may result in a reduction in platelet and MPV counts, the results of the present study indicate that platelet activation markers are not affected by VMAT. Therefore, it is possible that no platelet activation occurs during VMAT, owing to the conformal dose distributions, improved target volume coverage and the sparing of normal tissues from undesired radiation.