Genetically-engineered "all-in-one" vaccine platform for cancer immunotherapy

An essential step for cancer vaccination is to break the immunosuppression and elicit a tumor-specific immunity. A major hurdle against cancer therapeutic vaccination is the insufficient immune stimulation of the cancer vaccines and lack of a safe and efficient adjuvant for human use. We discovered a novel cancer immunostimulant, trichosanthin (TCS), that is a clinically used protein drug in China, and developed a well-adaptable protein-engineering method for making recombinant protein vaccines by fusion of an antigenic peptide, TCS, and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), termed an "all-in-one" vaccine, for transcutaneous cancer immunization. The TCS adjuvant effect on antigen presentation was investigated and the antitumor immunity of the vaccines was investigated using the different tumor models. The vaccines were prepared

Biomimetic albumin-modified gold nanorods for photothermo-chemotherapy and macrophage polarization modulation

Nanotechnology-based photothermal therapy has attracted great attention in the past decade. Nevertheless, photothermal therapy has some inherent drawbacks, such as the uneven heat production and limited laser penetration, often leading to insufficient treatment outcomes. Here, we developed a combination strategy to improve cancer therapy. The biomimetic albumin-modified gold nanorods (AuNRs) were prepared with incorporation of paclitaxel (PTX). This therapeutic system was characterized by several features. First, the albumin modification enhanced the biocompatibility and colloidal stability. Second, the surface-coated albumin promoted cellular uptake the albumin-binding protein pathway. Third, PTX was incorporated hydrophobic interaction between PTX and the albumin lipophilic domain. Fourth, the system can be used for combined photothermo-chemotherapy for yielding synergistic effects. The antitumor activity of the system was evaluated both and using the HCT116 colon cancer cell and tumor model. The combination therapy was found with an enhanced treatment efficiency and no obvious side effect. Most importantly, the thermal effect was also discovered with the ability to modulate the tumor microenvironments and suppress the macrophages polarization towards the M2 pro-tumor phenotype. It could be a mechanism for photothermal immunotherapy. The combination strategy and the system provide a potential method for cancer therapy.

Statistical analysis of EGFR mutation and EML4-ALK gene fusion in non-small cell lung cancer patients of Zhongshan City / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To detect the mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene,fusion of echinoderms microtubule associated protein sample-4 and gradual change of lymphoma kinase(EML4-ALK) gene,as well as describe their relationship with the clinicopathological features in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) from Zhongshan city of Guangdong province.Methods Mutations of EGFR gene and EML4-ALK fusion gene in 753 NSCLC patients from Zhongshan People's hospital were detected by ARMS real-time PCR.To study the relationship between the mutation and clinical features and explore the significance of EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion in NSCLC.Results The EGFR mutation rate of 753 NSCLC patients is 43.16％(325/753),with highest mutation rate in 19 and 21 exons,43.08％(140/325) and 47.38％ (154/325) respectively,and the main mutation in 21 exon is L858R mutation.EGFR mutation is more common in female/non-smoking patients,or patients with adenocarcinoma/adenosquqmous carcinoma/adenocarcinoma metastasis(P＜0.05),but not relates with the age of patients(P＞0.05).The EML4-ALK fusion gene of 110 patients whose EGFR mutation were checked were simultaneously detected,showing a 9.09 ％ (10/110) mutation rate,and the mutation rate in type 1(80％) is significantly higher than type 2(10％) and 3(10％).Patients with EML4-ALK gene mutation tend to be younger(P＜0.05),but the EML4-ALK gene mutation rates show no significant differences in groups classified by gender,smoking history or pathological classification(P＞0.05).EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion were detected in one patient simultaneously.Conclusion The EGFR mutation rate of patients with NSCLC in Zhongshan city is consistent with results reported in domestic and foreign literatures.Detections of EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion are necessary test items,providing important evidence in molecular targeting therapy in NSCLS.

Statistical analysis of EGFR mutation and EML4-ALK gene fusion in non-small cell lung cancer patients of Zhongshan City / 国际检验医学杂志

Objective To detect the mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene,fusion of echinoderms microtubule associated protein sample-4 and gradual change of lymphoma kinase(EML4-ALK) gene,as well as describe their relationship with the clinicopathological features in patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) from Zhongshan city of Guangdong province.Methods Mutations of EGFR gene and EML4-ALK fusion gene in 753 NSCLC patients from Zhongshan People's hospital were detected by ARMS real-time PCR.To study the relationship between the mutation and clinical features and explore the significance of EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion in NSCLC.Results The EGFR mutation rate of 753 NSCLC patients is 43.16％(325/753),with highest mutation rate in 19 and 21 exons,43.08％(140/325) and 47.38％ (154/325) respectively,and the main mutation in 21 exon is L858R mutation.EGFR mutation is more common in female/non-smoking patients,or patients with adenocarcinoma/adenosquqmous carcinoma/adenocarcinoma metastasis(P＜0.05),but not relates with the age of patients(P＞0.05).The EML4-ALK fusion gene of 110 patients whose EGFR mutation were checked were simultaneously detected,showing a 9.09 ％ (10/110) mutation rate,and the mutation rate in type 1(80％) is significantly higher than type 2(10％) and 3(10％).Patients with EML4-ALK gene mutation tend to be younger(P＜0.05),but the EML4-ALK gene mutation rates show no significant differences in groups classified by gender,smoking history or pathological classification(P＞0.05).EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion were detected in one patient simultaneously.Conclusion The EGFR mutation rate of patients with NSCLC in Zhongshan city is consistent with results reported in domestic and foreign literatures.Detections of EGFR gene mutation and EML4-ALK fusion are necessary test items,providing important evidence in molecular targeting therapy in NSCLS.

Study on Anti-tumor Activities of Trichosanthin Mediated by Low Molecular Weight Protamine / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To investigate the anti-tumor activities of cell-penetrating peptide ( CPP) - mediated trichosanthin ( TCS) , which is a recombinant protein obtained from Radix Trichosanthis. Methods Cysteine residue was introduced to the C-terminus of TCS by protein recombinant technique, and then with the newly-formed terminal as the modification site, TCS was coupled with CPP. As a target protein, CPP-mediated TCS was isolated and purified by affinity chromatography. The expression of the target protein and its responsiveness to reducing substances were detected by using the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cellular uptake rate of CPP-mediated TCS was determined by using cell uptake test, and its anti-tumor activity was measured by using methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results The TCS-CPP compound had been successfully developed in this study, and showed certain reducing responsiveness. After modified with CPP, TCS had higher cellular uptake rate and stronger anti-tumor effect on HeLa and MCF-7 cells. Conclusion TCS modified by CPP can enhance the anti-tumor activities of TCS.