ABSTRACT
Current trends in nanotechnology and RNA interference technology have made the application of nanocarriers (NCS) as a novel gene and drug delivery systems very promising for the field of multidrug resistance (MDR) cancer treatment. Co-delivery of gene and chemotherapy drugs with NCS has a good synergistic effect compared with the traditional chemotherapy which can increase the amount of the drug distribution in target organ in order to reduce the toxic side effects thereby enhancing efficacy. Therefore, the advent of co-delivery systems with NCS especially in the clinical treatment of MDR has had a significant impact on the cancer treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antineoplastic Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Drug Carriers , Drug Delivery Systems , Drug Resistance, Multiple , Drug Resistance, Neoplasm , Genetic Therapy , Methods , Nanostructures , Chemistry , Nanotechnology , Methods , Neoplasms , Genetics , Therapeutics , RNA Interference , RNA, Small Interfering , GeneticsABSTRACT
Despite recent advances in conventional therapeutic approaches for cancer, the efficacy of chemotherapy for cancer is limited due to the drug resistance and toxic side effects during treatment. To overcome drug resistance, higher doses of the toxic chemotherapy drugs are frequently administered, thus leading to even severe adverse side effects, which have limited their clinical application. Cationic liposome as a novel non-viral carrier for co-delivery of gene and chemotherapy drugs in cancer gene therapy has already attracted more and more attention in recent years. Most importantly, this combined strategy can generate a significant synergistic effect, which can silence the related gene expression and increase the concentration of the intracellular chemotherapy drugs. This approach allows the use of a much lower dose of the chemotherapy drugs to achieve same therapeutic effect, which may have the potential for overcoming some major limitations of the conventional chemotherapy. In conclusion, co-delivery of gene and chemotherapy drugs with cationic liposome delivery system will play a vital role in the future and especially could be a promising clinical treatment for drug-resistant tumors.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols , Therapeutic Uses , Cations , Cell Line, Tumor , DNA , Genetics , Drug Carriers , Drug Delivery Systems , Gene Transfer Techniques , Genetic Therapy , Methods , Liposomes , Chemistry , Neoplasms , Therapeutics , RNA, Small Interfering , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy of energy controllable steep pulses (ECSP) in the treatment of rabbit VX2 cancer implanted in livers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A tumor model was successfully established using 30 rabbits. ECSP were applied to liver cancer in half of these rabbits and the rest were used as controls. After exposure to ECSP, tissues were obtained and subjected by routine HE and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation. The survival time of the animals and the statuses of each group were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>From pathological observations, ECSP showed effectively destructive action compared with that of the unexposed group. A clear borderline can be seen between necrotic cancer and its surrounding normal tissue. Irreversible cell changes were present under TEM. The survival periods of the experimental and control group were 83.1 days and 39.0 days respectively, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (Z = -2.943, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ECSP can effectively treat rabbit VX2 cancer implanted in the liver; also it is safe for its surrounding normal tissues. ECSP can be a useful method for local treatment of liver cancer.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rabbits , Electric Conductivity , Electromagnetic Fields , Electroporation , Methods , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental , PathologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the effects and pharmacoeconomics of single-dose of ceftriaxone versus 3-day cefuroxime prophylaxis in patients undergoing gastric or colorectal resection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and five consecutive patients with gastric or colorectal cancer from 5 medical centers were randomly divided into ceftriaxone group (n = 153, receiving intravenously 1 g ceftriaxone 0.5 - 1 h prior to operation only) and cefuroxime group (n = 152, receiving 0.75 g cefuroxime preoperatively and the same dose q8h for 3 d). The patients' intra- and postoperative status, adverse responses and infectious complications were observed and documented, and pharmacoeconomic parameters were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The disease distribution, operative procedures and patients' conditions in the 2 groups were comparable. No adverse responses to the test antibiotics were observed. Postoperative infectious complications occurred in 7 cases in the ceftriaxone group (4.58%) and 14 cases in the cefuroxime group (9.21%), respectively (P = 0.992), among which, 12 cases were surgical site infections (incisional, intra-abdominal): 2 cases in the ceftriaxone group (1.31%), and 10 cases in the cefuroxime group (6.58%), (chi(2) = 5.607, P = 0.018). The direct cost related to prevention and treatment of surgical site infections was 283.5 RMB in the ceftriaxone group and 811.1 RMB in the cefuroxime group (Z = 14.51, P = 0.000).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both ceftriaxone and cefuroxime are safe and effective for prevention of surgical site infections. Single-dose ceftriaxone prophylaxis is sufficient for gastric and colorectal operations, with a better cost-effectiveness ratio.</p>