In vitro anticancer activity of polysaccharide extracted from red alga Jania rubens against breast and colon cancer cell lines

Objective: To evaluate the potential role of the polysaccharides of the marine algae as an anticancer agent in vitro against colon cancer cell line (CoCa2) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines and to measure lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) activity as biomarker of membrane integrity of the cells. Methods: The cells of breast cancer (MCF7) and colon cancer (CoCa2) were used to evaluate the potential anticancer role of the polysaccharides of marine algae. Anti-proliferative activity against MCF7 and CoCa2 cell lines were evaluated in vitro by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: The in vitro assay of the antioxidant activity of eight marine seaweed species showed that the red seaweed Jania rubens (J. rubens) had the highest DPPH (2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity. The extracted polysaccharides with concentrations 0.1-40.0 mg/mL from J. rubens were tested for its anticancer potentiality and cytotoxic effects against the cell lines of human breast (MCF7) and colon cancer (CoCa2) cell lines by MTT assay. The inhibitory concentration at 50 (IC

In vitro anticancer activity of polysaccharide extracted from red alga Jania rubens against breast and colon cancer cell lines

Objective:To evaluate the potential role of the polysaccharides of the marine algae as an anticancer agent in vitro against colon cancer cell line (CoCa2) and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines and to measure lactate dehydrogenase enzyme (LDH) activity as biomarker of membrane integrity of the cells.Methods:The cells of breast cancer (MCF7) and colon cancer (CoCa2) were used to evaluate the potential anticancer role of the polysaccharides of marine algae. Anti-proliferative activity against MCF7 and CoCa2 cell lines were evaluated in vitro by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.Results:The in vitro assay of the antioxidant activity of eight marine seaweed species showed that the red seaweed Jania rubens (J. rubens) had the highest DPPH (2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity. The extracted polysaccharides with concentrations 0.1–40.0 mg/mL from J. rubens were tested for its anticancer potentiality and cytotoxic effects against the cell lines of human breast (MCF7) and colon cancer (CoCa2) cell lines by MTT assay. The inhibitory concentration at 50 (ICConclusions:The polysaccharides of the red marine alga J. rubens could be a potential candidate for the natural compounds as antioxidant and anticancer therapy.

Entecavir 1 mg versus combined lamivudine/adefovir dipivoxil in chronic HBV Egyptian patients resistant to LAM monotherapy, non-randomised controlled study

The development of antiviral-resistant mutations with long-term treatment remains a major concern in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection. The study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of entecavir 1 mg versus combined lamivudine/adefovir dipivoxil [Lam/Adv] in chronic HBV patients resistant to lamivudine monotherapy. This study included two groups of lamivudine-resistant patients who received lamivudine 100 mg for 1-3 years. Group 1 was composed of 25 cases [52% HBeAg+ve] who received combined Lam/Adv, and group 2 was composed of 13 patients [30.8% HBeAg+ve] who received entecavir 1 mg. Pre-enrolment assessment included biochemical, serological and quantitative HBV-DNA testing as well as HBeAg and hepatitis B envelope antibody [HBeAb] assessment. Evaluation was done at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of treatment by the same parameters. Hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody [HbsAg and HBsAb] were assessed after each year of treatment. At the end of 36 months of treatment, 16 cases [69%] in group 1 completed the study period, versus 13 [100%] in group 2. Two cases in group 1 underwent HBeAg seroconversion, accompanied by HBV-DNA undetectability, at 6 and 12 months, respectively; no cases were seroconverted in group 2. Both treatments achieved improvement in alanine aminotransferase [ALT], bilirubin and alpha-foetoprotein equally at the end of the study. HBV-DNA undetectability was better achieved in group 2 when compared to group 1. HBeAg seroconversion was only achieved in two cases in group 1, whereas no cases lost HBeAg in group 2. None of our cases achieved HbsAg seroconversion or loss at the end of the study period. The entecavir I-mg monotherapy group achieved better HBV-DNA undetectability starting at 3 months of treatment when compared to the Lam/Adv group; however, both lines of treatment showed almost similar results over the rest of the study period. HBeAg seroconversion was only achieved in two cases in the combined Lam/Adv group, whereas no cases lost HBeAg in the other group

Response and seroconversion rates among HBeAg-positive chronic HBV Egyptian patients treated with peginterferon alpha 2a [Pegasys], a single-centre experience

We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of pegylated interferon alpha- 2a 180 micro g as a treatment for hepatitis B 'e' antigen [HBeAg]-positive genotype D chronic hepatitis B patients. Thirty patients attending the outpatient clinic at the National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute were treated with peg.interferon alpha-2a [180 micro g] weekly for a period of 48 weeks. Pre-enrolment assessment was performed through biochemical, serological and quantitative HBV DNA testing. Liver biopsy was performed in all patients. Evaluation was done at weeks 12, 24 and 48 of treatment by liver enzymes, complete blood count [CBC], HBeAg /HBeAb and quantitative HBV DNA testing. At the end of 48 weeks of treatment only three cases [10%] of the study population showed HBeAg seroconversion and an undetectable HBV DNA level. None of responders exhibited hepatitis B surface antigen [HbsAg] loss. There were five [16.7%] primary non-responders, four [13.3%] relapses, four [13.3%] cases flared at week 12, and 14 [46.6%] cases who were non-responders. No specific predictors of response could be identified among patients. One year of peg. interferon alpha-2a 180 microgm weekly led to HBeAg seroconversion and an undetectable HBV DNA level in 10% of cases. Considering the privilege of a finite duration of treatment, tailoring of treatment and proper patient selection is of great importance in considering this therapy as a first line of treatment among HBeAg-positive chronic HBV Egyptian patients