Elemene Enhances Anti-glioma Effect of Cabazitaxel and Its Dual-targeted Cationic Liposome Preparation Optimization and in Vitro Pharmacodynamic Evaluation / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate whether elemene（ELE） enhances the anti-glioma efficacy of cabazitaxel（CTX）， and prepare a double-targeted cationic liposome（LIP） co-loaded with ELE/CTX for the treatment of glioma， and to achieve the effect of increasing the efficacy and reducing the adverse reactions. Pharmacodynamic tests in vitro were performed to explore the advantages and mechanism of its preparation. MethodELE/CTX@LIP was prepared by high speed shear combined with probe ultrasound， the particle size and potential were characterized by nano-particle size potentiometer， and high performance liquid chromatography（HPLC） was used to determine the encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity of CTX/ELE. The cytotoxicity of ELE/CTX in vitro was detected by cell proliferation and activity assay（CCK8）. JMP Pro 16 software was used to optimize the process parameters of ELE/CTX@LIP based on encapsulation efficiency. The optimal cationic material type， content and ratio were screened by in vitro cytotoxicity and in vitro cell uptake， on this basis， the dual-targeted cationic liposome T7/arginine glycine aspartate tripeptide sequence（T7/cRGD）-ELE/CTX@CLIP was prepared， the stability of morphology and particle size were characterized， and the effect of T7/cRGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP on the apoptosis inducing ability and cell cycle regulation ability of glioma cells was analyzed by cell cycle and apoptosis. ResultELE/CTX showed stronger anti-glioma activity on C6 and RG2 cells. The results of in vitro cytotoxicity and in vitro cell uptake showed that the amount of cationic material was 0.10% of the total content. The optimum ratio of T7， cRGD and phospholipids was 1∶1∶50. T7/cRGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP［1，2-dilinoleyloxy-3-dimethylaminopropane（Dlin-MC3-DMA）］ and T7/cRGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP［1，2-dimyristoyl-rac-glycero-3-methoxypolyethylene glycol 2000（DMG-PEG2000）］ showed multi-level spherical nanostructures with particle sizes of 146.0， 111.3 nm， respectively， and were stable in serum. In vitro cytotoxicity results showed that T7/cRGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP had higher cytotoxicity to glioma cells than single-targeted liposomes or dual-targeted non-cationic liposomes. T7/crGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP affected the apoptosis and cycle of glioma cells， the results showed that ELE/CTX combined with liposomes could more effectively activate the apoptosis channel and inhibit the proliferation of glioma cells， and the use of T7/cRGD short peptide and cation modification enhanced the ability of apoptosis induction. ELE/CTX could effectively block glioma cell cycle at G2/M phase， and the effect was enhanced after T7/cRGD targeted modification. ConclusionELE can enhance the anti-glioma effect of CTX. The preparation parameters of ELE/CTX@LIP are stable and feasible. Combined with the in vitro efficacy test， the anti-glioma mechanism of T7/cRGD-ELE/CTX@CLIP is preliminarily revealed.

All-stage targeted therapy for the brain metastasis from triple-negative breast cancer

Brain metastasis is a common and serious complication of breast cancer, which is commonly associated with poor survival and prognosis. In particular, the treatment of brain metastasis from triple-negative breast cancer (BM-TNBC) has to face the distinct therapeutic challenges from tumor heterogeneity, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB), which is in unmet clinical needs. Herein, combining with the advantages of synthetic and natural targeting moieties, we develop a "Y-shaped" peptide pVAP-decorated platelet-hybrid liposome drug delivery system to address the all-stage targeted drug delivery for the whole progression of BM-TNBC. Inherited from the activated platelet, the hybrid liposomes still retain the native affinity toward CTCs. Further, the peptide-mediated targeting to breast cancer cells and transport across BBB/BTB are demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The resultant delivery platform significantly improves the drug accumulation both in orthotopic breast tumors and brain metastatic lesions, and eventually exhibits an outperformance in the inhibition of BM-TNBC compared with the free drug. Overall, this work provides a promising prospect for the comprehensive treatment of BM-TNBC, which could be generalized to other cell types or used in imaging platforms in the future.

Effect of cabazitaxel on metastasis and proliferation of lung cancer cell A549 and its mechanism / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the effects of cabazitaxel on lung cancer cell metastasis and proliferation and the related mechanisms.Methods:Lung cancer cells A549 were divided into two groups. The experimental group were cultured with a low concentration of 50 μg/ml cabazitaxel, and the control group were cultured with an equal volume of a solution of cabazitaxel. The proliferation ability of the two groups of cells was examined using CCK8 and plate cloning experiments. The migration ability of A459 cells was verified by transwell and cell scratch experiments. The expression levels of MMP2/9, CDK4/6, and P16 protein were detected by Western blotting.Results:Compared with the control group, the cell proliferation ability of the A549 cell was weakened in the experimental group. The plate clone formation rate of the experimental group was 17.5%±2.3%, and A549 cell clone formation rate of the control group was 74.8%±4.5%. The cloning ability was reduced in the experimental group. Western blot results showed that the expression of CDK4/6 in the experimental group was down-regulated and the expression of P16 was up-regulated. The scratch healing percentage of the cells in the experimental group was 56.2%±3.8%, and the scratch healing percentage of the cells in the control group was 86.8%±5.2%. The scratch healing ability of the cells in the experimental group decreased. The transwell results showed that the experimental group had 35±4 cells per field of view, while it was 78±9 in the control group. The cell migration ability of the experimental group was decreased. Western blot results showed that the expression of MMP2/9 in the experimental group was down-regulated.Conclusion:Cabazitaxel leads to a decrease in the metastasis ability of lung cancer cells A549 through the extracellular matrix pathway, and inhibits cell proliferation by up-regulating P16.

A facile and universal method to achieve liposomal remote loading of non-ionizable drugs with outstanding safety profiles and therapeutic effect

Liposomes have made remarkable achievements as drug delivery vehicles in the clinic. Liposomal products mostly benefited from remote drug loading techniques that succeeded in amphipathic and/or ionizable drugs, but seemed impracticable for nonionizable and poorly water-soluble therapeutic agents, thereby impeding extensive promising drugs to hitchhike liposomal vehicles for disease therapy. In this study, a series of weak acid drug derivatives were designed by a simplistic one step synthesis, which could be remotely loaded into liposomes by pH gradient method. Cabazitaxel (CTX) weak acid derivatives were selected to evaluate regarding its safety profiles, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. CTX weak acid derivative liposomes were superior to Jevtana® in terms of safety profiles, including systemic toxicity, hematological toxicity, and potential central nerve toxicity. Specifically, it was demonstrated that liposomes had capacity to weaken potential toxicity of CTX on cortex and hippocampus neurons. Significant advantages of CTX weak acid derivative-loaded liposomes were achieved in prostate cancer and metastatic cancer therapy resulting from higher safety and elevated tolerated doses.

Impact of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The development and progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is the major challenge in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The androgen receptor signaling pathway remains active in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Docetaxel and cabazitaxel are the first- and second-line chemotherapy, respectively, for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These two taxanes, in general, function by (i) inhibiting mitosis and inducing apoptosis and (ii) preventing microtubule-dependent cargo trafficking. In prostate cancer, taxanes have been reported to inhibit the nuclear translocation and activity of the androgen receptor. However, whether this is attainable or not clinically remains controversial. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive view of the effects of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer.

Impact of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

The development and progression of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is the major challenge in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The androgen receptor signaling pathway remains active in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Docetaxel and cabazitaxel are the first- and second-line chemotherapy, respectively, for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. These two taxanes, in general, function by (i) inhibiting mitosis and inducing apoptosis and (ii) preventing microtubule-dependent cargo trafficking. In prostate cancer, taxanes have been reported to inhibit the nuclear translocation and activity of the androgen receptor. However, whether this is attainable or not clinically remains controversial. In this review, we will provide a comprehensive view of the effects of taxanes on androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer.

Determination of Related Substances in Cabazitaxel Injection by HPLC / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for the determination of related substances in Cabazitaxel injection. METHODS:HPLC method was used. The determination was performed on Agilent Eclipse XDB-C18column with mobile phase consisted of water-acetonitrile-ethanol(gradient elution)at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The column temperature was 35 ℃,and the detection wavelength was set at 230 nm. The sample size was 20 μ L. Established method was used to determine related substances in 3 batches of Cabazitaxel injection. RESULTS:The linear relationship of cabazitaxel were 0.039-11.60 μ g/mL(r=0.999 8,n=7). The detection limit was 2×10-4μg,and quantitation limit was 8×10-4μg. RSD of precision and reproducibility tests were all lower than 10.0%(n=6). The amount of single impurity in 3 batches of samples ranged 0.07%-0.08%,and total amount of impurities were 0.26%-0.29%. CONCLUSIONS:Established method is simple,accurate and reliable,can be used for the determination of related substances in Cabazitaxel injection.

Line of abiraterone acetate in castration‑resistant metastatic prostate cancer ‑ Does it matter? report of a multi‑institutional experience.

OBJECTIVE: We present our data comparing retrospectively the efficacy of abiraterone and cabazitaxel in patients who progress after docetaxel treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 56 patients diagnosed with hormone‑refractory metastatic prostate cancer who were previously treated with abiraterone therapy at four oncology centers in Turkey. RESULTS: With abiraterone, the patients had a median progression‑free survival (PFS) of 5.9 months (95% confidence interval (CI) for hazard ratio (HR) (4.4–7.4)) and an overall survival of 13.4 months (95% CI for HR (5.5–21.3)). When we compared the disease‑free survival (DFS) of reference patients treated with cabazitaxel as a second‑line treatment with those receiving second‑line abiraterone therapy, there was no significant difference. (PFS = 5.9 months with cabazitaxel vs. 6.7 months with abiraterone, P = 0.213). CONCLUSION: This study has shown that in our experience abiraterone acetate is an effective agent in metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) regardless of the line of treatment.

Beyond ten cycles of cabazitaxel for castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Background: There are limited data regarding cabazitaxel use beyond 10 cycles. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer who received over 10 cycles of cabazitaxel after docetaxel failure. Results: Four patients received between 14 and 27 cycles. Reasons for stopping cabazitaxel were toxicity (2), progression (1) and logistics (1). Two of the three patients with measurable disease attained a partial remission (PR). Three patients continued to have a PSA response after 10 cycles; PSA nadir occurred between 17 and 23 cycles. Other than peripheral neuropathy (PN), all the cabazitaxel-related toxicities occurred after the initial cycles and did not increase cumulatively. Clinically significant neuropathy occurred after 15-17 cycles. The cabazitaxel-induced PN was partially reversible, with improvement from grade 3 to grade 2 after a 3-5-month long drug holiday. Conclusion: Cautiously continuing cabazitaxel until progression or intolerable toxicity may maximize efficacy.