Real-time PCR-based method for the rapid detection of extended RAS mutations using bridged nucleic acids in colorectal cancer.

Mutations in RAS and BRAF are predictors of the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Therefore, simple, rapid, cost-effective methods to detect these mutations in the clinical setting are greatly needed. In the present study, we evaluated BNA Real-time PCR Mutation Detection Kit Extended RAS (BNA Real-time PCR), a real-time PCR method that uses bridged nucleic acid clamping technology to rapidly detect mutations in RAS exons 2-4 and BRAF exon 15. Genomic DNA was extracted from 54 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples obtained from mCRC patients. Among the 54 FFPE samples, BNA Real-time PCR detected 21 RAS mutations (38.9%) and 5 BRAF mutations (9.3%), and the reference assay (KRAS Mutation Detection Kit and MEBGEN™ RASKET KIT) detected 22 RAS mutations (40.7%). The concordance rate of detected RAS mutations between the BNA Real-time PCR assay and the reference assays was 98.2% (53/54). The BNA Real-time PCR assay proved to be a more simple, rapid, and cost-effective method for detecting KRAS and RAS mutations compared with existing assays. These findings suggest that BNA Real-time PCR is a valuable tool for predicting the efficacy of early anti-EGFR therapy in mCRC patients.

Pharmacokinetic disposition of anagliptin, a novel dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, in rats and dogs.

The pharmacokinetic disposition of anagliptin, an orally active and highly selective dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor was evaluated in male rats and dogs. Anagliptin was well absorbed in dogs (70.4 %) and moderately to well absorbed in rats ranging from 38.1 to 85.5 % depending on the dose. In situ testing indicated that anagliptin absorption from rat intestine was apparently limited by P-glycoprotein. The absorbed radioactivity was distributed rapidly throughout the body, and high levels of radioactivity were found in the tissues expressing DPP-4 at high levels, especially small intestine, kidney and liver. In both species, the major circulating component was unchanged anagliptin; major circulating metabolites were M1 resulting from hydrolysis of the cyano group and M6 and M7, both of which resulting from the oxidation-cleavage of the methylene function adjacent to the amine. After intravenous dosing, urinary excretion of radioactivity was the major route of elimination for rats (64.6 %) and dogs (66.2 %), and biliary excretion was demonstrated to be an important pathway in rats (25.2 %). The total recovery was good (97.5-99.5 %) and most of the radioactivity was excreted by 24 h in both species. The renal clearance of unbound anagliptin in rats (91.7 ml/min/kg) was much higher than the glomerular filtration rate, indicative of active renal elimination.

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable isoindoline class dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

Focused structure-activity relationships of isoindoline class DPP-IV inhibitors have led to the discovery of 4b as a highly selective, potent inhibitor of DPP-IV. In vivo studies in Wistar/ST rats showed that 4b was converted into the strongly active metabolite 4l in high yield, resulting in good in vivo efficacy for antihyperglycemic activity.