2-deoxy-D-Glucose Synergizes with Doxorubicin or L-Buthionine Sulfoximine to Reduce Adhesion and Migration of Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer metastasis depends on cell motility which is driven by cycles of actin polymerization and depolymerization. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and metabolic oxidative stress have long been associated with cancer. ROS play a vital role in regulating actin dynamics that are sensitive to oxidative modification. The current work aimed at studying the effects of sub-lethal metabolic oxidative stress on actin cytoskeleton, focal adhesion and cell migration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T47D human breast cancer cells were treated with 2-deoxy- D-glucose (2DG), L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO), or doxorubicin (DOX), individually or in combination, and changes in intracellular total glutathione and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. The expression of three major antioxidant enzymes was studied by immunoblotting, and cells were stained with fluorescent- phalloidin to evaluate changes in F-actin organization. In addition, cell adhesion and degradation ability were measured. Cell migration was studied using wound healing and transwell migration assays. RESULTS: Our results show that treating T47D human breast cancer cells with drug combinations (2DG/BSO, 2DG/DOX, or BSO/DOX) decreased intracellular total glutathione and increased oxidized glutathione, lipid peroxidation, and cytotoxicity. In addition, the drug combinations caused a reduction in cell area and mitotic index, prophase arrest and a decreased ability to form invadopodia. The formation of F-actin aggregates was increased in treated T47D cells. Moreover, combination therapy reduced cell adhesion and the rate of cell migration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure of T47D breast cancer cells to combination therapy reduces cell migration via effects on metabolic oxidative stress.

Feasibility of collecting umbilical cord blood in jordan and the effect of maternal and neonatal factors on hematopoietic stem cell content.

BACKGROUND: Cord blood transplant is an accepted treatment for many malignant and non-malignant diseases. We sought to determine the feasibility of collecting cord blood in Jordan and the effect of maternal and fetal factors on the quality of the cord blood units. METHODS: A total of 124 cord blood units were collected, and 75 (60%) cord blood units were included in this analysis. Cord blood volume, total nucleated cell (TNC) count, cell viability and CD34(+) content were measured, and clonogenic assay was performed. RESULTS: The mean volume of the collected units was 68.9 ml (range 40-115) with mean nucleated cell count of 6.5 x 10(8) (range 1-23.0). Our results showed a positive correlation between the volume of cord blood and TNC count (p=0.008), cell viability (p=0.001), CD34(+) content (p=0.034) and the length of the umbilical cord (p=0.011). In addition, our results showed an inverse relation between the Colony Forming Unit-Granulocyte Macrophage (CFU-GM) concentration and the gestation duration (p=0.038). CONCLUSION: We conclude that it is feasible to collect cord blood units in Jordan with excellent TNC and CD34(+) cell content. The volume of cord blood collected was associated with higher TNC count and CD34(+) count. Efforts toward establishing public cord blood banks in our area are warranted.

African Jordanian population genetic database on fifteen short tandem repeat genetic loci.

AIM: To establish a genetic database of the African-Jordanian population for forensic and paternity testing purposes. METHOD: Allelic distribution at fifteen short tandem repeat (STR) loci was determined for 95 healthy unrelated African-Jordanians. The 15 autosomal STR loci, included within the GenePrint PowerPlex 16 system, were amplified from the subset of the 95 DNA extracts isolated from the population sample. Electrophoresis for each polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was carried out using the ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer and the length of the amplified DNA fragments was determined using the Genotype 2.0 and PowerTyper 16 Macro softwares. Calculations of allelic frequencies, forensic efficiency parameters, Hardy-Weinberg departure, and quantitative analysis of the allele frequencies in various populations were determined. RESULTS: DNA extracts were successfully amplified and the genetic database was compiled. All tested loci showed no significant statistical deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Furthermore, no significant difference was observed between the sample population under investigation and other population genetic databases. CONCLUSION: The loci investigated here proved to be sufficiently polymorphic for forensic purposes, since the forensic efficiency values suggest that they are very discriminating in the African-Jordanian subpopulation.

Isolation and characterization of Candida spp. in Jordanian cancer patients: prevalence, pathogenic determinants, and antifungal sensitivity.

The presence of Candida spp. in the oral cavity was evaluated in 95 cancer patients (57 in-patients and 38 out-patients) and in 65 healthcare workers in Amman, Jordan. Candida carriage occurred in 72.6% of cancer patients and 33.8% of healthcare workers, with Candida albicans being the species most commonly recovered, followed by C. glabrata. In-patients were found to harbor Candida spp. at significantly higher levels than out-patients (P = 0.0044). The number of adhered C. albicans cells and the secretion of extracellular proteinase was significantly higher in the in-patient group than in the out-patient group (P = 0.0016 and 0.00007, respectively); this significant difference was not observed regarding phospholipase secretion. Antifungal sensitivity testing data suggest that isolates were most sensitive to amphotericin B and nystatin, and least sensitive to miconazole and fluconazole, which are commonly used antifungal agents in Jordan.