TGF-ß receptor inhibitor LY2109761 enhances the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer by inactivating the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway.

Radiotherapy is used to treat gastric cancer (GC); however, radioresistance challenges the clinical outcomes of GC, and the mechanisms of radioresistance in GC remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the TGF-ß receptor inhibitor, LY2109761 (LY), is a potential radiosensitizer both in vitro and in vivo. As per the Cancer Genome Atlas database, TGF-ß overexpression is significantly related to poor overall survival in GC patients. We demonstrated that the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway was activated in both radioresistant GC cells and radioresistant GC patients. As a TGF-ß receptor inhibitor, LY can enhance the activities of irradiation by inhibiting cell proliferation, decreasing clonogenicity and increasing apoptosis. Moreover, LY attenuated the radiation-induced migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammatory factor activation, immunosuppression, and cancer stem cell characteristics of GC cells, thus leading to radiosensitization of the GC cells. We confirmed that LY reduced tumor growth, inhibited TGF-ß/SMAD4 pathway activation and reversed irradiation-induced EMT in a tumor xenograft model. Our findings indicate that the novel TGF-ß receptor inhibitor, LY, increases GC radiosensitivity by directly regulating the TGF-ß/SMAD4 signaling pathway. These findings provide new insight for radiotherapy in GC patients.

Efficacy of SXN in the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Phase IV Clinical Trial.

Shengxuening (SXN) tablet is extracted from the excrement of the silkworm and has effects on hematopoiesis. The main components of SXN are chlorophyll derivatives and sodium iron chlorophyllin (SIC). The present study aims to investigate the efficiency and safety of SXN on iron deficiency anemia. This phase IV, multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 31 hospitals in China from June 2001 to April 2002. Adults and children were randomly divided into low-dose (L-SXN), medium-dose (M-SXN), and high-dose (H-SXN) groups, respectively. The course of treatment was 1 month. Peripheral hemogram levels and iron status were examined before and after treatment. Adults in all three dose groups demonstrated a significant increase in hemoglobin (HGB) concentration. Children who received SXN treatment in medium and high doses also demonstrated increased HGB concentration. Reticulocyte counts increased at the end of treatment in the M-SXN and H-SXN adult groups and in the M-SXN child group. For both children and adults, SXN in the three dose groups was found to significantly elevate red blood cell level, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The total effective rate in the SXN-treated group reached 84.8%. The incidence of adverse events was 4.07%. The most common side effects were nausea (2.83%), diarrhea (0.74%), and rash (0.25%). SXN was proved to be efficient and safe for adults and children with iron deficiency anemia.