scholarly journals Melanoma of the Breast with Smoothened (SMO) Mutation: Case Report and review of the Literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 19-24
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Clark ◽  
Connie Lee ◽  
Dina Kandil ◽  
Lloyd Hutchinson ◽  
Ashraf Khan

We report the case of a 75 year-old female with past history of ampullary adenocarcinoma presenting with a rapidly enlarging breast mass, initially misclassified on fine needle aspiration as a probable sarcoma, which was ultimately diagnosed as melanoma on resection in the absence of a known cutaneous primary lesion. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of the tumor revealed a mutation in the Smoothened oncogene (SMO) of unknown significance and wild-type BRAF. To our knowledge, SMO mutation in melanoma of any site has not been previously reported, though the effectiveness of SMO inhibitors has been studied in both in vivo and in vitro models of melanoma. Currently, these inhibitors have not been studied in SMO mutant melanoma. The patient declined further therapy after resection due to multiple comorbidities. She expired two years after presenting with the breast mass from complications of high grade urothelial carcinoma.

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. e2-e2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J Cortes ◽  
John M Lloyd ◽  
Leszek Koziol ◽  
Lawrence O'Hara

OBJECTIVE To describe the safe and successful use of daptomycin-impregnated polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement in the treatment of a case of recurrent prosthetic joint infection in a patient with multiple antibiotic allergies and past colonization with multiply antibiotic-resistant organisms. CASE SUMMARY A 79-year-old female had a history of chronic recurrent left prosthetic hip infection. The patient had confirmed allergies to multiple antibiotics and a past history of colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. At first-stage revision surgery, the infected prosthesis was removed and samples were sent for microbiologic culture. A spacer device was fashioned, with incorporation of daptomycin and gentamicin into the PMMA bone cement at a concentration of 5% w/w for each antibiotic. Systemic daptomycin and gentamicin were administered postoperatively for 14 days. Propionibacterium acnes was isolated from deep-tissue specimens. The patient made excellent postoperative progress and was discharged after 2 weeks. Second-stage revision surgery was performed at 6 months, with no signs of persistent infection. She remained well, pain free, and mobilizing independently 2 years later. DISCUSSION Daptomycin, a cyclic lipopeptide antibiotic, is approved for systemic treatment of endocarditis and skin and soft tissue infections. In vitro data demonstrate acceptable drug elution from and tensile strength of daptomycin-impregnated PMMA bone cement; however, clinical data are lacking. In our patient's case, the cement formulation was well tolerated, with no adverse effects detected, and demonstrated adequate mechanical strength in vivo. Infection with P. acnes, an unusual pathogen, was successfully treated. Further clinical studies are required to assess the efficacy of daptomycin-impregnated cement in infection with more typical pathogens, such as S. aureus. CONCLUSIONS Daptomycin impregnation of PMMA bone cement may be an option in cases in which patient or pathogen factors preclude use of routinely incorporated agents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar ◽  
Nurul Iman Natasya Zulkafali ◽  
Azizah Ugusman

: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of zinc-dependent metallo-endopeptidase that are responsible towards the degradation, repair and remodelling of extracellular matrix components. MMPs play an important role in maintaining a normal physiological function and preventing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Natural products derived from plants have been used as traditional medicine for centuries. Its active compounds, such as catechin, resveratrol and quercetin, are suggested to play an important role as MMPs inhibitors, thereby opening new insights into their applications in many fields, such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. This review summarises the current knowledge on plant-derived natural products with MMP-modulating activities. Most of the reviewed plant-derived products exhibit an inhibitory activity on MMPs. Amongst MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are the most studied. The expression of MMPs is inhibited through respective signalling pathways, such as MAPK, NF-κB and PI3 kinase pathways, which contribute to the reduction in cancer cell behaviours, such as proliferation and migration. Most studies have employed in vitro models, but a limited number of animal studies and clinical trials have been conducted. Even though plant-derived products show promising results in modulating MMPs, more in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed to support their therapeutic applications in the future.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Mariusz Dziadas ◽  
Adam Junka ◽  
Henryk Jeleń

Eugenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, also referred to as Citrusin C, is a natural glucoside found among others in cloves, basil and cinnamon plants. Eugenol in a form of free aglycone is used in perfumeries, flavourings, essential oils and in medicinal products. Synthetic Citrusin C was incubated with human saliva in several in vitro models together with substrate-specific enzyme and antibiotics (clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin trihydrate and potassium clavulanate). Citrusin C was detected using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Citrusin C was completely degraded only when incubated with substrate-specific A. niger glucosidase E.C 3.2.1.21 (control sample) and when incubated with human saliva (tested sample). The addition of antibiotics to the above-described experimental setting, stopped Citrusin C degradation, indicating microbiologic origin of hydrolysis observed. Our results demonstrate that Citrusin C is subjected to complete degradation by salivary/oral cavity microorganisms. Extrapolation of our results allows to state that in the human oral cavity, virtually all β-D-glucosides would follow this type of hydrolysis. Additionally, a new method was developed for an in vivo rapid test of glucosidase activity in the human mouth on the tongue using fluorescein-di-β-D-glucoside as substrate. The results presented in this study serve as a proof of concept for the hypothesis that microbial hydrolysis path of β-D-glucosides begins immediately in the human mouth and releases the aglycone directly into the gastrointestinal tract.


2021 ◽  
Vol 108 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MI Khot ◽  
M Levenstein ◽  
R Coppo ◽  
J Kondo ◽  
M Inoue ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Three-dimensional (3D) cell models have gained reputation as better representations of in vivo cancers as compared to monolayered cultures. Recently, patient tumour tissue-derived organoids have advanced the scope of complex in vitro models, by allowing patient-specific tumour cultures to be generated for developing new medicines and patient-tailored treatments. Integrating 3D cell and organoid culturing into microfluidics, can streamline traditional protocols and allow complex and precise high-throughput experiments to be performed with ease. Method Patient-derived colorectal cancer tissue-originated organoidal spheroids (CTOS) cultures were acquired from Kyoto University, Japan. CTOS were cultured in Matrigel and stem-cell media. CTOS were treated with 5-fluorouracil and cytotoxicity evaluated via fluorescent imaging and ATP assay. CTOS were embedded, sectioned and subjected to H&E staining and immunofluorescence for ABCG2 and Ki67 proteins. HT29 colorectal cancer spheroids were produced on microfluidic devices using cell suspensions and subjected to 5-fluorouracil treatment via fluid flow. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through fluorescent imaging and LDH assay. Result 5-fluorouracil dose-dependent reduction in cell viability was observed in CTOS cultures (p<0.01). Colorectal CTOS cultures retained the histology, tissue architecture and protein expression of the colonic epithelial structure. Uniform 3D HT29 spheroids were generated in the microfluidic devices. 5-fluorouracil treatment of spheroids and cytotoxic analysis was achieved conveniently through fluid flow. Conclusion Patient-derived CTOS are better complex models of in vivo cancers than 3D cell models and can improve the clinical translation of novel treatments. Microfluidics can streamline high-throughput screening and reduce the practical difficulties of conventional organoid and 3D cell culturing. Take-home message Organoids are the most advanced in vitro models of clinical cancers. Microfluidics can streamline and improve traditional laboratory experiments.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasaman Barekatain ◽  
Jeffrey J. Ackroyd ◽  
Victoria C. Yan ◽  
Sunada Khadka ◽  
Lin Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractHomozygous deletion of methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) in cancers such as glioblastoma represents a potentially targetable vulnerability. Homozygous MTAP-deleted cell lines in culture show elevation of MTAP’s substrate metabolite, methylthioadenosine (MTA). High levels of MTA inhibit protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), which sensitizes MTAP-deleted cells to PRMT5 and methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (MAT2A) inhibition. While this concept has been extensively corroborated in vitro, the clinical relevance relies on exhibiting significant MTA accumulation in human glioblastoma. In this work, using comprehensive metabolomic profiling, we show that MTA secreted by MTAP-deleted cells in vitro results in high levels of extracellular MTA. We further demonstrate that homozygous MTAP-deleted primary glioblastoma tumors do not significantly accumulate MTA in vivo due to metabolism of MTA by MTAP-expressing stroma. These findings highlight metabolic discrepancies between in vitro models and primary human tumors that must be considered when developing strategies for precision therapies targeting glioblastoma with homozygous MTAP deletion.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 884
Author(s):  
Marta Cherubini ◽  
Scott Erickson ◽  
Kristina Haase

Acting as the primary link between mother and fetus, the placenta is involved in regulating nutrient, oxygen, and waste exchange; thus, healthy placental development is crucial for a successful pregnancy. In line with the increasing demands of the fetus, the placenta evolves throughout pregnancy, making it a particularly difficult organ to study. Research into placental development and dysfunction poses a unique scientific challenge due to ethical constraints and the differences in morphology and function that exist between species. Recently, there have been increased efforts towards generating in vitro models of the human placenta. Advancements in the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), microfluidics, and bioprinting have each contributed to the development of new models, which can be designed to closely match physiological in vivo conditions. By including relevant placental cell types and control over the microenvironment, these new in vitro models promise to reveal clues to the pathogenesis of placental dysfunction and facilitate drug testing across the maternal–fetal interface. In this minireview, we aim to highlight current in vitro placental models and their applications in the study of disease and discuss future avenues for these in vitro models.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 1093-1109
Author(s):  
Lisheng Xie ◽  
Qiongqiong Zhou ◽  
Xiaorui Chen ◽  
Xiaoping Du ◽  
Zhibiao Liu ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gheed Al-Hity ◽  
FengWei Yang ◽  
Eduard Campillo-Funollet ◽  
Andrew E. Greenstein ◽  
Hazel Hunt ◽  
...  

AbstractInvestigational in vitro models that reflect the complexity of the interaction between the immune system and tumours are limited and difficult to establish. Herein, we present a platform to study the tumour-immune interaction using a co-culture between cancer spheroids and activated immune cells. An algorithm was developed for analysis of confocal images of the co-culture to evaluate the following quantitatively; immune cell infiltration, spheroid roundness and spheroid growth. As a proof of concept, the effect of the glucocorticoid stress hormone, cortisol was tested on 66CL4 co-culture model. Results were comparable to 66CL4 syngeneic in vivo mouse model undergoing psychological stress. Furthermore, administration of glucocorticoid receptor antagonists demonstrated the use of this model to determine the effect of treatments on the immune-tumour interplay. In conclusion, we provide a method of quantifying the interaction between the immune system and cancer, which can become a screening tool in immunotherapy design.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7929
Author(s):  
Megan Chesnut ◽  
Thomas Hartung ◽  
Helena Hogberg ◽  
David Pamies

Neurodevelopment is uniquely sensitive to toxic insults and there are concerns that environmental chemicals are contributing to widespread subclinical developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Increased DNT evaluation is needed due to the lack of such information for most chemicals in common use, but in vivo studies recommended in regulatory guidelines are not practical for the large-scale screening of potential DNT chemicals. It is widely acknowledged that developmental neurotoxicity is a consequence of disruptions to basic processes in neurodevelopment and that testing strategies using human cell-based in vitro systems that mimic these processes could aid in prioritizing chemicals with DNT potential. Myelination is a fundamental process in neurodevelopment that should be included in a DNT testing strategy, but there are very few in vitro models of myelination. Thus, there is a need to establish an in vitro myelination assay for DNT. Here, we summarize the routes of myelin toxicity and the known models to study this particular endpoint.


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