Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-158). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

Misonidazole (Ro 07-0582) is a nitroheterocyclic drug which sensitizes hypoxic (oxygen-deficient) cells to the lethal action of ionising radiation. Tumours contain radioresistant hypoxic cells which may limit the usefulness of radiotherapy as a modality of cancer treatment. The use of misonidazole as an adjunct to radiotherapy may improve the local control of such tumours, and clinical trials are in progress. Misonidazole is selectively toxic to hypoxic cells, even in the absence of radiation. This effect may be related to the clinical toxicity of the drug, which limits the dose of misonidazole which may be delivered safely, and, thus, limits the effectiveness of the radiosensitizer. The selective toxicity of misonidazole is believed to be related to its metabolism in hypoxic cells. Reduction of nitroaromatic compounds, such as nitrobenzene, is inhibited by oxygen; thus, reductive activation of misonidazole to a toxic species may explain the selective action of the drug against hypoxic cells. We have studied the reductive chemistry of misonidazole, and its metabolism, using a variety of chemical and in vitro biological techniques. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) enhances the toxicity of misonidazole to hypoxic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. This marked enhancement appears to be caused by accelerated drug metabolism in the presence of ascorbate. Chemical reduction of misonidazole by zinc dust yields a mixture of azo-misonidazole and azoxy-misonidazole. These compounds were separated by preparative reversed-phase liquid chromatography, char- acterized chemically, and tested for in vitro biological activity. Azo-misonidazole is almost non-toxic, but azoxy-misonidazole is more toxic than misonidazole itself. Misonidazole was reduced by the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (XO) system, under hypoxia. This enzymatic reduction yielded a single major product, which appears to be hydroxylamino-misonidazole. The same enzyme system also reduces azo- and azoxy-misonidazole. The metabolic transformation of ¹⁴C-misonidazole was studied, using dense suspensions of CHO cells in hypoxia. Misonidazole is converted into several polar products, and binding to acid-insoluble material (presumably macromolecules) was observed. The organic-soluble metabolite fraction contains a compound with identical chromatographic properties to the xanthine/XO product, believed to be hydroxylamino-misonidazole. The significance of these results is discussed in the context of the clinical potential of misonidazole and related drugs as radiosensitizers. The possibility of exploiting hypoxic cytotoxicity as a selective chemotherapy for hypoxic tumour cells is considered. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2007. / Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences." "A thesis entitled"--at head of title. Bibliography: leaves 53-55.

Local control of tumours by radiotherapy may fail due to the presence of regions of hypoxic cells. Radiosensitizers, such as nitroimidazoles, enhance killing of the resistant cells by ionizing radiation. However, dose limiting side-effects have prevented the attainment of maximum sensitization. The successful chemotherapeutic drug, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP), and analogues show moderate radiosensitizing effects, possibly because of binding to DNA. A rationale is then to use the DNA binding property of a metal to carry a sensitizer to the target of radiation damage, DNA, thereby improving the radiosensitizing effect while reducing the toxic side-effects of nitroimidazoles. The complex cis-RuCI₂(dmso)₄ was used as a precursor for synthesis of Ru(II)-nitroimidazole complexes because of its anti-tumour and DNA binding activities. A series of Ru(II) complexes of formulation RuCI₂(dmso)₂Ln, where dmso is S-bonded dimethyl sulphoxide, L = a nitroimidazole, and n=1 or 2, has been synthesized and characterized, and their toxicities and radiosensitizing abilities examined in vitro. When L = 2-nitroimidazole or a substituted-2-nitroimidazole, n = 2, but the nitroimidazole ligands dissociate in aqueous medium. With L = the 5-nitroimidazole, metronidazole, n=2, the sensitizing ability of the six-coordinate cis complex was disappointing with sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.2 in hypoxic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. A series of 4-nitroimidazoles ligands was then studied. With L = 4-nitroimidazole (4-NO₂-Im), 1-(1' -aziridinyl-2' -propanol)-2-methyl-4-nitroimidazole (RSU-1170), 2-(1,2-dimethyl-4-nitroimidazolyl)-2-aminoethanol (RSU-3083), and 1-methyl-4-nitro-5-phenoxyimidazole (RSU-3100), n=2 and the six coordinate complexes appear to be of all cis geometry. The NMe-4-NO₂-Im ligand (n=1) chelates through the imidazole-N and the oxygen of NO₂ group as evidenced from spectroscopic data. Coordination via the nitrito group is uncommon and other examples involving nitroimidazole ligands have not been reported. For the 1-methyl-5-(2'-thioimidazolyl)-4-nitroimidazole (RSU-3159) ligand (n=1), binding to Ru occurs through the thioether and chelation may occur through the imidazole-NCH₃. In this series of Ru(II)-4-nitroimidazole complexes studied, RuC1₂(dmso)₂-NO₂-Im)₂, 5, was the most effective radiosensitizer (SER = 1.6 at 200 ,μM) and is better than the clinically used misonidazole (SER = 1.3 at 200 μM). In addition, 5 did not sensitize oxic CHO cells. Other Ru-N-substituted-4-nitroimidazole complexes gave SER values of 1.1-1.4 at 100-200 μM. Complex 5 also produced a dose-dependent increase in genotoxic activity (as measured by the in vitro induction of chromosome aberrations in CHO cells), which is similar to that of misonidazole but much less than that of c/s-DDP. Two changes in ancillary ligands and geometry of complexes were also examined: replacement of (i) dmso by tmso (tetramethylene sulphoxide), (ii) C1⁻ by Br⁻. The Ru-nitroimidazole complexes were synthesized from the precursors RuCl₂(tmso)₄ and trans-RuBr₂(dmso)₄. In this series of complexes, only RuCl₂(tmso)₂(4-NO₂-Im)₂, 15, and RuCl₂(tmso)₂(SR-2508), 18, have significantly higher SER values (1.6 and 1.5, respectively) than their corresponding nitroimidazole ligands. The tmso complexes of 2-NO₂-Im derivatives were more stable than the dmso series in aqueous solution with respect to the dissociation of the nitroimidazole ligands, which might be due to the improved lipophilicity of tmso complexes. Complex 18. is suggested to be penta-coordinated from XPS and ir data. The RuBr₂(dmso)₂(4-NO₂-Im)₂ was a less effective sensitizer (SER = 1.3 at 200 μM) than the dichloro analogue which may result from different geometrical structures or different behaviour in aqueous solution chemistry. The enhanced radiosensitizing effect over the corresponding free nitroimidazole ligand observed for complexes 5, 15 and 18 may depend on: (a) the metal's ability to target the sensitizer to DNA; complex 5 does bind to DNA, dissociation of C1⁻ perhaps facilitating the reaction; (b) the increase in reduction potential or (c) an increase in lipophilicity of the nitroimidazole ligand on coordination. However, the enhanced radiosensitization does not result from depletion of non-protein thiols. In the present study, the Ru complexes are less toxic than their corresponding nitroimiazole ligands in vitro. The radiosensitization and toxicity of the complexes 5, 15 and 18 are better than those of the free nitroimidazole ligands and the clinically used radiosensitizer, misonidazole. The data encourage further investigations of the use of transition metal complexes as radiosensitizers to combat the hypoxic tumour cells. [Formula Omitted] / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Dept. of Radiology, August 2000. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

It is well established that many solid tumours are heterogeneous with respect to oxygenation, and contain regions of hypoxic cells, which due to their inherent resistance to ionizing radiation, limit the success of radiotherapy. Numerous chemicals and drugs have been investigated over the past few decades as potential radiosensitizers. The most notable of these being the organometallic compound, cis-diammine dichloroplatinum(II). The clinical success of this drug led to the synthesis of other types of organic cytotoxic metal-containing drugs. Prof. J.C. Swart from the University of the Orange Free State supplied seventeen novel iridium, ferrecenium and rhodium complexes, which I screened for cytotoxic activity against the CHO cell line. The two most cytotoxic complexes namely, [Rh(fctca)(cod)] and [Rh(fctfa)(cod)], were tested for radiosensitizing potential against aerobic and hypoxic CHO cells in the presence of an 8 MV photon beam by the MTT assay adapted to our laboratory conditions. The ferrocene betadiketones co-ordinated to them, Hfctca and Hfctfa and the Ir compliment of [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] namely, [Ir(fctfa)(cod)] were also assessed by the MTT assay. Interestingly, neither the ferrocene nor the iridium complexes showed noteworthy sensitization, which suggests that the rhodium is responsible for the efficacy observed. The radiosensitizing potential of the most active complex, [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] and cisplatin were also confirmed by the use of the more traditional clonogenic assay. Not only did the MTT assay deliver results comparable to the clonogenic technique, but one of the complexes [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] showed radiosensitizing potential against hypoxic CHO cells, equal to that of cisplatin. The rhodium complex, [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] was also tested for radiosensitization properties against the CHO cell line in the presence of a p(66)/Be neutron beam. Results indicated that [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] sensitizes cells to radiation possibly by inhibition of cell inactivation mechanisms that are normally associated with repairable damage. Consequent work done on the flow cytometer where direct DNA damage after irradiation (8 MV photon beam) and drug treatment, was assessed on aerobic CHO cells by a technique adapted to our laboratory showed no significant increase in the forward angle scattered light (FSC) parameter which is an indication of radiation induced strand breaks. Furthermore, [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] showed a significantly greater increase in the side angle scattered light (SSC) parameter, which is an indication of the binding ability of the complex, compared to cisplatin, after treatment with different concentrations of the drugs. Results obtained from enumerating micronuclei frequencies after drug treatment and radiation confirmed that both cisplatin and [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] are more active under hypoxic conditions, with [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] responsible for more micronuclei per binucleated cell. In conclusion, I have established that [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] has a cytotoxic activity comparable to that of cisplatin and that it sensitizes preferentially hypoxic CHO cells to radiation in the clinically relevant dose range. I have also identified the probable action by which [Rh(fctfa)(cod)] sensitizes CHO cells to radiation as being inhibition of repair capacity. Furthermore, results suggest that this complex binds covalently to DNA base pairs. The complex [Rh (fctfa) (cod)] , has so far proven to possess interesting radiosensitizing potential which must be exploited for eventual therapeutic benefit. / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Physics))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Medical Oncology / unrestricted

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Breast Cancer remains one of the world’s leading causes of cancer related deaths amongst women. Its treatment has evolved from invasive, highly toxic therapies to treatments that possess a higher specificity and a lower toxicity. Despite improvements in overall survival, many patients do not benefit from these agents because of acquired and/or inherent tumour resistance, which could hinder treatment efficacy. Novel treatment strategies are, therefore, warranted to address these challenges and to significantly improve patient responses. Inhibiting components of the HER-2 signalling pathway can significantly sensitise breast cancer cells to low doses of ionising radiation. The objective of this study was to inhibit key molecular targets of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) signalling pathway and expose breast cancer cell lines to doses of radiation, so as to establish potential therapeutic targets that may be amenable to combined modality therapy, and formulate a cocktail of inhibitors to evaluate its radiosensitising capability. This study found that pre-treatment of two breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) with a HER-2 inhibitor (TAK-165) had little or no effect on radiosensitivity. However, a radiation enhancement was observed when these cells were pre-treated either with BEZ235, a dual inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and mammalian target for rapamycin (mTOR), or a cocktail of TAK-165 and BEZ235. These findings suggest that concurrent inhibition of HER-2, PI3K and mTOR during radiotherapy might improve treatment response of breast cancer patients. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Borskanker bly steeds een van die leidende oorsake van sterftes aan kanker in vrouens. Behandeling het vanaf ‘n ingrypende, hoogs toksiese terapie verander na ‘n regimen wat hoogs spesifiek met ‘n laer toksisiteit is. Nogtans trek baie pasiënte geen voordeel uit hierdie nuwe benadering nie, omdat inherente en/of verworwe tumorweerstand daarteen suksesvolle uitkomste verhoed. Nuwe behandelingstrategieë is dus nodig om hierdie uitdagings te bekamp en om resultate in pasiënte aansienlik te verbeter. Inhibisie van komponente van die HER-2-seinoordragkaskade kan borskankerselle gevoelig maak vir lae dosisse van geïoniseerde bestraling. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om sleutelteikens in die HER-2- seinoordragkaskade te inhibeer en om borskankerselle daarna aan bestralings dosisse bloot te stel. Sodoende word potensiële terapeutiese teikens wat vatbaar is vir gekombineerde modaliteitsterapie geïdentifiseer, waarna ‘n kombinasie van inhibitore geformuleer en geëvalueer kan word ten opsigte van hulle kapasiteit om gevoeligheid vir bestraling te verhoog. Die studie bevind dat voorbehandeling met ‘n HER-2-inhibitor (TAK-165) van borskankersellyne (MDA-MB-231 en MCF-7) min of geen invloed gehad het op stralingsensitiwiteit nie. ‘n Stralingsversterking is egter geïdentifiseer toe die selle vooraf behandel is met óf BEZ-235, ‘n tweevoudige inhibitor van fosforinositied 3-kinase (PI3K) en soogdierteiken vir rapamisien (mTOR), óf ‘n mengsel van TAK-165 en BEZ-235. Hierdie bevindinge suggereer dat gelyktydige inhibisie van die HER-2- seinoordragkaskade, PI3K en mTOR gedurende stralingsterapie moontlik die uitkoms in borskankerpasiënte kan verbeter.

A compreensão dos mecanismos que regulam o endométrio e suas implicações clínicas podem contribuir para melhorar as taxas de implantação do embrião humano. Apesar de muitas proteínas e moléculas influenciarem a receptividade endometrial, sua contribuição coordenada para o processo de implantação do embrião ainda é pouco compreendida. Dentre a complexa rede que guia este processo em direção à preparação de um endométrio receptivo se encontram as citocinas, das quais a interleucina-11 (IL-11) e o fator inibidor de leucemia (LIF) desempenham papel essencial. Estudos demonstram que a interrupção das vias de sinalização celular dessas citocinas prejudica ou mesmo impede a implantação, implicando diretamente na fertilidade feminina. Além disso, a hiperinsulinemia afeta negativamente a fertilidade da mulher. Dentro desse contexto, a metformina, fármaco antidiabético, pode exercer efeitos positivos sobre a expressão da IL-11 e LIF, revertendo o possível prejuízo do excesso de insulina sobre a secreção dessas citocinas. Para avaliar esse efeito, utilizou-se um modelo de cultura primária de células estromais de endométrio humano expostas aos hormônios sexuais femininos estrogênio e progesterona, divididas em grupos: controle, metformina, insulina, e associação insulina e metformina. Utilizando RT-qPCR e ensaio imunoenzimático de ELISA, foram avaliadas a expressão gênica e proteica, respectivamente, das duas citocinas. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os grupos. O ensaio de MTT para avaliar a proliferação celular permitiu a verificação da ação antiproliferativa da metformina sobre o grupo hiperinsulinêmico. Embora as hipóteses formuladas nesse estudo encontrem forte sustentação na literatura, no modelo proposto não foi possível encontrar diferenças na expressão da IL-11 e LIF. Dada a complexa regulação de todos os fatores considerados nessa pesquisa e suas múltiplas inter-relações, mais estudos são necessários para esclarecer os mecanismos que orquestram essa complexa rede. / The understanding of the endometrium regulation and its clinical implications can help to improve implantation rates of the human embryo. Although many proteins and molecules influence the endometrial receptivity, their coordinated contribution to embryo implantation process is still poorly understood. Among the complex pathways involved in this process toward the preparation to a receptive endometrium are the cytokines, including interleukin -11 (IL- 11) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) that play an essential role. It has been shown that disruption of cellular signaling pathways of these cytokines impairs or even prevents implantation, direct implications on fertility. Moreover, the hyperinsulinemia can negatively affected women's fertility. Within this context, metformin, an antidiabetic drug, may exert positive effects on the expression of IL-11 and LIF, reversing the possible effects insulin excess. To evaluate this effect, a model of primary culture of human endometrial stromal cells exposed to female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone was used. Cells were divided in groups: control, metformin, insulin, association insulin and metformin. From qRT-PCR and ELISA immunoenzymatic assay gene expression and protein, respectively, of the two cytokines were evaluated. No differences were observed between groups. Additionally, the assay to evaluate cell proliferation MTT found the important antiproliferative action of metformin on hyperinsulinemic group. In the proposed model could not find differences in the expression of IL-11 and LIF. Given the complex regulation of all factors considered in this study and their multiple interrelationships, more studies are required to unravel the mechanisms that orchestrate this complex network.

Background: The augmented whole body glucose uptake response to insulin during the postprandial state is described as meal-induced sensitization (MIS). MIS occurs when the presence of food in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) activates two feeding signals (activation of hepatic parasympathetic nerves and elevation of hepatic glutathione level), and causes insulin to release hepatic insulin sensitizing substance (HISS), which stimulates glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. The impairment of HISS release results in the absence of meal-induced insulin sensitization (AMIS), causing progression to a cluster of metabolic, vascular, and cardiac dysfunction, which we refer to as components of the AMIS syndrome. Objectives: The objective of my doctoral research was to study the manipulation of the HISS-pathway, in age- and diet-induced AMIS models, with exercise ± antioxidants. Also, in a separate project I studied the signaling pathways involved with the HISS action in skeletal muscle. Methods: The 7-day voluntary running was used as exercise intervention to manipulate the HISS pathway in healthy and prediabetic rats. The interaction of an antioxidant cocktail, SAMEC (S-adenosylmethionine + vitamin E + vitamin C), with the effects of exercise on postprandial insulin response was studied. Moreover, in the signaling studies the insulin and 5'-adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways were examined to test their possible involvement with the HISS action in skeletal muscle. Results: Voluntary running-wheel exercise for 7 days increases the postprandial glucose uptake response to insulin in health and in prediabetes through enhancement/restoration of HISS action. Supplementation with SAMEC during 7 days of exercise does not either harm or add benefits to the positive effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity. Finally, the signaling studies indicate that HISS increases the rate of glycogen synthesis in muscle through an insulin/AMPK-independent pathway.

Background: The augmented whole body glucose uptake response to insulin during the postprandial state is described as meal-induced sensitization (MIS). MIS occurs when the presence of food in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) activates two feeding signals (activation of hepatic parasympathetic nerves and elevation of hepatic glutathione level), and causes insulin to release hepatic insulin sensitizing substance (HISS), which stimulates glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. The impairment of HISS release results in the absence of meal-induced insulin sensitization (AMIS), causing progression to a cluster of metabolic, vascular, and cardiac dysfunction, which we refer to as components of the AMIS syndrome. Objectives: The objective of my doctoral research was to study the manipulation of the HISS-pathway, in age- and diet-induced AMIS models, with exercise ± antioxidants. Also, in a separate project I studied the signaling pathways involved with the HISS action in skeletal muscle. Methods: The 7-day voluntary running was used as exercise intervention to manipulate the HISS pathway in healthy and prediabetic rats. The interaction of an antioxidant cocktail, SAMEC (S-adenosylmethionine + vitamin E + vitamin C), with the effects of exercise on postprandial insulin response was studied. Moreover, in the signaling studies the insulin and 5'-adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathways were examined to test their possible involvement with the HISS action in skeletal muscle. Results: Voluntary running-wheel exercise for 7 days increases the postprandial glucose uptake response to insulin in health and in prediabetes through enhancement/restoration of HISS action. Supplementation with SAMEC during 7 days of exercise does not either harm or add benefits to the positive effects of exercise on insulin sensitivity. Finally, the signaling studies indicate that HISS increases the rate of glycogen synthesis in muscle through an insulin/AMPK-independent pathway.