Cancer Science & Therapy

Background: The properties of Gold Nanoparticles (GNPs) make them useful for cancer therapy, diagnostics and imaging. For the application of GNPs in therapy and drug delivery there is a great necessity to synthesize known particle size of GNPs with simple methods. This study aimed to optimize a novel simple method for synthesizing GNPs. Methods: GNPs were synthesized by using different citrate concentrations (40, 100 and 150 mM) through reduction of hydrogen tetrachloroaurate (HAuCl4) of varying concentrations. The synthesized GNPs were characterized with transmission electron microscope, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and size distributions with dynamic light scattering. Results: At 40 mM citrate concentration, different particle sizes (18-28 nm), non-round and not homogenous GNPs were formed; at 100 mM citrate concentration, more round GNPs were formed and the particle size reduced to nearly 12 nm with very narrow particle size distribution; at 150 mM citrate concentration, the GNPs size increased up to 18 nm and the homogeneity of the particle size distribution reduced as indicted from both Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) image and distribution profile. When HAuCl4 concentration increased from 1 to 4 mM, the particle size of GNPs increased from 12 nm to nearly 20 nm, respectively. Conclusions: At 40 mM citrate concentration, the coverage of citrate is incomplete and the aggregation process leads to the formation of inhomogenous GNPs; at 100 mM citrate concentrations, the citrate behaves as a pH mediator explains the reduction of the particle size. The increase of HAuCl4 concentration causes retardation of the nucleation step forming lower number of nuclei in the solution and thus increases the final particle size and polydispersity.

The Philadelphia chromosome was the first consistent cytogenetic abnormality observed in a human cancer. Several characteristic chromosome rearrangements like double minute chromosomes are known to be associated with different subtypes of myeloid leukemia. Double Minute Chromosomes are the cytogenetic hallmarks of genomic rearrangements in cancers. Two cases, one with AML-M1 and the other with CML- blast crisis, associated with double minute chromosomes and Philadelphia chromosome is presented. The additional chromosome changes to primary chromosome abnormality may be influenced by other factor like chemotherapy. The identification of two new cases with co-expression of double minute chromosomes and Ph chromosome presented here for the first time in Iran together with large Mitelman database and other pertinent website reports is discussed.

Olive leaves samples obtained from two representative regions in Jordan and from different olive tree varieties were extracted with ethanol and assayed for their anticancer activity. The brine shrimp lethality bioassay results (LC50) ranged from 0.15 ppm for Roomy cultivar to 305.10 ppm for Shami cultivar from Amman area. Anti tumor activity using cell viability assay showed very low (IC50) arround 100 µg for 3 extracts (Roomy, Roomy Kfary, K18) on 7 Cancer cell lines (breast cancer MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, skin cancer C32 and MV3, colon cancer SW480, SW620 and HCT 116). Cell cycle analysis and cell death assay using 100 μg of Roomy Kfary extract on selected cell lines (breast cancer MCF-7, skin cancer C32, colon cancer SW420) showed exceptional cancer cells death (apoptosis) after 48 hours (19.16%, 63.86%, 56.78%), respectively. High safety index obtained on normal Fibroblast cells ≥ 100%. At low dosge (25ppm) of extracts on normal fibroblast the percent proliferation became 9 to 10-fold its normal proliferation during 48 hours. These results sugest Jordanian olive cultivars leaves extracts as a powerful anticancer drug.

The skin is an uncommon site of metastasis of the internal cancers. The majority of cutaneous metastases are diagnosed after the primary cancer; but they can be the telltale sign of an unknown malignancy. They represent a sign of poor prognosis with a survival rate not exceeding a few months. We report the results of a retrospective study conducted in department of medical oncology at Hassan II University Hospital, including 12 patients with cutaneous metastases. The aim of this work is to show the rarity of skin as metastatic site, to analyze the clinical aspects of cutaneous metastasis, the most criminalized primary cancers and the prognosis value of this metastatic localization.

This article explores the role of uterine artery embolization in the management of bleeding secondary to cervical carcinoma. Uterine artery embolization is a safe and effective treatment for control of massive bleeding in cervical cancer. This conservative treatment not only improve the patients quality of life by reducing the risk of profound anaemia but also help them to be ready for the next phase of treatment which could be radiotherapy or surgery.