Biomarkers are needed to individualize cancer radiation treatment. Therefore, we have investigated the association between various risk factors, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in candidate genes and late complications to radiotherapy in our nasopharyngeal cancer patients.

To cope with the shortage of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare institutions were forced to reuse FFRs after applying different decontamination methods including gamma-irradiation (GIR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GIR on the filtration efficiency (FE) of FFRs and on SARS-CoV-2 detection. The FE of 2 FFRs types (KN95 and N95-3 M masks) was assessed at different particle sizes (0.3–5 µm) following GIR (0–15 kGy) delivered at either typical (1.65 kGy/h) or low (0.5088 kGy/h) dose rates. The detection of two SARS-CoV-2 RNA genes (E and RdRp4) following GIR (0–50 kGy) was carried out using RT-qPCR assay. Both masks showed an overall significant (P < 0.001) reduction in FE with increased GIR doses. No significant differences were observed between GIR dose rates on FE. The GIR exhibited significant increases (P ≤ 0.001) in the cycle threshold values (ΔCt) of both genes, with no detection following high doses. In conclusion, complete degradation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be achieved by high GIR (≥ 30 kGy), suggesting its potential use in FFRs decontamination. However, GIR exhibited adverse effects on FE in dose- and particle size-dependent manners, rendering its use to decontaminate FFRs debatable.

To cope with the shortage of filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), healthcare institutions have been forced to reuse FFRs using different decontamination methods, including vapor hydrogen peroxide (VHP). However, most healthcare institutions still struggle with evaluating the effect of VHP on filtration efficiency (FE) of the decontaminated FFRs. We developed a low-cost in-house FE assessment using a novel 3D-printed air duct. Furthermore, we assessed the FE of seven types of FFRs. Following 10 VHP cycles, we evaluated the FE of KN95 and 3M-N95 masks. The 3M-N95 and Benehal-N95 masks showed significant lower FE (80.4–91.8%) at fine particle sizes (0.3–1 µm) compared to other FFRs (FE ≥ 98.1%, p < 0.05). Following 10 VHP cycles, the FE of KN95 masks was almost stable (FE stability > 99.1%) for all particle sizes, while 3M-N95 masks were stable only at 2 and 5 µm (FE stability > 98.0%). Statistically, FE stability of 3M-N95 masks at 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 µm was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.006) than 2 and 5 µm. The in-house FE assessment may be used as an emergency procedure to validate the decontaminated FFRs, as well as a screening option for production control of FFRs. Following VHP cycles, both masks showed high stability at 5 µm, the size of the most suspected droplets implicated in COVID-19 transmission.

Venom peptides are promising agents in the development of unconventional anticancer therapeutic agents. This study explored the potential of Pilosulin-3, a recombinant peptide from the venom of the Australian jack jumper ant “Myrmecia pilosula”, as a cytotoxic and radiosensitizing agent in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer (BC) cell lines. Pilosulin-3’s cytotoxicity was evaluated across a wide range of concentrations using a proliferation assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were examined at the inhibitory concentration 25% (IC25) and IC50 of Pilosulin-3, both with and without a 4Gy X-ray irradiation dose. Radiosensitivity was assessed at IC25 using the clonogenic survival assay. The study revealed that Pilosulin-3 exerted a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect, with IC25 and IC50 values of 0.01 and 0.5 µM, respectively. In silico screening indicated high selectivity of Pilosulin-3 peptide, which was predicted to be the most likely anticancer agent (PROB = 0.997) with low hemolytic activity (PROP = 0.176). Although Pilosulin-3 exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) G2/M cell cycle arrest in combination with radiation, there was no discernible effect on apoptosis induction or cell survival following irradiation. In conclusion, Pilosulin-3 proved to be cytotoxic to BC cells and induced a cytostatic effect (G2/M arrest) when combined with radiation. However, it did not enhance the efficacy of cell killing by irradiation. While it holds potential as a cytotoxic agent in breast cancer treatment, its application as a radiosensitizer does not find support in these results.

Background: Poor survival outcomes in periampullary cancer highlight the need for improvement in biomarkers and the development of novel therapies. Redox proteins, including the thioredoxin system, play vital roles in cellular antioxidant systems. Methods: In this retrospective study, thioredoxin (Trx), thioredoxin-interacting protein (TxNIP), and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) protein expression was assessed in 85 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and 145 patients with distal bile duct or ampullary carcinoma using conventional immunohistochemistry. Results: In patients with PDAC, high cytoplasmic TrxR expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.033). High cytoplasmic and nuclear Trx expression was significantly associated with better overall survival (p = 0.018 and p = 0.006, respectively), and nuclear Trx expression remained significant in multivariate Cox regression analysis (p < 0.0001). In distal bile duct and ampullary carcinomas, high nuclear TrxR expression was associated with vascular (p = 0.001) and perineural (p = 0.021) invasion, and low cytoplasmic TxNIP expression was associated with perineural invasion (p = 0.025). High cytoplasmic TxNIP expression was significantly associated with better overall survival (p = 0.0002), which remained significant in multivariate Cox regression analysis (p = 0.013). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the prognostic importance of Trx system protein expression in periampullary cancers.

The search for NF-κB blockers to optimize antioxidants and counteract inflammation and carcinogenesis has identified several promising natural compounds, encompassing curcumin. Nonetheless, despite the pleiotropic health attributes of curcumin and established safety, its in vivo efficacy is limited by its poor pharmacokinetic properties, primarily due to its low bioavailability because of its low free serum concentrations and short half-life. To overcome these restrictions, we investigated the efficacy of the synthetic curcumin analog PAC in breast cancer cells. Additionally, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were employed to explore the anticancer effects of PAC by assessing cell viability, apoptosis, clonogenic survival, and the expression of NF-κB, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax. Our results validate that PAC effectively inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. PAC also significantly enhances the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells, indicating a potential synergistic effect with radiation therapy. Mechanistically, PAC exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling and modulating apoptotic genes like p53, Bax, and Bcl-2. These findings highlight its potential as a breast cancer therapeutic, enhancing existing treatments.