Liver cancer has been reported to be one of the most malignant diseases in the world. It is late diagnosis consequently leads to a difficult treatment, as the cancer reached an advanced stage. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary type of cancer diagnosed in the liver, with deadly characteristics and a poor prognosis. The first‐in‐line treatment for advanced HCC is sorafenib. Sorafenib acts by inhibiting cell proliferation and by inducing apoptosis as well as blocks receptors associated with these mechanisms. Due to its constant use, sorafenib resistance has been described, especially to proteins of the Bcl‐2 family, and their overexpression of Bcl‐XL and Mcl‐1. This review focuses on the role of the Bcl‐2 proteins in relation to sorafenib resistance as a consequence of first‐in‐line treatment in HCC.

The family of Bcl-2 proteins is one of the most responsible for apoptosis pathway, that is a critical process to the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Bcl-2 is an essential apoptotic regulator belonging to a family of functionally and structurally related proteins known as the Bcl-2 family. Some members of this family act as anti-apoptotic regulators, whereas others act in pro-apoptotic function. The relationship between the pro and anti-apoptotic proteins can regulate whether cells begin the apoptosis or remain its life cycle. Increasing of Bcl-2 expression has been found in some hematologic diseases, such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and their effects on responsiveness to anticancer therapy have been recently described. Thus, this review aims to discuss apoptosis and the role of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in chemoresistance when overexpressed in patients committed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia submitted to chemotherapy treatment.

Este trabalho foi realizado como prática integrada da disciplina de Bioquímica no curso de graduação em Ciências Biomédicas, objetivando demonstrar técnicas utilizadas para a purificação da Proteina Fluorescente Verde (GFP). Para realização dos experimentos foi utilizada como metodologia principal a Cromatografia de Afinidade por Metal Imobilizado (IMAC). A região de abertura para alongamento da GFP foi subclonada dentro de um vetor de expressão chamado pQE30. A produção subsequente da proteína marcada com hexahistidina na região N-terminal, facilitou sua purificação pela IMAC. Uma purificação de aproximadamente três vezes mais que a esperada da GFP foi obtida. Dessa forma, os estudantes completaram o curso adquirindo significante experiência em relação às técnicas fundamentais na área molecular relacionadas à clonagem e princípios de expressão e purificação de proteínas recombinantes.

Schistosomiasis remains as a parasitic disease with major morbidity, ongoing transmission, and economic burden, particularly in tropical regions. Praziquantel is the first-line treatment but has limited efficacy against juvenile stages of the parasite. In this context, this study assessed the repurposing potential of anthelmintics against Schistosoma mansoni, focusing on the schistosomicidal activity of nitazoxanide (NTZ), levamisole (LVZ), and thiabendazole (TBZ). In vitro, NTZ exhibited a significant schistosomicidal activity, emerging as a repurposing candidate. In contrast, LVZ and TBZ showed no significant schistosomicidal activity. NTZ was active from 40 µg/mL, affecting schistosomula and adult worms in a dose-dependent manner. Ultrastructural analysis revealed wrinkling of the oral and ventral suckers and tegumental alterations in male worms, including shortening of ridges near the tubercles and the presence of multiple small protrusions. In vivo, NTZ showed partial efficacy, with 57.14% reduction in adult worm recovery, whereas PZQ achieved complete elimination. Infected animals presented a mean of 541.86 ± 273.13 viable eggs/cm², while treatment with nitazoxanide (205 mg/kg) or praziquantel (400 mg/kg) reduced these values to 247.98 ± 109.68 and 144.92 ± 133.46 eggs/cm², respectively. Combined administration of NTZ and PZQ resulted in the greatest reduction in viable egg counts, with a mean of 96.75 ± 49.55 eggs/cm². Although praziquantel resistance has been reported, in this study it fully eliminated adult worms, while nitazoxanide showed lower but relevant activity against both schistosomula and adult stages. These findings confirm the efficacy of praziquantel against adult worms and highlight therapeutic potential of nitazoxanide, underscoring the need for further bioavailability studies. Graphical Abstract The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.