The tropical edible red seaweed (Eucheuma cottonii L.) is rich in nutrients and polyphenolic compounds that may suppress cancer through its antioxidant and antiproliferative properties. The study reports on rat mammary tumor suppression and tissue antioxidant status modulation by E. cottonii ethanol extract (ECE). The effect of orally administered ECE (100 mg/kg body-weight) was compared with that of tamoxifen (10 mg/kg body-weight). Rat was induced to develop mammary tumor with subcutaneous injection of LA-7 cells (6 × 10⁶ cells/rat). The ECE was more effective than tamoxifen in suppressing tumor growth (27%), improving tissues (plasma, liver, and kidney) malondialdehyde concentrations, superoxide dismutase activity and erythrocyte glutathione concentrations (P < 0.05). Unlike tamoxifen, the ECE displayed little toxicity to the liver and kidneys. The ECE exhibited strong anticancer effect with enzyme modulating properties, suggesting its potential as a suppressing agent for mammary gland tumor.

Nanotechnology has provided new technological opportunities, which could help in challenges confronting stem cell research. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers, a new class of macromolecular polymers with high molecular uniformity, narrow molecular distribution specific size and shape and highly functionalised terminal surface have been extensively explored for biomedical application. PAMAM dendrimers are also nanospherical, hyperbranched and monodispersive molecules exhibiting exclusive properties which make them potential carriers for drug and gene delivery.

EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is overexpressed in a variety of human cancers (including squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck, colon cancer, and some breast cancers) and therefore is regarded as an ideal target for cancer therapy or imaging purposes. In the current study, we produced a scFv-based near-infrared probe (called cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW) and evaluated its ability in recognizing and imaging of EGFR-overexpressing tumors in a mouse model. Like the molecular probe consisting of its parental antibody (cetuximab, an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody) and IRD800CW, cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was able to recognize EGFR-overexpressing tumors in mice. cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was found to be superior to the cetuximab-based probe in imaging of mouse tumors. The tumor-to-background ratio and blood clearance rate were higher when cet.Hum.scFv-IRDye-800CW was used as an imaging probe.

Dealing with nude mice, which lack thymus and therefore are sensitive to unsterile conditions, needs special care and laboratory conditions. For preclinical studies, especially tumour imaging purposes, in which therapeutic properties of drugs or therapeutic compounds are not studied, mice with normal immune system can be a favourable alternative if they carry tumours of interest. In the current study, we introduce an optimized protocol for induction of human tumours in BALB/c mice for preclinical studies. Immune system of BALB/c mice was suppressed by administration of cyclosporine A (CsA), ketoconazole and cyclophosphamide. The tumours of MDA‐MB‐231, A‐431 and U‐87‐MG human cancer cells were induced by subcutaneous injection of the cells to the immunosuppressed mice. Tumour size was calculated weekly. Histopathological and metastatic analyses were performed using haematoxylin and eosin staining. The combination of the three drugs was found to suppress immune system and decrease the numbers of white blood cells, including lymphocytes. At the eighth week, tumours with a dimension of approximately 1400 mm³ developed. Large atypical nuclei with scant cytoplasm were found to exist using histopathological analysis. No metastasis was observed in the tumour‐bearing mice. A combination of CsA, ketoconazole and cyclophosphamide can be used to suppress the immune system in BALB/c mice and induce tumours with significant size.