Lymphatic drainage plays an important role in the uptake of particulates in the respiratory system, being also associated to the spreading of lung cancer through metastasis development. In recent years solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) have been proposed as carriers of anti-tumoural drugs, for their low toxicity and surface characteristics make them suitable for either imaging (gamma-scintigraphy) or therapy upon encapsulation of cytotoxic drugs. Assessment of inhaled radiolabelled SLN biodistribution is described in the present work. Methods : Nanoparticles (200 nm) were radiolabelled with 99m Tc using the lipophilic chelator d, l -hexamehylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO). Biodistribution studies were carried out following aerosolisation and administration of a 99m Tc-HMPAO-SLN suspension to a group of adult male Wistar rats. A 60 min dynamic image acquisition was performed in a gamma-camera, followed by static image collection at 30 min intervals up to 4 h postinhalation. Radiation counting was performed in organ samples, collected after the animals were sacrificed. Results : The data show an important and significant uptake of the radiolabelled SLN into the lymphatics after inhalation, and a high rate of distribution in periaortic, axillar and inguinal lymph nodes. Conclusion Results indicate that SLN could be effective colloidal carriers for lymphoscintigraphy or therapy upon pulmonary delivery.

Studies using cell lines should always characterize these cells to ensure that the results are not distorted by unexpected morphological or genetic changes possibly due to culture time or passage number. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe those MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cell line phenotype and genotype characteristics that may play a crucial role in pancreatic cancer therapeutic assays, namely neuroendocrine chemotherapy and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Epithelial, mesenchymal, endocrine and stem cell marker characterization was performed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry and genotyping by PCR, gene sequencing and capillary electrophoresis. MIA PaCa-2 (polymorphism) expresses CK5.6, AE1/AE3, E-cadherin, vimentin, chromogranin A, synaptophysin, SSTR2 and NTR1 but not CD56. PANC-1 (pleomorphism) expresses CK5.6, MNF-116, vimentin, chromogranin A, CD56 and SSTR2 but not E-cadherin, synaptophysin or NTR1. MIA PaCA-1 is CD24⁻, CD44^+/++, CD326^−/+ and CD133/1⁻, while PANC-1 is CD24^−/+, CD44⁺, CD326^−/+ and CD133/1⁻. Both cell lines have KRAS and TP53 mutations and homozygous deletions including the first 3 exons of CDKN2A/p16^INK4A, but no SMAD4/DPC4 mutations or microsatellite instability. Both have neuroendocrine differentiation and SSTR2 receptors, precisely the features making them suitable for the therapies we propose to assay in future studies.

Cancer is a problem of global importance, since the incidence is increasing worldwide and therapeutic options are generally limited. Thus, it becomes imperative to find new therapeutic targets as well as new molecules with therapeutic potential for tumors. Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that may be potential therapeutic agents. Several studies have shown that these compounds have a higher anticancer potential. Among the flavonoids in the human diet, quercetin is one of the most important. In the last decades, several anticancer properties of quercetin have been described, such as cell signaling, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant effects, growth suppression. In fact, it is now well known that quercetin has diverse biological effects, inhibiting multiple enzymes involved in cell proliferation, as well as, in signal transduction pathways. On the other hand, there are also studies reporting potential synergistic effects when combined quercetin with chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy. In fact, several studies which aim to explore the anticancer potential of these combined treatments have already been published, the majority with promising results. Actually it is well known that quercetin can act on the chemosensitization and radiosensitization but also as chemoprotective and radioprotective, protecting normal cells of the side effects that results from chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which obviously provides notable advantages in their use in anticancer treatment. Thus, all these data indicate that quercetin may have a key role in anticancer treatment. In this context, this review is focused on the relationship between flavonoids and cancer, with special emphasis on the role of quercetin.

Vitamins are essential nutrients for human metabolism, playing an important role as coenzymes or enzymes in many vital processes for the normal functioning of the body. In recent years, it has become apparent that vitamins are crucial in health and human disease, due to several studies that studied this relationship. Currently, it is known that vitamins can have an important role in the prevention and treatment of cancer, but until now no conclusive results were obtained. In this review, we will present the work and more relevant conclusions obtained in recent years of investigation about the relationship between vitamins and cancer, namely vitamin A, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe inflammation of the pancreas presented with sudden onset and severe abdominal pain with a high morbidity and mortality rate, if accompanied by severe local and systemic complications. Numerous studies have been published about the pathogenesis of AP; however, the precise mechanism behind this pathology remains unclear. Extensive research conducted over the last decades has demonstrated that the first 24 h after symptom onset are critical for the identification of patients who are at risk of developing complications or death. The identification of these subgroups of patients is crucial in order to start an aggressive approach to prevent mortality. In this sense and to avoid unnecessary overtreatment, thereby reducing the financial implications, the proper identification of mild disease is also important and necessary. A large number of multifactorial scoring systems and biochemical markers are described to predict the severity. Despite recent progress in understanding the pathophysiology of AP, more research is needed to enable a faster and more accurate prediction of severe AP. This review provides an overview of the available multifactorial scoring systems and biochemical markers for predicting severe AP with a special focus on their advantages and limitations.