Cytokines are believed to be involved in a "vicious circle" of progressive interactions in bone metastasis. Iguratimod is a novel anti-rheumatic drug which is reported to have the capability of anti-cytokines. In this study, a rat model was constructed to investigate the effect of iguratimod on bone metastasis and it was found that iguratimod alleviated cancer-induced bone destruction. To further explore whether an anti-tumor activity of iguratimod contributes to the effect of bone resorption suppression, two human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 were studied. The effect of iguratimod on tumor proliferation was detected by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The effects of iguratimod on migration and invasion of cancer cells were determined by wound-healing and Transwell assays. Results showed that high dose (30 μg/mL) iguratimod slightly suppressed the proliferation of cancer cells but failed to inhibit their migration and invasion capacity. Interestingly, iguratimod decreased the transcription level of IL-6 in MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, iguratimod partially impaired NF-κB signaling by suppressing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 subunit. Our findings indicated that iguratimod may alleviate bone destruction by partially decreasing the expression of IL-6 in an NF-κB-dependent manner, while it has little effect on the tumor proliferation and invasion.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; Bone Resorption ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinogenesis ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; MCF-7 Cells ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; pathology ; Rats ; Sulfonamides ; administration & dosage ; Transcription Factor RelA ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between Chinese medical constitutions and chemotherapy-induced leucopenia (CIL) of primary breast cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 306 breast cancer patients undergoing adjunctive chemotherapy for the 1st time, and effective 291 breast cancer patients were recruited in this study.Nine Basic Constitutional Scale was used before first chemotherapy. Chinese medical constitutions were classified and quantitatively scored. The highest grading for any item of adverse reactions in each case during the whole chemotherapy course was recorded after chemotherapy. Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS16.0.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in CIL between different chemotherapy regimens and various Chinese medical constitutions of breast cancer patients (P > 0.05). Yang deficiency constitution is one risk factor for CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the more severe the CIL.

CONCLUSIONSYang deficiency constitution was correlated with the degree of CIL. The higher the score of yang deficiency constitution, the greater the risk of III-IV grade CIL in breast cancer patients.

Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Yang Deficiency

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced ; etiology ; Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced ; etiology ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Contraindications ; Female ; Humans ; Mastectomy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

BACKGROUNDTreatment option for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients pre-treated with chemotherapy is limited. Oral etoposide has shown some promises in these patients. However, patients who received heavy prior chemotherapy may have poor tolerance to prolonged oral etoposide exposure. This study is a single-arm clinical trial that evaluates the efficacy and safety of short-term oral etoposide in Chinese patients with MBC who had received heavy prior therapy.

METHODSMBC patients receiving at least two chemotherapy regimens prior to the enrollment were treated with repeated cycles of oral etoposide (60 mg×m(-2)×d(-1) on days 1-10, followed by 11 days of rest). The primary end point was the progression free survival (PFS). The secondary end points were objective response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), overall survival (OS), and toxicity profiles.

RESULTSThirty-two patients received 230 cycles of oral etoposide with a median of 6 cycles (range, 2-20 cycles) per patient. Eight patients (25%) had partial response (PR) and 14 patients achieved stable disease (SD). The ORR was 25%. Nine patients achieved SD for more than 24 weeks and CBR was 53%. The median PFS and OS were 5 (range, 1.5-17.0 months) and 16 months (range, 3.0-51.0 months), respectively. The patients who achieved clinical benefit had longer survival time than those who did not (25.0 versus 11.0 months, P<0.01). Among the 16 patients who received more than four regimens prior to this study, four patients achieved PR and four achieved SD for more than 24 weeks, with a CBR of 50%. The most common hematologic adverse events were anemia (43.8%) and neutropenia (38.5%). Nausea/vomiting (75.0%) and alopecia (62.5%) were the most frequent non-hematologic toxicities.

CONCLUSIONOral etoposide is effective and well tolerated in Chinese women with heavily pretreated MBC.

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Aged, 80 and over ; Brain ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; radiotherapy ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; diagnosis ; radiotherapy ; Ophthalmoplegia ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; radiotherapy ; Radiography

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anastrozole, a new generation aromatase inhibitor, on the lipid metabolism in postmenopausal Chinese women with early breast cancer, and observe the adverse reactions as well.

METHODSPostmenopausal women with early breast cancer patients took anastrozole 1 mg per day. The lipid profiles of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein were assessed before taking the drug, 3 months, 6 months after taking medication, and later once a year, until the end of medication or follow-up. Patients taking lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. The adverse reactions during the process of taking medication was followed-up by telephone.

RESULTSTwo hundred and eighty-five postmenopausal breast cancer patients took part in the trial from Jan. 2003 to Jun. 2009. All patients had completed primary surgery and demonstrated a postmenopausal status. ER or PR positivity was confirmed by histopathology. Taking the medication from a minimum of one year to a maximum of 5 years, with a median time of 3.61 years. During the medication time, anastrozole significantly increased the levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol after 6 months of treatment, continuing to 5 years, from (3.08 ± 0.90) mmol/L to (3.59 ± 0.59) mmol/L, with a maximal increase of 18.2% higher than that before medication. Anastrozole significantly increased the levels of total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol after 1 years of treatment. Anastrozole significantly reduced the levels of triglycerides after 1 years of treatment. Anastrozole showed no significant effect on serum lipids in the patients with pre-existing hyperlipidemia. A more significant effect on blood lipids was observed in patients aged ≥ 60-years than that in patients less than 60 years of age. The rate of other adverse events were similar to that reported in foreign patients.

CONCLUSIONSFor the postmenopausal patients with breast cancer, taking anastrozole may lead to an abnormal lipid metabolism. Anastrozole significantly increases the levels of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and significantly reduces the level of triglycerides. The rate of other adverse events were similar to that reported in foreign patients. it is suggested that the blood lipid levels should be regularly assessed in patients with long-term anastrozole treatment. The rate of other adverse events similar to that reported with foreign patients, and patients tolerate this treatment well.

Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; therapeutic use ; Aromatase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; complications ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nitriles ; therapeutic use ; Postmenopause ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between the cancer related fatigue and social support in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. METHODS: According to the uniform inclusive and exclusive criteria, 396 breast cancer patients after chemotherapy were sampled randomly from 4 hospitals in Changsha and investigated on the spot by cancer fatigue scale and social support scale. RESULTS: The levels of social support, subjective support, Objective support, and utilization of support of the breast cancer patients after chemotherapy were 36.63±7.80, 21.05±4.67, 8.45±3.06, and 7.13±2.10, respectively, which were lower than the normal level, with significant difference(P<0.001). There was a negative correlation between each fatigue dimension and social support, subjective support, Objective support, and utilization of support (P<0.05 or P<0.001). CONCLUSION The social support system in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy is poor. There is a negative correlation between the social support system and cancer related fatigue.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; psychology ; China ; Fatigue ; etiology ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Social Support

OBJECTIVE: To study the relevance between cancer related fatigue and coping styles in breast cancer patients after chemotherapy. METHODS: A survey was conducted in 396 patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy on cancer related fatigue scale and Jalowiec coping scale, and the relation was analyzed. RESULTS: The rate of overall fatigue in breast cancer patients was 96.97%, mostly moderate fatigue. The rate of fatigue dimensions from high to low was physical fatigue, feeling fatigue and cognitive fatigue, respectively. The score of coping styles in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy from high to low was optimistic coping, facing bravely, support seeking, self-reliance, emotional catharsis, avoidance, fatalism, and conservation. The most widely used coping style was optimistic coping style, and the least was emotional catharisis. There was a positive correlation between coping style of emotional catharsis and cancer related fatigue of all dimensions (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between emotional fatigue and optimistic,facing bravely, support seeking, self-reliance, or conservation (P<0.05). There was also a negative correlation between physical fatigue and optimistic or support seeking (P<0.05), but there was a positive correlation between avoidance or fatalism and the dimensions of general fatigue, physical fatigue, and cognitive fatigue (P<0.05). CONCLUSION There is prevalent cancer related fatigue in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy. We should guide the patients to more active coping styles, to enhance the ability of psychological adaption in patients, reduce cancer related fatigue, and improve the quality of life.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Fatigue ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; psychology ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiomyolipoma ; etiology ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Astrocytoma ; etiology ; Brain Neoplasms ; etiology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; etiology ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with antiemetic on cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting.

METHODSBy using paired, cross-controlled trial design, 66 cases of chemotherapy were divided into group A and B, 33 cases in each group. For the group A, chemotherapy, tropisetron and acupuncture therapy were adopted in the first chemotherapy cycle and the same chemotherapy program, tropisetron and sham acupuncture were used in the next cycle. For the group B, chemotherapy, tropisetron and sham acupuncture were given in the first chemotherapy cycle and the same chemotherapy program, tropisetron and acupuncture therapy were applied in the next cycle. Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongsun (SP 4) and auricular point Wei (stomach) were selected for acupuncture therapy, and the points at 3 cm lateral to Zusanli (ST 36) , Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongaun (SP 4) and auricular point corresponding to scapha level were selected for sham acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment or sham-acupuncture was given for 6 consecutive days, once each day and antiemetic tropisetron 5 mg was given to the two groups as basic antiemetic prophylaxis for 6 days, once daily. The therapeutic effects on nausea and vomiting in the 6 days were compared between the acupuncture group and the sham-acupuncture group in the two chemotherapeutic cycles.

RESULTSThe effective rates for nausea in the 2nd day and the 4th day were 87.1% and 79.0% in acupuncture group, which were superior to 59.4% and 57.8% in the sham-acupuncture group, respectively (both P < 0.05); and the therapeutic effects on vomiting in the 3rd-6th day in the acupuncture group were better than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with antiemetic can effectively decrease the incidence and degree of cisplatin-induced delayed nausea and vomiting. The effect of acupuncture is better than that of sham acupuncture.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiemetics ; administration & dosage ; Breast Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Vomiting ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy