Caspase-3(-like) proteases play important roles in controlling mammalian apoptosis. However, the downstream events from the caspase-3(-like) protease activation to death of cells are still unclear. Previously, we reported that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was generated by the activation of caspase-3(-like) proteases in the process of tyrosine kinase inhibitor-induced apoptosis in human small cell l...

The phenomenon of multidrug resistance (MDR) has attenuated the efficacy of anticancer drugs and the possibility of successful cancer chemotherapy. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play an essential role in mediating MDR in cancer cells by increasing efflux of drugs from cancer cells, hence reducing the intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic drugs. Interestingly, small-molecule t...

To explore genes that determine the sensitivity of cancer cells to anticancer drugs, we investigated using cDNA microarrays the expression of 9216 genes in 39 human cancer cell lines pharmacologically characterized on treatment with various anticancer drugs. A bioinformatical approach was then exploited to identify genes related to anticancer drug sensitivity. An integrated database of gene exp...

Treatment of cancers in the abdominal cavity, such as peritoneal dissemination, is difficult, but in principle intraperitoneal administration of anticancer drugs is expected to be preferable to systemic administration. Taxane anticancer drugs are used to treat gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination. They are administered as micellar preparations, Taxol and Taxotere, which consist...

AIM To uptake and release hydrophilic model drugs and insulin in a novel conductive polymer (CP) nanotube transdermal patch. MATERIALS & METHODS The externally controlled transdermal delivery of model drugs and insulin were tested ex vivo and results were compared with CP films. The unique intrinsic properties of CPs provide electrostatic interaction between the model drugs and polymer backbo...

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are essentially layers of graphite seamlessly wrapped into cylinders. They have shown great potential in a wide variety of applications. One prospect in bioengineering is to utilize CNTs for drug delivery by forming micelles or vesicles from aligned tubes. These structures would essentially be spherical nanocontainers with short carbon nanotube arrays forming the wall of...