The protein A13-2 was obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from the Papaloapan watershed region (Oaxaca, Mexico). The cytotoxic activity of parasporal inclusions was studied against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and normal cell (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells). The MTT, the formation of reactive species, nitric oxide, free cell DNA, and the type of death cellular were assessed. The protein A13-2 shows the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (13% cell viability at 6 µg/mL), the extracellular DNA increases, and it shows no stress for reactive species or nitric oxide. Besides, the A13-2 parasporin shows no toxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and it does not generate changes in nitric oxide levels or free cell DNA. Due to that, the cytotoxic effect of A13-2 was specific for MCF-7, and it does not affect normal cells. According to microscopy and flow cytometry, A13-2 parasporin leads to the death of MCF-7 cells by late apoptosis together with necrosis and without allowing the triggering of the survival mechanisms. When analyzed together, our results show for the first time that the A13-2 protein isolated from Mexican strains of B. thuringiensis preferentially kills MCF- 7 (cancer cells) over HEK 293 and PBMC cell lines (normal cells), thus representing a promising alternative for the treatment of cancer breast.
Aims: To reflect on the impact of self-medication in times of pandemic COVID-19 for patients undergoing treatment for breast or prostate cancer.
Study Design: this is a reflective study with a qualitative approach based on the documentary analysis of the package inserts issued by ANVISA or by the manufacturers of the analyzed drugs.
Place and Duration of Study: Integrated Health Research Laboratory from the UFRJ-Macaé Multidisciplinary Center, between March 2020 and December 2020.
Methodology: The documents analyzed were the package inserts of the five main drugs used by the Brazilian population during the first year of the pandemic, from March to December 2020, as well as the package inserts of some of the main antineoplastic drugs used to treat breast and prostate cancer. All inserts were issued by ANVISA or by the drug manufacturer. We chose to reflect on the impact of self-medication on the symptoms of COVID-19 and the most common cancers in women (breast) and men (prostate).
Results: In Brazil, where, according to the Brazilian Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, around 80 million people are self-medicated, the poor quality of the supply of medicines, non-compliance with the obligation to present a medical prescription and the lack of information and education in the general population justify the concern with the quality of self-medication practiced in the country. The present study focused on the five main drugs described in the literature most used for self-medication and often with explicit contraindication by health agencies such as WHO and ANVISA, namely: chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, vitamin D, dexamethasone.
Conclusion: The study suggests that the analyzed drugs can harm the health of patients undergoing cancer treatment, as it shows that they can increase the risk of liver, kidney, heart or gastrointestinal damage. It is concluded that self-medication performed by a patient with breast or prostate cancer can bring moderate to severe risks with regard to drug interaction and metabolization pathways, as some of these drugs are mistakenly used as a form of prevention and treatment for COVID-19 not only do they have dangerous adverse effects for cancer patients, but they can also potentiate the adverse effects caused by cancer treatments.
The protein A13-2 was obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis strains isolated from the Papaloapan watershed region (Oaxaca, Mexico). The cytotoxic activity of parasporal inclusions was studied against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and normal cell (human peripheral blood mononuclear cells). The MTT, the formation of reactive species, nitric oxide, free cell DNA, and the type of death cellular were assessed. The protein A13-2 shows the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 (13% at 6 µg/mL), the extracellular DNA increases, and it shows no stress for reactive species or nitric oxide. Besides, the A13-2 parasporin shows no toxicity to peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and it does not generate changes in nitric oxide levels or free cell DNA. According to microscopy and flow cytometry, A13-2 leads to the death of MCF-7 cell by late apoptosis. Due to that, the cytotoxic effect of A13-2 was specific for MCF-7, and it does not affect peripheral blood mononuclear cells (normal cells). When analyzed together, our results show for the first time that the A13-2 protein isolated from Mexican strains of B. thuringiensis has a high selectivity against the MCF- 7 cell line, thus representing a promising alternative for the treatment of cancer breast.
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