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There is a pressing need for further studies to categorize and validate circulating microRNAs (miRs) in breast cancer patients that can be one of the novel strategies for cancer screening and monitoring. The present study is aimed to investigate the expression of the circulating candidate microRNAs after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in the non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Tumor tissue and plasma samples were collected from the 30 patients with recently diagnosed Luminal A breast cancer. Control plasma samples were collected from the 10 healthy subjects. A panel of four miRs including miR-21, miR-55, miR-10b, and Let-7a were selected and their expression levels were measured before and after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy by using Real-Time PCR technique. The plasma expression of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b was significantly increased and the Let-7a plasma expression decreased in the breast cancer patients compromised to the control ones. There was a similar expression pattern of the miRs between the tissue and plasma samples. The plasma levels of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b were significantly down-regulated and the Let-7a plasma level was up-regulated after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised to the pre-treatment. There was a significant difference in the miR-155 plasma level after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised with each other. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the plasma levels of the miRs after the radiotherapy compromised to the control cases. The operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy led to a more reduction in the oncomiRs and an increase in the tumor suppressor-miRs. It seems that monitoring miRs during treatment might be considered as a respectable diagnostic tool for monitoring of breast cancer patients.

Herein, we have investigated the toxicity of SWCNTs and MWCNTs in vitro and in vivo, and assessed their therapeutic effects on a typical animal model of breast cancer in order to obtain: first, the cytotoxicity effects of CNTs on MC4L2 cell and mice, second the impact of CNTs on ablation of breast tumor. CNTs especially SWCNTs were toxic to organs and induced death at high dosages. In this case, some of the liver cells showed a relative shrinkage which was also confirmed by Annexin test in MC4L2 cells. Moreover, CNTs decreased the tumor volume. BCL2 gene was down-regulated, and BAX and Caspase-3 were also up-regulated in the treated groups with CNTs. As a result, CNTs especially MWCNT in lower dosages can be used as a promising drug delivery vehicle for targeted therapy of abnormal cells in breast cancer.

Folate-targeted iron oxide nanoparticles (FA@Fe 3 o 4 NPs) were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal method and then used as cancer theranostic agents by combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT). Crystal structure, morphology, magnetic properties, surface functional group, and heating efficacy of the synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, TEM, VSM, FTIR, and hyperthermia analyses. The results indicated that the crystal structure, magnetic properties, and heating efficacy of the magnetite nanoparticles were improved by hydrothermal treatment. Toxicity of the prepared NPs was assessed in vitro and in vivo on the mammary cells and BALB/c mice, respectively. The results of the in vitro toxicity analysis showed that the FA@ Fe 3 o 4 NPs are relatively safe even at high concentrations of the NPs up to 1000 µg mL −1. Also, the targetability of the FA@Fe 3 o 4 NPs for the detection of folate over-expressed cancer cells was evaluated in an animal model of breast tumor using MRI analysis. It was observed that T 2-weighted magnetic resonance signal intensity was decreased with the three-time injection of the FA@Fe 3 o 4 NPs with 24 h interval at a safe dose (50 mg kg −1), indicating the accumulation and retention of the NPs within the tumor tissues. Moreover, the therapeutic efficacy of the MHT using the FA@Fe 3 o 4 NPs was evaluated in vivo in breast tumor-bearing mice. Hyperthermia treatment was carried out under a safe alternating magnetic field permissible for magnetic hyperthermia treatment (f = 150 kHz, H = 12.5 mT). The therapeutic effects of the MHT were evaluated by monitoring the tumor volume during the treatment period. The results showed that the mice in the control group experienced an almost 3.5-fold increase in the tumor volume during 15 days, while, the mice in the MHT group had a mild increase in the tumor volume (1.8-fold) within the same period (P < 0.05). These outcomes give promise that FA@Fe 3 o 4 NPs can be used as theranostic agents for the MRI and MHT applications.

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What is the central question of this study? We hypothesized that potential anti-tumour effects of exercise training might be mediated by oxytocin and explored the underlying mechanisms in a mouse model of breast cancer. What is the main finding and its importance? Interval exercise training, by inducing oxytocin secretion, may reduce the activity of the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways, and consequently, results in a smaller tumour volume in a mouse model of breast cancer. Exercise training can affect the growth of breast tumours. We hypothesized that exercise training might reduce breast tumour growth by inducing oxytocin (OT) secretion and its related signalling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt and ERK. Therefore, 56 BALB/c mice were equally divided into seven groups to study the effects of OT and atosiban (an oxytocin receptor antagonist) together with interval exercise training on mammary tumour growth, as well as tumour-related signalling pathways, including PI3K/Akt and ERK. Animal weight, OT plasma concentration, tumour weight and volume were measured at the end of the study. PI3K/Akt and ERK were evaluated by Western blot and qPCR assays. The results showed that OT plasma concentration was significantly increased in trained animals. The volume and weight of tumours were decreased significantly after both exercise training and OT administration. The expression of genes involved in tumour cell proliferation, such as PI3KR2, Akt and mTOR, was notably lower in the exercise-trained and OT-treated groups. Furthermore, the expression of genes involved in cell apoptosis, such as caspase-3 and Bax, was significantly increased in the tumour tissues. In addition, Western blot results showed that phosphorylated Akt and ERK were significantly decreased in the exercise training and OT groups compared with the tumour group. Interestingly, atosiban reversed these effects. These results indicated that interval exercise training, acting via OT secretion, may reduce PI3K/Akt and ERK axis activities, and consequently, decrease tumour volume and weight in a mouse model of breast cancer.

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