Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have recently attracted attention as clinical agents for enhancing the effect of radiotherapy in various cancers. Although radiotherapy is a standard treatment for cancers, invasive recurrence and metastasis are significant clinical problems. Several studies have suggested that radiation promotes the invasion of cancer cells by activating molecular mechanisms involving integrin and fibronectin (FN). In this study, polyethylene-glycolylated AuNPs (P-AuNPs) were conjugated with Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD) peptides (RGD/P-AuNPs) to target cancer cells expressing RGD-binding integrins such as α5- and αv-integrins. RGD/P-AuNPs were internalized more efficiently and colocalized with integrins in the late endosomes and lysosomes of MDA-MB-231 cells. A combination of RGD/P-AuNPs and radiation reduced cancer cell viability and increased DNA damage compared to radiation alone in MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, the invasive activity of breast cancer cell lines after radiation treatment was significantly inhibited in the presence of RGD/P-AuNPs. Microarray analyses revealed that the expression of FN in irradiated cells was suppressed by combined use of RGD/P-AuNPs. Reduction of FN and downstream signaling may be involved in suppressing radiation-induced invasive activity by RGD/P-AuNPs. Our study suggests that RGD/P-AuNPs can target integrin-overexpressing cancer cells to improve radiation therapy by suppressing invasive activity in addition to sensitization. Thus, these findings provide a possible clinical strategy for using AuNPs to treat invasive breast cancer following radiotherapy.
Chemoradiation therapy at a dose of 50.4 Gy with elective nodal irradiation is promising with a manageable tolerability profile in esophageal cancer patients.
[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to verify the effects of intrinsic foot
flexor strength training. [Subjects] The subjects were 12 healthy males without motor
system disease. [Methods] A training method that involved flexion of all toe
interphalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints against a 3-kg load was implemented and was
performed for 200 repetitions once per day, three times per week, for a period of eight
weeks. [Results] Significant changes were observed for intrinsic foot flexor strength
scores, foot arches, vertical jumping, 1-legged long jumping, and 50-m dash time.
[Conclusion] This muscle strength training method significantly improved muscle strength
scores, foot arch shape, and movement performance.
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