Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a potential anticancer substance, can be found in cruciferous (cabbage family) vegetables, mainly cauliflower and Chinese cabbage. However, the bioactivity of I3C on the apoptotic effects of murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells and promotion of immune responses in leukemia mice model are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of I3C on cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in vitro and immunomodulation in vivo. I3C decreased the viable WEHI-3 cells and caused morphological changes in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. I3C also led to G0/G1 phase arrest, decreased the levels of cyclin A, cyclin D, and CDK2, and increased the level of p21(WAF1/CIP1). Flow cytometric analyses further proved that I3C promoted ROS and intracellular Ca(2+) production and decreased the levels of ΔΨ(m) in WEHI-3 cells. Cells after exposure to I3C for 24 h showed DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation. Comet assay also indicated that I3C induced DNA damage in examined cells. I3C increased the levels of cytochrome c, FADD, GADD153, GRP78, and caspase-12 as well as induced activities of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Moreover, I3C attenuated NF-κB DNA binding activity in I3C-treated WEHI-3 cells as shown by EMSA and Western blotting analyses. In the in vivo study, we examined the effects of I3C on WEHI-3 leukemia mice. Results showed that I3C increased the level of T cells and decreased the level of macrophages. I3C also reduced the weights of liver and spleen, and it promoted phagocytosis by macrophages as compared to the nontreated leukemia mice group. On the basis of our results, I3C affects murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Surfactant‐free, self‐assembled iron oxide/silica core–shell (SAIO@SiO2) nanocarriers were synthesized as bifunctional magnetic vectors that can be triggered for the controlled release of therapeutic agents by an external magnetic field. In addition, drug release profiles can be well‐regulated through an ultrathin layer of silica shell. The hydrophobic drug molecules were encapsulated within the iron oxide‐PVA core and then further covered with a thin‐layer silica shell to regulate the release pattern. Remote control of drug release from the SAIO@SiO2 nanocarriers was achieved successfully using an external magnetic field where the core phase being structurally disintegrated to a certain extent while subjected to magnetic stimulus, resulting in a burst release of the encapsulated drug. However, a relatively slow and linear release restored immediately, directly after removal of the stimulus. The nanostructural evolution of the nanocarriers upon the stimulus was examined and the mechanism for controlled drug release is proposed for such a core–shell nanocarrier. Surprisingly, the surfactant‐free SAIO@SiO2 nanocarriers demonstrated a relatively high uptake efficiency from the HeLa cell line. Together with a well‐regulated controlled release design, the nanocarriers may provide great advantages as an effective cell‐based drug delivery nanosystem for biomedical applications.

Tumor tissue lines established via subrenal capsule xenografting provide models with clinical relevance and the present study suggests that irinotecan could be useful for therapy of refractory prostatic SCC, in particular in combination with cisplatin.