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Two undescribed triterpenoid saponins (1 and 3) along with six known saponins (2 , 4 - 8) were isolated from the flower buds of Lonicera macranthoides by an LC-MS guided fractionation method. Natural products 1 , 3 , 5 and 7 are the monodesmosidic saponins of ambradiolic acid, 23-hydroxybetulinic acid, hederagenin and oleanolic acid, respectively, sharing the same single sugar chain at C-3 of each aglycone. Furthermore, compounds 2 , 4 , 6 and 8 are their bisdesmosidic saponins with a further identical sugar chain at C-28 of the aglycone. All structures were identified by interpretation of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 - 8 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against the HeLa, HTC-116, B16 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. Results showed that all monodesmosidic saponins exhibited moderate activity with compound 7 showing the most pronounced cytotoxicity against the four human cancer cell lines, with IC 50 values of 1.9–13.5 μM. The preliminary structure-activity relationships of the natural products are also discussed. [Display omitted] • LC–MS guided isolation for saponins containing the same sugar chain was proposed and validated. • Two new and six known saponins (1 - 8) were isolated from the flowers of Lonicera macranthoides. • Their structures were elucidated by NMR and HR-ESI-MS experiments. • Saponin 7 exhibited appreciable cytotoxicity against the HeLa, HTC-116, B16 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective At present, there is no standard salvage treatment strategies for lung cancer. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacies and safeties of pemetrexed alone with pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin as salvage therapy in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma to provide evidences for combination therapy. Methods From January 2009 to February 2011, 83 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma received pemetrexed alone (single agent arm, n=47) or pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin (combination arm, n=36) as salvage therapy. All 83 patients had performance status (PS) scores of 0-2. Results Eighty-one patients were included in the final analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the single agent arm was 3.6 months versus 4.1 months in the combination arm (P=0.268). The objective response rate (ORR) was 6.5% versus 20% (P=0.092), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.5% versus 65.7% (P=0.493), respectively. The response rates of the hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities in the single agent and combination arms were 33.9% versus 47.2% (P=0.460) and 21.2% versus 25.0% (P=0.213), respectively. Conclusion For salvage therapy, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin is tolerable in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients with good PS scores. Compared with pemetrexed alone, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin therapy showed higher response rate, but did not significantly prolong the PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective At present, there is no standard salvage treatment strategies for lung cancer. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacies and safeties of pemetrexed alone with pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin as salvage therapy in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma to provide evidences for combination therapy. Methods From January 2009 to February 2011, 83 patients with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma received pemetrexed alone (single agent arm, n=47) or pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin (combination arm, n=36) as salvage therapy. All 83 patients had performance status (PS) scores of 0-2. Results Eighty-one patients were included in the final analysis. The median progression-free survival (PFS) in the single agent arm was 3.6 months versus 4.1 months in the combination arm (P=0.268). The objective response rate (ORR) was 6.5% versus 20% (P=0.092), and the disease control rate (DCR) was 56.5% versus 65.7% (P=0.493), respectively. The response rates of the hematological and gastrointestinal toxicities in the single agent and combination arms were 33.9% versus 47.2% (P=0.460) and 21.2% versus 25.0% (P=0.213), respectively. Conclusion For salvage therapy, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin is tolerable in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma patients with good PS scores. Compared with pemetrexed alone, pemetrexed combined with oxaliplatin therapy showed higher response rate, but did not significantly prolong the PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]