Search

Recent findings have suggested that iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have some exceptional chemical characteristics which make them useful in both experimental physiology and cell biology research. These nanoparticles might be applied as drug delivery systems for anti-cancer and other medications. Also, IONPs might be a valuable part of many novel bioassays in various fundamental medical fields. In recent years, several studies have indicated that IONPs may have certain cytotoxic and genotoxic potential in living systems. During in vitro conditions, IONPs might induce generation of reactive oxygen species and cause oxidative stress in some cell populations. The toxicity of IONPs is not yet fully understood, and additional research is needed to confirm if IONPs have detrimental effects on human health. This short article focuses on the recent developments and trends in the fields of nanomedicine and nanobiology regarding iron oxide nanomaterials and their application in fundamental medical disciplines such as experimental physiology. We discuss our previously published works on structural effects of IONPs and other metallic nanoparticles on cell nucleus in in vitro conditions. We also describe our recent findings regarding the impact of IONPs on certain biophysical properties of subcellular components.

Although conventional fractionated (CF) radiotherapy (RT) became the most common non-surgical approach delivering 66-70 Gy in 33-35 daily fractions (fx) in 6.5-7 weeks several decades ago due to a good local control (LC) with low normal tissue complication rates, recent decades also brought altered fractionated RT regimens based on better understanding of radiobiology. Of these, split course RT is largely abandoned due to inferior results caused by the treatment gap, which led to inferior local control rates and consequently survival. Hyperfractionated (Hfx) RT and various forms of accelerated (Acc) RT had consistently shown improvement in the treatment outcome, given either alone or with concurrent chemotherapy (CHT). Hfx RT was most consistently superior to CF and frequently to Acc RT, while moderate Acc RT also holds promise to be used more often in daily clinical practice. The use of Hfx RT may face the challenge of applicability in busy radiotherapy departments around the world despite unequivocally having been proven as superior regarding both local/regional tumor control and overall survival. With concurrent CHT, although results favor it, risks of accompanying toxicity rise and should be considered when planning such intensified treatment approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meta-analyses of chemotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer (MAC-HNC) showed that adding chemotherapy (CHT) to locoregional treatment improves the treatment outcome. However, it was observed only with concurrent administration of radiotherapy (RT) and CHT. Among many drugs used in this setting, cisplatin (CDDP) has most consistently been used as a single-agent with radical RT. The two most common administrations of CDDP included 100 mg/sqm every three weeks and 40 mg/sqm weekly, both during the course of RT. While a direct comparison of the two modes of CDDP administration in the definitive treatment of locally advanced squamous cell (SQC) HNC is basically lacking, recent summary brought somewhat conflicting results. Questions largely unexplored is the total CDDP dose deemed necessary when administered concurrently with radical RT. Subset analyses from various prospective randomized trials and meta-analyses seem to indicate that one may not need a total CDDP dose of significantly higher than 200 mg/sqm if at all higher than that, irrespective of the type of RT administered and seemingly unnecessary in HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer patients. Due to presumably lower but still effective threshold level of total CDDP given with RT may depend on other factors, such as frequency of CDDP administration or RT fractionation pattern and be closely interrelated with anticipated toxicity, researchers continue with their quest to find optimal approach in this setting. Large clinical trials should detect small differences between treatment options in an era when "old" but effective drugs still dominate the research arena of SQC HNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]