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Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy Mar 2024Breast cancer (BC) stands as the second-leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Many chemotherapeutic treatments for BC come with significant adverse effects....
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer (BC) stands as the second-leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Many chemotherapeutic treatments for BC come with significant adverse effects. Additionally, BC is recognized as one of the most resistant forms of malignancy to treatment. Consequently, there exists a critical need for innovative therapeutic agents that are both highly effective and exhibit reduced toxicity and side effects for patients. Deferasirox (DFX), an iron-chelating drug approved by the FDA for oral use, emerges as a promising contender in the fight against BC proliferation. DFX, primarily administered orally, is utilized to address chronic iron excess resulting from blood transfusions, and it is the inaugural treatment for chronic iron overload syndrome. However, DFX encounters limitations due to its poor water solubility.
AIM
This study aimed at incorporating DFX into lipid nanocapsules (DFX-LNCs) followed by investigating the anticancer effect of the DFX nanoform as compared to free DFX and on an orthotopic BC mouse model .
METHODS
The DFX-LNCs was prepared and imaged using TEM and also characterized in terms of particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI) using DLS. Moreover, drug release, cytotoxicity, and anticancer effect were assessed , and .
RESULTS
The results revealed that DFX-LNCs are more cytotoxic than free DFX with IC of 4.417 µg/ml and 16.114 µg/ml, respectively, while the plain LNCs didn't show any cytotoxic effect on the 4T1 cell line (IC = 122.797 µg/ml). Besides, the apoptotic effect of DFX-LNCs was more pronounced than that of free DFX, as evidenced by Annexin V/PI staining, increased BAX expression, and decreased expression of BcL-2. Moreover, DFX-LNCs showed a superior antitumor effect with potent antioxidant and anti-proliferative effects.
CONCLUSION
The newly developed DFX nanoform demonstrated a high potential as a promising therapeutic agent for BC treatment.
Topics: Humans; Female; Mice; Animals; Deferasirox; Breast Neoplasms; Iron Chelating Agents; Iron; Iron Overload
PubMed: 38305197
DOI: 10.1080/03639045.2024.2314189 -
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes Feb 2024Understanding consequences of poor chelation compliance is crucial given the enormous burden of post-transfusional iron overload complications. We systematically... (Review)
Review
Understanding consequences of poor chelation compliance is crucial given the enormous burden of post-transfusional iron overload complications. We systematically reviewed iron-chelation therapy (ICT) compliance, and the relationship between compliance with health outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in thalassaemia patients. Several reviewers performed systematic search strategy of literature through PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost. The preferred reporting items of systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Of 4917 studies, 20 publications were included. The ICT compliance rate ranges from 20.93 to 75.3%. It also varied per agent, ranging from 48.84 to 85.1% for desferioxamine, 87.2-92.2% for deferiprone and 90-100% for deferasirox. Majority of studies (N = 10/11, 90.91%) demonstrated significantly negative correlation between compliance and serum ferritin, while numerous studies revealed poor ICT compliance linked with increased risk of liver disease (N = 4/7, 57.14%) and cardiac disease (N = 6/8, 75%), endocrinologic morbidity (N = 4/5, 90%), and lower HRQoL (N = 4/6, 66.67%). Inadequate compliance to ICT therapy is common. Higher compliance is correlated with lower serum ferritin, lower risk of complications, and higher HRQoL. These findings should be interpreted with caution given the few numbers of evidence.
Topics: Humans; Iron Chelating Agents; Deferasirox; Deferiprone; Deferoxamine; Quality of Life; Pyridones; Benzoates; Triazoles; Thalassemia; Chelation Therapy; Ferritins; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 38302961
DOI: 10.1186/s12955-023-02221-y -
PharmacoEconomics - Open Mar 2024Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.
BACKGROUND
Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder that leads to iron overload and multiorgan failure.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this systematic review was to provide up-to-date evidence of all the current data on the costs and cost effectiveness of screening and treatment for HH.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHSEED), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEA Registry), Health Technology Assessment Database (HTAD), Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD), and Econlit until April 2023 with no date restrictions. Articles that reported cost-utility, cost-description, cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, or cost-benefit analyses for any kind of management (drugs, screening, etc.) were included in the study. Patients with HH, their siblings, or individuals suspected of having HH were included in the study. All screening and treatment strategies were included. Two authors assessed the quality of evidence related to screening (either phenotype or genotype screening) and treatment (phlebotomy and electrophoresis). Narrative synthesis was used to analyse the similarities and differences between the respective studies.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine papers were included in this study. The majority of the studies reported both the cost of phenotype screening, including transferrin saturation (TS), serum ferritin, and liver biopsy, and the cost of genotype screening (HFE screening, C282Y mutation). Few studies reported the cost for phlebotomy and erythrocytapheresis treatment. Data revealed that either phenotype or genotype screening were cost effective compared with no screening. Treatment studies concluded that erythrocytapheresis might be a cost-effective therapy compared with phlebotomy.
CONCLUSIONS
Economic studies on either the screening, or treatment strategy for HH patients should be performed in more countries. We suggest that cost-effectiveness studies on the role of deferasirox in HH should be carried out as an alternative therapy to phlebotomy.
PubMed: 38279979
DOI: 10.1007/s41669-023-00463-6 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Feb 2024Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a patient-reported outcome that assesses the impact of a disease or illness on different domains of a patient's life. Different... (Review)
Review
Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a patient-reported outcome that assesses the impact of a disease or illness on different domains of a patient's life. Different general and disease-specific measures can be used to evaluate HRQOL. This article aimed to summarize the evidence for HRQOL among patients with transfusion-dependent (TDT) and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT). We included HRQOL data related to standard therapy with blood transfusions, iron chelation, and/or luspatercept in TDT and NTDT, as well as curative therapies for TDT, including hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and gene therapy. Patients with thalassemia had worse HRQOL scores compared to the general population, and chronic pain was seen to increase in frequency and severity over time with age. NTDT patients reported worse physical health and functioning, mental health, general health, and vitality than TDT patients. However, TDT patients reported worse pain, change in health, and social support than NTDT. Most therapies improved overall HRQOL among thalassemia patients. Deferasirox, an oral iron chelator, was associated with more HRQOL benefits compared to deferoxamine, an intravenous iron chelator. Luspatercept showed clinically meaningful improvement in physical functioning among TDT and NTDT. Furthermore, HSCT and gene therapy were associated with better physical, emotional, and mental domains scores.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Thalassemia; Iron Chelating Agents; Blood Transfusion; Chronic Pain; Iron Overload
PubMed: 38270933
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15100 -
International Journal of Pediatric... Feb 2024Hearing impairment has frequently been described in β-thalassemia patients with a significant impact on the patients' quality of life. Most studies provided evidence of...
BACKGROUND
Hearing impairment has frequently been described in β-thalassemia patients with a significant impact on the patients' quality of life. Most studies provided evidence of deferoxamine (DFO) dose-related ototoxicity, however, the data is scarce regarding deferasirox (DFX) as a sole iron chelator.
AIM
We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and vestibular dysfunction in regularly transfused β-thalassemia patients who had been treated with DFX film coated tablets.
METHODS
We conducted a case control study on 57 transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients with a mean age of 15.3 years who received DFX FCT as monotherapy for at least one consecutive year, and 57 healthy age and sex-matching controls. Comprehensive audiological evaluations using pure tone audiometry (PTA) and transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) as well as vestibular evaluation using Video-nystagmography (VNG) were done.
RESULTS
SNHL was identified in 12 patients (21.1 %) using PTA and a statistically significant difference was detected between controls and patients at 6 KHz and 12 KHz frequencies. A higher incidence of SNHL was detected using TEOAE, 22 patients (43.1 %) failed to pass TEOAE, with a statistically significant decrease in the signal at frequencies 1, 4 KHz bilaterally and at frequencies 1.5, 2 KHz in the right ear compared to controls. Canal paresis was detected in 21 (36.8 %) of thalassemic children using bithermal caloric test with significantly more unilateral weakness than control children (P = 0.008). We found no significant correlation between audio-vestibular dysfunction and age, sex, serum ferritin, frequency of blood transfusion and dose of DFX FCT in thalassemic children.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that the incidence of SNHL and vestibular dysfunction was high among transfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients. Therefore, we recommend performing pre-treatment baseline audio-vestibular assessment and yearly audio-vestibular monitoring to early detect high risk patients and initiate timely management to prevent permanent damage.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; beta-Thalassemia; Deferasirox; Deferoxamine; Case-Control Studies; Quality of Life; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural
PubMed: 38252990
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2024.111868 -
PloS One 2024Hypozincemia is a prevalent adverse consequence in diabetes mellitus (DM) and β-Thalassemia patients. We aimed to evaluate the level of serum zinc in β-thalassemia...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Hypozincemia is a prevalent adverse consequence in diabetes mellitus (DM) and β-Thalassemia patients. We aimed to evaluate the level of serum zinc in β-thalassemia patients with DM and a risk assessment for hypozincemia.
METHODS
The study population included transfusion-dependent thalassemia (TDT) and non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (NTDT) with overt DM (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL, and/or 2-h plasma glucose≥200 mg/dL). Serum zinc concentration was measured by the colorimetric method, and the values below 70 μg/dL were defined as hypozincemia. Myocardial and liver T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI T2*, millisecond [ms]) were valued by a free contrast MRI. The demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and laboratory data were also recorded. The data belonged to the period from December 2018 until December 2020.
RESULTS
Of 64 diabetic β-thalassemia patients, 41 cases had zinc data in their medical files (aged 38 ± 9 years, 48.8% female). 78.05% of patients (n = 32) were TDT, and 21.95% were NTDT (n = 9). The mean ± standard deviation of zinc level was 110.2 ± 127.6 μg/dL. The prevalence of hypozincemia was 9.76%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27 to 19.24 (four cases). After controlling age, the odds of hypozincemia for using deferasirox (DFX) was 8.77, 95% CI 0.60 to 127.1. In β-thalassemia patients, the age-adjusted risk of hypozincemia was calculated at 15.85, 95% CI 0.47 to 529.3 for hepatitis C. The adjusted risk of hypozincemia based on age for antacid use was 6.34, 95% CI 0.39 to 102.7.
CONCLUSION
In light of this study, as well as hepatitis C, using DFX and antacids is associated with a high risk of hypozincemia amid diabetic β-thalassemia cases. However, upward bias should be taken into consideration.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; beta-Thalassemia; Deferasirox; Iron Overload; Blood Glucose; Risk Factors; Thalassemia; Hepatitis C; Diabetes Mellitus; Zinc; Iron Chelating Agents
PubMed: 38215162
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284267 -
Brain Research May 2024Electroacupuncture, recognized as a crucial non-pharmacological therapeutic approach, has demonstrated notable efficacy in enhancing cognitive function among Alzheimer's...
BACKGROUND
Electroacupuncture, recognized as a crucial non-pharmacological therapeutic approach, has demonstrated notable efficacy in enhancing cognitive function among Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. This study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective properties of electroacupuncture in APP/PS1 mice with AD.
METHODS
A total of thirty APP/PS1 mice were randomly assigned to three groups: the Alzheimer's disease group (AD), the electroacupuncture treatment group (EA), and the ferroptosis inhibitor deferasirox treatment group (DFX). Additionally, ten C57BL/6 mice were included as a control group (Control). In the EA group, mice underwent flat needling at Baihui and Yintang, as well as point needling at Renzhong, once daily for 15 min each time. In the DFX group, mice received intraperitoneal injections of deferasirox at a dosage of 100 mg/kg/day. Following the 28-day treatment period, behavioral evaluation, morphological observation of neurons, and detection of neuronal ferroptosis were conducted.
RESULTS
The electroacupuncture treatment demonstrated a significant improvement in spatial learning, memory ability, and neuronal damage in mice with AD. Analysis of neuronal ferroptosis markers indicated that electroacupuncture interventions reduced the elevated levels of malondialdehyde, iron, and ptgs2 expression, while also increasing superoxide dismutase activity, Ferroportin 1 and glutathione peroxidase 4 expression. Moreover, the regulatory impact of electroacupuncture on ferroptosis may be attributed to its ability to enhance the expression and nuclear translocation of Nrf2.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggested that electroacupuncture could inhibit the neuronal ferroptosis by activating the antioxidant function in neurons through p62/Keap1/Nrf2 signal pathway, thereby improve the cognitive function of AD mice by the neuronal protection effect.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Alzheimer Disease; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Cognition; Deferasirox; Electroacupuncture; Ferroptosis; Hippocampus; Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Neurons; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Oxidative Stress; Presenilin-1
PubMed: 38163562
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148744 -
Journal of the American Heart... Jan 2024Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, is a major cell death mode in myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury, along with mitochondrial...
BACKGROUND
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death, is a major cell death mode in myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury, along with mitochondrial permeability transition-driven necrosis, which is inhibited by cyclosporine A (CsA). However, therapeutics targeting ferroptosis during myocardial I/R injury have not yet been developed. Hence, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of deferasirox, an iron chelator, against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced ferroptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes and myocardial I/R injury.
METHODS AND RESULTS
The effects of deferasirox on hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced iron overload in the endoplasmic reticulum, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis were examined in cultured cardiomyocytes. In a mouse model of I/R injury, the infarct size and adverse cardiac remodeling were examined after treatment with deferasirox, CsA, or both in combination. Deferasirox suppressed hypoxia- or hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced iron overload in the endoplasmic reticulum, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis in cultured cardiomyocytes. Deferasirox treatment reduced iron levels in the endoplasmic reticulum and prevented increases in lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in the I/R-injured myocardium 24 hours after I/R. Deferasirox and CsA independently reduced the infarct size after I/R injury to a similar degree, and combination therapy with deferasirox and CsA synergistically reduced the infarct size (infarct area/area at risk; control treatment: 64±2%; deferasirox treatment: 48±3%; CsA treatment: 48±4%; deferasirox+CsA treatment: 37±3%), thereby ameliorating adverse cardiac remodeling on day 14 after I/R.
CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy with deferasirox and CsA may be a clinically feasible and effective therapeutic approach for limiting I/R injury and ameliorating adverse cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction.
Topics: Mice; Animals; Cyclosporine; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Deferasirox; Ferroptosis; Ventricular Remodeling; Myocytes, Cardiac; Myocardial Infarction; Reperfusion Injury; Iron; Hypoxia; Iron Overload; Myocardial Ischemia
PubMed: 38158218
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.031219 -
BMC Cancer Dec 2023
PubMed: 38082388
DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11677-6 -
Patient Preference and Adherence 2023To examine the feasibility of using MEMS bottles to assess adherence among adolescents and emerging adults with sickle cell disease.
PURPOSE
To examine the feasibility of using MEMS bottles to assess adherence among adolescents and emerging adults with sickle cell disease.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Eighteen non-Hispanic Black participants with HbSS (M = 17.8 years; 61% male) were given a MEMS bottle to store hydroxyurea (n = 14) or deferasirox (n = 4).
RESULTS
One hundred percent initiated MEMS use and 61% sustained use through the 18-week study; at follow-up, only 11% returned their bottle on time. Barriers to MEMS use included medication changes and transition to adult care; facilitators included tip sheets and reminders.
CONCLUSION
While MEMS is acceptable to this population, ensuring sustained use and timely provision of bottles will require additional supports.
PubMed: 38077792
DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S431595