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Biomedical subjects

Patrice Jichlinski

Publications and source records attributed to Patrice Jichlinski.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Hexyl-aminolevulinate-mediated photodynamic therapy: how to spare normal urothelium. An in vitro approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of superficial bladder cancer may cause damages to the normal surrounding bladder wall. Prevention of these is important for bladder healing. We studied the influence of photosensitizer concentration, irradiation parameters, and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on the photodynamically induced damage in the porcine urothelium invitro. The aim was to determine the threshold conditions for the cell survival. METHODS: Living porcine bladder mucosae were incubated with solution of hexylester of 5-aminolevulinic acid (HAL). The mucosae were irradiated with increasing doses and cell alterations were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and by Sytox green fluorescence. The urothelial survival score was correlated with Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) photobleaching and intracellular fluorescence of Rhodamine 123 reflecting the ROS production. RESULTS: The mortality ratio was dependent on PpIX concentration. After 3 hours of incubation, the threshold radiant exposures for blue light were 0.15 and 0.75 J/cm(2) (irradiance 30 and 75 mW/cm(2), respectively) and for white light 0.55 J/cm(2) (irradiance 30 mW/cm(2)). Photobleaching rate increased with decreasing irradiance. Interestingly, the DHR123/R123 reporter system correlated well with the threshold exposures under all conditions used. CONCLUSIONS: We have determined radiant exposures sparing half of normal urothelial cells. We propose that the use of low irradiance combined with systems reporting the ROS production in the irradiated tissue could improve the in vivo dosimetry and optimize the PDT.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

Peptabody-EGF: a novel apoptosis inducer targeting ErbB1 receptor overexpressing cancer cells.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a central role in cell life by controlling processes such as growth or proliferation. This receptor is commonly overexpressed in a number of epithelial malignancies and its upregulation is often associated with an aggressive phenotype of the tumor. Thus, targeting of EGFR represents a very promising challenge in oncology, and antibodies raised against this receptor have been investigated as potential antitumor agents. Various putative mechanisms of action were proposed for such antibodies, including decreased proliferation, induction of apoptosis, stimulation of the immunological response against targeted cancer cells or combinations thereof. We report here the development of an alternative high affinity molecule that is directed against EGFR. Production of this pentameric protein, named peptabody-EGF, includes expression in a bacterial expression system and subsequent refolding and multimerization of peptabody monomers. The protein complex contains 5 human EGF ligand domains, which confer specific binding towards the extracellular portion of EGFR. Receptor binding of the peptabody-EGF had a strong antiproliferative effect on different cancer cell lines overexpressing EGFR. However, cells expressing constitutive levels of the target receptor were barely affected. Peptabody-EGF treated cancer cells exhibited typical characteristics of apoptosis, which was found to be induced within 30 min after the addition of the peptabody-EGF. In vitro experiments demonstrated a significantly higher binding activity for peptabody-EGF than for the therapeutic monoclonal EGFR antibody Mab-425. Furthermore, the antitumor action provoked by the peptabody-EGF was greatly superior than antibody mediated effects when tested on EGFR overexpressing cancer cell lines. These findings suggest a potential application of this high affinity molecule as a novel tool for anti-EGFR therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Treatment of penile carcinoma: to cut or not to cut?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess the outcome in patients with penile cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 60 patients with penile carcinoma were included. Of the patients, 45 (n = 27) underwent surgery, and 51 underwent definitive (n = 29) or postoperative (n = 22) radiotherapy (RT). Median follow-up was 62 months. RESULTS: Median time to locoregional relapse was 14 months. Local failure was observed in 3 of 23 patients (13%) treated with surgery with or without postoperative RT vs. in 19 of 33 patients (56%) given organ-sparing treatment (p = 0.0008). Of 22 local failures, 16 (73%) were salvaged with surgery. Of the 33 patients treated with definitive RT (n = 29) and the 4 patients refusing RT after excisional biopsy, local control was obtained with organ preservation in 13 (39%). In the remaining 20, 4 patients with local failure underwent salvage conservatively, resulting in an ultimate penis preservation rate of 17 of 33 (52%) patients treated with definitive RT. The 5-year and 10-year probability of surviving with an intact penis was 43% and 26%, respectively. There was no survival difference between the patients treated with definitive RT and primary surgery (56% vs. 53%; p = 0.16). In multivariate analysis, independent factors influencing survival were N-classification and pathologic grade. Surgery was the only independent predictor for better local control. CONCLUSION: Based on our study findings, in patients with penile cancer, local control is superior with surgery. However, there is no difference in survival between patients treated with surgery and those treated with definitive RT, with 52% organ preservation.

Adult↗

De novo concurrent papillary renal cell carcinoma and angiomyolipoma in a kidney allograft: evidence of donor origin.

In the general population, renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a relatively common neoplasm; however, the papillary RCC subtype is infrequent and represents only 10 to 15% of all RCC. Angiomyolipoma is a well-known common benign tumor. The occurrence of RCC in association with angiomyolipoma is a rare event, with only approximately 50 cases reported in the nontransplantation setting. In transplant recipients, RCC can develop in native kidneys, but its occurrence "de novo" in the renal allograft is very rare with an estimated incidence of less than 0.5%. We report here the case of a 39-year-old woman who underwent cadaveric renal transplantation in 1990. No lesion was observed in the allograft during the pre- and perioperative period or on early postoperative ultrasounds. No graft rejection occurred under a standard triple immunosuppressive therapy. Thirteen years later, during a routine ultrasonography, 2 solid masses were discovered in the allograft, both of them richly vascularized. She underwent allograft nephrectomy and the histologic findings revealed that one of the tumors was a chromophilic (type 1) papillary RCC (2.5 cm in diameter) and the other, an angiomyolipoma (1.5 cm). Microsatellite analysis of the allograft, as compared with the recipient peripheral blood leukocytes, demonstrated that the 2 tumors (1 malignant and 1 benign) were of donor origin. To our knowledge, this is the first report of de novo concurrent papillary RCC and angiomyolipoma in a renal allograft.

Adult↗

Mutant recombinant serpins as highly specific inhibitors of human kallikrein 14.

The reactive center loop (RCL) of serpins plays an essential role in the inhibition mechanism acting as a substrate for their target proteases. Changes within the RCL sequence modulate the specificity and reactivity of the serpin molecule. Recently, we reported the construction of alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) variants with high specificity towards human kallikrein 2 (hK2) [Cloutier SM, Kündig C, Felber LM, Fattah OM, Chagas JR, Gygi CM, Jichlinski P, Leisinger HJ & Deperthes D (2004) Eur J Biochem271, 607-613] by changing amino acids surrounding the scissile bond of the RCL and obtained specific inhibitors towards hK2. Based on this approach, we developed highly specific recombinant inhibitors of human kallikrein 14 (hK14), a protease correlated with increased aggressiveness of prostate and breast cancers. In addition to the RCL permutation with hK14 phage display-selected substrates E8 (LQRAI) and G9 (TVDYA) [Felber LM, Borgoño CA, Cloutier SM, Kündig C, Kishi T, Chagas JR, Jichlinski P, Gygi CM, Leisinger HJ, Diamandis EP & Deperthes D (2005) Biol Chem386, 291-298], we studied the importance of the scaffold, serpins alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) or ACT, to confer inhibitory specificity. All four resulting serpin variants ACT(E8), ACT(G9), AAT(E8) and AAT(G9) showed hK14 inhibitory activity and were able to form covalent complex with hK14. ACT inhibitors formed more stable complexes with hK14 than AAT variants. Whereas E8-based inhibitors demonstrated a rather relaxed specificity reacting with various proteases with trypsin-like activity including several human kallikreins, the two serpins variants containing the G9 sequence showed a very high selectivity for hK14. Such specific inhibitors might prove useful to elucidate the biological role of hK14 and/or its implication in cancer.

Base Sequence↗

Photodynamic applications in superficial bladder cancer: facts and hopes!

As a disease characterized by a polymorphic and fluctuant nature in its evolution, superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder remains a perpetual therapeutic challenge. This raises a great interest in the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic photodynamic applications. This article describes recent facts in the field of bladder cancer photodiagnosis and gives a survey on ongoing research in photodynamic therapy. Fluorescence cystoscopy induced by different aminolevulinic acid compounds (e.g., ALA-HAL) is well accepted in the urological community as a user-friendly new diagnostic tool in the endoscopic management of bladder tumors and CIS. Photodynamic therapy based on the same photosensitizing agents remains experimental, but recent results raise hopes of new therapeutic directions.

Aminolevulinic Acid↗

Forced diuresis improves the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG PET in abdominopelvic malignancies.

UNLABELLED: Our aim was to evaluate the role of forced diuresis in improving the diagnostic accuracy of abdominopelvic (18)F-FDG PET. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled. Besides the presence of known intravesical tumors or undefined renal lesions on the initial PET scan, the inclusion criterion was the appearance of indeterminate or equivocal (18)F-FDG foci that extended along the course of the urinary tract and could not confidently be separated from urinary activity. For each patient, a second abdominopelvic PET study was performed after intravenous injection of 0.5 mg of furosemide per kilogram of body weight (maximum, 40 mg) coupled with parenteral infusion of physiologic saline. RESULTS: Forced diuresis coupled with parenteral hydration eliminated any significant (18)F-FDG activity from the lower urinary tract in 31 (97%) of 32 patients after the bladder had been voided 3 successive times. Twelve intravesical lesions were visualized with outstanding clarity, whereas radiologic suspicion of locally recurrent bladder tumors was ruled out in 3 patients. Among 14 indeterminate or equivocal extravesical foci, 7 were deemed of no clinical value because they disappeared after furosemide challenge, whereas 7 persisting foci were proven to be true-positive PET findings. The performance of (18)F-FDG PET in characterizing 3 renal-space-occupying lesions could not be improved by our protocol. CONCLUSION: Furosemide challenge has the potential to noninvasively resolve the inherent (18)F-FDG contrast handicap in the lower urinary tract.

Adult↗

[Screening of the prostate cancer. "lnstantaneous" of a daily practice among 300 general practitioners of the canton of Vaud].

This investigation brings information on the practice of 300 general practitioners of the canton of Vaud as for the use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and the digital rectal examination (DRE) in the prostate cancer screening. The high rate of answer shows their interest for this problem which they deal with in adequacy with the international recommendations published by the societies of urology.

Adult↗

[Biochemical failure after curative treatment for localized prostate cancer].

Biochemical failure after curative treatment for localized prostate cancer is frequent. The diagnosis of biochemical failure is clear when PSA levels rise after radical prostatectomy, but may be more difficult after external beam radiation therapy. The main difficulty once biochemical failure is diagnosed is to distinguish between local and distant failure, given the low sensitivity of standard work-up exams. Metabolic imaging techniques currently under evaluation may in the future help us to localize the site of failures. There are several therapeutic options depending on the initial curative treatment, each with morbidity risks that should be considered in multidisciplinary decision-making.

Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗

Fluorescence cystoscopy in the management of bladder cancer: a help for the urologist!

As a disease characterized by a nature polymorphic and fluctuant in its evolution, superficial transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder remains a perpetual therapeutic challenge, and raises a great interest in the development of new diagnostic and surveillance techniques. This paper reviews 10 years of experience of fluorescence cystoscopy, a simple technique perfectly adapted to the current endoscopic equipment. Its principle is to enhance the visual contrast between benign and malignant cells. Three photosensitizing agents are available, two prodrugs: delta-aminolevulinic acid or hexaminolevulinate, and a natural substance: hypericin. With a detection rate of over 90% for carcinoma in situ and a real potential for detecting small tumors overlooked by standard cystoscopy, fluorescence cystoscopy may be clearly recommended in clinical practice. This technique favors a standardization of superficial bladder cancer endoscopic management and is susceptible to have a real impact on the disease recurrence and progression rate.

Cystoscopy↗

Enzymatic profiling of human kallikrein 14 using phage-display substrate technology.

The human KLK14 gene is one of the newly identified serine protease genes belonging to the human kallikrein family, which contains 15 members. KLK14 , like all other members of the human kallikrein family, is predicted to encode for a secreted serine protease already found in various biological fluids. This new kallikrein is mainly expressed in prostate and endocrine tissues, but its function is still unknown. Recent studies have demonstrated that KLK14 gene expression is up-regulated in prostate and breast cancer tissues, and that higher expression levels correlate with more aggressive tumors. In this work, we used phage-display substrate technology to study the substrate specificity of hK14. A phage-displayed random pentapeptide library with exhaustive diversity was screened with purified recombinant hK14. Highly specific and sensitive substrates were selected from the library. We show that hK14 has dual activity, trypsin- and chymotrypsin-like, with a preference for cleavage after arginine residues. A SwissProt database search with selected sequences identified six potential human protein substrates for hK14. Two of them, laminin alpha-5 and collagen IV, which are major components of the extracellular matrix, have been demonstrated to be hydrolyzed efficiently by hK14.

Bacteriophages↗

Development of recombinant inhibitors specific to human kallikrein 2 using phage-display selected substrates.

The reactive site loop of serpins undoubtedly defines in part their ability to inhibit a particular enzyme. Exchanges in the reactive loop of serpins might reassign the targets and modify the serpin-protease interaction kinetics. Based on this concept, we have developed a procedure to change the specificity of known serpins. First, reactive loops are very good substrates for the target enzymes. Therefore, we have used the phage-display technology to select from a pentapeptide phage library the best substrates for the human prostate kallikrein hK2 [Cloutier, S.M., Chagas, J.R., Mach, J.P., Gygi, C.M., Leisinger, H.J. & Deperthes, D. (2002) Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 2747-2754]. Selected substrates were then transplanted into the reactive site loop of alpha1-antichymotrypsin to generate new variants of this serpin, able to inhibit the serine protease. Thus, we have developed some highly specific alpha1-antichymotrypsin variants toward human kallikrein 2 which also show high reactivity. These inhibitors might be useful to help elucidate the importance of hK2 in prostate cancer progression.

Bacteriophages↗

Evaluation of the CFP-substrate-YFP system for protease studies: advantages and limitations.

A protease can be defined as an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing peptide bonds. Thus, characterization of a protease involves identification of target peptide sequences, measurement of activities toward these sequences, and determination of kinetic parameters. Biological protease substrates based on fluorescent protein pairs, which allow for use of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), have been recently developed for in vivo protease activity detection and represent a very interesting alternative to chemical substrates for in vitro protease characterization. Here, we analyze a FRET system consisting of cyan and yellow fluorescent proteins (CFP and YFP, respectively), which are fused by a peptide linker serving as protease substrate. Conditions for CFP-YFP fusion protein production in Escherichia coli and purification of proteins were optimized. FRET between CFP and YFP was found to be optimum at a pH between 5.5 and 10.0, at low concentrations of salt and a temperature superior to 25 degrees C. For efficient FRET to occur, the peptide linker between CFP and YFP can measure up to 25 amino acids. The CFP-substrate-YFP system demonstrated a high degree of resistance to nonspecific proteolysis, making it suitable for enzyme kinetic analysis. As with chemical substrates, substrate specificity of CFP-substrate-YFP proteins was tested towards different proteases and kcat/Km values were calculated.

Enzyme Activation↗

[Infective lithiasis].

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman, with a BMI of 42.9, suffering from bilateral struvite calculi and who raised end stage renal failure. Urease-synthesizing bacteria, leading to the hydrolysis of urea into ammonium and to an alkaline urine (pH > 7.2), are required for struvite stone formation in humans. Struvite component constitutes the majority of staghom calculi. Patients with struvite stones could lose renal function because of obstructive or pyelonephritic episodes and surgical interventions on the kidney. Therapeutic success needs a follow up by a specialized uro-nephrologist team as soon as possible.

Aged↗

[Cysteine lithiasis].

Cystinuria is a common inherited amino-aciduria resulting in abnormal urinary excretion of cystine and the dibasic aminoacids, lysine, arginine and ornithine. Formation of cystine kidney stones, recurrent infections and subsequent renal failure are the main complications of the disease. Recently, the gene SLC3A1 and SLC7A9, encoding the two subunits rBAT et b0,+AT of the proximal renal transporter complex, have been identified. In this article, we report the medical history of a 30-year-old patient and discuss the recent molecular progress, the clinical evolution, and the medical treatment of the cystinuria.

Adult↗

[Urologic treatment of lithiasis].

The urological treatment of urolithiasis has completely changed during the last 20 years with a huge technical development. Many eclectic fields as aeronautical, micromechanic, Laser and optical research as well as computerised radiology have contributed to this evolution. We discuss here, the several therapeutic modalities, with there applications, combinations and various indications.

Decision Trees↗

New diagnostic strategies in the detection and staging of bladder cancer.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bladder cancer is a very frequent disease and represents the second most common genitourinary neoplasm. The most prevalent form of the disease, superficial bladder cancer, can recur in more than 70% of cases, despite correct management. Any way to improve our disease diagnostic and treatment policy is therefore welcome. RECENT FINDINGS: This review covers the following topics: (1). endoscopic tools: standard cystoscopy versus fluorescence cystoscopy and virtual endoscopy; (2). bladder cancer staging: histopathological analysis developments and imaging techniques (positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography); (3). cytology and ancillary procedures (ImmunoCyt and fluorescence in-situ hybridization test, and others); (4). first-generation (bladder tumour antigen, nuclear matrix protein 22, telomerase repeat amplification protocol) and second-generation (loss of heterozygosity, minichromosome maintenance 5, DNA methylation, microsatellite) urine and serum markers. SUMMARY: New diagnostic and therapeutic (endoscopic) tools in superficial bladder cancer should eventually modify our disease management policy. Fluorescence cystoscopy detects carcinoma in situ with a high accuracy, and seems to have a positive impact on reducing residual tumour and recurrence rate. A more specific staining of tissue specimens facilitates histological analysis and helps achieve better staging, especially in T1 diseases. Improving the sensitivity of cytology for low-grade diseases, ancillary procedures to classic cytology such as fluorescence in-situ hybridization and ImmunoCyt tests, may reduce the number of unpleasant cystoscopies in surveillance protocols of selected groups of patients. Second-generation urine markers such as loss of heterozygosity, microsatellite, minichromosome maintenance 5, with a high level of accuracy, show great potential for influencing bladder cancer detection and screening policy.

Diagnostic Techniques, Urological↗