Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy最新文献

{"title":"ANTIPROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITIES OF A SILVER COMPLEX WITH A SCHIFF BASE OVER TUMORAL CELLS","authors":"Maria Paula Dias Carneiro Miguel ,&nbsp;Leticia Pires de Oliveira ,&nbsp;Douglas Hideki Nakahata ,&nbsp;Gilberto Carlos Franchi Júnior ,&nbsp;Pedro G. Esquezaro ,&nbsp;Carmen Silvia Passos Lima ,&nbsp;Raphael E.F. de Paiva ,&nbsp;Pedro Paulo Corbi","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Functionalized sulfonamides, particularly Schiff bases (SB), often display superior biological activity when compared to their parent compounds, giving rise to derivatives with notable biological properties. Coordination of these ligands to silver(I) ions has been shown to further enhance their biological performance, potentially generating multitarget agents with improved cellular activity. In this context, a sulfonamide-based Schiff base was employed as a precursor for the synthesis of a silver(I) complex, herein referred to as Ag(Emaf-Sl), and evaluated as an antiproliferative agent over squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCC25).</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This work deals with the synthesis of a novel silver(I) complex derived from a Schiff base and evaluation of its antiproliferative activities over SCC25 cells.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>The silver complex was first prepared by the reaction of silver nitrate and a Schiff base in methanol under stirring and at room temperature. The solid compound obtained was collected by filtration, dried and stored for further analysis. Composition of the complex was determined by elemental analysis. Antiproliferative activity of the complex over SCC25 cells was evaluated by a colorimetric assay (MTT) by determining the IC50 value.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Elemental analysis confirmed the molecular formula AgC15H15O3N2S for the complex. The silver(I) complex exhibited cytotoxic effects against SCC25 cancer cells, with IC50 value of 6.2 µmol·L-1. The preliminary results warrant further analysis for structural characterization and its antiproliferative activities besides determination of their main cellular targets.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The synthetic strategy for obtaining the silver(I) Schiff base complex was successfully achieved. The compound demonstrated promising antiproliferative effects against SCC25 cells, highlighting its potential as a biologically active silver-based agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106307"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ASSESSMENT OF CYTOTOXICITY AND PROTEIN CORONA FORMATION OF Β-NALNF₄ NANOPARTICLES IN RED BLOOD CELLS","authors":"Letícia Cerqueira Vasconcelos ,&nbsp;Rafael Vieira Perrella ,&nbsp;Mateus Pereira Teles ,&nbsp;Gabriela Helena da Silva ,&nbsp;Jennifer de Pontes Medrades ,&nbsp;Ítalo Odone Mazali ,&nbsp;Diego Stéfani Teodoro Martinez ,&nbsp;Fernando Sigoli","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Lanthanide-doped nanoparticles (NPs) have unique photophisical properties that make them promising candidates for diverse technological applications. These materials combine the optical characteristics of lanthanide ions with the stability of the host matrix and the possibility of surface functionalization, enabling the development of multifunctional systems that can be explored in areas ranging from catalysis to nanomedicine. In particular, their use in nanomedicine is highly attractive given the need for advanced tools to understand complex pathophysiological processes, enabling more accurate diagnoses and therapeutic innovations. Although many studies explore these applications, systematic investigations into the impact of these NPs on human cells are still scarce.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>In this context, this work proposes an integrated approach to the synthesis and functionalization of core@shell NPs based on lanthanide fluorides (NaLnF4), as well as to evaluate their cytotoxicity and the influence of protein corona formation on their photophysical properties, targeting applications in biological systems.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Core@shell NPs were designed to emit in the visible and near-infrared regions under excitation at 808 nm, a wavelength compatible with biological demands. Surface modification included the removal of oleic acid, resulting in ligand-free nanoparticles (LF), and functionalization with alendronate (AL). The cytotoxicity of NPs was evaluated by monitoring cell integrity and protein corona formation while photophysical characterizations were performed before and after interaction with blood plasma or hemolysate.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Photophysical characterizations showed that protein corona formation did not affect the emission or luminescence lifetimes of LF and AL samples, upon interaction with blood plasma or hemolysate. In addition, hemolysis assays showed percentages below 5% for all samples, indicating non-harmful interactions between NPs@corona and red blood cells.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Overall, these results demonstrate the low cytotoxicity of lanthanide-doped NPs, reinforcing their potential for application in biological systems. Furthermore, the preservation of their optical properties after protein corona formation highlights their suitability for optical sensing in nanomedicine applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106281"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IN VITRO AND EX VIVO EVALUATION OF 99MTC-LABELED LAMININ-111–DERIVED PEPTIDES FOR BREAST CANCER TARGETING","authors":"Fernanda Ferreira Mendonça ,&nbsp;Marycel Figols de Barboza ,&nbsp;Jorge Mejia Cabeza ,&nbsp;Caiubi Rodrigues de Paula Santos ,&nbsp;Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi ,&nbsp;Luciana Malavolta","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106284","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Breast cancer represents a major public health challenge worldwide, with projections indicating more than 35 million new cancer diagnoses by 2050. The search for molecular probes capable of selectively targeting tumor cells has therefore intensified. Among these, biologically active peptides derived from laminin-111 have attracted attention due to their role in regulating cellular behavior, including gene expression, adhesion, migration, and proliferation in breast cancer cells. Notably, the laminin-111–derived sequences YIGSR and IKVAV have been reported to interact with tumor-associated receptors and modulate key pathways involved in cancer progression.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This study aimed to investigate the biological behavior of the laminin-111–derived peptides HYIGSR and HYIKVAV radiolabeled with technetium-99m (99mTc), by assessing their in vitro interaction with breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) and their ex vivo biodistribution in mice.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Radiolabeled peptides [99mTc]Tc-HYIGSR and [99mTc]Tc-HYIKVAV were incubated with 2 × 106 breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) at 37°C under gentle agitation (500 rpm). In vitro binding and internalization were evaluated after 1h and 2h of incubation. Radioactivity in the cell pellet and supernatant was measured using an automatic gamma counter, and binding percentages were calculated. Subsequently, the pellets were resuspended in 0.5 mL of acid buffer to evaluate internalization. For biodistribution studies, [99mTc]Tc-HYIGSR and [99mTc]Tc-HYIKVAV were intravenously injected into normal female BALB/c nude mice (n = 4 per peptide). Ex vivo biodistribution was performed 2h post-injection. At the selected time point, organs were harvested, weighed, and counted in a Wizard2™ 3”-2480 gamma counter (PerkinElmer). Results were expressed as the mean percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In vitro assays demonstrated that both radiopeptides exhibited affinity for MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. For [99mTc]Tc-HYIGSR, binding values were 3.61 ± 0.96% at 1h and 2.63 ± 0.80% at 2h, while internalization reached 67.42 ± 4.27% at 1h and 35.18 ± 7.49% at 2h (n = 6). For [99mTc]Tc-HYIKVAV, binding percentages were 5.38 ± 1.02% at 1h and 5.25 ± 0.50% at 2h, and internalization values were 64.39 ± 7.90% at 1h and 57.77 ± 4.44% at 2h (n = 6). Ex vivo biodistribution in normal female BALB/c nude mice (n = 4) showed rapid blood clearance and low uptake in most evaluated organs, including heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and muscle, with values below 5% of the injected dose (%ID/g). In contrast, liver, intestines, stomach, and thyroid exhibited pronounced accumulation of both [99mTc]Tc-HYIGSR and [99mTc]Tc-HYIKVAV, with %ID values exceeding 23%.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;In conclusion, [99mTc]Tc-HYIGSR and [99mTc]Tc-HYIKVAV showed relevant interaction with breast cancer ","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106284"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COMBINATION OF PACLITAXEL AND A COPPER (II) COMPLEX AS A SYNERGISTIC STRATEGY FOR THE TREATMENT OF TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER","authors":"Laryssa Aparecida Sales Barbosa,&nbsp;Paula Marynella Alves Pereira Lima,&nbsp;Douglas Cardoso Brandão,&nbsp;Janaína do Couto Almeida,&nbsp;Gislaine Gonçalves Rocha,&nbsp;Henrique Gabriel Rodrigues Alves,&nbsp;Wendell Guerra,&nbsp;Thaise Gonçalves Araújo","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106319","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106319","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Encompassing a group of more than 100 diseases, cancer is considered a major public health problem and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Among the different types, breast cancer (BC) stands out as the most incident among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, accounting for approximately 2.3 million new cases and 670,000 deaths in 2022. Characterized as a heterogeneous disease, BC can be classified into four molecular subtypes based on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2). The Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2-enriched subtypes express these receptors at different levels and generally show good responses to hormonal and targeted therapies. In contrast, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not express these markers and is associated with higher aggressiveness, poorer prognosis, and limited therapeutic options. Chemotherapy remains the main therapeutic strategy for TNBC, however, it presents significant limitations, such as pronounced side effects and the development of tumor resistance. In this context, the identification of new antitumor agents and the development of combination strategies become relevant to increase therapeutic efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. Therapeutic regimens are often performed in combination using drugs with distinct mechanisms of action, promoting synergistic effects and allowing dose reduction. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the synergistic effect of paclitaxel, a mitosis-inhibiting chemotherapeutic agent widely used in the treatment of breast neoplasms, in combination with a novel copper (II) metal complex. Copper-based compounds have been investigated for their ability to increase the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducing cell death through multiple mechanisms. Considering that breast neoplastic cells frequently exhibit elevated ROS levels and overexpression of copper transporters, these cells become more susceptible to the effects of such compounds. As an essential element for the organism, copper-based complexes tend to present lower systemic toxicity, resulting in potential therapeutic selectivity, especially when compared to agents based on non-essential metals, such as cisplatin. The effects of the copper complex and paclitaxel were initially evaluated individually in the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cell line using the MTT cell viability assay after 24 and 48 hours of treatment, aiming to determine IC50 values. Based on these data, assays comprising 49 binary combinations were conducted, and pharmacological interactions were analyzed using the Chou-Talalay method, with calculation of the combination index. After 24 hours, 16 synergistic combinations were identified at different levels, including five interactions classified as very strong synergism. Similarly, after 48 hours, 11 combinations exhibited distinct degrees of synergism. Taken together, the results indicate that","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106319"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CT-DERIVED BODY COMPOSITION AND MACHINE LEARNING FOR PROGNOSTIC IMPROVEMENT IN COLORECTAL CANCER","authors":"Pedro Henrique Alves,&nbsp;Vinicius Barbosa Bassete,&nbsp;Jun Takahashi,&nbsp;Maria Carolina Santos Mendes,&nbsp;José Barreto Campello Carvalheira","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106275","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Translational research in cancer theranostics aims to transform routinely acquired clinical and imaging data into robust and clinically actionable biomarkers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), computed tomography (CT) is widely used for staging and follow-up and represents a valuable source of quantitative body composition biomarkers. However, the integration of high-dimensional radiomics into predictive models faces challenges related to performance, interpretability, and feature stability.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To evaluate the prognostic performance and stability of machine learning (ML) models for overall survival prediction in colorectal cancer using clinical data and CT-derived body composition features.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;A retrospective cohort of 1553 CRC patients was analyzed; 915 met data quality criteria and were included in the primary analysis, in which ML models were trained using 31 clinical and laboratory variables. A CT-imaging subset (n = 448) was subsequently evaluated to assess model robustness and to incorporate 39 body composition radiomics features derived from skeletal muscle, visceral adipose tissue, and subcutaneous adipose tissue. To address high dimensionality, a principal component analysis (PCA)-based reduction pipeline was implemented, with clinically relevant components selected using SHAP feature importance and recursive feature inclusion. At each step, feature ranking stability was quantified using the Jensen-Shannon Divergence (JSD) across 1200 iterations.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Using clinical variables alone, logistic regression (LR) achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.86 in the full cohort and 0.84 in the CT subset. Prior to dimensionality reduction in the CT subset, LR slightly outperformed boosted decision trees (BDT) in discriminative power, while BDT exhibited lower feature selection stability (JSD = 0.65) compared to LR (JSD = 0.80). The inclusion of body composition features did not improve AUC; however, radiomics variables such as skeletal muscle predicted area, skeletal muscle median radiodensity, and visceral adipose tissue 90th percentile consistently ranked among the most relevant predictors. After PCA-based dimensionality reduction, LR maintained its discriminative performance (AUC = 0.84) with a moderate decrease in stability (JSD = 0.71), whereas BDT showed a marked improvement in stability (JSD = 0.81) despite a minor reduction in AUC. These results indicate a clear trade-off between discrimination and robustness, with BDT demonstrating greater gains in stability in lower-dimensional feature spaces.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Machine learning models demonstrated consistent performance in predicting overall survival in colorectal cancer using routinely available clinical data. The inclusion of CT-derived body composition features did not improve discriminative performance but revealed ","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A CANCER BIOBANK AS A PLATFORM FOR BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH: SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE","authors":"Filipe Marques de Andrade,&nbsp;Bianca Piovesan Melchiori Peruzza,&nbsp;Daniele Affonso,&nbsp;Richard Silva de Sousa,&nbsp;Carmen Silvia Passos Lima,&nbsp;Gustavo Jacob Lourenço","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106323","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106323","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Progress in cancer management, including diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, has rapidly advanced in recent years. Metallopharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals are increasingly used as theranostic approaches, enabling tumor detection and targeted treatment. The development of new theranostic agents relies on access to well-characterized human biological samples linked to clinical and molecular data. Cancer biobanks, therefore, play a central role in connecting laboratory discoveries with clinical applications by providing patient-derived material for translational research. In this context, an academic cancer biobank was established in January 2020 to support basic and translational oncology.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To present the structure and operational experience of a cancer biobank and to highlight its contribution to translational and theranostic research over a six-year period.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;This descriptive retrospective study reports the experience of a cancer biobank established at a public university (BLINDING). Biological samples collected from cancer patients and their use in research projects were systematically recorded and analyzed.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The biobank was formally approved by local and national research ethics committees (BLINDING) and operates in accordance with nationally and internationally recognized biobanking practices. Patient samples were linked to anonymized clinical data and managed under standardized procedures ensuring quality, traceability, and long-term storage. To date, biological material has been collected from 726 cancer patients across different tumor types. For head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 486 peripheral blood samples yielded 462 DNA, 450 RNA, and 321 plasma samples, together with 18 paired tumor tissues, including two primary cultures. Among melanoma patients, 197 blood samples provided DNA and RNA, with plasma available in 17 cases. For central nervous system tumors, 43 blood samples yielded DNA, RNA, and plasma. In addition to patient-derived samples, the biobank includes healthy commercial cell lines (Hacat, 3T3, HFF-1, HIEC-6) and tumor cell lines representing head and neck cancer (FaDu, SCC-4, SCC-9, SCC-25, A-253, Detroit-562), melanoma (SK-MEL-28, A-375), glioblastoma (U-87 MG, U-118 MG, U-251 MG, GL261), renal carcinoma (786-0), colorectal cancer (HT-29, Caco-2, HCT116, CT26.WT), breast cancer (MCF-7), ovarian cancer (OVCAR-3), lung cancer (NCI-H460), prostate cancer (LNCaP), bladder cancer (5637), and hematological malignancies (K562, MM.1R, MM.1S, RPMI 8226, HS 604.T, Hs 505.T, HL-60/S4, NB4). These materials have supported molecular analyses, biomarker discovery, experimental tumor models, and the evaluation of novel metallopharmaceutical compounds. Preclinical studies investigating three new radiopharmaceutical agents using biobank-derived tumor cell lines are unde","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106323"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"TARGETING EGFR WITH THE PEPTIDE LARLLT: IN VITRO EFFECTS ON TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER AND GLIOBLASTOMA CELLS","authors":"Lucas Tetsuya Oyagawa,&nbsp;Danielle Vieira Sobral,&nbsp;Fernanda Ferreira Mendonça,&nbsp;Flávio Lopes Alves,&nbsp;Luciana Malavolta,&nbsp;Leonardo Lima Fuscaldi","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106299","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106299","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction/Justification&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and glioblastoma (GBM) are among the most aggressive malignancies, characterized by poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently observed in both tumors, exceeding 50% in TNBC and representing a common alteration in primary GBM. In this context, EGFR-targeting peptides, such as LARLLT, have emerged as promising tools in precision oncology due to their specificity, affinity, low synthesis cost, and reduced toxicity. So, LARLLT is a potential bioactive EGFR-targeting agent.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objectives&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;To investigate the in vitro effects of the anti-EGFR peptide LARLLT on TNBC (MDA-MB-231) and GBM (U-87 MG) cell lines.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The LARLLT peptide was obtained by solid-phase synthesis employing the Fmoc/tBu approach, followed by purification and characterization using RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry. MDA-MB-231 and U-87 MG cells were maintained under standard culture conditions using RPMI-1640 and DMEM media, respectively, both supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (37°C; 5% CO2). Cell proliferation was evaluated by growth curve assays. Cells were seeded in 6-well plates (5 × 104 cells/well) and incubated with LARLLT (116.6 µM). Viable cells were counted using a Neubauer chamber on days 1, 3, 5, and 7, comparing with untreated control (CT). Cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay in MDA-MB-231 cells, which were seeded in 96-well plates (5 × 10³ cells/well) and incubated with LARLLT (11.66 µM). Absorbance readings were obtained on days 1, 5, and 7, and viability was expressed as a percentage relative to CT. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s &lt;em&gt;t&lt;/em&gt;-test or ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (significance set at p&lt;0.05).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;After synthesis and purification, the LARLLT peptide was obtained in pure form, with compatible molar mass (686 g/mol), showing a single and well-defined chromatographic peak. Growth curve analysis indicated that treatment with the anti-EGFR peptide did not significantly affect cell proliferation in either TNBC or GBM cells under the evaluated conditions. On day 7, cell counts were comparable between treated and CT groups: (i) MDA-MB-231: treated = (3.9 ± 0.2) × 105 versus CT = (4.1 ± 0.1) × 105 [p = 0.0776; n = 6]; (ii) U-87 MG: treated = (2.4 ± 0.3) × 105 versus CT = (2.4 ± 0.4) × 105 [p = 0.7243; n = 6]. Consistently, the MTT assay revealed no significant differences in metabolic activity in MDA-MB-231 cells relative to CT, with viabilities of 109.7 ± 12.3% (day 1), 105.0 ± 16.3% (day 5), and 104.8 ± 12.2% (day 7), showing no statistically significant variation over time [p = 0.6874; n = 8]. MTT assays for the U-87 MG cell line are currently ongoing. The absence of biologic","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147451941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ASSOCIATION BETWEEN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND THE SYSTEMIC IMMUNE-INFLAMMATION INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH LOCALLY ADVANCED HEAD AND NECK CANCER","authors":"Angélica Christiny Ribeiro de Toledo,&nbsp;Daniel Paixão Pequeno,&nbsp;Carmen Silvia Passos Lima,&nbsp;Gustavo Jacob Lourenço","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106277","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106277","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a major global health burden and is frequently associated with psychological distress, particularly depressive symptoms. Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for HNC development due to the production of carcinogenic metabolites such as acetaldehyde, which increase oxidative stress and DNA damage. Inflammation plays a central role in tumor progression and has also been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can cross the blood-brain barrier, disrupt neurotransmitter metabolism, and impair neuroplasticity, contributing to depressive symptoms. Inflammatory markers derived from routine blood counts, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), are accessible indicators of systemic inflammation. However, their relationship with depressive symptoms in HNC patients remains poorly explored.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and systemic inflammatory markers in HNC patients.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A total of 110 patients with locally advanced HNC (TNM stage III or IV) were evaluated (mean age 60 years, 91 men and 19 women, 89 White and 21 Black, 21 active smokers and 10 current alcohol users). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Sociodemographic data, lifestyle factors, tumor characteristics, and inflammatory markers obtained from complete blood counts (NLR, PLR, LMR, SII, and SIRI) were collected from medical records. Data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Associations were evaluated using Spearman’s correlation and the Mann-Whitney test. Variables with p &lt; 0.05 were included in multivariate linear regression analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Non-drinkers presented higher BDI-II scores compared with current alcohol users (19.7 vs 9.5, p = 0.01). NLR (? = 0.23, p = 0.02), PLR (? = 0.30, p = 0.002), and SII (? = 0.31, p = 0.002) showed significant positive correlations with depression symptoms scores. In multivariate analysis, non-drinking status was associated with an increase of approximately 10 points in BDI-II scores (p = 0.02), while SII remained independently associated with depressive symptoms (ß = 0.30, p = 0.002).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Non-drinking status and higher SII levels were associated with increased depressive symptoms in patients with locally advanced HNC. These findings highlight the role of systemic inflammation in the emotional burden of HNC patients. Larger studies are needed to confirm these associations and clarify underlying biological mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106277"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PRECLINICAL EVALUATION OF QONA11, A NOVEL QUINAZOLINONE, IN T-CELL ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA","authors":"Gilberto Carlos Franchi Júnior ,&nbsp;Giorgio Antoniolli ,&nbsp;Carmen Silvia Passos Lima ,&nbsp;Keli Lima ,&nbsp;João Agostinho Machado Neto ,&nbsp;Euzébio Guimarães Barbosa ,&nbsp;Rayssa de Mello Lopes ,&nbsp;Tiago Rodrigues ,&nbsp;Fernando Antônio Santos Coelho","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106304","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106304","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work describes the evaluation of the novel derivative Qona11 (2-substituted quinazolin-4(3H) -one), synthesised via the condensation of 2-aminobenzamide and 1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-carbaldehyde, with its structure confirmed by IR and ¹H/¹³C NMR spectroscopy. In silico characterisation predicted a favourable pharmacokinetic profile with high intestinal absorption, low CYP450 inhibition potential, and blood-brain barrier permeability. Regarding in silico toxicity, potential hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, and respiratory risks were indicated, although no significant alerts for cardiotoxicity, carcinogenicity, or immunotoxicity were found. In vitro assays in acute leukaemia models revealed dose- and time-dependent cytotoxicity, with selectivity for the T-cell line (Jurkat, IC50 = 2.3 µM) over the promyelocytic line (NB4, IC50 = 12.7 µM). The mechanism of action in the sensitive lineage was attributed to apoptosis induction via mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation and caspase-3 activation, as confirmed by flow cytometry. In an in vivo xenograft model of Jurkat cells in NOD/SCID mice, Qona11 (100 mg.kg-1) was well tolerated, showing no signs of systemic toxicity; however, it did not inhibit leukaemia progression in this specific model. In conclusion, Qona11 exhibits promising in vitro activity and an adequate initial safety profile, justifying further pre-clinical investigations, including solid tumour models and combination therapy studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106304"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF [¹⁶¹TB]TB-PSMA IN HUMAN PROSTATE CANCER CELL LINES","authors":"Rosina Dapueto,&nbsp;Manuela Bentura,&nbsp;Florencia Arredondo,&nbsp;Juan Vazquez,&nbsp;Kevin Zirbesegger,&nbsp;Javier Giglio,&nbsp;Eduardo Savio","doi":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106320","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.htct.2026.106320","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is highly overexpressed in prostate cancer and represents a validated target for both diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy. Radioligand therapy using PSMA-targeting compounds labeled with beta-emitting radionuclides, such as Lutetium-177, has shown promising clinical results. However, alternative radionuclides with more favorable decay properties may further enhance therapeutic efficacy. Terbium-161 is an attractive candidate due to its emission of low-energy beta particles and conversion and Auger electrons, which may improve tumor cell killing, particularly at the cellular and subcellular levels. Taken together, these characteristics highlight Terbium-161 as an attractive candidate for the treatment of disseminated cancers with multiple metastases, from single tumor cells (∼10 µm) to micrometastatic clusters (&lt;1 mm).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The objective of this study was to perform a biological assessment of [¹&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;¹Tb]Tb-PSMA in human prostate cancer cell lines, focusing on its cellular uptake, specificity, internalization behavior, and radiobiological effects, in order to evaluate its potential as a targeted radiotherapeutic agent. Also, we provide a cellular comparison of Terbium-161 PSMA radiobiological effects with those induced by Actinium-225 PSMA and Lutetium-177 PSMA.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Materials and Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;All radiopharmaceuticals were radiolabeled under optimized conditions and its radiochemical purity was confirmed prior to biological evaluation. In vitro experiments were conducted using PSMA-positive (LNCaP) and PSMA-negative (PC3) human prostate cancer cell lines. Cellular uptake assays with [¹&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;¹Tb]Tb-PSMA were performed at different time points to assess PSMA-specific binding, with or without blocking using an excess of unlabeled PSMA ligand. The radiobiological effects of [¹&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;¹Tb]Tb-PSMA were evaluated through cell viability, cell growth and clonogenic survival assays following 24h incubation with increasing activity concentrations (0.01‒10 MBq/mL) plus 7 days in fresh media. Experiments were performed under standardized conditions to allow comparative analysis between Terbium-161 PSMA cell effects and Actinium-225 and Lutetium-177 PSMA. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad 9.5.1, with significance set at p = 0.05.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;[¹&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt;¹Tb]Tb-PSMA showed high and specific uptake in PSMA-expressing prostate cancer cells, which was significantly reduced by PSMA blocking, confirming PSMA-mediated binding. Uptake increased over time in PSMA-positive cells, with negligible uptake in PSMA-negative controls. Increasing activities of [¹&lt;sup&gt;6¹&lt;/sup&gt;Tb]Tb-PSMA significantly reduced cell viability and clonogenic survival in PSMA-expressing cells, with minimal effects in PSMA-negative lines. Compared with [²²5Ac]Ac-PSMA, which induced stronger cytotoxicity at lo","PeriodicalId":12958,"journal":{"name":"Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 106320"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147452216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}