Mohammad Amini

Bio: Mohammad Amini is an academic researcher from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cancer & Carcinogenesis. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 31 publications receiving 151 citations. Previous affiliations of Mohammad Amini include Shahroud University of Medical Sciences & Aja University of Medical Sciences.

MicroRNA‐193a and taxol combination: A new strategy for treatment of colorectal cancer

Abstract: Micro RNAs (miRNAs) show a considerable promise as a therapeutic agent for combination therapy of colorectal cancer (CRC). Given that, the current study was purposed to explore the potential therapeutic role and underlying mechanism of miR‐193a as a promising tumor suppressor in human CRC cell lines in combination with Taxol. Therefore, HT‐29 cells with the lowest expression levels of miR‐193a were treated with miR‐193a mimics and Taxol, separately or in combination. Functional analyses showed that the combination therapy inhibited migration and colony formation of HT‐29 cells and arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. Moreover, treatment with Taxol reduced cell survival with an increase in mRNA expression of metastasis‐related genes caspase‐3 and caspase‐9, whereas miR‐193a transfection alone didn’t significantly influence cell viability and apoptosis induction. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results also revealed that miR‐193a replacement decreased the expression levels of c‐Myc, MMP‐9, vimentin, and ROCK in treatment groups compared to the controls. Therefore, it could be concluded miR‐193a inactivates cell migration via suppression of metastasis pathways in CRC and through downregulation of c‐Myc, acts as a negative regulator of cell cycle and growth. Then, our findings imply that miR‐193a replacement combined with Taxol chemotherapy could be considered as a new potential therapeutic approach for improvement of CRC treatment.

Molecular beacon strategies for sensing purpose

Abstract: The improvement of nucleic acid probes as vital molecular engineering devices will cause a noteworthy contribution to developments in bioimaging, biosensing, and disorders diagnosis. The molecular beacon (MB) which was designed by Tyagi and Kramer in 1996, are loop-stem hairpin-designed oligonucleotides armed with a quencher and a dye (also named reporter groups) at the 3′ or 5′ ends. This construction allows that MBs in the absence of their target complementary molecules do not fluoresce. Through hybridization with their specific targets a spontaneous configuration change on MBs occur and the dye and quencher separate from each other, resulting in emitting the fluorescence. MBs are effective probes for biosensing because of their extraordinary target-specificity, unique structure, inherent fluorescent signal transduction mechanism, low background fluorescence emission, recognition without separation, and favorable thermodynamic properties. In comparison to other probes (such as linear DNA sequences), MBs with the same number of complementary nucleotides matching their target, are multitasking probes. They have advantages of thermodynamic and photostability, flexible ability for conjugation, higher efficient intrinsic signal switching, and ultra-sensitivity. MBs not only are useful for identifying a nucleic acid target but can also be employed for recognition of various non-nucleic acid goals, including heavy metals and cations, enzymes, cells, ATP, etc. Hence, this review highlights the potential of MBs in the improvement of biosensors and their usage in detection of different analytes such as miRNA, mRNA, cocaine, methamphetamine, actin, thrombin, heavy metal and cations and so on.

Tissue-Specific Down-Regulation of the Long Non-Coding RNAs PCAT18 and LINC01133 in Gastric Cancer Development

Abstract: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer deaths worldwide. The high death rate associated with GC, and lack of appropriate biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment emphasize the need for identification of novel molecules. Given the emerging roles for long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer development, we studied novel lncRNA candidates involved in gastric carcinogenesis. LncRNA candidate discovery was performed using analyses of available datasets and literature. Validation was done using an internal sample set of GC/normal tissues, and external independent datasets. Network analysis and functional annotation of co-expressed protein coding genes were performed using the weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) and ingenuity pathway analysis. Two novel lncRNAs, PCAT18 and LINC01133, associated with GC development were identified by analysis of the discovery Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. The down-regulation of these genes in GC tissues was successfully validated internally and externally. The results showed a tissue-specific down-regulation of PCAT18 and LINC01133 in gastrointestinal tissues. WGCNA and ingenuity pathway analyses revealed that the genes co-expressed with the two lncRNAs were mostly involved in metabolic pathways and networks of gastrointestinal disease and function. Our findings of a tissue-specific down-regulation of PCAT18 and LINC01133 in gastric and other gastrointestinal cancers imply that these lncRNAs may have a tumor suppressive function in the development of these tumor entities. The two lncRNA biomarkers may contribute to a better understanding of the complex mechanisms of gastric carcinogenesis.

Epigenetic regulation in human cancer: the potential role of epi-drug in cancer therapy

Abstract: Epigenetics is dynamic and heritable modifications to the genome that occur independently of DNA sequence. It requires interactions cohesively with various enzymes and other molecular components. Aberrant epigenetic alterations can lead to inappropriate onset of genetic expressions and promote tumorigenesis. As the epigenetic modifiers are susceptible to extrinsic factors and reversible, they are becoming promising targets in multiple cancer therapies. Recently, various epi-drugs have been developed and implicated in clinical use. The use of epi-drugs alone, or in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, has shown compelling outcomes, including augmentation of anti-tumoral effects, overcoming drug resistance, and activation of host immune response.

Drug resistance and new therapies in colorectal cancer

Abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when tumor cell dissemination has taken place. Chemo- and targeted therapies provide only a limited increase of overall survival for these patients. The major reason for clinical outcome finds its origin in therapy resistance. Escape mechanisms to both chemo- and targeted therapy remain the main culprits. Here, we evaluate major resistant mechanisms and elaborate on potential new therapies. Amongst promising therapies is α-amanitin antibody-drug conjugate targeting hemizygous p53 loss. It becomes clear that a dynamic interaction with the tumor microenvironment exists and that this dictates therapeutic outcome. In addition, CRC displays a limited response to checkpoint inhibitors, as only a minority of patients with microsatellite instable high tumors is susceptible. In this review, we highlight new developments with clinical potentials to augment responses to checkpoint inhibitors.

Cancer vaccines as promising immuno-therapeutics: platforms and current progress

Abstract: Research on tumor immunotherapy has made tremendous progress in the past decades, with numerous studies entering the clinical evaluation. The cancer vaccine is considered a promising therapeutic strategy in the immunotherapy of solid tumors. Cancer vaccine stimulates anti-tumor immunity with tumor antigens, which could be delivered in the form of whole cells, peptides, nucleic acids, etc. Ideal cancer vaccines could overcome the immune suppression in tumors and induce both humoral immunity and cellular immunity. In this review, we introduced the working mechanism of cancer vaccines and summarized four platforms for cancer vaccine development. We also highlighted the clinical research progress of the cancer vaccines, especially focusing on their clinical application and therapeutic efficacy, which might hopefully facilitate the future design of the cancer vaccine.

A Compressive Review about Taxol®: History and Future Challenges

Abstract: Taxol®, which is also known as paclitaxel, is a chemotherapeutic agent widely used to treat different cancers. Since the discovery of its antitumoral activity, Taxol® has been used to treat over one million patients, making it one of the most widely employed antitumoral drugs. Taxol® was the first microtubule targeting agent described in the literature, with its main mechanism of action consisting of the disruption of microtubule dynamics, thus inducing mitotic arrest and cell death. However, secondary mechanisms for achieving apoptosis have also been demonstrated. Despite its wide use, Taxol® has certain disadvantages. The main challenges facing Taxol® are the need to find an environmentally sustainable production method based on the use of microorganisms, increase its bioavailability without exerting adverse effects on the health of patients and minimize the resistance presented by a high percentage of cells treated with paclitaxel. This review details, in a succinct manner, the main aspects of this important drug, from its discovery to the present day. We highlight the main challenges that must be faced in the coming years, in order to increase the effectiveness of Taxol® as an anticancer agent.