National Cancer Institute of Thailand

This study reports, for the first time, the isolation of tyramine alkaloid 2 from A. monophylla and its potent anticancer activity against breast cancer cells. These findings highlight its potential as a lead compound for the development of novel epoxide-containing anticancer agents.

Introduction: Metabolic reprogramming, characterized by alterations in metabolic pathways to support energy production and biosynthesis, is a hallmark of cancer and is exemplified by the Warburg effect. This process plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and is evident across multiple cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC).Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the expression profiles of metabolism-related genes in CRC cells at early and advanced stages and to validate the expression of selected genes in CRC tissue samples.Methods: Tissues from patients with early and advanced stages of CRC were collected to investigate the expression profiles of metabolism-related genes using microarray analysis. Selected genes were further validated at both the mRNA and protein levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Based on gene profiling from microarray analysis, the metabolism-related gene lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) was selected for further investigation. A retrospective evaluation of LDHA expression was conducted using 260 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections obtained from CRC patients diagnosed between January 2021 and December 2023 at the National Cancer Institute, Thailand.Results: Comparative analysis revealed 758 upregulated and 619 downregulated pathways in early-stage CRC and 630 upregulated and 614 downregulated pathways in advanced-stage CRC. From all of these pathways, altered metabolism-related pathways were predominantly associated with glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, and CRC metabolic reprogramming. Among metabolism-related genes, LDHA exhibited significantly elevated expression in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues, with marked increases at both mRNA and protein levels in early and advanced stages. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between LDHA expression and metastasis to lymph nodes as well as distant organs, including the lungs and liver.Conclusions: These findings suggest that metabolic reprogramming is strongly linked to CRC progression and that LDHA may serve as a promising biomarker for CRC screening, prognosis, and therapeutic intervention.

Five previously undescribed compounds including four limonoids and a phenolic glycoside as well as seven known compounds were isolated from Naringi crenulata (Roxb.) Nicolson stem. Spectroscopic data of these previously undescribed compounds are reported. The configurations at stereocenters in the isolates were based on the NOE interactions. The bio-transformations of three unusual limonoids from limonin were proposed. Selected isolates were evaluated for their growth inhibitory activities against two cancer cell lines and a Vero cell.

Correction to: Nature Communicationshttps://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12675, published online 7 September 2016 In this article the author name Rikki Cannioto was incorrectly written as Rikki Canniotto. The original article has been corrected.

ObjectiveWe compared the performance of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) messenger RNA testing of physician- and self-collected specimens for detecting histological grade 2 or higher cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) among women who visited a colposcopy clinic in Thailand.MethodsFrom January 2022 to April 2022, 500 women participated in this cross-sectional multicenter study; 494 had complete data and valid specimen results. The participants were women who attended any one of the 10 participating institutes’ colposcopy clinics due to abnormal cytology, positive high-risk HPV testing, or for follow-up. Participants used a self-sampling Aptima Multitest Swab specimen collection kit to self-collect vaginal samples before physicians biopsied the cervix during the colposcopic examination. The self- and physician-collected specimens were tested for high-risk HPV messenger RNA using Aptima nucleic acid amplification assays. Cervical tissues were collected during colposcopic-directed biopsy from the most severe lesion or a random biopsy and endocervical curettage specimen if no lesion was detected.ResultsWe detected high-risk HPV messenger RNA in 75.4% of self-collected specimens and 70.6% of physician-collected specimens. The prevalence of histological grade 2 or higher CIN from cervical histology was 25.1% (n=124). For self-collected specimens, the sensitivity and specificity of high-risk HPV messenger RNA for grade 2 or higher CIN were 87.0% (95% CI 79.7% to 92.4%; n=108) and 28.5% (95% CI 24.0% to 33.4%). For physician-collected specimens, the sensitivity and specificity of high-risk HPV messenger RNA for grade 2 or higher CIN were 90.2% (95% CI 83.6% to 94.9%; n=112) and 36.1% (95% CI 31.2% to 41.3%).ConclusionsSelf-collected specimens for high-risk HPV messenger RNA testing demonstrated good sensitivity and negative predictive value for detecting grade 2 or higher CIN in Thai women attending the participating institutes’ colposcopy clinics. Self-collected samples performed similarly to physician-collected ones.

Abstract Background: Glyphosate, the primary weed-killing ingredient in Roundup®, is the most widely used herbicide worldwide. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs Program classified glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A), capable of causing human cancer under some circumstances. Methods: We analyzed urine specimens from 848 sequential patients with liver cancer and matched non-cancer controls from five different regional hospitals in Thailand. Gas chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (GC-ESI/MS) technique was used to measure glyphosate and its metabolites aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) and phosphoric acid (PPA) to study their levels in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and chronic liver disease (CLD) in comparison to matched population controls. Findings: Significantly higher levels of glyphosate were found in CLD patients compared to cancer cases and population controls, while significantly elevated levels of both AMPA and PPA were observed in HCC and CLD patients. Glyphosate and its metabolites were also detected at low to moderately high levels in convenience samples of food products and drinking water. Interpretation: These results raise concern about the potential role of glyphosate in chronic human liver disease and cancer. Citation Format: Daxesh P. Patel, Benjarath Pupacdi, Siritida Rabibhadana, Leila Toulabi, Majda Haznadar, Bhavik Dalal, Mohammed Khan, Joshua Stone, Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi, Nirush Lertprasertsuke, Anon Chotirosniramit, Chawalit Pairojkul, Chirayu U. Auewarakul, Thaniya Sricharunrat, Kannika Phornphutkul, Suleeporn Sangrajrang, Anuradha Budhu, Chulabhorn Mahidol, Xin W. Wang, Frank J. Gonzalez, Mathuros Ruchirawat, Christopher A. Loffredo, Curtis C. Harris, TIGER-LC Consortium . Association of liver cancer and chronic liver disease with urinary glyphosate and its metabolites in Thailand [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6057.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of high-risk (HR) and vaccine-type human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among Thai schoolgirls who were not included in the national HPV immunization program. MethodsCross-sectional surveys were conducted among grade 10 (15–16 years old) and grade 12 (17–18 years old) schoolgirls in two provinces of Thailand. Urine samples were collected using the Colli-PeeⓇ device from November 2018 to February 2019. The samples were initially tested using CobasⓇ 4800. Subsequently, all Cobas-positive samples and 1:1 matched Cobas-negative samples were tested by AnyplexⓇ assay. Prevalences of any HPV, any HR HPV, vaccine-type HPV, and individual HR HPV types were estimated by school grade. ResultsPrevalences of any HPV and any HR HPV were 11.6% and 8.6% for grade 10, and 18.5% and 12.4% for grade 12 schoolgirls, respectively. Prevalences of bivalent vaccine-type HPV infection in grades 10 and 12 were 3.4% and 4.5%, respectively. Prevalences of quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccine-type HPV infections were 4.0%/6.6% and 6.4%/10.4% in grades 10 and 12, respectively. HPV16 was the most common type detected, followed by HPV58, 51, and 52. Circulating HR HPV types were similar between the school grades. ConclusionA substantial burden of HR HPV infections was found among unvaccinated high school girls in Thailand.

Cervical cancer screening is an important public health strategy to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling is the alternative method that can potentially increase participation in cervical cancer screening. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptability of HPV self-sampling as a primary cervical cancer screening among Thai women. A cross-sectional study was conducted at National Cancer Institute, Thailand, between March and September 2021. Eligible women were invited to collect their own samples with a vaginal cotton swab for cervical screening. The data on demographics, acceptability, and preference for HPV self-sampling were collected via a self-administered questionnaire. A Likert scale was used to assess the response of self-sampling acceptability. The multivariable logistic regression determined factors that influence preference for HPV self-sampling. A total of 265 participants were recruited. Over 70% agreed that self-sampling was easy, less embarrassing, and not painful. They also felt confident in their ability to self-sample correctly and would recommend this method to a friend or relative. For their next screening round, 66.4% preferred self-sampling whereas 33.6% preferred clinician-collected samples as routine screening. The factors that influence preference for self-sampling were age, marital status, feeling less embarrassed, and confidence in performing the tests. Most of the study participants accepted HPV self-sampling. This suggests that the self-sampling method will be an additional option to increase cervical cancer screening coverage which leads to improving the effectiveness of the national program.