Follicular thyroid carcinoma’s (FTC) overall good prognosis deteriorates if the tumour fails to retain radioactive iodine. Therefore, new druggable targets are in high demand for this subset of patients. Here, we investigated the prognostic and biological role of survivin and XIAP in FTC. Survivin and XIAP expression was investigated in 44 FTC and corresponding non-neoplastic thyroid specimens using tissue microarrays. Inhibition of both inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP) was induced by shRNAs or specific small molecule antagonists and functional changes were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Survivin and XIAP were solely expressed in FTC tissue. Survivin expression correlated with an advanced tumour stage and recurrent disease. In addition, survivin proved to be an independent negative prognostic marker. Survivin or XIAP knockdown caused a significant reduction in cell viability and proliferation, activated caspase3/7 and was associated with a reduced tumour growth in vivo. IAP-targeting compounds induced a decrease of cell viability, proliferation and cell cycle activity accompanied by an increase in apoptosis. Additionally, YM155 a small molecule inhibitor of survivin expression significantly inhibited tumour growth in vivo. Both IAPs demonstrate significant functional implications in the oncogenesis of FTCs and thus prove to be viable targets in patients with advanced FTC.

Follicular thyroid cancer's (FTC) excellent long-term prognosis is mainly dependent on postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment. However, once the tumour becomes refractory, the 10-year disease-specific survival rate drops below 10%. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prognostic and biological role of the TRAIL system in FTC and to elucidate the influence of small-molecule-mediated antagonisation of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) on TRAIL sensitivity Tissue microarrays were constructed from forty-four patients with histologically confirmed FTC. Expression levels of TRAIL and its receptors were correlated with clinicopathological data and overall as well as recurrence-free survival. Non-iodine-retaining FTC cell lines TT2609-bib2 and FTC133 were treated with recombinant human TRAIL alone and in combination with Smac mimetics GDC-0152 or Birinapant. TRAIL-R2/DR5 as well as TRAIL-R3/DcR1 and TRAIL-R4/DcR2 were significantly higher expressed in advanced tumour stages. Both decoy receptors were negatively associated with recurrence-free and overall survival. TRAIL-R4/DcR2 additionally proved to be an independent negative prognostic marker in FTC (HR = 1.446, 95% CI: 1.144-1.826; < 0.001). , the co-incubation of Birinapant or GDC-0152 with rh-TRAIL-sensitised FTC cell lines for TRAIL-induced apoptosis, through degradation of cIAP1/2. The TRAIL system plays an important role in FTC tumour biology. Its decoy receptors are associated with poor prognosis as well as earlier recurrence. The specific degradation of cIAP1/2 sensitises FTC cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis and might highlight a new point of attack in patients with RAI refractory disease.

Systemic administration of melatonin exerts tissue protective effects in the context of hemorrhagic shock. Intravenous application of melatonin prior to hemorrhage improves gastric microcirculatory perfusion and maintains intestinal barrier function in dogs. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a topical mucosal melatonin application on gastric microcirculation during hemorrhagic shock in vivo and on mucosal barrier function in vitro . In a randomized cross-over study, six anesthetized female foxhounds received 3.3 mg melatonin or the vehicle as a bolus to the gastric and oral mucosa during physiological and hemorrhagic (−20% blood volume) conditions. Microcirculation was analyzed with reflectance spectrometry and laser doppler flowmetry. Systemic hemodynamic variables were measured with transpulmonary thermodilution. For analysis of intestinal mucosal barrier function in vitro Caco-2 monolayers were used. The transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the passage of Lucifer Yellow (LY) from the apical to the basolateral compartment of Transwell chambers were measured. Potential barrier protective effects of melatonin against oxidative stress were investigated in the presence of the oxidant H 2 O 2 . During physiologic conditions topical application of melatonin had no effect on gastric and oral microcirculation in vivo . During hemorrhagic shock, gastric microcirculatory oxygenation (μHbO 2 ) was decreased from 81 ± 8% to 50 ± 15%. Topical treatment with melatonin led to a significant increase in μHbO 2 to 60 ± 13%. Topical melatonin treatment had no effect on gastric microcirculatory perfusion, oral microcirculation or systemic hemodynamics. Incubation of H 2 O 2 stressed Caco-2 monolayers with melatonin did neither influence transepithelial electrical resistance nor LY translocation. Topical treatment of the gastric mucosa with melatonin attenuates the shock induced decrease in microcirculatory oxygenation. As no effects on local microcirculatory and systemic perfusion were recorded, the improved μHbO 2 is most likely caused by a modulation of local oxygen consumption. In vitro melatonin treatment did not improve intestinal barrier integrity in the context of oxidative stress. These results extend the current knowledge on melatonin's protective effects during hemorrhage in vivo . Topical application of melatonin exerts differential effects on local microcirculation compared to systemic pretreatment and might be suitable as an adjunct for resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock.