The Braf mutation has been detected in patients with metastatic melanoma, colon, thyroid and other cancers. Recent studies suggested that tumors with this mutation are especially sensitive to Braf inhibitors, hence the need to reliably determine the Braf status of tumor specimens. »
07/31/10

RUNX3 is a novel gastric cancer tumor suppressor. RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation is associated with many types of cancer, including colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the RUNX3 promotor is one of the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)-specific promotors. CIMP is a distinct phenotype associated with microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer. In this study, the suitability of the quantitative analysis of RUNX3 promoter hypermethylation as a novel serum tumor marker was investigated. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between RUNX3 promoter methylation and MSI in colorectal cancer. »
07/01/10

Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer. It is established that adipocyte secretions, i.e. adipokines, may play a role in mammary carcinogenesis. We have shown that two major adipokines, leptin and adiponectin, were expressed in mammary adenocarcinoma. »
07/01/10

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) are the key factors mediating neo-vascularization. They are often coexpressed in breast cancer. Sex steroids may stimulate angiogenesis via the estrogen receptor (ER) pathway. We investigated to compare the effects of the addition of tamoxifen to epirubicin versus epirubicin alone on VEGF and VEGFR2 expression in breast cancer patients. »
08/03/10

We have investigated here the anti-breast cancer properties of two novel curcumin analogues, EAC and PAC. Apoptosis was assessed by the annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay on different breast cancer and normal cells. Immunoblotting analysis determined the effects of these agents on different apoptotic and oncogenic proteins. »
08/01/10

Human ether à-go-go-1 (EAG1) potassium channels are promising anticancer targets. Calcitriol has antitumoural properties. This study investigated EAG1 regulation by calcitriol in normal and cancer cells. »
07/01/10

Telomerase is activated in oncogenesis, which confers an immortal phenotype to cancer cells. The AAA + ATPase Reptin is required for telomerase biogenesis by maintaining telomerase RNA (hTER) stability and is aberrantly expressed in certain cancers. Given its role in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation, we determined the effect of Reptin on the transcription of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, a key component of the telomerase complex and its expression in gastric cancer. »
05/30/10

Klotho was originally characterized as an anti-aging gene that predisposed Klotho-deficient mice to a premature aging-like syndrome. Recently, KLOTHO was reported to function as a secreted Wnt antagonist and as a tumor suppressor. Epigenetic gene silencing of secreted Wnt antagonists is considered a common event in a wide range of human malignancies. Abnormal activation of the canonical Wnt pathway due to epigenetic deregulation of Wnt antagonists is thought to play a crucial role in cervical tumorigenesis. In this study, we examined epigenetic silencing of KLOTHO in human cervical carcinoma. »
12/31/69

In the last few years boron (B) compounds became increasingly frequent in the chemotherapy of some forms of cancer with high malignancy and of inoperable cancers. As more B-based therapy chemicals are developed it is necessary to review the correlation between B and the incidence of different forms of cancer, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms influenced by B and to explore the relevance of B in the chemoprevention of cancer. »
05/01/10

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with the development of more than 95% of cervical cancer. Clinical trials using several chemopreventive agents are underway, but results are inconclusive. Most agents used in trials inhibited the growth of cancer cells in vitro, and about half of patients had some degree of clinical responses; however, the therapeutic effect was confounded by high rates of spontaneous regression and relapse. The selection of nontoxic agents especially food, beverage, and natural products that suppress oncogenic HPV, inhibit malignant transformation, and can additionally be used long term may be important for cervical cancer prevention. »
05/01/10