To improve the efficacy of first−line therapy for advanced non−small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), additional "maintenance" chemotherapy may be given after initial "induction" chemotherapy in patients who did not progress during the initial treatment, rather than waiting for disease progression to administer second−line treatment. Maintenance therapy may consist of an agent that either was or was not present in the induction regimen. »
03/08/10

Aberrant ErbB receptor signaling is associated with various types of malignancies. gamma−Tocotrienol is a member of the vitamin E family of compounds that displays potent anticancer activity that is associated with suppression in ErbB receptor phosphorylation and mitogenic signaling. Erlotinib and gefitinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors that block ErbB1 receptor activation, whereas trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that has been designed to specifically inhibit ErbB2 receptor activation. »
03/08/10

The hepaCAM gene encodes a new immunoglobulin−like cell adhesion molecule, and its expression is suppressed in a variety of human cancers. Additionally, hepaCAM possesses properties often observed in tumor suppressor genes. However, the expression and biological function of hepaCAM has not been investigated in bladder cancer. We therefore sought to examine hepaCAM expression and the relationship between its structure and function in human transitional cell carcinoma of bladder (TCCB). »
03/08/10

We examined whether the presence and severity of preoperative hydronephrosis have prognostic significance in patients who underwent radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. The medical records of 457 patients who underwent radical cystectomy for bladder cancer between 1986 and 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. »
03/01/10

This laboratory has shown that arsenite (As(+3)) exposure can cause the malignant transformation of the UROtsa human urothelial cell line. This single isolate formed subcutaneous tumors with a histology similar to human urothelial cell carcinoma. »
02/22/10

Intravesical immunotherapy with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) bacillus Calmette−Guerin (BCG) is the current standard of care against superficial, high−grade transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder (carcinoma in situ and pathologic T1, grade 3 disease). However, individual patient outcome is barely predictable because of the lack of serum markers. Consequently, progression to muscle−invasive bladder cancer and critical delay of treatments (such as neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy and/or radical cystectomy) often occur. The objectives of this study were to identify a marker for measuring the BCG−induced immune response and to predict the outcomes and potential improvements of BCG immunotherapy. »
02/01/10

Pancratistatin, a natural compound extracted from Hymenocallis littoralis, can selectively induce apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. In this ex vivo study, we evaluated the effect of pancratistatin on peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from 15 leukemia patients prior to clinical intervention of newly diagnosed patients, as well as others of different ages in relapse and at various disease progression states. »
03/06/10

There are several high throughput approaches to identify methylated genes in cancer. We utilized one such recently developed approach, MIRA (methylated−CpG island recovery assay) combined with CpG island arrays to identify novel genes that are epigenetically inactivated in breast cancer. »
03/05/10

Various agents used in breast cancer chemotherapy provoke DNA double−strand breaks (DSBs). DSB repair competence determines the sensitivity of cells to these agents whereby aberrations in the repair machinery leads to apoptosis. Proteins required for this pathway can be detected as nuclear foci at sites of DNA damage when the pathway is intact. Here we investigate whether focus formation of repair proteins can predict chemosensitivity of breast cancer. »
03/05/10

Wnt−11 is a secreted protein that modulates cell growth, differentiation and morphogenesis during development. We previously reported that Wnt−11 expression is elevated in hormone−independent prostate cancer and that the progression of prostate cancer from androgen−dependent to androgen−independent proliferation correlates with a loss of mutual inhibition between Wnt−11− and androgen receptor−dependent signals. However, the prevalence of increased expression of Wnt−11 in patient tumours and the functions of Wnt−11 in prostate cancer cells were not known. »
03/10/10