Statins are cholesterol−lowering drugs with pleiotropic activities including inhibition of isoprenylation and reduction of signals driving cell proliferation and survival responses. »
03/05/10

BRCA2 gene expression is tightly regulated during the cell cycle in human breast cells. The expression of BRCA2 gene is silenced at the G0/G1 phase of cell growth and is de−silenced at the S/G2 phase. While studying the activity of BRCA2 gene promoter in breast cancer cells, we discovered that this promoter has bi−directional activity and the product of the reverse activity (a ZAR1−like protein, we named ZAR2) silences the forward promoter at the G0/G1 phase of the cell. »
03/04/10

Uterine sarcomas are very rare malignancies with no approved chemotherapy protocols. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors belong to the most promising groups of compounds for molecular targeting therapy. Here, we described the antitumor effects of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA; vorinostat) on MES−SA uterine sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. We investigated effects of vorinostat on growth and colony forming ability by using uterine sarcoma MES−SA cells. We analyzed the influence of vorinostat on expression of different HDACs, p21WAF1 and activation of apoptosis. Finally, we examined the antitumor effects of vorinostat on uterine sarcoma in vivo. »
03/04/10

The AP−1 transcription factor plays a major role in cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation and developmental processes. AP−1 proteins are primarily considered to be oncogenic. Gene disruption studies placed c−Jun as an oncogene at the early stage of a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma. Mice lacking c−Jun display reduced number and size of hepatic tumors attributed to elevated p53 expression and increased apoptosis. This suggests that c−Jun inhibition may serve as a therapeutic target for liver cancer. The c−Jun dimerization protein 2, JDP2 is an AP−1 repressor protein that potently inhibits AP−1 transcription. On the other hand, the JDP2 locus was found at a recurring viral integration site in T−cell lymphoma. »
03/09/10

Dendritic cells (DCs) isolated from tumor bearing animals or from individuals with solid tumors display functional abnormalities and the DC impairment has emerged as one mechanism for tumor evasion from the control of the immune system. Ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common pancreatic cancer, is recognized as a very aggressive cancer type with a mortality that almost matches the rate of incidence. »
03/09/10

Cachexia is a common problem in patients (pts) suffering from upper gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, most of these patients suffer from malabsorption and stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract due to their illness. Various methods of supplementary nutrition (enteral, parenteral) are practised. In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC), phase angle, determined by bio−electrical impedance analysis (BIA), seems to be a survival predictor. The positive influence of BIA determinate predictors by additional nutrition is currently under discussion. »
03/09/10

Mitochondrial membrane complexes (MMCs) are key mediators of cellular oxidative phosphorylation, and inhibiting them could lead to cell death. No published data are available on the relative abundance of MMCs in different periampullary cancers. Therefore, we studied the expression profile of MMCs I, III, IV and V in periampullary cancers, reactive pancreatitis, normal pancreas and chronic pancreatitis. »
03/04/10

To determine the prevalence and profile of patients who use complementary and alternative medicine, within a cohort of head and neck cancer patients. »
02/18/10

After withdrawal of bevacizumab in patients with recurrent high−grade glioma, we have observed a rapid tumour re−growth or "rebound" radiographic phenomenon with accelerated clinical decline. We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients treated at the Henry Ford Hermelin Brain Tumor Center with recurrent high−grade glioma who demonstrated a rebound progression pattern after the discontinuation of bevacizumab. »
03/12/10

After successfully using cisplatin (30 mg/m(2)/day) and etoposide (150 mg/m(2)/day) in ten three−day courses for progressive low−grade gliomas, a subsequent protocol reduced the daily doses of cisplatin (to 25 mg) and etoposide (to 100 mg), with the objective of achieving the same response and three−year PFS rates with lower neurotoxicity and myelotoxicity. »
02/12/10