There is a well−documented association of matrix metalloproteinase−9 (MMP−9) and receptor Notch−1 overexpression in colon cancer. We recently showed that MMP−9 is also upregulated in colitis, where it modulates tissue damage and goblet cell differentiation via proteolytic cleavage of Notch−1. In this study, we investigated whether MMP−9 is critical for colitis−associated colon cancer (CAC). »
01/15/10

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer. However, the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the prognosis of colon cancer survivors and its relationship to gender remains unknown. »
03/09/10

Rapamycin and its analogues have significant antiproliferative action against a variety of tumors. However, sensitivity to rapamycin is reduced by Akt activation that results from the ablative effects of rapamycin on a p70 S6K−induced negative feedback loop that blunts phosphoinositide 3−kinase (PI3K)−mediated support for Akt activity. »
01/15/10

Gliomas are common malignant tumors of the human neural system, and Wnt signaling activation is closely related to glioma malignancy. Human Pygopus 2 (Pygo2) was recently discovered to be a component of the Wnt signaling pathway, which is required for beta−catenin/Tcf−dependent transcription. »
03/05/10

Sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) is etiologically related to cervical carcinoma and a distinct subset of cancers of the nasopharyngeal tract. We report 2 patients with HPV−associated cervical cancer and synchronous diagnoses of HPV−related head and neck cancer of their husbands. These patients had active oral sex for more than 20 years. »
03/09/10

ADP−ribosylation factor−like 6 interacting protein 1 (ARL6IP1) is an apoptotic regulator. To investigate the role of ARL6IP1 in human cervical cancer progression, we designed and used short hairpin RNA (shRNA) to inhibit ARL6IP1 expression in CaSki cells and validated its effect on cell proliferation and invasion. »
03/07/10

DNA damaged by exposure to exogenous and endogenous carcinogens could be removed effectively by the base excision repair pathway, in which the XRCC1, APE1, and ADPRT genes play a key role. Genetic variations in these important genes may alter repair function and contribute to cancer risk. We hypothesized that XRCC1, APE1, and ADPRT polymorphisms are associated with risk of bladder cancer. »
03/10/10

Although transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) is effective therapy, up to 45% of patients will have a recurrence within 1 year after TURBT alone. Further, there is a 3 − 15% risk of tumor progression to muscle invasive and/or metastatic cancer. Depending on patient and tumor characteristics, a number of patients may benefit from some form of intravesical therapy. »
03/07/10

MFSD2A (major facilitator superfamily domain containing 2) gene maps on chromosome 1p34 within a linkage disequilibrium block containing genetic elements associated with progression of lung cancer. »
03/17/10

Our understanding of the mechanism regulating pancreatic cancer metastatic phenotype is limited. We analyzed the role of RHOA and PRKCZ in the motility attitude of two subclones of SUIT−2 (S2), a cell line derived from metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC), using RHOA and PRKCZ cell−permeable inhibitory peptides. »
03/17/10