A genome-wide analysis of PPARg reveals new targets for drug development against obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The study provides clues into the transcriptional circuitry during adipogenesis and insulin sensitization.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have identified sphingosine kinase 2 as a potential therapeutic target to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The enzyme plays a crucial role in mediating death in cancer cells through p53-independent mechanisms.
The study found that Helicobacter pylori strains inhibit gap junctional intercellular communication in gastric cells, leading to increased cancer risk. The researchers suggest that this mechanism may be a key factor in the development of gastric cancer.
Researchers have discovered that combining targeted therapies can be more effective than single drugs, particularly when targeting multiple pathways such as the MAPK and PI3-kinase pathways. This approach may help overcome drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes for various types of cancer, including lung and breast cancer.
Scientists discover that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) can replicate in cultured human breast cells, leading to rapid spread and potential role in human breast cancer. Researchers plan further investigation into the link between MMTV and breast cancer.
A recent study published by Oregon Health & Science University discovered a strong correlation between the size and shape of a woman's hips and her daughter's risk of breast cancer. Women with wider, rounder hips were found to be more than three times as likely to have daughters with breast cancer.
Researchers found a link between childbirth and reduced breast cancer risk, suggesting that fetal cells may play a role. The study discovered that women with male DNA in their bloodstream had a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
Researchers develop compound that targets leukemia at stem-cell level, where malignancy is born, potentially leading to more effective treatments. DMAPT appears to be unique in its ability to kill both dormant and dividing cancer cells without harming healthy blood cells.
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center found that fetal microchimerism, the presence of residual fetal cells in a woman's body, is significantly more common in healthy women than those with breast cancer. The study suggests that these cells may provide immune surveillance and reduce breast cancer risk.
Scientists at Jefferson University have found a new molecular evidence of the role of prolactin in breast cancer. The hormone stimulates a signaling pathway that may regulate the growth and survival of breast cancer cells. Inhibiting the Jak1 protein could represent a new drug target for treating breast cancer.
Researchers identified two genes that can predict which breast cancer cells will respond to docetaxel chemotherapy and which will resist it. A simple test for docetaxel resistance could be developed, sparing patients from unnecessary side effects and reducing healthcare costs.
Researchers found that a heat-shock response mechanism helps cancer cells survive and thrive, but inhibiting this process may lead to a new cancer treatment. The discovery also sheds light on the complex relationship between aging, longevity, and cancer risk.
Researchers at UCSD School of Medicine have solved the structure of protein kinase A, a key enzyme involved in memory formation, nerve cell communication, and cardiac function. The study reveals how PKA is inhibited and activated by cyclic AMP, shedding light on its role in cardiac disease and breast cancer.
Scientists have developed a new 'knock-out' gene model that provides molecular clues to breast cancer, focusing on the role of estrogen receptors in mammary gland development. The study suggests that estrogen expression is essential for normal duct development during puberty, pregnancy and lactation.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered that tightly organized epithelial cells can suppress malignant cell proliferation, with a focus on the LKB1 tumor suppressor gene. The study found that epithelial cells lacking LKB1 protein form disorganized structures enabling cancer genes to drive proliferation.
A new study found that a compound in broccoli, known as DIM, may help boost the immune system. DIM was shown to increase blood levels of cytokines and stimulate white blood cells in mice, suggesting potential health benefits against infections and cancer.
Researchers have created cancer stem cells in a Petri dish from human breast tissue, which can initiate tumors and metastasize. The new study provides clues about the trajectory of cancer cells and offers a boon to researchers studying these elusive cells.
A study by researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center has identified a link between inflammatory protein Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFa) and breast cancer, highlighting a new pathway for potential clinical interventions. The research found that TNFa activates an enzyme that inactivates tumor-suppressing genes...
Researchers identified a key protein that blocks structural support, allowing cancer cells to migrate and metastasize. The discovery may lead to the development of anti-cancer drugs targeting this mechanism.
Researchers have identified a critical gene, LKB1, that is mutated in almost a quarter of all human lung cancers, leading to more aggressive tumors. The study provides a new target for therapies and enables better patient prognoses.
A University of Minnesota team found that the TOPK enzyme, which regulates cell growth and other functions, promotes transformation in colorectal carcinoma by activating related enzymes. This suggests that drugs targeting TOPK could have anti-cancer benefits.
Researchers at Purdue University have created gold nanoparticles that can identify marker proteins on breast cancer cells, offering a potential tool for better diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The technology has the potential to provide high-quality data at a lower cost than existing methods.
Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene, FOXP3, that suppresses tumor growth in breast cancer. The study found that when FOXP3 is normal, it keeps HER-2 levels low; however, when FOXP3 is missing or mutated, HER-2 levels are likely to rise.
Scientists have discovered a surprising connection between the immune system and the breast's milk-producing cells. During pregnancy, the mammary gland uses cytokine signalling to enhance the growth of these cells, but abnormal signaling can lead to cancerous cell growth.
A study led by University of Cincinnati scientists has found that the RON receptor is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells, suggesting a link between the receptor and disease development. The researchers believe blocking the receptor's signaling pathways could lead to new therapies for this deadly disease.
The incidence of early stage metastatic breast cancers is increasing, attributed to changes in clinical practice. Sentinel lymph node biopsies often detect small numbers of tumor cells that do not necessarily indicate cancer spread.
Researchers found that pleiotrophin expression activates stromal cells to remodel the tumor microenvironment, inducing tumor angiogenesis and aggressive breast cancers. PTN secretion from human breast cancer cells may be sufficient to shift progression to a more aggressive form of breast cancer.
Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute used a three-part screening process to identify the IKBKE gene, which is made inappropriately in about a third of all breast cancers. The mutation arises during a woman's life and spurs cell growth and proliferation.
Researchers at Deakin University have identified a rogue cell type that may contribute to the spread of breast cancer. By studying a cell model mimicking human breast tissue, they found that abnormal fibroblasts can trigger breast cells to change and migrate.
A breast cancer cell line has been found to behave like cancer stem cells, allowing researchers to study the dynamics of cancer stem cells in tissue. This breakthrough could lead to targeted treatments for breast cancer by specifically targeting cancer stem cells for destruction while leaving normal stem cells intact.
Researchers discovered that lapatinib activates a protective pathway in heart cells, while trastuzumab does not. This difference may lead to the development of new drugs with fewer cardiovascular side effects.
Researchers have discovered six new antitumor compounds that are more effective against cancerous cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells. The study, conducted at the University of Granada, uses a new technique called Microarrays to identify the effects of drugs on genes.
Lilly Oncology will present data on three oncology agents, ALIMTA, GEMZAR, and enzastaurin, at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The company's studies focus on various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer and breast cancer.
Alcohol drinking has been associated with a reduced risk of renal cell cancer. Childhood leukemia and lymphoma survivors face an elevated risk of secondary cancers, while treatment with clodronate did not improve survival for men with localized prostate cancer.
Researchers identified loss of Fibulin-2 as a breast cancer progression marker, which can be restored with protein reintroduction. Breast cancer cells can reversibly alter their phenotype through manipulations like antibody binding to fibronectin, and DNA reversion can be overturned by removing the stimuli.
Researchers at Jefferson University have developed a method to expand immune system natural killer cells from blood cells outside the body. Adding these cells to anti-cancer therapies involving monoclonal antibodies is more effective in killing cancer cells, offering new treatment possibilities.
Recent studies have found that PTEN and HER2 genes regulate self-renewal and invasion of human mammary stem cells, making them potential targets for breast cancer treatment. Additionally, radiation therapy may contribute to leukemia risk by recruiting hematopoietic stem cells into the irradiated bone marrow.
A new study documents estrogenic activity in fish caught in Pittsburgh's rivers, suggesting feminizing chemicals from industrial and municipal wastes. The findings demonstrate the potential health risks of consuming river-caught fish, particularly for endocrine-mediated health endpoints like some cancers and developmental problems.
Biologists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center identified a set of genes working together to remodel blood vessels and promote breast cancer spread to the lungs. Targeting these genes with drug combinations may prove useful in treating metastatic breast cancer.
Scientists from Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that stress hormone epinephrine can cause changes in prostate and breast cancer cells, making them resistant to cell death. This link between stress and cancer has been suggested but previously unexplored, with potential implications for patients and researchers.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have linked treatment-induced TGF-beta levels to increased circulating cancer cells and tumor metastases in a mouse model of breast cancer. Blocking TGF-beta may be clinically useful in combination with primary therapies.
Bissell's work revolutionized understanding of cancer biology, revealing that the interaction between cells and extracellular matrix influences cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Her research has brought closer to a complete understanding of how living cells function in three-dimensional tissue.
A protein called tissue transglutaminase (TG2) protects human pancreatic cancer cells from autophagy, a form of programmed cell death, researchers found. Inhibiting TG2 led to a drastic reduction in its expression and telltale signs of autophagy in the cancer cells.
Researchers discovered that Src activates PMR1, a protein that destroys specific messenger RNAs, leading to halted production of tumor-suppressor proteins. This mechanism could contribute to cancer development.
Scientists have discovered a new type of cell that plays a role in cancer development, which can either remain benign or become malignant depending on environmental cues. The finding may help define the role of cancer stem cells in tumor growth and recurrence.
Researchers challenge the cancer stem cell hypothesis, suggesting that tumors arise from normal cells and genetic variation rather than a single abnormal stem cell. The study identifies two distinct populations of cancer cells that can be targeted with experimental drugs.
Scientists have developed a method for delivering thermal ablation directly to tumor cells using nanotechnology and molecular imaging. By attaching magnetic iron-containing bioprobes to cancer cells and heating them with an alternating magnetic field, researchers were able to weaken and destroy malignant cells without damaging nearby h...
Researchers found that ovarian cancer cells form by using the PAX8 protein to direct adult stem cell proliferation. This discovery opens new avenues for basic research and provides a potential biomarker for detecting ovarian cancer.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have isolated a protein, caveolin-1, that enhances cell death in response to Taxol chemotherapy in breast cancer cells. The protein needs to be phosphorylated to work, and its expression level can vary depending on the type of breast cancer.
Researchers found that an excess of SF2/ASF, a critical protein in RNA splicing, can cause cancer. The study identified specific genes whose patterns of splicing were altered by this factor, including a gene encoding a protein kinase required to maintain tumor cells in a cancerous state.
Researchers have identified the liver as a promising target for cancer gene therapy using viral vectors, taking advantage of the structural disorganization in cancer cells. The study demonstrates that adenoviral vectors can selectively infect cancer cells while leaving normal liver cells unharmed.
Researchers identified a small number of cells in pancreatic cancer capable of fueling tumor growth, which are thought to be the cancer stem cells. These cells can replicate and produce new tumors, making them a crucial target for therapy.
Researchers found estrogen induces expression of PI-9, a granzyme inhibitor that prevents immune cells from killing tumor cells. High levels of estrogen increase resistance to immune attack in breast cancer cells.
Researchers at the University of Alberta discovered that dichloroacetate (DCA) can normalize mitochondrial function in various cancers, leading to a significant decrease in tumor growth. DCA's unique mechanism may allow it to selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal tissues.
Researchers at U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center and Stanford University have identified a stem cell marker in head and neck tumors, which may help develop targeted therapies. The study found that cells expressing the CD44 marker can grow into new tumors, suggesting a potential target for cancer treatment.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center identified novel regulatory mechanisms of PTEN function. NEDD4-1 protein regulates PTEN stability by adding a molecular tag causing degradation. This finding provides a new therapeutic strategy, as proteasome inhibitors may selectively block degrading effects of ubiquitination.
Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for breast cancer by inhibiting the protease enzyme TACE, which is strongly present in aggressive forms of the disease. Inhibition of TACE blocks shedding of growth factor proteins, resulting in inhibition of cell division and reversion of malignant characteristics.
Researchers found that tamoxifen resistance can be fully restored by using a compound called disulfide benzamide, or DIBA, which restores the estrogen receptor to its vulnerable state again. The study, conducted in cell cultures and mice, offers a promising approach for overcoming breast cancer drug resistance.
Researchers found that breast cancer stem cells are relatively resistant to radiotherapy and can even increase in number after multiple treatments. In contrast, statin use is associated with a decreased risk of advanced prostate cancer, according to a large prospective study.
Researchers discovered that changes in expression of one component of the TGF-beta receptor, T-beta-RIII, might provide a mechanism for the distinct effects of TGF-beta at different stages of breast cancer. Additionally, analysis of RB functionality could help clinicians determine the most effective therapy for their patients.