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Fatty acid to enhance anticancer drug

Scientists have developed a fatty acid that enhances the delivery of an existing anticancer drug, increasing its effectiveness in treating certain types of blood cancer. By incorporating elaidic acid into azacytidine, researchers were able to improve the bioavailability of the agent and increase therapeutic efficacy.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalMolecular Cancer Therapeutics·DateMay 7, 2010

Illinois research may help patients with intestinal failure, other malabsorptive disorders

Researchers at the University of Illinois have made a breakthrough in understanding how butyrate helps the intestine grow and become more functional. Butyrate increases the creation of intestinal cells and fortifies them by increasing the transcription of a protein called GLUT2, which plays an important role in intestinal function.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalJournal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition·DateMay 4, 2010

Scientists synthesize unique family of anti-cancer compounds

Researchers at Yale University have streamlined the synthesis of a family of compounds known as kinamycins, which are naturally produced by bacteria and show potent toxicity. By reducing the number of steps required to synthesize them from 24 to 12, the team can now prepare these molecules in larger quantities for further studies.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 12, 2010

Rice physicists kill cancer with 'nanobubbles'

Scientists at Rice University have discovered a new technique for singling out individual diseased cells and destroying them with tiny explosions using lasers and nanoparticles. The method, known as nanobubbles, can be tuned to create either small, harmless bubbles or large bubbles that burst the cells.

SourceRice University·JournalNanotechnology·DateFeb 4, 2010

Mechanical forces could affect gene expression

Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that small mechanical forces can control gene expression by reducing DNA looping, a common mechanism for gene regulation. The study provides new insights into how cells regulate themselves and could lead to new understandings of diseases such as cancer and cardiac disease.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateFeb 2, 2010

CSHL study identifies potential way to reverse cancer cell metabolism and tumor growth

A study at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has identified three molecular factors that contribute to high levels of PK-M2 in cancer cells, which promotes rapid cell proliferation and tumor growth. The researchers found that forcing a reduction in the levels of these factors could reverse the Warburg effect and restore normal metabolism.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 22, 2010

The cancer 'TRAP'

Researchers found TRAP-1 to be highly expressed in prostate cancer cells, inhibiting cell death, while Gamitrinib treatment killed cancer cells but not healthy ones. This suggests targeting TRAP-1 may provide a new approach for treating advanced prostate cancer.

SourceAmerican Journal of Pathology·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateDec 29, 2009

Researchers find cells move in mysterious ways

A new study by Brown University and Caltech scientists reveals how cells interact with their environment, including the force exerted on tissues as they move. The research provides the most complete assessment to date of cell movement in three dimensions.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 16, 2009

DNA needs a good editor

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a new mechanism for DNA packaging that affects RNA splicing, leading to differences in protein production. This finding has significant implications for disease diagnosis and treatment, including the development of innovative drug therapies.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateDec 14, 2009

Why cancer cells just won't die

A cancer researcher has identified a protein called RanBPM that regulates apoptosis, a process by which damaged cells self-destruct. The discovery has implications for both diagnosing and treating cancer, as it may enable targeted therapy to reactivate apoptosis and kill cancer cells.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalMolecular Cancer Research·DateDec 9, 2009

Papillomavirus silences innate immune response

Research reveals that HPV16 oncoprotein silences the production of interferon-kappa, a key protein in the innate immune response. This allows cancer cells to grow unchecked, highlighting a potential new target for cancer treatment. The study provides insight into the mechanisms by which high-risk HPV types cause cervical cancer.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalCancer Research·DateDec 3, 2009

A cell's 'cap' of bundled fibers could yield clues to disease

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered a fibrous structure that holds the nucleus in place, which could provide clues to diseases such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, and progeria. The perinuclear actin cap is a domed structure of bundled filaments that sits above the nucleus, controlling its shape and potentially affecting ...

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 2, 2009