Category Archives: Biology

Inhibition of Nuclear Export Protein XPO1 in Cancer

Selinexor (KPT-33) is a drug that inhibits exportin 1 (XPO1 and CRM1), a nuclear transport protein that shuttles nuclear proteins through the nuclear pore and is responsible for the removal of proteins from the nucleus: Continue reading →

Platelet conjugates effectively deliver checkpoint inhibitors to tumors

Platelets are the second most abundant cellular component of blood. The platelet membrane contains an abundance of receptors to facilitate interactions with subendothelial matrix , other blood cells, and other platelets. The central role of platelets is in hemostasis, however, they also contain copious amounts of cytokines that induce inflammation. Continue reading →

Osteopontin – a prognostic marker for cancer progression

Osteopontin (OPN) is a matrix protein that is expressed by osteoclasts, osteoblasts, dendritic cells, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, smooth and skeletal muscle cells, endothelial cells, and kidney cells. It interacts with many cell surface receptors including integrins and CD44. One of the major physiologic functions of OPN is the control of bone mineralization – by binding to specific apatitie crystal faces, it inhibits mineralization. But, OPN is also a pro-inflammatory cytokine that acts in many tissues to recruit monocytes and macrophages and induce cytokine secretion from leukocytes. As such, it has a critical role in tissue remodeling, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. Continue reading →

Molecular switch of L-plastin plays role in cancer metastasis

Researchers from the University of Calgary reported that disruption of a region of L-plastin (LPL), a calcium binding protein, prevented cancer cells from invading.  The area on LPL is called a “molecular switch.” On the basis of this work, the molecular switch has emerged as a new target for cancer treatment. Continue reading →

CDK4/6 Inhibitors – Excellent Results Support Paradigm Shift in HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer

We have previously written about CDK4/6 inhibitor, palbociclib (Ibrance) for the treatment of patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+) Her-2 negative (HER2-) disease. In a randomized study of 165 patients who had not been treated previously, palbociclib plus letrozole (a nonsteroidal competitive inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme system that inhibits the conversion of androgens to estrogens) was superior to letrozole, alone: Continue reading →

VB-111, A Novel Gene Therapeutic Agent in Cancer- Ashini R. Dias, Contributor

The formation of new blood vessels or angiogenesis is a normal process required for growth and wound healing. Unfortunately, it also plays a critically enabling role in the growth, proliferation, invasion and metastasis of cancers since tumors cannot grow beyond a certain size without a blood supply. The resulting new blood vessels feed the growing tumors with necessary oxygen and nutrients, allowing the cancer cells to invade nearby tissue, and gain access to immature blood vessels to metastasize throughout the body. Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), which is secreted by carcinoma cells, is the most important signaling molecule to stimulate and proliferate stromal cells. Myofibroblasts, transdifferentiated from stromal fibroblasts by PDGF, secretes chemokines that recruit endothelial precursor cells (EPC) in to the stroma. Myofibroblasts also secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which induces the differentiation of EPCs into endothelial cells, subsequently forming the neo-vasculature. Continue reading →

Etinostat blocks Treg activity via FOXP3 suppression

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors block the removal of acetyl groups from histone proteins. Since acetylation of histones puts chromatin in a more favorable condition for transcription, HDAC inhibitors maintain this favorable state. HDAC inhibitors have been approved for use in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. They act by sustaining transcription of tumor suppressor genes, which leads to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Continue reading →

Combined CA4P (Fosbretabulin) therapy in Cancer- Ashini R. Dias, Contributor

Malignant tumors cannot grow beyond a certain size without establishing blood supply to feed them with necessary nutrients and oxygen. The process of recruiting new blood vessels to the tumor is termed angiogenesis. Growth factors, mainly secreted by the tumor itself, induce angiogenesis; the most notable of these is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which helps endothelial precursor cells mature into neo-capillary forming, endothelial cells. These secrete other growth factors, like platelet derivative growth factor (PDGF), which attracts pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells that, together, create the outer layers of capillaries.   Continue reading →

CDKN2A Mutation Shortens Survival in Melanoma Patients

Individuals that carry mutations to the CDKN2A tumor suppressor gene have 65-fold increased risk of developing melanoma and a lifetime penetrance of melanoma of 60-90%. In a new study by researchers from the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, individuals who had inherited CDKN2A mutations were on average 10 years younger at their melanoma diagnosis than the non-mutated familial melanoma cases. Continue reading →