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Query: EC:2.7.10.1 (
ERK
)
95,504
document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)
Despite multimodal therapy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is associated with a poor prognosis with a median survival of less than 1 year. However, a small number of patients with GBM shows survival times of several years. Although clinical features like age and performance status at diagnosis are well known prognostic parameters, molecular markers for prognosis of overall survival are still lacking. Therefore, we compared 2 age- and gender-matched groups of GBM patients with different post-operative time to tumor progression (TTP), defined as 'short-term' for TTP of less than 6 months (n = 21), and 'long-term' for TTP of more than 24 months (n = 21) for genetic alterations of the
PTEN
, CDKN2A and TP53 genes as well as overexpression of the
EGFR
, p53 and Mdm2 proteins. For the GBMs with 'short-term' TTP vs. 'long-term' TTP, the studies revealed
PTEN
mutations in 4/21 vs. 2/21, TP53 mutations in 5/21 vs. 8/21, homozygous deletion of the CDKN2A gene in 5/21 vs. 6/21, overexpression of
EGFR
in 7/20 vs. 10/20, accumulation of p53 protein in 9/20 vs. 7/20 and of Mdm2 protein in 0/20 vs. 1/20 cases studied. Taken together, our data indicate that mutations of the
PTEN
and TP53 tumor suppressor genes, homozygous deletion of the CDKN2A gene as well as overexpression of the
EGFR
, p53 and Mdm2 proteins lack prognostic significance for overall survival time in patients with GBMs.
...
PMID:Molecular analysis of the PTEN, TP53 and CDKN2A tumor suppressor genes in long-term survivors of glioblastoma multiforme. 1108 71
Many similarities exist in the cellular responses elicited by VEGF and governed by integrins. Here, we identify a basis for these interrelationships: VEGF activates integrins. VEGF enhanced cell adhesion, migration, soluble ligand binding, and adenovirus gene transfer mediated by alphavbeta3 and also activated other integrins, alphavbeta5, alpha5beta1, and alpha2beta1, involved in angiogenesis. Certain tumor cells exhibited high spontaneous adhesion and migration, which were attributable to a VEGF-dependent autocrine/paracrine activation of integrins. This activation was mediated by the
VEGFR2
receptor and regulated via phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, Akt, and the
PTEN
signaling axis. Thus, integrin activation provides a mechanism for VEGF to induce a broad spectrum of cellular responses.
...
PMID:A mechanism for modulation of cellular responses to VEGF: activation of the integrins. 1109 Jun 23
Four types of thyroid cancer comprise more than 98% of all thyroid malignancies. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) may have a very benign course while undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (UTC) belongs to the most aggressive human malignancies. A variety of genes have been identified to be involved in the pathogenesis of thyroid carcinoma. Somatic Ras mutations seem to be an early event and are frequently found in follicular thyroid carcinomas. Somatic rearrangements of
RET
and
TRK
are almost exclusively found in PTC and may be found in early stages. Germline
RET
missense mutations lead to hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). In contrast, the significance of somatic
RET
mutations in sporadic MTC is unknown. p53 seems to play a crucial role in the dedifferentiation process of thyroid carcinoma. The precise role of
PTEN
remains to be elucidated. The only clearly identified exogenous factor that may lead to thyroid carcinoma (mainly PTC) is radiation. Of interest, radiation is capable to induce
RET
rearrangements. In general, early diagnosis is mandatory to enable the chance of cure. Surgery is the treatment of choice. Depending on the tumour type, surgery in combination with either radioiodine, external radiation or chemotherapy often enables the control of local tumour burden. In MTC and UTC, once thyroid cancer is spread to distant organs, efficacious therapeutic agents are almost non-existing. However, our growing knowledge of genes involved in thyroidal oncogenesis may contribute to the development of more effective treatment modalities. Some preliminary data on gene therapy are quite promising.
...
PMID:Thyroid cancer. 1116 48
Activation of the p21-ras signaling pathway from aberrantly expressed receptors promotes the growth of malignant human astrocytomas. We developed a transgenic mouse astrocytoma model using the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter to express oncogenic V(12)Ha-ras, specifically in astrocytes. The development of GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytomas was directly proportional to the level of V(12)Ha-ras transgene expression. Chimeras expressing high levels of V(12)Ha-ras in astrocytes died from multifocal malignant astrocytomas within 2 weeks, whereas those with moderate levels went to germ-line transmission. Ninety-five percent of these mice died from solitary or multifocal low- and high-grade astrocytomas within 2-6 months. These transgenic astrocytomas are pathologically similar to human astrocytomas, with a high mitotic index, nuclear pleomorphism, infiltration, necrosis, and increased vascularity. Derivative astrocytoma cells are tumorigenic upon inoculation in another host. The transgenic astrocytomas exhibit additional molecular alterations associated with human astrocytomas, including a decreased or absent expression of p16, p19, and
PTEN
as well as overexpression of
EGFR
, MDM2, and CDK4. Cytogenetic analysis revealed consistent clonal aneuploidies of chromosomal regions syntenic with comparable loci altered in human astrocytomas. Therefore, this transgenic mouse astrocytoma model recapitulates many of the molecular histopathological and growth characteristics of human malignant astrocytomas in a reproducible, germ-line-transmitted, and high-penetrance manner.
...
PMID:Astrocyte-specific expression of activated p21-ras results in malignant astrocytoma formation in a transgenic mouse model of human gliomas. 1132 59
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta subunits. Several dozen HIF-1 targets are known, including the gene encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-1alpha expression increases as a result of decreased ubiquitination and degradation. The tumor suppressors VHL (von Hippel-Lindau protein) and p53 target HIF-1alpha for ubiquitination such that their inactivation in tumor cells increases the half-life of HIF-1alpha. Increased phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and AKT or decreased
PTEN
activity in prostate cancer cells also increases HIF-1alpha expression by an undefined mechanism. In breast cancer, increased activity of the
HER2
(also known as neu) receptor tyrosine kinase is associated with increased tumor grade, chemotherapy resistance, and decreased patient survival.
HER2
has also been implicated as an inducer of VEGF expression. Here we demonstrate that
HER2
signaling induced by overexpression in mouse 3T3 cells or heregulin stimulation of human MCF-7 breast cancer cells results in increased HIF-1alpha protein and VEGF mRNA expression that is dependent upon activity of PI3K, AKT (also known as protein kinase B), and the downstream kinase FRAP (FKBP-rapamycin-associated protein). In contrast to other inducers of HIF-1 expression, heregulin stimulation does not affect the half-life of HIF-1alpha but instead stimulates HIF-1alpha synthesis in a rapamycin-dependent manner. The 5'-untranslated region of HIF-1alpha mRNA directs heregulin-inducible expression of a heterologous protein. These data provide a molecular basis for VEGF induction and tumor angiogenesis by heregulin-
HER2
signaling and establish a novel mechanism for the regulation of HIF-1alpha expression.
...
PMID:HER2 (neu) signaling increases the rate of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) synthesis: novel mechanism for HIF-1-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor expression. 1135 7
PTEN
, a tumor suppressor gene, is essential for embryogenesis. We used the Cre-loxP system to generate a T cell-specific deletion of the Pten gene (Pten(flox/-) mice). All Pten(flox/-) mice develop CD4+ T cell lymphomas by 17 weeks. Pten(flox/-) mice show increased thymic cellularity due in part to a defect in thymic negative selection. Pten(flox/-) mice exhibit elevated levels of B cells and CD4+ T cells in the periphery, spontaneous activation of CD4+ T cells, autoantibody production, and hypergammaglobulinemia. Pten(flox/-) T cells hyperproliferate, are autoreactive, secrete increased levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines, resist apoptosis, and show increased phosphorylation of PKB/Akt and
ERK
. Peripheral tolerance to SEB is also impaired in Pten(flox/-) mice.
PTEN
is thus an important regulator of T cell homeostasis and self-tolerance.
...
PMID:T cell-specific loss of Pten leads to defects in central and peripheral tolerance. 1137 55
Germline mutations in tumor suppressor genes, or less frequently oncogenes, have been identified in up to 19 familial cancer syndromes including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial paraganglioma, familial adenomatous polyposis coli and breast and ovarian cancers. Multiple genes have been associated with some syndromes as approximately 26 genes have been linked to the development of these familial cancers. With this increased knowledge of the molecular determinants of familial cancer comes an equal expectation for efficient genetic screening programs. We have trialled denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) as a tool for rapid germline mutation scanning of genes implicated in three familial cancer syndromes -- Cowden syndrome (
PTEN
mutation), multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (
RET
mutation) and von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL mutation). Thirty-two mutations, including 21 in
PTEN
, 9 in
RET
plus a polymorphism, and 2 in VHL, were analyzed using the WAVE DNA fragment analysis system with 100% detection efficiency. In the case of the tumor suppressor gene
PTEN
, mutations were scattered along most of the gene. However, mutations in the RET proto-oncogene associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 were limited to specific clusters or "hot spots." The use of GC-clamped primers to scan for mutations scattered along
PTEN
exons was shown to greatly enhance the sensitivity of detection of mutant hetero- and homoduplex peaks at a single denaturation temperature compared to fragments generated using non--GC-clamped primers. Thus, when scanning tumor suppressor genes for germline mutation using dHPLC, the incorporation of appropriate GC-clamped primers will likely increase the efficiency of mutation detection.
...
PMID:Rapid mutation scanning of genes associated with familial cancer syndromes using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography. 1149 17
An inverse correlation between p27(Kip1) expression and proliferation has been recently established in tissues derived from human lymphomas. The nucleophosmin-
anaplastic lymphoma kinase
(NPM-ALK)/phospholipase C-gamma (PLCgamma) complex also appears to play an important role in cell proliferation and malignant transformation of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). In this study, we report that SUDHL-1 and KARPAS 299 ALCL-derived cell lines present different sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of recombinant adenovirus-mediated p27(Kip1) expression or to serum-starvation in culture media. The results indicate that exogenous p27(Kip1) may interact with the NPM-
ALK
/PLCgamma pathway in SUDHL-1 but not in KARPAS 299 cells. This interaction correlates with changes in cell cycle and cell morphology observed mainly in SUDHL-1 cells. The percentage of SUDHL-1 cells in S phase declines, whereas it is almost unchanged in KARPAS 299 cells as compared to the controls after 96 h of infection with the recombinant adenovirus. Furthermore KARPAS 299 cells are resistant to serum-starvation due to deficient p27(Kip1)-upregulation and G1 arrest, whereas SUDHL-1 cells respond with increased G1 phase and p27(Kip1)-upregulation after 48 h of serum-starvation. Both cell lines express appropriate variation of levels of cyclins E and A, and Rb-phosphorylation as expected by growing them in culture media with different FBS content. Although both cell lines express cyclin D2, SUDHL-1 cells only present high level of cyclin D3. Moreover SUDHL-1 cells express high level of
PTEN
and the PKB/Akt pathway is constitutively activated in both cell lines. Lastly SUDHL-1 cells show higher levels of phosphotyrosine-containing proteins that is correlated with a higher NPM-
ALK
-associated autophosphorylation activity compared to KARPAS 299 cells. Our study clearly identifies some of the biochemical differences that may explain the difference in sensitivity to antiproliferative stimuli shown by two cell lines derived from the same type of lymphoma.
...
PMID:Biochemical differences between SUDHL-1 and KARPAS 299 cells derived from t(2;5)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma are responsible for the different sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of p27(Kip1). 1149 42
About 5% of nonmedullary thyroid cancer is familial. These familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer cases are characterized by an earlier age of onset, more aggressive phenotype, and in some families a high propensity to benign thyroid disease. Little is known about the genes conferring predisposition to nonmedullary thyroid cancer. Three loci have been identified through genetic linkage: MNG1 on 14q32, TCO1 on 19p13.2, and fPTC on 1p21. In addition to these putative genes, a number of loci represent candidate familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer predisposition genes by virtue of their involvement in sporadic disease (
TRKA
), their role in benign disease (TSHR), and because they underlie syndromes with a risk of nonmedullary thyroid cancer (
PTEN
). To evaluate the roles of MNG1, TCO1, fPTC,
PTEN
, TSHR, and
TRKA
in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer, we have carried out a comprehensive mutation and linkage analysis of these genes in 22 families. One family was linked to chromosome 19q13.2, confirming that TCO1 underlies a subset of familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer. None of the families was linked to MNG1 or fPTC, and there was no evidence to support the roles of
PTEN
, TSHR, or
TRKA
. Familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer is an emerging clinical phenotype that is genetically heterogeneous, and none of the currently identified genes accounts for the majority of families.
...
PMID:A comprehensive analysis of MNG1, TCO1, fPTC, PTEN, TSHR, and TRKA in familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer: confirmation of linkage to TCO1. 1150 98
Glioblastomas may develop de novo (primary glioblastomas) or through progression from low-grade or anaplastic astrocytomas, (secondary glioblastomas). These subtypes of glioblastoma constitute distinct disease entities that evolve through different genetic pathways, affect patients at different ages, and are likely to differ in prognosis and response to therapy. Primary glioblastomas develop in older patients and typically show
EGFR
overexpression,
PTEN
(MMAC1) mutations, CDKN2A (p16) deletions, and less frequently, MDM2 amplification. Secondary glioblastomas develop in younger patients and often contain TP53 mutations as the earliest detectable alteration. These characteristics are derived largely from patients selected on the basis of clinical history and sequential biopsies. Currently available data are insufficient for a substitution of histologic classification and grading of astrocytic tumors by genetic typing alone. More subtypes of glioblastomas may exist with intermediate clinical and genetic profiles, a factor exemplified by the giant-cell glioblastoma that clinically and genetically occupies a hybrid position between primary (de novo) and secondary glioblastomas. Future research should aim at the identification of criteria for a combined clinical, histologic, and genetic classification of astrocytic tumors.
...
PMID:Primary and secondary glioblastomas: from concept to clinical diagnosis. 1155 Mar 1
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