Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:2.7.10.2 (focal adhesion kinase)
44,029 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Identification of the key roles of protein kinases in signaling pathways leading to development of cancer has caused pharmacological interest to concentrate extensively on targeted therapies as a more specific and effective way for blockade of cancer progression. This review will mainly focus on inhibitors targeting these key components of cellular signaling by employing a technology-based point of view with respect to ATP- and non-ATP-competitive small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies of selected protein kinases, particularly, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), BCR-ABL, MEK, p38 MAPK, EGFR PDGFR, VEGFR, HER2 and Raf. Inhibitors of the heat shock protein Hsp90 are also included in a separate section, as this protein plays an essential role for the maturation/proper activation of cancer-related protein kinases. In the following review, the molecular details of the mode of action of these inhibitors as well as the emergence of drug resistance encountered in several cases are discussed in light of the structural, molecular and clinical studies conducted so far.
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PMID:Protein kinases as drug targets in cancer. 1710 May 68

Des-gamma-carboxyl prothrombin (DCP) is a well recognized tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously, we have demonstrated that DCP stimulates cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines through Met-Janus kinase 1 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway. In the present study, we demonstrated that DCP induces both cell proliferation and migration in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. DCP was found to bind with the kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), alternatively referred to as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2. Furthermore, DCP induced autophosphorylation of KDR and its downstream effector phospholipase C-gamma and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). To support these results, we showed that DCP-induced cell proliferation and cell migration were inhibited by KDR short interfering RNA, KDR kinase inhibitor, or MAPK inhibitor. In conclusion, these results indicate that DCP is a novel type of vascular endothelial growth factor that possesses potent mitogenic and migrative activities.
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PMID:Des-gamma-carboxyl prothrombin-promoted vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration. 1725 2

The semaphorins constitute a large family of molecular signals with regulatory functions in neuronal development, angiogenesis, cancer progression and immune responses. Accumulating data indicate that semaphorins might trigger multiple signalling pathways, and mediate different and sometimes opposing effects, depending on the cellular context and the particular plexin-associated subunits of the receptor complex, which can include receptor-type or cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases such as MET, ERBB2, VEGFR2, FYN, FES, PYK2 and SRC. It has also been shown that a specific plexin can alternatively associate with different tyrosine kinase receptors, eliciting divergent signalling pathways and functional outcomes. Tyrosine phosphorylation is a pivotal post-translational protein modification that regulates intracellular signalling. Therefore, phosphorylation of tyrosines in the intracellular domain of plexins could determine or modify their interactions with additional signal transducers. Here, we discuss the potential relevance of tyrosine phosphorylation in semaphorin-induced signalling, with an emphasis on its probable role in dictating the choice between multiple pathways and functional outcomes. The identification of implicated tyrosine kinases will pave the way to target individual semaphorin-mediated functions.
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PMID:Tyrosine phosphorylation in semaphorin signalling: shifting into overdrive. 1866 Jul 49

Several proangiogenic/proinflammatory factors involved in endometrial cancer are regulated by leptin, but the signaling mechanisms responsible for these leptin-induced actions are largely unknown. Here, we report that in benign (primary and HES) and cancerous-endometrial epithelial cells (EEC) (An3Ca, SK-UT2 and Ishikawa), leptin in a dose-dependent manner regulates vascular endothelial growth factor, (VEGF); interleukin-1 beta, (IL-1beta); leukemia inhibitory factor, (LIF) and their respective receptors, VEGFR2, IL-1R tI and LIFR. Remarkably, leptin induces a greater increase in VEGF/VEGFR2 and LIF levels in cancer than in benign cells. However, IL-1beta was only increased by leptin in benign primary-EEC. Cancer-EEC expressed higher levels of leptin receptor (full-length OB-Rb and short isoforms) in contrast to benign primary-EEC. Leptin-mediated activation of JAK2 (janus kinase 2) was upstream to the activation of PI-3K (phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase) and/or MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways. Leptin induction of cytokines/receptors generally involved JAK2 and MAPK activation, but PI-3K phosphorylation was required for leptin increase of LIF, IL-1/IL-1R tI. Leptin-mediated activation of mTOR (mammalian target of Rapamycin), mainly linked to MAPK, played a central role in leptin regulation of all cytokines and receptors. These results suggest that leptin's effects are cell-specific and could confer a proliferative or cell survival advantage or possibly promote endometrial thickness. Leptin's effects on proangiogenic molecules were more evident in malignant versus benign cells and may imply that there is an underlying shift in leptin-induced cell signaling pathways in endometrial cancer cells.
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PMID:Leptin regulation of proangiogenic molecules in benign and cancerous endometrial cells. 1879 54

Serum des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) is commonly used to detect hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review focuses on the clinical features of DCP-positive HCC and the molecular function of DCP in HCC. DCP-positive HCC demonstrates more aggressive clinicopathological features than DCP-negative HCC. Analysis of the biological effects of DCP revealed that DCP acts as a growth factor in both an autocrine and paracrine manner. DCP stimulates HCC cell proliferation through the Met-Janus kinase 1-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway, whereas for vascular endothelial cells, it stimulates cell proliferation and migration through the kinase insert domain receptor-phospholipase C-gamma-mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway.
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PMID:Significance of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin production in hepatocellular carcinoma. 2003 86

Farnesiferol C (FC) is one of the major compounds isolated from Ferula assafoetida, an Asian herbal spice used for cancer treatment as a folk remedy. Here, we examined the hypothesis that novel antiangiogenic activities of FC contribute to anticancer efficacy. In human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), exposure to the 10 to 40 mumol/L concentration range of FC inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2. In addition, FC inhibited the angiogenic sprouting of VEGF-treated rat aorta in an ex vivo model. Furthermore, FC inhibited the in vivo growth of mouse Lewis lung cancer allograft model by 60% (P < 0.001) at a daily i.p. dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight without any negative effect on the weight of the host mice. Immunohistochemistry staining showed decreased microvessel density (CD34) and proliferative index (Ki-67) without affecting the apoptotic (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) index. Mechanistically, FC decreased the binding of VEGF to VEGFR1/Flt-1, but not to VEGFR2/KDR/Flk-1. In terms of early signaling, FC exerted a rapid inhibitory action (examined within 10 minutes) on VEGF-induced autophosphorylation of VEGFR1 without affecting that of VEGFR2. Nevertheless, FC decreased the phosphorylation of most of the kinases downstream of VEGFR2: focal adhesion kinase, Src, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-jun-NH(2)-kinase without affecting AKT. Computer simulation suggests that FC may inhibit Src or focal adhesion kinase protein activities directly through its docking to their ATP-binding sites. Taken together, the multitargeting actions of FC, particularly VEGFR1 inhibition, may make it a novel drug candidate to complement current VEGF/VEGFR2-targeting antiangiogenic modalities for cancer.
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PMID:Herbal compound farnesiferol C exerts antiangiogenic and antitumor activity and targets multiple aspects of VEGFR1 (Flt1) or VEGFR2 (Flk1) signaling cascades. 2010 98

Interactions between ovarian cancer cells and the surrounding tumor microenvironment are not well characterized. We have earlier shown that ovarian cancer ascites induces Akt activation and protect tumor cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which ascites activates Akt. The ability of ovarian cancer ascites to activate Akt and inhibit TRAIL-induced cell death and caspase activity was decreased by heat inactivation, but was retained in ascites fractions >5 kDa. The survival promoting activity of ascites was not affected by inhibitors of growth factor receptor including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), VEGFR, FGFR, Her2/neu, and IGF-R1. However, this activity was inhibited by an alphavbeta5 integrin-blocking antibody, but not by blocking antibodies against alphavbeta3, beta1, or beta3 integrins. alphavbeta5 integrin-blocking antibodies also inhibited ascites-induced Akt phosphorylation and c-FLIPs up-regulation. Ovarian cancer ascites induced a rapid phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which closely correlated with the phosphorylation of Akt overtime. FAK phosphorylation was strongly inhibited by alphavbeta5 integrin-blocking antibodies. Depletion of FAK content by RNA interference was also associated with inhibition of ascites-mediated Akt activation and survival. These results suggest that ovarian cancer ascites induces FAK and Akt activation in an alphavbeta5 integrin-dependent pathway, which confers protection from TRAIL-induced cell death and caspase activation.
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PMID:Ovarian cancer ascites protects from TRAIL-induced cell death through alphavbeta5 integrin-mediated focal adhesion kinase and Akt activation. 2040 Sep 79

Formation of the vascular system within organs requires the balanced action of numerous positive and negative factors secreted by stromal and epithelial cells. Here, we used a genetic approach to determine the role of SLITs in regulating the growth and organization of blood vessels in the mammary gland. We demonstrate that vascularization of the gland is not affected by loss of Slit expression in the epithelial compartment. Instead, we identify a stromal source of SLIT, mural cells encircling blood vessels, and show that loss of Slit in the stroma leads to elevated blood vessel density and complexity. We examine candidate SLIT receptors, Robo1 and Robo4, and find that increased vessel angiogenesis is phenocopied by loss of endothelial-specific Robo4, as long as it is combined with the presence of an angiogenic stimulus such as preneoplasia or pregnancy. In contrast, loss of Robo1 does not affect blood vessel growth. The enhanced growth of blood vessels in Robo4(-/-) endothelium is due to activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-R2 signaling through the Src and FAK kinases. Thus, our studies present a genetic dissection of SLIT/ROBO signaling during organ development. We identify a stromal, rather than epithelial, source of SLITs that inhibits blood vessel growth by signaling through endothelial ROBO4 to down-regulate VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling.
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PMID:Vascular Robo4 restricts proangiogenic VEGF signaling in breast. 2049 81

Heart valve malformations are one of the most common types of birth defects, illustrating the complex nature of valve development. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is one pathway implicated in valve formation, however its specific spatial and temporal roles remain poorly defined. To decipher these contributions, we use two inducible dominant negative approaches in mice to disrupt VEGF signaling at different stages of embryogenesis. At an early step in valve development, VEGF signals are required for the full transformation of endocardial cells to mesenchymal cells (EMT) at the outflow tract (OFT) but not atrioventricular canal (AVC) endocardial cushions. This role likely involves signaling mediated by VEGF receptor 1 (VEGFR1), which is highly expressed in early cushion endocardium before becoming downregulated after EMT. In contrast, VEGFR2 does not exhibit robust cushion endocardium expression until after EMT is complete. At this point, VEGF signaling acts through VEGFR2 to direct the morphogenesis of the AVC cushions into mature, elongated valve leaflets. This latter role of VEGF requires the VEGF-modulating microRNA, miR-126. Thus, VEGF roles in the developing valves are dynamic, transitioning from a differentiation role directed by VEGFR1 in the OFT to a morphogenetic role through VEGFR2 primarily in the AVC-derived valves.
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PMID:VEGF signaling has distinct spatiotemporal roles during heart valve development. 2081 97

The 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, held in Boston, included topics covering new therapeutic research. This conference report highlights selected presentations on (S)-adenosylhomocysteine (AHCY) inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, 2,4-diphenyl-1H-imidazole analogs as cannabinoid CB2 agonists for the treatment of pain, checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) and Aurora kinase B as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment, pyridylmethylthio derivatives as VEGFR2 inhibitors, and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) for the treatment of myeloproliferative disorders. Investigational drugs discussed include L-002259713 (Merck & Co), AZD-1480 (AstraZeneca), CYT-387 (YM Biosciences) and ruxolitinib (Incyte).
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PMID:American Chemical Society - 240th national meeting - chemistry for preventing and combating disease: part 2. 2087 83


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