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:2.7.12.2 (MEK)
18,161 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Several studies have demonstrated that colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are closely associated with tumor progression, metastasis and invasion through autocrine or paracrine mechanism in lung cancer. However, biologic roles of CSFs are still unknown. Elucidating the biologic roles of CSFs and the regulatory mechanisms of tumor-specific behavior by CSFs raises the possibility of having a new therapeutic approach for lung cancer. We previously established two adenocarcinoma cell lines, A924 and A964 and a large cell carcinoma cell line MI-4. MI-4 and A924 constitutively produced an abundant dose of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). We examined the effects of GM-CSF and M-CSF on tumor growth, death, and invasion in CSF-producing (A924 and MI-4) and non-producing lung cancer cells (A549 and A964). These cell lines demonstrated both GM-CSF and M-CSF receptor mRNA expression. In our study, GM-CSF seemed to have advantage for tumor proliferation and invasion in lung cancer cells. M-CSF seemed to have advantage for tumor invasion, but not proliferation. The tumor-specific phenotypes (proliferation, invasion and survival) up-regulated by GM-CSF and M-CSF were mediated through MEK/ERK and PI3k/Akt pathways. However, when MEK/ERK was activated by transfection of active form of MEK1 cDNA, the tumor-specific behavior was promoted in CSF-non-producing cells, whereas inhibited in CSF-producing cells though MEK/ERK activation increased constitutive GM-CSF production. MEK/ERK signaling regulated differently tumor-specific behavior between CSF-producing cells and CSF-non-producing cells.
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PMID:Effects of GM-CSF and M-CSF on tumor progression of lung cancer: roles of MEK1/ERK and AKT/PKB pathways. 1682 Sep 47

Taxol (paclitaxel) and Taxotere (docetaxel) are considered as two of the most important anti-cancer chemotherapy drugs. The cytotoxic action of these drugs has been linked to their ability to inhibit microtubule depolymerization, causing growth arrest and subsequent cell death. Studies by a number of laboratories have also linked suppression of MEK1/2 signaling to enhanced Taxol toxicity in vitro and in vivo. The present study examined the interactions of the semi-synthetic taxane Taxotere with MEK1/2 inhibitors in epithelial tumor cells. In vitro colony formation studies demonstrated that Taxotere and the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD184352 interacted in a sequence dependent fashion to synergistically kill human mammary carcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF7) as well as in other tumor cell types; e.g. prostate and renal cell carcinoma. Athymic mice were implanted in the rear flank with either MDA-MB-231 or MCF7 cells and tumors permitted to form to a volume of approximately 100 mm3 prior to a two day exposure of either Vehicle, PD184352 (25 mg/kg), Taxotere (15 mg/kg) or the drug combination. Tumor volume was measured every other day and tumor growth determined over the following approximately 30 days. Transient exposure of MDA-MB-231 tumors or MCF7 tumors to PD184352 did not significantly alter tumor growth rate or the mean tumor volume in vivo approximately 15-30 days after drug administration. Transient Taxotere exposure of MDA-MB-231 or to a lesser extent MCF7, tumors modestly reduced the mean tumor volume in vivo approximately 15-30 days after drug administration. In contrast, combined treatment with PD184352 and Taxotere significantly reduced MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 tumor growth. The tumor control values for MDA-MB-231 cells and MCF7 cells were 0.43 and 0.71, respectively. Fractionated irradiation of MDA-MB-231 tumors during drug exposure or single dose irradiation prior to drug administration did not significantly further suppress tumor growth beyond that of cells exposed to Taxotere and MEK1/2 inhibitor. Single dose irradiation of tumors after drug exposure, however, caused a significant further suppression of tumor growth below that caused by drug exposure. These findings were also reflected in ex vivo colony formation analyses of isolated tumor cells. Collectively, these findings argue that Taxotere and MEK1/2 inhibitors have the potential to suppress mammary tumor growth in vivo which is enhanced by sequence-dependent exposure to ionizing radiation. Based on the cell lines used in these studies, our findings argue that the interaction of Taxotere and PD184352 is independent of p53 status, estrogen dependency, caspase 3 levels or oncogenic K-RAS expression.
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PMID:MEK1/2 inhibition promotes Taxotere lethality in mammary tumors in vivo. 1695 20

Oncogenic mutations in the K-ras gene occur in approximately 50% of human colorectal cancers. However, the precise role that K-ras oncogenes play in tumor formation is still unclear. To address this issue, we have conditionally expressed an oncogenic K-ras(V12) allele in the small intestine of adult mice either alone or in the context of Apc deficiency. We found that expression of K-ras(V12) does not affect normal intestinal homeostasis or the immediate phenotypes associated with Apc deficiency. Mechanistically we failed to find activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, which may be a consequence of the up-regulation of a number of negative feedback loops. However, K-ras(V12) expression accelerates intestinal tumorigenesis and confers invasive properties after Apc loss over the long term. In renal epithelium, expression of the oncogenic K-ras(V12) allele in the absence of Apc induces the rapid development of renal carcinoma. These tumors, unlike those of intestinal origin, display activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK and Akt signaling pathways. Taken together, these data indicate that normal intestinal and kidney epithelium are resistant to malignant transformation by an endogenous K-ras oncogene. However, activation of K-ras(V12) after Apc loss results in increased tumorigenesis with distinct kinetics. Whereas the effect of K-ras oncogenes in the intestine can been observed only after long latencies, they result in rapid carcinogenesis in the kidney epithelium. These data imply a window of opportunity for anti-K-ras therapies after tumor initiation in preventing tumor growth and invasion.
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PMID:Loss of Apc allows phenotypic manifestation of the transforming properties of an endogenous K-ras oncogene in vivo. 1695 82

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) is a potent tumor suppressor but, paradoxically, TGF-beta1 enhances tumor growth and metastasis in the late stages of cancer progression. This study investigated the role of TGF-beta type I receptor, ALK5, and three mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in metastasis by breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. We show that autocrine TGF-beta signaling in MDA-MB-231 cells is required for tumor cell invasion and tumor angiogenesis. Expression of kinase-inactive ALK5 reduces tumor invasion and formation of new blood vessels within the tumor orthotopic xenografts in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. In contrast, constitutively active ALK5-T204D enhances tumor invasion and angiogenesis by stimulating expression of matrix metalloproteinase MMP-9/gelatinase-B. Ablation of MMP-9 in ALK5-T204D cells by RNA interference (RNAi) reduces tumor invasion and tumor growth. Importantly, RNAi-MMP-9 reduces tumor neovasculature and increases tumor cell death. Induction of MMP-9 by TGF-beta-ALK5 signaling requires MEK-ERK but not JNK, p38 MAPK or Smad4. Dominant-negative MEK blocks and constitutively active MEK1 enhances MMP-9 expression. However, all three MAPK cascades (ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK) are required for TGF-beta-mediated cell migration. Collectively, our results show that TGF-beta-ALK5-MAPK signaling in tumor cells promotes tumor angiogenesis and MMP-9 is an important component of this program.
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PMID:ALK5 promotes tumor angiogenesis by upregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 in tumor cells. 1707 48

Angiogenesis and signaling through the RAF/mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)/ERK cascade have been reported to play important roles in the development of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Sorafenib (BAY 43-9006, Nexavar) is a multikinase inhibitor with activity against Raf kinase and several receptor tyrosine kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), FLT3, Ret, and c-Kit. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of sorafenib on PLC/PRF/5 and HepG2 HCC cells and the in vivo antitumor efficacy and mechanism of action on PLC/PRF/5 human tumor xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient mice. Sorafenib inhibited the phosphorylation of MEK and ERK and down-regulated cyclin D1 levels in these two cell lines. Sorafenib also reduced the phosphorylation level of eIF4E and down-regulated the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 in a MEK/ERK-independent manner. Consistent with the effects on both MEK/ERK-dependent and MEK/ERK-independent signaling pathways, sorafenib inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in both HCC cell lines. In the PLC/PRF/5 xenograft model, sorafenib tosylate dosed at 10 mg/kg inhibited tumor growth by 49%. At 30 mg/kg, sorafenib tosylate produced complete tumor growth inhibition. A dose of 100 mg/kg produced partial tumor regressions in 50% of the mice. In mechanism of action studies, sorafenib inhibited the phosphorylation of both ERK and eIF4E, reduced the microvessel area (assessed by CD34 immunohistochemistry), and induced tumor cell apoptosis (assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling) in PLC/PRF/5 tumor xenografts. These results suggest that the antitumor activity of sorafenib in HCC models may be attributed to inhibition of tumor angiogenesis (VEGFR and PDGFR) and direct effects on tumor cell proliferation/survival (Raf kinase signaling-dependent and signaling-independent mechanisms).
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PMID:Sorafenib blocks the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway, inhibits tumor angiogenesis, and induces tumor cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma model PLC/PRF/5. 1717 82

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy in Asia and Africa. We previously reported that overexpression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) and ERK1/2 was detected in HCC, and that their activation was required for liver cancer cell proliferation and survival. In the present study, we determined the efficacy of a specific MEK1/2 inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRAY-142886) in treatment of HCC. Treatment of primary HCC cells with AZD6244 led to growth inhibition, elevation of the cleavage of caspase-3 and caspase-7, and cleaved poly(ADP)ribose polymerase, but inhibition of ERK1/2 and p90RSK phosphorylation. Studying the protein expression profile of seven HCC xenografts revealed that their growth rate was positively correlated with the levels of phosphorylated MEK. AZD6244, when given p.o. to mice bearing these xenografts, resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth. AZD6244-induced growth suppression was associated with inactivation of ERK1/2 and p90RSK, and up-regulation of activated caspase-3 and caspase-7, and cleaved poly(ADP)ribose polymerase. Our data suggest that the MEK-ERK pathway plays an important role in the growth and survival of liver cancer cells and that the HCC xenograft models are excellent tools for screening preclinical drugs. Targeted inhibition of the MEK-ERK pathway with AZD6244 may represent an alternative approach for the treatment of this disease.
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PMID:Targeted inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase pathway with AZD6244 (ARRY-142886) in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. 1723 74

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessels from preexisting capillary, is required for tumor growth and metastasis. The process is not fully understood yet, but involves endothelial cell proliferation, migration and differentiation. Recently, we have shown that overexpression of caveolin-1, a putative transformation suppressor gene, inhibits VEGFR-2 and MEK-1-mediated mitogenic signal to the nucleus. Conversely, angiogenic activators suppress caveolin-1 expression in endothelial cells. However, whether caveolin-1 expression affects endothelial cell proliferation is not clear. In the present study, we infect human endothelial cells with adenovirus expressing caveolin-1 and show that transient overexpression of caveolin-1 dramatically inhibits the proliferation of human endothelial cells. Consistent with caveolin-1 functioning as an inhibitor for protein kinases, overexpression of caveolin-1 inhibits the activity of VEGFR-2 (KDR) and down-stream p42/44 MAP kinase. Furthermore, overexpression of caveolin-1 prevents VEGF-induced down-regulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(kip1) and Rb phosphorylation, and subsequently arrests endothelial cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase. Thus, our results suggest that caveolin-1, as a negative regulator of endothelial cell proliferation, may be a potential target for the control of angiogenesis.
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PMID:Overexpression of caveolin-1 inhibits endothelial cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. 1724 31

Elevated expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase (Erk/MAPK) has been noted in a significant percentage of primary human breast cancers. To directly assess the importance of Erk/MAPK activation in estrogen (E2)-induced tumor progression, we blocked E2-signaling with MEK-inhibitor CI-1040 and/or tamoxifen (Tam). Our data show that both MEK-inhibitor CI-1040 and Tam blocked E2-induced MAPK phosphorylation and cell proliferation in MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro. However, in vivo studies show that anti-tumor efficacy of combining the CI-1040 and Tam was similar to single agent(s). Furthermore, sequential treatment with Tam followed by CI-1040 or CI-1040 followed by Tam did not significantly reduce E2-induced tumor growth. This suggests that the combination of CI-1040 and Tam may not be synergistic in inhibiting E2-induced tumor growth. However, these findings also indicate that MAPK plays a critical role in E2-induced tumor growth, and that this could be a potential therapeutic target to combat hormonally regulated growth in ER-positive tumors.
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PMID:Inhibition of the MAP kinase activity suppresses estrogen-induced breast tumor growth both in vitro and in vivo. 1733 37

An in vitro model of VEGF-A-induced angiogenesis was used to generate transcription profiles of human microvascular endothelial cells. Microarray analysis showed increased transcription of genes known to regulate angiogenesis, but also genes that previously have not been firmly associated with angiogenesis such as endocan, pinin, plakophilin, phosphodiesterase 4B and gelsolin. Increased endocan mRNA levels in response to VEGF-A in endothelial cells and in human renal cancer have previously been reported. We now show increased endocan protein levels in VEGF-A treated endothelial cells and in human renal clear cell carcinoma. Increased protein expression was observed both in tumor cells and in a subset of tumor vessels, while expression in normal kidney tissue was low. VEGF-A seemed to be a specific inducer of endocan transcription since FGF-2, PDGF-BB, HGF/SF and EGF did not alter expression levels. Inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 caused a 12-fold increase in endocan transcription suggesting a repressive function of PI3K. In contrast inhibition of Src or MEK, which are signaling pathways activated by VEGF-A, did not influence basal or VEGF-A-induced endocan levels. In conclusion our study shows that, among angiogenic growth factors, VEGF-A is a specific inducer of endocan transcription which is translated into increased protein levels in VEGF-A treated endothelial cells. Increased endocan protein expression in human renal cancer suggests a role in tumor growth.
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PMID:Endocan is a VEGF-A and PI3K regulated gene with increased expression in human renal cancer. 1736 27

Ginseng has been shown to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumor growth, however the mechanisms underlying this inhibition have yet to be elucidated. An inhibitory effect of hot water-extracted American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) root on cell proliferation was demonstrated using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells treated with a wide concentration range of the ginseng extract (GE) for 6 days. The effects of GE were concentration-dependent with an IC50 of 0.49 microg/microl and the minimum exposure time to elicit an inhibitory response was 24 hours. Using an antibody microarray, it was determined that several key cell survival proteins were altered in GE-treated cells, including several members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. A GE-induced decrease in phospho-MEK1/2 and -ERK1/2 and an increase in phospho-Raf-1 were observed and verified using Western blot analysis. Furthermore, mRNA and protein expression of the Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) was shown to be transiently, yet significantly, upregulated following GE treatment. These results suggest that American ginseng may act to inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation by increasing the expression of RKIP, resulting in inhibition of the MAPK pathway. This novel mechanism has implications in the potential prevention and treatment of breast cancer.
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PMID:American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) extract alters mitogen-activated protein kinase cell signaling and inhibits proliferation of MCF-7 cells. 1740 73


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