Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Clusterin is a ubiquitous secretory heterodimeric disulfide-linked glycoprotein, which is implicated in several physiological processes, including immune regulation, cell adhesion and morphological transformation, lipid transportation, tissue remodelling, membrane recycling and cell-cell interactions. A large number of studies have focused their interest on clusterin gene products as mediators of cell cycle progression and cell death induction, although data on the different isoforms and their role in the different cell processes are still obscure. Recently, an increased clusterin expression in breast cancer has been reported. In order to elucidate the role of clusterin in tumor progression and whether one of its isoforms is preferentially expressed in tumorigenesis, we examined its presence throughout the different steps of human colon carcinoma, one of the best-characterized models of human tumor progression. The immunohistochemical observation of 30 bioptic and surgical colon specimens demonstrated a cell compartment clusterin translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm directly related to tumor progression. In fact, a nuclear localization found in healthy colonic mucosa is consistent with the involvement of the proapoptotic nuclear form in the regulation of cell cycle progression and in cell death induction. The progression towards high-grade and metastatic carcinoma leads to cytoplasmic clusterin distribution. Protein extracts from freshly isolated cells of the same patients confirm in high-grade carcinomas with metastatic nodes the complete loss of the proapoptotic nuclear form and a cytoplasmic overexpression of the highly glycosylated form. Data obtained from in vitro experiments confirm that this form is released in the extracellular space and corresponded to the fully glycosylated one. These data suggest that the controversial data on clusterin function in tumors may be related to the pattern shift of its isoform production. As the secreted form of clusterin is correlated to cell matrix formation, cell membrane remodeling and cell-cell adhesion, the overexpression of this form in highly aggressive tumors and metastatic nodes could be a potential new prognostic and predictive marker for colon carcinoma aggressiveness.
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PMID:Modulation of different clusterin isoforms in human colon tumorigenesis. 1475 45

Pyrazoloacridine (NSC 366140, PD115934, PZA) is a new class of acridine anticancer agents under investigation in Phase II clinical trials in patients with advanced cancers. Although poor responses in patients to the treatment with PZA alone have been observed, this class of agents remains of interest because of its distinct mechanism of action from other topoisomerase poisons. Therefore, the combination of PZA with conventional anticancer agents presents an attractive approach to treat drug-resistant human tumors. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of PZA combined with doxorubicin, topotecan, and etoposide were determined using paired parental and doxorubicin-resistant human colon carcinoma (SW-620 and SW620/AD-300) and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MCF-7/TH). Cytotoxicity was measured by soft agar clonogenic assays. Dose effect and combination effects were analyzed by the method of Chou and Talalay. The combination of PZA with doxorubicin, topotecan, and etoposide in fixed ratios demonstrated synergistic cytotoxicity on both SW-620 and SW620/AD-300 cell lines. The combination of PZA with doxorubicin also exhibited synergistic cytotoxicity against both MCF-7 and MCF-7/TH cell lines. The mechanism of synergism appeared independent of topoisomerase I and II inhibition, and interference with protein-DNA complexes. Strategies to define optimal drug combinations are proving to be of significant value when considering potential clinical applications of new and established agents.
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PMID:Synergistic cytotoxicity of pyrazoloacridine with doxorubicin, etoposide, and topotecan in drug-resistant tumor cells. 1487 96

Lipophilicity of camptothecins derivatives has been reported to improve the stability of the lactone ring and to favor rapid uptake and intracellular accumulation. Recently, a novel series of lipophilic camptothecins substituted at position 7 was developed, and gimatecan (ST1481) was selected for clinical development on the basis of some favorable features, including potent cytotoxicity and the unique feature of the lack of recognition by breast cancer resistance-associated protein (BCRP). In this work the intrinsic fluorescence properties of this compound were exploited to investigate its intracellular disposition in comparison with the water-soluble camptothecin, topotecan (TPT), in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and in a subline, HT-29/Mit, selected for resistance to mitoxantrone and overexpressing BCRP. The study was performed at single-cell level by means of microspectrofluorometry and fluorescence image analysis. The results indicated a quite different subcellular localization of TPT ST1481, since TPT localized mainly in mitochondria, whereas gimatecan exhibited a lysosomal localization. An increased persistence of DNA damage in gimatecan-treated cells was consistent with the interpretation that lysosomes represent a store of active drug. In contrast to gimatecan, which showed a similar localization in HT-29 cells and in the mitoxantrone-resistant subline, the cellular pharmacokinetic of TPT was markedly influenced by overexpression of BCRP protein in the resistant subline. In conclusion, the present results indicating a quite different behavior of the two camptothecins suggest that, apart from intracellular accumulation, subcellular distribution plays a role in their cytotoxic potency and contributes to their pharmacological features.
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PMID:Subcellular localization of the camptothecin analogues, topotecan and gimatecan. 1500 40

The differentiation-related gene-1 (Drg-1) was first identified as a gene strongly upregulated by induction of differentiation in colon carcinoma cells in vitro, and later the same gene was shown to suppress tumorigenicity of human bladder cancer cells in vivo. On the other hand, we and others have demonstrated that the Drg-1 gene suppresses prostate and colon cancer metastases in mouse models. In the context of such potential organ-specific differential function of the Drg-1 gene, the present study was designed to clarify the expression status, regulation and function of Drg-1 in the case of human breast cancer. We found that the expression of the Drg-1 protein was significantly reduced in breast tumor cells, particularly in patients with lymph node or bone metastasis as compared to those with localized breast cancer. Drg-1 expression also exhibited significant inverse correlation with the disease-free survival rate of patients and emerged as an independent prognostic factor. The downregulation of the Drg-1 gene appeared to be largely at the RNA level, and the DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-Azacytidine, significantly elevated the Drg-1 gene expression in various breast tumor cell lines. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of the Drg-1 gene suppresses the invasiveness of breast cancer cells in vitro, and this suppression was also achieved by treatment of cells with 5-Azacytidine. Together, our results strongly suggest functional involvement of the Drg-1 gene in suppressing the metastatic advancement of human breast cancer.
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PMID:Role of the putative tumor metastasis suppressor gene Drg-1 in breast cancer progression. 1518 86

The content of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (Ca 19-9), carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (Ca 15-3) and the expression of LewisY related carbohydrate antigens in benign and malignant pleural effusion were determined. These included 35 malignant pleural effusions: 13 breast cancers, 12 lung cancers (6 squamous cell carcinomas, 5 adenocarcinomas and 1 microcytoma), 2 mesotheliomas, 1 epithelioma, 1 kidney cancer, 1 hepatocarcinoma, 1 colon carcinoma, 3 lymphomas, 1 osteosarcoma and 9 benign pleural effusions. We showed that pleural fluid content of CEA, Ca 19-9 and Ca 15-3 were higher in malignant than in benign effusions. However CEA levels in squamous lung cancers were very high in both serum and pleural fluids whereas its levels were only slightly above the cut-off in breast cancers and in lung adenocarcinomas. Serum and pleural fluid Ca 15-3 values were higher in breast and in lung cancers with the highest values in the patients with breast cancer. Furthermore, the LewisY related carbohydrate antigens, evaluated by the reactivity of the cell extracts to MAb B3, were expressed only in breast cancers. These data suggest that pleural fluid content of CEA, and Ca 15-3 associated with the immunoblotting of cell extracts with MAb B3 appear to be very useful to improve the diagnosis of malignant pleural effusions.
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PMID:New approaches in the diagnostic procedure of malignant pleural effusions. 1520 63

The pattern of inhibition of cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in vitro by 1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene (Naph-DNB) was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and the trypan blue (TB) dye exclusion assays in nine murine and human cell lines of different histologic origin. In our culture conditions Naph-DNB showed a good inhibiting activity against all cell lines tested, with IC(50)s varying within a narrow micromolar range of concentrations (2.0 +/- 0.2-14.3 +/- 2.3 microM). In particular, murine P388 (leukemia), human Jurkat (leukemia), A2780, PA-1 (ovarian carcinoma) and Saos-2 (osteosarcoma) cells showed the highest sensitivity to the inhibiting potential of Naph-DNB, while human A549 (non small cell lung cancer, NSCLC), MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), HGC-27 (gastric cancer) and HCT-8 (colon carcinoma) were the least sensitive cell lines. Moreover, the analysis of cytotoxicity of Naph-DNB evaluated by the TB test showed that this compound was able to kill cells with IC(50)s ranging from 1.7 to 39.2 microM. The study of the induction of apoptosis was carried out by 4'-6-diamidine-2'-phenylindole (DAPI) staining of segmented nuclei, western blot of p53 protein and TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method, while the interaction with DNA was evaluated through the analysis of interstrand cross-link (ISCL) formation. Our data show that in all cell lines tested Naph-DNB was able to form ISCLs, to upregulate p53 oncosuppressor-protein and to induce apoptosis. Moreover, TUNEL analysis also suggested that Naph-DNB, similarly to other anticancer drugs, was able to block cells in the G (0)/ G (1) phase of the cell cycle. In conclusion our data suggest that Naph-DNB may be an effective novel lead molecule for the design of new anticancer compounds.
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PMID:Preliminary evaluation in vitro of the inhibition of cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis by 1,4-bis(1-naphthyl)-2,3-dinitro-1,3-butadiene. 1529 6

The MUC1 transforming protein is aberrantly overexpressed by most human carcinomas. Recent studies demonstrated that MUC1 confers a protective function against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis; however, the mechanisms responsible for this response are not known. The present work demonstrates that MUC1 regulates FKHRL1/FOXO3a, a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors that induces oxidant scavenging and DNA repair. We show that MUC1 attenuates activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase --> phospho-Akt/PKB pathway in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells and thereby decreases FOXO3a phosphorylation. MUC1 is expressed as an N-terminal ectodomain that is tethered to the cell surface by a C-terminal transmembrane subunit. The results demonstrate that the MUC1 cytoplasmic domain is sufficient to induce FOXO3a activation and attenuation of oxidative stress. We also demonstrate that stable down-regulation of endogenous MUC1 in ZR-75-1 breast cancer cells inactivates FOXO3a, increases intracellular oxidant levels, and sensitizes cells to H(2)O(2)-induced necrosis. These findings indicate that MUC1 regulates the FOXO3a signaling pathway in a survival response to oxidative stress.
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PMID:MUC1 oncoprotein activates the FOXO3a transcription factor in a survival response to oxidative stress. 1532 85

Decreased apoptotic activity in precancerous lesions and in malignant tumors has largely been prejudiced. Results of studies performed in the last years showed that this suggestion is correct only in certain types of tumors. Data have been revealed on higher apoptotic activity in poorly differentiated tumors, whereas in well-differentiated neoplasms this activity is relatively low. At the same time, cytostatic or hormonal treatment of well-differentiated tumors result in a considerable elevation of the apoptotic index. The author considers the inducibility of apoptosis as a predictive factor regarding the efficacy of therapy in case of prostate carcinoma, colon carcinoma and acute lymphoid leukemia. This statement is less applicable to breast cancer or mesopharyngeal carcinoma. Very low apoptotic activity was observed in neuroblastomas, follicular adenomas, as well as follicular and papillary carcinomas of the thyroid gland, and adenomas of the parathyroid gland. Expression of genes influencing apoptosis, such as bcl2, p53, and bax, may rather be of importance from the point of view of histological differential diagnosis.
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PMID:[The occurrence and significance of apoptosis in tumors]. 1552 Aug 71

Recombinant monoclonal antibodies are beginning to revolutionize cancer therapy. In combination with standard chemotherapy, high response rates have been reported with antibodies of the human IgG1 isotype for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. It is becoming apparent that targets for antibody-based therapies do not necessarily need to be absent from normal tissues but can be present there either in low copy numbers or with binding epitopes shielded from the therapeutic antibody. Here, we studied whether claudin proteins that form tight junctions in normal epithelia are still expressed on carcinoma cells and whether their extracellular domains can be recognized by antibodies. We show that mRNAs of claudins 1, 3, 4, and 7 are all expressed in different human carcinoma cell lines, while claudin 8 was selectively expressed in breast and pancreas cancer lines. Chicken polyclonal antibodies were raised against peptides contained within predicted extracellular domains of claudins 1, 3, and 4. Affinity-purified IgG fractions for claudins 3 and 4 were monospecific and bound to human breast and colon carcinoma lines, but not to a line of monocytic origin. Claudin 3 antibodies also homogeneously stained human renal cell carcinoma tissue and micrometastatic tumor cells as identified by cytokeratin staining in bone marrow biopsies of breast cancer patients. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunocytochemistry indicated that claudin antibodies bound to the surface of tumor cells. By analogy to other tumor-associated antigens that are differentially accessible to antibodies on tumor vs normal tissue, we propose that certain claudin proteins have potential as targets for novel antibody-based therapies of carcinomas.
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PMID:Epithelial tight junction proteins as potential antibody targets for pancarcinoma therapy. 1575 Aug 30

Kahalalide F (KF) is a novel marine-derived antitumor agent that is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials. The mechanism of action of KF is not well understood. In line with previous reports, we show that KF caused rapid and potent cytotoxicity in the breast cancer cell lines SKBR3 and BT474, characterized by cytoplasmic swelling and DNA clumping. Several markers of caspase-dependent apoptosis, such as phosphatidyl-serine externalization, cytochrome c release, and caspase-3 and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage were negative after KF exposure. Inhibitors of caspases or cathepsins failed to protect against KF cytotoxicity. Altogether, these data indicate that KF-induced cell death is a necrosis-like process. The sensitivity to KF in a panel of human tumor cell lines derived from breast (SKBR3, BT474, and MCF7), vulval (A431), non-small-cell lung (H460, A549, SW1573, and H292), and hepatic (Skhep1, HepG2, and Hep3B) carcinomas positively correlated with ErbB3 (HER3) protein levels. A KF-resistant subline of colon carcinoma cells, HT29/KF, expressed significantly reduced levels of all ErbB receptors, but short-term KF exposure of sensitive cell lines such as SKBR3 selectively induced down-regulation of ErbB3. On the other hand, stable transfection of an ErbB3-expressing plasmid increased the KF sensitivity of H460 cells, the most resistant cell line in our panel. Finally, we found that KF efficiently inhibited the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway in sensitive cell lines and that ectopic expression of a constitutively active Akt mutant reduced KF cytotoxicity in this cell line. In summary, our results identify ErbB3 and the downstream PI3K-Akt pathway as important determinants of the cytotoxic activity of KF in vitro.
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PMID:Kahalalide F induces necrosis-like cell death that involves depletion of ErbB3 and inhibition of Akt signaling. 1590 15


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