Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023418 (leukemia)
 93,477 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The triplet of docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TAC) has emerged as an alternative chemotherapy regimen for adjuvant management of node-positive breast cancer. Based on recently reported 3-year data from the Breast Cancer International Research Group (BCIRG) 001, disease-free survival was significantly higher in patients who underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with TAC rather than the established regimen of 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC). TAC reduced the risk of disease recurrence in estrogen receptor-positive and -negative patients. Whereas overall survival was not significantly different between the two groups, TAC led to a significant reduction in mortality in the subset of patients with one to three involved axillary lymph nodes. Overall, these interim BCIRG 001 results, coupled with those from Cancer and Leukemia Group B-9344 and National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-28 (phase III trials of sequential adjuvant chemotherapy with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel), suggest that taxanes are a valuable component of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with node-positive breast cancer, including those with estrogen receptor positivity and/or extensive lymph node involvement. Accumulating data in the neoadjuvant setting lend further support to the view that the taxanes confer clinically meaningful benefits in the management of early-stage breast cancer. Such ongoing studies as NSABP B-30 will be instrumental in establishing the relative merits of sequential versus concurrent taxane-anthracycline adjuvant regimens for patients with node-positive breast cancer.
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PMID:Adjuvant therapy approaches to breast cancer: should taxanes be incorporated? 1249 53

SHP-1, an SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase, is primarily expressed in hematopoietic cells and behaves as a key regulator controlling intracellular phosphotyrosine levels in lymphocytes. SHP-1 has been proposed as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers, as it functions as an antagonist to the growth-promoting and oncogenic potentials of tyrosine kinase. The decreased levels of SHP-1 protein and SHP-1 mRNA observed in various leukemia and lymphoma cell lines have been attributed to either the methylation of the promoter region of the SHP-1 gene or the post-transcriptional block of SHP-1 protein synthesis. In contrast, SHP-1 protein is normally or over-expressed in some non-lymphocytic cell lines, such as prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer cell lines. SHP-1 expression also is decreased in some breast cancer cell lines with negative expression of estrogen receptor as well as some prostate and colorectal cancer cell lines. These data suggest that SHP-1 can play either negative or positive roles in regulating signal transduction pathways. Dysfunction in SHP-1 regulation can cause abnormal cell growth and induce different kinds of cancers. In this paper, we summarize recent studies on the expression and regulation of SHP-1 protein and its pathological function in the development of lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers.
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PMID:The function of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in cancer. 1265 62

Proliferation of pluripotent, bone marrow stem cells, which develop to lymphoid and myeloid progenitors, is negatively regulated by estrogen. Although in estrogen deficiency and in estrogen receptor knockout mice there is significant alteration in bone marrow hematopoiesis, the effects of aging on estrogen receptor deficiencies in mice have not been investigated yet. In this study we show that by 1.5 years of age, estrogen receptor beta knockout (ERbeta-/-) mice develop pronounced splenomegaly that is much more severe in females than in males. Further characterization of these mice revealed myelogenous hyperplasia in bone marrow, an increase in the number of granulocytes and B lymphocytes in blood, lymphadenopathy, and infiltration of leukocytes in the liver and lung. Analysis by flow cytometry of the bone marrow cells revealed that the percentage and total number of Gr-1hi/Mac-1hi-positive granulocytes were increased by 15-30% and 100%, respectively. The numbers of B cells in the bone marrow and spleen were significantly higher in ERbeta-/- mice than in WT littermates. Some of the ERbeta-/- mice also had a severe lymphoproliferative phenotype. Thus the absence of ERbeta results in a myeloproliferative disease resembling human chronic myeloid leukemia with lymphoid blast crisis. Our results indicate a previously unknown role for ERbeta in regulating the differentiation of pluripotent hematopoietic progenitor cells and suggest that the ERbeta-/- mouse is a potential model for myeloid and lymphoid leukemia. Furthermore, we suggest that ERbeta agonists might have clinical value in the treatment of leukemia.
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PMID:Disruption of the estrogen receptor beta gene in mice causes myeloproliferative disease resembling chronic myeloid leukemia with lymphoid blast crisis. 1274 Apr 46

The Raf/MEK/ERK kinase cascade plays a critical role in transducing growth signals from activated cell surface receptors. Using DeltaMEK1:ER, a conditionally active form of MEK1 which responds to either beta-estradiol or the estrogen receptor antagonist 4 hydroxy-tamoxifen (4HT), we previously documented the ability of this dual specificity protein kinase to abrogate the cytokine-dependency of human (TF-1) and murine (FDC-P1 and FL5.12) hematopoietic cells lines. Here we demonstrate the ability of DeltaMEK1:ER to activate the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70(S6K)) pathway and the importance of this pathway in MEK1-mediated prevention of apoptosis. MEK1-responsive cells can be maintained long term in the presence of beta-estradiol, 4HT or IL-3. Removal of hormone led to the rapid cessation of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis in a manner similar to cytokine deprivation of the parental cells. Stimulation of DeltaMEK1:ER by 4HT resulted in ERK, PI3K, Akt and p70(S6K) activation. Treatment with PI3K, Akt and p70(S6K) inhibitors prevented MEK-responsive growth. Furthermore, the apoptotic effects of PI3K/Akt/p70(S6K) inhibitors could be enhanced by cotreatment with MEK inhibitors. Use of a PI3K inhibitor and a constitutively active form of Akt, [DeltaAkt(Myr(+))], indicated that activation of PI3K was necessary for MEK1-responsive growth and survival as activation of Akt alone was unable to compensate for the loss of PI3K activity. Cells transduced by MEK or MEK+Akt displayed different sensitivities to signal transduction inhibitors, which targeted these pathways. These results indicate a requirement for the activation of the PI3K pathway during MEK-mediated transformation of certain hematopoietic cells. These experiments provide important clues as to why the identification of mutant signaling pathways may be the Achilles heel of leukemic cell growth. Leukemia treatment targeting multiple signal transduction pathways may be more efficacious than therapy aimed at inhibiting a single pathway.
Leukemia 2003 Jun
PMID:Requirement for the PI3K/Akt pathway in MEK1-mediated growth and prevention of apoptosis: identification of an Achilles heel in leukemia. 1276 69

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and donor lymphocyte infusion are powerful treatments for chemotherapy-resistant leukemia. Tumor eradication is attributed to a graft-versus-leukemia reaction by the donor-derived cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but the same cell population may cause severe graft-versus-host disease. One strategy to suppress harmful CTL activity is to incorporate a suicide gene into the donor lymphocytes prior to infusion, and to destroy these cells when they aggressively attack nonmalignant host tissues. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using a Fas-estrogen receptor fusion protein (MfasER) to control T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, based on our previous finding that the chimera transmits a Fas-mediated death signal through activation by estrogen binding. A murine CTL line CTLL-2 was transfected with a vector encoding MfasER, and the growth, viability and cytotoxic activity of the transfected cells (CTLL/MfasER) were analyzed. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins such as Fas ligand and perforin was also investigated. In the absence of estrogen, CTLL/MfasER showed similar growth to parental CTLL-2, and the killing activity was preserved. Addition of 10 (-7) M estrogen induced a rapid apoptosis of CTLL/MfasER, and the cytotoxicity was severely impaired. A decrease of Fas ligand and perforin in the estrogen-treated CTLL/MfasER was seen in an immunoblot analysis. These functional and biochemical analyses showed that the estrogen-inducible apoptosis in MfasER-expressing CTLs rapidly terminated their target cell killing. The feasibility of using the MfasER-estrogen system to control graft-versus-host disease was demonstrated.
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PMID:Reduction of CTLL-2 cytotoxicity by induction of apoptosis with a Fas-estrogen receptor chimera. 1284 75

The endometrial response to the varying levels of ovarian steroids is exhibited as alterations in its form and function. These changes in endometrial morphology and physiology, especially those observed during the implantation window are prerequisites to support embryo attachment and invasion. However the state of endometrial receptivity to embryo results from an operative network of several molecular events triggered by estrogen, progesterone and probably some other factors, yet to be discovered. It is well established that estrogen and progesterone are the critical endocrine determinants of endometrial functions. However the precise delineation of hormone driven events and their interaction is yet to be ascertained. Several attempts have been made to understand these cascades, however most of these studies have been conducted in vitro using one or the other component of endometrial tissues. We have attempted to investigate in vivo morphological and biochemical/molecular changes in endometrium in response to neutralization of progesterone synthesis/ function in two primate animal models. In one of the models, ovariectomized rhesus monkeys, artificial menstrual cycles were simulated and subsequent effects on the _expression of various genes were investigated in presence and absence of sufficient progesterone levels. The results coincided with those observed in the endometrium of the other model, bonnet monkeys presenting normal hypothalamus-ovarian-pituitary function but displaying retarded endometrial growth due to blocked progesterone receptor. A significant decline was observed in the expression of transforming growth factor beta, transforming growth factor beta receptor, leukaemia inhibitory factor, whereas no remarkable changes were observed in the expression of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptors in response to neutralization of progesterone synthesis/function in these two animal models. Taking support from the inferences drawn from previously published in vitro studies and our data from in vivo studies conducted in these two models, we propose a hypothesis supporting a potential link between the expressions of transforming growth factor beta, leukaemia inhibitory factor, cyclooxygenases and integrins.
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PMID:Role of progesterone in structural and biochemical remodeling of endometrium. 1295 56

The discovery of the second estrogen receptor (ER) in 1995 surprised many endocrinologists and resulted in some scepticism regarding its physiological importance. However, 8 years later, it is clear that the multiple actions of estrogen in the body are mediated by two receptors that, although similar, are distinct gene products with non-overlapping functions. This clear delineation of the functions of the two receptors in such a short time was made possible by the development of ER alpha and ER beta knockout mice. The distinct patterns of tissue distribution of these two receptors has heightened interest in novel estrogen targets in the body and has led to awareness of new sites for pharmacological intervention in diseases such as depression, prostate dysfunction, leukaemia, inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.
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PMID:What pharmacologists can learn from recent advances in estrogen signalling. 1296 73

The Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways regulate proliferation and prevent apoptosis, and their altered expression is commonly observed in human cancer due to the high mutation frequency of upstream regulators. In this study, the effects of Raf, MEK, and PI3K inhibitors on conditionally transformed hematopoietic cells were examined to determine if they would display cytotoxic differences between cytokine- and oncogene-mediated proliferation, and whether inhibition of both pathways was a more effective means to induce apoptosis. In the hematopoietic model system employed, proliferation was conditional and occurred when either interleukin-3 (IL-3) or the estrogen receptor antagonist 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT), which activates the conditional oncoprotein (DeltaRaf:ER), were provided. Thus, upon the addition of the signal transduction inhibitors and either IL-3 or 4HT, the effects of these drugs were examined in the same cell under 'cytokine-' and 'oncoprotein' -mediated growth conditions avoiding genetic and differentiation stage heterogeneity. At drug concentrations around the reported IC(50) for the Raf inhibitor L-779,450, it suppressed DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in hematopoietic FDC-P1 cells transformed to grow in response to either Raf-1 or A-Raf (FD/DeltaRaf-1:ER and FD/DeltaA-Raf:ER), but it displayed less effects on DNA synthesis and apoptosis when the cells were cultured in IL-3. This Raf inhibitor was less effective on B-Raf- or MEK1-responsive cells, demonstrating the specificity of this drug. MEK inhibitors also suppressed DNA synthesis and induced apoptosis in Raf-responsive cells and the effects were more significant on Raf-responsive compared to cytokine-mediated growth. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 suppressed Raf-mediated growth, indicating that part of the long-term proliferative effects mediated by Raf are PI3K dependent. Simultaneous inhibition of both Raf/MEK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways proved a more efficient means to suppress DNA synthesis and induce apoptosis at lower drug concentrations.
Leukemia 2003 Sep
PMID:Differential effects of kinase cascade inhibitors on neoplastic and cytokine-mediated cell proliferation. 1297 Jul 75

SHP-1 has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor gene for several cancers. The expression of SHP-1 protein is diminished or abolished in most leukemia and lymphoma cell lines and tissues, and in some non-hematopoietic cancer cell lines, such as estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer cell lines and some colorectal cancer cell lines. However, we do not know whether the reduced SHP-1 expression is the cause of cancer diseases or the secondary effect of cancer developments. Here, we first demonstrate that SHP-1 has general tumor suppressing function in SHP-1 transfected cell lines. Transfected SHP-1 inhibits the growth of three lymphoma/leukemia cell lines (Ramos, H9, Jurkat) and one breast cancer cell line (HTB26). We also demonstrate a possible molecular mechanism for the tumor suppressing function of SHP-1: SHP-1 inhibits cell growth partly by negative regulation of activated JAK kinase. In addition, we find, for the first time, that SHP-1 down-regulates the level of TYK2 kinase in H9 cells and of JAK1 kinase in HTB26 cells, by accelerating their degradation. The SHP-1 accelerated degradation of JAK1 kinase in HTB26 cells was blocked with the treatment of MG132, a specific inhibitor for proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Our data suggest a new function of SHP-1 in the regulation of proteasome-mediated degradation pathway.
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PMID:SHP-1 suppresses cancer cell growth by promoting degradation of JAK kinases. 1462 62

GRP78 is a stress-inducible chaperone protein with antiapoptotic properties that is overexpressed in transformed cells and cells under glucose starvation, acidosis, and hypoxic conditions that persist in poorly vascularized tumors. Previously we demonstrated that the Grp78 promoter is able to eradicate tumors using murine cells in immunocompetent models by driving expression of the HSV-tk suicide gene. Here, through the use of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, we provide direct evidence of spontaneous in vivo activation of the HSV-tk suicide gene driven by the Grp78 promoter in growing tumors and its activation by photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a controlled manner. In this report, we evaluated whether this promoter can be applied to human cancer therapy. We observed that the Grp78 promoter, in the context of a retroviral vector, was highly activated by stress and PDT in three different types of human breast carcinomas independent of estrogen receptor and p53. Complete regression of sizable human tumors was observed after prodrug ganciclovir treatment of the xenografts in immunodeficient mice. In addition, the Grp78 promoter-driven suicide gene is strongly expressed in a variety of human tumors, including human osteosarcoma. In contrast, the activity of the murine leukemia virus (MuLV) long-terminal repeat (LTR) promoter varied greatly in different human breast carcinoma cell lines, and in some cases, stress resulted in partial suppression of the LTR promoter activity. In transgenic mouse models, the Grp78 promoter-driven transgene is largely quiescent in major adult organs but highly active in cancer cells and cancer-associated macrophages, which can diffuse to tumor necrotic sites devoid of vascular supply and facilitate cell-based therapy. Thus, transcriptional control through the use of the Grp78 promoter offers multiple novel approaches for human cancer gene therapy.
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PMID:Spontaneous and controllable activation of suicide gene expression driven by the stress-inducible grp78 promoter resulting in eradication of sizable human tumors. 1521 14


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