UMLS:C0025202 - FACTA Search

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Query: UMLS:C0025202 (melanoma)
69,561 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Muc4 (also called sialomucin complex), the rat homolog of human MUC4, is a heterodimeric glycoprotein complex that consists of a peripheral O-glycosylated mucin subunit, ASGP-1, tightly but noncovalently linked to a N-glycosylated transmembrane subunit, ASGP-2. The complex is expressed in a number of normal, vulnerable epithelial tissues, including mammary gland, uterus, colon, cornea and trachea. Muc4/SMC is also overexpressed or aberrantly expressed on a number of human tumors including breast tumors. Overexpression of Muc4/SMC has been shown to block cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, protect tumor cells from immune surveillance and promote metastasis. In addition, as a ligand for ErbB2, Muc4/SMC can potentiate phosphorylation of ErbB2 and potentially alter signals generated from this receptor. Using A375 human melanoma cells and MCF7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells stably transfected with tetracycline regulatable Muc4, we have investigated whether overexpression of Muc4/SMC can repress antibody binding to cell surface-expressed ErbB2. Overexpression of Muc4/SMC does not affect the level of ErbB2 expression in either cell line, but it does reduce binding of a number of anti-ErbB2 antibodies, including Herceptin. Interestingly, overexpression of ErbB2 does not block binding of other unrelated antibodies of the same isotype, suggesting that the reduction in ErbB2 antibody binding is due to complex formation of Muc4/SMC and ErbB2. Furthermore, capping of Muc4/SMC with anti-Muc4/SMC antibodies reduces antibody binding to ErbB2 instead of increasing binding, again suggesting that reduced antibody binding to ErbB2 is due to steric hindrance from complex formation of Muc4/SMC and ErbB2. Thus, overexpression of Muc4/SMC on tumor cells may have both prognostic and therapeutic relevance.
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PMID:Rat Muc4 (sialomucin complex) reduces binding of anti-ErbB2 antibodies to tumor cell surfaces, a potential mechanism for herceptin resistance. 1211 78

Immunotherapy (biological therapy) comprises such things as active specific immunotherapy ("cancer vaccines"), nonspecific immunostimulation with cytokines, and the inhibition of suppressor influences exerted or elicited by the tumor. Just as cancer chemotherapy began with the use of single agents and evolved into combination therapy, so immunotherapeutic agents have been combined with each other and with chemotherapy. The alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan; CY) has been used for many years to inhibit tumor-derived suppressor influences in rodents, and has been exploited for the same use in humans. Combinations of CY and cancer vaccines such as autologous tumor cells, Melacine, large multivalent immunogen (LMI), and Theratope have been tested with some success in humans for more than a decade. In this use, the CY is a biological response modifier rather than an antitumor agent. Delayed treatment with CY in treating mouse plasmacytomas has proved more effective than immediate treatment, probably because it allows immunity to develop in the host. CY and moderate-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) have also been a useful regimen in treating human melanomas. IL-2 is itself a useful component of combination immunotherapy, such as with melanoma peptide vaccines, or with interferon-alfa-2b, (IFN-a), as a dual combination or part of a biochemotherapy regimen. IL-2 and histamine, to block reactive oxygen species, may be a more useful combination for treatment of liver metastases of melanoma than IL-2 alone. In this combination, the histamine may permit continued, unimpeded activity of cytolytic T lymphocytes. Several different combinations of drugs and biological agents have been used as biochemotherapy for melanoma, but although there are higher immediate response rates, the long-range survival benefits have been marginal, not justifying the severe toxicity. Combinations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and IFN-a or levamisole have had efficacy in colon and head and neck cancers, but here the biological agents acted as biochemical modulators. Trials of antibodies and chemotherapy have been limited. It appears that trastuzumab (Herceptin) potentiates antitumor therapy in breast cancer and also increases the cardiotoxicity of those regimens.
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PMID:Immunotherapy as part of combinations for the treatment of cancer. 1286 Jan 62

Immunotherapy (biological therapy) comprises such things as active specific immunotherapy ("cancer vaccines"), nonspecific immunostimulation with cytokines, and the inhibition of suppressor influences exerted or elicited by the tumor. Just as cancer chemotherapy began with the use of single agents and evolved into combination therapy, so immunotherapeutic agents have been combined with each other and with chemotherapy. The alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan; CYC) has been used for many years to inhibit tumor-derived suppressor influences in rodents, and has been exploited for the same use in humans. Combinations of CYC and cancer vaccines such as autologous tumor cells, Melacine, large multivalent immunogen (LMI), and Theratope have been tested with some success in humans for more than a decade. In this use, the CYC is a biological response modifier rather than an antitumor agent, intended to inhibit suppressor influences. CYC and low- to moderate-dose IL-2 has also been a useful regimen in treating human melanomas. IL-2 is itself a useful component of combination immunotherapy, such as with melanoma peptide vaccines, or with interferon alpha-2b, (IFN-alpha), as a dual combination or part of a biochemotherapy regimen. Several different combinations of drugs and biological agents have been used as biochemotherapy for melanoma, but although there are higher response (regression) rates the long-range survival benefits have been marginal, not justifying the severe toxicity. Combinations of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and IFN-alpha or levamisole have had efficacy in colon and head and neck cancers, but here the biological agents have been biochemical modulators, not immunotherapy. Although experience with combinations of monoclonal antibodies and chemotherapy has been limited, it appears that trastuzumab (Herceptin) potentiates antitumor therapy in breast cancer but also increases the cardiotoxicity of those regimens.
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PMID:Combinations of anticancer drugs and immunotherapy. 1294

We have prepared the map of regional distribution of cervical cancer in Hungary. Serial HPV genotyping of sexual partners provided evidence for the sexually transmitted infections. Molecular epidemiology studies revealed activating c-kit mutation in bilateral testicular cancers. A cost-effective molecular staging method was introduced to the management of breast cancer patients. Genomic profiling identified the gene signature of Herceptin and taxane sensitivity of breast cancer. In colon cancer patients we have determined the mutational spectrum of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in Hungary. The prognostic power of SHMT and MTHFR polymorphism was determined in colorectal cancer patients. In head and neck cancer the gene signature of cisplatin sensitivity and the EGFR polymorphism was determined. We have introduced a cost-effective in vitro assay to determine the drug resistance of pediatric leukemias. The prognostic power of N-myc genotyping was determined in neuroblastoma patients. A phase I trial for gene therapy of brain cancer was started by using a GM-CSF adenoviral vector system. Using global genomic approaches the gene signature of malignant melanoma and its metastatic disease was determined. We have found that Ca-channel blockers and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors are effective in preclinical human melanoma models in breaking the apoptosis resistance of this tumor.
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PMID:[Activity of the National Oncology R&D Consortium in 2004]. 1590 26

Current therapies used in the treatment of breast cancer are limited by systemic toxicity, rapid drug metabolism and intrinsic and acquired drug resistance. We have previously shown that adenoviral-mediated transfer of the melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7) elicits growth inhibition and apoptosis in various tumor types. Here, we evaluate the effects of Ad-mda7, alone and in combination with other therapies, against a panel of nine breast tumor cell lines and their normal counterparts; we report selective Ad-mda7-mediated p53-independent growth inhibition, G2/M cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. In vivo, Ad-mda7 induced p53-independent tumor growth inhibition (P<0.004) in multiple xenograft models. We then evaluated the combination of Ad-mda7 with agents commonly used to treat breast cancer: radiotherapy (XRT), Tamoxifen, Taxotere, Adriamycin, and Herceptin. These agents exhibit diverse modes of action, including formation of bulky adducts, inhibition of DNA replication (Adriamycin, XRT), damage to microtubules (Taxotere), nonsteroidal estrogen antagonists (Tamoxifen), or Her2/neu receptor blockade (Herceptin). Treated with conventional anticancer drugs or radiation, MDA-7-expressing cells display additive or synergistic cytotoxicity and apoptosis that correlates with decreased BCL-2 expression and BAX upregulation. In vivo, animals that received Ad-mda7 and XRT underwent significant reduction of tumor growth (P<0.002). This is the first report of the synergistic effects of Ad-mda7 combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy on human breast carcinoma cells.
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PMID:mda-7 gene transfer sensitizes breast carcinoma cells to chemotherapy, biologic therapies and radiotherapy: correlation with expression of bcl-2 family members. 1628 87

A novel radiation targeted therapy is investigated for HER-2 positive breast cancers. The proposed concept combines two known approaches, but never used together for the treatment of advanced, relapsed or metastasized HER-2 positive breast cancers. The proposed radiation binary targeted concept is based on the anti HER-2 monoclonal antibodies (MABs) that would be used as vehicles to transport the nontoxic agent to cancer cells. The anti HER-2 MABs have been successful in targeting HER-2 positive breast cancers with high affinity. The proposed concept would utilize a neutral nontoxic boron-10 predicting that anti HER-2 MABs would assure its selective delivery to cancer cells. MABs against HER-2 have been a widely researched strategy in the clinical setting. The most promising antibody is Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Targeting HER-2 with the MAB Trastuzumab has been proven to be a successful strategy in inducing tumour regression and improving patient survival. Unfortunately, these tumours become resistant and afflicted women succumb to breast cancer. In the proposed concept, when the tumour region is loaded with boron-10 it is irradiated with neutrons (treatment used for head and neck cancers, melanoma and glioblastoma for over 40 years in Japan and Europe). The irradiation process takes less than an hour producing minimal side effects. This paper summarizes our recent theoretical assessments of radiation binary targeted therapy for HER-2 positive breast cancers on: the effective drug delivery mechanism, the numerical model to evaluate the targeted radiation delivery and the survey study to find the neutron facility in the world that might be capable of producing the radiation effect as needed. A novel method of drug delivery utilizing Trastuzumab is described, followed by the description of a computational Monte Carlo based breast model used to determine radiation dose distributions. The total flux and neutron energy spectra of five currently available neutron irradiation treatment facilities are examined for this application. The tumour boron concentrations and tumour to healthy tissue concentration ratios required to deliver 50 Gy-Eq to the tumour without exceeding 18 Gy-Eq in the skin are determined, as well as the associated therapeutic ratios. Discussion is provided to address the future research direction for assessing the feasibility of the proposed concept.
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PMID:Radiation binary targeted therapy for HER-2 positive breast cancers: assumptions, theoretical assessment and future directions. 1651 Sep 50

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7 (mda-7) is a member of the interleukin-10 cytokine family and a novel tumor suppressor gene. Adenoviral-mediated mda-7 (Ad-mda7) gene transfer has tumor-specific growth inhibitory and proapoptotic effects in a broad spectrum of cancer cells. In breast cancer cells, adenoviral-induced mda-7 expression triggers antiproliferative effects by downregulation of survival signals, such as Bcl-2 and Akt. The anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her-2) monoclonal antibody, Trastuzumab (Herceptin), increases the sensitivity of Her-2/neu-overexpressing breast cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy. In this study, we evaluate the effects of treatment with Ad-mda7 and Herceptin combination therapy in a panel of Her-2/neu-overexpressing cell lines, and in established tumors in nude mice. Compared to individual treatments, the combination of Ad-mda7 and Herceptin elicits supra-additive antitumor activity in Her-2/neu-overexpressing tumor cell lines: increased cell death, cell cycle block and apoptosis. The Ad-mda7 and Herceptin interaction was shown to be synergistic by isobologram analysis. Ad-mda7 does not alter cell surface Her-2/neu levels, but the combination of Ad-mda7+Herceptin results in increased expression of cell surface E-cadherin with concomitant translocation of beta-catenin from the nucleus to the cell membrane. In vivo, the combination of Ad-mda7 and Herceptin showed significantly increased antitumor activity (P<0.003) against Her-2/neu-overexpressing tumors. These data suggest that the combination of Ad-mda7 with Herceptin may be a novel therapy for breast cancer patients whose tumors overexpress Her-2/neu. The observed synergistic effect may improve treatment options for otherwise poorly responsive, Her-2-positive, breast cancer patients.
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PMID:Combinatorial synergy induced by adenoviral-mediated mda-7 and Herceptin in Her-2+ breast cancer cells. 1678 43

Hereditary cancer syndromes provide excellent models for molecular genetic studies that may aid significantly in case detection, surveillance, and management. Ultimately, molecularly based designer pharmaceuticals may emerge from this research, such as the case of trastuzumab (Herceptin) in HER-2/neu positive breast cancer, and imatinib (Gleevec) in chronic myelocytic leukemia and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Importantly, these molecular findings may fuel significant clues to cancer control. This background is mentioned since surveillance and management of pancreatic cancer, a major concern of this manuscript, has been uniformly unsuccessful as evidenced by the close correspondence between its incidence and its mortality. Yet knowledge about its genetic and molecular pathology will hopefully ameliorate this vexing problem. One molecular genetic clue is the recently identified palladin mutation in two pancreatic cancer prone families. However, caution must be used toward the palladin mutation, as several recent publications have questioned its significance as a pancreatic cancer causing mutation. We provide a concise description of pancreatic cancer in concert with malignant melanoma in the familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome as a potential preventive model. This knowledge should help clinicians and basic scientists seize on the opportunity to develop more sensitive and specific screening and management programs in this disease; while a relatively small subset of pancreatic cancer may be readily identifiable through its FAMMM phenotype, coupled with its CDKN2A mutation, this hereditary disorder, given a keen knowledge of its natural history and molecular genetics, may prove to be an effective clinical preventive model.
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PMID:Pancreatic cancer and the FAMMM syndrome. 1799 82

Immunotherapy for cancer, which uses the body's immune system to fight the disease, is an increasingly active area of research. Successful therapies such as trastuzamab (Herceptin) for breast cancer and cytokine therapy for renal cell carcinoma and melanoma have validated the field as a viable area of investigation. However, the goal of developing an effective cancer vaccine has not yet been achieved. The military's Cancer Vaccine Development Program (CVDP) is collaborating with other military programs, along with civilian institutions, to advance scientific research surrounding cancer vaccines.
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PMID:Cancer Vaccine Development Program collaborations. 2363 81

Glycoprotein nonmetastatic B (GPNMB) is a potential oncogene that is particularly expressed in melanoma and breast cancer (BC). To clarify its clinical significance in BC, we measured serum GPNMB in vivo and investigated its cross talk with human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2). GPNMB was expressed in four of six breast cell lines (SK-BR-3, BT-474, MDA-MD-231, and MDA-MD-157), two of six colorectal cell lines, and two of four gastric cancer (GC) cell lines. We established a GPNMB quantification system using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for these cell lines. We measured serum GPNMB in vivo in 162 consecutive BC patients and in 88 controls (50 colorectal cancer [CC] and 38 GC patients). The GPNMB concentration in BC, CC and GC was 8.163, 5.751 and 6.55 ng/mL, respectively. The GPNMB level was significantly higher in BC patients than in CC patients (P = 0.021). The HER2-rich subtype of BC patients had significantly higher GPNMB levels than other subtypes (vs. Luminal; P = 0.038; vs. DCIS; P = 0.0195). These high GPNMB levels decreased after treatment (surgery/chemotherapy). Next, we examined the relationship between GPNMB and HER2 in vitro using SK-BR3 and BT-474 (HER2-positive/GPNMB-positive) cells. GPNMB depletion by small interfering RNA (siRNA) increased both HER2 expression and phosphorylation. Trastuzumab (Tra) in combination with docetaxel promoted cell growth inhibition, and treatment with Tra or an Extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) inhibitor enhanced GPNMB expression. These results indicate that GPNMB might be a surrogate marker for BC and may cross talk with the HER2 signal pathway. GPNMB may therefore emerge as an important player in anti-HER2 therapy.
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PMID:Clinical significance of glycoprotein nonmetastatic B and its association with HER2 in breast cancer. 2607 87

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