Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027651 (tumor)
 685,946 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Alterations in the homeostasis of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by various forms of stress can lead to the accumulation of unfolded proteins and protein aggregates that are detrimental to cell survival. Eukaryotic cells can adapt to ER stress by activating specific signaling pathways and mechanisms, whose primary purpose is to limit the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. We recently reported a novel mechanism of cell adaptation to ER stress, which proceeds through the inhibition of the apoptotic function of the tumor suppressor p53 (Genes Dev 2004;18:261-277). We found that ER stress increases the cytoplasmic localization and enhances the destabilization of the tumor suppressor. This process requires the phosphorylation of p53 at serine 315 and serine 376, which is mediated by the activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta). ER stress also prevents p53 activation and p53-mediated apoptosis in response to DNA damage. These findings demonstrate that ER stress utilizes mechanisms that are distinct from other types of stress to modulate p53. In addition, they reveal that ER stress and nuclear DNA damage can induce inter-organellar cross-talk pathways targeting p53 with important implications for the treatment of tumors with dysfunctional ER.
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PMID:Control of tumor suppressor p53 function by endoplasmic reticulum stress. 1510 22

The beta-catenin, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene products interact to form a network that influences the rate of cell proliferation. Medulloblastoma occurs as part of Turcot's syndrome and patients with Turcot's syndrome, who develop medulloblastomas, have been shown to harbor germline APC mutations. While APC mutations have been investigated and not identified in sporadic medulloblastomas, the status of the beta-catenin and GSK-3beta genes has not been evaluated in this tumor. This study shows that 3 of 67 medulloblastomas harbor beta-catenin mutations, each of which converts a GSK-3beta phosphorylation site from serine to cysteine. The beta-catenin mutation seen in the tumors was not present in matched constitutional DNA in the 2 cases where matched normal DNA was available. A loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis of 32 medulloblastomas with paired normal DNA samples was performed with 4 microsatellite markers flanking the GSK-3beta locus; LOH with at least one marker was identified in 7 tumors. Sequencing of the remaining GSK-3beta allele in these cases failed to identify any mutations. Taken together, these data suggest that activating mutations in the beta-catenin gene may be involved in the development of a subset of medulloblastomas. The GSK-3beta gene does not appear to be a target for inactivation in this tumor.
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PMID:Control of beta-catenin/Tcf-directed transcription in medulloblastoma. 1517 13

Studies of colon carcinogenesis in animal models are very useful to elucidate mechanisms and provide pointers to potential prevention approaches in the human situation. In the rat colon carcinogenesis model induced by azoxymethane (AOM), we have documented frequent mutations of specific genes. K-ras mutations at codon 12 were found to be frequent in hyperplastic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and large adenocarcinomas. In addition, mutations of the beta-catenin gene in its GSK-3beta phosphorylation consensus motif could also be identified in many adenomas and adenocarcinomas, and altered cellular localization of beta-catenin protein was observed in all of the dysplastic ACF, adenomas and adenocarcinomas examined, indicating that activation of Wnt signaling by accumulation of beta-catenin is a major mechanism in the AOM-induced colon carcinogenesis model. Frequent gene mutations of beta-catenin and altered cellular localization of the protein are also features of AOM-induced colon tumors in mice. Expression of enzymes associated with inflammation, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the inducible type of cyclooxygenase (COX), COX-2, is increased in AOM-induced rat colon carcinogenesis, and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins is considered to be involved in colon tumor development. We have demonstrated that increased expression of iNOS is an early and important event occurring in step with beta-catenin alteration in rat colon carcinogenesis. Activation of K-ras was also found to be involved in up-regulation of iNOS in the presence of inflammatory stimuli. In addition, expression levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) receptors may be altered in colon cancers. For example, the EP(1) and EP(2) subtypes have been shown to be up-regulated and EP(3) down-regulated in AOM-induced colon cancers in rats and mice. EP(1) and EP(4) appear to be involved in ACF formation, while alteration in EP(2) and EP(3) is considered to contribute to later steps in colon carcinogenesis. Increased expression of some other gene products, such as the targets of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, have also been reported. The further accumulation of data with this chemically-induced animal colon carcinogenesis model should provide useful information for understanding colorectal neoplasia in man.
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PMID:Gene mutations and altered gene expression in azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis in rodents. 1518 26

The enhancement of cell proliferation and promotion of cell survival via the inhibition of apoptosis is thought to be the key to the initiation and progression of cancers. The phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt is an important survival signal pathway that has been shown to be crucial in the regulation of balance between pro-apoptotic and survival (anti-apoptotic) signal. In this study, the expression of phosphorylated Akt at Thr308 and Ser473, BCL-2-antagonist of cell death (BAD) at Ser136 and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) at Ser9 in 47 paraffin-embedded human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) tissues were determined by immunohistochemical staining in order to dissect the alterations in the signal transduction pathways in CRC. Our results showed that there was a significant increase in the expression of these biomolecules in CRC tissues compared to the apparently normal adjacent tissues. The frequency of increased expression in tumor colonic mucosa were as follows: p-Akt1/2/3 (Thr308) = 16/47 (34%); p-Akt1 (Ser473) = 21/47 (44.7%); phospho-BAD (p-BAD) Ser136 = 27/47 (57.4%) and phospho-GSK-3beta (p-GSK-3beta) = 21/47 (44.7%). Analysis of the total p-Akt1 (Ser473), p-Akt1/2/3 (Thr308), p-GSK-3beta (Ser9) and p-BAD (Ser136) score found that there was a statistically significant relationship with each other. A statistically significant positive linear relationship was found between total p-Akt (Ser473) score and total p-GSK-3beta (Ser9) score as well as with total p-BAD (Ser136) score. On the other hand, total p-Akt1/2/3 (Thr308) scores had a statistically significant positive linear relationship with p-GSK-3beta (Ser9) only. The Akt targets, p-GSK-3beta (Ser9) and p-BAD (Ser136) were positively correlated to each other. There was no significant correlation between clinico-pathological data with total p-Akt1 (Ser473), p-Akt1/2/3 (Thr308), p-GSK-3beta (Ser9) and p-BAD (Ser136) score except for age. The total scores of p-GSK-3beta were found to be higher in patients in the age group of greater than 60. This is the first report of p-Akt1/2/3 (Thr308) and p-BAD (Ser136) expression in primary colorectal tumor tissue. Our data further supports the role of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways in the pathogenesis of CRC and contributes to the identification of target molecules in the signal transduction pathway for cancer therapy.
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PMID:Positive correlation between overexpression of phospho-BAD with phosphorylated Akt at serine 473 but not threonine 308 in colorectal carcinoma. 1518 29

We used primary cultures of cortical neurons to examine the relationship between beta-amyloid toxicity and hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein, the biochemical substrate for neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's brain. Exposure of the cultures to beta-amyloid peptide (betaAP) induced the expression of the secreted glycoprotein Dickkopf-1 (DKK1). DKK1 negatively modulates the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, thus activating the tau-phosphorylating enzyme glycogen synthase kinase-3beta. DKK1 was induced at late times after betaAP exposure, and its expression was dependent on the tumor suppressing protein p53. The antisense induced knock-down of DKK1 attenuated neuronal apoptosis but nearly abolished the increase in tau phosphorylation in betaAP-treated neurons. DKK1 was also expressed by degenerating neurons in the brain from Alzheimer's patients, where it colocalized with neurofibrillary tangles and distrophic neurites. We conclude that induction of DKK1 contributes to the pathological cascade triggered by beta-amyloid and is critically involved in the process of tau phosphorylation.
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PMID:Induction of Dickkopf-1, a negative modulator of the Wnt pathway, is associated with neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's brain. 1522 49

Our aim was to study the anticancer effect of the novel immunomodulator FTY720 in vitro and in vivo by investigation of cell cycle entry, cell cycle regulation, cell survival and apoptosis pathways. Three hepatoma cell lines with different p53 statuses (HepG2, Huh-7 and Hep3B) and one non-tumorigenic immortalized liver cell line (MIHA) were used for an in vitro study. The in vivo effects of FTY720 were evaluated in a nude mouse tumor model. Cell cycle distribution and cell cycle regulator proteins p27(Kip1) and cyclin D1, together with the PI3-K/Akt pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinases and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, were evaluated. FTY720 selectively induced cell apoptosis in hepatoma cell lines with overexpression of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9, but the same phenomena were not found in MIHA cells. FTY720 induced Akt dephosphorylation at Ser473 mediated by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibition. Dephosphorylation led to down-regulation of p42/p44 and dephosphorylation of Forkhead transcription factor and GSK-3beta and, subsequently, up-regulation of p27(Kip1) and down-regulation of cyclin D1. In our in vivo model FTY720 induced apoptosis of tumor cells by down-regulation of the Akt pathway. FTY720 suppressed tumor growth without notable side-effects in normal liver. In conclusion, FTY720 is a novel anticancer agent that induces apoptosis of hepatoma cell lines both in vitro and in vivo through PI3-K-mediated Akt dephosphorylation in a p53-independent manner.
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PMID:FTY720 induces apoptosis of human hepatoma cell lines through PI3-K-mediated Akt dephosphorylation. 1529 71

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK), bound to the cytoplasmic tails of integrin beta1, beta2, and beta3, is thought to signal through AKT and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) for survival and proliferation regulation. To determine the role of ILK in the cellular radiation response, stably transfected A549 lung cancer cells overexpressing either wild-type (ILK-wk) or hyperactive ILK (ILK-hk) were studied for survival, signaling, proliferation, and examined in immunofluorescence and adhesion assays. Strong radiosensitization was observed in ILK-hk in contrast to ILK-wk mutants and empty vector controls. ILK small interfering RNA transfections showed radioresistance similar to irradiation on fibronectin. AKT, GSK-3beta-cyclin D1, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1/2-mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase signaling was dysregulated in irradiated ILK-hk mutants. Immunofluorescence stainings of ILK-hk cells indicated disturbed ILK and paxillin membrane localization with concomitant decrease in focal adhesions. Profound ILK-hk-dependent changes in morphology were characterized by spindle-like cell shape, cell size reduction, increased cell protrusions, strong formation of membranous f-actin rings, and significantly reduced adhesion to matrix proteins. Additionally, ILK-wk and ILK-hk overexpression impaired beta1-integrin clustering and protein Tyr-phosphorylation. Taken together, the data provide evidence that ILK signaling modulates the cellular radiation response involving diverse signaling pathways and through changes in f-actin-based processes such as focal adhesion formation, cell adhesion, and spreading. Identification of ILK and its signaling partners as potential targets for tumor radiosensitization might promote innovative anticancer strategies by providing insight into the mechanism of cell adhesion-mediated radioresistance, oncogenic transformation, and tumor growth and spread.
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PMID:Overexpression of hyperactive integrin-linked kinase leads to increased cellular radiosensitivity. 1531 8

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) facilitates migration and invasion of epithelial tumor cells. Cripto-1 (CR-1), a member of the epidermal growth factor-CFC protein family increases migration of cells in vitro. Here the expression of molecular markers and signaling molecules characteristic of EMT were assessed in mammary gland hyperplasias and tumors from mice expressing the human CR-1 transgene by the MMTV promoter (MMTV-CR-1) and in mouse mammary epithelial cell line HC-11 overexpressing CR-1 (HC-11/CR-1). Western blot analysis showed decreased expression of E-cadherin in MMTV-CR-1 tumors and in HC-11/CR-1 cells. The expression of N-cadherin, vimentin, cyclin-D1, and of the zinc-finger transcription factor, snail, was increased in MMTV-CR-1 tumors. Increased snail mRNA was also found in HC-11/CR-1 cells. Expression of phosphorylated (P)-c-Src, P-focal adhesion kinase (FAK), P-Akt, P-glycogen synthease kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta), dephosphorylated (DP)-beta-catenin, and various integrins such as, alpha 3, alpha v, beta 1, beta 3, and beta 4 was also increased in MMTV-CR-1 tumors. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for vimentin, N-cadherin, cyclin-D1, smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, snail, and beta-catenin in MMTV-CR-1 tumor sections. HC-11/CR-1 cells treated with the c-Src inhibitor PP2 reduced the expression of P-c-Src and of P-FAK, P-Akt, P-GSK-3beta, DP-beta-catenin all known to be activated by c-Src. Migration of HC-11/CR-1 cells was also reduced by PP2 treatment. These results suggest that CR-1 may play a significant role in promoting the increased expression of markers and signaling molecules associated with EMT.
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PMID:Epithelial mesenchymal transition is a characteristic of hyperplasias and tumors in mammary gland from MMTV-Cripto-1 transgenic mice. 1533 61

Inappropriate activation of the Wnt/APC/beta-catenin signaling pathways plays a critical role at early stages in a variety of human cancers. However, their respective implication in tumor cell invasion is still hypothetical. Here, we show that two activators of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin transcription pathway, namely Dvl-2, the Axin 501-560 fragment binding glycogen synthase kinase -3beta (GSK-3beta), and the negative Wnt regulator wt-Axin did not alter cell invasion into type I collagen. In addition, both Dvl-2 and Axin 501-560 exerted a permissive action on the proinvasive activity of HGF and intestinal trefoil factor. Upstream activation of Wnt signaling by the Wnt-2 and Wnt-3a ligands, stable overexpression of Wnt-2, as well as GSK-3beta inhibition by lithium, SB216763, and GSK-3beta dominant negative forms (K85R and R96E) conferred the invasive phenotype through several proinvasive pathways. Induction of the matrix metalloprotease MMP-7 (matrilysin) gene and protein by Wnt-2 was abolished by inactivation of the AP-1 binding site in the promoter. Accordingly, invasion induced by Wnt-2 was prevented by soluble FRP-3 and FRP-1, sequestration of Gbetagamma subunits, depletion of the GSK-3beta protein by RNA interference, the c-Jun dominant negative mutant TAM67 and was not reversed by wt-Axin. Thus, the proinvasive activity of Wnt-2 is mediated by a noncanonical Wnt pathway using GSK-3beta and the AP-1 oncogene. Our data provide a potential clue for our understanding of the action and crosstalk between Wnt activators and other proinvasive pathways, in relation with matrix substrates and proteases in human cancers.
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PMID:The proinvasive activity of Wnt-2 is mediated through a noncanonical Wnt pathway coupled to GSK-3beta and c-Jun/AP-1 signaling. 1550 71

GSK-3beta-dependent phosphorylation of cyclin D1 at a conserved C-terminal residue, Thr-286, promotes CRM1-dependent cyclin D1 nuclear export. Herein, we have identified a short stretch of residues adjacent to Thr-286 that mediates CRM1 association and thus cyclin D1 nuclear export. We found that disruption of this hydrophobic patch, stretching from amino acids 290 to 295 within cyclin D1, results in constitutively nuclear cyclin D1-CDK4 complexes with an increased propensity to potentiate transformation of murine fibroblasts. Our data support a model wherein deregulation of cyclin D1 nuclear export might contribute to human neoplastic growth.
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PMID:C-terminal sequences direct cyclin D1-CRM1 binding. 1551 23


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