Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0035412 (rhabdomyosarcoma)
6,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Topotecan (Hycamtin) is a promising new topoisomerase I-targeting anticancer agent that first entered clinical trials in 1989 under National Cancer Institute sponsorship in collaboration with SmithKline Beecham. In 1996, it was approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for previously treated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. For these patients, topotecan provides another therapeutic option upon disease progression after initial platinum-based chemotherapy. Topotecan also has activity in other tumor types, including small-cell lung cancer, hematologic malignancies and pediatric neuroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Topotecan combination regimens with paclitaxel (Taxol), etoposide (VePesid), cisplatin (Platinol), and cytarabine and with other treatment modalities, such as radiation therapy, are in development. Studies evaluating topotecan combinations as initial treatment in such diseases as ovarian and small-cell lung carcinoma are also underway. It is hoped that earlier use of topotecan, with its novel mechanism of action, will prolong survival and increase cure rates in patients with these chemoresponsive tumors. Whether or not such hopes are realized, these important studies will help define the role of topotecan in cancer chemotherapy.
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PMID:Clinical status and optimal use of topotecan. 939 64

The objective of the present work is to critically summarize published studies and reassess the state of knowledge on a highly controversial topic: the potential association between prenatal exposure to passive smoking as well as maternal active smoking and postnatal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and enhanced incidence of childhood cancer. Elements to be considered include the substantial proportion of pregnant women who remain smokers, the widespread nature of exposure to ETS during pregnancy as well as during childhood, the known toxicology of tobacco smoke, and in particular sidestream smoke, characterized by a rich carcinogen content, the specific metabolism of foetuses and new-borns and finally the amount of epidemiologic data already available. We conducted a thorough review of the literature to identify studies either exclusively dealing with the effects of passive smoking on the occurrence of childhood cancers or more generally etiologic studies of cancer, be it overall or site-specific. We identified close to 50 publications presenting pertinent results from epidemiological investigations and about 50 more on mechanisms and metabolism, smoking in pregnancy and exposure to ETS as well as selected reviews and commentaries. Collaborative epidemiological studies were conducted in the United Kingdom (UK), USA, Sweden, Netherlands and internationally (France, Italy). In addition, other studies were also available from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Denmark and People's Republic of China. The vast majority were case-control studies dealing with all cancers, leukaemia and lymphomas, central nervous system (CNS) tumours, Wilms' tumour, retinoblastoma, neuroblastoma, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, bone and soft tissues tumours, germ cell tumours, as well as specific histological types of leukaemias, lymphomas or CNS tumours. No strong association between maternal smoking in pregnancy and/or exposure to ETS and childhood cancer is found. Yet, several studies found slightly increased relative risks, generally smaller than 1.5, i.e. the order of magnitude associated with some recognized hazards of exposure to ETS (1.2 to 1.3 for adult lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases). Tumours most often found associated with maternal smoking in pregnancy or ETS exposure are childhood brain tumours and leukaemia-lymphoma, with risks up to two or greater in selected studies. In a few studies, risks associated with paternal smoking are higher than the maternal ones. This evidence from human studies coupled with demonstration of genotoxic effects on the foetus of exposure to metabolites of tobacco smoke, and demonstrable presence of adducts should lead to strong recommendations aiming at fully protecting foetuses, new-borns and infants from tobacco smoke.
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PMID:From in utero and childhood exposure to parental smoking to childhood cancer: a possible link and the need for action. 1033 1

The MYCN oncogene encodes a phosphoprotein that acts as a transcription factor and is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in normal as well as in cancer cells.MYCN amplification and expression have been reported in various tumours, including neuroblastoma and lung cancer, but little is known about its expression in human rhabdomyosarcoma. MYCN expression and amplification were studied in five alveolar and five embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and in 19 tumour biopsies. All the cell lines studied expressed MYCN RNA, as demonstrated by northern blot analysis and RT-PCR, but the oncogene was amplified in only one. Similarly, MYCN protein was detected in all cell lines by western blot analysis, with higher levels of expression in alveolar than in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cells. RT-PCR analysis of tumour samples demonstrated 18/19 cases positive for MYCN RNA. Although MYCN expression was higher in alveolar than in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines, no clear relationship between histology and level of MYCN expression could be established in this tumour series. These data suggest that MYCN expression is a common feature of rhabdomyosarcoma, independent of gene amplification and without a clear relationship with specific histological and clinical features.
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PMID:MYCN expression in human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and tumour samples. 1192 Jul 42

Human Forkhead-box (FOX) gene family consists of at least 43 members, including FOXA1, FOXA2, FOXA3, FOXB1, FOXC1, FOXC2, FOXD1, FOXD2, FOXD3, FOXD4, FOXD5 (FOXD4L1), FOXD6 (FOXD4L3), FOXE1, FOXE2, FOXE3, FOXF1, FOXF2, FOXG1 (FOXG1B), FOXH1, FOXI1, FOXJ1, FOXJ2, FOXJ3, FOXK1, FOXK2, FOXL1, FOXL2, FOXM1, FOXN1, FOXN2 (HTLF), FOXN3 (CHES1), FOXN4, FOXN5 (FOXR1), FOXN6 (FOXR2), FOXO1 (FOXO1A), FOXO2 (FOXO6), FOXO3 (FOXO3A), FOXO4 (MLLT7), FOXP1, FOXP2, FOXP3, FOXP4, and FOXQ1. FOXE3-FOXD2 (1p33), FOXQ1-FOXF2-FOXC1 (6p25.3), and FOXF1-FOXC2-FOXL1 (16q24.1) loci are FOX gene clusters within the human genome. Members of FOX subfamilies A-G, I-L and Q were grouped into class 1 FOX proteins, while members of FOX subfamilies H and M-P were grouped into class 2 FOX proteins. C-terminal basic region within the FOX domain was the common feature of class 1 FOX proteins. FOXH1 and FOXO1 mRNAs are expressed in human embryonic stem (ES) cells. FOXC1, FOXC2, FOXE1, FOXE3, FOXL2, FOXN1, FOXP2 and FOXP3 genes are mutated in human congenital disorders. FOXA1 gene is amplified and over-expressed in esophageal and lung cancer. FOXM1 gene is up-regulated in pancreatic cancer and basal cell carcinoma due to the transcriptional regulation by Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway. FOXO1 gene is fused to PAX3 or PAX7 genes in rhabdomyosarcoma. FOXO3 and FOXO4 genes are fused to MLL gene in hematological malignancies. Deregulation of FOX family genes leads to congenital disorders, diabetes mellitus, or carcinogenesis. Expression profiles, genetic alterations and epigenetic changes of FOX family genes as well as binding proteins and target genes of FOX family transcription factors should be comprehensively investigated to develop novel therapeutics and preventives for human diseases.
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PMID:Human FOX gene family (Review). 1549 44

The search for new structures in tumors by genomics and proteomics methods is a major goal in tumor biology and may lead to the detection of markers or antigens for the generation of tumor vaccines. The aim of this study was to identify proteins that have been predicted so far based upon their nucleic acid sequence only or show poor identity to known proteins in tumor cell lines. Cell lines of neuroblastoma, colorectal, cervix carcinoma, adenocarcinoma of the ovary, lung and breast cancer, promyelocytic leukaemia, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma and malignant melanoma were used. Cell lysates were run on 2D gel electrophoresis with subsequent in-gel digestion and MALDI-TOF-TOF analysis. A series of 10 hypothetical proteins (HPs) were observed and three of these proteins, hypothetical protein (Q9BTE6), CGI-83 protein (Q9Y392) and similar to CG11334 (Q9BV20), were so far described in tumors exclusively. The other seven proteins were already detected at the transcriptional level in normal and tumor cell lines or tissues. In conclusion, the three HPs observed in lung cancer and malignant melanoma may be candidates for development of tumor markers and generation of tumor vaccines.
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PMID:Detection of hypothetical proteins in 10 individual human tumor cell lines. 1568 Feb 40

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and is considered by young adults to be the illicit drug with the least risk. On the other hand, marijuana smoke contains several of the same carcinogens and co-carcinogens as the tar from tobacco, raising concerns that smoking of marijuana may be a risk factor for tobacco-related cancers. We reviewed two cohort studies and 14 case-control studies with assessment of the association of marijuana use and cancer risk. In the cohort studies, increased risks of lung or colorectal cancer due to marijuana smoking were not observed, but increased risks of prostate and cervical cancers among non-tobacco smokers, as well as adult-onset glioma among tobacco and non-tobacco smokers, were observed. The 14 case-control studies included four studies on head and neck cancers, two studies on lung cancer, two studies on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, one study on anal cancer, one study on penile cancer, and four studies on childhood cancers with assessment of parental exposures. Zhang and colleagues reported that marijuana use may increase risk of head and neck cancers in a hospital-based case-control study in the United States, with dose-response relations for both frequency and duration of use. However, Rosenblatt and co-workers reported no association between oral cancer and marijuana use in a population-based case-control study. An eightfold increase in risk among marijuana users was observed in a lung cancer study in Tunisia. However, there was no assessment of the dose response, and marijuana may have been mixed with tobacco. Parental marijuana use during gestation was associated with increased risks of childhood leukemia, astrocytoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma, but dose-response relations were not assessed. In summary, sufficient studies are not available to adequately evaluate marijuana impact on cancer risk. Several limitations of previous studies include possible underreporting where marijuana use is illegal, small sample sizes, and too few heavy marijuana users in the study sample. Recommendations for future studies are to (1) focus on tobacco-related cancer sites; (2) obtain detailed marijuana exposure assessment, including frequency, duration, and amount of personal use as well as mode of use (smoked in a cigarette, pipe, or bong; taken orally); (3) adjust for tobacco smoking and conduct analyses on nonusers of tobacco; and (4) conduct larger studies, meta-analyses, or pooled analyses to maximize statistical precision and investigate sources of differences in results. Despite the challenges, elucidation of the association between marijuana use and cancer risk is important in weighing the benefits and risks of medical marijuana use and to clarify the impact of marijuana use on public health.
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PMID:Epidemiologic review of marijuana use and cancer risk. 1605 89

Hedgehog, FGF, VEGF, and Notch signaling pathways network together for vascular remodeling during embryogenesis and carcinogenesis. HHIP1 (HHIP) is an endogenous antagonist for SHH, IHH, and DHH. Here, comparative integromics analyses on HHIP family members were performed by using bioinformatics and human intelligence. HHIP1, HHIP2 (HHIPL1 or KIAA1822) and HHIP3 (HHIPL2 or KIAA1822L) constitute human HHIP gene family. Rat Hhip1, Hhip2, and Hhip3 genes were identified within AC107504.4, AC094820.6, and AC134264.2 genome sequences, respectively. HHIP-homologous (HIPH) domain with conserved 18 Cys residues was identified as the novel domain conserved among mammalian HHIP1, HHIP2, and HHIP3 orthologs. HHIP1 mRNA was expressed in coronary artery endothelial cells, prostate, and rhabdomyosarcoma. HHIP2 mRNA was expressed in trabecular bone cells. HHIP3 mRNA was expressed in testis, thyroid gland, osteoarthritic cartilarge, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. Promoters of HHIP family genes were not well conserved between human and rodents. Although GLI-, CSL-, and HES/HEY-binding sites were not identified, eleven bHLH-binding sites were identified within human HHIP1 promoter. Expression of HES/HEY family members, including HES1, HES2, HES3, HES4, HES5, HES6, HES7, HEY1, HEY2 and HEYL, in coronary artery endothelial cells was not detected in silico. Up-regulation of HHIP1 due to down-regulation of Notch-CSL-HES/HEY signaling cascade repressing bHLH transcription factors results in down-regulation of the Hedgehog-VEGF-Notch signaling cascade. On the other hand, down-regulation of HHIP1 due to up-regulation of Notch signaling in vascular endothelial cells during angiogenesis results in up-regulation of the Hedgehog-VEGF-Notch signaling cascade. Because HHIP1 is the key molecule for vascular remodeling, HHIP1 is the pharmacogenomics target in the fields of oncology and vascular medicine.
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PMID:Comparative genomics on HHIP family orthologs. 1639 42

Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, likely results from deregulation of the skeletal myogenesis program. Although associations between PAX3, PAX7, FOXO1A, and RMS tumorigenesis are well recognized, the entire spectrum of genetic factors underlying RMS development and progression is unclear. Using a combined approach of spectral karyotyping, array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), and expression analysis, we examined 10 primary RMS tumors, including embryonal, alveolar, and the rare adult pleomorphic variant, to explore the involvement of different genes and genetic pathways in RMS tumorigenesis. A complete karyotype established for each tumor revealed a high aneuploidy level, mostly tetraploidy, with double minutes and additional structural aberrations. Quantitative expression analysis detected the overexpression of the AURKA gene in all tumors tested, suggesting a role for this mitotic regulator in the aneuploidy and chromosomal instability observed in RMS. Array-based CGH analysis in primary RMS tumors detected copy number changes of genes involved in multiple genetic pathways, including transcription factors such as MYC-related gene from lung cancer and the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion-encoding genes laminin gamma-2 and p21-activated kinase-1. Our data suggest the involvement of genes encoding cell adhesion, cytoskeletal signaling, and transcriptional and cell cycle components in RMS tumorigenesis.
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PMID:Novel genes implicated in embryonal, alveolar, and pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma: a cytogenetic and molecular analysis of primary tumors. 1679 82

Ranpirnase [Onconase] is an amphibian oocyte/early embryo ribonuclease (RNase) of 105 amino acids in length that is capable of controlling tumour growth by degrading RNA within cancer cells, resulting in inhibition of protein synthesis and arresting mitosis in G(1 )phase. It represents the first successful isolation, purification and characterisation of the oocytic/early embryonic factor that is capable of controlling cell growth activities of the early embryonic tissues. Alfacell Corporation is currently conducting clinical trials of ranpirnase in patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma and non-small-cell lung cancer. The company may initiate phase II clinical trials in breast cancer and oesophageal cancer in 2006. Alfacell expanded a research agreement with the National Cancer Institute in September 2002, allowing the NCI to examine the effects of ranpirnase as a radiation enhancer. However, investigation in this use of ranpirnase now appears to be discontinued. Alfacell is conducting a confirmatory phase IIIb registration trial of ranpirnase plus doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone in more than 360 patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma, and will assess survival as the primary endpoint. The targeted treatment group in this trial represents 90% of malignant mesothelioma patients at the time of diagnosis. The trial is being conducted in the US, Canada, Poland, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Romania, Mexico and Brazil. In April 2006, a total of 210 events (patient deaths) was reached, representing two-thirds of the required events for the study. Results from the protocol-specified first interim analysis based on one-third of the required events have been reported and the company has the option to conduct a second interim analysis of the data at any point after 210 events. A final analysis will be undertaken at 316 events. Alfacell completed a phase III trial of single-agent ranpirnase in patients with unresectable malignant mesothelioma in April 1999. The efficacy of ranpirnase was compared with that of doxorubicin (head-to-head). The primary objectives were overall survival, progression-free survival and quality of life. In preclinical studies, ranpirnase demonstrated significant activity against neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and chemotherapy-resistant variants of these cancer cells. Development for these indications has been discontinued. Preclinical investigations conducted by Alfacell showed synergistic antitumour effects between ranpirnase and proteasome inhibitors. However, development is this area has been discontinued. Alfacell announced in May 2003 that it would be providing ranpirnase to the federal severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) testing programme for evaluation against the human coronavirus implicated in the disease. No further development has been reported. Alfacell has received nine US and four European patents for ranpirnase. Patents issued in the US range from the 1996-issued patent (No. 5 559 212) covering the amino acid sequence of ranpirnase, to the patent (No. 6 175 003 B1) issued in January 2001 protecting the gene sequences of the compound plus another genetically engineered variant, effectively protecting the company's proprietary technology. In August 2002, Alfacell received a US patent (No. 6 423 515 B1) entitled 'Methods of Making Nucleic Acids Encoding Ribonucleases'. This patent is effective until 2020.
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PMID:Ranpirnase: amphibian ribonuclease A, P-30 protein-alfacell. 1732 10

A 38-year-old man, a chronic smoker, presented to us with a large left upper lobe mass lesion and left-sided pleural effusion. After resection, a residual mass remained. On histopathologic examination, a diagnosis of pleiomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma stage III of the lung was made. Chemotherapy using IRS (Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study) IV protocol with radiation therapy (RT) at week 9 was planned. The tumor progressed within 6 weeks of chemotherapy to involve the diaphragm and the pericardium (inoperable disease). Chemotherapy was abandoned, and we referred the patient to receive RT, which the patient refused; and he died of progressive disease 1 month later. The poor response to chemotherapy suggests that alternative treatment modalities including RT/second-look surgery or novel chemotherapeutic strategies should be tried in such a case.
Clin Lung Cancer 2007 May
PMID:Primary pulmonary rhabdomyosarcoma in adults: case report and review of literature. 1756 41


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