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

BA-Han-1C rat rhabdomyosarcoma cells grow with a transformed phenotype and do not differentiate efficiently. Here, we report that these cells can be induced with pertussis toxin (PTX) to rapidly express the myogenin gene and form terminally differentiated myotubes. Potential targets for the effect mediated by PTX are G alpha i-2 and G alpha i-3 proteins, the only inhibitor GTP-binding proteins expressed in these cells. While G alpha i-2 is found at the plasma membrane, G alpha i-3 is predominantly associated with Golgi vesicles and endoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that it may regulate protein trafficking. Differentiation of BA-Han-1C cells can also be induced by suramin, heparin, and other polyanions. As these compounds bind certain peptide growth factors, we assume that differentiation of BA-Han-1C cells is blocked by pathways involving autocrine or paracrine acting growth stimulating peptides. We present evidence that bFGF and cAMP inhibit induced differentiation in BA-Han-1C cells similar to normal myogenic cell lines, suggesting that signaling pathways mediated by these compounds are unaltered.
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PMID:Differentiation of BA-HAN-1C rhabdomyosarcoma cells is controlled by a pertussis toxin sensitive signaling pathway. 829 37

Namitecan (ST1968), a novel hydrophilic camptothecin analog of the 7-oxyiminomethyl series, was selected for clinical development on the basis of its promising preclinical efficacy. Since there is clinical evidence of efficacy of camptothecins against pediatric tumors, this study was performed to explore the antitumor and antiangiogenic activity of the camptothecin derivative in pediatric sarcoma models. With the exception of an undifferentiated rhabdomyosarcoma (A204), namitecan exhibited curative efficacy even at well-tolerated suboptimal doses in a panel of five models. The good therapeutic index of namitecan likely reflected a high and persistent drug accumulation at tumor site. The four responsive tumors were characterized by high topoisomerase I expression. In the RD/TE-671 rhabdomyosarcoma model the drug activity was associated with a marked antiangiogenic effect, which was consistent with the downregulation of proangiogenic factors, including VEGF, bFGF and the multifunctional chemokines CCL-2 and CXCL16. In agreement with this modulation, the combination of low doses of namitecan with other antiangiogenic agents, such as bevacizumab (a humanized anti-VEGF antibody) and sunitinib (a multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor effective against receptors implicated in the angiogenesis process), enhanced the antitumor effects. In conclusion, this preclinical study provides evidence of curative efficacy of namitecan at well-tolerated doses against pediatric sarcoma models, likely reflecting a contribution of antiangiogenic effects. Based on the promising therapeutic profile, namitecan is a good candidate for clinical evaluation in pediatric sarcomas.
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PMID:The curative efficacy of namitecan (ST1968) in preclinical models of pediatric sarcoma is associated with antiangiogenic effects. 2252 22