Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0178874 (tumor progression)
 40,807 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Abnormal degradation of beta-catenin caused by alteration of the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) consensus motif is an important step for carcinogenesis. We hypothesize that beta- and gamma-catenin may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer. We tested this hypothesis through analysis of beta- and gamma-catenin in both murine and human bladder cancers. A murine bladder cancer model was prepared by use of N-butyl-N-(-4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) in 6-week-old male B6D2F1 mice. After 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 weeks of BBN treatment, bladder specimens were harvested and analyzed for both protein and gene expression for beta- and gamma-catenin. Mutational analysis of the NH(2)-terminal regulatory domains of beta- and gamma-catenin was performed in each specimen by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Mutations were further confirmed by direct DNA sequencing with a dye terminator method. Human bladder cancer specimens with normal tissues, dysplasia, carcinoma in situ, and carcinoma of grades, 1, 2, and 3 were also analyzed for beta- and gamma-catenin expression. beta- and gamma-catenin were analyzed for mutations by SSCP and direct DNA sequencing. Intracellular accumulation of beta- and gamma-catenin was observed in 6 of 20 invasive carcinoma specimens. There was no intracellular accumulation of beta- and gamma-catenin in mucosal dysplasia, papillary or nodular dysplasia, and carcinoma in situ specimens. On an SSCP analysis for beta-catenin, abnormal bandshifts were detected in two invasive carcinomas with intracellular beta-catenin accumulation. Further sequencing revealed two mutations [AGT(S) to ATT(I) and TCT(S) to CCT(P)] within the consensus motif for GSK-3beta phosphorylation. On the other hand, SSCP analysis for gamma-catenin followed by sequencing revealed three mutations in two invasive carcinomas with intracellular accumulation of gamma-catenin. These three alterations affected the 3' downstream region outside the GSK-3beta phosphorylation site [ACC(T) to GCC(A), CTC(L) to ATC(I), and CTC(L) to ATG(M)]. In human bladder cancer, beta- and gamma-catenin expression was significantly weaker than in normal bladder. On SSCP analysis one abnormal bandshift was observed in high-grade human bladder cancer with intracellular beta-catenin accumulation. DNA sequencing revealed mutation TCT(S) to TGT(C). In summary, alterations in beta- and gamma-catenin are late events favoring tumor progression in mouse BBN-induced bladder cancer. Changes affecting the GSK-3beta phosphorylation site appear to be associated with activation of beta-catenin, but not with activation of gamma-catenin. In human blabber cancer, beta- and gamma-catenin expression is similar to the expression in the mouse model. The present study demonstrates that beta- and gamma-catenin may play an important role in bladder cancer progression.
 ...
PMID:Alterations of beta- and gamma-catenin in N-butyl-N-(-4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced murine bladder cancer. 1158 41

The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) tumor suppressor is a major regulator of the Wnt signaling pathway in normal intestinal epithelium. APC, in conjunction with AXIN and GSK-3beta, forms a complex necessary for the degradation of beta-catenin, thereby preventing beta-catenin/T-cell factor interaction and alteration of growth-controlling genes such as c-MYC and cyclin D1. Inappropriate activation of the Wnt pathway, via Apc/APC mutation, leads to gastrointestinal tumor formation in both the mouse and human. In order to discover novel genes that may contribute to tumor progression in the gastrointestinal tract, we used cDNA microarrays to identify 114 genes with altered levels of expression in Apc(Min) mouse adenomas from the duodenum, jejunum, and colon. Changes in the expression of 24 of these 114 genes were not observed during mouse development at embryonic day 16.5, postnatal day 1, or postnatal day 14 (relative to normal adult intestine). These 24 genes are not previously known Wnt targets. Seven genes were validated by real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis, whereas four genes were validated by in situ hybridization to mouse adenomas. Real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis of human colorectal cancer cell lines and adenocarcinomas revealed that altered expression levels were also observed for six of the genes Igfbp5, Lcn2, Ly6d, N4wbp4 (PMEPA1), S100c, and Sox4.
 ...
PMID:Transcriptional profiles of intestinal tumors in Apc(Min) mice are unique from those of embryonic intestine and identify novel gene targets dysregulated in human colorectal tumors. 1566 92

De-regulations in insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathways may contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma. Although intracellular insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2) is the main effector of insulin signaling in the liver, its role in hepatocarcinogenesis is unknown. Here, we show that IRS-2 was overexpressed in two murine models of hepatocarcinogenesis: administration of diethylnitrosamine and hepatic overexpression of SV40 large T antigen. In both models, IRS-2 overexpression was detected in preneoplastic lesions and at higher levels in tumoral nodules. IRS-2 overexpression associated with IGF-2 and IRS-1 overexpression and with GSK-3beta inhibition. Increased expression of IRS-2 was also detected in human hepatocellular carcinoma specimens and hepatoma cell lines. In murine and human hepatoma cells, IRS-2 protein induction associated with increased IRS-2 mRNA levels. The functionality of IRS-2 was demonstrated in Hep 3 B cells, in which IRS-2 tyrosine phosphorylation and its association with phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase were induced by IGF-2. Moreover, down-regulation of IRS-2 expression increased apoptosis in these cells. In conclusion, we demonstrate that IRS-2 is overexpressed in human and murine hepatocellular carcinoma. The emergence of IRS-2 overexpression at preneoplastic stages during experimental hepatocarcinogenesis and its protective effect against apoptosis suggest that IRS-2 contributes to liver tumor progression.
 ...
PMID:Overexpression of insulin receptor substrate-2 in human and murine hepatocellular carcinoma. 1612 64

ICAM-3 interacts with LFA1, and is involved in the intercellular adhesion of leukocytes as well as in the mainenance of cell survival. It has also been suggested to induce cancer cell proliferation but the precise signaling pathway is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the ICAM-3-activated downstream pathway in H1299 lung cancer cells. The level of ICAM-3-induced cell growth was examined using BrdU incorporation, which is a colony-forming assay, FACS analysis, and cell counting. The results showed that ICAM-3 expression induces cancer cell proliferation. In addition, FAK, Akt, PDK1, GSK-3beta, BAD, and PTEN were phosphorylated by ICAM-3-overexpression, resulting in enhanced cell proliferation. In conclusion, ICAM-3 expression induces cancer cell proliferation, and an increase in ICAM-3 expression can contribute to cancer progression.
 ...
PMID:ICAM-3-induced cancer cell proliferation through the PI3K/Akt pathway. 1613 25

The NSAID activated gene (NAG-1), a member of the TGF-beta superfamily, is involved in tumor progression and development. The over-expression of NAG-1 in cancer cells results in growth arrest and increase in apoptosis, suggesting that NAG-1 has anti-tumorigenic activity. This conclusion is further supported by results of experiments with transgenic mice that ubiquitously express human NAG-1. These transgenic mice are resistant to the development of intestinal tumors following treatment with azoxymethane or by introduction of a mutant APC gene. In contrast, other data suggest a pro-tumorigenic role for NAG-1, for example, high expression of NAG-1 is frequently observed in tumors. NAG-1 may be like other members of the TGF-beta superfamily, acting as a tumor suppressor in the early stages, but acting pro-tumorigenic at the later stages of tumor progression. The expression of NAG-1 can be increased by treatment with drugs and chemicals documented to prevent tumor formation and development. Most notable is the increase in NAG-1 expression by the inhibitors of cyclooxygenases that prevent human colorectal cancer development. The regulation of NAG-1 is complex, but these agents act through either p53 or EGR-1 related pathways. In addition, an increase in NAG-1 is observed in inhibition of the AKT/GSK-3beta pathway, suggesting NAG-1 alters cell survival. Thus, NAG-1 expression is regulated by tumor suppressor pathways and appears to modulate tumor progression.
 ...
PMID:NSAID activated gene (NAG-1), a modulator of tumorigenesis. 1712 98

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) enzymes are overexpressed during inflammation and multistage tumor progression in many neoplastic disorders including lung, breast and pancreatic cancers. Here we report that the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is oxidized and inactivated during arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in pancreatic cancer cell lines expressing COX-2 or 5-LOX. Oxidation of PTEN decreases its phosphatase activity, favoring increased phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate production, activation of Akt and phosphorylation of downstream Akt targets including GSK-3beta and S6K. These effects are recapitulated with pancreatic phospholipase A(2), which hydrolyses the release of membrane-bound AA. Interference with PTEN's physiological antagonism of signals from growth factors, insulin and oncogenes may confer risk for hypertrophic or neoplastic diseases associated with chronic inflammation or unwarranted oxidative metabolism of essential fatty acids.
 ...
PMID:Akt activation by arachidonic acid metabolism occurs via oxidation and inactivation of PTEN tumor suppressor. 1736 49

Anti-proliferative properties of genistein in prostate and other cancers have been studied extensively. However, the identification of genistein targets that may mediate its chemopreventive effects in vivo requires further elucidation. In this study, we have demonstrated that the incorporation of genistein in the diet of transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate model (TRAMP/FVB) mice resulted in a reduction in prostate size and the incidence of poorly differentiated (PD) cancer ensuing in an accumulation of prostates at the prostatic intra-epithelial neoplasia (PIN) stage. TRAMP/FVB prostate cancer progression and the onset of PD cancer were characterized by the activation of acutely transforming retrovirus AKT8 in rodent T cell lymphoma (Akt), phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase 3-beta (GSK-3beta), post-transcriptional up-regulation of cyclin D1 and repression of cadherin-1 via snail-1 up-regulation. Incorporation of genistein in the diet significantly inhibited the activation of Akt, restored the activation of GSK-3beta, reduced cyclin D1 levels post-transcriptionally and maintained the expression of the cadherin-1 complex via down-regulation of snail-1. By identifying the Akt-GSK-3 pathway and subsequently its downstream effectors, as targets for genistein chemopreventive action, we have elucidated one possible mechanism by which genistein decreases the proliferative potential, retards cancer progression and maintains the integrity of the prostatic epithelial cells in vivo.
 ...
PMID:Akt GSK-3 pathway as a target in genistein-induced inhibition of TRAMP prostate cancer progression toward a poorly differentiated phenotype. 1746 12

Acquisition of a metastatic phenotype by breast cancer cells includes alternations of multigenic programs that permit tumor cells to metastasize to distant organs. Here, we report that angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), a known growth factor, is capable of promoting breast cancer cell invasion leading to metastasis. Analysis of 185 primary human breast cancer specimens that include 97 tumors showing lymph node and/or distant metastasis reveals a significant correlation between the expression of Ang2 and E-cadherin, Snail, metastatic potential, tumor grade, and lymph-vascular invasion during breast cancer progression. Using a xenograft model, we show that overexpression of Ang2 in poorly metastatic MCF-7 breast cancer cells suppresses expression of E-cadherin and induces Snail expression and phosphorylation of Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) promoting metastasis to the lymph nodes and lung. In cell culture, Ang2 promotes cell migration and invasion in Tie2-deficient breast cancer cells through the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin/integrin-linked kinase (ILK)/Akt, GSK-3beta/Snail/E-cadherin signaling pathway. Inhibition of ILK and the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin abrogates Ang2 modulation of Akt, GSK-3beta, Snail, and E-cadherin and Ang2-stimulated breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Together, these results underscore the significant contribution of Ang2 in cancer progression, not only by stimulating angiogenesis but also by promoting metastasis, and provide a mechanism by which breast cancer cells acquire an enhanced invasive phenotype contributing to metastasis.
 ...
PMID:Angiopoietin-2 stimulates breast cancer metastasis through the alpha(5)beta(1) integrin-mediated pathway. 1748 37

The Maf oncoproteins are b-Zip transcription factors of the AP-1 superfamily. They are involved in developmental, metabolic, and tumorigenic processes. Maf proteins are overexpressed in about 50% of human multiple myelomas. Here, we show that Maf-transforming activity is controlled by GSK-3-dependent phosphorylation and that phosphorylation by GSK-3 can increase the oncogenic activity of a protein. Using microarray analysis, we identify a gene-expression subprogram regulated by GSK-3-mediated Maf phosphorylation involved in extracellular matrix remodeling and relevant to cancer progression. We also demonstrate that GSK-3 triggers MafA sequential phosphorylation on residues S61, T57, T53, and S49, inducing its ubiquitination and degradation. Paradoxically, this phosphorylation increases MafA-transcriptional activity through the recruitment of the coactivator P/CAF. We further demonstrate that P/CAF protects MafA from ubiquitination and degradation, suggesting that, upon the release of the coactivator complex, MafA becomes polyubiquitinated and degraded to allow the response to terminate.
 ...
PMID:GSK-3-mediated phosphorylation enhances Maf-transforming activity. 1804 54

Progression of cancer leads to hypoxic solid tumors that mount specific cell signaling responses to low oxygen conditions. An important objective of anti-cancer therapy is the development of new drugs that suppress hypoxic responses in solid tumors. Apigenin is a natural flavone that has been shown to have chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer properties against a number of tumor types. However, the mechanisms underlying apigenin's chemopreventive properties are not yet completely understood. In this study, we have investigated the effects of apigenin on expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) in human metastatic prostate PC3-M cancer cells. We found that hypoxia induced a time-dependent increase in the level of HIF-1alpha subunit protein in PC3-M cells, and treatment with apigenin markedly decreased HIF-1alpha expression under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Further, apigenin prevented the activation of the HIF-1 downstream target gene vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We then showed that apigenin inhibited expression of HIF-1alpha by reducing stability of the protein as well as by reducing the level of HIF-1alpha mRNA. We also found that apigenin inhibited Akt and GSK-3beta phosphorylation in PC3-M cells. Further experiments demonstrated that constitutively active Akt blunted the effect of apigenin on HIF-1alpha expression. Taken together, our results identify apigenin as a bioflavonoid that inhibits hypoxia-activated pathways linked to cancer progression in human prostate cancer, in particular the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3 pathway. Further studies on the mechanism of action of apigenin will likely provide new insight into its applicability for pharmacologic targeting of HIF-1alpha for cancer therapeutic or chemopreventive purposes.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression by the chemopreventive bioflavonoid apigenin is accompanied by Akt inhibition in human prostate carcinoma PC3-M cells. 1824 Feb 92


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>