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

Inhibition of apoptosis is an important characteristic of oncogenic transformation. The Par-4 gene product has recently been shown to be upregulated in cells undergoing apoptotic cell death, and its ectopic expression was shown to be critical in apoptosis. We demonstrate that expression of oncogenic Ras promotes a potent reduction of Par-4 protein and mRNA levels through a MEK-dependent pathway. In addition, the expression of permanently active mutants of MEK, Raf-1 or zetaprotein kinase C but not of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) is sufficient to decrease Par-4 levels. These effects are independent of p53, p16 and p19, and were detected not only in fibroblast primary cultures but also in NIH 3T3 and HeLa cells, indicating that they are not secondary to Ras actions on cell cycle regulation. Importantly, restoration of Par-4 levels to normal in Ras-transformed cells makes these cells sensitive to the pro-apoptotic actions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha under conditions in which PI 3-kinase is inhibited and also severely impairs colony formation in soft agar and tumor development in nude mice, as well as increases the sensitivity of these tumors to camptothecin. This indicates that the downregulation of Par-4 by oncogenic Ras is a critical event in tumor progression.
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PMID:The downregulation of the pro-apoptotic protein Par-4 is critical for Ras-induced survival and tumor progression. 1056 48

Cancer patients treated for venous thromboembolism with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) have a better survival rate than patients treated with unfractionated heparin (UFH). Because fibrin-associated angiogenesis is an important determinant in the progression and metastasis of many solid tumors, the effects of heparins on in vitro angiogenesis were investigated. Both UFH and LMWH inhibited bFGF-induced proliferation of human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVECs) to the same the extent (36-60%). VEGF165-induced proliferation was inhibited to a to a lesser extent (19-33%). Turbidity measurements and electron microscopy showed that the presence of LMWH during polymerization of the fibrin matrix led to a more transparent rigid network with thin fibrin bundles, whereas the presence of UFH resulted in a more opaque more porous network with thick fibrin fibers. We used a human in vitro angiogenesis model, which consisted of hMVECs seeded on top of a fibrin matrix, and stimulated the cells with basic fibroblast growth factor plus tumor necrosis factor a to induce capillary-like tubular structures. The formation of capillary-like tubular structures was retarded with matrices polymerized in the presence of LMWH (46% inhibition compared with a control matrix for both 1.5 and 10 units/ml LMWH), whereas matrices polymerized in the presence of UFH facilitated tubular structure formation (72 and 36% stimulation compared with a control matrix for 1.5 and 10 units/ml UFH, respectively). Similar results were obtained for cells stimulated with vascular endothelial growth factor plus tumor necrosis factor alpha. These data demonstrate the inhibitory effect of heparins on proliferation of hMVECs and provide a novel mechanism by which LMWH may affect tumor progression, namely reduced ingrowth of microvascular structures in a fibrinous stroma matrix by rendering it less permissive for invasion.
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PMID:Unfractionated and low molecular weight heparin affect fibrin structure and angiogenesis in vitro. 1108 45

The major goal of this study was to determine if treatment with the newly constructed plasmid vector for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (pGL1-TNF-alpha) could enhance the radiation-induced growth reduction of C6 rat glioma. In addition, two different forms of ionizing radiation (gamma-rays and protons) were utilized. Body and spleen mass, leukocyte blastogenesis, and flow cytometry analysis of cell populations in blood and spleen were performed to detect toxicity, if any, and to identify mechanisms that may correlate with the anti-tumor action of combination therapy. C6 tumor cells were implanted subcutaneously into athymic mice and allowed to become established before treatment initiation. pGL1-TNF-alpha was injected into the implanted tumors, which were then irradiated 16-18 hr later; each modality was administered three times over 8-9 days. The addition of pGL1-TNF-alpha significantly enhanced the anti-tumor effect of radiation (p < 0.05). The effect was more than additive, since pGL1-TNF-alpha alone did not slow tumor progression and radiation alone had only a modest effect. Administration of pGL1-TNF-alpha together with proton radiation resulted in tumor volumes that were 23% smaller than those following pGL1-TNF-alpha + gamma-ray treatment; a similar differential in tumor size was observed in the groups receiving only radiation. Body weights and blood and spleen cell analyses did not reveal treatment-related toxicity. High basal proliferation of blood leukocytes and increased B cell levels in the spleen were associated with pGL1-TNF-alpha + 60Co (gamma-radiation) or proton treatment. Overall, the results suggest that the pGL1-TNF-alpha/radiation combination is effective and safe under the conditions employed. This is the first study to combine gene and proton radiation therapy and to show, under controlled experimental conditions, that proton radiation may have a greater effect against malignant tumors compared to the same physical dose of gamma-radiation.
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PMID:Combination of pGL1-TNF-alpha gene and radiation (proton and gamma-ray) therapy against brain tumor. 1120 48

KAI1/CD82 has been shown to be a metastasis suppressor for several human cancers, and a recent study revealed that wild-type tumor suppressor p53 can directly activate KAI1/CD82 gene expression. However, the response of KAI1/CD82 expression in cancer cells to exogenous stimulants has not been investigated. The present study examined whether tumor necrosis factor (TNF), which mediates many of the cellular responses associated with inflammatory reactions or cancer progression, can affect the KAI1/CD82 expression in lung cancer cells and, if so, whether nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, a key molecule in TNF-mediated gene expression, is involved in the mechanism of KAI1/CD82 induction. Our results demonstrated that expression of KAI1/CD82 in PC-14 cells expressing mutant p53 could be augmented by TNF-alpha, and that transfer of the gene for a specific inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaB alphaSR (mutant IkappaB alpha; NF-kappaB super-repressor), into PC-14 cells could inhibit this augmentation. The amount of NF-kappaB in the nucleus of PC-14/IkappaB alphaSR cells correlated well with KAI1/CD82 mRNA and protein expression. In addition, IkappaB alphaSR gene transfer inhibited the spontaneous expression of KAI1/CD82 protein in KAI1/CD82-high-expressing RERF-LC-OK cells, which contain a mutant-type p53. These observations indicate that NF-kappaB activation may play a role in the regulation of KAI1/CD82 expression in lung cancer cells independently of wild-type p53, and suggest that KAI1/CD82 expression may be regulated by interaction with the host microenvironment.
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PMID:Nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent expression of metastasis suppressor KAI1/CD82 gene in lung cancer cell lines expressing mutant p53. 1121 67

Tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) often have sustained expression of labile genes, including angiogenic growth factors and immunosuppressive cytokines, which promote tumor progression. Stabilization of the RNA transcripts for these genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is an important molecular pathway for this up-regulation. HuR, a member of the Elav family of RNA-binding proteins, has been implicated in this pathway through its binding to adenine and uridine (AU)-rich stability elements (ARE) located in the 3' untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) of the mRNA. Whereas three of the Elav family members (Hel-N1, HuC, and HuD) are restricted to young and mature neurons, HuR is more broadly expressed, including proliferating cells of the developing CNS. Because RNA stabilization of labile genes may promote tumor growth, we analyzed and compared the expression pattern of HuR in 35 freshly resected and cultured CNS tumors to determine whether there was any correlation with tumor grade or histological type. We found that HuR mRNA was consistently expressed in all of the tumors, regardless of cell origin or degree of malignancy. Using a novel HuR-specific polyclonal antibody, we found that strong HuR protein expression was limited to high-grade malignancies (glioblastoma multiforme and medulloblastoma). Within the glioblastoma multiforme, prominent HuR expression was also detected in perinecrotic areas in which angiogenic growth factors are up-regulated. To further define its role as a potential RNA stabilizer, we analyzed whether HuR could bind to the stability motifs within the 3'-UTRs of cytokines and growth factors linked to brain tumor progression. We used a novel ELISA-based RNA binding assay and focused on the 3'-UTRs of angiogenic factors VEGF, COX-2, and (interleukin) IL-8 as well as the immunomodulating factors IL-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha as potential RNA ligands. Our results indicated overall a very high binding affinity to these RNA targets. A comparison of these ligands revealed a hierarchy of binding affinities with the angiogenic factors, and TGF-beta showing the highest (Kd of 1.8-3.4 nM), and TNF-alpha the lowest (Kd of 18.3 nM). The expression pattern of HuR, coupled with the RNA binding data, strongly suggests a role for this protein in the posttranscriptional regulation of these genes in CNS tumors.
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PMID:HuR, a RNA stability factor, is expressed in malignant brain tumors and binds to adenine- and uridine-rich elements within the 3' untranslated regions of cytokine and angiogenic factor mRNAs. 1128 Jul 80

Fetal development and tumor progression both require a complex system of extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and breakdown, which is mediated by, for instance, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Human metalloelastase (MMP-12) is an MMP, the expression of which has so far been documented in macrophages associated with atherosclerosis, wound repair, and certain cancers. In this study we first examined the expression of MMP-12 during human fetal development. By in situ hybridization MMP-12 transcripts were detected in chondrocytes of hypertrophic cartilage in vertebrae of the spinal column, in ribs, and in extremities undergoing ossification, beginning at the gestational age of 8 weeks. Also, periosteal cells expressed MMP-12 at 11 weeks. No expression of MMP-12 mRNA could be noted in other fetal tissues, including the skin, lungs, intestine, kidney, and liver. Expression of MMP-12 mRNA could not be detected in adult normal cartilage or osteosarcomas, but in chondrosarcomas both macrophages (8 of 19 samples) (identified by CD68 immunostaining) and chondrosarcoma cells (8 of 19) were positive. MMP-12 was also demonstrated in the tumors by western blotting and it was expressed in the same regions as MMP-13 mRNA. By immunostaining, MMP-12 mRNA colocalized with the protein in both fetal and chondrosarcoma specimens. Unlike basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induced MMP-12 mRNA production in chondrosarcoma-derived HTB-94 cells. Our results suggest that MMP-12 plays an important role in ECM remodeling during fetal bone development and is induced when chondrocytes undergo malignant transformation.
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PMID:Human macrophage metalloelastase (MMP-12) expression is induced in chondrocytes during fetal development and malignant transformation. 1170 2

Normally, tissue factor (TF) is not expressed on the surface of endothelial cells, but its expression can be induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a. However, the signaling pathway(s) affecting this induction is unknown. Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells, we found that inhibitors of guanine-cytosine-rich DNA binding protein and nuclear factor (NF)-kB suppressed VEGF- and TNF-a-induced expression and activity of TF. However, unexpectedly, phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3'-kinase inhibitor enhanced the VEGF- and TNF-a-induced expression and activity of TF. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), a strong activator of intracellular PI 3'-kinase/Akt, inhibited the induction of TF by VEGF and TNF-a, whereas Ang1 itself did not produce any significant effect on TF. Selective activation (or inactivation) of PI 3'-kinase/Akt by using adenoviral transfer reduced (or enhanced) TNF-a-induced expression of TF mRNA and protein, regardless of Ang1 treatment. From these results, we conclude that Ang1 inhibits the up-regulation of TF expression, possibly through activation of PI 3'-kinase/Akt in endothelial cells. Ang1 may be useful as an inhibitor of VEGF- and TNF-a-induced coagulation, inflammation, and cancer progression.
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PMID:Angiopoietin-1 negatively regulates expression and activity of tissue factor in endothelial cells. 1172 2

The major goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), delivered as pGL1-TNF-alpha, on hematological variables, as well as C6 tumor growth in athymic mice treated with and without radiation. pGL1-TNF-alpha was administered intratumorally at low to high doses (15, 150 and 450 microg) in all three phases of this study. In phase A, pGL1-TNF-alpha expression within tumors was dose dependent and transient, with highest levels seen at 18 h after injection, whereas no TNF-alpha protein was detected in plasma. Low erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were associated with tumor presence, but the reduction in these variables was most striking in the group receiving 450 microg of pGL1-TNF-alpha, the group that also exhibited thrombocytopenia at 72 h. In phase B, treatment with pGL1-TNF-alpha at 15 or 150 microg resulted in the greatest degree of splenomegaly, increased spontaneous blastogenesis by splenocytes, and high leukocyte and lymphocyte numbers in the spleen. In these same two groups, flow cytometry analyses of spleen cells showed that high levels of natural killer (panNK+) cells, B (CD19+) lymphocytes, and cells expressing the CD71 and CD25 activation markers were present (p < 0.05). An enhancing effect was also noted in some of the measurements with parental plasmid p WS4 and tumor presence. In phase C, the slowest tumor progression was observed in the groups receiving 15 and 150 microg pGL1-TNF-alpha together with radiation; tumor volumes were 51 and 43% smaller, respectively, than for PBS-injected controls by the end of the study. Collectively, these results show that localized treatment with pGL1-TNF-alpha is hematologically nontoxic at low doses and support the premise that activation of lymphocytes may contribute to the antitumor effects of radiation against a highly aggressive brain tumor.
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PMID:Lymphocyte activation with localized pGL1-TNF-alpha gene therapy in a glioma model. 1181 46

Vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor (VEGI), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, is an endothelial cell-specific inhibitor of angiogenesis. Overexpression by cancer cells of a secretable VEGI fusion protein resulted in abrogation of xenograft tumor progression, but overexpression of full-length VEGI was completely without effect. This finding indicates that secretion is essential for VEGI action. Here we report the identification of two new VEGI isoforms consisting of 251 and 192 amino acid residues. Both isoforms show endothelial cell-specific expression and share a C-terminal 151-residue segment with the previously described VEGI, which comprises 174 residues. The isoforms are generated from a 17 kb human gene by alternative splicing. Their expression is regulated in parallel by inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and interferon-gamma. VEGI-251, the most abundant isoform, contains a putative secretion signal. VEGI protein is detected in conditioned media of endothelial cells and VEGI-251-transfected mammalian cells. Overexpression of VEGI-251 in endothelial cells causes dose-dependent cell death. VEGI-251-transfected cancer cells form xenograft tumors of reduced growth rate and microvessel density compared with tumors of empty vector transfectants. These findings support the view that endothelial cell-secreted VEGI may function as an autocrine inhibitor of angiogenesis and a naturally existing modulator of vascular homeostasis.
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PMID:A novel secreted splice variant of vascular endothelial cell growth inhibitor. 1192 19

Nitric oxide is a gaseous messenger involved in the regulation of several physiologic processes in various cell types, including skin cells. Three different nitric oxide synthases (neuronal nitric oxide synthase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, inducible nitric oxide synthase) have been identified in human cells. For inducible nitric oxide synthase, an inducibility by cytokines and lipopolysaccharides have been found. For murine melanoma cells, a connection between elevated levels of nitric oxide after inducible nitric oxide synthase induction and consequent apoptosis had been described. By northern analysis, we detected inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA in four of 15 human melanoma cell lines cultured without inducible nitric oxide synthase inducing cytokines. Induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and lipopolysaccharides was seen in normal human melanocytes but not in melanoma cell lines. In accordance, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression was clearly inducible in cultures of normal melanocytes, whereas in six melanoma cell lines investigated, inducible nitric oxide synthase was found weakly expressed already before treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and lipopolysaccharides, and its expression was not inducible. The apoptotic rates both in normal melanocytes and in two melanoma cell lines (SK-Mel-19 and O-Mel-2) were increased by treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and lipopolysaccharides; however, these effects could not be prevented by the specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine. These data reveal a clear-cut difference between human melanoma cell lines and cultured normal human melanocytes with respect to inducible nitric oxide synthase inducibility. Although the data do not support the hypothesis that inducible nitric oxide synthase is an important regulator for apoptosis in human melanoma cells, the regulation deficiency found for melanoma cells may be of importance for melanocytic transformation and tumor progression.
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PMID:Inducible nitric oxide synthase is expressed in normal human melanocytes but not in melanoma cells in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, and lipopolysaccharide. 1206 Mar 97


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