Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0596263 (carcinogenesis)
 64,820 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The p16INK4A tumour suppressor gene (p16) encodes for a cyclin-dependant kinase inhibitor which plays a role in the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb) during regulation of the G1-S phase of the cell cycle. Loss of heterozygosity at 9p21, the chromosomal location of the p16 gene, has been reported in a broad range of tumours and this is usually indicative of the presence of a tumour suppressor gene, the second allele being frequently inactivated by mutation or deletion. The p16 gene, however, is often found not be mutated or deleted and it has been suggested that hypermethylation of the CpG islands of the gene may be an alternative mechanism of gene inactivation. We sought to determine the levels of p16 abnormality in a series of epithelial ovarian carcinomas in an attempt to clarify the presently conflicting evidence of whether or not hypermethylation of the p16 gene plays a role in ovarian carcinogenesis. We analysed 57 primary ovarian tumours and their corresponding blood DNA using SSCP analysis, sequencing and the methylation specific PCR (MSP) technique. We found low levels of mutation (6.7% of malignant tumours) and no evidence of methylation in any of our samples, suggesting that neither mutation or hypermethylation of the CpG islands of the p16 gene play an important role in ovarian carcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Inactivation of the p16INK4A gene by methylation is not a frequent event in sporadic ovarian carcinoma. 1160 66

Interferon-gamma induces an irreversible growth arrest and squamous differentiation in normal human epidermal keratinocytes. We present for the first time a careful biochemical analysis of the cell-cycle-related events that occur during interferon-gamma treatment of normal human epidermal keratinocytes. The interferon-gamma-induced irreversible growth arrest state is characterized by inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases, prevention of Rb and p130 (Rb2) phosphorylation, and increases in p27(Kip1), p16(Ink4a), and p130 proteins, together with a transient increase in p21(Waf1/Cip1). Cells derived from squamous cell carcinomas are less responsive to interferon-gamma and do not terminally differentiate. We exploited these differences in response to interferon-gamma in order to identify the particular molecular defects in cell cycle control that promote carcinogenesis in squamous epithelia. In several squamous cell carcinoma cell lines as well as in interferon-gamma-insensitive HaCaT cells, interferon gamma was unable to significantly induce levels of p130 and/or p16 protein. In addition, p21 association with cdk2 complexes was undetectable in either the absence or the presence of interferon-gamma and, unlike normal human epidermal keratinocytes, p27 association with cdk2 did not increase with interferon-gamma treatment. These multiple defects appear to be intrinsic to the mechanisms of cell cycle regulation rather than due to defects in the interferon-gamma signaling pathway, as induction of several interferon-gamma-responsive genes including Stat 1, IRF-1, and p21 itself was normal. Interestingly, exogenous expression of p21 protein in the squamous cell carcinoma cell lines by adenovirus carrying wildtype p53 or p21 cDNA cooperated with interferon-gamma to produce a greater inhibition of growth than either agent alone, even though p21 protein could barely be detected in cdk2 complexes. We conclude that squamous cell carcinoma cells have intrinsic defects in their ability to regulate cdk-cki complexes in response to differentiation signals.
 ...
PMID:Decreased growth inhibitory responses of squamous carcinoma cells to interferon-gamma involve failure to recruit cki proteins into cdk2 complexes. 1171 Sep 44

Although the pharmacological role of beta-carotene in the prevention and treatment of colon cancer has received increasing attention, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of action of this carotenoid. The present study demonstrates that beta-carotene, a natural pigment widely present in fruit and vegetables, inhibits the growth of several human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (COLO 320 HSR, LS-174, HT-29 and WiDr) by inducing cell cycle arrest in G(2)/M phase and apoptosis. These effects were dose and time dependent and strictly related to cell ability to accumulate the carotenoid. COLO 320 HSR cells incorporated beta-carotene to a greater extent than LS-174, HT-29 and WiDr cells and, concomitantly, they exhibited a higher sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effects of the carotenoid. At inhibitory concentrations beta-carotene reduced the expression of cyclin A, a key regulator of G(2)/M progression. Neither p21 nor p27, two cyclin kinase inhibitors, were significantly modified by carotenoid treatment. With respect to apoptosis induction, decreased levels of the apoptosis blocking proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were also observed. On the other hand, no changes in expression of the apoptosis promoter protein Bax were detected. This study represents a novel aspect of the biological profile of beta-carotene and a new step in elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms of its antitumor action. In addition, since cell growth inhibitory effects were reached at beta-carotene concentrations achievable in vivo following its supplementation, this study provides a rational approach for the use of beta-carotene in colon cancer.
Carcinogenesis 2002 Jan
PMID:Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines by beta-carotene through down-regulation of cyclin A and Bcl-2 family proteins. 1175 18

The effect of some flavonoids, which are components of fruits, vegetables, and peas, on the cell cycle progression of human LNCaP prostate cancer cells has been investigated in this study. Genistein arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phases, which is attributed to the suppression of cyclin B expression. In addition, genistein induced the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, which does not depend on p53 activation. Apigenin and luteolin also increased p21 levels, but quercetin did not. Apigenin induced p21 production through a p53-dependent pathway, but luteolin did so in a p53-independent manner. These results suggest that flavonoids are potent regulators of cyclin B and p21 for cell cycle progression, which may play some roles in prevention of carcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Effect of flavonoids on cell cycle progression in prostate cancer cells. 1179 Apr 49

p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1) is best known as a broad-specificity inhibitor of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinase complexes, but p21 also interacts with many other regulators of transcription or signal transduction. p21 induction, which is mediated by p53 and by p53-independent mechanisms, is essential for the onset of cell cycle arrest in damage response and cell senescence. The effects of p21 knockout in mice and its expression patterns in human cancer are consistent with a role for p21 as both a tumour suppressor and an oncogene. Several functions of p21 are likely to promote carcinogenesis and tumour progression. These include endoreduplication and abnormal mitosis that develop in tumour cells after release from p21-induced growth arrest, the ability of p21 to inhibit apoptosis through several different mechanisms, and its ability to stimulate transcription of secreted factors with mitogenic and anti-apoptotic activities. The latter effects of p21 show close resemblance to paracrine activities of senescent cells and to tumour-promoting functions of stromal fibroblasts. Therapeutic strategies targeting the oncogenic consequences of p21 expression may provide a new approach to chemoprevention and treatment of cancer.
 ...
PMID:Oncogenic functions of tumour suppressor p21(Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1): association with cell senescence and tumour-promoting activities of stromal fibroblasts. 1188 Jan 76

Cell cycle progression is regulated by interactions between cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). p21(WAF1) is one of the CIP/KIP family which inhibits CDKs activity. Increased expression of p21(WAF1) may play an important role in the growth arrest induced in transformed cells. Although the stability of the p21( WAF1) mRNA could be altered by different signals, cell differentiation and numerous influencing factors. However, recent studies suggest that two known mechanisms of epigenesis, i.e.gene inactivation by methylation in promoter region and changes to an inactive chromatin by histone deacetylation, seem to be the best candidate mechanisms for inactivation of p21( WAF1). To date, almost no coding region p21(WAF1) mutations have been found in tumor cells, despite extensive screening of hundreds of various tumors. Hypermethylation of the p21(WAF1) promoter region may represent an alternative mechanism by which the p21(WAF1/CIP1) gene can be inactivated. The reduction of cellular DNMT protein levels also induces a corresponding rapid increase in the cell cycle regulator p21(WAF1) protein demonstrating a regulatory link between DNMT and p21(WAF1) which is independent of methylation of DNA. Both histone hyperacetylation and hypoacetylation appear to be important in the carcinoma process, and induction of the p21(WAF1) gene by histone hyperacetylation may be a mechanism by which dietary fiber prevents carcinogenesis. Here, we review the influence of histone acetylation and DNA methylation on p21(WAF1) transcription, and affection of pathways or factors associated such as p 53, E2A, Sp1 as well as several histone deacetylation inhibitors.
 ...
PMID:Effects of histone acetylation and DNA methylation on p21( WAF1) regulation. 1204 58

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of D-type cyclins and cyclin E in gastric cancer patients (N = 34), in healthy first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients (N = 29), and in control subjects (N = 18). Expression of cyclins D1, D2, D3, and E was determined by RT-PCR. Localization of cyclin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry. Expression of cyclins D2, D3, and E was more frequently detected in tumor tissue compared with tumor-free gastric mucosa (P < 0.05) and was associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia. In contrast, cyclin D1 was frequently expressed in both tumor- and tumor-free tissue. Cyclin D3 expression was more frequently detected in the antrum mucosa of first-degree relatives compared to controls (P < 0.01) and was associated with the presence of Helicobacter pylori. Our data suggest that deregulation of G1 phase cyclins may play a role in gastric carcinogenesis, and may point to the presence of molecular alterations in individuals at an increased risk for gastric cancer.
 ...
PMID:Expression of G1 phase cyclins in human gastric cancer and gastric mucosa of first-degree relatives. 1206 99

Previous work of the authors established the protein expression spectra of D-type cyclins, and found that there were differential expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) biopsies. Using Western Blotting, aberrant overexpression of the cyclinD1 protein in NPC cell lines is reported. CyclinD2 and cyclinD3, the other members of D-type cyclins, were also detected in NPC cell lines. A comparison of the expression patterns in the cell lines, positive or negative in the latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) encoded by Epstein-Barr virus, revealed that the expression of D-Type cyclin proteins might be increased by EBV-LMP1. The abundance of these proteins showed characteristic variation consistent with a cell- cycle-dependent oscillation and the peak levels expressed in G1 as analyzed by double-parameter flow cytometry. These data suggest that cyclinD1 is essential for cell cycle progression in G1 and may play a role in NPC carcinogenesis.
 ...
PMID:The Primary Study on Expression and Function of D-Type Cyclins in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Lines. 1209 1

Most human tumors have mutations that result in deregulation of the cdk4/cyclin-Ink4-Rb pathway. Overexpression of D-type cyclins or cdk4 and inactivation of Ink4 inhibitors are common in human tumors. Conversely, lack of cyclin D1 expression results in significant reduction in mouse skin and mammary tumor development. However, complete elimination of tumor development was not observed in these models, suggesting that other cyclin/cdk complexes play an important role in tumorigenesis. Here we described the effects of cdk4 deficiency on mouse skin proliferation and tumor development. Cdk4 deficiency resulted in a 98% reduction in the number of tumors generated through the two-stage carcinogenesis model. The absence of cdk4 did not affect normal keratinocyte proliferation and both wild-type and cdk4 knockout epidermis are equally affected after topical treatment with the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), resulting in epidermal hyperplasia. In similar fashion, cdk4 knockout keratinocytes proliferated well in an in vivo model of wound-induced proliferation. Biochemical studies in mouse epidermis showed that cdk6 activity increased twofold in cdk4-deficient mice compared to wild-type siblings. These results suggest that therapeutic approaches to inhibit cdk4 activity could provide a target to inhibit tumor development with minimal or no effect in normal tissue.
 ...
PMID:Cdk4 deficiency inhibits skin tumor development but does not affect normal keratinocyte proliferation. 1216 65

Tangeretin (5,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone) is concentrated in the peel of citrus fruits. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that tangeretin blocked cell cycle progression at G1 phase in colorectal carcinoma COLO 205 cells. Over a 24 h exposure to tangeretin, the degree of phosphorylation of Rb was decreased after 12 h and G1 arrest developed. The protein expression of cyclins A, D1, and E reduced slightly under the same conditions. Immunocomplex kinase experiments showed that tangeretin inhibited the activities of cyclin-dependent kinases 2 (Cdk2) and 4 (Cdk4) in a dose-dependent manner in the cell-free system. As the cells were exposed to tangeretin (50 microM) over 48 h a gradual loss of both Cdk2 and 4 kinase activities occurred. Tangeretin also increased the content of the Cdk inhibitor p21 protein and this effect correlated with the elevation in p53 levels. In addition, tangeretin also increased the level of the Cdk inhibitor p27 protein within 18 h. These results suggest that tangeretin either exerts its growth-inhibitory effects through modulation of the activities of several key G1 regulatory proteins, such as Cdk2 and Cdk4, or mediates the increase of Cdk inhibitors p21 and p27.
Carcinogenesis 2002 Oct
PMID:Tangeretin induces cell-cycle G1 arrest through inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4 activities as well as elevating Cdk inhibitors p21 and p27 in human colorectal carcinoma cells. 1237 77


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>