Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0699790 (colon cancer)
 28,837 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

In an attempt to isolate potential molecular targets for diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC), we have been analyzing expression profiles of clinical samples from CRC patients using genome-wide cDNA microarray. Among the genes up-regulated frequently in colorectal tumors, we here focused on TOMM34 (34 kDa-translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane). Immunohistochemical staining revealed significant accumulation of TOMM34 protein in CRC tissues compared with their corresponding non-cancerous mucosae. Transfection of colon cancer HCT116 cells with short-interfering RNA (siRNA) specific to TOMM34 effectively suppressed its expression and drastically inhibited cell growth. These findings suggest that TOMM34 is involved in the growth of cancer cells, and may contribute to the development of novel anticancer drugs and/or diagnosis for CRC.
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PMID:Identification of TOMM34, which shows elevated expression in the majority of human colon cancers, as a novel drug target. 1682 Aug 80

Partial response (PR) was obtained in a patient with advanced colon cancer following peptide vaccine therapy. A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for peptide vaccine therapy. She had undergone sigmoidectomy at a nearby hospital and eventually developed multiple metastases to the lung and pelvic lymph nodes with left hydronephrosis. A ureteral stenting catheter had been inserted for left hydronephrosis, and oral opioids had been administered for relief of pain in the left pelvic region. Three tumor-antigen-derived peptides (RNF43, TOMM34, and KOC1) and two human VEGFR-derived peptides (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) were used as a cocktail. The peptide cocktail was subcutaneously inoculated on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 and repeated at 14-day intervals. The patient's serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen was 28.9 ng/mL (N<5 ng/mL) before treatment, and it decreased promptly after the initiation of therapy to within a normal range. Evaluation of computed tomography images at week 5 revealed PR as determined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor criteria. After month 3, the oral opioid was discontinued. The PR lasted for 4 months and was followed by stable disease for another 4 months. No particular adverse effects were observed. A cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response was evaluated by immunosorbent spot assay, and a positive CTL response was recognized against at least one of five peptides at each end of the six courses. Immunotherapy has been proven to slow tumor growth by inducing an active antitumor immune response; and therefore, significant tumor shrinkage is rarely observed. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of PR presented in a patient with advanced colon cancer.
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PMID:Significant clinical response of advanced colon cancer to peptide vaccine therapy: a case report. 2276 29