Regression of advanced neuroendocrine tumors among patients receiving placebo
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - January 8, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Amoroso, V., Agazzi, G. M., Roca, E., Fazio, N., Mosca, A., Ravanelli, M., Spada, F., Maroldi, R., Berruti, A. Tags: Research Letter Source Type: research
Successful response to pegylated interferon alpha in a patient with recurrent paraganglioma
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - January 8, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Bahougne, T., Imperiale, A., Averous, G., Chabrier, G., Burnichon, N., Gimenez-Roqueplo, A. P., Dali-Youcef, N., Libe, R., Baudin, E., Roy, C., Lang, H., Kessler, L. Tags: Research Letter Source Type: research
Differential roles of RET isoforms in medullary and papillary thyroid carcinomas
The RET receptor tyrosine kinase mediates cell proliferation, survival and migration in embryogenesis and is implicated in the transformation and tumour progression in multiple cancers. RET is frequently mutated and constitutively activated in familial and sporadic thyroid carcinomas. As a result of alternative splicing, RET is expressed as two protein isoforms, RET9 and RET51, which differ in their unique C-terminal amino acids. These isoforms have distinct intracellular trafficking and associated signalling complexes, but functional differences are not well defined. We used shRNA-mediated knockdown (KD) of individual RET...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - December 7, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Lian, E. Y., Maritan, S. M., Cockburn, J. G., Kasaian, K., Crupi, M. J. F., Hurlbut, D., Jones, S. J. M., Wiseman, S. M., Mulligan, L. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Targeting PP2A to overcome enzalutamide resistance in AR+ breast tumors
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 28, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Cristobal, I., Torrejon, B., Pedregal, M., Rojo, F., Garcia-Foncillas, J. Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research
A six-genotype genetic prognostic model for papillary thyroid cancer
A unique prognostic role of the genetic duet of BRAF V600E and TERT promoter mutations in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been recently established, but the role of RAS mutation in this genetic interplay remains to be established. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data of patients with PTC from 19 medical centers, we investigated the interactions among the three mutations in clinical outcomes of PTC. We found that BRAF and RAS mutations were mutually exclusive, but both were associated with TERT promoter mutations, with the genetic duet of BRAF/RAS and TERT mutations occurring in 34/388 (8.76%) patients. BRAF/RAS or ...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 27, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Shen, X., Liu, R., Xing, M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Prkar1a gene knockout in the pancreas leads to neuroendocrine tumorigenesis
In conclusion, this mouse model supports the role of prkar1a as a tumor suppressor gene in the pancreas and points to the PKA pathway as a possible therapeutic target for these lesions. (Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 22, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Saloustros, E., Salpea, P., Starost, M., Liu, S., Faucz, F. R., London, E., Szarek, E., Song, W.-J., Hussain, M., Stratakis, C. A. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Hyperglycaemia-induced resistance to Docetaxel is negated by metformin: a role for IGFBP-2
The incidence of many common cancers varies between different populations and appears to be affected by a Western lifestyle. Highly proliferative malignant cells require sufficient levels of nutrients for their anabolic activity. Therefore, targeting genes and pathways involved in metabolic pathways could yield future therapeutics. A common pathway implicated in energetic and nutritional requirements of a cell is the LKB1/AMPK pathway. Metformin is a widely studied anti-diabetic drug, which improves glycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes by targeting this pathway. We investigated the effect of metformin on prostate can...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Biernacka, K. M., Persad, R. A., Bahl, A., Gillatt, D., Holly, J. M. P., Perks, C. M. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Animal models of medullary thyroid cancer: state of the art and view to the future
Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumour originating from parafollicular C cells accounting for 5–10% of thyroid cancers. Increased understanding of disease-specific molecular targets of therapy has led to the regulatory approval of two drugs (vandetanib and cabozantinib) for the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma. These drugs increase progression-free survival; however, they are often poorly tolerated and most treatment responses are transient. Animal models are indispensable tools for investigating the pathogenesis, mechanisms for tumour invasion and metastasis and new therapeutic approaches for...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Vitale, G., Gaudenzi, G., Circelli, L., Manzoni, M. F., Bassi, A., Fioritti, N., Faggiano, A., Colao, A., on behalf of NIKE Group Tags: Review Source Type: research
De novo mutation in MEN1 is not associated with parental somatic mosaicism
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Laitman, Y., Jaffe, A., Schayek, H., Friedman, E. Tags: Research Letter Source Type: research
Acknowledgement to reviewers
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Tags: Acknowledgement Source Type: research
Targeting PI3K/mTOR signaling exerts potent antitumor activity in pheochromocytoma in vivo
Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are mostly benign tumors, amenable to complete surgical resection. However, 10–17% of cases can become malignant, and once metastasized, there is no curative treatment for this disease. Given the need to identify the effective therapeutic approaches for PCC, we evaluated the antitumor potential of the dual-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor BEZ235 against these tumors. We employed an in vivo model of endogenous PCCs (MENX mutant rats), which closely recapitulate the human tumors. Mutant rats with PCCs were treated with 2 doses of BEZ235 (20 and 30 mg/kg), or with placebo, for 2 weeks. Treatment with BEZ235 ...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 20, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Lee, M., Minaskan, N., Wiedemann, T., Irmler, M., Beckers, J., Yousefi, B. H., Kaissis, G., Braren, R., Laitinen, I., Pellegata, N. S. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Patient-derived tumour xenografts for breast cancer drug discovery
We describe the importance of extensive multidimensional molecular and functional characterisation of models and combination drug–drug screens to identify complex biomarkers of drug resistance and response. We reflect on our own experiences and propose the use of a cost-effective intermediate pharmacogenomic platform (the PDTX-PDTC platform) for breast cancer drug and biomarker discovery. We discuss the limitations and unanswered questions of PDTX models; yet, still strongly envision that their use in basic and translational research will dramatically change our understanding of breast cancer biology and how to more ...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Cassidy, J. W., Batra, A. S., Greenwood, W., Bruna, A. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
ErbB-2 nuclear function in breast cancer growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy
Approximately 15–20% of breast cancers (BC) show either membrane overexpression of ErbB-2 (MErbB-2), a member of the ErbBs family of receptor tyrosine kinases, or ERBB2 gene amplification. Until the development of MErbB-2-targeted therapies, this BC subtype, called ErbB-2-positive, was associated with increased metastatic potential and poor prognosis. Although these therapies have significantly improved overall survival and cure rates, resistance to available drugs is still a major clinical issue. In its classical mechanism, MErbB-2 activates downstream signaling cascades, which transduce its effects in BC. The fact ...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Elizalde, P. V., Cordo Russo, R. I., Chervo, M. F., Schillaci, R. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
Pushing estrogen receptor around in breast cancer
The estrogen receptor-α (herein called ER) is a nuclear sex steroid receptor (SSR) that is expressed in approximately 75% of breast cancers. Therapies that modulate ER action have substantially improved the survival of patients with ER-positive breast cancer, but resistance to treatment still remains a major clinical problem. Treating resistant breast cancer requires co-targeting of ER and alternate signalling pathways that contribute to resistance to improve the efficacy and benefit of currently available treatments. Emerging data have shown that other SSRs may regulate the sites at which ER binds to DNA in ways tha...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Lim, E., Tarulli, G., Portman, N., Hickey, T. E., Tilley, W. D., Palmieri, C. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
Targeting CDK9: a promising therapeutic opportunity in prostate cancer
Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) is a key transcriptional regulator and a lucrative target for cancer treatment. Targeting CDK9 can effectively confine the hyperactivity of androgen receptor and the constitutive expression of anti-apoptotic proteins; both being main causes of prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. In castrate-resistant PCa, traditional therapies that only target androgen receptor (AR) have become obsolete due to reprograming in AR activity to make the cells independent of androgen. CDK9 inhibitors may provide a new and better therapeutic opportunity over traditional treatment options by targeti...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Rahaman, M. H., Kumarasiri, M., Mekonnen, L. B., Yu, M., Diab, S., Albrecht, H., Milne, R. W., Wang, S. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
