Emerging data on androgen receptor splice variants in prostate cancer
Androgen receptor splice variants are alternatively spliced variants of androgen receptor, which are C-terminally truncated and lack the canonical ligand-binding domain. Accumulating evidence has indicated a significant role of androgen receptor splice variants in mediating resistance of castration-resistant prostate cancer to current therapies and in predicting therapeutic responses. As such, there is an urgent need to target androgen receptor splicing variants for more effective treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Identification of precise and critical targeting points to deactivate androgen receptor splic...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Cao, S., Zhan, Y., Dong, Y. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
Androgen receptor signaling in castration-resistant prostate cancer: a lesson in persistence
The androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis drives all stages of prostate cancer, including the lethal, drug-resistant form of the disease termed castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which arises after failure of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Persistent AR activity in spite of ADT and the second-generation AR-targeting agents enzalutamide and abiraterone is achieved in many cases by direct alterations to the AR signaling axis. Herein, we provide a detailed description of how such alterations contribute to the development and progression of CRPC. Aspects of this broad and ever-evolving field specifically address...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Coutinho, I., Day, T. K., Tilley, W. D., Selth, L. A. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
Novel twists in hormone-mediated carcinogenesis
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 10, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Tilley, W. D. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
M918V RET mutation causes familial medullary thyroid carcinoma: study of 8 affected kindreds
The objectives of this study are to describe the rare M918V RET mutation discovered in 8 MTC kindreds from Brazil lacking the MEN 2B phenotype classically observed in M918T patients and to investigate the presence of a founder effect for this germline mutation. Eight apparently sporadic MTC cases were diagnosed with the germline M918V RET mutation. Subsequently, their relatives underwent clinical and genetic assessment (n = 113), and M918V was found in 42 of them. Until today, 20/50 M918V carriers underwent thyroidectomy and all presented MTC/C-cell hyperplasia; the remainder carriers are on clinical follow-up. None of the...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Martins-Costa, M. C., Cunha, L. L., Lindsey, S. C., Camacho, C. P., Dotto, R. P., Furuzawa, G. K., Sousa, M. S. A., Kasamatsu, T. S., Kunii, I. S., Martins, M. M., Machado, A. L., Martins, J. R. M., Dias-da-Silva, M. R., Maciel, R. M. B. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features
The objective of this study was to report the frequency, ultrasonographic appearance, cytology result and long-term evolution of cases of NIFTP seen at our institution. We excluded tumours ≤1 cm. The sample consisted of 129 patients. Sixty-four patients were submitted to total thyroidectomy and 65 to lobectomy. These patients with NIFTP did not receive radioiodine. NIFTP corresponded to 15% of cases diagnosed as PTC >1 cm. An ultrasonographic appearance considered to be of low suspicion for malignancy was common in NIFTP (32.5%), whereas a highly suspicious appearance was uncommon (5%). NIFTP frequently exhibited ind...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Rosario, P. W., Mourao, G. F., Nunes, M. B., Nunes, M. S., Calsolari, M. R. Tags: Research Source Type: research
Familial non-medullary thyroid cancer: unraveling the genetic maze
Familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) constitutes 3–9% of all thyroid cancers. Out of all FNMTC cases, only 5% in the syndromic form has well-studied driver germline mutations. These associated syndromes include Cowden syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner syndrome, Carney complex type 1, Werner syndrome and DICER1 syndrome. It is important for the clinician to recognize these phenotypes so that genetic counseling and testing can be initiated to enable surveillance for associated malignancies and genetic testing of family members. The susceptibility chromosomal loci and genes of 95% of FNMTC cases...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Peiling Yang, S., Ngeow, J. Tags: Review Source Type: research
The endocrine influence on the bone microenvironment in early breast cancer
Multiple factors influence the survival of disseminated breast tumour cells (DTCs) in bone. Whereas gene signature studies have identified genes that predict a propensity of tumours to metastasise to bone, the bone environment is key in determining the fate of these tumour cells. Breast cancer cells locate to specific niches within the bone that support their survival, regulated by host factors within the bone microenvironment including bone cells, cells of the bone micro vasculature, immune cells and the extracellular matrix. Reproductive endocrine hormones that affect bone and clinical studies across the menopausal trans...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Wilson, C., Brown, H., Holen, I. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Somatostatin analogues in acromegaly and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours: past, present and future
Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that arises when the pituitary gland secretes excess growth hormone (GH), which in turn stimulates a concomitant increase in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NET) constitute a heterogeneous group of tumours that can secrete serotonin and a variety of peptide hormones that may cause characteristic symptoms known as carcinoid syndrome or other symptoms and hormonal hypersecretion syndromes depending on the tumour’s site of origin. Current medical therapy for the treatment of acromegaly and GEP-NET involves the adminis...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Oberg, K., Lamberts, S. W. J. Tags: Review Source Type: research
The biology and the genetics of Hurthle cell tumors of the thyroid
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Maximo, V., Lima, J., Prazeres, H., Soares, P., Sobrinho-Simoes, M. Tags: Addendum Source Type: research
In vitro transforming potential, intracellular signaling properties and sensitivity to a kinase inhibitor (sorafenib) of RET proto-oncogene variants Glu511Lys, Ser649Leu and Arg886Trp
(Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer)
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - November 1, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Prazeres, H., Couto, J. P., Rodrigues, F., Vinagre, J., Torres, J., Trovisco, V., Martins, T. C., Sobrinho-Simoes, M., Soares, P. Tags: Addendum Source Type: research
Combination therapy approaches to target insulin-like growth factor receptor signaling in breast cancer
Insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF1R) signaling as a therapeutic target has been widely studied and clinically tested. Despite the vast amount of literature supporting the biological role of IGF1R in breast cancer, effective clinical translation in targeting its activity as a cancer therapy has not been successful. The intrinsic complexity of cancer cell signaling mediated by many tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors that work together to modulate each other and intracellular downstream mediators in the cell highlights that studying IGF1R expression and activity as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target in iso...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - October 21, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Ochnik, A. M., Baxter, R. C. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Plasma membrane ion channels and epithelial to mesenchymal transition in cancer cells
A variety of studies have suggested that epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) may be important in the progression of cancer in patients through metastasis and/or therapeutic resistance. A number of pathways have been investigated in EMT in cancer cells. Recently, changes in plasma membrane ion channel expression as a consequence of EMT have been reported. Other studies have identified specific ion channels able to regulate aspects of EMT induction. The utility of plasma membrane ion channels as targets for pharmacological modulation make them attractive for therapeutic approaches to target EMT. In this review, we pro...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - October 21, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Azimi, I., Monteith, G. R. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Application of molecular biology of differentiated thyroid cancer for clinical prognostication
Although cancer outcome results from the interplay between genetics and environment, researchers are making a great effort for applying molecular biology in the prognostication of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Nevertheless, role of molecular characterisation in the prognostic setting of DTC is still nebulous. Among the most common and well-characterised genetic alterations related to DTC, including mutations of BRAF and RAS and RET rearrangements, BRAFV600E is the only mutation showing unequivocal association with clinical outcome. Unfortunately, its accuracy is strongly limited by low specificity. Recently, the int...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - October 21, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Marotta, V., Sciammarella, C., Colao, A., Faggiano, A. Tags: Review Source Type: research
WOMEN IN CANCER THEMATIC REVIEW: Diverse functions of DNA methylation: implications for prostate cancer and beyond
Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in men worldwide. Current clinical screening ensures that most prostate cancers are diagnosed while still organ confined, but disease outcome is highly variable. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular features contributing to prostate cancer aggressiveness is being sought. For many cancers, aberrant genome-wide patterns of cytosine DNA methylation in CpG dinucleotides distinguish tumor from normal tissue and contribute to disease progression by altering the transcriptome. In prostate cancer, recent genomic studies identified cancer and high grade-specific differ...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - October 21, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Sweet, T. J., Ting, A. H. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
WOMEN IN CANCER THEMATIC REVIEW: Ovarian cancer-peritoneal cell interactions promote extracellular matrix processing
Ovarian cancer has a distinct tendency for metastasising via shedding of cancerous cells into the peritoneal cavity and implanting onto the peritoneum that lines the pelvic organs. Once ovarian cancer cells adhere to the peritoneal cells, they migrate through the peritoneal layer and invade the local organs. Alterations in the extracellular environment are critical for tumour initiation, progression and intra-peritoneal dissemination. To increase our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in ovarian cancer metastasis and to identify novel therapeutic targets, we recently studied the interaction of ovarian cance...
Source: Endocrine-Related Cancer - October 21, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: Ricciardelli, C., Lokman, N. A., Ween, M. P., Oehler, M. K. Tags: Thematic Review Source Type: research
