Volume 11 Issue 8, August 2011

Two papers report the effects of TET2 deficiency on haematopoiesis in mice and show that TET2 is a pleiotropic regulator of lineage development.

Cancer-associated cachexia is reduced in mice lacking enzymes that are crucial for triglyceride lipolysis, and a similar mechanism may operate in humans.

A new study reveals that the oesophageal to intestinal metaplasia observed in Barrett's oesophagus may be caused by oesophageal colonization by a residual embryonic cell population

Two papers have examined how modifying nanoparticles can increase the specificity of tumour cell killingin vivo.

A new genomic-scale computer model of the cancer metabolome indicates synthetic lethal interactions.

In vitroimaging reveals a possible mechanism for clearance of the mesothelial barrier by ovarian cancer cells during metastasis.

The expression of prostate-specific antigens using viral vectors shows promise for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Sarcomas are increasingly classified according to the genetic abnormalities associated with their pathogenesis. What are the mechanisms of sarcomagenesis and how might these genetic abnormalities lead to improved therapy for patients?

Is the ability of D-type cyclins to activate cyclin-dependent kinases an effective means of targeting these oncogenes, and how might the patient subgroups that are most likely to benefit be identified?

Chemotaxis confers directionality to migrating tumour cells away from the tumour and recruits various cells to the tumour. This Review discusses the mechanisms of chemotaxis and how this process contributes to tumour progression.

The nucleosome remodelling and histone deacetylase (NuRD) complex has been implicated in the regulation of transcriptional events that are integral to oncogenesis and cancer progression. This Review discusses how inappropriate localization of the complex could contribute to tumour biology.

Perturbation of oestrogen receptor (ER) subtype-specific expression has been detected in various types of cancer, and these differences correlate with the clinical outcome. The selective restoration or ablation of their activity is one of the major therapeutic approaches for hormone-dependent cancers.

The ubiquitous second messenger Ca²⁺is a crucial regulator of cell migration. This Review discusses recent data on ORAI1, STIM1 and TRP, which have been implicated in tumour cell migration and the metastatic cell phenotype.