Past Issues: Cancer
- 2009 Cancer
- 2008 Cancer
October 2009
Targets and Mechanisms
Wnt it rains
by Steve Edelson, Executive Editor
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1555
Dutch researchers have found a new target in the Wnt pathway called TNIK. The kinase could be druggable and may be a good target in colon and other cancers. But TNIK's general expression pattern will have to be analyzed to evaluate the potential side effects of inhibiting it.
Distillery: Therapeutics
B cell lymphoma
CD20
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1560
In vitro and mouse studies identified a mutant variant of the anti-CD20 mAb Rituxan rituximab that could be used to treat B cell lymphomas.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cancer
ATG3 autophagy-related 3 homolog (ATG3); viral FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1561
Studies in mice and in cell culture suggest that triggering cell death with FLIP-derived peptides could help prevent virus-induced cancers like Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma.
Summary - ATG3 autophagy-related 3 homolog (ATG3); viral FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP) | PDF (107 KB) - ATG3 autophagy-related 3 homolog (ATG3); viral FLICE-like inhibitory protein (FLIP)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cancer
K-Ras (KRAS); NF-κB; TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1562
A study in cell culture suggests that inhibiting TBK1 could help treat K-Ras-driven cancers.
Summary - K-Ras (KRAS); NF-κB; TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) | PDF (107 KB) - K-Ras (KRAS); NF-κB; TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cancer
Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP; RAFT1); mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1); mTORC2
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1563
Studies in cell culture identified pyrazolopyrimidine analogs as mTOR inhibitors that could help treat cancer.
Summary - Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP; RAFT1); mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1); mTORC2 | PDF (112 KB) - Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR; FRAP; RAFT1); mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1); mTORC2
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cancer
T helper 17 (Th17) cells; IL-17; chemokine CC motif ligand 20 (CCL20; MIP3A); monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1564
Studies in mice suggest that adoptive transfer of tumor-specific Th17 cells could help treat cancer.
Summary - T helper 17 (Th17) cells; IL-17; chemokine CC motif ligand 20 (CCL20; MIP3A); monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2) | PDF (110 KB) - T helper 17 (Th17) cells; IL-17; chemokine CC motif ligand 20 (CCL20; MIP3A); monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; CCL2)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cancer
TTK protein kinase (TTK; MPS1)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1565
A study in cell culture suggests that antagonizing MPS1 could increase the efficacy of paclitaxel in treating cancer.
Summary - TTK protein kinase (TTK; MPS1) | PDF (110 KB) - TTK protein kinase (TTK; MPS1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Colon cancer
TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase (TNIK)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1566
In vitro studies suggest that TNIK inhibitors could help treat colon cancer.
Summary - TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase (TNIK) | PDF (107 KB) - TRAF2 and NCK interacting kinase (TNIK)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER1; ERBB1); HER2 (ERBB2; neu)
Published online Oct. 29 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1567
Studies in cells and in rats suggest that a class of dual HER1 and HER2 inhibitors could help treat drug-resistant NSCLC.
Summary - Epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER1; ERBB1); HER2 (ERBB2; neu) | PDF (114 KB) - Epidermal growth factor receptor 1 (HER1; ERBB1); HER2 (ERBB2; neu)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Hydroxysteroid 17-β dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1528
Studies in cell cultures suggest that thienopyrimidinone inhibitors of HSD17B1 could help treat hormone-dependent breast cancer.
Summary - Hydroxysteroid 17-β dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1) | PDF (112 KB) - Hydroxysteroid 17-β dehydrogenase 1 (HSD17B1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53); mdm2 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM2)
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1529
A bee venom–derived peptide could provide a scaffold for p53 inhibitors to treat cancer.
Summary - Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53); mdm2 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM2) | PDF (110 KB) - Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53); mdm2 p53 binding protein homolog (MDM2)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Not applicable
Published online Oct. 22 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1530
High throughput profiling suggests that activation of two or more canonical oncogenic pathways could help predict patient survival and guide patient selection in gastric cancer trials.
Distillery: Therapeutics
IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1495
Genetic association studies suggest that deletions in IKZF1 could be used as a prognostic marker for Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive ALL.
Summary - IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1) | PDF (114 KB) - IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
v-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (avian) (MYB; c-myb); nuclear factor I/B (NFIB)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1496
Studies in primary tumors and in cell cultures suggest that inhibiting the MYB-NFIB fusion gene could help treat adenoid cystic carcinomas of the breast and head and neck.
Summary - v-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (avian) (MYB; c-myb); nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) | PDF (111 KB) - v-myb myeloblastosis viral oncogene homolog (avian) (MYB; c-myb); nuclear factor I/B (NFIB)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Annexin A1 (ANXA1)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1497
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that inhibiting ANXA1 could help treat cancer.
Summary - Annexin A1 (ANXA1) | PDF (110 KB) - Annexin A1 (ANXA1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Cas-Br-M ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence b (CBLB)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1498
Studies in murine cells and in mice suggest that inhibiting CBLB could boost the activity of NK T cell agonists to treat cancer.
Summary - Cas-Br-M ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence b (CBLB) | PDF (110 KB) - Cas-Br-M ecotropic retroviral transforming sequence b (CBLB)
Distillery: Therapeutics
DNA
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1499
In vitro studies identified 1,4,5,8-naphthalentetracarboxylic diimide derivatives that could help treat cancer.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1500
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that 2-phenylethynesulfonamide (PES) inhibits Hsp70 and could help treat cancer.
Summary - Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) | PDF (111 KB) - Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)
Distillery: Therapeutics
MAP kinase 1 (MAPK1; ERK-2)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1501
SAR studies identified a pyrimidylpyrrole-based ERK-2 inhibitor that could help treat cancer.
Summary - MAP kinase 1 (MAPK1; ERK-2) | PDF (110 KB) - MAP kinase 1 (MAPK1; ERK-2)
Distillery: Therapeutics
DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1502
A study in mice suggests that inhibiting DNMT1 could help treat leukemia.
Summary - DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) | PDF (110 KB) - DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
SOX2
Published online Oct. 15 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1503
Genetic and in vitro studies suggest that inhibiting SOX2 could help treat lung and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC).
Targets and Mechanisms
Hitting HIF1 in cancer
by Tim Fulmer, Senior Writer
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1461
Johns Hopkins researchers have identified the first compound that directly inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor 1, a central player in triggering angiogenesis and invasion in solid tumors. The compound, acriflavine, was used as an antibiotic nearly 100 years ago.
Full text - Hitting HIF1 in cancer | PDF (257 KB) - Hitting HIF1 in cancer
Distillery: Therapeutics
Kruppel-like factor 17 (KLF17)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1465
A study in human samples and in mice suggests that increasing KLF17 expression could help prevent breast cancer metastasis.
Summary - Kruppel-like factor 17 (KLF17) | PDF (109 KB) - Kruppel-like factor 17 (KLF17)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A; HIF1α); HIF1B (HIF1β)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1466
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that acriflavine, a small molecule antimicrobial, could help treat cancer.
Summary - Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A; HIF1α); HIF1B (HIF1β) | PDF (113 KB) - Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1A; HIF1α); HIF1B (HIF1β)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Mitochondrial transporter
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1467
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that an analog of GSAO could help treat cancer.
Summary - Mitochondrial transporter | PDF (110 KB) - Mitochondrial transporter
Distillery: Therapeutics
Dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3; VHR)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1468
In vitro studies identified inhibitors of VHR that could help treat cervical cancer.
Summary - Dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3; VHR) | PDF (109 KB) - Dual specificity phosphatase 3 (DUSP3; VHR)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Not applicable
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1469
A study in mice suggests that CpG oligonucleotides can boost the CD8+ T cell response and help prevent lymphoma relapse.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Proteasome
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1470
SAR and in vitro studies identified analogs of the proteasome inhibitor salinosporamide A that could help treat MM or mantle cell lymphoma.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2); thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1; THBS1)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1471
A study in tissue culture suggests that increasing the activity of TSP-1 could help treat pancreatic cancer.
Summary - Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2); thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1; THBS1) | PDF (107 KB) - Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2); thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1; THBS1)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC); IL-6
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1472
In vitro human and mouse studies suggest that inhibiting aPKC or IL-6 could help treat hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
Summary - Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC); IL-6 | PDF (108 KB) - Atypical protein kinase C (aPKC); IL-6
Distillery: Therapeutics
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4; CD334)
Published online Oct. 8 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1473
Studies in human cell culture and in mice suggest that inhibiting FGFR4 could help treat rhabdomyosarcoma.
Summary - Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4; CD334) | PDF (112 KB) - Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4; CD334)
Distillery: Therapeutics
Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1432
A study in mice suggests that p53 expression could help predict sensitivity of medulloblastomas to heat shock protein inhibitors.
Summary - Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53) | PDF (118 KB) - Tumor protein p53 (TP53; p53)
Distillery: Therapeutics
BRAF
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1433
Studies in mice identified BRAF inhibitors that could be optimized to help treat cancer.
Distillery: Therapeutics
Not applicable
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1434
In vitro and mouse studies identified a series of Ellence–nitric oxide copolymer conjugates that could help treat cancer.
Distillery: Therapeutics
ABL tyrosine kinase (ABL; ABL1; c-ABL); tumor protein p63 (TP63; p63)
Published online Oct. 1 2009; doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.1435
In vitro and mouse studies suggest that inhibiting the ABL-p63 pathway during cisplatin treatment could help prevent chemotherapy-induced ovarian toxicity.
Summary - ABL tyrosine kinase (ABL; ABL1; c-ABL); tumor protein p63 (TP63; p63) | PDF (111 KB) - ABL tyrosine kinase (ABL; ABL1; c-ABL); tumor protein p63 (TP63; p63)
