Research Highlights in 2010

Alterations to lipid metabolism pathways might underlie the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer.

Regulators of cell invasion in nematode worms identify novel metastasis genes.

Three studies provide new insights into the role of Myc in cancer; showing MYC regulates transcription elongation, that cancer risk loci in the 8q24 gene desert physically interact withMYC and highlighting the contribution of MYCNto medulloblastoma.

The entire genome sequence of biopsy samples from a basal-like breast cancer primary tumour and brain metastasis identifies some of the genetic changes evident in the metastases that were also present in a subset of cells from the primary tumour.

Ragulator is a new, crucial component of the mTORC1 signalling pathway.

Loss of SKP2 expression induces senescence in response to oncogene activation.

Perrotti and colleagues identify two mechanisms by which miR-328 regulates the expression of its targets, which has implications for the progression of CML.

Deletion ofDicer1in osteoprogenitors disrupts haematopoiesis and induces myelodysplasia.

Two groups provide conflicting evidence for the involvement of placental growth factor in tumour angiogenesis and growth.

Loss of expression of the homeobox geneHOXA9 correlates with more aggressive breast cancer phenotypes, perhaps owing to the ability of HOXA9 to regulate expression of BRCA1.

Tumours shift the host immune response to tolerogenic through a chemokine pathway normally involved in maintaining tolerance in the lymph node stroma.

Tumour development by fungal infection of maize requires specific gene expression by both the host and pathogen.

The findings from a preliminary report on a Phase I clinical trial of a targeted small interfering RNA drug and the use of an antagomir to target a microRNA associated with metastasis are discussed.

Long-range epigenetic silencing decreases transcriptional plasticity in prostate cancer.

A new method allows the identification of rare mutations in mitochondrial DNA that differ between normal and cancer cells.

Glioblastoma radiotherapy might be improved by inhibitors of vasculogenesis rather than angiogenesis.

Another member of the hippo–salvador–warts pathway has been identified.

Fluorescent probes that specifically label tumours improve the surgical removal of tumours.

DOK2 is frequently deleted in human lung cancer and suppresses lung cancer cell growth.

Recent results indicate that stringent profiling of tumours will be needed prior to the use of RAF inhibitors.