Volume 10 Issue 3, March 2010

Cooperative signalling between two tumour clones expressing different oncogenic mutations is reported.

Monoglyceride lipase levels are increased in aggressive tumours, provide the principal source of free fatty acids and increase the production of biologically active lipids.

A selective TORC1 and TORC2 active site inhibitor has high efficacy and tolerability in models of acute leukaemia.

Four recent papers detail changes in the cancer genome.

New insight into how Bub1 and BUBR1 prevent chromosomal instability.

A paracrine signalling pathway between tumour cells and tumour-associated macrophages has been characterized.

The proportion of cancer stem cells might underpin differencies between poorly and well-differentiated breast cancers.

Accumulating evidence implicates the deregulation of Eph–ephrin signalling in cancer pathogenesis. Bidirectional signalling and context-dependent effects allow the Eph–ephrin system to have complex and contrasting effects on tumours. There is still much to be learned about this system in cancer, but it is nevertheless emerging as a therapeutic target.

Eicosanoids, including prostaglandins and leukotrienes, are biologically active lipids that have been implicated in inflammation and cancer. This Review highlights the roles of eicosanoids in tumours and their microenvironment, and how their signalling pathways might be exploited to develop more effective cancer chemopreventive and/or therapeutic agents.

Microtubules are dynamic structures composed of α–β-tubulin heterodimers that are important targets for tubulin-binding agents such as paclitaxel. Mutation or aberrant expression of specific β-tubulin isotypes and changes to microtubule-regulating proteins are associated with resistance to these drugs. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate this resistance will be vital to improve the efficacy of these agents.

This Opinion article discusses some key similarities between breast and prostate cancer, with a focus on hormone and hormone receptor involvement. Understanding the commonalities between these cancers will hopefully provide unique opportunities for therapy.

This Timeline article looks back over 50 years of haematopoietic stem cell transplantation as a cancer therapy, highlighting the substantial advances that have been made to increase the specificity of this treatment for cancer cells, as well as improvements in availability, safety and patient outcomes.

This Timeline article charts progress in mathematical modelling of cancer over the past 50 years, highlighting the different theoretical approaches that have been used to dissect the disease and the insights that have arisen.