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Ross Cagan and colleagues have usedDrosophila melanogasterto try to better understand the molecular basis for the links between type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of the development of certain types of cancer.
Resistance to therapies that target vascular endothelial growth factor may be mediated by an interleukin-17 signalling pathway in the tumour microenvironment.
A study reported inSciencehas found that sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves are involved in prostate cancer growth and dissemination in mouse models, and has begun to elucidate the molecular pathways by which nerves affect tumours, suggesting possible therapeutic approaches.
The data in this paper indicate that the combined treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mice with gemcitabine and an antibody that targets connective tissue growth factor has greater efficacy than either treatment alone owing to a reduction in the expression levels of XIAP.
Because of the increased production of acids, the altered metabolism of tumour cells renders them especially reliant on pH-regulatory systems that ensure that the intracellular pH does not decrease too much. This Review discusses the interplay among metabolism, hypoxia and pH regulation and whether pH-regulatory systems can be targeted for anticancer therapy.
The zebrafish has emerged as an important model system with which to investigate cancer, particularly for validating genomics data and for undertaking screens for oncogenes and drivers of tumour progression and metastasis. This Review outlines what we have learned and could still learn from cancer research using the zebrafish.
Endothelin 1 (ET1) is a secreted protein that can function through autocrine and paracrine signalling to modulate various properties of cancer cells and their microenvironment. This Review describes our latest understanding of the biological roles of ET1 in cancer and the results of clinical trials with drugs that target the ET1 signalling pathway.
The efficacy of surgery is dependent on removing the entire tumour and also on not damaging important structures, such as nerves. Strategies, such as fluorescent labelling, are being developed to visually identify tumour cells and crucial structures in order to improve the safe resection of tumours. These methods have the potential to improve the survival of cancer patients, as discussed here.
Many therapeutic agents target the ERBB family of receptor tyrosine kinases in various cancers. This Opinion article describes our latest understanding of the value of combining inhibitors directed towards an individual ERBB family member, including the molecular mechanisms of synergy and progress in clinical trials.
This Science and Society article addresses the possibilities of expanding scientific networking to increase awareness of the risk of lung cancer that is promoted by air pollution.
