Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, and ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy. Women carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation have a very high lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The only effective risk-reducing strategy in BRCA-mutated women is a prophylactic surgery with bilateral mastectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. However, many women are reluctant to undergo these prophylactic surgeries due to a consequent mutilated body perception, unfulfilled family planning, and precocious menopause. In these patients, an effective screening strategy is available only for breast cancer, but it only consists in close radiological exams with a significant burden for the health system and a significant distress to the patients. No biomarkers have been shown to effectively detect breast and ovarian cancer at an early stage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulatory molecules operating in a post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been documented in several pathological conditions, including solid tumors, suggesting their involvement in tumorigenesis. miRNAs can be detected in blood and urine and could be used as biomarkers in solid tumors. Encouraging results are emerging in gynecological malignancy as well, and suggest a different pattern of expression of miRNAs in biological fluids of breast and ovarian cancer patients as compared to healthy control. Aim of this study is to highlight the role of the urinary miRNAs which are specifically associated with cancer and to investigate their role in early diagnosis and in determining the prognosis in breast and ovarian cancer.
Research over the years has progressively and sequentially provided near complete resolution of regulators of the DNA repair pathways which are so important for cancer prevention. Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), a high-molecular-weight PI3K-family kinase has emerged as a master regulator of DNA damage signaling and extensive cross-talk between ATM and downstream proteins forms an interlaced signaling network. There is rapidly growing scientific evidence emphasizing newly emerging paradigms in ATM biology. In this review, we provide latest information regarding how oxidative stress induced activation of ATM can be utilized as a therapeutic target in different cancer cell lines and in xenografted mice. Moreover, crosstalk between autophagy and ATM is also discussed with focus on how autophagy inhibition induces apoptosis in cancer cells.
Overwhelmingly increasing advancements in miRNA biology have opened new avenues for pharmaceutical companies to initiate studies on designing effective, safe, and therapeutically active candidates using miRNA mimetics and miRNA inhibitors. In accordance with this approach, development of miravirsen and SPC3649, an LNA-based (locked nucleic acid) antisense molecule against miR-122, to treat hepatitis C has sparked interest in identifying most efficient microRNAs for journey from bench-top toward pharmaceutical industry and breakthroughs in delivery technology will pave the way to 'final frontier'. MRX34, a liposome-formulated mimic of miR-34 for treatment of metastatic cancer with liver involvement and unresectable primary liver cancer, has also entered in clinical trial. There is a successive increase in the research work related to miR-34 biology and miRNA regulation of modulators of intracellular signaling cascades. We partition this review into how miR-34a is regulated by different proteins and how Wnt- and TGF-induced intracellular signaling cascades are modulated by miR-34a. In this review, we bring to limelight how miR-34a regulates its target genes to induce apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation as evidenced by in vitro and in vivo analysis. We also discuss miR-34 regulation of PDGFR and c-MET and recent advancements in nanotechnologically delivered miR-34a. Spotlight is also set on modulation of chemotherapeutic sensitivity by miR-34a in cancer cells using reconstruction studies. Clinical trial of miR-34 is indicative of its tremendous potential, and continuous cutting research will prove to be effective in efficiently translating laboratory findings into clinically effective therapeutics.
Rapidly increasing number of outstanding developments in the field of TRAIL mediated signaling have revolutionized our current information about inducing and maximizing TRAIL mediated apoptosis in resistant cancer cells. Data obtained with high-throughput technologies have provided finer resolution of tumor biology and now it is known that a complex structure containing malignant cells strictly coupled with a large variety of surrounding cells constitutes the tumor stroma. Utility of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as cellular vehicles has added new layers of information. There is sufficient experimental evidence substantiating efficient gene deliveries into MSCs by retroviral, lentiviral and adenoviral vectors. Moreover, there is a paradigm shift in molecular oncology and recent high impact research has shown controlled expression of TRAIL in cancer cells on insertion of complementary sequences for frequently downregulated miRNAs. In this review we have attempted to provide an overview of utility of TRAIL engineered MSCs for effective killing of tumor and potential of using miRNA response elements as rheostat like switch to control expression of TRAIL in cancer cells.
Chronic myeloid leukemia is a molecular fault from neoplastic transformation of hematopoietic stem cells. It is elicited by an extensive spectrum of “fused oncoproteins” which are necessitated in the disease refractoriness. It docks a miscellany of fusion transcripts originating from chromosomal rearrangements. Additionally, vulnerability to genomic rearrangements is particularly enhanced in chronic myeloid leukemia which is triggered by BCR-ABL fusion gene. The hallmark genetic abnormality of chronic myeloid leukemia is at t (9; 22) (q34; q11) transformation fallouts into small Philadelphia chromosome. Three types of proteins are encoded by BCR-ABL oncogene such as p230, p210 and p190. 210 kilodalton dysregulated tyrosine kinase (p210) is indispensable and adequate for leukaemogenesis. BCR-ABL oncoprotein contains specific domains for the activation of signal transduction. Presently there are below par measures to demarcate this rapidly growing threat. The review will cover various mechanistic insights of the BCR-ABL genomic instability. Moreover effectiveness of therapeutic interventions recently designed keeping in view the molecular hierarchy will be evaluated.
Key words: Chronic myeloid leukemia, imatinib, break point cluster region- c-Abelson (BCR-ABL).
Sensitive and stable ethanol biosensor development based on Acetobacter aceti biofilm for halal detection of food and beveragesNinik Triayu Susparini, Zaenal Abidin, Dyah Iswantini,, Novik Nurhidayat
Abstract Recent technological and analytical breakthroughs in genomics and proteomics have deepened our understanding related to the multifaceted nature of cancer. Because of therapeutically challenging nature of cancer, there has been a renewed interest in phytochemistry, and much attention is currently being given to the identification of signaling pathway inhibitors. Data obtained through high‐throughput technologies has provided a broader landscape of wiring maps of complex oncogenic signaling networks, thus revealing novel therapeutic opportunities. Increasingly, it is being realized that although our knowledge related to physiological and pathophysiological roles of signal transduction cascades has evolved rapidly, the clinical development of signaling pathway inhibitors has been challenging. Quercetin has attracted considerable attention because of its amazingly high pharmacological value. Research over decades has sequentially shown that quercetin effectively inhibited cancer development and progression. In this review, we have attempted to set the spotlight on the regulation of different cell signaling pathways by quercetin. We partition this multicomponent review into how quercetin effectively regulates the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway, Janus kinase‐signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular endothelial growth factor receptor signaling cascade in different types of cancers. We also provide an overview of the regulation of NOTCH and SHH pathways by quercetin. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have also emerged as versatile regulators of cancer, and contemporary studies have shed light on the ability of quercetin to control different miRNAs in various cancers. We have scattered information related to NOTCH and SHH pathways, and future studies must converge on the investigation of these pathways to see how quercetin modulates the signaling machinery of these pathways.
Prostate cancer is a multifactorial disease. It harbours a miscellany of fusion transcripts originating from chromosomal rearrangements. Additionally, susceptibility to genomic rearrangements is particularly enhanced in prostate cancer which is triggered by androgen. These fusion transcripts hijack the promoters of androgen regulated genes and exploit them for triggering anomalies. These chimeric transcripts vary in various cancer foci. A complex barcode underlies the heterogeneous response of these entities to stress. Nonetheless these transcripts create a formidable state of affairs within the cell. Exacerbation of the disease which is mediated by fusion transcripts culminates into a poor survival.
Currently there are unsatisfactory and inefficient measures to circumscribe this rapidly growing threat. The review will encompass various mechanistic insights of the androgen receptor mediated genomic instability and the mediators entailed in rendering cell error prone. Moreover efficacy of therapeutic interventions recently designed keeping in view the molecular hierarchy will be evaluated.