News From The Journal Of Clinical Investigation: June 11, 2012
6/12/2012
ALLERGY AND ASTHMA Evidence for a new therapeutic target for inflammatory skin diseases Many chronic inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis and asthma, are initially triggered by an allergic reaction. However, the mechanism through which an allergic reaction becomes a chronic condition remains poorly understood...
Using The Immune System To Fight Cancer
6/12/2012
The human immune system has a natural ability to identify and attack tumor cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune cells that are particularly effective at killing tumor cells due to their ability to secrete cytotoxic enzymes. However, mutations have allowed many types of tumors to develop a resistance to NK-mediated killing through ill-defined mechanisms. Dr...
Unusual 'Altruistic' Stem Cell Behavior Identified With Possible Link To Cancer
6/12/2012
When most groups of mammalian cells are faced with a shortage of nutrients or oxygen, the phrase "every man for himself" is more apt than "all for one, one for all." Unlike colonies of bacteria, which often cooperate to thrive as a group, mammalian cells have never been observed to help one another out...
Cells Identified That Are Targeted By HPV, The Origins Of Cervical Cancer
6/12/2012
Virtually all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections, with just two HPV types, 16 and 18, responsible for about 70 percent of all cases, according to the National Cancer Institute. Scientists have presumed for decades that the cervical cancers that develop from HPV infection arise in a specific location in the cervix...
How Cells' Common Sugar Molecules Influence Inflammation, Cancer Metastasis, And Related Conditions
6/12/2012
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have developed chemical compounds that can make key modifications to common sugar molecules ("glycans"), which are found on the surface of all cells in our body...
Breast Tumor Signatures Found That Predict Treatment Response
6/12/2012
Decoding the DNA of patients with advanced breast cancer has allowed scientists to identify distinct cancer "signatures" that could help predict which women are most likely to benefit from estrogen-lowering therapy, while sparing others from unnecessary treatment. Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St...
ADAM28-Mediated Cancer Metastasis
6/12/2012
ADAM28, a metalloproteinase belonging to the ADAM gene family, cleaves the von Willebrand factor (VWF) and inhibits VWF-mediated cancer cell apoptosis, thereby enhancing lung metastases, so inhibiting its expression gives a substantial reduction in lung metastases, according to a study published June 8 in the Journal of The National Cancer Institute...
Vismodegib For Treatment Of Patients With Basal Cell Carcinoma
6/11/2012
According to results from the pivotal Phase II ERIVANCE BCC trial, up to 2,000 individuals suffering from advanced basal cell carcinoma (aBCC) in the UK could significantly benefit from a once a day pill called vismodegib...
Perjeta For Breast Cancer Gets Roche's Genentech An FDA Approval
6/11/2012
Last week, Roche and Genentech announced results from its Phase III trial of trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) which slows progress of metastatic breast cancer, they hope to have FDA approval later in the year. In further news, Perjeta, also for treating breast cancer, has been given FDA approval also for treating HER2-postive late-stage (metastatic) breast cancer...
Early tumor shrinkage in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated first line with the EGFR inhibitor cetuximab (Erbitux) is associated with prolonged survival, show results reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting (1-5 June 2012; Chicago, USA)...