Did a risk of skin cancer drive the evolution of black skin in humans?
2/26/2014
A new analysis suggests that black skin may have evolved in humans as a protective measure against skin cancer.Previously, skin cancer has been disregarded as an influence in the evolution of black skin in humans. This is based on the belief that skin cancer only rarely causes death at ages young enough to affect reproduction.
Mdm2 suppresses tumors by pulling the plug on glycolysis
2/26/2014
Cancer cells have long been known to have higher rates of the energy-generating metabolic pathway known as glycolysis. This enhanced glycolysis, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect, is thought to allow cancer cells to survive the oxygen-deficient conditions they experience in the center of solid tumors.
Some cells randomly express one parent's version of a gene over the other
2/26/2014
Team finds that some cells activate only one of their two gene copies during development, altering protein yields and raising new questionsWe are a product of our parents. Maybe you have your mother's large, dark eyes, and you inherited your father's infectious smile.
The secrets of cellular memory revealed by new technology
2/26/2014
Cells in our body are constantly dividing to maintain our body functions. At each division, our DNA code and a whole machinery of supporting components has to be faithfully duplicated to maintain the cell's memory of its own identity.
Treatment priorities set in new national research effort
2/26/2014
Treatment regimens often evolve without strong scientific evidence of their benefits and drawbacks, particularly in comparison to other drugs or approaches.Now Duke Medicine is participating in a large national initiative aiming to fill in that missing information.
Did a risk of skin cancer drive the evolution of black skin in humans?
2/26/2014
A new analysis suggests that black skin may have evolved in humans as a protective measure against skin cancer.Previously, skin cancer has been disregarded as an influence in the evolution of black skin in humans. This is based on the belief that skin cancer only rarely causes death at ages young enough to affect reproduction.
New molecular mechanism pinpointed in autophagy spurs melanoma clinical trial
2/26/2014
Half of melanoma patients with the BRAF mutation have a positive response to treatment with BRAF inhibitors, but nearly all of those patients develop resistance to the drugs and experience disease progression.
Dual targeting approach successfully targets DNA synthesis in leukemic cells
2/26/2014
A novel two-pronged strategy targeting DNA synthesis can treat leukemia in mice, according to a study in The Journal of Experimental Medicine.Current treatments for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), an aggressive form of blood cancer, include conventional chemotherapy drugs that inhibit DNA synthesis. These drugs are effective but have serious side effects on normal dividing tissues.
The findings of a recent study indicate that routine testing with both fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) may enhance the detection of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Accurate determination of ALK-positive tumors is necessary to identify patients with advanced NSCLC who are most likely to benefit from targeted therapy with an ALK inhibitor.
Treatment priorities set in new national research effort
2/26/2014
Treatment regimens often evolve without strong scientific evidence of their benefits and drawbacks, particularly in comparison to other drugs or approaches.Now Duke Medicine is participating in a large national initiative aiming to fill in that missing information.