Current Cancer Drug Targets - Volume 4, Issue 1, 2004

Several epigenetic alterations leading to constitutively active mitogenic and cell-survival signaling, and loss of apoptotic response are causally involved in self-sufficiency of prostate cancer (PCA) cells toward uncontrolled growth, and increased secretion of pro-angiogenic factors. Therefore, one targeted approach for PCA prevention, growth control and / or treatment could be inhibition of epigenetic molecular events involve Read More

Epidemiological studies, preclinical investigations and clinical intervention trials support the role of selenium compounds as potent cancer chemopreventive agents; the dose and the form of selenium are critical factors in cancer prevention. Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation are considered important cellular events that can account for the cancer preventive effects of selenium. Toxicity should alw Read More

Several epidemiological, clinical and experimental studies established nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as promising cancer chemopreventive agents. Long-term use of aspirin and other NSAIDs has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer of the colon and other gastrointestinal organs as well as of cancer of the breast, prostate, lung, and skin. Understanding the action of NSAIDs provides substant Read More

Ionizing radiation exposure is associated with activation of certain immediate-early genes that function as transcription factors. These include members of jun or fos and early growth response (EGR) gene families. In particular, the functional role of EGR-1 in radiation-induced signaling is pivotal since the promoter of EGR-1 contains radiation inducible CArG DNA sequences. The Egr-1 gene belongs to a family of Egr genes t Read More

Evidence accumulated over the past two decades has indicated that exposure of cell populations to ionizing radiation results in significant biological effects occurring in both the irradiated and non-irradiated cells in the population. This phenomenon, termed the ‘bystander response’, has been shown to occur both in vitro and in vivo. Experiments have indicated that genetic alterations, changes in gene expression and lethality o Read More

Cyclin E is essential for progression through the G1-phase of the cell cycle and initiation of DNA replication by interacting with and activating its catalytic partner, the cyclin dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2). Rb, as well as Cdc6, NPAT, and nucleophosmin, critical components of cell proliferation and DNA replication, respectively, are targets of Cyclin E / Cdk2 phosphorylation. There are a number of putative binding sites for E2F in the Read More

Recent studies have generated sufficient information to warrant a consideration of protein kinase CK2 as a potential target for cancer therapy. CK2 is a ubiquitous and highly conserved protein serine / threonine kinase that has long been considered to play a role in cell growth and proliferation. It is essential for cell survival, and considerable evidence suggests that it can also exert potent suppression of apoptosis in cells. This is im Read More

Selection of treatment options for clinically localized prostate cancer is based on a host of factors including the patient's age, overall health status, potential complications, clinical tumor stage and Gleason score. It is widely acknowledged that androgen independent disease remains the main obstacle to improving the survival and quality of life in patients with advanced prostate cancer. Apoptosis as a genetically regulated proc Read More

To date six bona fide death receptors (DRs) have been discovered and include tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNF-R1), Fas, DR3, DR4, DR5 and DR6. Each receptor contains an extracellular region and an intracellular region; the intracellular region harbors a death domain that is critical for transduction of apoptotic signals. These death receptors are activated by their respective ligands. For example, TNFα activates TNF-R1 Read More