Current Cancer Therapy Reviews - Volume 6, Issue 4, 2010

Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy in the United States and a significant cause of mortality yearly. Most recently, target-directed therapies have been added to the armamentarium. These include agents directed at the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). These agents improve survival in some patients; however, they are associated with high costs and incre Read More

Apoptosis plays an essential role in the processes of eukaryotic cellular homeostasis, and is thought to be a contributing factor in the development of a variety of pathologies including cancer. Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms and mediators of apoptosis, coupled with the fact that many current anticancer therapies function by activating apoptosis, has led to realization that apoptotic processes not only serve as the crucia Read More

Irinotecan has been increasingly used for treatment of pediatric cancers over the past decade. Irinotecan has modest single-agent activity against common childhood solid tumors, and the low incidence of myelosuppression seen with protracted administration makes it well-suited for combination chemotherapy regimens. Data from mouse xenograft models and clinical trials suggest the activity of irinotecan can be im Read More

Even though lymph node metastasis accounts for the vast majority of cancer death in patients with oral cancer (OC), the molecular mechanisms of lymph node metastasis remain elusive. Genome-wide microarray analyses and functional studies in vitro and in vivo, along with detailed clinical observations, have identified a number of molecules that may contribute to lymph node metastasis. These include lymphangionenic cyt Read More

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common internal malignancy and the third most frequent cause of cancer death in men. It is estimated that in each week of 2009 over 490 Canadian men were diagnosed with PCa, and 85 will have died from the disease. The introduction of PSA (prostate-specific antigen) screening tests has contributed in part, to men being diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Chemoprevention is a st Read More

Small heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2) is a nuclear receptor that exerts influence over the expression of several nuclear receptors and transcription factors. We have previously shown that SHP is involved in several metabolic and cellular processes. Of particular interest, SHP appears to play a crucial role as a tumor suppressor. We have recently published work demonstrating that SHP knockout (SHP-/-) mice spontaneo Read More

Morbidity and mortality from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are high and this has not improved in decades in spite of extensive research. Additional approaches are necessary to change this status quo. Chronic infection and inflammation have been linked to carcinogenesis in few organs. Periodontitis is a chronic oral infection caused by inflammatory reactions in response to gram negative anaerobic bacteria i Read More