Navigation Links
Dormant cancer cells rely on cellular self-cannibalization to survive
Date:1/2/2009

HOUSTON A single tumor-suppressing gene is a key to understanding, and perhaps killing, dormant ovarian cancer cells that persist after initial treatment only to reawaken years later, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the December Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The team found that expression of a gene called ARHI acts as a switch for autophagy, or self-cannibalization, in ovarian cancer cells. Often a mechanism for cancer cell death, in this case "self-eating" acts as a survival mechanism for dormant cancer cells.

"Prolonged autophagy is lethal to cancer cells, but a little autophagy can help dormant cancer cells survive, possibly by avoiding starvation," said senior author Robert Bast, M.D., vice president for translational research at M. D. Anderson.

"Dormant cells are a major problem in ovarian cancer, breast cancer and other malignancies," Bast said. "We often see ovarian cancer removed, leaving no remaining sign of disease. After two or three years, the cancer grows back. If any remaining cancer cells had continued to grow normally, the disease should have returned in weeks or months.

"So the assumption is that some cells remain dormant without dividing and without developing a blood supply, but the mechanism for this has not been well understood," Bast said.

Bast and colleagues focused on ARHI, short for aplasia Ras homolog member I, a gene found in normal cells, but that is underexpressed in 60-70 percent of ovarian cancers.

When normal levels of ARHI were restored to ovarian cancer cells in the laboratory, autophagy was induced and cancer cells died within a few days.

When the experiments moved to human ovarian cancer grafts in mice, a different effect was noted. ARHI stopped tumor growth and induced autophagy, but did not kill the cancer cells. When ARHI was turned off at 4 to 6 weeks, the ovarian cancer cells grew rapid
'/>"/>

Contact: Scott Merville
smerville@mdanderson.org
713-792-0661
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Source:Eurekalert  

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Immune system can drive cancers into dormant state
2. Dormant stem cells for emergencies
3. Conventional prognostic factors fail to explain better prostate cancer survival in most Asian men
4. Survival differences by race most apparent in advanced stages of breast cancer
5. MRI finds breast cancer before it becomes dangerous
6. Investigators uncover intriguing clues to why persistent acid reflux sometimes turns into cancer
7. Pathway links inflammation, angiogenesis and breast cancer
8. Radiologists encouraged to look beyond cancer for clinically unseen diseases
9. Diet high in meat, fat and refined grains linked to risk for colon cancer recurrence, death
10. Immune deficiency linked to a type of eye cancer
11. Drop in breast cancer incidence linked to hormone use, not mammograms

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Dormant cancer cells rely on cellular self-cannibalization to survive
Dormant cancer cells rely on cellular self-cannibalization to survive
(Date:11/29/2009)...IT Using mannequins to teach doctors-in-training ...tive way to improve their skills without compromis...udy from Henry Ford Hospital. , The study shows ...a valuable tool to improve medical residents, know...e of the more common ultrasound-guided procedures,...
(Date:11/29/2009)... BLOOMINGTON, Minn., Nov. 29 Acuo ...al image management software, data migration tools...ing called AcuoShare that allows image sharing acr...iates. ,, The AcuoShare solution is based on th...TM) Software. The Acuo AcuoShare enables secure a...
(Date:11/29/2009)...eing, a $1,300 round of treatment equals a $41,000..., Nov. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Psychological therap...y than getting a raise or winning a lottery prize,...zed data on thousands of people who provided infor...t the increase in happiness from a $1,329 course o...
(Date:11/29/2009)... "The YogaForce A-Line Athleti...ys Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., author and physician bes...d of integrative medicine. Go to www.yogaforce.c...nded on the gift list. , ...t in time for the holidays, the YogaForce newly pa...
(Date:11/28/2009)..., CHICAGO, Nov. 28 Welcome to ...lution for the clinical routine from Siemens Hea...mmunications System (PACS) from Siemens where 2D... syngo .plaza is poised to change the way multi...ng this innovation at the 95th Scientific Assemb...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:Simulated training for ultrasound-guided procedures improves safety without risk to patients 2Health News:Acuo Technologies Announces a New Offering That Enables Sharing of Imaging Studies Securely and Affordably 2Health News:Psychotherapy Can Boost Happiness More Than Money: Study 2Health News:The YogaForce A-Line Mat Provides The Perfect Solution For Fitness Needs 2Health News:The YogaForce A-Line Mat Provides The Perfect Solution For Fitness Needs 3Health News:Siemens Healthcare Unveils syngo.plaza at RSNA 2009 2Health News:Siemens Healthcare Unveils syngo.plaza at RSNA 2009 3
...GELES, Jan. 11 Just in Case, Inc., the makers of,... women, will donate,10,000 of their compacts to wo...NG FOR ENTRIES this month. Two organizations from ...give-away will help raise awareness that safer sex...
...lth loss caused by type 2 diabetes will more than ...ost other major causes falls, according to new res...l of Population Health., The research, published i...uring the health loss from diseases, injuries and ...
...censored Family Guide To Vitamin D offered free by...LifeSpan Nutrition offers,the newly released "Unce...he new unfolding science on this essential nutrien...adequate levels of vitamin D will do more to impro...
...RK, Jan. 10 MultiVu, PR Newswire,s multimedia and...ced the promotion of,George DeTorres to the positi...althcare Team., (Photo: http://www.newscom.co...501/NYW077LOGO ), To view the Multimedia News Re...
...AN, Idaho, Jan. 10 RxElite, Inc. (OTC,Bulletin Bo...r of specialty,generic prescription drug products,...nd assets of FineTech Laboratories Ltd. (FineTech)...omplex,active pharmaceutical ingredients with RxEl...
...IA, Md., Jan. 10 The U.K. is currently dealing,wi...t is expected to infect,hundreds of thousands of p...e most common stomach bug in Britain, the U.K.,s H...are being asked to stay,away from local hospitals ...
Other Medicine News:Health News:Teen Pregnancy Epidemic Another Reason for Women to Carry Condoms. Just in Case, Inc. Announces 10,000 Chic Condom Compact Give-Away to Women's Non-Profits Nationwide. 2Health News:UQ research predicts type 2 diabetes explosion 2Health News:Join the Vitamin D Revolution: How to Get 30 Minutes of Daily Sunshine for Optimal Health 2Health News:Photo: MultiVu Promotes George DeTorres to Divisional Vice President for the MultiVu Healthcare Team 2Health News:Photo: MultiVu Promotes George DeTorres to Divisional Vice President for the MultiVu Healthcare Team 3Health News:RxElite Announces Acquisition of Assets of FineTech Laboratories 2Health News:RxElite Announces Acquisition of Assets of FineTech Laboratories 3Health News:RxElite Announces Acquisition of Assets of FineTech Laboratories 4Health News:CeraLyte ORS to Prevent Dehydration from Norovirus Outbreak 2
(Date:11/25/2009)...Newswire-FirstCall/ -- American Scientific Resourc...ased to announce that they have opened a regional ...ghai, China. ,, ASR has been able to secure a l... the development and production of current and fut...ults to be distributed and sold globally. Current...
(Date:11/25/2009)...wswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq: VR...itted to discovering, developing and commercializi... financial results for the fiscal year ended Septe...ld $58.4 million in cash, cash equivalents and sho...009 Highlights ,, RG7128 ,, Phase 2b Tr...
(Date:11/25/2009)...e/ -- BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released Wave..., the first in a multi-phase syndicated market res...o-Biotech,s Stelara, from product launch through t... the report provides quantitative information from...ion from a subset of 20. The reports assess trial...
Breaking Medicine Technology:American Scientific Resources Inc. Opens Shanghai Location 2Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 2Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 3Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 4Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 5Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 6Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 7Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 8Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 9Pharmasset Reports Fiscal Year End 2009 Financial Results 10Despite Managed Care Obstacles, Interest and Anticipated Use of Centocor Ortho-Biotech's New Psoriasis Agent Stelara (ustekinumab) is High 2K State researchers studying link between climate change and cattle nutritional stress 61444 1K State researchers studying link between climate change and cattle nutritional stress 61444 2Resuscitation and survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest nearly double 61441 1Resuscitation and survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest nearly double 61441 2Resuscitation and survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest nearly double 61441 3Resuscitation and survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest nearly double 61441 4Resuscitation and survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest nearly double 61441 5Penguins and sea lions help produce new atlas 10744 1Penguins and sea lions help produce new atlas 10744 2
...markably shorter procedure ...n Frontiers, Inc. today,announced that four presen...fic Sessions reported positive early results using...e findings aligned well with each,other and suppor...any,s innovative multi-electrode mapping and ablat...
...ystem to Fight Tumors, CHICAGO, May 22 Cancer Tr...der of innovative cancer care for patients,living ... accepting,patients for an ovarian cancer vaccine ...iewed and cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug,Admini...acy of the unique,ovarian cancer vaccine therapy f...
Other Medicine Technology:Presentations From Recent Heart Rhythm Society Meeting Validate the Safety and Efficacy of Ablation Frontiers Technology in 230 Patients 2Presentations From Recent Heart Rhythm Society Meeting Validate the Safety and Efficacy of Ablation Frontiers Technology in 230 Patients 3Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Begins at Cancer Treatment Centers of America 2Ovarian Cancer Vaccine Clinical Trial Begins at Cancer Treatment Centers of America 3
Disposable Bipolar Pencil - 18 Gauge Straight
Lacrimal Intubation Set, 23 gauge, 3/box
Silicone Oil Cannula System - 19 Gauge
...nnula with 30 gauge, 4.76 mm tip is angled 90 degr...o a luer lock high pressure extension tube (0.03 i... substances. Designed for dissecting pre-retinal a...tic materials. Flattened, angled tip of 30 gauge c...
Medicine Products: