However, there were methodological limitations as majority of the papers were case series, which decreased the quality of the
evidence Ion Channel Ligand Library available. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The introduction of anti-angiogenic drugs especially tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was a breakthrough in the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although TKIs have significantly improved outcome in patients with metastatic disease, the majority still develop resistance overtime. Because different combinations and sequences of TKIs are tested in clinical trials, resistance patterns and mechanisms underlying this phenomenon should be thoroughly investigated. From a clinical point of view, resistance occurs either as a primary phenomenon (intrinsic) or as a secondary phenomenon
related to various escape/evasive mechanisms that the tumor develops in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibition. Intrinsic resistance is less common, and related to the primary redundancy of available angiogenic signals from the tumor, learn more causing unresponsiveness to VEGF-targeted therapies. Acquired resistance in tumors is associated with activation of an angiogenic switch which leads to either upregulation of the existing VEGF pathway or recruitment of alternative factors responsible for tumor revascularization. Multiple mechanisms can be involved in different tumor settings that contribute both to evasive and intrinsic resistance, and current endeavor aims to identify these processes and assess their importance in clinical settings and design of pharmacological strategies that lead to enduring anti-angiogenic therapies. (C)
2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.”
“MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules capable of regulating multiple target genes through repression of mRNA stability or translation. miRNAs regulate a wide variety of developmental and pathological processes, and many have oncogenic or tumor suppressor activity. Carcinoma cells can undergo changes resembling a partial or transient epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as part of the metastatic cascade. Numerous miRNAs regulate EMT by targeting genes that control epithelial buy AZD9291 or mesenchymal characteristics. The involvement of miRNAs in feedback loops with EMT-regulating transcription factors reveals a critical role in governing epithelial plasticity. In this review we summarize miRNAs involved in carcinoma cell plasticity. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Brachytherapy after lumpectomy is an increasingly popular breast cancer treatment, but data concerning its effectiveness are conflicting. Recently proposed “suitability” criteria guiding patient selection for brachytherapy have never been empirically validated.