Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Mailed At-Home Fit Intervention To Increase Colorectal Screenings At Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Alexander V. Herrera, Brian Hilgeman, Michelle Buelow, Melissa A. Lemke

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Mailed at-home FIT intervention kits to increase colorectal cancer screenings at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC).

Purpose: It is our goal to increase the current SSCHC colorectal cancer baseline screening rate of 23% to 50% within three years of full at-home FIT kit implementation.

Methods: Colon cancer is the second and third most common cause of cancer death in the United States in Hispanic men and women, respectively. Colonoscopy is the most common method of colon cancer screening, even among low-income patients. However, it has been shown in community health centers that mailed FIT kits are a more …

Incidence Of Breast, Colorectal And Lung Cancers And Mortality Among Women Within Midwestern States, Ruth M. Perez, Matthew Rappelt, Kathryn Kossow, Maharaj Singh

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Breast, colorectal and lung cancers have been shown to be the most common cancers as well as the leading causes of cancer death among women. Previous studies suggest that the Northeast had significantly higher rates in incidence and mortality than the Midwest, South and Western regions. However, new data indicates that the Midwest now harbors the highest mortality rates. In Wisconsin, the sixth largest state in the Midwest, cancer is the leading cause of death. Differences in incidence and mortality of breast, colorectal and lung cancers have been observed between Wisconsin, other Midwestern states and national data, warranting further …

Does The Expression Of Ki-67, P16 And Cox-2 At Initial Diagnosis Of Breast Atypia Or Usual Ductal Hyperplasia Predict A Second Clinically Significant Event?, Judy A. Tjoe, Philippe Gascard, Jianxin Zhao, Gary F. Neitzel, Maharaj Singh, Brittany Last, James Marx, Thea Tlsty, Sanjay Kansra

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Women diagnosed with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) have a fivefold increased risk of developing breast cancer. Because ADH/ALH can be precursors or predictive markers of a subsequent clinically significant event (SCSE), i.e. atypia, in situ or invasive carcinoma, the clinical outcome for these patients ranges anywhere from remission to invasive malignancy. Currently we cannot predict which atypical breast lesion is likely to be associated with future cancer, resulting in aggressive management and, possibly, overtreatment. Kerlikowske et al. reported that a combination of three biomarkers (cell cycle regulator p16INK4a, proliferation antigen Ki-67 and stress response …

In Vitro Growth Suppression Of Renal Carcinoma Cells By Curcumin, Santhi Konduri, Madhavi Latha Yadav Bangaru, Phu Thanh Do, Shenglin Chen, Jeffrey Woodliff, Sanjay Kansra

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Background: Malignant clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) is an aggressive tumor that is highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Current therapeutic approaches to management of ccRCC have not significantly improved patient survival, therefore novel therapies are needed. The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene is frequently mutated in ccRCC resulting in unregulated transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) 1α and 2α. HIF-mediated transcription leads to increased growth factor expression and growth factor receptor (GFR)-mediated signaling. NFκB and STAT3 are phosphorylated in response to GFR activation and modulate gene expression, which promotes cell growth and invasion. Activated NFκB and STAT3 expression is …

In Vitro Growth Suppression Of Renal Carcinoma Cells By Curcumin, Santhi D. Konduri, Madhavi Latha Yadav Bangaru, Phu Thanh Do, Shenglin Chen, Jeffrey Woodliff, Sanjay Kansra

Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Purpose

Malignant clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) is an aggressive tumor highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Current therapeutic approaches to management of ccRCC have not significantly improved patient survival, therefore novel therapies are needed. Activated NFκB and STAT3 expression is associated with ccRCC pathogenesis. The dietary polyphenol curcumin is a well-documented antitumor agent and a known inhibitor of NFκB and STAT3 activation. Given the lack of effective therapies that block ccRCC progression, our objective was to examine whether curcumin could suppress the growth and migration of ccRCC cells, and whether this suppression was mediated via inhibition of NFκB and …

Microrna Molecular Profiling From Matched Tumor And Bio-Fluids In Bladder Cancer, David A. Armstrong, Benjamin B. Green, John D. Seigne, Alan R. Schned, Carmen Marsit

Dartmouth Scholarship

MicroRNAs have been identified as potential cancer biomarkers due to their presence and stability in many body fluids including urine and plasma, but the relationship of the pattern of expression of these messengers across various biological media has not been addressed and could provide important information in order to translate these biomarkers for epidemiologic or clinical use. We analyzed microRNA of matched FFPE-tumor tissue, plasma, urine exosomes (n = 16) and WBCs (n = 11) from patients with bladder cancer, using Nanostring miRNA assays and droplet digital PCR for validation. Pearson correlations were used to compare expression between …

Screening Mammograms In Alzheimer’S Disease Patients, George M. Yousef, Piyush Sovani, Sirisha Devabhaktuni, Lynne J. Goebel

George M. Yousef

Very little guidance exists to help clinicians and families decide whether mammograms are useful in elderly women with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). We present a case of a patient with moderate AD who had a positive mammogram and discuss the dilemma faced by the family and clinician in deciding what was best to do for the patient. In this case, the family opted for breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by palliative care which brought up the question of whether screening was appropriate with this treatment goal in mind. We reviewed the literature on AD and breast cancer screening and summarize these …

The Patient Patient: The Importance Of Knowing Your Navigator, Sarah M. Wheeler Phd, Julie E. Gilbert Phd, Melissa Kaan Mba, Eric Klonikowski, Claire Mb Holloway Md Phd Frcsc

Patient Experience Journal

In Ontario, Diagnostic Assessment Programs (DAPs) have been implemented to improve the quality of care patients receive during the diagnostic phase of the cancer journey. Patient navigators play a critical role in this model by coordinating care and providing information and support to patients and their families. The objectives of this study were 1) to determine whether patient navigation in DAPs is associated with a better patient experience and 2) to examine whether patient navigation in DAPs modifies the effect of wait times and patient volumes on patient experience. Data reflecting patients’ experience within the DAP were collected via survey …

Mice Null For The Deubiquitinase Usp18 Spontaneously Develop Leiomyosarcomas, Fadzai Chinyengetere, David J. Sekula, Yun Lu, Andrew J. Giustini, Aarti Sanglikar, Masanori Kawakami, Tian Ma

Dartmouth Scholarship

USP18 (ubiquitin-specific protease 18) removes ubiquitin-like modifier interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) from conjugated proteins. USP18 null mice in a FVB/N background develop tumors as early as 2 months of age. These tumors are leiomyosarcomas and thus represent a new murine model for this disease.

Integrin Α6Β4 Promotes Autocrine Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (Egfr) Signaling To Stimulate Migration And Invasion Toward Hepatocyte Growth Factor (Hgf), Brittany L. Carpenter, Min Chen, Teresa Knifley, Kelley A. Davis, Susan M.W. Harrison, Rachel L. Stewart, Kathleen O'Connor

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Integrin α6β4 is up-regulated in pancreatic adenocarcinomas where it contributes to carcinoma cell invasion by altering the transcriptome. In this study, we found that integrin α6β4 up-regulates several genes in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway, including amphiregulin (AREG), epiregulin (EREG), and ectodomain cleavage protease MMP1, which is mediated by promoter demethylation and NFAT5. The correlation of these genes with integrin α6β4 was confirmed in The Cancer Genome Atlas Pancreatic Cancer Database. Based on previous observations that integrin α6β4 cooperates with c-Met in pancreatic cancers, we examined the impact of EGFR signaling on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-stimulated migration and …

Active Yap Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Cell Motility, Invasion And Tumorigenesis In A Mitotic Phosphorylation-Dependent Manner Through Lpar3., Shuping Yang, Lin Zhang, Vinee Purohit, Surendra K. Shukla, Xingcheng Chen, Fang Yu, Kai Fu, Yuanhong Chen, Joyce C. Solheim, Surendra K. Shukla, Wei Song, Jixin Dong

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

The transcriptional co-activator Yes-associated protein, YAP, is a main effector in the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway. We recently defined a mechanism for positive regulation of YAP through CDK1-mediated mitotic phosphorylation. Here, we show that active YAP promotes pancreatic cancer cell migration, invasion and anchorage-independent growth in a mitotic phosphorylation-dependent manner. Mitotic phosphorylation is essential for YAP-driven tumorigenesis in animals. YAP reduction significantly impairs cell migration and invasion. Immunohistochemistry shows significant upregulation and nuclear localization of YAP in metastases when compared with primary tumors and normal tissue in human. Mitotic phosphorylation of YAP controls a unique transcriptional program in pancreatic cells. …

Frequency And Severity Of Acute Toxicity Of Pelvic Radiotherapy For Gynecological Cancer, Asim Hafiz, Ahmed Nadeem Abbasi, Nasir Ali, Khurshid Ahmed Khan, Bilal Mazhar Qureshi

Department of Radiation Oncology

Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of acute toxicity of pelvic radiotherapy for gynecological cancer.STUDY Design: A case series.PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Oncology, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from March 2011 to June 2012.METHODOLOGY: A total of 99 patients with histologically proven uterine and cervical cancer, receiving radiation therapy, were enrolled into the study after informed consent on justification of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were evaluated for the frequency and severity of pelvic radiotherapys side effects according to toxicity criteria based on RTOG/EORTC and CTC version 2 criteria at the start, during and at …

Oncolog, Volume 60, Number 11 - 12, November - December 2015, Joe Munch, Bryan Tutt, C. Graber

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues)

• Multidisciplinary Treatment Maximizes Outcomes for malignant Tumors of the Anterior Skull Base: Malignant tumors of the anterior skull base occur in a delicate area but often need aggressive treatment. Determining the best course of therapy for patients with these tumors takes a multidisciplinary effort.
• Management of Eyelid and Conjunctival Tumors with Preservation of Slight, Function and Cosmesis: Tumors of the eyelid and extent of disease, and which treatments, if any, are needed after surgical excision depends on several factors, including the potential for metastasis.
• HOUSE CALL: "Other" Health Risks from Smoking-Besides cancer, tobacco causes many diseases.

Dexamethasone Administration During Definitive Radiation And Temozolomide Renders A Poor Prognosis In A Retrospective Analysis Of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Patients, Lisa B. E. Shields, Brent J. Shelton, Andrew Shearer, Li Chen, David A. Sun, Sarah Parsons, T. David Bourne, Renato Larocca, Aaron C. Spalding

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone (DXM) is commonly used in the management of cerebral edema in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Bevacizumab (BEV) is FDA-approved for the progression or recurrence of GBM but has not been shown to improve survival when given for newly diagnosed patients concurrently with radiation (RT) and temozolomide (TMZ). Both DXM and BEV reduce cerebral edema, however, DXM has been shown to induce cytokine cascades which could interfere with cytotoxic therapy. We investigated whether DXM would reduce survival of GBM patients in the setting of concurrent TMZ and BEV administration.

METHODS: We reviewed the treatment of …

Beyond The One-Locus-One-Mirna Paradigm: Microrna Isoforms Enable Deeper Insights Into Breast Cancer Heterogeneity., Aristeidis G Telonis, Phillipe Loher, Yi Jing, Eric R Londin, Isidore Rigoutsos

Computational Medicine Center Faculty Papers

Here we describe our study of miRNA isoforms (isomiRs) in breast cancer (BRCA) and normal breast data sets from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) repository. We report that the full isomiR profiles, from both known and novel human-specific miRNA loci, are particularly rich in information and can distinguish tumor from normal tissue much better than the archetype miRNAs. IsomiR expression is also dependent on the patient's race, exemplified by miR-183-5p, several isomiRs of which are upregulated in triple negative BRCA in white but not black women. Additionally, we find that an isomiR's 5' endpoint and length, but not the genomic …

The Effect Of Mindfulness Meditation On Emotional Distress In Adult Cancer Patients, Marie A. Benoit

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Significant advances in cancer treatments have been made over recent decades resulting in state of the art screening and treatment options that have contributed to higher rates of cancer survivorship. However, despite the increase in cancer survivors, a cancer diagnosis continues to be associated with a significant amount of emotional distress and psychological issues that further add to the burden of the disease. The Institute of Medicine (2008), recognizes that a failure to adequately address this problem results in needless suffering and may obstruct quality of care; thereby, leading to a potentially negative impact on the disease course. Among the …

Theaflavin-3, 3'-Digallate Decreases Human Ovarian Carcinoma Ovcar-3 Cell-Induced Angiogenesis Via Akt And Notch-1 Pathways, Not Via Mapk Pathways, Ying Gao, Gary O. Rankin, Youying Tu, Yi Charlie Chen

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Theaflavin-3, 3'-digallate (TF3) is a black tea polyphenol produced from polymerization and oxidization of the green tea ployphenols epicatechin gallate and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) during fermentation of fresh tea leaves. TF3 has been reported to have anticancer properties. However, the effect of TF3 on tumor angiogenesis and the underlying mechanisms are not clear. In the present study, TF3 was verified to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Compared with EGCG, TF3 was more potent. TF3 inhibited human ovarian carcinoma OVCAR-3 cell-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cell model and in chick chorioallantoic membrane model. TF3 reduced tumor angiogenesis by downregulating HIF-1α and VEGF. …

Invariant Characteristics Of Carcinogenesis., Simon Sherman, Nirosha Rathnayake, Tengiz Mdzinarishvili

Journal Articles: Eppley Institute

Carcinogenic modeling is aimed at mathematical descriptions of cancer development in aging. In this work, we assumed that a small fraction of individuals in the population is susceptible to cancer, while the rest of the population is resistant to cancer. For individuals susceptible to cancer we adopted methods of conditional survival analyses. We performed computational experiments using data on pancreatic, stomach, gallbladder, colon and rectum, liver, and esophagus cancers from the gastrointestinal system collected for men and women in the SEER registries during 1975-2009. In these experiments, we estimated the time period effects, the birth cohort effects, the age effects …

Mitochondrial Mass, A New Metabolic Biomarker For Stem-Like Cancer Cells: Understanding Wnt/Fgf-Driven Anabolic Signaling., Rebecca Lamb, Gloria Bonuccelli, Béla Ozsvári, Maria Peiris-Pagès, Marco Fiorillo, Duncan L Smith, Generoso Bevilacqua, Chiara Maria Mazzanti, Liam A Mcdonnell, Antonio Giuseppe Naccarato, Maybo Chiu, Luke Wynne, Ubaldo E Martinez-Outschoorn, Federica Sotgia, Michael P. Lisanti

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Here, we developed an isogenic cell model of "stemness" to facilitate protein biomarker discovery in breast cancer. For this purpose, we used knowledge gained previously from the study of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). MMTV initiates mammary tumorigenesis in mice by promoter insertion adjacent to two main integration sites, namely Int-1 (Wnt1) and Int-2 (Fgf3), which ultimately activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling, driving the propagation of mammary cancer stem cells (CSCs). Thus, to develop a humanized model of MMTV signaling, we over-expressed WNT1 and FGF3 in MCF7 cells, an ER(+) human breast cancer cell line. We then validated that MCF7 cells …

Cladribine Analogues Via O6-(Benzotriazolyl) Derivatives Of Guanine Nucleosides, Sakilam Satishkumar, Prasanna K. Vuram, Siva Subrahmanyam Relangi, Venkateshwarlu Gurram, Hong Zhou, Robert J. Kreitman, Michelle M. Martínez Montemayor, Lijia Yang, Muralidharan Kaliyaperumal, Somesh Sharma, Narender Pottabathini, Mahesh K. Lakshman

Publications and Research

Cladribine, 2-chloro-2′-deoxyadenosine, is a highly efficacious, clinically used nucleoside for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. It is also being evaluated against other lymphoid malignancies and has been a molecule of interest for well over half a century. In continuation of our interest in the amide bond-activation in purine nucleosides via the use of (benzotriazol-1yl-oxy)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium hexafluorophosphate, we have evaluated the use of O6-(benzotriazol-1-yl)-2′-deoxyguanosine as a potential precursor to cladribine and its analogues. These compounds, after appropriate deprotection, were assessed for their biological activities, and the data are presented herein. Against hairy cell leukemia (HCL), T-cell lymphoma (TCL) and chronic lymphocytic …

Real-Time Detection Of Breast Cancer Cells Using Peptidefunctionalized Microcantilever Arrays, Hashem Etayash, Keren Jiang, Sarfuddin Azmi, Thomas Thundat, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ligand-directed targeting and capturing of cancer cells is a new approach for detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Ligands such as antibodies have been successfully used for capturing cancer cells and an antibody based system (CellSearch®) is currently used clinically to enumerate CTCs. Here we report the use of a peptide moiety in conjunction with a microcantilever array system to selectively detect CTCs resulting from cancer, specifically breast cancer. A sensing microcantilever, functionalized with a breast cancer specific peptide 18-4 (WxEAAYQrFL), showed significant deflection on cancer cell (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231) binding compared to when exposed to noncancerous (MCF10A and HUVEC) cells. …

Early Results Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Therapy: An Analysis With Emphasis On Research Strategies To Improve Treatment Delivery And Outcomes., Kosj Yamoah, Kwamena Beecham, Sarah E Hegarty, Terry Hyslop, Timothy Showalter, Joel Yarney

Sarah E Hegarty

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: There is scant data regarding disease presentation and treatment response among black men living in Africa. In this study we evaluate disease presentation and early clinical outcomes among Ghanaian men with prostate cancer treated with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT). METHODS: A total of 379 men with prostate cancer were referred to the National Center for Radiotherapy, Ghana from 2003 to 2009. Data were collected regarding patient-and tumor-related factors such as age, prostate specific antigen (PSA), Gleason score (GS), clinical stage (T), and use of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). For patients who received EBRT, freedom from biochemical failure (FFbF) …

A Case Report Of Enteric Duplication Cyst: A Unique Presentation With Multiple Rare Associations, Arsha Sreedhar Md, Ranjit R. Nair Md, William Scialla Do

Department of Medicine

No abstract provided.

Aldh1a1 Mrna Expression In Association With Prognosis Of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Yan Liu, Michelle Baglia, Ying Zheng, William Blot, Ping-Ping Bao, Hui Cai, Sarah Nechuta, Wei Zheng, Qiuyin Cai, Xiao Ou Shu

Peer Reviewed Articles

ALDH1 is a crucial element in the retinoic acid signaling pathway regulating the self-renewal and differentiation of normal stem cells, and may play an important role in cancer progression. However, research on ALDH1 gene expression and breast cancer prognosis has yielded conflicting results. We evaluated the association between tumor tissue ALDH1A1/ALDH1A3 mRNA expression and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) prognosis in the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study (SBCSS, N=463), Nashville Breast Health Study (NBHS, N=86), and Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS, N=47). Gene expression was measured in RNA isolated from breast cancer tissues. In the SBCSS, higher ALDH1A1 mRNA level was …

A Phase 3 Trial Of 2 Years Of Androgen Suppression And Radiation Therapy With Or Without Adjuvant Chemotherapy For High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Final Results Of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Phase 3 Randomized Trial Nrg Oncology Rtog 9902., Seth A. Rosenthal, Daniel Hunt, A. Oliver Sartor, Kenneth J. Pienta, Leonard G. Gomella, David Grignon, Raghu Rajan, Kevin J. Kerlin, Christopher U. Jones, Michael Dobelbower, William U Shipley, Kenneth Zeitzer, Daniel A. Hamstra, Viroon Donavanik, Marvin Rotman, Alan C. Hartford, Jeffrey Michalski, Michael Seider, Harold Kim, Deborah A. Kuban, Jennifer Moughan, Howard Sandler

Department of Urology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Long-term (LT) androgen suppression (AS) with radiation therapy (RT) is a standard treatment of high-risk, localized prostate cancer (PCa). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 9902 was a randomized trial testing the hypothesis that adjuvant combination chemotherapy (CT) with paclitaxel, estramustine, and oral etoposide plus LT AS plus RT would improve overall survival (OS).

METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients with high-risk PCa (prostate-specific antigen 20-100 ng/mL and Gleason score [GS] ≥ 7 or clinical stage ≥ T2 and GS ≥ 8) were randomized to RT and AS (AS + RT) alone or with adjuvant CT (AS + RT + CT). CT was …

Current Opinion In The Role Of Testosterone In The Development Of Prostate Cancer: A Dynamic Model, Xiaohui Xu, Xinguang Chen, Hui Hu, Amy B. Dailey, Brandie D. Taylor

Health Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Since the landmark study conducted by Huggins and Hodges in 1941, a failure to distinguish between the role of testosterone in prostate cancer development and progression has led to the prevailing opinion that high levels of testosterone increase the risk of prostate cancer. To date, this claim remains unproven.

Presentation of the Hypothesis: We present a novel dynamic mode of the relationship between testosterone and prostate cancer by hypothesizing that the magnitude of age-related declines in testosterone, rather than a static level of testosterone measured at a single point, may trigger and promote the development of prostate cancer.

Testing …

Breast Cancer Rehabilitation: Clinical Examination And Outcomes Assessment, Nicole L. Stout, Shana Harrington, Lucinda Pfalzer, Mary Insana Fisher

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. The treatment for breast cancer occurs along a protracted time period and includes many different disease treatment modalities. These treatments carry with them a large number of adverse effects that negatively impact function in both the short term and long term. It is necessary for rehabilitation providers to interface with patients being treated for breast cancer throughout the continuum of care so that interval assessments can be conducted to identify emerging impairments and alleviate disability. To achieve this, the rehabilitation provider must have an understanding of …

The Conceptualization Of Self-Identity Among Residents Of Appalachia Ohio, Jessica L. Krok-Schoen, Angela L. Palmer-Wackerly, Phokeng M. Dailey, Janice L. Krieger

Department of Communication Studies: Faculty Publications

Social identity and its association to culture, place, and health is an important, but understudied, area of research. One social group that illustrates this connection between place and identity is people living in Appalachia. This exploratory mixed-method study investigates the appropriateness of the self-concept of Ohio Appalachian adults with cancer as “Appalachian,” the context associated with that identity and its association with community identification, rural identity, Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) status, demographic data, and clinical trial (CT) enrollment. Forty-nine adults with cancer residing in Appalachia were recruited. Participants were cancer patients who (1) were offered a randomized clinical cancer trial; …

Oncolog, Volume 60, Number 10, October 2015, Joe Munch, Bryan Tutt, Jill Deisigne, K. Nair

OncoLog MD Anderson's Report to Physicians (All issues)

• New Targeted Therapy Offers Hope to Patients with Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm, Related Diseases: The treatment of common hematological malignancies is based on reams of study data and years of physician experience with the diseases. But such information is often limited for rare, little-researched blood cancers like blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). This situation may soon change, thanks to the discovery of a new molecular target, which has led to a spate of innovative treatment approaches and the first dedicated clinical trials for this uncommon malignancy.
• Laparoscopic Free Omental Lymphatic Flap Transfers Offer a Powerful Alternative for Lymphedema …

Deubiquitinase Usp47/Ubp64e Regulates Β-Catenin Ubiquitination And Degradation And Plays A Positive Role In Wnt Signaling, Jiandang Shi, Yajuan Liu, Xuehe Xu, Wen Zhang, Tianxin Yu, Jianhang Jia, Chunming Liu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Wnt signaling plays important roles in development and tumorigenesis. A central question about the Wnt pathway is the regulation of β-catenin. Phosphorylation of β-catenin by CK1α and GSK3 promotes β-catenin binding to β-TrCP, leading to β-catenin degradation through the proteasome. The phosphorylation and ubiquitination of β-catenin have been well characterized; however, it is unknown whether and how a deubiquitinase is involved. In this study, by screening RNA interference (RNAi) libraries, we identified USP47 as a deubiquitinase that prevents β-catenin ubiquitination. Inactivation of USP47 by RNAi increased β-catenin ubiquitination, attenuated Wnt signaling, and repressed cancer cell growth. Furthermore, USP47 deubiquitinates itself, …