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Articles 1 - 6 of 6
Full-Text Articles in Cancer Biology
The Adar-Mavs Pathway Is A Critical Mediator Of The Innate Immune System In Pancreatic Development And Cancer, Dhwani Rupani
The Adar-Mavs Pathway Is A Critical Mediator Of The Innate Immune System In Pancreatic Development And Cancer, Dhwani Rupani
Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)
Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) is an RNA-binding protein that deaminates adenosine (A) to inosine (I). A-to-I editing is an important post-transcriptional mechanism to prevent recognition of endogenous RNA by MDA5, a cytosolic RNA sensor. Activation of MDA5 by viral RNA can stimulate the innate immune system. Thus, ADAR-mediated RNA editing is crucial to distinguish “self” from “non-self”. ADAR has an important role in gene regulation as A-to-I editing alters RNA processing affecting both RNA and protein abundance. Given its importance in regulating innate immunity and transcript abundance, aberrations in Adar expression are implicated in developmental deformities and carcinogenesis. …
Investigating The Role Of Splenic Macrophages In Pancreatic Cancer, Daisy V. Gonzalez
Investigating The Role Of Splenic Macrophages In Pancreatic Cancer, Daisy V. Gonzalez
Theses & Dissertations
Pancreatic cancer is currently the 3rd leading cause of all cancer-related deaths, with a 5-year survival rate remaining at 10%. The current standard treatment of care and a lack of effective diagnostic markers leaves patients with a dismal prognosis at advanced stages of the disease. This thesis research evaluated the effect of ApoE-expressing macrophages in the spleen. First, we aimed to assess the ApoE expression in the spleen of pancreatic tumor-bearing mice. Results showed that ApoE expression in splenic macrophages increased as the disease progressed. In addition, we saw a significant increase in marginal zone metallophilic macrophages and red pulp …
Complex Role Of Microbiome In Pancreatic Tumorigenesis: Potential Therapeutic Implications, Suneetha Amara, Li V. Yang, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, Mahvish Muzaffar
Complex Role Of Microbiome In Pancreatic Tumorigenesis: Potential Therapeutic Implications, Suneetha Amara, Li V. Yang, Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi, Mahvish Muzaffar
Biology Faculty Research
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality with limited diagnostic and therapeutic options. Although immunotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of several cancers, its role in pancreatic cancer is rather limited. Several studies have focused on determining the role of the tumor microenvironment with cancer-cell-intrinsic events and tumor-infiltrating immune cellular properties. However, in the past decade, there has been emerging research aimed at delineating the role of the host microbiome, including the metabolites from microbes and host responses, on pancreatic tumorigenesis. Importantly, there is emerging evidence suggesting the beneficial role of a gut microbiome transplant …
Evaluating Targets And Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer, Shelby M. Knoche
Evaluating Targets And Therapeutics For The Treatment Of Pancreatic Cancer, Shelby M. Knoche
Theses & Dissertations
Pancreatic cancer has a dismally low survival rate, due to inadequate understanding of the processes that are involved in disease development and progression. Despite the identification of oncogenic drivers such as KRAS and p53, there is a need for the identification of molecular targets to improve and develop novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Studies from our laboratory have identified and evaluated targets and therapeutic approaches that can aid in our understanding of pancreatic cancer disease progression and improve patient outcomes. Through the use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligands (EGF and TGF-α) and small molecule …
Phos-Tag-Based Screens Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets In Ovarian Cancer And Pancreatic Cancer, Renya Zeng
Phos-Tag-Based Screens Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets In Ovarian Cancer And Pancreatic Cancer, Renya Zeng
Theses & Dissertations
Multiple Phos-tag-based screens were conducted in anti-tubulin drug (paclitaxel and nocodazole)-treated cells to explore novel targets implicated in cell cycle regulation, resistance against paclitaxel, and yes-associated protein (YAP) nucleocytoplasmic transport. The Phos-tag-based screen of protein kinases identified that several proteins were degraded or phosphorylated in response to anti-tubulin drug treatment. A tyrosine kinase, fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), was significantly degraded upon anti-tubulin drug treatment, suggesting its potential role in cell response to paclitaxel. Further functional investigations identified that FGFR4 mediated paclitaxel resistance in ovarian cancer, and specific inhibitors targeting FGFR4 could sensitize ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel. Mechanistically, …
Visceral Adipose Tissue Remodeling In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cachexia: The Role Of Activin A Signaling, Pauline Xu
Theses & Dissertations
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is currently the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States and is projected to become the second leading cause by the year 2030. Prognosis for patients with metastatic disease remains dismal, with cachexia as a main contributor to the low survival rate. Emerging reports indicate that PDAC patients display distinct phenotypes of cachexia development, with either adipose tissue loss preceding skeletal muscle wasting or loss of only adipose tissue. While muscle wasting has been the most frequently studied mechanism in cachexia research, changes in adipose tissue are increasingly understood as important components of …