Therapeutic Strategies in Cancer Biology and Pathology

Currently, intensive effort is being directed toward the identification of molecular targets that can provide approaches to the development of novel therapeutic strategies in cancer management. This book focuses on metastasis-associated genes, metastasis promoter and suppressor genes, which relate specifically to behavioral alterations of cancer cells in epithelial mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cell maintenance and propagation, and to the acquisition of invasive and metastasis faculty. The function of these genes has implications for cell cycle regulation and cell proliferation and so constitute an essential element in cancer growth and dissemination. The emphasis in this book is on how appropriate these genes are as molecular targets and how practicable are the constituents of their signal transduction systems as potential candidates and how accessible they are to targeted therapy. Written in a straightforward and clear style with background information supporting the new research, this book will be useful for students and researchers in cancer therapies.

Introduction

Part I: RNA interference in genetic regulation1. The biogenesis and functions of microRNAs 2. Association of miRNAs with pathogenesis3. Are miRNAs suitable targets for cancer therapy?

Part II: EMT associated gene targeting4. Hedgehog signalling in EMT5. Targeted inhibition of Hh, Wnt, TGF-ß signalling complex6. Encountering aberrant Wnt signalling7. Therapeutic targeting of TGF-ß signalling8. EGFR signalling in EMT

Part III: Therapeutic deployment of tumour and metastasis promoter gene function9. S100A4 as a potential target10. MTAs in cancer invasion and metastasis

Part IV: Genetic determinants of tumour and metastasis suppression 11. Metastasis suppressor gene nm23 and manipulation of its expression12. The metastasis suppressor KiSS-1 gene13. KAI1 (CD82) suppresses metastasis, cell proliferation and invasion14. 14-3-3 proteins in normal and tumour cell biology15. Suppressor function of NDRG1 (N-myc downstream-regulated gene-1) 16. The ING (inhibitor of growth) suppressor gene17. The BRCA1 and BRCA2 suppressor genes18. BRMS1 (breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1) gene 19. Maspin, a postulated tumour suppressor 20. EPB41L3 and CADM1 tumour suppressor function

Part V: Signalling and transcription regulators as prospective candidates21. Is MKK a metastasis suppressor?22. RKIP (The Raf kinase inhibitor protein) suppresses invasion and metastasis)23. CRSP3 metastasis suppressor24. The suppressor function of TXNIP (Thioredoxin interacting protein-2)25. The essence of the Hippo signalling system26. HIC1 (hypermethylated in cancer 1) suppressor gene27. The DLC suppressor genes28. The LKB1 (STK11) suppressor gene29. PLCD1 (phospholipase Cd1) suppresses tumorigenesis30. Inhibitor of DNA binding proteins (IDs) in tumours31. PDCD4 (Programmed Cell Death 4)

Epilogue

• Identifies molecular targets and their accessibility for therapeutic intervention
• Provides information on biological features of tumor development and dissemination
• Background information provided for each topic