Oncotarget

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) operates within two distinct protein complexes—mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) and complex 2 (mTORC2). These protein complexes are not yet fully understood, as they were only recently identified in humans in 1994. What researchers do know is that mTORC1 is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes and is a key mediator of cell growth and proliferation....

A small regulatory protein can be found not only in all humans, animals, plants and fungi, but in each and every eukaryotic cell. Following the discovery of these ubiquitous proteins in 1974, researchers aptly named them ubiquitin. Enzymes and/or ligases (enzymes that catalyze the formation of chemical bonds), allow ubiquitins to bind to substrate proteins. This process, known as ubiquitination, c...

Listen to summaries of the latest oncology-focused research published in this week’s issue of Oncotarget, Volume 12, Issue 20. https://www.oncotarget.com/archive/v12/i20/ Priority Research Paper (Cover) - “Identification of Smurf2 as a HIF-1α degrading E3 ubiquitin ligase” https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28081 Research Paper - “A high-throughput customized cytokinome screen of colon cancer cel...

Nutrigenomics is the scientific study of the relationship between nutrition, health and the human genome. Nutritional benefits from dark, leafy greens are not merely limited to eliminating free radicals and reducing inflammation—they may also protect our DNA and slow tumor growth. Research reveals that sulforaphane (SFN), a chemical compound found in cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, bruss...

Oncotarget Volume 11, Issue 27 published "Epigenetic feedback and stochastic partitioning during cell division can drive resistance to EMT" by Jia et al. which reported that Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process mesenchymal-epithelial transition are central to metastatic aggressiveness and therapy resistance in solid tumors. While molecular determinants of both processes...

Picture the human body’s immune response as analogous to the action of an army of military soldiers. For the most part, a healthy immune system can “hold down the fort” and protect the body from many perils of the outside world. We often rely on our immune system’s discretion to determine when and which invaders our soldiers (T cells, for example) should attack. However, when it comes to fighting...

Listen to summaries of the latest oncology-focused research published in this week’s issue of Oncotarget, Volume 12, Issue 19. https://www.oncotarget.com/archive/v12/i19/ Cover Paper - “Nanoparticle T cell engagers for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia” https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28054 News - “Old drug, new trick: proton pump inhibitors find new purpose in cancer care” https://doi.o...

Oncotarget recently published "Evaluations of CRC2631 toxicity, tumor colonization, and genetic stability in the TRAMP prostate cancer model" which reported that the toxicological, tumor-targeting, and efficacy profiles of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium CRC2631 in a syngeneic and autochthonous TRAMP model of aggressive prostate cancer. CRC2631 preferentially colonize primary and metastati...

When it comes to the mechanisms of tumor growth, the differences between epithelial and mesenchymal cell types are important to note. Normal epithelial cells are uniform, stationary and structured to bind together—forming a type of lining on/in organs (such as the outer layer of the skin), some cavities and blood vessels throughout the body. Normal mesenchymal cells are differentiated into a varie...

Most people are aware by now that exercise has positive effects in “healthy” individuals and in patients with cancer. In cancer patients, exercise has been shown to reduce adverse events, improve quality-of-life and respiratory fitness, and even decrease the risk of breast cancer recurrence. These results, and many others, have prompted major national and international cancer organizations to make...

Listen to the latest oncology-focused research published in this week’s issue of Oncotarget, Volume 12, Issue 18. https://www.oncotarget.com/archive/v12/i18/ Priority Research Paper (Cover) - “Normal tissue and tumor microenvironment adaptations to aerobic exercise enhance doxorubicin anti-tumor efficacy and ameliorate its cardiotoxicity in retired breeder mice” https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget...

Oncotarget published "Carcinoma cells that have undergone an epithelial-mesenchymal transition differentiate into endothelial cells and contribute to tumor growth" which reported that the authors investigated whether EMT can confer endothelial attributes upon carcinoma cells, augmenting tumor growth and vascularization. Hypoxic regions, demarcated by HIF-1α staining, exhibited focal areas of E-cad...

Lantern Pharma (a pharmaceutical company developing targeted cancer therapies) created a new drug candidate and next generation member of the acylfulvene class of prodrugs, named LP-184. Researchers from Lantern Pharma and REPROCELL (a commercial contract research organization) conducted a study to test the anti-tumor activity of this preclinical compound in a variety of NSCLC cell lines. In 2021,...

In 2019, a study published in Oncotarget showed a C. elegans cancer screening test could detect pancreatic tumors in mice. In 2021, a team of researchers from Osaka University and Hirotsu Bio Science Inc. sought to employ this clinical tactic in the context of early pancreatic cancer detection in humans. Their paper was published as the cover of Oncotarget’s Volume 12, Issue, 17, and entitled, “Sc...

Listen to the latest oncology-focused research published in this week’s issue of Oncotarget, Volume 12, Issue 17. https://www.oncotarget.com/archive/v12/i17/ Research Paper (Cover) - “Scent test using Caenorhabditis elegans to screen for early-stage pancreatic cancer” https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28035 Research Paper - “The role of circulating miRNAs and CA19-9 in pancreatic cancer diagnosi...

Oncotarget published this trending research perspective on June 22, 2021, entitled, "Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and odds of breast cancer by molecular subtype: analysis of the MEND study" by researchers from Duke University, Durham, NC; University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria; Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria; University College H...

Oncotarget published "The acylfulvene alkylating agent, LP-184, retains nanomolar potency in non-small cell lung cancer carrying otherwise therapy-refractory mutations" which reported that KEAP1 mutant NSCLCs further activate NRF2 and upregulate its client PTGR1. LP-184, a novel alkylating agent belonging to the acylfulvene class is a prodrug dependent upon PTGR1. The authors hypothesized that NSC...

Oncotarget’s cover paper this week (Volume 12, Issue 16) is entitled, "Epigenetic signatures differentiate uterine and soft tissue leiomyosarcoma," by researchers from Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. “In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis and compared the DNA methylation and RNA expression profiles of ULMS and STLMS samples from the TCGA-SARC study.” First, the te...

Listen to the latest oncology-focused research published in this week’s issue of Oncotarget, Volume 12, Issue 16. https://www.oncotarget.com/archive/v12/i16/ Cover Paper - “Epigenetic signatures differentiate uterine and soft tissue leiomyosarcoma” https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28032 Research Paper - “High CD39 expression is associated with the non-muscle-invasive phenotype of human bladder...

The Ride for Roswell is one of the nation’s largest cycling events—hosted by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center—with ambitious goals to raise awareness and funds for cancer research and patient care. This charity bike ride, based out of Buffalo, New York, has brought people together for 25 years to celebrate cancer survivors, pay tribute to lives that have been lost, and to work together to...