Drugging RNAi

Drugging Wnt signalling in cancer.

Aberrant regulation of the Wnt signalling pathway has emerged as a prevalent theme in cancer biology. This chapter summarizes the research that provides a proof of concept for inhibiting Wnt signalling in cancer, the potential means by which this could be achieved, and some recent advances towards this goal. A brief discussion of molecular diagnostics and possible safety concerns is also provided.

Drugging Sphingosine Kinases

The transfer of the gamma phosphate from ATP to sphingosine (Sph) to generate a small signaling molecule, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is catalyzed by sphingosine kinases (SphK), which exist as two isoforms, SphK1 and SphK2. SphK is a key regulator of S1P and the S1P:Sph/ceramide ratio. Increases in S1P levels have been linked to diseases including sickle cell disease, cancer, and fibrosis. T...

Drugging Drug Resistance

Resistance to anticancer drugs is widely observed in vitro and in cancer patients, but its prevalence is too high to be solely explained by the acquisition of mutations. Sharma et al. (2010) now report that dynamic chromatin modifications may be an independent route to drug resistance in cancer cells that can be reversed by epigenetic drugs.

Thyroid Drugging in Graves' Disease

Are We Over-Drugging Ourselves ?

he repeats the statement in substance, but softens the blow just a little by the qualification that ninetenths of all the bottles of medicine are mere placebos, having none but a psychological effect on their recipients. The doctor's calling is a high one, and he is engaged against powerful opposing forces in a struggle for the existence of his patients. But doctors have to live like lesser mor...