Aberrant signaling by oncogenic mutant rat sarcoma (Ras) proteins occurs in ∼15% of all human tumors, yet direct inhibition of Ras by small molecules has remained elusive. Recently, several small-molecule ligands have been discovered that directly bind Ras and inhibit its function by interfering with exchange factor binding. However, it is unclear whether, or how, these ligands could lead to dr...

Mammary tumorigenesis was surveyed in retired breeding females in four sublines of the C3H strain: in standard milk-transmitted early oncogenic mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-infected C3H/He and C3H/Ki mice, and in standard milk-transmitted early oncogenic MMTV free C3Hf/He and C3Hf/Ki mice. All of 58 C3H/Ki mice and 98% (306 of 309) of the C3H/He mice developed palpable mammary tumors at ave...

OBJECTIVES The frequency of common oncogenic mutations and TP53 was determined in Asian oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS The OncoCarta(™) panel v1.0 assay was used to characterize oncogenic mutations. In addition, exons 4-11 of the TP53 gene were sequenced. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify associations between mutations and selected clinico-pathologica...

Over seven decades ago, classical biochemical studies showed that tumors have altered metabolic profiles and display high rates of glucose uptake and glycolysis. Although these metabolic changes are not the fundamental defects that cause cancer, they might confer a common advantage on many different types of cancers, which allows the cells to survive and invade. Recent molecular studies have re...

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are an ancient group of viruses with small, double-stranded DNA circular genomes. They are species-specific and have a strict tropism for mucosal and cutaneous stratified squamous epithelial surfaces of the host. A subset of these viruses has been demonstrated to be the causative agent of several human cancers. Here, we review the biology, natural history, evolutio...

The genetic landscape of pancreatic cancer shows nearly ubiquitous mutations of K-RAS. However, oncogenic K-Ras(mt) alone is not sufficient to lead to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in either human or in genetically modified adult mouse models. Many stimulants, such as high fat diet, CCK, LPS, PGE2 and others, have physiological effects at low concentrations that are mediated in part t...

RAS is frequently mutated in human cancers and has opposing effects on autophagy and tumorigenesis. Identifying determinants of the cellular responses to RAS is therefore vital in cancer research. Here, we show that autophagic activity dictates the cellular response to oncogenic RAS. N-terminal Apoptosis-stimulating of p53 protein 2 (ASPP2) mediates RAS-induced senescence and inhibits autophagy...

Zoledronic acid (ZA) is commonly used for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with bony metastases. ZA is a bisphosphonate that inhibits osteoclasts, possibly through inhibition of proto-oncogenic Ras activity in osteoclasts by interfering with normal post-translational modifications of Ras. This would suggest that ZA could induce an objective tumor response in metastat...

It has been a century since the initial discovery of the possible link between viruses and tumors. During the past century, extensive studies have been conducted to understand the relationship between viruses and cancers. The early studies were focused on tumor viruses that do not cause cancers in their natural hosts. These studies provided the basis for the subsequent studies on the six known ...

human papillomavirus (hpv) is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted diseases worldwide and is the etiological agent of cervical and other anogenital malignancies. since hpvs have been shown to possess oncogenic potential, an association between hpv infection and prostatic cancer (pca) has been suggested. there are conflicting reports on the impact of hpv infection on the develop...