PU.1 is a critical transcription factor for differentiation of both myeloid and lymphoid cells. PU.1 knockout mice are embryonic lethal or die soon after birth, and those mice do not have granulocytes, monocytes/ macrophages, or B cells [1, 2]. PU.1 is expressed in granulocytes, monocytes/macrophages, and B cells, but not in erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, or T cells. It was recently shown that P...

Multiple myeloma is associated with unbalanced bone remodeling causing lytic bone lesions. Interleukin-11 (IL-11) promotes osteoclast formation and inhibits osteoblast activity and may, thus, be one factor involved in cancer-induced bone destruction. We have previously shown that myeloma cells produce hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). We now report that HGF induces IL-11 secretion from human oste...

Multiple myeloma is one of numerous malignancies characterized by increased glucose consumption, a phenomenon with significant prognostic implications in this disease. Few studies have focused on elucidating the molecular underpinnings of glucose transporter (GLUT) activation in cancer, knowledge that could facilitate identification of promising therapeutic targets. To address this issue, we pe...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a multifunctional cytokine, potently stimulates angiogenesis including tumor neovascularization. Although well established in solid tumors, the role of VEGF in bone marrow neoangiogenesis and paracrine tumor-stromal cell interactions in lymphohematopoietic malignancies has not been fully elucidated. In multiple myeloma (MM), marrow neovascularization p...

Recent data have renewed the interest for arsenic-containing compounds as anticancer agents. In particular, arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has been demonstrated to be an effective drug in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia by inducing programmed cell death in leukemic cells both in vitro and in vivo. This prompted us to study the in vitro effects of As2O3 and of another arsenical derivativ...

conclusions in our study, no prominent effect was seen; therefore, in order to have a better perspective of crocin activity against cancerous cell lines, further studies are highly recommended. results the highest concentration of crocin significantly decreased ros production after 48 hours of treatment. however, crocin had no effect on the expression level of hsp (heat shock protein). addition...

BACKGROUND MET is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is activated by the ligand HGF and this pathway promotes cell survival, migration, and motility. In accordance with its oncogenic role, MET is constitutively active, mutated, or over-expressed in many cancers. Corollary to its impact, inhibition of MET kinase activity causes reduction of the downstream signaling and demise of cells. In myeloma, ...

OBJECTIVE Polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is a regulator of the cell cycle that has been implicated in the pathology of many cancers. We have investigated whether this kinase plays a role in multiple myeloma (MM) using the Plk1 inhibitor BI 2536. MATERIALS AND METHODS We have used six MM cell lines and six patient-derived samples to determine the effects of the Plk1 inhibitor, BI 2536, on cell viab...

Four mouse and two human tumour cell lines resistant to alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), were analysed for the activities of polyamine-biosynthetic and -biodegradative enzymes as well as for cellular polyamine contents. In all but one of these cell lines the resistance to DFMO was based on an overproduction of ODC. In a human myel...

Myeloma cells express basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenic cytokine triggering marrow neovascularization in multiple myeloma (MM). In solid tumors and some lymphohematopoietic malignancies, angiogenic cytokines have also been shown to stimulate tumor growth via paracrine pathways. Since interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent growth and survival factor for myeloma cells, we have studie...