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View the Table of Contents for the July 1 issue of Cancer Research.
van Golen et al. Page 6570
The type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) is involved in tumor progression in multiple cancers. In the pediatric tumor neuroblastoma, tumorigenic cells express high levels of the IGF-IR. Since bone expresses abundant IGF ligands, van Golen et al. investigated the potential involvement of IGF-IR in neuroblastoma bone metastasis. Neuroblastoma cells expressing high IGF-IR levels interact with cellular components of bone and, in mice, target to and from osteolytic tumors within bone tissue. Two IGF-IR–directed therapeutic compounds, a small molecule inhibitor, and a monoclonal antibody prevent neuroblastoma cell interaction with bone.
Chung et al. Page 6843
Due to poor immunogenic properties, the B-lymphocyte has been ignored as a source of cellular vaccine for antitumor immunotherapy. To overcome this disadvantage, Chung et al. developed a new vaccine with B-lymphocytes loaded with natural killer T-cell ligand and tumor-derived peptide. Mice receiving this vaccination successfully generated peptide-specific cytotoxic memory immunity. The antitumor activity induced by this B-lymphocyte–based vaccine in tumor-bearing mice was as efficient as those induced by dendritic cell vaccination in several tumor models. These results show promise as the basis of an alternate cellular vaccine against tumors as well as infectious diseases.
Immune Response Genes Predominant among Esophageal Dysplasia Profile
Page 6851
Molecular targets associated with regression and progression of esophageal squamous dysplasia, a precursor to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, have not been identified. To address this gap, Joshi et al. used microarray analysis to assess changes in gene expression in normal esophageal mucosa of individuals whose dysplasia regressed, was stable, or progressed. One hundred forty-nine differentially expressed genes were found, including 20 associated with regression and 129 associated with progression. Immune response genes were the most prominently over-represented pathway. These results suggest an important role for immune response in the natural history of dysplastic lesions and identify potential gene targets.
Page 6871
Free DNA fragments are detectable in the plasma of healthy subjects as well as cancer patients. In patients, this free DNA often contains alterations identical to those often found in tumor DNA (mutations, hypermethylations, deletions, amplifications) suggesting that part of this material is of tumoral origin. Gormally et al. have used the set-up of a large prospective study, the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, to develop a nested case-control study aimed at assessing the significance of plasma DNA mutations in TP53 or KRAS2 in the plasma DNA of healthy subjects for subsequent cancer occurrence. They report that mutations are present in a small number of healthy subjects, and are detectable ahead of bladder cancer diagnosis. These observations have implications for using plasma DNA in monitoring early steps of carcinogenesis.