DNA topoisomerase I-targeted chemotherapy of human colon cancer in xenografts

Article Abstract:

Synthetic analogues of the drug camptothecin were shown to inhibit growth of human colon cancer. Cancerous colon cells were implanted into mice that were immunodeficient. The immune systems of these mice were not capable of mounting an immune response against the tumors, which allowed them to grow and not be rejected. The tumors in mice that were injected with various analogues of camptothecin stopped growing. These mice remained disease-free. The toxicity of the drug was considerably low. Camptothecin affects DNA topoisomerase I, an enzyme that changes the structure of the DNA from a normally supercoiled state to a relaxed state. Increased concentrations of the enzyme are found in the human colon cancer. More research is needed to understand how the drug works and to evaluate the possible clinical use of the drug in patients with colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer, Antineoplastic agents, Chemotherapy, Adenocarcinoma

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Xenografts and Retroviruses

Article Abstract:

The grafting of animal cells and tissues into humans, xenotransplantation, has led to fears of new infectious diseases. Porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV)--one potential risk of transplanting patients with pig tissues, has not yet emerged in a controlled study of 160 patients. The study is analyzed.

Prevention, Ethical aspects, Recombinant DNA, Xenotransplantation, Retrovirus infections

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Things start getting sticky for a cell surface enzyme

Article Abstract:

Two research teams have found that an enzyme that relays signals for cell growth and differentiation, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP), may also help a cell adhere to like cells. Design of the experiments and possible relationships between RPTP's two functions are discussed.

Cell adhesion molecules, Cell interaction, Cell interactions

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