PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Reducing resistance to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer by inhibition of PHD1

2015-08-19
(Press-News.org) Scientists at VIB and KU Leuven have shown that blocking the PHD1 oxygen sensor hinders the activation of p53, a transcription factor that aids colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in repairing themselves and thus resisting chemotherapy. Chemotherapy resistance remains a major clinical issue in the treatment of CRC. These findings indicate that PHD1 inhibition may have valuable therapeutic potential. The study was published in the leading medical journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, which features molecular biology-driven research.

Chemotherapy remains the most widely used cancer treatment, and much attention has been paid to the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance. Sofie Deschoemaeker (VIB/KU Leuven) and a research team led by Massimiliano Mazzone (VIB/KU Leuven) recently investigated the interplay between p53 and the PHD family of oxygen sensors and their potential role in the response of CRC to chemotherapy.

Blocking PHD1 prevents p53 activation upon chemotherapy The proteins PHD1, PHD2 and PHD3 are oxygen-sensitive enzymes known to be involved during cell damage and metabolic stress, such as that induced by chemotherapeutic treatment. The transcription factor p53 is a well-known cell stress sensor that, when mutated in cancer cells, can be activated to promote DNA repair in those cells, reducing chemotherapy's effectiveness. Prof. Mazzone's team found that inhibiting PHD1, but not PHD2 or PHD3, prevented p53 activation and improved the response of CRC to multiple chemotherapeutic agents.

The study's novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy resistance adds another layer of complexity to the role of PHD1 in cancer.

Robbing cancer cells of their ability to heal Sofie Deschoemaeker: "We demonstrated that PHD1 can affect the way colorectal cancer responds to the three most common chemotherapeutic drugs used to treat CRC today. By blocking PHD1, we rob CRC cells of their ability to harness p53 to the cell-repair yoke, even when this protein is mutated (as often occurs in CRC). That means the CRC cells are exposed to the full DNA damage caused by these genotoxic drugs, resulting in greater cell death and thus a better response to the chemotherapy and, ultimately, an improved outcome."

The research, which appeared in EMBO Molecular Medicine, opens the door to the design and validation of PHD1-specific inhibitors in colorectal cancer patients, with the aim of increasing their sensitivity to currently used chemotherapeutic treatments.

INFORMATION:

Publication PHD1 regulates p53-mediated colorectal cancer chemoresistance, Deschoemaeker et al., EMBO Molecular Medicine 2015

Questions As this research may raise questions, we want to ask you to list the e-mail address that the VIB has made available for questions in your report or article. Everyone can contact us with questions about this research and other medical research: patients@vib.be.



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Safinamide in Parkinson disease: No hint of added benefit

2015-08-19
Safinamide (trade name: Xadago) has been available since February 2015 as add-on therapy for the treatment of mid- to late-stage Parkinson disease in adults. In combination with levodopa alone or together with other Parkinson disease medicinal products, this monoamine oxidase (MAO-B) inhibitor is used to help restore dopamine levels in the brain. The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) examined in a dossier assessment whether this drug offers an added benefit over the appropriate comparator therapy. Such an added benefit cannot be derived ...

Tall, masculine men aged around 35 years old perceived to be most dominant

2015-08-19
The study, by scientists at the University of St Andrews, shows that simple increases in a man's height and age automatically makes them appear more dominant. The research, published today (Wednesday 19 August 2015) by the SAGE journal 'Perception', sheds light on why Hollywood directors might choose certain actors to play leading roles. The study was carried out by Carlota Batres, Daniel Re, and Professor David Perrett of the Perception Lab at the University's School of Psychology & Neuroscience. Carlota and her team used computer graphic manipulations to make subtle ...

Research reveals link between age and opinions about video games

2015-08-19
The older the clinician, the more likely they are to think playing video games leads to violent behavior, according to new research published in Computers in Human Behavior. Psychology professor Dr. Christopher Ferguson, author of the study from Stetson University, US, says his findings go some way to explaining why people have different opinions about the effect of video games and suggests many of the reasons come down to generational issues. For parents, one way to close this gap is speaking to children and testing out the games themselves. As long as video games ...

New report offers first nationwide look at the impact of the ACA on medically underserved

2015-08-19
WASHINGTON and NEW YORK (August 19, 2015)--A new report examining newly-released data from the 2014 Uniform Data System (UDS), which collects patient and health care information from the nation's community health centers, shows how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is changing insurance coverage and health care in the nation's most medically underserved urban and rural communities. Examining data collected from nearly 1,300 federally funded health centers operating in over 9,000 locations, the report shows that between 2013 and 2014, the number of health center patients with ...

Instant oatmeal for breakfast may help curb your appetite at lunch

2015-08-19
CHICAGO, IL, August 19, 2015 - A new study revealed that your cereal choice at breakfast might have an impact on how much you eat for lunch. Newly published research in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition showed that a hearty bowl of instant oatmeal helped curb food intake at lunch better than a leading oat-based, cold cereal -- even when each bowl provided the same number of calories. The statistically significant results of the randomized, controlled crossover study (n=47) showed that a 250-calorie instant oatmeal serving (with an additional 113 calories ...

Study finds racial disparity between what black and white borrowers pay for home mortgages

2015-08-19
Racial disparity in mortgage rates is widespread between black and white borrowers, according to a newly published study which found more financially vulnerable black women suffer the most. The study, led by Ping Cheng, Ph.D., professor of finance in Florida Atlantic University's College of Business, used data from three waves of U.S. Survey of Consumer Finance and found that black borrowers on average pay about 29 basis points more than comparable white borrowers, or .29 percent more. Their article was published in the July 2015 issue of The Journal of Real Estate Finance ...

Trade liberalization reduces countries' defense spending

2015-08-19
Reducing trade barriers between countries reduces the likelihood of armed conflict and leads to a reduction in defence spending. In turn, this promotes a domino effect in relation to other countries, which has a positive effect on the situation in the world as a whole. This is the conclusion reached by Roman Zakharenko, Assistant Professor of the HSE International College of Economics and Finance, and his colleagues regarding the relationship between trade and defence spending. In today's word, armed conflicts are not as frequent as they used to be, but defence spending ...

Warning to DIY enthusiasts & construction workers as dangerous dust emissions

2015-08-19
Scientists at the University of Surrey found peak concentrations of potentially harmful ultrafine particles reach up to 4000 times local background levels when undertaking building activities such as drilling. Breathing of these particles is linked with serious cardiovascular and respiratory system related diseases, with ultrafine particles penetrating deeper into the lungs. The researchers also found that the greatest ultrafine particle emissions occurred during wall chasing (cutting grooves into a wall using an electrical tool, for example to lay electrical cables). ...

Better-tasting grocery store tomatoes could soon be on their way

2015-08-19
BOSTON, Aug. 19, 2015 -- Tomato lovers rejoice: Adding or rearranging a few simple steps in commercial processing could dramatically improve the flavor of this popular fruit sold in the grocery store, according to researchers. The scientists will present new research on flavor-saving methods at the 250th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. The meeting features more than 9,000 reports on new advances in science and other topics. It is being held here through Thursday. "Ideally, tomatoes should ...

Change in process of disinfecting spinach, salad greens could reduce illness outbreaks

2015-08-19
BOSTON, Aug.19, 2015 -- Cross contamination in commercial processing facilities that prepare spinach and other leafy greens for the market can make people sick. But researchers are reporting a new, easy-to-implement method that could eliminate or reduce such incidences. The scientists will present their work at the 250th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society. The meeting features more than 9,000 reports on new advances in science and other topics. It is being held here through Thursday. Each year ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Andrew Siemion to receive the SETI Institute’s 2024 Drake Award

New study shows how the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus enters our cells

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy proves effective for locally advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma

Study flips treatment paradigm in bilateral Wilms tumor, shows resistance to chemotherapy may point toward favorable outcomes

Doctors received approximately $12.1 billion from drug and device makers between 2013-2022

Discovery suggests new strategy against follicular lymphoma

Making the future too bright: how wishful thinking can point us in the wrong direction

Ochsner Health named to Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces 2024 for Job Starters

Three-year study of young stars with NASA’s Hubble enters new chapter

North Carolina takes the lead in PFAs research with Collaboratory’s $3 million investment to expand the state’s research capacity

Is it the school, or the students?

Exploring the relationship between HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and the incidence of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis – findings from Denmark

Music: Song lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive since 1980

Environment: More than half of Colorado River’s water used to irrigate crops

When inequality is more than “skin-deep”: Social status leaves traces in the epigenome of spotted hyenas in Tanzania

Study explores the future of at-home cancer treatment

First performance standards published to measure the effectiveness of lifestyle medicine treatments

To keep volunteers, connect them

Suppressing boredom at work hurts future productivity, study shows

Older brain cells linger unexpectedly before their death

Clear shift in arterial diseases in diabetes

Celebrating half a century of pioneering excellence: EBMT marks its 50th anniversary

Ancient DNA reveals the appearance of a 6th century Chinese emperor

DNA study IDs descendants of George Washington from unmarked remains, findings to aid service member IDs going back to World War II

Familial Alzheimer’s disease transferred via bone marrow transplant in mice

Perspectives of oncologists on the ethical implications of using AI for cancer care

Industry payments to US physicians by specialty and product type

Andrew E. Place, MD, PhD appointed as Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Vice President, Pediatric Chief Medical Officer

COVID-19 antibody discovery could explain long COVID

Wild plants face viral surprise

[Press-News.org] Reducing resistance to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer by inhibition of PHD1