Antiangiogenic properties of lupulone, a bitter acid of hop cones.

Background: Angiogenesis is the result of intricate steps regulated by the balance between agonistic and antagonistic effectors. Disturbance of this balance leads to an 'angiogenic' switch critical for tumor development.

Materials And Methods: Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) the effects of lupulone were analyzed on proliferation induced by angiogenic growth factors, transmembrane cell migration toward fibronectin and formation of a network of tubular-like structures on Matrigel.

A yeast-based functional assay for the detection of the mutant androgen receptor in prostate cancer.

Objective: Mutations in the ligand-binding domain of the human androgen receptor (AR) figure among the ways used by prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) cells to escape androgen dependence. These mutations may broaden the specificity and/or affinity of the AR to other hormones, resulting in inappropriate receptor activation and thus affecting the PCa response to physiological stimuli and hormonal therapies.

Design: In order to clarify the impact of these mutations on disease progression and treatment, we have developed a yeast-based functional assay that allows the detection of mutant ARs and the analysis of their transactivation capacities in response to different ligands.

Sensitivity to cisplatin treatment of human K1 thyroid carcinoma cell lines with altered p53 function.

Aim: p53 is the most frequently altered gene in human cancer. It was expected to be the principle marker for chemo/radiosensitivity, resistance, tumor recurrence and ultimate survival, but is no longer considered a universal prognostic factor. Different alterations in the p53 gene have led to conflicting results depending on cell/tissue specificities and on radiation and drug specificities.