Publications by authors named "D M Voeller"

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a potential cancer therapeutic that induces apoptosis in cancer cells while sparing the non-malignant cells in preclinical models. However, its efficacy in clinical trials has been limited, suggesting unknown modulatory mechanisms responsible for the lack of TRAIL activity in patients. Here, we hypothesized that TRAIL treatment elicits transcriptional changes in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells that alter the immune milieu.

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Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Despite the recent development of new therapeutics including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, triple-negative breast cancer remains an aggressive form of breast cancer, and thus improved treatments are needed. In recent decades, it has become increasingly clear that breast cancers harbor metabolic plasticity that is controlled by mitochondria.

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A new dimeric alkaloid plakoramine A [(±)-] was identified from a marine sponge sp. Chiral-phase HPLC separation of (±)- led to the purified enantiomers (+)- and (-)- which both potently inhibited CBL-B E3 ubiquitin ligase activities. The absolute configurations of the enantiomers were determined by quantum chemical calculations.

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Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling is frequently dysregulated in various cancers. The ubiquitin ligase Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (Cbl) regulates degradation of activated EGFR through ubiquitination and acts as an adaptor to recruit proteins required for trafficking. Here, we used stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture mass spectrometry to compare Cbl complexes with or without epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Mitochondria play vital roles in energy production and metabolism in cells, and their functions are often altered in cancer to support tumor growth; cancer stem cells (CSCs) are particularly reliant on mitochondrial activity for their survival and resistance to treatment.
  • - Small molecule ONC201, which activates mitochondrial caseinolytic protease (ClpP), leads to mitochondrial dysfunction in breast cancer cells, inhibiting their growth and CSC functions more effectively than other treatments.
  • - ClpP agonists disrupt several metabolic pathways essential for CSC survival, including oxidative phosphorylation and one-carbon metabolism, ultimately reducing CSC functions and offering a promising therapeutic strategy in breast cancer treatment.
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