Nicotine enhances colon cancer cell migration by induction of fibronectin.

Background: Long-term cigarette smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer mortality. Tobacco's addictive toxin, nicotine, was reported to increase DNA synthesis of colon cancer cells. Because metastasis is the major cause of cancer death, the influence of nicotine on the migration of colon cancer cells remains to be determined.

Knockdown of thrombomodulin enhances HCC cell migration through increase of ZEB1 and decrease of E-cadherin gene expression.

Background: Thrombomodulin (TM) is a key molecule mediating circulation homeostasis through its binding to thrombin. The TM-thrombin complex can activate protein C and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor to form a tight clot. In many cancer tissues, decrease of TM expression may correlate with cancer metastasis.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) silencing enhances cell migration but does not influence cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: GRP78 plays an essential role in embryonic development and in the therapeutic treatment and progression of cancer. However, little is known about the role of GRP78 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: In this study, we characterized five different HCC cell lines to examine GRP78 expression patterns and found that only HepJ5 cells ectopically overexpress GRP78.

Glucose-regulated protein 78 is a novel contributor to acquisition of resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Sorafenib is a newly established cancer drug found to be an effective systemic treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, little is known about any potential effectors that modify tumor cell sensitivity towards sorafenib. Here, we present the first evidence that glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) is intimately associated with acquisition of resistance towards sorafenib.

Tobacco-specific carcinogen enhances colon cancer cell migration through alpha7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Objective: To study the mechanism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)-enhanced migration of colon cancer cells.

Background Data: Long-term cigarette smoking increases the risk of colorectal cancer mortality. Tobacco-specific carcinogen, NNK, was reported to increase DNA synthesis of colon cancer cells.

Making the most of medicaid: promoting the health of women and infants with preconception care.

This paper examines the evolution and current role of Medicaid in improving access to preconception care for low-income women. The authors review Medicaid's eligibility policy and benefits of relevance to women of reproductive age and discuss various approaches to promote preconception care in Medicaid. The challenges facing the program and potential opportunities to use the program to promote preconception care to low-income women are discussed.