Tyrosine kinase receptor RON in human pancreatic cancer: expression, function, and validation as a target.

Background: Specific tyrosine kinase receptors such as c-MET mediate epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT) transition, leading to phenotypic alterations associated with increased cell motility. It was hypothesized that RON, a tyrosine kinase receptor related to c-MET, would be expressed in human pancreatic cancer cells, induce EMT, and would thus serve as a target for therapy in a preclinical model.

Methods: RON expression in human pancreatic cancer specimens was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

Regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in human gastric cancer cells by interleukin-1beta.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a dominant angiogenic factor in gastric cancer, is upregulated by cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), a proinflammatory cytokine, has been shown to be proangiogenic in vivo, despite its not demonstrating angiogenic activity in vitro. We hypothesized that IL-1beta regulates VEGF expression in human gastric cancer cells and investigated the mechanism by which this occurs.