Publications by authors named "Olga Futer"
Harnessing the effector mechanisms of the immune system to combat brain tumors with antigen specificity and memory has been in research and clinical testing for many years. Government grant mechanisms and non-profit organizations have supported many innovative projects and trials while biotech companies have invested in the development of needed tools, assays and novel clinical approaches. The National Brain Tumor Society and the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy partnered to host a workshop to share recent data, ideas and identify both hurdles and new opportunities for harnessing immunotherapy against pediatric and adult brain tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of curative treatments for glioblastoma (GBM) has been stagnant in recent decades largely because of significant financial risks. A portfolio-based strategy for the parallel discovery of breakthrough therapies can effectively reduce the financial risks of potentially transformative clinical trials for GBM. Using estimates from domain experts at the National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS), we analyze the performance of a portfolio of 20 assets being developed for GBM, diversified across different development phases and therapeutic mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRho-associated coiled-coil kinase, ROCK, is implicated in Rho-mediated cell adhesion and smooth muscle contraction. Animal models suggest that the inhibition of ROCK can ameliorate conditions, such as vasospasm, hypertension, and inflammation. As part of our effort to design novel inhibitors of ROCK, we investigated the kinetic mechanism of ROCK I.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPim-1 is an oncogene-encoded serine/threonine kinase primarily expressed in hematopoietic and germ cell lines. Pim-1 kinase was originally identified in Maloney murine leukemia virus-induced T-cell lymphomas and is associated with multiple cellular functions such as proliferation, survival, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis (Wang, Z., Bhattacharya, N.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The conversion of inosine monophosphate (IMP) to xanthylic acid (XMP) is a key step in producing guanine nucleotides, primarily catalyzed by the enzyme IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH).
- The study involved creating and testing mutations in specific active site residues of human type II IMPDH, revealing that certain mutations severely reduced enzyme activity, indicating their importance in substrate positioning and binding.
- Key residues that are critical for enzyme function include G326, D364, and C331, as well as others involved in the NAD binding site, underscoring the complex interactions necessary for the enzyme's catalytic process.