PTTG and PBF Functionally Interact with p53 and Predict Overall Survival in Head and Neck Cancer.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the 6th most common cancer worldwide and poses a significant health burden due to its rising incidence. Although the proto-oncogene pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG) predicts poor patient outcome, its mechanisms of action are incompletely understood. We show here that the protein PBF modulates PTTG function, is overexpressed in HNSCC tumors, and correlates with significantly reduced survival.

Angiogenic potential of endothelial progenitor cells and embryonic stem cells.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are implicated in a range of pathological conditions, suggesting a natural therapeutic role for EPCs in angiogenesis. However, current angiogenic therapies involving EPC transplantation are inefficient due to rejection of donor EPCs. One solution is to derive an expanded population of EPCs from stem cells in vitro, to be re-introduced as a therapeutic transplant.