Publications by authors named "Peter M Schlag"

Background: Identification of cancer metastasis-relevant molecular networks is desired to provide the basis for understanding and developing intervention strategies. Here we address the role of GIPC1 in the process of MACC1-driven metastasis. MACC1 is a prognostic indicator for patient metastasis formation and metastasis-free survival.

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Purpose: In patients with peritoneal metastasis (PM) from gastric cancer (GC), chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are still being debated. This randomized, controlled, open-label, multicenter phase III trial (EudraCT 2006-006088-22; ClinicalTrials.

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Background: In recent years there has been an increasing, partially also critical interest in understanding the potential benefits of generating real-world evidence (RWE) in medicine.

Objectives: The benefits and limitations of RWE in the context of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are described along with a view on how they may complement each other as partners in the generation of evidence for clinical oncology. Moreover, challenges and success factors in building an effective RWE network of cooperating cancer centers are analyzed and discussed.

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Ribosome profiling revealed widespread translational activity at upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and validated uORF-mediated translational control as a commonly repressive mechanism of gene expression. Translational activation of proto-oncogenes through loss-of-uORF mutations has been demonstrated, yet a systematic search for cancer-associated genetic alterations in uORFs is lacking. Here, we applied a PCR-based, multiplex identifier-tagged deep sequencing approach to screen 404 uORF translation initiation sites of 83 human tyrosine kinases and 49 other proto-oncogenes in 308 human malignancies.

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MACC1 (Metastasis Associated in Colon Cancer 1) is a key driver and prognostic biomarker for cancer progression and metastasis in a large variety of solid tumor types, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). However, no MACC1 inhibitors have been identified yet. Therefore, we aimed to target MACC1 expression using a luciferase reporter-based high-throughput screening with the ChemBioNet library of more than 30,000 compounds.

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Unlabelled: Cancer of the stomach is among the leading causes of death from cancer worldwide. The transcription factor C/EBPβ is frequently overexpressed in gastric cancer and associated with the suppression of the differentiation marker TFF1. We show that the murine C/EBPβ knockout stomach displays unbalanced homeostasis and reduced cell proliferation and that tumorigenesis of human gastric cancer xenograft is inhibited by knockdown of C/EBPβ.

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Background: The metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) gene has been identified as prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we aimed at the refinement of risk assessment by separate and combined survival analyses of MACC1 expression with any of the markers KRAS mutated in codon 12 (KRAS G12) or codon 13 (KRAS G13), BRAF V600 mutation and MSI status in a retrospective study of 99 CRC patients with tumors UICC staged I, II and III.

Findings: We showed that only high MACC1 expression (HR: 6.

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Survival of colorectal cancer patients is strongly dependent on development of distant metastases. S100A4 is a prognostic biomarker and inducer for colorectal cancer metastasis. Besides exerting intracellular functions, S100A4 is secreted extracellularly.

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Background: Inflammation, especially the cytokine response of the IL-1 family, has been shown to influence susceptibility to gastric cancer. In addition, several other pro-inflammatory cytokines have been demonstrated to influence metastasis and resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, genetic variations within these genes may not only affect susceptibility but also influence the outcome of gastric cancer patients.

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Nonviral gene therapy represents a realistic option for clinical application in cancer treatment. This preclinical study demonstrates the advantage of using the small-size MIDGE(®) DNA vector for improved transgene expression and therapeutic application. This is caused by significant increase in transcription efficiency, but not by increased intracellular vector copy numbers or gene transfer efficiency.

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Background: Previous results of the EORTC intergroup trial 40983 showed that perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 (folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) increases progression-free survival (PFS) compared with surgery alone for patients with initially resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer. Here we present overall survival data after long-term follow-up.

Methods: This randomised, controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 study recruited patients from 78 hospitals across Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong.

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MACC1, Metastasis associated in colon cancer 1, is a newly identified prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer metastasis and patient survival, when determined in the primary tumor or patient blood. MACC1 induces cell motility and proliferation in cell culture and metastasis in mouse models. MACC1 acts as a transcriptional regulator of the receptor tyrosine kinase gene Met via binding to its promoter.

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DNA vaccines are potential tools for the induction of immune responses against both infectious disease and cancer. The dermal application of DNA vaccines is of particular interest since the epidermal and dermal layers of the skin are characterized by an abundance of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The aim of our study was to compare tumor protection as obtained by two different methods of intradermal DNA delivery (gene gun and jet injector) in a well-established HER2/neu mouse tumor model.

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Background: Metastasis is the most frequent cause of treatment failure and death in colorectal cancer. Early detection of tumors and metastases is crucial for improving treatment strategies and patient outcome. Development of reliable biomarkers and simple tests routinely applicable in the clinic for detection, prognostication, and therapy monitoring is of special interest.

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Objectives: Individualized risk assessment in patients with UICC stage II colon cancer based on a panel of molecular genetic alterations.

Background: Risk assessment in patients with colon cancer and localized disease (UICC stage II) is not sufficiently reliable. Development of metachronous metastasis is assumed to be governed largely by individual tumor genetics.

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For nonviral applications of therapeutic DNA, highly efficient and safe vector systems are of crucial importance. In the majority of nonviral approaches plasmid vectors are in use. A novel minimalistic gene expression vector (MIDGE) has been developed to overcome the limitations of plasmid vectors.

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The metastasis-inducing protein S100A4 was found to be a prognostic indicator for the development of metachronous metastases. S100A4 expression levels correlate with the formation of human colorectal cancer metastases and shorter patients' survival. Inhibition of S100A4 expression in patients might therefore result in decreased metastasis formation and prolonged survival.

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Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the main cancers in the Western world. About 90% of the deaths arise from formation of distant metastasis. The expression of the newly identified gene metastasis associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) is a prognostic indicator for colon cancer metastasis.

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We previously identified the gene metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) and demonstrated its important role for metastasis prediction in colorectal cancer. MACC1 induces cell motility and proliferation in vitro as well as metastasis in several mouse models. Here we report non-invasive real time imaging of inhibition of colorectal tumor progression and metastasis in xenografted mice by MACC1 shRNA.

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Plasmid DNA is frequently used particularly for nonviral gene therapy. Conventional plasmid DNA contains bacterial backbone and resistance gene sequences, as well as immunogenic CpG motifs. These components are not required for transgene expression.

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Objective: In EORTC study 40983, perioperative FOLFOX increased progression-free survival (PFS) compared with surgery alone for patients with initially 1 to 4 resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). We conducted an exploratory retrospective analysis to identify baseline factors possibly predictive for a benefit of perioperative FOLFOX on PFS.

Methods: The analysis was based on 237 events from 342 eligible patients.

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Early invasive growth and metastasis are features of pancreatic cancer that rely on its resistance to anoikis, an apoptosis program activated on loss of matrix anchorage. How anoikis is regulated is unclear. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine-kinase (GNE) was silenced, or p16 was overexpressed, in human pancreatic carcinoma cells.

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