The Therapeutic Landscape for -Mutated Colorectal Cancers.

Colorectal cancer is one of the world's most prevalent and lethal cancers. Mutations of the KRAS gene occur in ~40% of metastatic colorectal cancers. While this cohort has historically been difficult to manage, the last few years have shown exponential growth in the development of selective inhibitors targeting KRAS mutations.

Alpha-B-Crystallin overexpression is sufficient to promote tumorigenesis and metastasis in mice.

Background: αB-Crystallin is a heat shock chaperone protein which binds to misfolded proteins to prevent their aggregation. It is overexpressed in a wide-variety of cancers. Previous studies using human cancer cell lines and human xenograft models have suggested potential tumor promoter (oncogene) roles for αB-Crystallin in a wide-spectrum of cancers.

Targeting BRF2 in Cancer Using Repurposed Drugs.

The overexpression of BRF2, a selective subunit of RNA polymerase III, has been shown to be crucial in the development of several types of cancers, including breast cancer and lung squamous cell carcinoma. Predominantly, BRF2 acts as a central redox-sensing transcription factor (TF) and is involved in rescuing oxidative stress (OS)-induced apoptosis. Here, we showed a novel link between BRF2 and the DNA damage response.

New biorecognition molecules in biosensors for the detection of toxins.

Biological and synthetic recognition elements are at the heart of the majority of modern bioreceptor assays. Traditionally, enzymes and antibodies have been integrated in the biosensor designs as a popular choice for the detection of toxin molecules. But since 1970s, alternative biological and synthetic binders have been emerged as a promising alternative to conventional biorecognition elements in detection systems for laboratory and field-based applications.

Microfabricated biosensor for the simultaneous amperometric and luminescence detection and monitoring of Ochratoxin A.

The low molecular weight hapten, Ochratoxin A (OTA), is a natural carcinogenic mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi and so it commonly appears in wines, other foods, and in the environment. An amperometric biosensor has been developed that uses the immobilized synthetic peptide, NFO4; which possesses a high binding affinity and thus provides for molecular recognition of OTA; simulating the mycotoxin-specific antibody. Biotransducers were produced from a microlithographically fabricated electrochemical cell-on-a-chip that uses the microdisc electrode array working electrode format augmented with microporous graphitized carbon (MGC) that was electrodeposited within a poly(aniline-co-meta-aminoaniline) electroconductive polymer layer.