PIAS3 enhances the transcriptional activity of HIF-1α by increasing its protein stability.

The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) functions as a master regulator of hypoxic response by inducing the transcription of various genes responsible for cellular adaptation to hypoxia. In this study, we investigated the effects of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3), a small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) E3 ligase, on HIF-1-mediated transcriptional activation. We found that PIAS3 physically associated with HIF-1α.

The nuclear protein Artemis promotes AMPK activation by stabilizing the LKB1-AMPK complex.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a hetero-trimeric Ser/Thr kinase composed of a catalytic α subunit and regulatory β and γ subunits; it functions as an energy sensor that controls cellular energy homeostasis. In response to an increased cellular AMP/ATP ratio, AMPK is activated by phosphorylation at Thr172 in the α-subunit by upstream AMPK kinases (AMPKKs), including tumor suppressor liver kinase B1 (LKB1). To elucidate more precise molecular mechanisms of AMPK activation, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and isolated the complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the nuclear protein Artemis/DNA cross-link repair 1C (DCLRE1C) as an AMPKα2-binding protein.

[A case of sigmoid colon cancer with temporary dysarthria associated with irinotecan].

A40 -year-old woman visited our hospital with adenocaricinoma of the sigmoid colon with multiple liver metastases and ovarian metastasis. Because of a stenosis of the primary tumor, she underwent a colostomy before chemotherapy. 5-fluorouracil and irinotecan and leucovorin(FOLFIRI)was selected as first-line chemotherapy.

[A case of sigmoid colon cancer with lymphangitis carcinomatosa successfully treated with chemotherapies including molecular targeting drugs].

A 51-year-old man was referred to our hospital with adenocarcinoma of sigmoid colon with multiple lymph node metastasis. At the time of admission, he had dyspnea, and computed tomography (CT) showed typical signs of lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lung. Combination of mFOLFOX6 and bevacizumab was started.

[Second-line chemotherapy for colorectal cancer].

For the current metastatic colorectal cancer, FOLFIRI or FOLFOX is chosen as first-line chemotherapy. Second-line irinotecan-based chemotherapy is commonly used after first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Of course, FOLFOX becomes the second-line if FOLFIRI becomes primary therapy.