The diverse roles of the TNF axis in cancer progression and metastasis.

Metastasis is a multi-step process that ultimately depends on the ability of disseminating cancer cells to establish favorable communications with their microenvironment. The tumor microenvironment consists of multiple and continuously changing cellular and molecular components. One of the factors regulating the tumor microenvironment is TNF-α, a pleiotropic cytokine that plays key roles in apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation and immunity.

TNF Receptor-2 Facilitates an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in the Liver to Promote the Colonization and Growth of Hepatic Metastases.

Successful colonization by a cancer cell of a distant metastatic site requires immune escape in the new microenvironment. TNF signaling has been implicated broadly in the suppression of immune surveillance that prevents colonization at the metastatic site and therefore must be blocked. In this study, we explored how TNF signaling influences the efficiency of liver metastasis by colon and lung carcinoma in mice that are genetically deficient for the TNF receptor TNFR2.

Transcriptional repression of E-cadherin by human papillomavirus type 16 E6.

There is increasing evidence supporting DNA virus regulation of the cell adhesion and tumour suppressor protein, E-cadherin. We previously reported that loss of E-cadherin in human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16-infected epidermis is contributed to by the major viral proto-oncogene E6 and is associated with reduced Langerhans cells density, potentially regulating the immune response. The focus of this study is determining how the HPV16 E6 protein mediates E-cadherin repression.

Screening of drugs to counteract human papillomavirus 16 E6 repression of E-cadherin expression.

Persistent infections with certain high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types such as 16 and 18 can result in the development of cervical cancer. Neither of the two prophylactic vaccines against HPV16 and 18 that are in current use have any therapeutic efficacy for prevalent HPV infections. Ablative therapy is widely used for the treatment of HPV cervical dysplasia however disease recurrence is a widely recognized problem.