Adult ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

Intracellular signal transduction plays an important role in the process of cellular metabolism, segmentation, differentiation, biological behaviour and cell death. Overactive signal transduction relates to tumor development and progression. Signaling pathways operated by protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) will be illuminated here briefly. The Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI-3K/Akt pathways through receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTKs), the Src, Bcr-Abl and JAK/STAT pathways by non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases (nrPTKs) are shown separately. Antitumor agents targeting the key proteins involved in the above five signalling routes are also summarized in this review.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; STAT Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; ras Proteins ; metabolism ; src-Family Kinases ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo detect the expressions of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) mRNA and protein and to explore potentially promising tumor markers and conceivable drug target in bladder cancer.

METHODSThe expressions of RTKs mRNA and protein in tissue from invasive urothelial carcinoma of the bladder were examined by real-time quantitative PCR array and cytokine antibody array, with normal bladder tissue as control. The Results were analyzed using bioinformatic approaches.

RESULTSThe expressions of TGFA, STAB1, SERPINE1, ANGPT2, SPINK5, ANGPTL1, PROK1, MDK, CXCL9, GRN, RUNX1, VEGFA, and TGFB1 were obviously upregulated in bladder cancer tissue, while those of EDIL3, PTN, CCL2, PDGFD, FGF13, KITLG, FGF2, SERPINF1, and TNF were downregulated. ALK, Btk, EphB2, ErbB4, PDGFR-α, ROS, Tie-2, Tyk2, and VEGFR3 were over-expressed in bladder cancer, while FRK, Fyn, IGF-IR, Insulin R, Itk, JAK1, JAK3, and LCK were low-expressed.

CONCLUSIONVascular endothelial growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor-targeted therapies may play an active role in treating carcinoma of bladder.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore ALK protein expression and gene fusion in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens obtained from lung cancer by bronchoscopy, and to investigate the relationship between ALK status and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.

METHODSSeventy-four FFPE samples obtained from lung adenocarcinoma by bronchoscopy were tested for ALK protein expression and gene fusion respectively by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using Ventana D5F3 antibody and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using ALK break apart probe.

RESULTSsixty-five of the 74 samples were successfully tested by FISH (87.8%, 65/74) . There were 5 FISH-positive cases (7.7%, 5/65) , all with advanced stage carcinoma. Among these five FISH-positive cases, 3 were IHC-positive (4.1%, 3/74) and 2 IHC-negative cases. All the other 69 samples were IHC-negative, including nine FISH-uninformative samples (7 samples were less than 50 tumor cells and 2 samples with weak FISH signal). Both ALK IHC and FISH results were not correlated with age, sex, history of smoking, histological classification, differentiation and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSBronchoscopic specimens of lung cancer can be used to detect ALK expression and gene fusion. Immunohistochemistry in combination with FISH test may be more favorable for ALK test.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Gene Fusion ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Granzymes ; metabolism ; Histiocytic Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue ; metabolism ; pathology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases

OBJECTIVEFMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is constitutively activated in (70-90)% pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and appears to confer an adverse prognosis. Although several FLT3-selective small molecule inhibitors and antibodies were developed with varied degrees of success, to address the specificity and resistance, new approaches for specifically targeted FLT3 are needed and RNA interference is a promising choice. The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of suppression of FLT3 induced by small hairpin interfering RNA (shRNA) on myeloproliferation and apoptosis in an acute monocytic leukemia (AMOL) cell line THP-1.

METHODSFLT3-targeted small hairpin interfering RNA (FLT3-shRNA) was designed and synthesized by transcription system in vitro was transfected into THP-1 cells. Firstly FLT3 mRNA level was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and FLT3 protein level was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) to verify the efficacy on FLT3-shRNA interference at 48 h after transfection. Cell growth viability was measured at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after treatment with CCK-8. The distribution of cell cycle was assayed by FCM, and apoptosis was analyzed by DNA Ladder and Annexin V-FITC Staining at 48 h.

RESULTSFLT3 targeted shRNAs was synthesized successfully and the concentration of 15 nmol/L for 48 h could obtain desirable downregulation of FLT3 expression, the inhibitory percentages of FLT3 mRNA and protein were (72.95 +/- 2.07)% and (65.39 +/- 5.57)%, respectively. The suppression of FLT3 induced by FLT3-shRNA resulted in marked inhibition of cell growth and the inhibitory percentages were (36.66 +/- 3.67)% at 48 h, (35.56 +/- 0.73)% at 72 h. FLT3-shRNA induced the inhibition of cell cycle from G(0)/G(1) phase to S phase, the percentage of sub-G(0)/G(1) phase (65.71 +/- 4.47)% was higher than those in the PBS-control group (52.23 +/- 2.98)%, NC-shRNA control group (51.81 +/- 1.44)%, P < 0.01; the percentage of S phase (25.11 +/- 2.70)% was lower than those in the PBS-control group (34.41 +/- 4.07)% and NC-shRNA control group (32.50 +/- 1.46)%, P < 0.05. Furthermore treatment with FLT3-shRNA for 48 h resulted in clear apoptosis ladder, the percentage of early apoptosis detected by Annexin V-FITC was (18.59 +/- 2.07)% which was significantly higher than that in the PBS-control group (4.00 +/- 0.50)% and the NC-shRNA control group (6.06 +/- 0.70)%, P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONThe suppression of FLT3 induced by the shRNA can effectively inhibit cell proliferation, and apoptosis induction on THP-1 cells, which indicates that this approach may bear the therapeutic potential on childhood AMOL.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Child ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; enzymology ; pathology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; metabolism

Mer is one member of Axl receptor tyrosine kinase family, and its ligand Gas6 can stimulate activity of Mer receptor tyrosine kinase after binding it, and then activate the downstream signal transduction pathway, Mer participates in cell inflammation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, thrombosis and hemostasis. Rencet advances of study on Mer function were reviewed, and its potential prospects of antithrombosis and antitumor were discussed in this article.
Animals ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase

OBJECTIVETo correlate the abnormal expression of anapastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) protein with the genetic and epigenetic changes of ALK, and to analyze its clinical application in pediatric neuroblastoma.

METHODSThree neuroblastoma (NB) cell lines (two ALK positive: SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH, one ALK negative: SK-N-AS) and 43 paraffin-embedded NB tissues were included in the study. In both cell lines and clinical cases, immunohistochemistry was used to detect ALK protein expression; PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to detect ALK point mutation; fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect ALK abnormality and bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to detect methylation of CpG island in the promoter area of ALK.

RESULTSThe cell lines SH-SY5Y and SK-N-SH were positive for ALK expression (cytoplasm), while the SK-N-AS was negative; among the 43 cases of NB, 26 (60.5%, 26/43) were positive for ALK protein (membrane and cytoplasm), and the rest were negative. Survival analysis showed ALK protein expression was related to survival time, with ALK positive cases having shorter survival time than ALK negative cases (P = 0.020). But ALK protein expression had no association with tumor differentiation (P = 0.503), tumor sites (P = 1.000) and age of patients (P = 0.063). FISH showed ALK amplification in two cases (4.6%, 2/43), ALK gain was found in 30 cases (69.7%, 30/43), and the remaining cases had normal ALK copy (25.6%, 11/43). The presence of extra copies (amplification and gain) of ALK was associated with ALK positive protein expression (P = 0.020), but there was no association with tumor differentiation (P = 1.000), tumor sites (P = 0.775) and age of patients (P = 0.328). No point mutation was found in all three cell lines. Of the 43 NB cases, only one case (2.3%, 1/43) showed point mutation in exon 23, and was a synonymous mutation [A1200A (G4552C)]. The case was ALK negative, but the patient died two months after diagnosis. BSP analysis showed that CpG island in ALK promoter region were all unmethylated in three cell lines and 6 NB cases (including 3 ALK positive, 3 ALK negative).

CONCLUSIONSALK protein is expressed in most NB, and the expression indicates poor outcome. ALK expression is associated with extra copies of ALK, but there is no association with the methylation status of CpG island of ALK; the presence of extra copies of ALK is the most common genetic aberration in NB. Point mutation of ALK is rare, and may predict poor prognosis in pediatric NB.

Adolescent ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Exons ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Neuroblastoma ; enzymology ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the proto-oncogene RON mediated aggression of Raji cells and the inhibitory effects by monoclonal antibody Zt/f2 (2f2).

METHODSThe effects of RON ligand macrophage stimulating protein (MSP) (2.0 nmol/L) and inhibitory Zt/f2 (2F2) (2.0 nmol/L) antibody on proliferation of RON positive Raji cells after treatment for 24 and72 hours were detected by MTT method, colony formation units (CFU) of Raji cells by methylcellulose semi solid culture, Raji cells apoptosis and cell cycle analysis by AnnexinV/PI double staining, expression of RON, apoptosis-related proteins, and cyclins by Western blot.

RESULTS(1)Compared with the cell viability (1.0) and counts of CFU (103.6±7.0) in control group, Raji cells after MSP treatment had better viability (1.35±0.20) and CFU counts (133.7±10.4) (P<0.05), but worse viability (0.68±0.11) and CFU counts (66.3±6.1) after Zt/f2 (2F2) treatment (P<0.05). (2)Percentage of Raji cells apoptosis after Zt/f2 (2F2) antibody treatment (12.16±2.33)% was significantly increased than the control (2.89±1.03)% (P<0.05). The percentage of Raji cells arrested in G0/G1 phase was increased after Zt/f2 (2F2) antibody treatment as compared to the control [ (54.96 ±3.70)% vs (39.10±2.30)%, (P<0.05) ]. (3) High-level of RON phosphorylation and β-catenin expression activated by MSP could be inhibited significantly by Zt/f2 (2F2), which also up-regulated the expression of caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9 and PARP and down-regulated anti-apoptotic MCL-1 gene and inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP expression, accompanied with G1 phase protein changes accordingly.

CONCLUSIONMSP could aggravate Raji cells proliferation. Inversely, Zt/f2 (2F2) could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis by inhibition of RON phosphorylation and up-regulation of apoptosis related proteins.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogenes ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism