A molecule that helps cells stick together is significantly over-produced in two very different diseases — rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of cancers, including breast and brain tumors, concludes a new study. Stephen W. Wyers, from the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center (Washington DC, USA), and colleagues have identified cadherin-11, which is overexpressed in 15% of breast cancers and in many glioblastomas, and may be a major contributor to pancreatic cancer as well. Further, one subset of the study investigators developed a small molecule agent to shut down cadherin-11 in cancer; and a related group devised and antibody that worked in animal models of tumors that made cadherin-11. The study authors submit that: “These data suggest that [cadherin-11] is important for malignant progression, and is a therapeutic target in arthritis and cancer with the potential for rapid clinical translation.”
Molecule Common to Cancer & Arthritis
International research team identifies cadherin-11, a molecule that is overproduced in a variety of cancers as well as rheumatoid arthritis.
Shahin Assefnia, Sivanesan Dakshanamurthy, Jaime M. Guidry Auvil, Constanze Hampel, Panos Z. Anastasiadis, Stephen W. Byers, et al. “Cadherin-11 in poor prognosis malignancies and rheumatoid arthritis: common target, common therapies.” Oncotarget, 15 Nov. 2013.
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