BACKGROUND Epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes associated with promoter methylation is considered to be a hallmark of oncogenesis. RASSF1A is a candidate tumor suppressor gene which was found to be inactivated in many human cancers. Although we have had a preliminary cognition about the function of RASSF1A, the exact mechanisms about how RASSF1A functions in human cancers were largel...

CpG island methylation (CIM) is an epigenetic mechanism for transcriptional silencing that occurs at various stages of colon tumorigenesis. CIM has been found in serrated adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. There is also evidence for hypermethylation in aberrant crypt foci (ACF) that are found in resected colons from cancer patients. Our study addresses promoter methylation of a tumor suppressor ...

The RASSF1A tumor suppressor is potentially the most important candidate gene identified in medulloblastoma to date, being epigenetically silenced in >79% of primary tumors. However, its functional role has not been previously addressed in this tumor type. Here, we demonstrate that expression of RASSF1A promotes the induction of cell death after activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic ap...

The RASSF proteins are a family of polypeptides, each containing a conserved Ras association domain, suggesting that these scaffold proteins may be effectors of activated Ras or Ras-related small GTPases. RASSF proteins are characterized by their ability to inhibit cell growth and proliferation while promoting cell death. RASSF1 isoform A is an established tumor suppressor and is frequently sil...

Aberrant epigenetic changes are known to contribute to various phases of tumor development. The gene function loss caused by aberrant methylation is analogous to genetic mutations. Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations can be reversed. 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-CdR) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of certain types of cancer, such as MDS and...

Human NDR1 and 2 (NDR1/2) are serine-threonine protein kinases in a subgroup of the AGC kinase family. The mechanisms of physiological NDR1/2 activation and their function remain largely unknown. Here we report that Fas and TNF-alpha receptor stimulation activates human NDR1/2 by promoting phosphorylation at the hydrophobic motif (Thr444/442). Moreover, NDR1/2 are essential for Fas receptor-ind...

Promoter hypermethylation, a widely studied epigenetic event known to influence gene expression levels, has been proposed as a potential biomarker in multiple types of cancer. Clinical diagnostic biomarkers are needed for reliable prediction of bladder cancer recurrence. In this paper, DNA promoter methylation of five C-terminal Ras-association family members (RASSF1A, RASSF2A, RASSF4, RASSF5, ...

Mammalian MST kinases function in stress-induced apoptosis to limit tumor progression. However, there is limited understanding about MST2 control by key regulators of cell division and survival. Raf-1 binds and inhibits MST2 kinase, whereas dissociation from Raf-1 and binding to tumor suppressor protein RASSF1A activates MST2. Akt phosphorylates MST2 in response to mitogens, oncogenic Ras, or d...

Pancreatic carcinoma is currently considered as a rapidly progressive and fatal disease, and is typically diagnosed late in its natural course. It is characterized by a poor diagnosis and lack of response to conventional therapy. Recent studies have suggested that disulfiram (DSF), a member of the dithiocarbamate family, may have antitumor activity. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro eff...