The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a massive cytoplasmic membrane network that functions primarily to ensure proper folding and posttranslational modification of newly synthesized secreted and transmembrane proteins. Abnormal accumulation of unfolded proteins in this organelle causes a state of "ER stress," which is a hallmark feature of various diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and...

Glioblastoma multiforme is a deadly cancer whose current treatment options are limited. The ability of glioblastoma tumor cells to infiltrate the surrounding brain parenchyma critically limits the effectiveness of current treatments. We investigated how microglia, the resident macrophages of the brain, stimulate glioblastoma cell invasion. We first examined the ability of normal microglia from ...

Overexpression of lipogenic enzymes is a common characteristic of many cancers. Thus far, studies aimed at the exploration of lipogenic enzymes as targets for cancer intervention have focused on fatty acid synthase (FAS), the enzyme catalyzing the terminal steps in fatty acid synthesis. Chemical inhibition or RNA interference (RNAi)–mediated knockdown of FAS consistently inhibits the growth and...

Anionic phospholipids are largely absent from the external leaflet of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells under normal conditions. Exposure of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface occurs during apoptosis, necrosis, cell injury, cell activation, and malignant transformation. In the present study, we determined whether anionic phospholipids become exposed on tumor vasculature. A monoclonal a...

Colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1 is the primary regulator of tissue macrophage production. CSF-1 expression is correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer and is believed to enhance mammary tumor progression and metastasis through the recruitment and regulation of tumorassociated macrophages. Macrophages produce matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor, which a...

In order to establish a rationale for immunotherapy for lung cancer, we have investigated immunological characteristics of tumorassociated antigens (TAAs) discovered through molecular approaches. Preexisting Abs specific to these predicted TAAs were examined using specimens of lung pleural effusions (LPEs) and sera in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The novel cancertestis (CT) anti...

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Introduction The immune system is an important defense against the development and progression of cancer (1). Historically, there has been a waxing and waning enthusiasm for immune therapies to treat cancer due to limited efficacy. Immunotherapies, such as IL-2 and adoptive transfer of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, can induce durable tumor responses in a subset of patients, leading...

Lymphatic vessels play a crucial role in both the pathophysiology of tumors and in the spread cancer cells to lymph nodes. The effects of radiation on these vessels, however, are largely unknown. Here, we seek to describe the effects of ionizing radiation on normal and tumor-associated lymphatic vessels in vitro and in vivo. Clonogenic assays were employed to study the radiation dose response o...

Targeted therapy including anti-angiogenic therapy, kinase inhibitors, and immunotherapy dominate cancer drug development in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and malignant melanoma (MM), where traditional methodologies have failed. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) may represent a mode of resistance to such treatments and require investigation in human patients. Here we explore the relationship...