Shift in treatment modalities associated with improved outcomes in uveal melanoma patients with live
(Thomas Jefferson University) New retrospective study indicates that the shift of treatment from systemic chemotherapies to liver-directed therapies provides survival benefits. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - February 3, 2020 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Moffitt researchers identify effective drug combination against uveal melanoma
(H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center& Research Institute) Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have identified a new drug combination that is effective against metastatic uveal melanoma cells in preclinical studies. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - July 8, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Intrinsic apoptosis shapes the tumor spectrum linked to inactivation of the deubiquitinase BAP1
Malignancies arising from mutation of tumor suppressors have unexplained tissue proclivity. For example, BAP1 encodes a widely expressed deubiquitinase for histone H2A, but germline mutations are predominantly associated with uveal melanomas and mesotheliomas. We show that BAP1 inactivation causes apoptosis in mouse embryonic stem cells, fibroblasts, liver, and pancreatic tissue but not in melanocytes and mesothelial cells. Ubiquitin ligase RNF2, which silences genes by monoubiquitinating H2A, promoted apoptosis in BAP1-deficient cells by suppressing expression of the prosurvival genes Bcl2 and Mcl1. In contrast, BAP1 loss...
Source: ScienceNOW - April 17, 2019 Category: Science Authors: He, M., Chaurushiya, M. S., Webster, J. D., Kummerfeld, S., Reja, R., Chaudhuri, S., Chen, Y.-J., Modrusan, Z., Haley, B., Dugger, D. L., Eastham-Anderson, J., Lau, S., Dey, A., Caothien, R., Roose-Girma, M., Newton, K., Dixit, V. M. Tags: Genetics, Medicine, Diseases reports Source Type: news
Direct targeting of G{alpha}q and G{alpha}11 oncoproteins in cancer cells
Somatic gain-of-function mutations of GNAQ and GNA11, which encode α subunits of heterotrimeric Gαq/11 proteins, occur in about 85% of cases of uveal melanoma (UM), the most common cancer of the adult eye. Molecular therapies to directly target these oncoproteins are lacking, and current treatment options rely on radiation, surgery, or inhibition of effector molecules downstream of these G proteins. A hallmark feature of oncogenic Gαq/11 proteins is their reduced intrinsic rate of hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP), which results in their accumulation in the GTP-bound, active state. Here, we repor...
Source: Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment - March 18, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Annala, S., Feng, X., Shridhar, N., Eryilmaz, F., Patt, J., Yang, J., Pfeil, E. M., Cervantes-Villagrana, R. D., Inoue, A., Häberlein, F., Slodczyk, T., Reher, R., Kehraus, S., Monteleone, S., Schrage, R., Heycke, N., Rick, U., Engel, S., Pfeifer, Tags: STKE Research Articles Source Type: news
Structure of the C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor module of Trio in an autoinhibited conformation reveals its oncogenic potential
The C-terminal guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) module of Trio (TrioC) transfers signals from the Gαq/11 subfamily of heterotrimeric G proteins to the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) RhoA, enabling Gαq/11-coupled G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) to control downstream events, such as cell motility and gene transcription. This conserved signal transduction axis is crucial for tumor growth in uveal melanoma. Previous studies indicate that the GEF activity of the TrioC module is autoinhibited, with release of autoinhibition upon Gαq/11 binding. Here, we determined the crystal structur...
Source: Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment - February 19, 2019 Category: Science Authors: Bandekar, S. J., Arang, N., Tully, E. S., Tang, B. A., Barton, B. L., Li, S., Gutkind, J. S., Tesmer, J. J. G. Tags: STKE Research Articles Source Type: news
'Christmas berry' plant compound could fight Uveal melanoma
(Thomas Jefferson University) A molecule derived from a type of primrose could prove to be a potent inhibitor of metastatic growth for a rare and aggressive cancer. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - January 3, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Scientists identify weak point in deadly eye melanoma
(Washington University School of Medicine) A natural plant compound exploits a newly identified Achilles' heel in a cancer of the eye, uveal melanoma. In human cancer cells growing in the lab, the compound shuts down the overactive signaling that drives uveal melanoma cell growth, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - September 5, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Targeting nucleotide exchange to inhibit constitutively active G protein {alpha} subunits in cancer cells
Constitutively active G protein α subunits cause cancer, cholera, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and other disorders. Therapeutic intervention by targeted inhibition of constitutively active Gα subunits in these disorders has yet to be achieved. We found that constitutively active Gαq in uveal melanoma (UM) cells was inhibited by the cyclic depsipeptide FR900359 (FR). FR allosterically inhibited guanosine diphosphate–for–guanosine triphosphate (GDP/GTP) exchange to trap constitutively active Gαq in inactive, GDP-bound Gαβ heterotrimers. Allosteric inhibition of other Gα subunits...
Source: Signal Transduction Knowledge Environment - September 4, 2018 Category: Science Authors: Onken, M. D., Makepeace, C. M., Kaltenbronn, K. M., Kanai, S. M., Todd, T. D., Wang, S., Broekelmann, T. J., Rao, P. K., Cooper, J. A., Blumer, K. J. Tags: STKE Research Articles Source Type: news
Eye Cancer Intraocular Uveal Melanoma Treatment
Eye Cancer: Intraocular (Uveal) Melanoma Treatment (Source: eMedicineHealth.com)
Source: eMedicineHealth.com - July 20, 2018 Category: General Medicine Source Type: news
Ocular Melanoma (Intraocular Melanoma or Uveal Melanoma)
Title: Ocular Melanoma (Intraocular Melanoma or Uveal Melanoma)Category: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 5/8/2018 12:00:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 6/19/2018 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Cancer General)
Source: MedicineNet Cancer General - June 19, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Uveal Melanoma: Better Survival With Liver-Directed Therapy Uveal Melanoma: Better Survival With Liver-Directed Therapy
Treatment for liver metastases in uveal cancer has changed over 50 years. At ASCO, one study charted the survival benefits seen with newer localized therapies; the other showed benefits of radioembolization.Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - June 12, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Hematology-Oncology News Source Type: news
Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center scientists to present at ASCO Annual Meeting
(Thomas Jefferson University) Scientists from the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (SKCC) at Jefferson Health will be presenting research and leading discussions on various topics, including metastatic uveal melanoma, genetic counseling in men, immunotherapy in early stage lung cancer and solid tumors, quality of life among patients receiving treatment for T cell lymphoma and updates on the Cancer Moonshot during the Biden Cancer Initiative Colloquium at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, being held June 1-5 in Chicago. (Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer)
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - June 1, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
FDA OKs First Artificial Iris for Aniridia, Other Iris Defects FDA OKs First Artificial Iris for Aniridia, Other Iris Defects
The CustomFlex Artificial Iris treats adults and children with congenital aniridia or iris defects due to other reasons or conditions, such as albinism, traumatic injury, or surgical removal due to melanoma.FDA Approvals (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - May 30, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Ophthalmology News Alert Source Type: news
FDA clears first artificial iris from HumanOptics
The FDA today granted pre-market approval and a breakthrough device designation for HumanOptics‘ CustomFlex artificial iris, touting it as the first stand-alone prosthetic iris to win approval in the US.
The CustomFlex artificial iris is designed to be surgically implanted in adults and children to treat individuals whose iris is completely missing or damaged due to either a congenital condition called aniridia or other damage to the eye, according to an FDA release.
The newly cleared device is also indicated to treat iris defects due to other reasons or conditions, such as albinism, traumatic injury or surgical remo...
Source: Mass Device - May 30, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Optical/Ophthalmic Pre-Market Approval (PMA) Regulatory/Compliance humanoptics Source Type: news
FDA Approves First Artificial Iris
A German company has become the first to score FDA approval for a stand-alone prosthetic iris in the United States.
The agency said Wednesday afternoon that it approved the CustomFlex Artificial Iris, made by Erlangen, Germany-based HumanOptics. The device, which is surgically implanted, is approved to treat adults and children whose iris is completely missing or damaged due to a congenital condition called aniridia or other damage to the eye.
“Patients with iris defects may experience severe vision problems, as well as dissatisfaction with the appearance of their eye,” said Malvina Eydelman, MD, director of the divi...
Source: MDDI - May 30, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Amanda Pedersen Tags: Implants Source Type: news
