Advances in Cancer Research (eBook)

Cover 1
Contents 6
Contributors to Volume 77 8
Chapter 1. The Yin-Yang of TCF/b-Catenin Signaling 10
I. An Introduction to the Tcf Family 11
II. The HMG Box: DNA Binding and Bending 12
III. Context-Dependent Transactivation 13
IV. Functions of the Tcfs in Mammalian Development 15
V. Wingless/Wnt Signaling Pathways 16
VI. Tcf/b-Catenin Complexes: Bipartite Transcription Factors Involved in Wingless/Wnt Signaling 17
VII. Regulation of Tcf/b-Catenin Signaling 19
VIII. Regulation of Wingless/Wnt Target Genes by Tcfs: Activation versus Repression 24
IX. Tcf/b-Catenin Signaling and Cancer 26
References 30
Chapter 2. Biochemical and Clinical Implications of the ErbB/HER Signaling Network of Growth Factor Receptors 34
I. Introduction 35
II. Clinical Aspects of ErbB Receptors 38
III. How Does ErbB-2 Induce Cancer? 51
IV. Evolutionary and Developmental Aspects of the Multiplicity of ErbB Proteins 55
V. The ErbB Signaling Network 57
VI. ErbB-Directed Cancer Therapy 64
VII. Conclusions 70
References 71
Chapter 3. p53 and Human Cancer: The First Ten Thousand Mutations 90
I. Introduction 90
II. Biology of the p53 Protein 92
III. Mutations and Variations in the p53 Gene 109
IV. p53 Mutations in Sporadic Cancers: Host–Environment Interactions 113
V. Clinical Relevance of p53 Mutations 128
References 132
Chapter 4. Macrophage Stimulating Protein 148
I. Introduction 148
II. Structural Aspects of Native and Recombinant pro-MSP 150
III. Binding of MSP to Its Receptor 151
IV. A Model of MSP-Induced Receptor Dimerization 152
V. Regulation of MSP Activity: Pathways for pro-MSP Cleavage 153
VI. MSP–Ron Signaling 156
VII. Modes of MSP Receptor Regulation or Activation 161
VIII. Target Cells for Macrophage Stimulating Protein 166
IX. Perspective 170
References 171
Chapter 5. CD44 Glycoproteins in Colorectal Cancer: Expression, Function, and Prognostic Value 178
I. Introduction 178
II. Structure and Function of CD44 179
III. CD44 in Tumor Progression and Metastasis 183
IV. Conclusions 191
References 191
Chapter 6. A Simple Model for Carcinogenesis of Colorectal Cancers with Microsatellite Instability 198
I. Introduction 199
II. A Simple Model of RER+ Tumor Carcinogenesis 202
III. Evidence to Support the Model 207
IV. Discussion 212
V. Conclusion 227
References 227
Index 232