Researchers having fun?
 

I know a little German (the language). Anyone else who does might find this amusing:

Cancer Res. 2010 Jul 1;70(13):5326-36. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 as a target for passive cancer immunotherapy.

Sato N, Yamabuki T, Takano A, Koinuma J, Aragaki M, Masuda K, Ishikawa N, Kohno N, Ito H, Miyamoto M, Nakayama H, Miyagi Y, Tsuchiya E, Kondo S, Nakamura Y, Daigo Y.
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Re: Researchers having fun?
 

Rich,

It's written by a group of 'Japanese' researchers. :) [The link 'Cancer Res' is not 'hot'. I had to go to Medline Plus to do a new search to find it.]

Cancer Res. 2010 Jul 1;70(13):5326-36. Epub 2010 Jun 15.
Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 as a target for passive cancer immunotherapy.

Sato N, Yamabuki T, Takano A, Koinuma J, Aragaki M, Masuda K, Ishikawa N, Kohno N, Ito H, Miyamoto M, Nakayama H, Miyagi Y, Tsuchiya E, Kondo S, Nakamura Y, Daigo Y.
Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Human Genome Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract

Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is an inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling that is overexpressed in most lung and esophageal cancers. Here, we show its utility as a serum biomarker for a wide range of human cancers, and we offer evidence favoring the potential application of anti-DKK1 antibodies for cancer treatment. Using an original ELISA system, high levels of DKK1 protein were found in serologic samples from 906 patients with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, liver, bile duct, breast, and cervix, which also showed elevated expression levels of DKK1. Additionally, anti-DKK1 antibody inhibited the invasive activity and the growth of cancer cells in vitro and suppressed the growth of engrafted tumors in vivo. Tumor tissues treated with anti-DKK1 displayed significant fibrotic changes and a decrease in viable cancer cells without apparent toxicity in mice. Our findings suggest DKK1 as a serum biomarker for screening against a variety of cancers, and anti-DKK1 antibodies as potential theranostic tools for diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Copyright 2010 AACR.

PMID: 20551066 [PubMed - in process]

Re: Researchers having fun?
 

Well, Rich, that's what I've always liked to target:)

Re: Researchers having fun?
 

Looks like it is serious :) business:

http://www.stanford.edu/~rnusse/dkk/dkk.html

And the words being used (such as 'frizzled') are interesting:

http://www.rndsystems.com/molecule_g...spx?r=1&g=1919