turning cancer on/off with DNA methylation

[Rich66]

Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered that when a specific pair of enzymes gets together, the two act like a switch that turns cancer and other birth defects on and off. The scientists believe that manipulating the two enzymes may lead to highly targeted treatment that can prevent tumor growth.
The research, published in the December issue of Cell used zebrafish that share genes similar to humans, uncovering a previously unknown process, called DNA methylation. David Jones, Ph.D., professor of oncological sciences at the University of Utah and senior director of early translational research at the university's Huntsman Cancer Institute explains, "We could conceivably reactivate a completely normal gene in a tumor cell - a gene that could prevent the growth of a tumor if reactivated." Brad Cairns, Ph.D., HCI investigator and professor of oncological sciences at the University of Utah says, "You can think of DNA methylation as an on-and-off switch."
Dr. Jones says, "We discovered a pair of enzymes that can remove methylated DNA, but if these enzymes work improperly, they will instead enhance the rate of mutations in methylated DNA and cause cancer progression."
Methylation is a process that promotes healthy cells and growth. When the process is disturbed, genes that keep the body in balance are shut off, or silenced. Turning methylation process on when it goes awry could turn cancer off, preventing tumor growth and cancer spread.
The study is the first to show that the coupling of 5-meC deaminase enzyme and Gadd45 results in very early stages of cancer. Gadd45 is a protein that sends stress signals to the cells in the body. The enzyme 5-meC deaminase plays a role in how our genes are programmed, acting either as protection or as a contributor to disease. "We believe this could be one of the earliest processes to go wrong in cancer. By manipulating these enzymes, we could possibly prevent or slow the onset of tumors, "says Jones.
The researchers believe they have uncovered an important process regarding how cancer develops. Further studies may show how scientists can genetically turn cancer cells on and off, leading to targeted therapies that can prevent cancer in humans.
Source: Newly Found Enzymes May Play Early Role in Cancer

[Rich66]

NEW SYSMEX TECHNOLOGY QUICKLY DETECTS CANCER FROM BLOOD

Wed. January 21, 2009; Posted: 10:55 PM

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TOKYO, Jan 22, 2009 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- SSMXF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Sysmex Corp. (TSE:6869) has developed technology that uses proprietary reagents to swiftly detect genetic changes associated with cells becoming cancerous.
The technology looks for a phenomenon known as methylation, in which a chemical structure called a methyl radical attaches to part of cytosine, one of the bases that makes up DNA.
Methylation happens when cells divide, and when unusual methylation occurs, the cell stops working normally and becomes cancerous.
Sysmex has developed a way to quickly determine whether genes in the blood have methylated.
Its approach shortens to two to three hours analysis that used to take one or two days.
If applied to the diagnosis of colon cancer, it could enable early detection of the cancer with high accuracy from blood samples alone.
The medical examination equipment manufacturer is engaging in joint research with German biotechnology company Epigenomics AG, which holds patents related to methylation patterns characteristic of colon cancer genes.
The aim is to combine this with the new technology to create a screening system that can process large volumes of samples at high speed.

[Rich66]

Jarrow Formulas® SAM-e Products Ranked Number 1 and 2 in Sales in the Natural Channel 2009/01/21 - Jarrow Formulas Inc.

Los Angeles-based Jarrow Formulas announces that its SAM-e products ranked Number 1 and 2 in sales in the natural channel for 52 weeks ending November 29, 2008, according to SPINs, a market research and consulting firm for the Natural Products Industry. Jarrow Formulas was one of the first natural products companies to sell SAM-e, which gives the company the most experience in making this unique product. Found in all living cells, SAM-e is a metabolite of methionine (an essential amino acid). SAM-e is a chiral molecule and consists of two forms: (S,S) SAM-e and (R,S) SAM-e. The biologically active form is the (S,S) structure, while the (R,S) structure is biologically inactive. Jarrow Formulas SAM-e is made naturally by microbiological fermentation and then specially processed without solvents to preserve 68-80% (S,S) SAM-e, the highest active level available. SAM-e has been clinically shown to have following benefits: Joint health: SAM-e supports the production of healthy connective tissue through transulfuration. In this process, critical components of connective tissue, including glucosamine and the chondroitin sulfates, are sulfated by SAM-e metabolites. Brain health: SAM-e methylation reactions are involved in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as L-DOPA, dopamine and related hormones, serotonin, epinephrine and phosphatidylcholine (a component of lecithin). Longevity: Methylation of DNA appears to be important in the suppression of errors in DNA replication. Demethylation of DNA is considered a contributor to the aging process. Proper methylation through substances such as SAM-e positively influences longevity. Liver: SAM-e metabolism supports the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione-dependent enzymes (glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase), which are substances important for liver function. The suggested retail price (SRP) for Jarrow Formulas’ SAM-e 200 mg tablets is $15.50 per bottle of 20 tablets and $39.95 per bottle of 60 tablets. Additionally, Jarrow Formulas’ offers a 400-mg size. The suggested retail price (SRP) for Jarrow Formulas’ SAM-e 400 mg tablets is $39.95 per bottle of 30 tablets. Jarrow Formulas’ is a nutritional supplement formulator and marketer founded in 1977 and incorporated in 1988. The company markets its products throughout the world, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, England, France, Japan, Singapore, China, Taiwan, Israel, Kuwait, Azerbaijan and other countries. The company offers a complete line of nutritional products that includes vitamins, minerals, specialty antioxidants, probiotics, amino acids, standardized herbal concentrates and enzymes. Jarrow Formulas, Inc. is active in regulatory affairs, helping to maintain Americans’ rights to free access to dietary supplements. Its products are manufactured by Jarrow Industries Incorporated, a 90,000-square-foot pharmaceutical quality facility located in Santa Fe Springs, CA. For more information, contact Mark Becker, Director, Advertising/Communications toll free at (800) 726-0886 or access the Jarrow Formulas Web site at www.Jarrow.com.

[Rich66]

Leukemia drug studied in ovarian cancer fight


Posted: January 22, 2009

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Dr. Daniela Matei is a co-leader of experimental and developmental therapeutics at the IU Simon Cancer Center and an associate professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Question: Are there many treatments for ovarian cancer?


Answer: Ovarian cancer is relatively rare, with about 24,000 cases a year in the United States. Unfortunately, it is a uniformly fatal cancer. The vast majority of cancers are diagnosed when they spread beyond ovaries. So it's critical to find better therapies.
The main treatment for ovarian cancer is surgical resection, usually followed by chemotherapy. The mainstay of that treatment is a drug called carboplatin. Most women will respond to carboplatin. The problem is that after treatment, tumors become resistant to carboplatin, which is why most women die.
In some people, this can happen in a month or two and in others it can be years. Those people, where resistance develops in years, can be retreated with carboplatin and there are some other second-line therapies that are not as effective.
Q: Has there been much research into better therapies?
A: There has been work on this for the past couple of decades but unfortunately, there hasn't been a breakthrough.
Q: What are you exploring?
A: We're interested in one of the mechanisms of resistance to carboplatin. What happens is cancer cells learn in time to repair the DNA damage that's caused by chemotherapy. Sometimes they develop mutated proteins to escape the damage created by chemotherapy. Other times they produce proteins in excess that can escape the damage. There are different mechanisms that may be happening in the same person at the same time.
During cancer progression, some protective genes can be silenced, and this silencing can happen through a process of methylation, or chemical modification, of the DNA. This causes the genes to be mute. They are not present and they don't protect the cancer cells.
We use decitabane, a drug for leukemia, which reverses this DNA methylation and allows these protective genes to be present again and make the cancer cells susceptible to chemotherapy.
Q: How does this drug work?
A: We administer it daily for five days and (after two days of no medication) on day eight, we give the patient carboplatin, so we hope that decitabane will break the code of silence and boost the ability of the cancer cells to be again sensitive to chemotherapy. We're focusing on trying to make the cancer cells again naive to chemotherapy as they were initially.
These are for people who have already had chemotherapy, become resistant and now there are no other options.
Q: Who is eligible for this study?
A: We accept all women with ovarian cancer that are willing, and we define resistance as cancer that has recurred within six months of platinum-based treatment. This pretty much comprises the majority of women who have received treatment for ovarian cancer. We are looking for 17 women. We will treat with this as long as it works.