New Weapon For Attacking Tumor Invasion And Metastasis Jun 22, 2008
In the view of the authors, their research has shown elevated CXCR4 (a new receptor on cancer cells) expression in primary CRC is associated with liver and lymph node metastasis, which prompts them to elucidate the mechanism of this phenomenon. They also found AMD3100 had significant antitumor activity through regulating pathways downstream of CXCR4 and impaired formation of tumor micro vessels and expression of invasive associated genes ... Li et al. Inhibition of CXCR4 activity with AMD3100... (Science Daily)
Adult Stem Cells Aid Fracture Healing; UNC Study Lays Groundwork For Potential Treatments Jun 19, 2008
They found that these cells were specifically attracted to the fracture site, and that a particular molecule called CXCR4 -- which acts as a homing signal -- was necessary for the migration. Using a computerized tomography (CT or CAT) scan, the researchers showed that the stem cells not only migrated to the site of the fracture, but also improved healing there by increasing the bone and cartilage that bridged the bone gap. (Science Daily)
Protein Linked To Alzheimer's Disease Also Has Role In HIV Progression Jun 18, 2008
The corresponding apoE4 isoform enhanced in vitro HIV fusion/cell entry of HIV strains that use both the CCR5 and CXCR4 chemokine coreceptors to enter the cell. However, the apoE4 gene did not increase the incidence of HIV-associated dementia. (Science Daily)
Chemokine Therapeutics Announces Issuance of Two New U.S. Patents May 28, 2008
Patent No. 7,354,899 entitled "Methods of treating Autoimmune Diseases Comprising Administering CXCR4 Antagonists" is related to the treatment of a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis and psoriasis. The patent was filed based on considerable evidence that the pathway, involving the SDF-1 chemokine and its CXCR4 receptor, plays a significant role in autoimmune diseases. (CCNMatthews Press Releases)
Biological Factors That May Drive Prostate Tumor Aggressiveness In African-American Men Found Feb 13, 2008
Two of these genes, CXCR4 and CCR7, have been linked to cancer metastasis and encode proteins that are commonly produced during inflammation and infection. In addition, expression of a number of genes that are induced by a cytokine called interferon was found to be elevated in the African-American prostate tumor tissues. (Science Daily)
Scientists discover possible key to HIV's attack on people Feb 12, 2008
Two other important receptors, known as CCR5 and CXCR4, were identified in 1996. CCR5 is a normal component of human cells and acts as a doorway for the entry of HIV. People who lack it because of a genetic mutation rarely become infected even if they have been exposed to HIV repeatedly. (International Herald Tribune)
Newly Found HIV Receptor May Offer Therapy Target Feb 12, 2008
The binding is also independent of the other HIV receptors, CD4, CCR5 and CXCR4, the researchers showed. Signaling produced by the interaction of the gp120 loop and alpha-4 beta-7 led to activation of integrin LFA-1, which is involved in the establishment of virological synapses that allow direct cell-to-cell spread of HIV, Dr. Arthos and colleagues said. (MedPage Today)
NIAID scientists identify new cellular receptor for HIV Feb 10, 2008
Several other immune cell receptors bind to HIV. Most important among these, the CD4 molecule, identified as an HIV receptor in 1984, functions as the principal receptor for HIV. The CCR5 and CXCR4 molecules, discovered in 1996, serve as co-receptors that HIV uses to enter its target cells. In the new study, which appears online Feb. 10, 2008 in Nature Immunology, NIAID scientists identify a cell adhesion molecule known as integrin alpha 4 beta 7 as another potentially important receptor for... (EurekAlert!)
Northwest Biotherapeutics Conducting Ovarian Cancer Clinical Trial With DCVax(R)-L at University of Pennsylvania Dec 27, 2007
The Company also has a second technology platform, involving monoclonal antibodies to CXCR4, which is at the late pre-clinical development stage. For further information, please visit the company web site at. (PR Newswire)
Metastatix gets new cash boost Oct 10, 2007
Using technology licensed from Atlanta's Emory University, Metastatix said it is creating a portfolio of chemical compounds that block the CXCR4 receptor. These compounds have shown efficacy in validated pre-clinical models of cancer, inflammation, and T-tropic HIV infection. (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA)
Cancer Stem Cell Subpopulation Drives Metastasis Of Human Pancreatic Cancer Sep 14, 2007
They identified a distinct subset of cells expressing both CD133 and the chemokine receptor CXCR4, which plays a key role in blood cell migration, in the invasive front of the tumor. Implantation of isolated CD133+/CXCR4+ cells into mice resulted in metastatic tumor development, identifying them as CSCs ... Cancer metastasis was abolished by inhibiting CXCR4 or by transplanting CD133+/CXCR4- cells instead, underlining the importance of CXCR4 for the invasive cell behavior. (Science Daily)
Cancer stem cells drive metastasis Sep 13, 2007
But when they were preincubated with antibodies to CXCR4 (or depleted of CXCR4+ cells), they remained tumorigenic but lost the ability to metastasize. "That shows the significance of the CXCR4 receptor in giving rise to metastases," Hermann concluded ... "I expect that CXCR4 will play a role in metastasis of many other tumors," he added. (The Scientist)
Diet and lifestyle -- In the cancer fight, eating well is the best revenge Apr 16, 2007
The researchers looked at the potential of DIM and genistein to interfere with the "CXCR4/CXCL12 axis," which is known to play a central role in the metastasis of breast cancer and is also thought to play a role in the development of ovarian cancer. Primary cancer cells express very high levels of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor on the surface of their cells, and the organs to which these cancers metastasize secrete high levels of the CXCL12 chemokine ligand ... When breast and ovarian cancer cell... (EurekAlert!)
Chemokine Therapeutics announces preliminary results of CTCE-9908 Phase Ib/II clinical trial in late stage cancer patients Mar 12, 2007
About CTCE-9908 CTCE-9908 is a peptide analog of the Chemokine SDF-1, and an antagonist of its receptor, CXCR4. SDF-1 is the only known naturally occurring chemokine that binds to CXCR4, which is present on many cancer cells. (Canada Newswire)
2 NEW DRUGS OFFER OPTIONS IN HIV FIGHT... Feb 28, 2007
Yet another issue is that some viruses use a different entry portal called CXCR4. Before getting maraviroc, patients will have to be tested to see which portal their virus uses, which would make the drug an early example of personalized medicine tailored to the patient. (The Drudge Report)
Batten Down The Hatches Against HIV: Carbon Nanotubes Transport Gene Therapy Drug Into T-cells Feb 22, 2007
Also involved is the co-receptor CXCR4. The use of short interfering RNA strands allows the CD4 and CXCR4 genes of the T-cell to be shut off. (Science Daily)
Men's testicles 'HIV hiding spot' Feb 4, 2007
These cells, called macrophages, had all of the required receptors - CD4, CXCR4, CCR5, and DC-SIGN - to bind HIV.. Closer inspection revealed HIV was making copies of itself within the testicular macrophages. (BBC News -- Health)
Human testis harbors HIV-1 in resident immune cells Nov 27, 2006
They found that all of the necessary cellular receptors (CD4, CXCR4, CCR5, and DC-SIGN) were present on cells located within the testis, specifically testicular macrophages. The point was demonstrated further by using explanted organ cultures in which human testis tissue was grown in culture. (EurekAlert!)
HIV's Cellular Kiss Of Death Explains Loss Of Uninfected T Cells In AIDS Aug 15, 2006
Researchers at the Institut de Biologie in France have now shown that an HIV surface glycoprotein expressed by HIV-infected CD4+ T cells interacts with a receptor known as CXCR4 on the surface of uninfected CD4+ T cells, which triggers a cell signaling pathway known as autophagy, resulting in the death of uninfected T cells ... Martine Biard-Piechaczyk and colleagues co-cultured HIV-infected CD4+ T cells that express the HIV envelope glycoprotein with uninfected target cells that express CD4 and... (Science Daily)
Four Studies Affirm Significance of Monogram's Trofile(TM) HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay Aug 13, 2006
Tropism refers to the specific cellular co-receptors (either CCR5 or CXCR4) that individual strains of HIV use to gain access to host cells ... Monogram's Trofile assay is able to directly and accurately determine whether a patient's virus is able to gain entry into cells via the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor, or a combination of the two ... Researchers at Monogram used the assay to evaluate the co-receptor tropism of a panel of 46 well-characterized strains of HIV-1 that included multiple subtypes... (PR Newswire)
AIDS virus hides out in 'accomplice' cells-study Aug 13, 2006
They are CD4 and either CCR5 or CXCR4 and are found only on T-cells. Other immune cells were thought to be uninvolved. (AlertNet)
Type of AIDS infection key to death risk - study Feb 9, 2006
But the researchers found that 25 percent of clade D virus also used a receptor called CXCR4. Two-thirds of the patients whose virus used CXCR4 died within three years, the researchers said. (Reuters AlertNet)
HIV subtype indicator of carrier's lifespan: study Feb 8, 2006
Researchers speculated that the fast progression of the disease in those with the D subtype might be because of its ability to bind with the immune cells' key receptors, CCR5 and CXCR4, thereby killing the cells off quicker than A, which binds only to CCR5. While HIV virus with subtypes A and D is common in Uganda, countries like India, China, and South Africa show greater occurrence of subtype C. United States and Europe show greater prevalence of subtype B than the others. (Earthtimes.com)
HIV Subtype Predicts Likelihood Of Early Death From AIDS Feb 8, 2006
But 25 percent of subtype D virus bound to both CCR5 and another receptor, CXCR4. Indeed, two-thirds of those infected with CXCR4-binding virus died within three years. (Science Daily)
Researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center uncover clue to explain invasive brain tumors Jan 11, 2006
"We looked at CXCR4, a molecule which has been shown to play a role in other cancers, and found that the more metastatic aggression relates to this molecule. So, we looked at whether this molecule governed this invasion in gliomas," said Ehtesham. CXCR4 is a receptor that is found in white blood cells and has been shown to play a key role in regulating the movement of cells in the immune system ... Finding something to inhibit CXCR4 could potentially lead to treatment options to prevent... (EurekAlert!)
