TRPP2 and TRPV4 form a polymodal sensory channel complex

The primary cilium has evolved as a multifunctional cellular compartment that decorates most vertebrate cells. Cilia sense mechanical stimuli in various organs, but the molecular mechanisms that convert the deflection of cilia into intracellular calcium transients have remained elusive. Polycystin-2 (TRPP2), an ion channel mutated in polycystic kidney disease, is required for cilia-mediated calcium transients but lacks mechanosensitive properties. We find here that TRPP2 utilizes TRPV4 to form a mechano- and thermosensitive molecular sensor in the cilium. Depletion of TRPV4 in renal epithelial cells abolishes flow-induced calcium transients, demonstrating that TRPV4, like TRPP2, is an essential component of the ciliary mechanosensor. Because TRPV4-deficient zebrafish and mice lack renal cysts, our findings challenge the concept that defective ciliary flow sensing constitutes the fundamental mechanism of cystogenesis

Parenteral nutrition support for patients with pancreatic cancer. Results of a phase II study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cachexia is a common problem in patients (pts) suffering from upper gastrointestinal cancer. In addition, most of these patients suffer from malabsorption and stenosis of the gastrointestinal tract due to their illness. Various methods of supplementary nutrition (enteral, parenteral) are practised. In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (APC), phase angle, determined by bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA), seems to be a survival predictor. The positive influence of BIA determinate predictors by additional nutrition is currently under discussion.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To examine the impact of additional parenteral nutrition (APN) we assessed outpatients suffering from APC and progressive cachexia. The assessment based on the BIA method. Assessment parameters were phase angle, ECM/BCM index (ratio of extracellular mass to body cell mass), and BMI (body mass index). Patients suffering from progressive weight loss in spite of additional enteral nutritional support were eligible for the study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median treatment duration in 32 pts was 18 [8-35] weeks. Response evaluation showed a benefit in 27 pts (84%) in at least one parameter. 14 pts (43.7%) improved or stabilised in all three parameters. The median ECM/BCM index was 1.7 [1.11-3.14] at start of APN and improved down to 1.5 [1.12-3.36] during therapy. The median BMI increased from 19.7 [14.4-25.9] to 20.5 [15.4-25.0]. The median phase angle improved by 10% from 3.6 [2.3-5.1] to 3.9 [2.2-5.1].</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated the positive impact of APN on the assessed parameters, first of all the phase angle, and we observed at least a temporary benefit or stabilisation of the nutritional status in the majority of the investigated patients. Based on these findings we are currently investigating the impact of APN on survival in a larger patient cohort.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00919659</p

Loss of bHLH transcription factor E2A activity in primary effusion lymphoma confers resistance to apoptosis

Similar to classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) tumour cells, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) originates from mature B cells but displays a non-B cell phenotype, the mechanisms and consequences of which are not yet understood. This study showed that PEL lacked DNA binding activity of the B cell-determining transcription factors E2A, EBF and Pax5. PEL overexpressed the E2A antagonists ABF-1 and Id2, which have been described to block the B-cell differentiation program in classical HL. However, in contrast to HL cells, B lineage-inappropriate genes were not similarly upregulated in PEL, and reconstitution of B cell-specific E2A homodimer activity in PEL induced apoptosis. These data demonstrate that lineage infidelity in PEL is not as pronounced as in HL, and that the loss of the B cell-specific transcription factor E2A in PEL is implicated in apoptosis protection

Effects of the JAK2-selective inhibitors NVP-BSK805 and NVP-BVB808 in BCR-ABL or JAK2 mutation-positive cell lines

Janus kinases are critical components of cytokine signaling pathways that regulate hematopoiesis, growth, immunity, inflammation, and development. Oncogenic mutations of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase JAK2 are found in many Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. Preclinical results strongly support the concept that JAK2 inhibitors could be effectively usedshow efficacy in treating patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (CMPN). JAK2 has also been postulated to play an important role in BCR-ABL signal transduction. Therefore, inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase activity of JAK2 are under investigation as new therapeutic strategies for treatment of CML. In this study the effects of two novel JAK2 inhibitors, NVP-BSK805 and NVP-BVB808, have been investigated in cell lines expressing either BCR-ABL or mutant JAK2. Possible synergistic effects between NVP-BSK805 / NVP-BVB808 and the already established tyrosine kinase inhibitors imatinib and nilotinib were assessed. Proliferation and apoptosis tests with both substances showed an intense response in the JAK2 mutated cell lines CHRF-288-11, SET-2 and UKE-1. Interestingly, the JAK2 V617F-positive HEL cells showed only a weak response. All BCR-ABL positive cell lines showed some reduction of proliferation, but with GI50 values higher than 1 µM. Combination of the JAK2 inhibitors with imatinib and nilotinib showed no significant additive or synergistic effects, although all BCR-ABL positive cell lines responded well to both CML therapeutic agents. Interestingly, it seemed that the combination of imatinib with NVP-BSK805 had a protective effect on the cells. Combination with nilotinib did not show this effect

CONKO-005: Adjuvant Chemotherapy With Gemcitabine Plus Erlotinib Versus Gemcitabine Alone in Patients After R0 Resection of Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter Randomized Phase III Trial

Purpose Gemcitabine is standard of care in the adjuvant treatment of resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib in combination with gemcitabine has shown efficacy in the treatment of advanced PDAC and was considered to improve survival in patients with primarily resectable PDAC after R0 resection. Patients and Methods In an open-label, multicenter trial, patients were randomly assigned to one of two study arms: gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) days 1, 8, 15, every 4 weeks plus erlotinib 100 mg once per day (GemErlo) or gemcitabine (Gem) alone for six cycles. The primary end point of the study was to improve disease-free survival (DFS) from 14 to 18 months by adding erlotinib to gemcitabine. Results In all, 436 patients were randomly assigned at 57 study centers between April 2008 and July 2013. A total of 361 instances (83%) of disease recurrence were observed after a median follow-up of 54 months. Median treatment duration was 22 weeks in both arms. There was no difference in median DFS (GemErlo 11.4 months; Gem 11.4 months) or median overall survival (GemErlo 24.5 months; Gem 26.5 months). There was a trend toward long-term survival in favor of GemErlo (estimated survival after 1, 2, and 5 years for GemErlo was 77%, 53%, and 25% v 79%, 54%, and 20% for Gem, respectively). The occurrence or the grade of rash was not associated with a better survival in the GemErlo arm. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, CONKO-005 is the first study to investigate the combination of chemotherapy and a targeted therapy in the adjuvant treatment of PDAC. GemErlo for 24 weeks did not improve DFS or overall survival over Gem