Cloning of a New Gene/s in Chromosome 17p3.2-p13.1 that Control Apoptosis
Abstract
Breast cancer is a hormone dependent malignancy whose incidence is steadily increasing in most western societies and in countries that are becoming industrialized (1-5). In United States, breast cancer is the second to lung cancer as a cause of cancer-related deaths (1). Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is a cell suicide process that plays important roles in multiple facets of normal development and physiology (6-8). Deregulation of apoptosis has been correlated with degenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and cancer. Apoptosis is caused by caspases, a family of cystein proteases that cleave target proteins at aspartyl residues (5, 6). New studies of the biochemical mechanisms evoked by conventional treatments for neoplastic diseases point to apoptosis as a key process for elimination of unwanted cells (6). Impaired function of apoptosis-related genes is deeply involved in oncogenesis and the progression of cancers (6- 10). Our laboratory has recently found a link between apoptosis in chemically transformed human breast epithelial cells and a gene/s located in chromosome l7pl3.2 (13), making necessary to identify genes that may regulate apoptosis (12,14-18). For this purpose we have proposed to isolate in the precise location in chromosome l7pl3.2-pl3.l the gene (s) responsible for the control of apoptosis and to determine the functional role of the isolated gene in the process of neoplastic progression in vivo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA437140
Entities
People
- Jose Russo
Organizations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center