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Autophagy Acts as Provider and Protector for Tumor Cells in Kidney Cancer

by Kathy Jones on Apr 19 2012 6:33 PM

 Autophagy Acts as Provider and Protector for Tumor Cells in Kidney Cancer
A complicated process known as autophagy plays an important role in providing the nutrients needed by tumor cells in kidney cancer and also provides protection from chemotherapy, thereby allowing them to remain dormant for long periods, a new study conducted at University of Cincinnati reveals.
In this newly published data, researchers identify two distinct autophagy regulated pathways downstream from the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene, or VHL. This specific tumor suppressor is lost in the majority of renal cell carcinomas.

UC researchers report these findings in the April 16, 2012, issue of Cancer Cell.

Maria Czyzyk-Krzeska, MD, PHD, corresponding author of the study, says the discoveries could guide researchers to more effective treatment approaches for kidney cancer, particularly metastatic disease, based on knowledge of these specific autophagic processes. UC collaborators in this study include David Plas, PhD, assistant professor of cancer and cell biology, and Jarek Meller, PhD, associate professor of environmental health.

"VHL has emerged as a master controller of access to intracellular nutrients through autophagy and to extracellular nutrients through formation of blood vessels. Our work shows that there are different autophagic programs—pro-and anti-oncogenic. Drugs that inhibit the final stages of autophagy non-specifically, such as derivatives of chloroquine, may not be as beneficial as hoped," explains Czyzyk-Krzeska, a professor of cancer and cell biology at the UC College of Medicine and researcher with the UC Cancer Institute.

She says the challenge is to understand the molecular mechanisms of these diverse autophagic pathways and identify targets that are specific to the pro-oncogenic pathway but not affecting tumor-suppressing pathways.

"Current drugs for metastatic kidney cancer target angiogenesis—blocking the formation of blood vessels that feed the tumor—but they typically only increase survival by a matter of months," says Czyzyk-Krzeska. "We hope this new body of evidence can help pave a new path to more effective treatment options for this disease."

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According to the American Cancer Society, incidence rates of kidney cancer are increasing steadily by 2 to 3 percent each year. The disease is curable when it is identified early and isolated to the kidney. Treatment options for metastatic disease are limited.



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Source-Eurekalert


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