Report, edit, etc...Posted by Chill on 2005-01-29 at 23:57:42
QUOTE
New Cancer Gene Identified
Oncogene Plays a Critical Role in Tumor Formation
NEW YORK, January 20, 2005 - Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have identified a new cellular oncogene essential for the development of cancer. Oncogenes are genes that, when mutated or dysfunctional, lead normal cells to become cancerous. The investigators have named the gene POKEMON (for POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic factor). The work is being published in the January 20, 2005, issue of Nature.
"There are a number of genes that can cause cancer, the so-called oncogenes, but Pokemon is unique in that it is needed for other oncogenes to cause cancer." said MSKCC cancer geneticist Pier Paolo Pandolfi, MD, PhD, the senior author of the study. "More important, because the Pokemon protein plays such a crucial role in the formation of cancer, it could prove to be an effective target for new drug therapies."
Pokemon works by controlling the pathways that are required to transform normal cells to cancerous ones. The researchers found that when they "knocked out" the Pokemon gene in mice, that transformation was blocked and cells do not become cancerous. (Knocking out a gene means inactivating it through genetic engineering.) A drug that could block the protein's function in the same way could be a powerful anticancer agent.
"Pokemon is a main switch in the molecular network that leads toward cancer," Dr. Pandolfi added. "If we could turn Pokemon off, it may block this oncogenic circuitry and stall the malignant process."
The investigators confirmed Pokemon's cancer-causing role by inserting the oncogene into mice. Pokemon does its damage by repressing the function of other proteins, including a tumor suppressor called ARF. The mice developed aggressive, fatal forms of lymphoma. In further work, using a technique called tissue micro arrays to study tumor samples from people with many types of cancer, they confirmed that Pokemon is present in very high levels in certain types of B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. They also found that tumors with high levels of Pokemon protein were much more likely to be aggressive.
"Pokemon is a member of a family of proteins that are known to be transcription factors and are mutated in human cancer," said Takahiro Maeda, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Pandolfi's laboratory who was the paper's first author. "It is likely that the protein plays a role in solid tumors as well, and we now have means to specifically interfere with the activity of these transcription factors."
Other authors on the paper were Robin M. Hobbs, PhD; Taha Merghoub, PhD; Ilhem Guernah, MS; Carlos Cordon-Cardo, MD, PhD; and Julie Teruya-Feldstein, MD from MSKCC; and Arthur Zelent, PhD, of the Institute of Cancer Research in the United Kingdom. The work was supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide.
Journalists may contact the Department of Public Affairs for more information.
Telephone: 212-639-3573
E-mail: publicaffairs@mskcc.org
Oncogene Plays a Critical Role in Tumor Formation
NEW YORK, January 20, 2005 - Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have identified a new cellular oncogene essential for the development of cancer. Oncogenes are genes that, when mutated or dysfunctional, lead normal cells to become cancerous. The investigators have named the gene POKEMON (for POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic factor). The work is being published in the January 20, 2005, issue of Nature.
"There are a number of genes that can cause cancer, the so-called oncogenes, but Pokemon is unique in that it is needed for other oncogenes to cause cancer." said MSKCC cancer geneticist Pier Paolo Pandolfi, MD, PhD, the senior author of the study. "More important, because the Pokemon protein plays such a crucial role in the formation of cancer, it could prove to be an effective target for new drug therapies."
Pokemon works by controlling the pathways that are required to transform normal cells to cancerous ones. The researchers found that when they "knocked out" the Pokemon gene in mice, that transformation was blocked and cells do not become cancerous. (Knocking out a gene means inactivating it through genetic engineering.) A drug that could block the protein's function in the same way could be a powerful anticancer agent.
"Pokemon is a main switch in the molecular network that leads toward cancer," Dr. Pandolfi added. "If we could turn Pokemon off, it may block this oncogenic circuitry and stall the malignant process."
The investigators confirmed Pokemon's cancer-causing role by inserting the oncogene into mice. Pokemon does its damage by repressing the function of other proteins, including a tumor suppressor called ARF. The mice developed aggressive, fatal forms of lymphoma. In further work, using a technique called tissue micro arrays to study tumor samples from people with many types of cancer, they confirmed that Pokemon is present in very high levels in certain types of B-cell and T-cell lymphomas. They also found that tumors with high levels of Pokemon protein were much more likely to be aggressive.
"Pokemon is a member of a family of proteins that are known to be transcription factors and are mutated in human cancer," said Takahiro Maeda, MD, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Pandolfi's laboratory who was the paper's first author. "It is likely that the protein plays a role in solid tumors as well, and we now have means to specifically interfere with the activity of these transcription factors."
Other authors on the paper were Robin M. Hobbs, PhD; Taha Merghoub, PhD; Ilhem Guernah, MS; Carlos Cordon-Cardo, MD, PhD; and Julie Teruya-Feldstein, MD from MSKCC; and Arthur Zelent, PhD, of the Institute of Cancer Research in the United Kingdom. The work was supported in part by a grant from the National Cancer Institute.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is the world's oldest and largest institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Our scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. Our specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide.
Journalists may contact the Department of Public Affairs for more information.
Telephone: 212-639-3573
E-mail: publicaffairs@mskcc.org
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/54387.cfm
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Yoshi da Sniper on 2005-01-30 at 00:10:26
They called it POKEMON????
Report, edit, etc...Posted by FlawedArrogance on 2005-01-30 at 00:53:09
Pokemon... Rofl....
Report, edit, etc...Posted by pekkel_the_duck on 2005-01-30 at 01:04:00
Bah, they sure got it in for pikachu now.....
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Kow on 2005-01-30 at 20:27:30
are they PAID for this?!?!
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Staredit.Net Essence on 2005-01-31 at 10:11:07
It's a prank. Wake up.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by AqoTrooper on 2005-01-31 at 10:44:23
QUOTE
"Pokemon is a main switch in the molecular network that leads toward cancer," Dr. Pandolfi added. "If we could turn Pokemon off, it may block this oncogenic circuitry and stall the malignant process."
...ROFL
QUOTE
investigators confirmed Pokemon's cancer-causing role by inserting the oncogene into mice. Pokemon does its damage by repressing the function of other proteins, including a tumor suppressor called ARF.
...LMAO
QUOTE
Pokemon is a member of a family of proteins that are known to be transcription factors and are mutated in human cancer
...LOLOL
QUOTE
Telephone: 212-639-3573
E-mail: publicaffairs@mskcc.org
E-mail: publicaffairs@mskcc.org
O... K...
QUOTE
The investigators have named the gene POKEMON (for POK Erythroid Myeloid Ontogenic factor).
That's dumb, serious people are making fun of cancer which is a very serious topic by... doing stuff like that... naming... ugh.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Yenku on 2005-01-31 at 12:28:31
wow that is prolly the stupidest thing ive ever heard. who makes fun of cancer anyway?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Mune'R0x on 2005-01-31 at 13:39:12
[center]I do... Hope I don't catch the Pokemon in my life... 
[/center]
[/center]Report, edit, etc...Posted by Chill on 2005-01-31 at 15:16:29
QUOTE(Shadow Paladin @ Jan 31 2005, 10:11 AM)
It's a prank. Wake up.
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No, it's not. MSKCC would be in a hell of a lot of trouble for BSing that.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Staredit.Net Essence on 2005-01-31 at 19:57:23
Please do tell me what POK means, then.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Mune'R0x on 2005-02-01 at 20:13:28
[center]Piece Of Krap?[/center]
Report, edit, etc...Posted by KaboomHahahein on 2005-02-01 at 20:32:06
Oh god, and to think when I was little I wanted to be a Pokemon catcher...
Report, edit, etc...Posted by yeow on 2005-02-01 at 20:35:41
QUOTE(KaboomHahahein @ Feb 1 2005, 08:32 PM)
Oh god, and to think when I was little I wanted to be a Pokemon catcher...
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I hear ya..
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Mr.Camo on 2005-02-02 at 00:20:41
Gotta Catch 'Em All! XD
Report, edit, etc...Posted by pekkel_the_duck on 2005-02-02 at 01:05:25
It WAS possible to catch them all in Red and Blue but now it's almost impossible to do so. But if you're talking about the cancer I'm not sure you want to catch it at all, at all, if you catch my drift.... 