Tumors are usually of clonal origin, that is, they arise from a single cell. The monoclonality of tumors can be seen, for example, in multiple myeloma, a tumor of the...
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The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a transcription factor. p53 monomers assemble into tetramers that bind to consensus sequences in the DNA and activate the...
The naturally occurring retinoic acid isomers 13-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) influence processes of morphogenesis and differentiation. The...
The cell goes through typical stages between two cell divisions. The successive phases can be visualized as the so-called cell cycle. The cell cycle comprises two main...
The passage of a cell through the cell cycle is regulated by various proteins. Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) phosphorylate several substrates such as transcription...
The term apoptosis describes the regulated and gradual death of a cell. In contrast to uncontrolled necrosis, apoptosis is limited to one or a few cells and is not...
Receptor tyrosine kinases transmit signals from outside the cell via the membrane into the cytosol. After activation by an external factor, the receptor monomers...
The most important family of receptor tyrosine kinases is the family of the receptors for EGF (Epidermal Growth Factor). Activation of the EGF receptor tyrosine kinase...
The EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinases and the therapy of tumors with activated EGF receptors – Part 1: Inhibition of receptor activation via antibodies
In many tumors, EGF receptors are over-activated, which leads to a stronger signal and a high rate of proliferation. In order to inhibit the signal and to reduce the...
The EGF receptor tyrosine protein kinases and the therapy of tumors with activated EGF receptors – Part 2: Blocking of EGF receptor signaling via tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Tumors with activated EGF receptors can be treated with drugs that inhibit the kinase activity by binding to intracellular domains. Most of these drugs are ATP analogs...