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July 2011 - present
July 2009 - June 2011
July 2005 - July 2008
Publications
Publications (38)
Background. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most frequent type of cancer in the kidney. These tumors are highly vascular and correlate with poor prognosis. Biallelic inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is a truncal event of ccRCC carcinogenesis, which yields new insights for targeted therapy. Our studies...
The SETD2 gene encodes a histone methyltransferase responsible for the trimethylation of histone 3 on lysine 36 (H3K36me3). While this canonic function plays a role in the regulation of cellular processes such as transcription, alternative splicing, and DNA damage reparation, SETD2 is also important for the methylation of other proteins like EZH2,...
Kidney cancer is one of the top ten cancer diagnosed worldwide and its incidence has increased the last 20 years. Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) are characterized by mutations that inactivate the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene and evidence indicated alterations in metabolic pathways, particularly in glutamine metabolism. We...
For a long time, lysosomes were considered as mere waste bags for cellular constituents. Thankfully, studies carried out in the past 15 years were brimming with elegant and crucial breakthroughs in lysosome research, uncovering their complex roles as nutrient sensors and characterizing them as crucial multifaceted signaling organelles. This review...
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this
topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base
and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular
basis updated guidelines for monit...
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this
topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base
and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular
basis updated guidelines for monit...
the PDF can be download freely on pubmed.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33634751/
In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monit...
The inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL), has been identified as the earliest event in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) development. The loss of heterogeneity by chromosome 3p deletion followed by inactivating mutations on the second VHL copy are events present in close to 90% of patients. Our study illustrates a lysosomal v...
The inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO), the key enzyme for the biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LTs), has generated increasing enthusiasm as anti-inflammatory and antitumor strategies in recent years. Based on our previous studies, we synthesized a series of dihydroxycinnamic acid-based analogs that might be 5-LO inhibitors. LTs biosynthesis inhibiti...
Autophagy is a highly conserved, homeostatic process by which cytosolic components reach lysosomes for degradation. The roles played by different autophagic processes in cancer are complex and remain cancer type and stage dependent. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common subtype of kidney cancer and is characterized by the inactivation of th...
STF-62247 was previously identified as a promising compound able to selectively target the loss of the tumor suppressor gene von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) in renal cell carcinomas. This present work investigates the effect of STF-62247 on the autophagic flux. Our investigations show that STF-62247 blocks late stages of autophagy through lysosomal disrupt...
INTRODUCTION: Microparticles (MPs) are small extracellular vesicles (100-1000 nm) generated by cell membrane budding. MPs contain functional organelles and a variety of bioactive molecules. They are often described as enabling the horizontal transfer of information from one cell to another. MPs containing mitochondria (mitoMPs) and free extracellul...
Inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene, von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is known to play an important role in the development of sporadic clear cell Renal Cell Carcinomas (ccRCCs). Even if available targeted therapies for metastatic RCCs (mRCCs) have helped to improve progression-free survival rates, they have no durable clinical response. We have previ...
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) is an onco-suppressor involved in oxygen and energy-dependent promotion of protein ubiquitination and proteosomal degradation. Loss of function mutations of VHL (VHL- cells) result in organ specific cancers with the best studied example in renal cell carcinomas. VHL has a well-established role in deactivation of hypoxia-indu...
Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada as well as Atlantic Canada. Notwithstanding certain successes, there is a great need for improved anti-cancer therapies, especially for tumors of the lung, gastro-intestinal tract, breast and kidney, which make up the majority of cancers diagnosed. Most chemotherapy approaches target multiply...
Arylspiroborate salts derived from pyrogallol, gallic acid, and propyl gallate have been prepared and characterized fully, including an X-ray diffraction study for the tetrabutylammonium gallic acid complex 4. The tetrabutylammonium salts were examined for their potential anticancer activities against renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines, using NB...
A small family of organometallic platinum complexes containing a chloride, cis-cyclooctene, and a Schiff base ligand have been prepared and characterized fully. Three aliphatic amines and four aromatic amines were chosen as representative examples. All complexes were stable in air except for 7, derived from the pinacol-protected 4-aminophenylborona...
Cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada as well as Atlantic Canada. Notwithstanding certain successes, there is a great need for improved anti-cancer therapies, especially for tumors of lung, gastro-intestinal tract, breast and kidney origin that make up the majority of cancer diagnosed in the world. Most chemotherapy approaches st...
Since 1940 chemotherapy has been one of the major therapies used to kill cancer cells. However, conventional standard cytotoxic agents have a low therapeutic index and often show toxicity in healthy cells. Over the past decade, progress in molecular biology and genomics has identified signaling pathways and mutations driving different types of canc...
Hereditary renal cell cancer (RCC) is an ideal model for germline genetic testing. We propose a guideline of hereditary RCC specific criteria to suggest referral for genetic assessment.
A review of the literature and stakeholder resources for existing guidelines or consensus statements was performed. Referral criteria were developed by expert conse...
Identifying new targeted therapies that kill tumor cells while sparing normal tissue is a major challenge of cancer research. Using a high-throughput chemical synthetic lethal screen, we sought to identify compounds that exploit the loss of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene, which occurs in about 80% of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs)....
Autophagy is a cellular degradation process in which portions of the cell's cytoplasm and organelles are sequestered in a double-membrane bound vesicle called an autophagosome. Fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes results in the formation of autolysosomes, where the proteins and organelles are degraded. This degradation pathway is induced under...
Renal cell carcinomas (RCC) are refractory to standard therapy with advanced RCC having a poor prognosis; consequently treatment of advanced RCC represents an unmet clinical need. The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is mutated or inactivated in a majority of RCCs. We recently identified a 4-pyridyl-2-anilinothiazole (PAT) with selecti...
Radiation and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies are ineffective in treating renal cancer. Approximately 75 percent of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with an inactivation of the tumor suppressor gene von Hippel-Lindau (VHL). We exploited the possibility of targeting VHL-deficient RCC through synthetic lethality using a high-throughput...
We have investigated the involvement of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)/caveolin-1 interaction in the regulation of brain endothelial cells (EC) migration and tubulogenesis. P-gp overexpression in MDCK-MDR cells was correlated with enhanced cell migration whereas treatment with P-gp inhibitors CsA or PSC833 reduced it. Transfection of RBE4 rat brain endothel...
Renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) are refractory to standard therapies. The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is inactivated in 75% of RCCs. By screening for small molecules selectively targeting VHL-deficient RCC cells, we identified STF-62247. STF-62247 induces cytotoxicity and reduces tumor growth of VHL-deficient RCC cells compared to ge...
Late-stage clear cell renal carcinoma poses a formidable clinical challenge due to the high mortality rate associated with this disease. Molecular and genetic studies have identified functional loss of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene as a frequent and crucial event in the development of the malignant phenotype of clear cell renal carcinomas. Loss...
IntroductionThe Multidrug Transporter P-Glycoprotein P-gp IsoformsStructureP-gp SubstratesLocalization and Transport Activity of P-gp in the CNS Normal BrainBrain Diseases Malignant Brain TumorsBrain MetastasesExpression of Other ABC Transporters at the BBBSubcellular Localization of P-gpPolymorphisms of P-gp MDR1 Polymorphisms at the BBBMDR1 Polym...
Tumor hypoxia is a feature common to almost all solid tumors due to malformed vasculature and inadequate perfusion. Tumor cells have evolved mechanisms that allow them to respond and adapt to a hypoxic microenvironment. The hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) family is comprised of oxygen-sensitive alpha (alpha) subunits that respond rapid...
The ras oncogenes are among those most frequently found in human cancers. Blocking Ras farnesylation is a promising strategy for arresting cancer growth. Ras activates several signaling pathways with key roles in cellular proliferation, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Furthermore, proteolytic activities of matrix proteinases such as urokinas...
Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene is associated with the development of vascular tumors including renal cell carcinoma. Aside from the role played by the VHL protein (pVHL) in negative regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor, 41F-1alpha, pVHL also takes part in cytoskeletal organization. Thrombin is a serine protease...
The organosulfur compounds (OSCs), present in garlic, are studied for their protective effect against human cancers. P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) are two transporters involved in the defense of cells and in the development of multidrug resistance. Whereas OSCs increase glutathione S-transferase activity (GST), Mrp...
A key task for the multifunctional von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) is regulation of the activity of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) by targeting it to the proteasome for degradation under normoxia. pVHL binding to HIF-1alpha is lost under low O2 tension, leading to transcription of several genes involved in the hypoxia response. Howev...
The small G proteins of the Rho family are involved in reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton, cell migration and in the regulation of gene transcription. Hypoxia-induced ATP depletion results in the disruption of actin organization which could affect Rho functions. In solid tumors, regions with low oxygen tension stimulate angiogenesis in order...
Recent evidence indicates that bone-marrow-derived stromal cells (MSCs) have a histology coherent with endothelial cells that may enable them to contribute to tumor angiogenesis through yet undefined mechanisms. In this work, we investigated the angiogenic properties of murine MSCs involved in extracellular matrix degradation and in neovascularizat...
The ability of physical and pharmacological modulators to increase the cytotoxicity of melphalan was investigated in Chinese hamster ovary cells using a clonogenic cell survival assay. Hyperthermia has potential for use in cancer treatment, particularly as an adjuvant to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Ethacrynic acid is a glutathione S-transferase i...
