Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2025
06:52
Reconstruct Human Retinoblastoma In Vitro
Published on: October 11, 2022
1.4K
ALYREF/THOC4 expression and cell growth modulation in retinoblastoma.
Gail M Seigel1, Onyekwere Onwumere2, Moira Sauane2
1Department of Communicative Disorders and Sciences, University at Buffalo, 3435 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA.
Pathology, Research and Practice
|June 16, 2024
Summary
ALYREF/THOC4 is overexpressed in retinoblastoma (RB) and drives tumor growth. Targeting ALYREF may inhibit RB cell proliferation, suggesting its potential as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- ALYREF/THOC4 is a known poor prognostic factor in various cancers.
- Retinoblastoma (RB) is a primary intraocular malignancy of early childhood.
- The role of ALYREF/THOC4 in RB has not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate ALYREF/THOC4 as a potential drug target and prognostic biomarker in retinoblastoma.
- To investigate the expression pattern and functional role of ALYREF/THOC4 in RB.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) on RB cell lines and tumor arrays.
- Western blot and RT-qPCR to assess ALYREF/THOC4 expression.
- siRNA knockdown to evaluate the effect on RB cell proliferation and gene expression.
Main Results:
- ALYREF/THOC4 was overexpressed in RB cell lines and 11/14 RB tumors.
- ALYREF/THOC4 expression was detected in the optic nerve of tumor-bearing eyes, suggesting a role in invasion.
- siRNA-mediated knockdown of ALYREF/THOC4 significantly decreased RB cell growth and proliferation markers (Ki67, PCNA).
Conclusions:
- ALYREF/THOC4 plays a role in regulating RB cell growth.
- ALYREF/THOC4 is a potential prognostic indicator for RB.
- ALYREF/THOC4 represents a promising therapeutic target for anti-cancer therapies in RB.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20The Retinoblastoma Gene
4.1K
Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
4.1K
01:23Negative Regulator Molecules
35.3K
Positive regulators allow a cell to advance through cell cycle checkpoints. Negative regulators have an equally important role as they terminate a cell’s progression through the cell cycle—or pause it—until the cell meets specific criteria.
35.3K
03:03mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
3.8K
The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
4.5K
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the...
4.5K
02:36Cells Coordinate Growth and Proliferation
4.5K
Cell size is a significant factor impacting cellular design, function, and fitness. There exists some internal coordination by which cells double their masses before division, thus, achieving homeostasis. Coordination between cell growth and proliferation depends on the checkpoints in between cell cycle phases. Loss of coordination or failure in the checkpoint mechanism can drive the cell to uncontrolled growth and loss of cellular function. Like dividing cells that coordinate cellular growth,...
4.5K
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
6.5K
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
6.5K