Cancer

Desmoglein 3 (DSG3) is a member of the desmoglein (DSG) subfamily. Dsg3 mainly serves as an adhesion component within intercellular desmosome junctions. It is part of the core complex comprising the most prominent cell-cell junctions - the desmosome. Together with the protein desmocollin (DSC), DSG is a key transmembrane adhesion protein that interacts with cadherins of the opposing cell. Homophilic (DSG3-DSG3) as well as heterophilic (DSC3-DSG1) interactions have been documented both in vitro and in vivo.

An AP (apurinic/apyrimidinic) site, also known as an abasic site, is a region of DNA that is lacking a purine or pyrimidine base. This can occur spontaneously, or as a result of DNA damage. When DNA damage occurs, DNA repair pathways are activated.

ARF1 (ADP-ribosylation factor 1) is a protein in the ARF gene family that is responsible for vesicular trafficking within the cell through its activation of phospholipase D. It is found in the cells golgi apparatus and its main function is intra-Golgi transport within the cell. Arf1 is a GTP-binding protein and is known to activate ArfGEF (guanine nucleotide exchange factor) which is a cholera toxin catalytic subunit.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme essential for eukaryotic chromosomal termini replication. It is a useful marker as it is active only in progenitor and most cancer cells, but inactive or (active at very low activity) in normal somatic cells.

Fibronectin is a glycoprotein found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) that binds to integrins and other components of the ECM such as collagen and fibrin. Under normal physiological conditions, fibronectin is an important factor in cell adhesion, growth, differentiation, and migration.

Histones are highly conserved proteins that function in the organization of nuclear DNA to create chromatin in eukaryotic cells. Post-translational alterations of histones are critical to monitoring and regulating DNA structure, expression, and gene transcription.

ABCG1 (ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1) is a transporter protein that is primarily involved in macrophage lipid homeostasis. It is a member of the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and localizes to intracellular compartments associated with endoplasmic reticulum and golgi membranes.

Synaptonemal Complex Protein 1 (SCP1) is a novel tumor antigen that belongs to the growing family of cancer/testis antigens (CTAs). CTAs are theoretically ideal targets for tumor immunotherapy. Unlike most auto-antigens, CTAs are highly immunogenic, even in the autologous cancer-bearing patients. Furthermore, because of their very restricted normal tissue expression, immunotherapy targeting CTAs is expected to be more specific and less toxic.

E-cadherin (also known as Arc-1, uvomorulin, and cell-CAM 120/80) is a calcium-regulated adhesion molecule expressed in most normal epithelial tissues and the loss of E-cadherin can cause dedifferentiation and invasiveness in several cancers (1). Loss of E-Cadherin expression correlated with the invasiveness of carcinoma (2).

Integrins are a group of trans-membrane receptors which encompass alpha and beta subunits acting as adhesion particles in addition to various other important cellular functions. Integrins are recognized to enable cell-cell, cell-ECM, cell-pathogen interface along with signaling through the plasma membrane comprising of critical cellular functions such as differentiation, migration in addition to survival. Several investigators have documented variations in integrin expression and function in several cancers.