Epigenetics News and Research

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Epigenetics is the study of chemical reactions that influence gene expression, through activation or deactivation of genes at specific times and locations.

Vitamin D can reduce estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

In mice models of breast cancer, researchers at the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of Georgetown University Medical Center, found that vitamin D significantly reduced development of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer both in lean and obese mice, but had no beneficial effect in estrogen receptor-negative cancer.

5 Apr 2011

Epithelial cells in breast milk can help assess breast cancer risk

Breast cancer risk can be assessed by examining the epithelial cells found in breast milk, according to preliminary study results presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011, held April 2-6.

4 Apr 2011

Syndax to present entinostat data against cancer at AACR meeting

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, today announced 11 posters on entinostat, an oral, highly selective, class I histone deacetylase inhibitor, will be presented at the 102nd Annual American Association for Cancer Research meeting April 2 to April 6 in Orlando, FL.

1 Apr 2011

Almac, BioFocus partner to provide FLT assays

BioFocus and Almac have initiated a collaboration which will provide BioFocus customers with compound screening and profiling services using Almac's FLEXYTETM fluorescence lifetime assays.

28 Mar 2011

MMRF hails new publication of multiple myeloma genome analysis in Nature journal

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation today hailed a new publication in Nature as a major step forward in the organization's efforts to advance a personalized medicine approach in multiple myeloma.

24 Mar 2011

Mother's gene variation can influence alcohol-related disorders in fetus

Exposure to alcohol in the womb doesn't affect all fetuses equally. Why does one woman who drinks alcohol during pregnancy give birth to a child with physical, behavioral or learning problems -- known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder -- while another woman who also drinks has a child without these problems?

24 Mar 2011

Eisai, Epizyme partner to develop and commercialize EZH2 epigenetic enzyme

Epizyme, Inc. announced today a worldwide partnership with Eisai Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan to discover, develop and commercialize therapeutics targeting EZH2, an epigenetic enzyme, for the treatment of lymphoma and other cancers in genetically-defined patients.

11 Mar 2011

Study analyzes role of PARP enzyme in eukaryotes

An Ohio State University molecular biologist leveraged a supercomputer to help better define the family tree of a group of enzymes that have been implicated in a wide range of human diseases and are important targets for anti-cancer therapies.

8 Mar 2011

Vegetables can help reverse or prevent cancers

Mothers around the world now collectively can say, "I told you so." Your vegetables are good for you, says a research review published by scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the journal Clinical Epigenetics.

8 Mar 2011

New study reveals role of INK4, ARF proteins in Burkitt's lymphoma

Burkitt's lymphoma is one of the most aggressive tumors affecting humans. Multiple alterations in genes that regulate cell proliferation rate explain its aggressive behavior.

8 Mar 2011

New study reviews latest scientific developments in autism

First consultant of child psychiatry in the UK reviews state of knowledge on autism. Despite substantial gains in knowledge and understanding of autism over the last three years, we are still no closer to either prevention or cure, according to Sir Michael Rutter, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.

2 Mar 2011

NCI sponsors multi-center phase 2 study of entinostat-anastrozole combination in triple negative breast cancer

Syndax Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage epigenetics oncology company, announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will sponsor a multi-center phase 2 study of Syndax's lead product entinostat, a novel inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC), and anastrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, in postmenopausal women with operable triple negative breast cancer to evaluate biomarkers and surrogates for response.

2 Mar 2011

New findings disclose mechanisms that control Rb2/p130 gene expression in lung cancer cells

Despite innumerable studies on lung cancer, many aspects of the disease have yet to be understood, including the role played by the retinoblastoma-related protein Rb2/p130 in the evolution of the disease.

27 Feb 2011

New study discloses mechanism controlling Rb2/p130 gene expression in lung cancer cells

25 Feb 2011

Progeria-derived iPS cells may treat aging-related disease in children

The current pace of population aging is without parallel in human history but surprisingly little is known about the human aging process, because lifespans of eight decades or more make it difficult to study. Now, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have replicated premature aging in the lab, allowing them to study aging-related disease in a dish.

24 Feb 2011

Researchers use computers to capture chemical signal structure that triggers metastatic cancer

In cancer and other pathological diseases, researchers are discovering that packaging is important: specifically, how DNA - about two meters long when unwound and stretched - coils up and compacts neatly inside the nucleus of a cell.

15 Feb 2011

New England Biolabs adds OneTaq and OneTaq Hot Start DNA Polymerases to line of PCR reagents

New England Biolabs has expanded its line of PCR reagents to include OneTaq™ and OneTaq Hot Start DNA Polymerases. Optimized blends of Taq and Deep Vent® DNA Polymerases, these new products offer robust amplification across a wide range of templates, including routine, AT-rich and GC-rich amplicons.

From New England Biolabs 15 Feb 2011

Women with high folic acid levels may impact child's risk of developing asthma

Recent Norwegian research suggests that there may be a connection between high levels of folic acid in pregnant mothers and the development of asthma in their children. However, the researchers stress that pregnant women should continue to take folic acid supplements.

10 Feb 2011

Cancer cells emerge as ghosts from the past: Literally

Cancer is growing by the day worldwide and the cancer cells still manage to evade both the body’s defenses and medical intervention. Now an explanation to the phenomenon is provided by an Arizona State University scientist.

8 Feb 2011

Lampreys may have dual immune defense system similar to that of humans

Biologists have discovered that primitive, predatory lampreys have structures within their gills that play the same role as the thymus, the organ where immune cells called T cells develop in mammals, birds and fish.

4 Feb 2011