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mesothelioma chemotherapy

Kinase Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment

Protein kinases are enzymes that modify proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups in a process known as phosphorylation. Kinases are impotant class of cellular enzymes which regulate the behavior of the cells like, signal transduction, the transmission of signals within the cell. The human genome contains about 500 protein kinase genes; they constitute about 2% of all eukaryotic genes.

Protein kinases add or remove a phosphate group from the energy source of the cell known as “ATP” and attaching it to the proteins. Depending on the amino acid group in the protein to which the kinases attach the phosphate group, they are called serine threonine kinases (when they act on amino acid serine and threonine) or tyrosine kinases (when they act on the amino acid tyrosine). Some kinases act on all of the three amino acids and are said to have dual specificity.

Protein kinases have profound effects on a cell. They act on a variety of substrates in the cell including structural proteins in the cell membrane, metabolic enzymes which digest the various metabolic products in the cell, proteins which control the division of the cell known as cell cycle, and transcription factors which start the process of activation of gene.

The main function of the protein kinases is transmission of the signal within the cell known as signal transduction. Pathways involved in signal transduction is important in all cellular processes like metabolism, proliferation, differentiation, survival, migration, and angiogenesis.

The activity state of these proteins determines the fate of the cell; aberrant expression and activities of these functional classes of enzymes result in abnormal signal transmission. Deregulated kinase activity is a frequent cause of disease, particularly cancer, because kinases regulate many aspects that control cell growth, movement and death.

 

This website is sponsored by Brad Cooper* of The Cooper, Hart, Leggiero, & Whitehead, PLLC. Cooper, Hart, Leggiero, & Whitehead is located in The Woodlands, Texas (Greater Houston Area) and can be reached toll free at 1-800-998-9729 for more information on mesothelioma. Brad Cooper is not a medical doctor. The information on these pages is for the education of mesothelioma patients and their families regarding potential medical and legal options. Patients are advised to consult with a medical doctor.

*  Licensed by the Supreme Court  of Texas.

 

 

 

The use of chemotherapy in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma: a clinical practice guideline.

Advances in the systemic therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Kinase Inhibitors for Mesothelioma Treatment

journal abstracts

Active symptom control with or without chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MS01): a multicentre randomised trial

The second wave in kinase cancer drugs

Cisplatin and vinorelbine first-line chemotherapy in non-resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma


Cytoreductive surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal mesothelioma.