Microenvironmental clues are critical to cell behavior. One of the key elements of migration is the generation and response to forces. Up to now, there is no definitive concept on how the generation and responses to cellular forces influence cancer-cell behavior. Here, we show that expression of receptor-type tyrosine-protein phosphatase alpha (RPTPa) in human SW480 colon cancer cells sets a threshold for the response to matrix forces by changing cellular contractility. This can be explained as an RPTPamediated increase in contractility with a consecutive increase in number and size of adhesion sites and stress fibers. These effects are mediated through myosin light chain kinase and largely independent of Rho/Rho-kinase (ROCK) signaling. In addition, we report that RPTPa influences spreading on low-rigidity surfaces, binding of collagen-coated beads and expression of RPTPa is required for invasion into the chorioallantoic membrane. These data suggest that force-responsive proteins such as RPTPa can influence cancer-cell behavior and identify potential targets for cancer therapy.

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Renal transplantation experiments have shown that the kidney contributes to chronic sympathectomy-induced arterial pressure reduction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The underlying mechanisms are currently unclear but may include alterations in the function of small renal arteries. Neonatal SHR were sympathectomized by intraperitoneal guanethidine injections and removal of adrenal medullary tissue. Controls were sham- or hydralazine-treated. At 12 weeks of age, distal interlobar artery segments were investigated using small-vessel wire myography. Vessels from sympathectomized animals showed increased sensitivity to noradrenaline (NE). Vasopressin- and endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction was similar in all groups (as reflected by the pD(2), i.e. -logEC(50), where EC(50) is the molar concentration of agonist eliciting a half-maximal response). Maximum vasopressin-induced tension was similar in all groups while endothelin-1-induced maximum tension was significantly higher in sympathectomized than in sham-treated SHR. The sensitivity of NE-induced vasoconstriction to extracellular Ca(2+) did not differ between groups while sensitivity to L-type Ca(2+) channel activation was significantly higher in both sympathectomized and hydralazine-treated animals than in sham-treated animals. Endothelium-dependent and independent vasodilation were similar in all groups. Sequential blockade of NO-synthase and cyclooxygenase had similar effects in all groups. In conclusion, neonatal sympathectomy does not induce any changes in the function of isolated proximal renal resistance arteries from SHR that could explain the blood pressure lowering effect of a kidney graft from sympathectomized SHR.

The aim of palliative chemotherapy is to increase survival whilst maintaining maximum quality of life for the individual concerned. Although we are still continuing to explore the optimum use of traditional chemotherapy agents, the introduction of targeted therapies has significantly broadened the therapeutic options. Interestingly, the results from current trials put the underlying biological concept often into a new, less favorable perspective. Recent data suggested that altered pathways underlie cancer, and not just altered genes. Thus, an effective therapeutic agent will sometimes have to target downstream parts of a signaling pathway or physiological effects rather than individual genes. In addition, over the past few years increasing evidence has suggested that solid tumors represent a very heterogeneous group of cells with different susceptibility to cancer therapy. Thus, since therapeutic concepts and pathophysiological understanding are continuously evolving a combination of current concepts in tumor therapy and tumor biology is needed. This review aims to present current problems of cancer therapy by highlighting exemplary results from recent clinical trials with colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients and to discuss the current understanding of the underlying reasons.