Science signaling podcast: 23 December 2014

This Podcast features an interview with Kris Wood, senior author of two Research Articles that appear in the 23 December 2014 issue of Science Signaling, about signaling pathways that enable cancer cells to develop drug resistance. Myeloprolfierative neoplasms, which are overgrowths of bone marrow cells that may progress to leukemia, are often resistant to Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors despite having activating mutations in JAK2. Winter et al. found that increased RAS signaling in a subset of these cells led to inactivation of the proapoptotic protein BAD and that simultaneously inhibiting JAK and RAS signaling overcame resistance. In a related study, Martz et al. performed a screen to identify signaling pathways that, when activated, conferred resistance to several clinically relevant, targeted cancer therapies. The authors identified Notch1 signaling as important for enabling several different types of cancer cells to develop resistance to various anticancer drugs. These findings suggest combination therapies that could be attempted in the clinic using existing drugs.

Duke Scholars

Author Kris Cameron Wood Pharmacology & Cancer Biology