Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Homozygous inactivation of the MEN1 tumor suppressor gene frequently occurs in endocrine pancreatic tumors (EPT); however, a heterozygous germ line inactivation of the gene seems to lead to development of an increase amount of endocrine pancreatic cells. The Notch signaling cascade plays a vital role in sustaining the balance between cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis during pancreatic development. Whether Notch signaling is MEN1 depend...

Background: Apart from inactivation of the MEN1 gene, molecular events essential for tumorigenesis of the endocrine pancreas are poorly characterized. A potentially useful approach for understanding tumor progression is to study transcription factors operating in fetal pancreatic development. The Notch signaling cascade with expression of the transcription factors Hes1, Hey1, and Ascl1 plays a vital role in sustaining the balance between cell prolif...