LABORATORY RESEARCH Nanoparticle-Directed Sub-Cellular Localization of Doxorubicin and the Sensitization Breast Cancer Cells by Circumventing GST-Mediated Drug Resistance Researchers demonstrated that polyester-based hyperbranched dendritic-linear-based nanoparticles carrying doxorubicin can effectively overcome microsomal glutathione transferase 1-mediated drug resistance in breast cancer cells. [Biomaterials] Full Article Lapatinib-Induced NF-KappaB Activation Sensitizes Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells to Proteasome Inhibitors Researchers showed that nuclear factor-kappaB activation was elicited by lapatinib, independent of epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 inhibition, in triple-negative breast cancers. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article An Investigation of the Effects of the Telomerase Core Protein TERT on Wnt Signaling in Human Breast Cancer Cells Scientists investigated the effects of hTERT on Wnt signaling in human breast cancer lines and HeLa cells. They failed to find evidence for physical association of hTERT with BRG1 or β-catenin; instead, they present evidence that anti-FLAG antibody cross-reactivity properties may explain the previously reported interaction of hTERT with β-catenin. [Mol Cell Biol] Abstract Support of a Bi-Faceted Role of ERβ in ERα-Positive Breast Cancer Cells Researchers explored the functions of constitutively expressed estrogen receptor (ER)β in ERα-positive breast cancer lines MCF7 and T47D. They found that ERβ, under these conditions heterodimerized with ERα in presence and absence of 17β-estradiol, and induced genome-wide transcriptional changes. [Endocr Relat Cancer] Abstract Receptor Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase α Regulates Focal Adhesion Kinase Phosphorylation and Contributes to ErbB2-Mediated Mammary Epithelial Cell Motility Scientists investigated the role of PTPα in regulating signaling by the ErbB2 oncoprotein in mammary epithelial cells. Using this model they demonstrated that activation of ErbB2 led to the transient inactivation of PTPα. [J Biol Chem] Abstract Role of Isothiocyanate Conjugate of Pterostilbene on the Inhibition of MCF-7 Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth in Ehrlich Ascitic Cell Induced Tumor Bearing Mice A novel class of hybrid compound synthesized by introducing an ITC moiety on PTER backbone was evaluated for its anti-cancer efficacy in hormone-dependent breast cancer cell line in vitro and Ehrlich ascitic tumor bearing mice model in vivo. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract MicroRNA-143 Is Downregulated in Breast Cancer and Regulates DNA Methyltransferases 3A in Breast Cancer Cells Researchers showed that miroRNA (miR)-143 was frequently downregulated in 80% of breast carcinoma tissues compared to their adjacent noncancerous tissues. Ectopic expression of miR-143 inhibited proliferation and soft agar colony formation of breast cancer cells and also downregulated DNA methyltransferase 3A expression on both mRNA and protein levels. [Tumor Biol] Abstract Cytotoxic Effect of Alpinia scabra (Blume) Naves Extracts on Human Breast and Ovarian Cancer Cells Crude methanol and fractionated extracts (hexane, chloroform and water) from different parts of A. scabra (leaves, rhizomes, roots and pseudo stems) were prepared prior to cytotoxicity evaluation against human ovarian and hormone-dependent breast carcinoma cells. [BMC Complement Altern Med] Abstract | Full Article CLINICAL RESEARCH Fluorouracil, Epirubicin, and Cyclophosphamide (FEC-75) followed by Paclitaxel Plus Trastuzumab versus Paclitaxel Plus Trastuzumab followed by FEC-75 Plus Trastuzumab as Neoadjuvant Treatment for Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer (Z1041): A Randomized, Controlled, Phase III Trial The authors investigated the effect of the timing of trastuzumab administration with anthracycline and taxane neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This randomized trial was done at 36 centers in the USA and Puerto Rico. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract | Press Release Gene Aberrations of RRM1 and RRM2B and Outcome of Advanced Breast Cancer after Treatment with Docetaxel With or Without Gemcitabine The authors retrospectively evaluated whether copy number changes of the genes encoding the ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1) and/or subunit M2B (RRM2B) predict sensitivity to gemcitabine administered in combination with docetaxel compared to single agent docetaxel in advanced breast cancer patients. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article |