LABORATORY RESEARCH Glucose-Regulated Protein 78 Controls Cross-Talk between Apoptosis and Autophagy to Determine Antiestrogen Responsiveness Scientists investigated the potential role of glucose-regulated protein 78 in mediating estrogen resistance. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release Junctional Adhesion Molecule-A Is Co-Expressed with HER2 in Breast Tumors and Acts as a Novel Regulator of HER2 Protein Degradation and Signaling Researchers aimed to identify if junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) overexpression was associated with specific subtypes of breast cancer as defined by the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor. Cross-talk between JAM-A, HER2 and ER was also examined in several breast cell lines, using complementary genetic and pharmacological approaches. [Oncogene] Abstract Targeting Stat3 Induces Senescence in Tumor Cells and Elicits Prophylactic and Therapeutic Immune Responses against Breast Cancer Growth Mediated by NK Cells and CD4+ T Cells Researchers provide preclinical proof of concept that ablating Stat3 signaling in breast cancer cells results in an effective immunotherapy against breast cancer growth and metastasis. [J Immunol] Abstract CDK4/6 Inhibition Antagonizes the Cytotoxic Response to Anthracycline Therapy Scientists evaluated the efficacy of pharmacological CDK4/6 inhibition in combination with the widely used genotoxic agent doxorubicin in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. [Cell Cycle] Abstract The Oncoprotein HBXIP Uses Two Pathways to Up-Regulate S100A4 in Promotion of Growth and Migration of Breast Cancer Cells Researchers suggest that hepatitis B X-interacting protein (HBXIP) up-regulates S100A4 through activating S100A4 promoter involving STAT4 and inducing PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling to promote growth and migration of breast cancer cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract | Full Article The Signal Peptide of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus-Envelope: A Phosphoprotein Tumor Modulator To look for cellular functions of p14, different mutants were ectopically expressed in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. Researchers showed that the phosphorylation status of p14 determines whether it functions as a pro-oncogenic or anti-oncogenic modulator. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract The Functional and Structural Characterization of a Novel Oncogene GIG47 Involved in the Breast Tumorigenesis Researchers analyzed the expression profile of GIG47 in multiple human cancers including breast cancer and characterized its function related to human carcinogenesis. Based on this oncogenic role of GIG47, they determined the high-resolution structure of GIG47. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article Aromatic-Turmerone Attenuates Invasion and Expression of MMP-9 and COX-2 Through Inhibition of NF-κB Activation in TPA-Induced Breast Cancer Cells Scientists investigated the inhibitory effects of aromatic-turmerone on expression and enzymatic activity levels of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and cyclooxygenaase-2 (COX-2) in breast cancer cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH Genetic Variants Associated with Breast Size Also Influence Breast Cancer Risk To investigate the genetic factors underlying breast size, researchers conducted a genome-wide association study of self-reported bra cup size, controlling for age, genetic ancestry, breast surgeries, pregnancy history and bra band size, in a cohort of 16,175 women of European ancestry. [BMC Med Genet] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release DNA Methylation of Circulating DNA: A Marker for Monitoring Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients Scientists evaluated the potential of methylation changes in circulating DNA to monitor treatment response of breast cancer patients. [Tumour Biol] Abstract |