Mammary Cell News Volume 3.31 | Aug 11 2011

Oncogenic PIK3CA-Driven Mammary Tumors Frequently Recur via PI3K Pathway–Dependent and PI3K Pathway–Independent Mechanisms
To elucidate mechanisms of resistance to phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-targeted therapy, scientists constructed a mouse model of breast cancer conditionally expressing human PIK3CA^H1047R. [Nat Med]

Trastuzumab Raises Risk of Heart Problems in the Elderly with History of Heart Disease or Diabetes
The first study to investigate the effect of the breast cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin) on heart and vascular function in elderly patients has found that it increases the risk of heart problems, particularly in women with a history of heart disease, diabetes or both. [Press release from EurekAlert! discussing online prepublication in the Annals of Oncology]

Medivation and Astellas Announce New Preclinical Study Results Showing MDV3100 Blocks Breast Cancer Cell Growth
Medivation, Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc. announced results from a preclinical study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver that provide evidence that MDV3100 inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells. [Press release from Medivation, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2011 Era of Hope Conference, Orlando]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Postpartum Mammary Gland Involution Drives Progression of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Through Collagen and Cyclooxygenase-2
Here researchers describe a mouse model of postpartum breast cancer that identifies mammary gland involution as a driving force of tumor progression. [Nat Med]

Genome-Wide Methylation Analysis Identifies Genes Specific to Breast Cancer Hormone Receptor Status and Risk of Recurrence
To better understand the biology of hormone receptor-positive and negative breast cancer and to identify methylated gene markers of disease progression, investigators performed a genome-wide methylation array analysis on 103 primary invasive breast cancers and 21 normal breast samples using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation27 array that queried 27,578 CpG loci. [Cancer Res]

Lineage Specific Methylation of the Elf5 Promoter in Mammary Epithelial Cells
Scientists used bisulphite sequencing to investigate in detail whether Elf5 promoter methylation plays a role in lineage commitment during mammary development. [Stem Cells]

Sox2 Expression in Breast Tumors and Activation in Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Expression of pluripotency genes (Oct4, Nanog and Sox2) was tested in breast tumors by immunohistochemistry and it was found that Sox2 is expressed in early stage breast tumors. [Oncogene]

Functional Interactions Between Choline Kinase α, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and c-Src in Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
In this report, researchers found that choline kinase α forms a complex with epidermal growth factor receptor in a c-Src-dependent manner. [Oncogene]

CYP2S1 and CYP2W1 Mediate 2-(3,4-Dimethoxyphenyl)-5-Fluorobenzothiazole (GW 610, NSC 721648) Sensitivity in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Cells
Here, scientists investigate the functional role of 2 newly identified cytochrome P450 enzymes, CYP2S1 and CYP2W1, in mediating antitumor activity of benzothiazole compounds. [Mol Cancer Ther]

Lrig1 Is an Estrogen Regulated Growth Suppressor and Correlates with Longer Relapse Free Survival in ER-α Positive Breast Cancer
To gain a better understanding of the role of Lrig1 in breast cancer, investigators examined its expression in estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive disease. [Mol Cancer Res]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Leukocyte Composition of Human Breast Cancer
Data provided an initial evaluation of differences in the immune microenvironment of breast cancer compared with nonadjacent normal tissue and revealed the degree to which chemotherapy may alter the complexity and presence of selective subsets of immune cells in tumors previously treated in the neoadjuvant setting. [Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A]

Trastuzumab-Related Cardiotoxicity in the Elderly: A Role for Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Elderly breast cancer patients with a history of cardiac disease and/or diabetes treated with trastuzumab have an increased incidence of cardiotoxicity. [Ann Oncol]

Arena Pharmaceuticals Announces Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results
Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. [Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Press Release]

Algeta Results for the First Half and Second Quarter 2011
Algeta ASA announced its results for the first half and second quarter ending 30 June 2011. [Algeta ASA Press Release]

Court Certifies Class Action for Canadian Women Harmed by HRT
The British Columbia Supreme Court has certified a class action on behalf of Canadian women who suffered breast cancer after taking hormone replacement therapy. [British Columbia Supreme Court, Canada]

Roche Seeks ‘Middle Ground’ in U.S. Appeal of Avastin Breast Cancer Ruling
Roche Holding AG asked U.S. regulators to keep Avastin on the market for breast cancer in what the drugmaker called a “middle-ground proposal” while it conducts another clinical trial. [Food and Drug Administration, United States]

National Institutes of Health (United States)

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

NEW International Conference on Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICBPS’2011)
October 7-8, 2011
Pattaya, Thailand

NEW European Molecular Biology Organization: Workshop on Intracellular Proteolysis and Cancer
October 26-28, 2011
Valencia, Spain 

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the mammary cell community.

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

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Post-Doctoral Training Fellow – Study of Tankyrase Biology (The Institute of Cancer Research)

Higher Scientific Officer (The Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend)

Postdoctoral Position in Cancer Research (Tufts Medical Center)

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