LABORATORY RESEARCH Downregulation of MicroRNA-362-3p and MicroRNA-329 Promotes Tumor Progression in Human Breast Cancer To explore novel regulatory mechanisms of p130Cas expression, investigators studied the effect of microRNAs on p130Cas expression in human breast cancer MCF7 cells. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract Physical Intimacy of Breast Cancer Cells with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Elicits Trastuzumab Resistance through Src Activation Investigators demonstrated that the physical contact of breast cancer cells with mesenchymal stem cells is a potential modulator of trastuzumab response by activation of nonreceptor tyrosine kinase c-Src and down regulation of phosphatase and tensin homolog. [Sci Rep] Full Article Hypoxia-Induced Carbonic Anhydrase IX Facilitates Lactate Flux in Human Breast Cancer Cells by Non-Catalytic Function Researchers studied the mechanisms of regulated lactate transport in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Under hypoxia, expression of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)1 and MCT4 remained unchanged, while expression of carbonic anhydrase IX was greatly enhanced. [Sci Rep] Full Article Monocyte-Derived Macrophage Assisted Breast Cancer Cell Invasion as a Personalized, Predictive Metric to Score Metastatic Risk The authors demonstrated by which variability in macrophage expression of cysteine cathepsins, their inhibitor cystatin C, and kinase activation can be used to train a multivariate model and score patients for invasion risk. [Sci Rep] Full Article Forkhead Box K2 Modulates Epirubicin and Paclitaxel Sensitivity through FOXO3a in Breast Cancer Researchers demonstrated that forkhead box (FOX)K2 has a central role in mediating the cytotoxic drug response in breast cancer. Clonogenic and cell viability assays showed that enhanced FOXK2 expression sensitizes MCF-7 breast cancer cells to paclitaxel or epirubicin treatment, whereas FOXK2 depletion by small interfering RNAs confers drug resistance. [Oncogenesis] Full Article Apoptotic Effect of Tannic Acid on Fatty Acid Synthase Over-Expressed Human Breast Cancer Cells Scientists assessed the effect and therapeutic potential of tannic acid (TA) on fatty acid synthase (FAS) over-expressed breast cancer cells, and as a result, TA had been proven to possess the functions of inhibiting intracellular FAS activity, down-regulating FAS expression in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells, and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. [Tumor Biol] Abstract IM-412 Inhibits the Invasion of Human Breast Carcinoma Cells by Blocking FGFR-Mediated Signaling Researchers examined the inhibitory effect of 3-(2-chlorobenzyl)-1,7-dimethyl-1H-imidazo[2,1-f]purine-2,4(3H,8H)-dione (IM-412) on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways and invasiveness in triple-negative breast cancer cells since the TGF-β signaling pathway is a typical signaling pathway that functions in EMT. [Oncol Rep] Abstract A Novel ER–Microtubule-Binding Protein, ERLIN2, Stabilizes Cyclin B1 and Regulates Cell Cycle Progression The authors revealed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lipid raft-associated protein 2 (ERLIN2) is a spatially and temporally regulated ER–microtubule-binding protein that has an important role in cell cycle progression by interacting with and stabilizing the mitosis-promoting factors. Downregulation of ERLIN2 results in cell cycle arrest, represses breast cancer proliferation and malignancy and increases sensitivity of breast cancer cells to anticancer drugs. [Cell Discov] Full Article CLINICAL RESEARCH Tumors with AKT1E17K Mutations Are Rational Targets for Single Agent or Combination Therapy with AKT Inhibitors In a Phase I clinical study, the catalytic Akt inhibitor AZD5363 induced partial responses in breast and ovarian cancer patients with tumors containing AKT1E17K mutations. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract | Full Article Pegfilgrastim Administration after 24 or 72 or 96 H to Allow Dose-Dense Anthracycline- and Taxane-Based Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Single-Center Experience within the GIM2 Randomized Phase III Trial To evaluate the safest timing of pegfilgrastim administration in dose-dense anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapy, three different cohorts of patients enrolled in the Gruppo Italiano Mammella (GIM) 2 study and treated at the coordinating center received pegfilgrastim 24 hours or 72 hours or 96 hours after chemotherapy. [Support Care Cancer] Abstract |