Mammary Cell News Volume 10.00 | Jan 4 2018

TOP STORY

Expressed Gene Fusions as Frequent Drivers of Poor Outcomes in Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer

Expression of novel kinase fusions in non-transformed cells deregulated phosphoprotein signaling, cell proliferation and survival in 3-dimensional culture, while expression in HR⁺ breast cancer models modulated estrogen-dependent growth and confered hormonal therapy resistance in vitro and in vivo. [Cancer Discov] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Glutaminolysis Drives Membrane Trafficking to Promote Invasiveness of Breast Cancer Cells

Researchers showed that normal mammary epithelial cells consume glutamine, but do not secrete glutamate. By contrast, primary cultures of invasive breast cancer cells converted glutamine to glutamate which was released from the cell through the system Xc- antiporter to activate a metabotropic glutamate receptor. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A Mucin1 C-Terminal Subunit-Directed Monoclonal Antibody Targets Overexpressed Mucin1 in Breast Cancer

Scientists produced a monoclonal antibody (anti-hMUC1) specific to the extracellular region of MUC1-C and evaluated its effects in vitro and in vivo. The anti-hMUC1 antibody recognized recombinant MUC1 as well as native MUC1-C protein in breast cancer cells. [Theranostics] Full Article

Oncogenic PI3K Promotes Methionine Dependency in Breast Cancer Cells through the Cystine-Glutamate Antiporter xCT

Investigators showed that oncogenic PIK3CA and decreased expression of SLC7A11, a gene that encodes a cystine transporter also known as xCT, correlated with increased methionine dependency in breast cancer cells. Oncogenic PIK3CA was sufficient to confer methionine dependency to mammary epithelial cells, partly by decreasing cystine uptake through the transcriptional and posttranslational inhibition of xCT. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Regulation of Mammary Luminal Cell Fate and Tumorigenesis by p38α

The authors investigated the function of the protein kinase p38α in the mammary gland using mice that delete this protein in the luminal epithelial cells. They showed that p38α regulates the fate of luminal progenitor cells through modulation of the transcription factor RUNX1, an important controller of the estrogen receptor-positive cell lineage. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

In1-ghrelin Splicing Variant Is Associated with Reduced Disease-Free Survival of Breast Cancer Patients and Increases Malignancy of Breast Cancer Cells Lines

A battery of cellular and molecular assays were implemented using two breast cancer cell lines, wherein the role of In1-ghrelin on proliferation, migration, dedifferentiation and signaling pathways was explored. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

Mechanisms of HERV-K (HML-2) Transcription during Human Mammary Epithelial Cell Transformation

Scientists used an in vitro model of human mammary epithelial cell transformation to assess how malignancy-associated shifts in the transcriptional milieu of a cell may impact HML-2 activity. They found 15 proviruses to be significantly expressed through four different mechanisms, with the majority of transcripts being antisense copies of proviruses located within introns. [J Virol] Abstract

MYBL2 Is Targeted by miR-143-3p and Regulates Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis

Investigators aimed to explore the functional role of MYB Proto-Oncogene Like 2 (MYBL2) in breast cancer, as well as underlying mechanisms. The regulatory relationship between miR143-3p and MYBL2 was analyzed, and the effects of dysregulation of miR-143-3p and MYBL2 on the cell proliferation and apoptosis were investigated. [Oncol Res] Abstract

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Polo-Like Kinase 1/Eukaryotic Elongation Factor 2 Kinase (Plk1/Eef2k) Dual Inhibitors for Regulating Breast Cancer Cells Apoptosis and Autophagy

Based on the multiple-complexes generated pharmacophore models of PLK1 and homology models of EEF2K, integrated virtual screening was performed to discover novel PLK1/EEF2K dual inhibitors. [Eur J Med Chem] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

EBP50 Suppresses the Proliferation of MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells via Promoting Beclin-1/p62-Mediated Lysosomal Degradation of c-Myc

The authors found a significant correlation between EBP50 and c-Myc expression levels in breast cancer tissue, and demonstrated that EBP50 suppressed cell proliferation through decreasing the expression of c-Myc and its downstream proteins cyclin A, E and Cdc25A in MCF-7 cells. [Acta Pharmacol Sin] Abstract

Exosomes in Cancer Liquid Biopsy: A Focus on Breast Cancer

The potential capability of exosomes is summarized in cancer with the special focus on breast cancer as the second cause of cancer mortality in women all around the world. It discusses reasons to choose exosomes for liquid biopsy and the studies related to different potential biomarkers found in the exosomes. [Mol Ther Nucleic Acids] Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the mammary cell research field.

Odonate Therapeutics Announces Initiation of CONTESSA, a Phase III Study of Tesetaxel in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

Odonate Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has initiated CONTESSA, a multinational, multicenter, randomized, Phase III study of tesetaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. [Odonate Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Avelas Biosciences Completes Period 1 Patient Enrollment in Phase II Study of AVB-620 in Women with Primary, Nonrecurrent Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery

Avelas Biosciences, Inc. announced the completion of Period 1 patient enrollment in its Phase II clinical trial of AVB-620 in women with primary, nonrecurrent breast cancer undergoing surgery. [Avelas Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Approves Genentech’s Perjeta (Pertuzumab) for Adjuvant Treatment of Specific Type of Early Breast Cancer

Genentech announced the FDA has approved Perjeta^®, in combination with Herceptin^® and chemotherapy, for adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence. [Genentech, Inc.] Press Release

New NCI Director Expects Big Data to Revolutionize Cancer Research, Care

Cancer researchers were nervous early this year about who President Donald Trump would choose to replace Harold Varmus as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). But their fears of an unconventional candidate proved unfounded when he tapped Norman “Ned” Sharpless. Sharpless, 51, who was then director of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Nobel Laureate Will Step Down from Leading Embattled Salk Institute

Elizabeth Blackburn, the Nobel Prize–winning molecular biologist who took over just two years ago as president of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, California, announced her intent to retire next summer. The unexpected news comes as Salk faces gender discrimination lawsuits from three veteran female scientists and Blackburn herself has been challenged for not moving quickly enough to change what one plaintiff’s suit called an “old boys club” at the renowned research institute. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chile Election Reignites Tussle over Science Policy

Chile’s new President-elect Sebastián Piñera is poised to reshape science policy in the country. His plans to forge closer ties among science, education and industry have sparked enthusiasm from scientists who hope the plan will bolster support for their work — but also concern about possible changes in research priorities. [Nature News] Editorial

Germany vs Elsevier: Universities Win Temporary Journal Access after Refusing to Pay Fees

The Dutch publishing giant Elsevier has granted uninterrupted access to its paywalled journals for researchers at around 200 German universities and research institutes that had refused to renew their individual subscriptions at the end of 2017. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Fibroblast Growth Factors in Development and Disease
March 25-30, 2018
Ventura, California, United States

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

NEW Scientific Officer – Breast Cancer Research (The Institute of Cancer Research)

NEW Higher Scientific Officer – Breast Cancer Research (The Institute of Cancer Research)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Breast Cancer Research (University of Miami)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast cancer Epidemiology (Karolinska Institutet)

PhD Program – Breast Cancer (Institut Curie)

Professor – Tenure System – Cancer Biology (Michigan State University)

Postdoctoral Associate – Breast Cancer Research (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Associate – Melanoma and Breast Cancer Research (University of Miami)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist/Fellow – Epigenetic Gene Regulation in Breast Cancer (Columbia University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast Cancer Research (Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth)

Postdoctoral Position – Transcriptomics and Cancer Epigenetics (Universität Basel)

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