Mammary Cell News Volume 11.04 | Feb 7 2019

TOP STORY

Breast Cancer Cells Shifted into HER2 Positive Status with Bold New Strategy

When women or men receive the worrisome diagnosis of breast cancer, that news comes with an important piece of information, namely, whether their cancer is HER2-positive or HER2-negative. It can be especially difficult to hear that one’s cancer is HER2-negative, because it means an effective group of targeted anti-cancer drugs isn’t available. A new study from the lab of chemist Matthew D. Disney, PhD, suggests that in the future, that might not be the final word on the matter. [Scripps Research] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Actin Cytoskeleton and Focal Adhesions Regulate the Biased Migration of Breast Cancer Cells on Nanoscale Asymmetric Sawteeth

High-resolution fluorescence imaging and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed that two breast cancer cell lines with opposite migrational profiles exhibited profoundly different cell cortical plasticity and focal adhesion patterns. [ACS Nano] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Pharmacological Reactivation of MYC-Dependent Apoptosis Induces Susceptibility to Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy

Investigators demonstrated the translational potential of an AMPK and BCL-2/BCL-X_L co-targeting strategy in ex vivo and in vivo models of MYC-high breast cancer. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Immunotherapy of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer with Cathepsin D-Targeting Antibodies

High CTSD mRNA levels correlated with shorter recurrence-free survival in triple-negative breast cancer, and extracellular cathepsin D was detected in the tumor microenvironment, but not in matched normal breast stroma. [J Immunother Cancer] Full Article

Transcriptome Analysis of Luminal Breast Cancer Reveals a Role for LOL in Tumor Progression and Tamoxifen Resistance

Researchers identified a novel lncRNA whose expression was high in breast cancer and especially higher in luminal breast cancer, dubbed lncRNA of luminal (LOL), that acted as a natural sponge for let-7 microRNAs to regulate tumor growth and tamoxifen resistance. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

Bioengineered Tumor Microenvironments with Naked Mole Rats High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronan Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells

Extremely high-molecular-weight hyaluronan significantly induced higher p53 protein expression, which enhanced pro-apoptotic proteins p21 and Bax in breast cancer cells; this was in contrast with the triggering of hypersensitivity of naked mole rat cells to early contact inhibition. [Oncogene] Abstract

A Novel Proteotoxic Combination Therapy for EGFR+ and HER2+ Cancers

The authors showed that interference with proline isomerization in HER2/EGFR overexpressing cells induced cancer cell death. The peptidyl-prolyl isomerase inhibitor cyclosporine A selectively killed EGFR+ or HER2+ breast cancer cells in vitro by activating caspase-dependent apoptotic pathways. [Oncogene] Abstract

IGFBP-3 Interacts with NONO and SFPQ in PARP-Dependent DNA Damage Repair in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

In response to etoposide, the DNA/RNA-binding protein, non-POU domain-containing octamer-binding protein (NONO) and its dimerization partner splicing factor, proline/glutamine-rich (SFPQ) formed complexes with IGFBP-3, demonstrated in basal-like triple-negative breast cancer cell lines HCC1806 and MDA-MB-468. [Cell Mol Life Sci] Abstract

Hypoxic Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Increase NCBP2-AS2/HIAR to Promote Endothelial Sprouting through Enhanced VEGF Signaling

Scientists found that hypoxic human mammary cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) promoted angiogenesis in CAF-endothelial cell cocultures in vitro. Silencing of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis regulator (HIAR) abrogated the pro-angiogenic and pro-migratory function of hypoxic CAFs by decreasing secretion of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGFA. [Sci Signal] Abstract

TBX3 Promotes Progression of Pre-Invasive Breast Cancer Cells by Inducing EMT and Directly Up-Regulating SLUG

The authors showed that TBX3 regulated several epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related genes, including SLUG and TWIST1. Importantly, they demonstrated that TBX3 was a direct regulator of SLUG and SLUG expression was required for TBX3-induced migration and invasion. [J Pathol] Abstract

TBL1 Is Required for the Mesenchymal Phenotype of Transformed Breast Cancer Cells

To identify chromatin and epigenetic factors possibly involved in the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), researchers compared the levels of expression of epigenetic genes in a transformed human breast epithelial cell line versus a stable clone of the same cell line expressing the EMT master regulator ZEB1. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

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Patterns of Genomic Instability in Breast Cancer

Investigators review recent findings on genomic alterations and mutational processes in breast cancer pathogenesis. [Trends Pharmacol Sci] Abstract

Na⁺,HCO₃⁻ Cotransporter NBCn1 Accelerates Breast Carcinogenesis

The author explores the mechanisms and consequences of acid-base regulation in breast cancer tissue. [Cancer Metastasis Rev] Abstract

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

MacroGenics Announces Positive Results from Pivotal Phase III SOPHIA Study of Margetuximab

MacroGenics, Inc. announced positive results from SOPHIA, the company’s Phase III clinical study of margetuximab in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients. [MacroGenics, Inc.] Press Release

Roche Submits Supplemental Biologics License Application to the US FDA for Kadcyla for Adjuvant Treatment of People with HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer with Residual Disease after Neoadjuvant Treatment

This application is based on results of the Phase III KATHERINE study showing Kadcyla significantly reduced the risk of invasive breast cancer recurrence or death from any cause by 50% compared to Herceptin^® as an adjuvant treatment in people with HER2-positive early breast cancer who have residual disease present following neoadjuvant treatment. [Roche] Press Release

OncoSec Provides KEYNOTE-695 Clinical Update And Outlines 2019 Milestones

OncoSec Medical Incorporated provided a clinical data update regarding KEYNOTE-695, as well as progress of its ongoing clinical development efforts and its outlook for 2019. [OncoSec Medical Incorporated] Press Release

NIH Asks Inspector General to Investigate 12 Allegations of Foreign Influence in US Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has referred 12 allegations relating to foreign influence over US-funded research to a federal oversight office, Sen. Chuck Grassley said. Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has repeatedly demanded information from the NIH after the agency revealed in August it was investigating a half-dozen academic institutions – specifically, researchers who may have failed to disclose financial ties to foreign governments. [STAT News] Editorial

University of California Staff Researchers Opt to Form a Union, Joining Postdocs

After five years as a postdoc – four of them at the University of California, Los Angeles – molecular biologist Christina Priest hit the university’s time limit for postdoctoral appointments and transitioned to a university staff position as a project scientist in the same lab. Now an at-will employee in a job with no set end time, she says she finds her work “continuing the project I initiated as a postdoc … not enormously different, [despite] more responsibility.” [Science Careers] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Seminar: Overcoming Endocrine Resistance and Metastasis in Hormone-Dependent Cancers
August 3-4, 2019
Newry, Maine, United States

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Bioinformatics (BC Cancer Research Center, PHSA)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast Cancer (Providence John Wayne Cancer Institute)

International Scientific Director – Breast Cancer (Roche)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Breast Cancer (The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

Research Fellowship – Cancer Biology (University of Dundee)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast Cancer (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Cancer Research (North Carolina Central University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast Cancer (University of Bergen)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Research (City of Hope)

Faculty Position – Molecular Cancer Biology (University of Pittsburgh)

Faculty Position – Breast Cancer (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Associate – Cancer (University of Miami)

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