Mammary Cell News Volume 3.26 | Jul 7 2011

Team Identifies Enzyme That Is an Important Regulator of Aggressive Breast Cancer Development
Researchers have identified an enzyme that appears to be a significant regulator of breast cancer development. [Press release from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discussing online prepublication in Genes & Development]

Worse Outcomes for Older Breast Cancer Patients with Other Health Problems, Study Finds
Older breast cancer patients with certain other health problems have higher mortality rates than patients without these problems according to a study. [Press release from ScienceDaily discussing online prepublication in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute]

False Negative Tests in Breast Cancer May Lead to Wrong Drug Choice
A team of researchers has confirmed that between 10-20% of breast cancers classified as estrogen receptor negative are really positive. [Press release from Yale Office of Public Affairs & Communication discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Oncology]

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Identification of PTPN23 as a Novel Regulator of Cell Invasion in Mammary Epithelial Cells from a Loss-Of-Function Screen of the ‘PTP-Ome’
Scientists used an RNAi-mediated loss-of-function screen to study systematically the role of the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) superfamily of enzymes in mammary epithelial cell motility in the absence or presence of the oncoprotein tyrosine kinase ERBB2. [Genes Dev]

Dual Function of ERRα in Breast Cancer and Bone Metastasis Formation: Implication of VEGF and Osteoprotegerin
The estrogen receptor related receptor α (ERRα) has been implicated in breast cancer and bone development, prompting researchers to examine whether ERRα may function in promoting the osteolytic growth of breast cancer cells in bone. [Cancer Res]

Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Signaling Is Critical for ErbB3-Driven Breast Cancer Cell Motility and Metastasis
Investigators tested the hypothesis that ErbB3-mediated phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling is critical for heregulin-induced motility, and therefore crucial for ErbB3-mediated invasion, intravasation and metastasis. [Oncogene]

Functional Differences Among BRCA1 Missense Mutations in the Control of Centrosome Duplication
This study analyzed the function of BRCA1 missense mutations in the control of centrosome duplication, a critical step in the maintenance of genetic stability of mammary epithelial cells, and indicates a new function of BRCA1 in the control of centriole pairing. [Oncogene]

IQGAP1 Binds Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) and Modulates Trastuzumab Resistance in HER2-Positive (HER2(+)) Human Breast Cancer
Researchers showed here that IQGAP1 is overexpressed in HER2(+) breast cancer tissue and binds directly to HER2. [J Biol Chem]

Reduced Association of Anti-Apoptotic Protein Mcl-1 with E3 Ligase Mule Increases the Stability of Mcl-1 in Breast Cancer Cells
Using human mammary epithelial and established breast cancer cell lines, investigators assessed the mechanisms that increase the stability of anti-apoptotic proteins in breast cancer cells by caspase assay, western blot, small-inhibitory RNA treatment and immunoprecipitation. [Br J Cancer]

Unraveling the Antimetastatic Potential of Pentoxifylline, a Methylxanthine Derivative in Human MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
in this study, scientists have examined the effect of pentoxifylline in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells. [Mol Cell Biochem]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase I/II Study of Trastuzumab in Combination with Everolimus (RAD001) in Patients with HER2-Overexpressing Metastatic Breast Cancer Who Progressed on Trastuzumab-Based Therapy
This trial evaluated the safety and efficacy of the combination of everolimus and trastuzumab in women with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer that progressed on trastuzumab-based therapy. [J Clin Oncol]

Increased Risk of Locoregional Recurrence for Women with T1-2N0 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treated with Modified Radical Mastectomy without Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Compared with Breast-Conserving Therapy
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of locoregional recurrence associated with locoregional treatment of women with primary breast cancer tumors negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (triple-negative breast cancer). [J Clin Oncol]

Standardization of Estrogen Receptor Measurement in Breast Cancer Suggests False-Negative Results Are a Function of Threshold Intensity Rather than Percentage of Positive Cells
Researchers defined a new method for standardization of estrogen receptor measurement and then examined both change in percentage and threshold of intensity (immunoreactivity) to assess sources for test discordance. [J Clin Oncol]

The Influence of Comorbidities on Overall Survival Among Older Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
In a US population of older breast cancer patients, 13 individual comorbid conditions were associated with decreased overall survival and increased mortality. [J Natl Cancer Inst]

Novartis Drug Afinitor® Met Primary Endpoint of Phase III Study in Women with Advanced Breast Cancer; Potential to Address Significant Unmet Need
Novartis announced that an interim analysis of a pivotal Phase III study showed Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets in combination with exemestane significantly extended progression-free survival, or time without tumor growth, when compared to placebo plus exemestane in women with advanced breast cancer. [Novartis Press Release]

biOasis Announces Transcend Vector Results with a Therapeutic Antibody that Targets Metastatic Breast Cancer
biOasis Technologies Inc. announced results from two studies designed to assess the therapeutic potential of its transcend vector in treating metastatic breast cancer. [biOasis Technologies Inc. Press Release]

ACORN Research Reports Positive Findings Of Phase IIb Metastatic Breast Cancer Trial At ASCO
Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network, Inc. (ACORN) reported positive results of a large double-blind, randomized Phase IIb trial in patients with breast cancer at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 47th Annual Meeting. [Medical News Today]

Breast Cancer Drug Gets an Unanimous Thumbs Down
An advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sided with the agency, agreeing in an unanimous vote, 6-0, that the drug Avastin should not be approved for breast cancer. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration, United States]

Benefits of Two Breast Cancer Drugs Still Unproven, Says Latest Draft Guidance
Draft guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends against the use of two breast cancer drugs in the NHS for a particular type of breast cancer. [National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, United Kingdom]

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 4th Annual Stem Cells Europe
July 20-21, 2011
Edinburgh, Scotland

NEW The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research: Methods in Clinical Cancer Research
July 30-August 5, 2011
Vail, United States

NEW The EMBO Meeting 2011
September 10-13, 2011
Vienna, Austria

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

Lab Technologist – Tissue Culture (STEMCELL Technologies)

Research and Development Technologist, hPSC Media (STEMCELL Technologies)

Scientist (iPSC) (STEMCELL Technologies)

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

Postdoctoral Position (Tufts Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Roswell Park Cancer Institute)

Laboratory Project Scientist (University of California, San Diego)

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