LABORATORY RESEARCH Intersection of FOXO- and RUNX1-Mediated Gene Expression Programs in Single Breast Epithelial Cells During Morphogenesis and Tumor Progression Here, scientists adapted a single-cell expression profiling technique to examine the gene expression program downstream of Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors during 3D breast epithelial acinar morphogenesis. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Maintenance of Hormone Responsiveness in Luminal Breast Cancers by Suppression of Notch Here researchers show that more than half of primary estrogen positive (ER+) and progesterone positive (PR+) breast cancers contain an ER−PR−cytokeratin+ “luminobasal” subpopulation exceeding 1% of cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Transglutaminase 2 Facilitates the Distant Hematogenous Metastasis of Breast Cancer by Modulating Interleukin-6 in Cancer Cells The purpose of this study is to investigate the role for transglutaminase 2 (TG2) and interleukin (IL)-6, TG2-knocked-down and IL-6-knocked-down cancer cells were generated using shRNA. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract Genomic and Phenotypic Analysis of BRCA2 Mutated Breast Cancers Reveals Co-Occurring Changes Linked to Progression Here scientists explore the impact of DNA copy number changes in BRCA2 tumors with respect to phenotype and clinical staging of the disease. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract Jumonji/Arid1 B (JARID1B) Promotes Breast Tumor Cell Cycle Progression through Epigenetic Repression of MicroRNA Let-7e Here researchers investigated the influence of the histone demethylase JARID1B on microRNA regulation in breast tumor cells. [J Biol Chem] Abstract Loss of Tumor Suppressor Merlin in Advanced Breast Cancer Is Due to Post-Translational Regulation Investigators assessed Merlin expression in breast cancer tissues by immunohistochemistry and by real-time PCR. [J Biol Chem] Abstract Combination Therapy Inhibits Development and Progression of Mammary Tumors in Immunocompetent Mice Investigators have determined the effect of combining the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin and the anti-resorptive drug zoledronic acid on the early stages of spontaneous mammary tumor development using the immunocompetent PyMT mouse model that closely mimics human breast cancer development. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH Adjuvant Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Scientists randomly assigned 3222 women with HER2-positive early-stage breast cancer to receive doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel every 3 weeks, the same regimen plus 52 weeks of trastuzumab, or docetaxel and carboplatin plus 52 weeks of trastuzumab. [N Eng J Med] Abstract | Press Release Cytokeratin-19 and Mammaglobin Gene Expression in Circulating Tumor Cells from Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Enrolled in North Central Cancer Treatment Group Trials (NCCTG), N0234/336/436/437 The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between baseline and post-treatment circulating tumor cell gene expression and outcome of patients enrolled in four NCCTG metastatic breast cancer trials where specimens were shipped (at 4°C) from community-based sites to a reference laboratory. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract Family History of Breast Cancer in Relation to Tumor Characteristics and Mortality in a Population-Based Study of Young Women with Invasive Breast Cancer Within a population-based cohort of 1260 non-adopted women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer before age 46, researchers assessed how family history of breast cancer relates to mortality and tumor characteristics. [Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev] Abstract |