Mammary Cell News Volume 3.46 | Nov 24 2011

Gene Expression Profiling Identifies Soluble Form of ST2 as an Effector of ErbB2-Driven Breast Carcinoma Cell Motility, Associated with Metastasis
To identify genes that mediate ErbB2-driven cell motility, scientists performed differential gene expression analysis of ErbB2-expressing migrating breast cancer cells vs. mutant ErbB2-expressing non-migrating cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

p21-Activated Kinase 1 Is a Breast Cancer Oncogene that Coordinately Activates MAPK and MET Signaling
To identify breast cancer oncogenes that activate the MAPK pathway, investigators screened a library of human kinases for their ability to induce anchorage-independent growth in a derivative of immortalized human mammary epithelial cells. [Oncogene] Abstract

WEE1 Inhibition Sensitizes Basal Breast Cancer Cells to TRAIL-Induced Apoptosis
In this study, scientists tested the effects of WEE1 inhibition on Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Targeting Abnormal DNA Repair in Therapy-Resistant Breast Cancers
Here researchers show that tamoxifen- and aromatase-resistant derivatives of MCF7 cells and estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-negative cells have even higher steady state levels of DNA ligase IIIα and increased levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, another alternative non-homologous end-joining component. [Mol Cancer Res] Abstract

Cross-Talk Between Endothelial and Breast Cancer Cells Regulates Reciprocal Expression of Angiogenic Factors In Vitro
Using an in vitro co-culture system, scientists investigated the influence of endothelial cells on the angiogenic phenotype of breast cancer cells. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

A Case-Match Study Comparing Unilateral with Synchronous Bilateral Breast Cancer Outcomes
The purpose of this study was to determine whether survival outcomes for patients with synchronous bilateral breast cancer can be estimated from the characteristics of their individual cancers. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Adjuvant Capecitabine, Docetaxel, Cyclophosphamide, and Epirubicin for Early Breast Cancer: Final Analysis of the Randomized FinXX Trial
Women with axillary node–positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive either three cycles of docetaxel and capecitabine followed by three cycles of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and capecitabine (n = 753) or three cycles of docetaxel followed by three cycles of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, and fluorouracil (n = 747). [J Clin Oncol] Abstract