Mammary Cell News Volume 4.28 | Jul 19 2012

LABORATORY RESEARCH

The p110α and p110β Isoforms of PI3K Play Divergent Roles in Mammary Gland Development and Tumorigenesis
Researchers demonstrate a novel p110β-based regulatory role in receptor-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) activity and identified p110α as an important target for treatment of HER2-positive disease. [Genes Dev] Abstract

CCN6 Modulates Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling via the Smad-Independent TAK1/p38 Pathway, Acting to Suppress Metastasis of Breast Cancer
Scientists identified a CCN6-BMP4-TAK1 kinase signaling pathway that controls the ability of the p38 MAP kinase to regulate acinar morphogenesis and invasion of breast cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Biomarker and Pharmacological Evaluation of the γ-Secretase Inhibitor PF-03084014 in Breast Cancer Models
Investigators assessed the biological activity of PF-03084014 in breast xenograft models. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

Adipocyte-Released Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Is Regulated by Glucose and Fatty Acids and Controls Breast Cancer Cell Growth In Vitro
Scientists investigated whether metabolic alterations at the level of adipose-derived differentiating cells may affect specific phenotypes of breast cancer cells. [Diabetologia] Abstract

Mutant p53 Drives Invasion in Breast Tumors through Up-Regulation of miR-155
Researchers showed that the expression of miR-155 was up-regulated by mutant p53 to drive invasion. Significant overlap was observed between miR-155 targets and the molecular profile of mutant p53-expressing breast tumors in vivo. [Oncogene] Abstract

Reduced In Vivo Lung Metastasis of a Breast Cancer Cell Line after Treatment with Herceptin Monoclonal Antibodies Conjugated to Chemotherapeutic Drugs
In vitro, drug-Herceptin conjugates exhibited cytotoxicity comparable to equimolar concentrations of free drugs, with the benefit that the cytotoxicity of the conjugates was selective for cells expressing the HER2 target. [Oncogene] Abstract

Spontaneous and Pronase-Induced HER2 Truncation Increases the Trastuzumab Binding Capacity of Breast Cancer Tissues and Cell Lines
In vitro experiments showed that short-term pronase digestion of BT474 cells produced two HER2 fragments, increased the binding affinity of trastuzumab, reduced the rate of HER2-HER3 dimers and did not interfere with pertuzumab-binding capacity. [J Pathol] Abstract

Calcium Channel TRPV6 as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Estrogen Receptor Negative Breast Cancer
The authors suggest that inhibitors of TRPV6 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of estrogen receptor-negative breast cancers. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Identification of Two Novel Phenotypically Distinct Breast Cancer Cell Subsets Based on Sox2 Transcription Activity
Sox2 (sex-determining region Y-box protein 2) is aberrantly expressed in breast and other cancers, though its biological significance remains widely unexplored. To understand the significance of this aberrancy, researchers assessed the transcription activity of Sox2 in two Sox2-expressing breast cancer cell lines using a lentiviral Sox2 GFP reporter vector. [Cell Signal] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Suppression of Plasma Estrogen Levels by Letrozole and Anastrozole Is Related to Body Mass Index in Patients with Breast Cancer
Scientists investigated whether suppression of plasma estradiol and estrone sulfate levels by the aromatase inhibitors anastrozole and letrozole is related to body mass index in postmenopausal women with early estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Birth Weight, Breast Cancer and the Potential Mediating Hormonal Environment
The risk of breast cancer in relation to a first infant’s birth weight, the mother’s own birth weight and breast cancer risk factors were evaluated in a cohort of 410 women in the Framingham Study. [PLoS One]
Full Article | Press Release

Verastem Enters Research Collaboration with Eisai for Small Molecule Wnt Inhibitors
Verastem, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing drugs to treat breast and other cancers by targeting cancer stem cells, announced a research collaboration with Eisai for the next-generation of small molecule Wnt inhibitors. [Verastem, Inc.] Press Release

Genta Announces Agreement with FDA on Special Protocol Assessment of Phase III Trial of Tesetaxel as Initial Chemotherapy for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Genta Incorporated announced that the Company has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under its Special Protocol Assessment process for the Company’s proposed Phase III trial of oral tesetaxel as initial chemotherapy for women with metastatic breast cancer. [Genta, Inc.]
Press Release

Galena Biopharma Issued NeuVax^TM U.S. Patent
Galena Biopharma, Inc. announced the issuance of a key patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office covering the use of NeuVax™, a HER2/neu peptide vaccine, for inducing immunity to breast cancer recurrence in patients having low-to-intermediate IHC levels of 1+ or 2+ and a FISH rating of less than 2.0. [Galena Biopharma, Inc.] Press Release

Cancer Research UK Receives Largest Ever Donation
Cancer Research UK has been given a gift of £10 million from one of its supporters. This is the largest one-off donation the charity has ever received, and comes alongside an additional gift of £10 million from the same donor for the University of Southampton. [Cancer Research UK] Press Release

ADC Therapeutics Appoints Former Genmab VP Dr. Patrick van Berkel as Senior VP of R&D
ADC Therapeutics announced the appointment of former Genmab Vice President Dr. Patrick van Berkel as Senior Vice President (VP), Research and Development (R&D). [ADC Therapeutics Sarl] Press Release

EU Commission Backs Open-Access Science Publishing
The European Commission has backed calls for free access to publicly funded research in a move that could force a major change in the business model for publishers such as Reed Elsevier. [European Commission, Europe] Press Release

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 The 2nd Midwest Conference on Stem Cell Biology and Therapy
October 5-7, 2012
Rochester, United States

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Quality Control Operations Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Contract Assay Services (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Media Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Research and Development (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientific Communications & Publishing Coordinator (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Epithelial Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist – hPSC Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in Breast Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Assistant Professor – Oncology/Breast Cancer (University of Chicago)

Associate Professor – Metastatic Breast Cancer (University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center)

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