Mammary Cell News Volume 4.47 | Nov 29 2012

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Pharmacological Inhibition of the Wnt Acyltransferase PORCN Prevents Growth of WNT-Driven Mammary Cancer
Scientists evaluated the Porcupine (PORCN) inhibitor Wnt-C59 (C59), to determine its activity and toxicity in cultured cells and mice. C59 inhibits PORCN activity in vitro at nanomolar concentrations, as assessed by inhibition of Wnt palmitoylation, Wnt interaction with the carrier protein Wntless/WLS, Wnt secretion and Wnt activation of β-catenin reporter activity. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Aromatase Overexpression Induces Malignant Changes in Estrogen Receptor α Negative MCF-10A Cells
Scientists established a model by expressing aromatase in estrogen receptor (ER)α- MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells to investigate ERα-independent effects of estrogen in the process of malignant transformation. [Oncogene] Abstract

Protein Phosphatase 1, Regulatory Subunit 15B Is a Survival Factor for ERα-Positive Breast Cancer
To identify novel factors that contribute to the survival of breast cancer cells, a loss-of-function screen was performed with a subset of genes overexpressed in patients with disease resistant to chemotherapy. This approach led the authors to identify protein phosphatase 1, regulatory subunit 15B as a factor with a potentially essential role in the survival of estrogen receptor α (ERα)-positive breast cancer cells. [Int J Cancer] Abstract

High Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Enhances Stem Cell Features in Breast Cancer Cells by Activating Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2α
Researchers examined whether inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase activity suppresses stem-like cell properties in a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Genotoxic Exposure during Juvenile Growth of Mammary Gland Depletes Stem Cell Activity and Inhibits Wnt Signaling
The authors evaluated the response of mammary stem cells to genotoxic exposure during ductal growth in juveniles. Exposure to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (DMBA; 7,12 dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) had no gross effect on outgrowth and morphogenesis of the ductal tree, or upon lobuloalveolar growth during pregnancy. However, by fat pad assay, they found that mammary stem cell activity was reduced by 80% in glands from adults that were exposed to genotoxins as juveniles. [PLoS One] Full Article
 
miR-200c Targets a NF-κB Up-Regulated TrkB/NTF3 Autocrine Signaling Loop to Enhance Anoikis Sensitivity in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Scientists identified a TrkB ligand, neurotrophin 3 (NTF3), as capable of activating TrkB to induce anoikis resistance, and show that NTF3 is also a direct target of miR-200c. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

Breast Cancer Stem Cell-Like Cells Are More Sensitive to Ionizing Radiation than Non-Stem Cells: Role of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated
There are contradictory observations about the different radiosensitivities of cancer stem cells and cancer non-stem cells. To resolve these contradictory observations, researchers studied radiosensitivities by employing breast cancer stem cell-like MDA-MB231 and MDA-MB453 cells as well as their corresponding non-stem cells. [PLoS One] Full Article
 
CLINICAL RESEARCH

Different Prognostic Significance of Ki-67 Change Between Pre- and Post-Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Various Subtypes of Breast Cancer
In a neoadjuvant setting, three parameters for Ki-67 can be obtained: pre-treatment Ki-67, post-treatment Ki-67 and Ki-67 change between pre- and post-treatments. It is uncertain which of the three parameters has the greatest prognostic significance, and whether this parameter has significance in each subtype of breast cancer. A total of 385 patients who received neoadjuvant anthracycline followed by taxane chemotherapy and subsequent surgery for breast cancer were analyzed retrospectively. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Adding Hormonal Therapy to Chemotherapy and Trastuzumab Improves Prognosis in Patients with Hormone Receptor-Positive and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Primary Breast Cancer
The authors retrospectively reviewed records from 897 patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive primary breast cancer with clinical stage I-III disease who underwent surgery. They determined the overall survival and disease-free survival rates according to whether they received hormonal therapy or not and according to the type of hormonal therapy, tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor, they received. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Effects of an Exercise and Hypocaloric Healthy Eating Program on Biomarkers Associated with Long-Term Prognosis after Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Researchers investigated the effects of a lifestyle intervention on body weight and other health outcomes influencing long-term prognosis in overweight women (BMI > 25.0 kg/m²) recovering from early-stage (stage I-III) breast cancer. [Cancer Causes Control] Abstract

$2.5 Million Awarded to UAlberta for Breast Cancer Research
Six of the seven 2012 grants are for projects in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, where the recipients are working to increase basic understanding of breast cancer, and improve its diagnosis or treatment. [University of Alberta] Press Release

Grove Professor Receives $1.5 Million to Study Breast Cancer Therapies
Dr. Debra Auguste, associate professor of biomedical engineering in the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York, will investigate personalized therapies to inhibit breast cancer metastasis supported by the National Institutes of Health Director’s New Innovator Award. [The City College of The City University of New York] Press Release

Thomas Jefferson University Honoring Axel Ullrich with Lennox K. Black International Prize
Thomas Jefferson University will honor the renowned biotech researcher whose discoveries led to a slew of innovative drugs that revolutionized treatment including Herceptin – one of the first gene-based medications for breast cancer – with its prestigious Lennox K. Black International Prize for Excellence in Biomedical Research. [Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals] 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 StemCONN 2013: Realizing the Promise 
April 3, 2012
New Haven, United States

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Product Quality Scientist (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

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

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Scientist or Engineer – hPSC Bioengineer (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Tumor Stem Cells (Cancer Institute of New Jersey)

Laboratory Heads – Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Biology (RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genomics (Mayo Clinic Florida)

Assistant Professor – Breast Cancer (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)

Principal Investigator – Cancer Research (Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal)

Postdoctoral Position – Genetic Biomarkers in Breast Cancer (Rush University Medical Center)

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