Mammary Cell News Volume 5.07 | Feb 21 2013

LABORATORY RESEARCH

MicroRNA (miR)-24 Enhances Tumor Invasion and Metastasis by Targeting PTPN9 and PTPRF to Promote EGF Signaling
Scientists analyzed miR-24 levels in patients with breast carcinoma and found that miR-24 was higher in breast carcinoma samples than in breast benign tissues. They generated constructs expressing miR-24 and studied its functions using both in vitro and in vivo techniques. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Iβ Regulates Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion via a Novel Interaction with the Actin/Myosin-Associated Protein Caldesmon
Using the type I cGMP-dependent protein kinase β isoform (PKGIβ) dimerization domain as an affinity probe in a proteomic screen, the authors identified the actin/myosin-associated protein caldesmon (CaD) as a PKGIβ-specific binding protein. PKGIβ phosphorylated human CaD on serine 12 in vitro and in intact cells. [J Cell Sci] Abstract

Vimentin, Zeb1 and Sip1 Are Up-Regulated in Triple-Negative and Basal-Like Breast Cancers: Association with an Aggressive Tumor Phenotype
Scientists assessed immunohistochemically vimentin as an indicator of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and also EMT-regulating transcription factors zeb1 and Sip1 in histological samples of 231 women with local or locally advanced invasive breast cancer. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Critical Role for Reactive Oxygen Species in Apoptosis Induction and Cell Migration Inhibition by Diallyl Trisulfide, a Cancer Chemopreventive Component of Garlic
Exposure of human breast cancer cells and a cell line derived from spontaneously developing mammary tumor of a transgenic mouse to diallyl trisulfide resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability that was accompanied by apoptosis induction. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Invadopodia-Associated Proteins Blockade as a Novel Mechanism for 6-Shogaol and Pterostilbene to Reduce Breast Cancer Cell Motility and Invasion
By wound-healing, transwell, and gelatin zymography assays, scientists found that 6-shogaol and pterostilbene effectively attenuated the motility and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells, and suppressed the activities of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. [Mol Nutr Food Res] Abstract

Norspermidine and Novel Pd(II) and Pt(II) Polynuclear Complexes of Norspermidine as Potential Antineoplastic Agents against Breast Cancer
The cytotoxic effects of a biogenic polyamine analogue – norspermidine – and its trinuclear Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes – Pd₃NSpd₂ and Pt₃NSpd₂, respectively – were investigated in one immortalized normal-like and three breast cancer cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article

Separation by Cell Size Enriches for Mammary Stem Cell Repopulation Activity
Cell sorting techniques for specific cell surface markers (CD24⁺CD29^HCD49f^HSca1^–) have been used to prospectively isolate mammary stem cells (MaSC)-enriched populations. Although these markers enrich for cell subpopulations that harbor MaSCs, they do not identify regenerative stem cells uniquely. Researchers report that MaSCs can be further defined by the property of cell size. [Stem Cell Transl Med] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Ganitumab with either Exemestane or Fulvestrant for Postmenopausal Women with Advanced, Hormone-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled, Double-Blind, Phase 2 Trial
Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-1 and IGF-2) bind to the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R), increasing cell proliferation and survival. Ganitumab is a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that blocks IGF-1R. Researchers tested the efficacy and safety of adding ganitumab to endocrine treatment for patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract

CNS Relapses in Patients with HER2-Positive Early Breast Cancer Who Have and Have Not Received Adjuvant Trastuzumab: A Retrospective Substudy of the HERA Trial
Several randomized trials have confirmed the benefit of adjuvant trastuzumab for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer. However, concern has been expressed that adjuvant trastuzumab might be associated with an increased frequency of CNS relapses. The authors assessed the frequency and course of CNS relapses, either as first event or at any time, using data from the HERA trial. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract

Cepheid and Oregon Health & Science University Collaborate to Develop Oncology Assays for GeneXpert® System
Cepheid and the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) announced a collaboration to develop a menu of advanced molecular diagnostics to be performed on the GeneXpert system. The alliance includes an exclusive license to OHSU intellectual property in prostate cancer and intellectual property co-developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and OHSU in breast cancer. [Cepheid] Press Release

USC Launches Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research Initiative
A new University of Southern California (USC) initiative has been introduced to support collaborative research in regenerative medicine and stem cell biology across the university, facilitating the critical move from basic research into clinical applications. [University of Southern California] 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)

Postdoctoral Position – Gene Regulation in Breast Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (UC College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Impact of Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway in Genome Stability and Breast Cancer (University of Pittsburgh)

Postdoctoral Position – Bioinformatics Position in Cancer Research (San Raffaele Scientific Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Regulation of Gene Expression in Breast Cancer (University of Cincinnati)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Breast Cancer Campaign (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Biology and Functional Genomics (North Carolina Central University)

Postdoctoral Position – Stem Cell Biology (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research)

Research Fellow – Breast Cancer Research (Monash University)

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