Mammary Cell News Volume 5.26 | Jul 4 2013

MicroRNA-Antagonism Regulates Breast Cancer Stemness and Metastasis via TET-Family-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling
The authors found microRNA (miR)-22 triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition, enhances invasiveness and promotes metastasis in mouse xenografts. In a conditional mammary gland-specific transgenic mouse model, we show that miR-22 enhances mammary gland side-branching, expands the stem cell compartment, and promotes tumor development. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Estrogen Alters the Splicing of Type 1 Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor in Breast Cancer Cells
The role of the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing hormone (CHR) in breast cancer is complex, and its abundance and biological activity may be modulated by estrogen. In the estrogen receptor-positive malignant mammary epithelial cell line MCF7, CRH activated numerous kinases and downstream effectors, at least some of which were mediated by the CRH receptor type 1. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Breast Cancer Normalization Induced by Embryonic Mesenchyme Is Mediated by Extracellular Matrix Biglycan
Using a synthetic reconstitution system, scientists showed that co-culture of breast cancer cells with embryonic mesenchyme from early stage mammary glands decreases tumor cell proliferation while stimulating acinus differentiation, whereas cancer-associated fibroblasts fail to produce these normalizing effects. [Integr Biol] Abstract

Sox2 Suppresses the Invasiveness of Breast Cancer Cells via a Mechanism that is Dependent on Twist1 and the Status of Sox2 Transcription Activity
While the aberrant expression of Sox2 has been shown to significantly correlate with a number of clinicopathologic parameters in breast cancer (BC), its biological significance in BC is incompletely understood. In-vitro invasion assay was used to evaluate whether the expression of Sox2 is linked to the invasiveness of MCF7 and ZR751 cells. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Histone Deacetylase 4 Mediates SMAD Family Member 4 Deacetylation and Induces 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Breast Cancer Cells
The authors investigated the interaction between HDAC4 expression and chemoresistance in breast cancer cells. They found that increased histone deacetylase 4 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells was associated with resistance to the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil. [Oncol Rep] Abstract

Aurora A Kinase Regulates Mammary Epithelial Cell Fate by Determining Mitotic Spindle Orientation in a Notch-Dependent Manner
Scientists examined the role of the mitotic kinase Aurora A (AURKA) in regulating the balance between basal and luminal mammary lineages. They found that AURKA is highly expressed in basal stem cells and, to a lesser extent, in luminal progenitors. Wild-type AURKA expression promoted luminal cell fate, but expression of an S155R mutant reduced proliferation, promoted basal fate, and inhibited serial transplantation. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

N0539 Phase II Trial of Fulvestrant and Bevacizumab in Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated with an Aromatase Inhibitor: A North Central Cancer Treatment Group Trial
Based on preclinical studies, the vascular endothelial pathway is an important mechanism for estrogen receptor resistance. Researchers conducted a phase II study of fulvestrant and bevacizumab in patients with aromatase inhibitor pretreated metastatic breast cancer. A single-stage phase II study was conducted with these objectives: six-month progression-free survival, tumor response, toxic effect, and overall survival. [Ann Oncol] Abstract

A Randomized Phase II Pre-Surgical Trial of Weekly Low-Dose Tamoxifen versus Raloxifene versus Placebo in Premenopausal Women with Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer
The authors conducted a randomized trial testing tamoxifen (T) 10mg per week (w), vs raloxifene (R) 60 mg/d vs placebo in a pre-surgical model. The participants were all premenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. They were randomly assigned to either T 10mg/w or R 60 mg/d or placebo for six weeks before surgery. The primary endpoint was tissue change of Ki67. [Breast Cancer Res]
Abstract | Full Article

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Five Researchers Receive Fellowships from TELUS-Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Breast cancer care and research will be enhanced for Canadians experiencing the disease, thanks to five new breast cancer fellowships announced by TELUS, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. The five fellows receiving funding from the 2012 TELUS-Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Fellowship Competition will undertake research on everything from examining the rehabilitation needs of women who have experienced breast cancer to understanding the role microenvironments play in targeted therapies. [Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellowship – Breast Cancer (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute [IDIBELL])

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Research (Albert Einstein College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast and Renal Cell Carcinoma Research (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill)

Postdoctoral Position – lncRNA and RNA Binding Protein Interaction in Mammary Cancer Stem Cell (CIBIO, University of Trento)

Postdoctoral Position – Breast and Ovarian Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine)

Director of Cell Processing Facility (S L Collins Associates, Inc.)

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

Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer Metastasis (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Genes in Breast Cancer (MD Anderson Cancer Center)

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