Mammary Cell News Volume 5.33 | Aug 22 2013

Developmental Changes in the In Vitro Activated Regenerative Activity of Primitive Mammary Epithelial Cells
Researchers showed that fetal mammary epithelial cells have a greater direct and inducible growth potential than their adult counterparts. The latter feature is revealed in a novel culture system that enables large numbers of in vitro clonogenic progenitors as well as mammary stem cells with serially transplantable activity to be produced within seven days from single fetal or adult input cells. [PLos Biol] Full Article

Hbo1 Is a Cyclin E/CDK2 Substrate that Enriches Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells
To explore how low-molecular weight cyclin E enriches cancer stem cells in breast tumors, scientists conducted a protein microarray analysis that identified the histone acetyltransferase Hbo1 as a novel cyclin E/ cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) substrate. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Computational Modeling of ERBB2-Amplified Breast Cancer Identifies Combined ErbB2/3 Blockade as Superior to the Combination of MEK and AKT Inhibitors
A multiscale systems model of signaling networks in ERBB2-amplified breast cancer was developed to quantitatively investigate relationships between biomarkers and combination drug efficacy, which linked ErbB receptor family signaling to breast tumor growth the PI3K/AKT survival pathway and the Ras/MEK/ERK growth and proliferation pathway. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Evidence for a Multipotent Mammary Progenitor with Pregnancy-Specific Activity
Researchers identified a population of mammary epithelial cells containing pregnancy-activated multipotent progenitors that are present in the virgin mammary gland and contribute to the expansion of the mammary gland during pregnancy. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Cancer Stemness in Wnt-Driven Mammary Tumorigenesis
By employing the CD24 and CD29 cell surface antigens, investigators have identified a subpopulation of mammary cancer stem cells from the endogenous Apc gene (Apc^1572T/+) capable of self-renewal and differentiation both in vivo and in vitro. [Carcinogenesis] Abstract

The 18-kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO) Disrupts Mammary Epithelial Morphogenesis and Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Migration
Scientists demonstrated that stable overexpression of TSPO in mammary epithelial MCF10A acini drives proliferation and provides partial resistance to luminal apoptosis, resulting in enlarged acinar structures with partially filled lumen that resemble early stage breast lesions leading to breast cancer. [PLos One]
Full Article

Flotillin-2 Is Associated with Breast Cancer Progression and Poor Survival Outcomes
Investigators describe that Flotillin-2 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer cell lines and tissue samples compared with normal cells and adjacent noncancerous breast tissues, respectively. [J Transl Med]
Abstract | Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer: FDG Uptake after Two Cycles of Chemotherapy Predicts the Outcome of Neoadjuvant Treatment
The authors elucidated that the level of residual ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake after two cycles of chemotherapy predicted residual disease at completion of neoadjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and trastuzumab with high accuracy. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Predictive Value of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Expression in Neoadjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer
Researchers studied the expression of Sphingosine Kinase 1 by immunohistochemistry, using tissue microarrays of pre-treatment core cut biopsies from 112 breast cancer specimens obtained from a prospective neoadjuvent chemotherapy trial. [J Cancer Res Clin Oncol] Abstract

Outcome of Patients with HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treated with or without Adjuvant Trastuzumab in the Finland Capecitabine Trial (FinXX)
Investigators studied the outcomes of 284 patients with HER2-positive cancer, treated with adjuvant capecitabine-containing chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab. The primary endpoint was recurrence-free survival. [Acta Oncol] Full Article

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Fighting Breast Cancer with Immunotherapy
Supported by a National Breast Cancer Foundation Fellowship, Dr Trina Stewart has applied for a $750,000 National Health and Medical Research Council grant which will enable her to extend her work to pre-clinical models of human breast cancer stem cells. [Griffith University] Press Release

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NEW PhD Studentship – c-Met Pathway in Trastuzumab Resistant Breast Cancer (Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London)

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

Faculty Position – Detection and Diagnosis of Solid Tumors (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Cell Research (Mount Sinai Medical Center/Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

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

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

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