Mammary Cell News Volume 5.38 | Sep 26 2013

14-3-3σ Stabilizes a Complex of Soluble Actin and Intermediate Filament to Enable Breast Tumor Invasion
The authors showed that 14-3-3σ expression, which in normal breast is localized to the myoepithelial cells, tracks with malignant phenotype in two models of basal-like breast cancer progression, and in patients, it is associated with basal-like subtype and poor clinical outcome. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Drug Screening Identifies Niclosamide as an Inhibitor of Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells
Investigators aimed to discover novel compounds that target breast cancer stem-like cells. They used a dye-exclusion method to isolate side population (SP) cancer cells and, subsequently, subjected these SP cells to a sphere formation assay to generate SP spheres from breast cancer cell lines. [PLoS One] Full Article

BMP4 Inhibits the Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells and Induces a Matrix Metalloproteinase-Dependent Migratory Phenotype in MDA-MB-231 Cells in 3D Environment
Researchers previously showed that bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) reduces breast cancer cell proliferation through G1 cell cycle arrest and simultaneously induces migration in a subset of these cell lines. Here they examined the effects of BMP4 in a more physiological environment, in a 3D culture system. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Molecular Targeting of Akt by Thymoquinone Promotes G₁ Arrest through Translation Inhibition of Cyclin D1 and Induces Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells
The authors investigated Thymoquinone’s (TQ’s) mechanism of action against PI3K/Akt signaling and its downstream targets by modulating proteins translational machinery, leading to apoptosis in cancer cells. MDA-MB-468 and T-47D cells were treated with TQ and evaluated for its anticancer activity through phase distribution and western blot. [Life Sci] Abstract

Thymol Inhibits LPS-Stimulated Inflammatory Response via Down-Regulation of NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways in Mouse Mammary Epithelial Cells
Investigators studied the anti-inflammatory effect of thymol in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse mammary epithelial cells (mMECs). The mMECs were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of thymol. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β in the supernatants of culture were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. [Inflammation] Abstract

MicroRNA-34a Suppresses Cell Proliferation by Targeting LMTK3 in Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cell Line
The authors found that in MCF-7, which is an estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer cell line, microRNA-34a (miR-34a) is remarkably downregulated after E2 treatment. Overexpression of miR-34a by lentivirus suppresses cell proliferation, S phase ratio, and tumor formation in an E2-dependent manner in vitro. [DNA Cell Biol] Abstract

Endocrine-Therapy-Resistant ESR1 Variants Revealed by Genomic Characterization of Breast-Cancer-Derived Xenografts
To characterize patient-derived xenografts for functional studies, the authors made whole-genome comparisons with originating breast cancers representative of the major intrinsic subtypes. Structural and copy number aberrations were found to be retained with high fidelity. [Cell Rep]
Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Estrogen Receptor Alpha/Beta Ratio and Estrogen Receptor Beta as Predictors of Endocrine Therapy Responsiveness- A Randomized Neoadjuvant Trial Comparison between Anastrozole and Tamoxifen for the Treatment of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer
The authors investigated the role of estrogen receptor (ER)-beta and the ER-alpha/ER-beta ratio in predicting the response to endocrine therapy and whether different regimens have any effect on ER-beta expression levels. Ninety postmenopausal patients with primary breast cancer were recruited for a short-term double-blinded randomized prospective controlled study. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Trastuzumab Retreatment after Relapse on Adjuvant Trastuzumab Therapy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer: Final Results of the Retreatment after Herceptin Adjuvant Trial
The Retreatment after HErceptin Adjuvant trial assessed the efficacy and safety of trastuzumab plus a taxane as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who had relapsed after adjuvant trastuzumab for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive early breast cancer. [Clin Oncol] Abstract

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CHMP Grants Positive Opinion for Roche’s Kadcyla, the First Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Advanced HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Roche announced that the European Union’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval of Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) as a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with HER2-positive, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination. [F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd] Press Release

NICE Recommends Genomic Health’s Oncotype DX^® Test to Guide Chemotherapy Treatment Decisions for Qualified Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer Patients
Genomic Health, Inc. announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom has issued its final guidance recommending Oncotype DX^® as the only multi-gene breast cancer test for use in clinical practice to guide chemotherapy treatment decisions for patients with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive, invasive breast cancer. [Genomic Health, Inc.] Press Release

Kristiina Vuori Joins California Breast Cancer Research Council
Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., president and interim CEO of Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, has been named to the California Breast Cancer Research Council, the official advisory body for the California Breast Cancer Research Program. [Newswise, Inc.] Press Release

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Faculty Position – Management/Research of Hematologic, Breast, Head and Neck, Gastrointestinal, and Thoracic Medicine (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Vice President, Global Medical Affairs Position – Breast Disease (Celgene Corporation)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Biology (Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma)

Research Assistant – Cellular Pathways Involved in Oncogenic Transformation of Breast Epithelial Cells (Mount Sinai School of Medicine)

Senior Research Assistant/Postdoctoral Researcher- Tumor Biology/Molecular Imaging (RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

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

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

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

Research Technologist – Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Mesenchymal Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Culture Media & Matrices (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate/Scientist – Antibodies Group (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Quality Control Analyst – Media (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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