LABORATORY RESEARCH MYC-Driven Accumulation of 2-Hydroxyglutarate Is Associated with Breast Cancer Prognosis Researchers characterized the metabolomic profile of human breast tumors and uncovered intrinsic metabolite signatures in these tumors using an untargeted discovery approach and validation of key metabolites. The oncometabolite 2-hydroxyglutarate accumulated at high levels in a subset of tumors and human breast cancer cell lines. [J Cell Invest] Full Article Hypoxia-Inducible Factors Mediate Coordinated RhoA-ROCK1 Expression and Signaling in Breast Cancer Cells Scientists report that hypoxia-inducible factors coordinately activate RhoA and Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) expression and signaling in breast cancer cells, leading to cell and matrix contraction, focal adhesion formation, and motility through phosphorylation of myosin light chain and focal adhesion kinase. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract A Critical Role of CD29 and CD49f in Mediating Metastasis for Cancer-Initiating Cells Isolated from a Brca1-Associated Mouse Model of Breast Cancer Scientists investigated metastatic potential of cancer stem cells (CSCs) isolated from mammary tumors of a Brca1-mutant mouse model. They indicated that CSCs, which are enriched in CD24+CD29+/CD49f+ cell population, displayed much higher migration ability than CD24–CD29–/CD49f– cells in tissue culture and enhanced metastatic potential in allograft-nude mice. [Oncogene] Abstract Contribution of an Alveolar Cell of Origin to the High-Grade Malignant Phenotype of Pregnancy-Associated Breast Cancer By generating a WAP-tva transgenic line for expression of ErbB2 selectively in WAP+ mammary alveolar cells, scientists found that tumors had similar morphological phenotypes (high grade, poorly differentiated, stroma-rich and estrogen receptor-negative), irrespective of the time since pregnancy and even in the absence of pregnancy. [Oncogene] Abstract Rb Suppresses Collective Invasion, Circulation and Metastasis of Breast Cancer Cells in CD44-Dependent Manner Researchers showed that retinoblastoma (Rb) acts as a key suppressor of multiple stages of metastatic progression. Rb suppresses collective cell migration and CD44-dependent formation of F-actin positive protrusions in vitro and cell-cluster based lymphovascular invasion in vivo. [PLoS One] Full Article Epidermal Growth-Factor – Induced Transcript Isoform Variation Drives Mammary Cell Migration Signal-induced transcript isoform variation (TIV) includes alternative promoter usage as well as alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation of mRNA. To assess the phenotypic relevance of signal-induced TIV, researchers employed exon arrays and breast epithelial cells, which migrate in response to the epidermal growth factor. [PLoS One] Full Article Influence of Terminal Differentiation and PACAP on the Cytokine, Chemokine, and Growth Factor Secretion of Mammary Epithelial Cells Differentiation was hormonally induced by lactogenic hormones in confluent cultures of HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells. Researchers investigated the effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on mammary cell differentiation as well as release of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. [J Mol Neurosci] Abstract Identification and Quantification of the Main Active Anticancer Alkaloids from the Root of Glaucium flavum In vitro evaluation of growth inhibitory activity on breast cancer and normal cells demonstrated that purified protopine did not reproduce the full cytotoxic activity of the alkaloid root extract on cancer cell lines. [Int J Mol Sci] Abstract | Full Article CLINICAL RESEARCH Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Versus No Dissection in Patients with T1N0 Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial (INT09/98) The authors conducted a single-center randomized trial (INT09/98) to determine the impact of avoiding axillary surgery in patients with T1N0 breast cancer and planning chemotherapy based on biological factors of the primary tumor on long-term disease control. [Cancer] Abstract |