LABORATORY RESEARCH DLC1-Dependent Parathyroid Hormone-Like Hormone Inhibition Suppresses Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis Scientists report that deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) is an important regulator of TGF-ß responses and osteolytic metastasis of breast cancer cells. [J Clin Invest] Full Article Nuclear Receptor NR4A1 Promotes Breast Cancer Invasion and Metastasis by Activating TGF-ß Signalling Inflammatory cytokines potently induce NR4A1 expression, and potentiate TGF-ß-mediated breast cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. [Nat Commun] Abstract G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR161 Is Overexpressed in Breast Cancer and Is a Promoter of Cell Proliferation and Invasion Knockdown of GPR161 impairs proliferation of human basal breast cancer cell lines. Overexpression of GPR161 in human mammary epithelial cells increases cell proliferation, migration, intracellular accumulation of E-cadherin, and formation of multiacinar structures in 3D culture. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract Nuclear Location of Tumor Suppressor Protein Maspin Inhibits Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells without Affecting Proliferation of Normal Epithelial Cells Researchers found a strong correlation between nuclear maspin and loss of Ki-67 protein in breast cancer cell lines, while there was no effect in normal epithelial cells from breast. [BMC Cancer] Full Article Phospho-Aspirin (MDC-22) Inhibits Breast Cancer in Preclinical Animal Models: An Effect Mediated by EGFR Inhibition, p53 Acetylation and Oxidative Stress Scientists synthesized phospho-aspirin (PA-2; MDC-22), a novel derivative of aspirin, and evaluated its chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive efficacy in preclinical models of triple negative breast cancer. [BMC Cancer] Full Article High Glucose Level Promotes Migration Behavior of Breast Cancer Cells through Zinc and Its Transporters Researchers investigated the breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 motility, which linked to invasion and metastasis, in high glucose level corresponding to hyperglycemia and the role of Zn and its transporter. [PLoS One] Full Article Thymoquinone, A Bioactive Component of Black Caraway Seeds, Causes G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells with Mutant p53 Scientists explored the growth inhibitory effect of thymoquinone (TQ) on two triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines with mutant p53. Cell metabolism assays showed that TQ inhibited TNBC cell growth without affecting normal cell growth. [Nutr Cancer] Abstract Genistein Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Breast MCF-7 Cells by Modulating the Expression of Proapoptotic Factors and Oxidative Stress Enzymes Researchers demonstrated that genistein for 72 hours of treatment selectively reduced MCF-7 cell proliferation independent of estrogen receptor activation, while no cytotoxicity was observed in fibroblast cells. [Mol Cell Biochem] Abstract The Hippo Transducer TAZ Interacts with the SWI/SNF Complex to Regulate Breast Epithelial Lineage Commitment Researchers identified the Hippo transducer WWTR1/TAZ in a screen of transcription factors that are able to prompt lineage switching of mammary epithelial cells. Forced expression of TAZ in luminal cells induces them to adopt basal characteristics, and depletion of TAZ in basal and/or myoepithelial cells leads to luminal differentiation. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Randomized, Phase IIB Neoadjuvant Study of Letrozole-Lapatinib in Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative, Operable Breast Cancer The combination of letrozole-lapatinib in early breast cancer was feasible, with expected and manageable toxicities. In unselected estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative patients, letrozole-lapatinib and letrozole-placebo resulted in a similar overall clinical response rate and similar effect on Ki-67 and pAKT. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract Clinical Significance of p95HER2 Overexpression, PTEN Loss and PI3K Expression in p185HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Trastuzumab-Based Therapies Scientists investigated the response to trastuzumab in terms of the potential roles of several oncogenic pathways and a truncated receptor protein, p95HER2, retrospectively. [Br J Cancer] Abstract |