Mammary Cell News Volume 6.13 | Apr 10 2014

Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate in the Golgi Apparatus Regulates Cell-Cell Adhesion and Invasive Cell Migration in Human Breast Cancer
Researchers showed that changes in cell-cell adhesion and cancer cell migration/invasion capacity depend on the level of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in the Golgi apparatus in breast cancer cells. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Patient-Derived Xenografts of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Reproduce Molecular Features of Patient Tumors and Respond to mTOR Inhibition
Scientists describe a panel of patient-derived xenografts representing multiple triple-negative breast cancer subtypes and use them to test preclinical drug efficacy of two mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, sirolimus (rapamycin) and temsirolimus (CCI-779). [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

Discovery of Structure-Based Small Molecular Inhibitor of αB-Crystallin against Basal-Like/Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Development In Vitro and In Vivo
The disruption of the interaction between αB-crystallin and VEGF₁₆₅ elicits in vitro anti-tumor cell proliferation and invasive effects through the down-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling in the breast cancer cells. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

HER2/HER3 Heterodimers and p21 Expression Are Capable of Predicting Adjuvant Trastuzumab Response in HER2+ Breast Cancer
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/HER3 dimerization status was assessed, using chromogenic in situ Proximity Ligation Assay, in two breast cancer series: early stage primary breast cancer, including 224 HER2+ patients that were not submitted to trastuzumab, and HER2+ breast cancer where patients were treated with adjuvant trastuzumab. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Full Article

Sensitizing the Therapeutic Efficacy of Taxol with Shikonin in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Shikonin, a small-molecule natural product which inhibits the activity of pyruvate kinase M2, has been studied as an anti-cancer drug candidate in human cancer models. Investigators demonstrated that shikonin is able to sensitize human breast cancer cells to chemotherapy by paclitaxel (taxol). [PLoS One] Full Article

Huntingtin Regulates Mammary Stem Cell Division and Differentiation
Researchers report the presence of huntingtin, the protein mutated in Huntington’s disease, in mouse mammary basal and luminal cells throughout mammogenesis. Keratin 5-driven depletion of huntingtin results in a decreased pool and specification of basal and luminal progenitors, and altered mammary morphogenesis. [Stem Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of 5-Day Intermittent Oral Lapatinib Therapy in Patients with Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer
Researchers conducted a Phase I dose-escalation study in women with advanced human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 2-overexpressing breast cancer. Lapatinib was administered on days 1 through 5 of repeating 14-day cycles. Dose escalation was conducted using a 3+3 design with plasma lapatinib level monitoring. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Post-Diagnostic Prescriptions for Low-Dose Aspirin and Breast Cancer-Specific Survival: A Nested Case-Control Study in a Breast Cancer Cohort from the UK Clinical Practice
After breast cancer diagnosis, 18.3% of cancer-specific deaths and 18.5% of matched controls received at least one prescription for low-dose aspirin, corresponding to an odds ratio of 0.98. [Breast Cancer Res]
Abstract | Full Article

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the mammary cell research field.

New Breast Cancer Results Illustrate Promise and Potential of I-SPY 2 Trial
In an innovative clinical trial, the experimental drug neratinib along with standard chemotherapy was found to be a beneficial treatment for some women with newly diagnosed, high-risk breast cancer. [Press release from the University of California, San Francisco discussing research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2014, San Diego] Press Release

Combining Cell Replication Blocker with Common Cancer Drug Kills Resistant Tumor Cells, Researchers Find
Researchers have found that an agent that inhibits mitochondrial division can overcome tumor cell resistance to a commonly used cancer drug, and that the combination of the two induces rapid and synergistic cell death. Separately, neither had an effect. [Press release from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute discussing research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2014, San Diego] Press Release

From our sponsor: Pluripotent cell isolation for regenerative medicine. Request a free wallchart from Nature.

Trastuzumab Emtansine: Indication of Major Added Benefit in Metastatic Breast Cancer with Previous Anthracycline Therapy
The antibody-drug conjugate trastuzumab emtansine has been approved since November 2013 for the treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that is HER2-positive. The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care found an indication of a major added benefit for patients who have received previous treatment with trastuzumab and taxanes and with anthracyclines. [The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care] Press Release

Food and Drug Administration (United States)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (United States)

European Medicines Agency (European Union)

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)

Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia)

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the mammary cell community.

NEW PhD Position – Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory (Jules Bordet Institute)

Postdoctoral Position in Stem Cell and Cancer (Harvard Medical School)

MSc & PhD Positions – Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Neuroimmunology, Cancer Biology, Computational Biology (Hanyang University)

Postdoctoral Research Associate – Extracellular Microenvironment in Cancer (Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Cell Signaling (Weizmann Institute of Science)

Junior Faculty Position – Breast Pathology (Northwestern University)

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

Director of GMP/GLP Quality Operations (University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Pluripotent Stem Cells (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Particle Chemistry (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – PSC Biology and Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 50,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.