Mammary Cell News Volume 6.20 | May 29 2014

The Par3-Like Polarity Protein Par3L Is Essential for Mammary Stem Cell Maintenance
Although necessary for mammary gland morphogenesis, Par3 is not essential for mammary stem cell function. Researchers discovered that, instead, a previously uncharacterized protein, Par3-like (Par3L), is vital for mammary gland stem cell maintenance. [Nat Cell Biol] Abstract

NDY1/KDM2B Functions as a Master Regulator of Polycomb Complexes and Controls Self-Renewal of Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Scientists showed that the knockdown of NDY1 in mammary adenocarcinoma cell lines decreased the number, size and replating efficiency of mammospheres and downregulated the stem cell markers ALDH and CD44, while upregulating CD24. [Cancer Res] Abstract

RARRES3 Suppresses Breast Cancer Lung Metastasis by Regulating Adhesion and Differentiation
Researchers showed that RARRES3 downregulation engages metastasis-initiating capabilities by facilitating adhesion of tumor cells to the lung parenchyma. In addition, impaired tumor cell differentiation due to the loss of RARRES3 phospholipase A1/A2 activity also contributes to lung metastasis. [EMBO Mol Med]
Full Article | Press Release

Differential Impact of Adenosine Nucleotides Released by Osteocytes on Breast Cancer Growth and Bone Metastasis
Scientists showed that conditioned media (CM) collected from osteocytes treated with alendronate, a bisphosphonate drug, inhibited the migration of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Removal of the extracellular ATP by apyrase in CM abolished this effect, suggesting the involvement of ATP. [Oncogene] Abstract

The CT20 Peptide Causes Detachment and Death of Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells by Promoting Mitochondrial Aggregation and Cytoskeletal Disruption
Previously, the authors found that CT20p migrated in the heavy membrane fractions of cancer cell lysates. Here, using MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, they demonstrated that CT20p localizes to the mitochondria, leading to fusion-like aggregation and mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Tip30 Controls Differentiation of Murine Mammary Luminal Progenitor to Estrogen Receptor-Positive Luminal Cell through Regulating FoxA1 Expression
Scientists showed that estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER⁺) mammary luminal tumors arising in Tip30^-/-MMTV-Neu mice exhibited increased enrichment of luminal progenitor gene signature. Deletion of the Tip30 gene increased proportion of mammary stem and progenitor cell populations, and raised susceptibility to ER⁺ mammary luminal tumors in female Balb/c mice. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Exogenous Administration of Protease-Resistant, Non-Matrix-Binding IGFBP-2 Inhibits Tumor Growth in a Murine Model of Breast Cancer
Modified insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) proteins were tested in vitro for their abilities to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and in vivo to inhibit MCF-7 breast tumor xenograft growth. [Br J Cancer] Abstract

Metformin Induces Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest Mediated by Oxidative Stress, AMPK and FOXO3a in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells
Researchers examined the antiproliferative role and mechanism of action of metformin in MCF-7 cancer cells treated with 10 mM of metformin for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Using BrdU and the MTT assay, it was found that metformin demonstrated an antiproliferative effect in MCF-7 cells that occurred in a time- and concentration- dependent manner. [PLoS One] Full Article

Transforming Growth Factor-β-Induced lncRNA-Smad7 Inhibits Apoptosis of Mouse Breast Cancer JygMC(Archive) Cells
The authors conducted RNA sequencing of mouse mammary gland epithelial cells and identified a long non-coding RNA, termed lncRNA-Smad7, which has anti-apoptotic functions, as a target of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. lncRNA-Smad7 was located adjacent to the mouse Smad7 gene, and its expression was induced by TGF-β in all of the mouse mammary gland epithelial cell lines and breast cancer cell lines that they evaluated. [Cancer Sci] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Circulating Tumor Cells Predict Survival in Early Average-to-High Risk Breast Cancer Patients
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) were analyzed in 2026 patients with early breast cancer before adjuvant chemotherapy and in 1492 patients after chemotherapy using the CellSearch System. After immuno-magnetic enrichment for cells expressing the epithelial-cell adhesion molecule, CTCs were defined as nucleated cells expressing cytokeratin and lacking CD45. [J Natl Cancer Inst] Full Article

Evaluation of Lecithinized Human Recombinant Super Oxide Dismutase as Cardioprotectant in Anthracycline-Treated Breast Cancer Patients
A randomized study was performed in breast cancer patients to investigate whether free-radical scavenger super oxide dismutase protects against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity as measured by changes in echo- and electrocardiography and an array of biomarkers. [Br J Clin Pharmacol] Abstract

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Oncotype DX® Breast Cancer Test Predicts Late Recurrence Five to 15 Years Out
Genomic Health, Inc. announced results of a large, positive study that confirmed that the Oncotype DX® test results for Recurrence Score® and quantitative estrogen-receptor predict late distant recurrence risk in early-stage breast cancer patients after initial tamoxifen therapy, suggesting that Oncotype DX may help identify which patients have greater potential to benefit from extended hormonal treatment beyond five years. [Press release from Generex Biotechnology Corporation discussing research to be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Chicago] Press Release

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Bristol-Myers Squibb and CytomX Therapeutics Announce Worldwide Collaboration to Develop Probody™ Therapeutics against Multiple Immuno-Oncology Targets
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and CytomX Therapeutics, Inc. announced the companies have signed a worldwide research collaboration and license agreement to discover, develop and commercialize novel therapies against multiple immuno-oncology targets using CytomX’s proprietary Probody™ Platform. [Bristol-Myers Squibb Company] Press Release

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Postdoctoral Research Associates – Pattern Formation during Branching Morphogenesis of the Mammary Gland (Princeton University)

Postdoctoral Positions – Breast Cancer, Mouse Models, Tumor Microenvironment (National Cancer Institute)

Postdoctoral Training Fellow – Breast Cancer Functional Genomics (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer Research (University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mechanisms that Contribute to Metastases of Breast Cancer Cells (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

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

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

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

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – hPSC (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

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