LABORATORY RESEARCH Hydroxychloroquine Inhibits Autophagy to Potentiate Antiestrogen Responsiveness in ER+ Breast Cancer Investigators showed that hydroxychloroquine can increase antiestrogen responsiveness in tamoxifen (TAM)-resistant MCF7-RR and ICI-resistant/TAM cross-resistant LCC9 ER+ breast cancer cells and tumors, likely through the inhibition of autophagy. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release The Kinase LMTK3 Promotes Invasion in Breast Cancer through GRB2-Mediated Induction of Integrin β1 Lemur tyrosine kinase 3 (LMTK3) is associated with cell proliferation and endocrine resistance in breast cancer. Researchers found that, in cultured breast cancer cell lines, LMTK3 promotes the development of a metastatic phenotype by inducing the expression of genes encoding integrin subunits. [Sci Signal] Abstract | Press Release Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein A Regulates Mitosis and Is Epigenetically Silenced in Breast Cancer Experimental manipulation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPPA) levels in human mammary epithelial cells and in breast cancer cell lines demonstrates that progression through early mitosis is dependent on PAPPA function, and that breast cancer cells become more invasive after downregulation of this protease. [J Pathol] Abstract Targeting WNT1-Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 2 Alters Human Breast Cancer Cell Susceptibility to Specific Lysis through Regulation of KLF-4 and miR-7 Expression Investigators found that silencing WNT1-inducible signaling pathway protein 2 signaling in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells impairs cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated cell killing by a mechanism involving stem cell marker Kruppel-like factor-4 induction and microRNA-7 (miR-7) downregulation. [Oncogene] Abstract Nicastrin and Notch4 Drive Endocrine Therapy Resistance and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells Researchers found that endocrine therapies resistant cells acquired an epithelial mesenchymal transition phenotype and displayed increased levels of Nicastrin and Notch targets. They detected higher level of Notch4 but lower levels of Notch1 and Notch2 suggesting a switch to signaling through different Notch receptors after acquisition of resistance. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article Neuregulin-3 Regulates Epithelial Progenitor Cell Positioning and Specifies Mammary Phenotype Mutation of Neuregulin-3 (Nrg3) results in defective embryonic mammary gland development. Researchers investigated functions of Nrg3 signaling in embryonic mammary morphogenesis. [Stem Cells Dev] Abstract Butein Suppresses Breast Cancer Growth by Reducing a Production of Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Scientists demonstrate that butein inhibition of reactive oxygen species production results in suppression of breast cancer growth. Different breast cancer cell lines were treated with butein and then subjected to cell viability and apoptosis assays. [J Exp Clin Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article Downregulation of miR-221/222 Enhances Sensitivity of Breast Cancer Cells to Tamoxifen through Upregulation of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 Researchers investigated the roles and mechanisms of miR-221/222 in breast cancer cells, particularly in modulating response to tamoxifen therapy. The therapeutic sensitivity of these cells, transfected and untransfected, to tamoxifen was determined. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract CLINICAL RESEARCH Overexpression of Prostate Tumor Overexpressed 1 Correlates with Tumor Progression and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Breast Cancer Researchers investigated the expression and clinicopathological significance of PTOV1 in breast cancer. Data revealed that PTOV1 was frequently overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines compared to normal human breast epithelial cells and in primary breast cancer samples compared to adjacent noncancerous breast tissues, at both the mRNA and protein levels. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article Single Cell Mutational Analysis of PIK3CA in Circulating Tumor Cells and Metastases in Breast Cancer Reveals Heterogeneity, Discordance, and Mutation Persistence in Cultured Disseminated Tumor Cells from Bone Marrow Researchers used the MagSweeper, an immunomagnetic separation device, to capture live single tumor cells from breast cancer patients’ primary and metastatic tissues, blood, and bone marrow. Single cells were screened for known hotspot mutations in exons 9 and 20 of the PIK3CA gene. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article Heading to ISSCR 2014 in Vancouver? Come Visit Connexon Creative at Booth #507 and Enter to Win $100 Amazon Gift Card! |