Mammary Cell News Volume 6.28 | Jul 24 2014

Functional Characterization of CFI-400945, a Polo-Like Kinase 4 Inhibitor, as a Potential Anticancer Agent
PLK4 was identified as a promising therapeutic target through a systematic approach that combined RNAi screening with gene expression analysis in human breast cancers and cell lines. Cancer cells treated with CFI-400945 exhibited effects consistent with PLK4 kinase inhibition, including dysregulated centriole duplication, mitotic defects, and cell death. [Cancer Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Video

USP9X Downregulation Renders Breast Cancer Cells Resistant to Tamoxifen
Researchers performed a large scale loss-of-function genetic screen in ZR-75-1 luminal breast cancer cells to identify candidate resistance genes. They found that loss of function in the deubiquitinase USP9X prevented proliferation arrest by tamoxifen, but not by the estrogen receptor downregulator fulvestrant. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Breast Cancer Stem Cells Rely on Fermentative Glycolysis and Are Sensitive to 2-Deoxyglucose Treatment
Researchers applied a proteomic and targeted metabolomic analysis in order to point out the main metabolic differences between breast cancer cells grown as spheres and thus enriched in cancer stem cells compared with the same cells grown in adherent differentiating conditions. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Influence of Secreted Frizzled Receptor Protein 1 (SFRP1) on Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Does Not Rely on WNT Signaling
SFRP1 was identified as being significantly overexpressed in triple negative breast cancer compared to other breast cancer subtypes. Additionally, SFRP1 expression is significantly correlated with an increased probability of positive response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. [Mol Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Inhibition of Breast Cancer Metastasis with MicroRNA-302a by Downregulation of CXCR4 Expression
Scientists investigated the role of microRNA (miR)-302a in the development of breast cancer metastasis mediated by CXCR4, a critical regulator of metastasis, and sought to identify miR-302a as an effective therapeutic agent for therapy and prevention of breast cancer metastasis. [Breast Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

BDNF Is Associated with SFRP1 Expression in Luminal and Basal-Like Breast Cancer Cell Lines and Primary Breast Cancer Tissues: A Novel Role in Tumor Suppression?
Researchers tried to decipher secreted frizzled related protein 1 (SFRP1) involvement in biochemical signaling in dependency of different breast cancer subtypes and identify novel SFRP1-regulated genes. [PLoS One] Full Article

Hypoxia Represses MicroRNA Biogenesis Proteins in Breast Cancer Cells
In breast cancer lines there was significant reduction of Dicer mRNA and protein levels in cells exposed to hypoxia. This effect was independent of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) but dependent on the HIF hydroxylase PHD2 and was partly mediated by feedback effects via microRNAs. [BMC Cancer] Abstract | Full Article

Synergistic Anticancer Effects of a Bioactive Subfraction of Strobilanthes crispus and Tamoxifen on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines
Scientists previously reported that a bioactive subfraction of Strobilanthes crispus leaves exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines. They now investigate the effect of this subfraction on cell death activities induced by the antiestrogen drug, tamoxifen, in estrogen receptor-responsive and nonresponsive breast cancer cells. [BMC Complement Altern Med] Abstract | Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Adjuvant Zoledronic Acid in Patients with Early Breast Cancer: Final Efficacy Analysis of the AZURE Randomized Open-Label Phase III Trial
Scientists conducted a large randomized trial to investigate the effect of the adjuvant use of zoledronic acid on disease-free survival in high-risk patients with early breast cancer. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract

Phase I/II Clinical Trial of Encapsulated, Cytochrome P450 Expressing Cells as Local Activators of Cyclophosphamide to Treat Spontaneous Canine Tumors
A clinical trial was performed in which encapsulated cells overexpressing cytochrome P450 enzyme isoform 2B1 were implanted around malignant mammary tumors arising spontaneously in dogs. The dogs were then given cyclophosphamide, one of the standard chemotherapeutic agents used for the treatment of mammary tumors. The dogs were assessed for a number of clinical parameters as well as for reduction in tumor size. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

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Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK and BioMarin Collaborate on EMBRACA Clinical Study in Hereditary Breast Cancer with BRCA Mutation
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. and Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK announced a collaboration to enroll patients in an ongoing Phase III clinical trial of its PARP inhibitor, BMN 673, for the treatment of hereditary breast cancer with a BRCA mutation. [BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.] Press Release

Puma Biotechnology Announces Positive Top Line Results from Phase III PB272 Trial in Adjuvant Breast Cancer (ExteNET Trial)
Puma Biotechnology, Inc. announced top line results from the Phase III clinical trial of Puma’s investigational drug PB272 (neratinib) for the extended adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. [Puma Biotechnology, Inc.] Press Release

CASI Pharmaceuticals Receives Approval from CFDA to Conduct Phase II Clinical Trial with ENMD-2076 for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in China
CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that China’s Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has approved the company’s application to conduct a Phase II clinical trial in triple-negative breast cancer patients in China for its proprietary drug candidate, ENMD-2076. [CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

“Father of Tamoxifen” to Join MD Anderson
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced that one of the world’s preeminent experts in breast cancer research and treatment, V. Craig Jordan, Ph.D., will join the institution’s efforts to end cancer. [MD Anderson Cancer Center] Press Release

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammary Stem Cell Biology (University of Amsterdam)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mammary Differentiation (University of British Columbia)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Cancer Biology (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

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

PhD Candidate – Mammary Stem Cell Biology (University of Amsterdam)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Biology (University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Cancer and RNA Research (Northwestern University)

Scientist – Mammary Cell Research (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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