Mammary Cell News Volume 6.43 | Nov 6 2014

CD95 and ​CD95L Promote and Protect Cancer Stem Cells
The authors report that stimulation of ​CD95 on cancer cells or reducing ​miR-200c levels increases the number of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are more sensitive to induction of death induced by CD95R/L elimination than non-CSC, while becoming less sensitive to ​CD95-mediated apoptosis. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Targeting of miR-34a-NOTCH1 Axis Reduced Breast Cancer Stemness and Chemoresistance
Researchers found that primary and mature microRNA (miR)-34a were suppressed by treatment with p53 RNAi or the dominant negative p53 mutant in MCF7 cells. Ectopic miR-34a expression reduced cancer stem cell properties and increased sensitivity to doxorubicin treatment, by directly targeting NOTCH1. [Cancer Res] Abstract

A Kinase Inhibitor Screen Identifies Mcl-1 and Aurora Kinase A as Novel Treatment Targets in Antiestrogen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells
Scientists performed a kinase inhibitor screen on antiestrogen responsive MCF-7 cells and a panel of MCF-7-derived tamoxifen- and fulvestrant-resistant cell lines. They identified common and distinct molecular mechanisms involved in tamoxifen- and fulvestrant-resistant cell growth. [Oncogene] Abstract

Molecular Profiling and Computational Network Analysis of TAZ-Mediated Mammary Tumorigenesis Identifies Actionable Therapeutic Targets
Scientists demonstrate that the oncogenic activity of TAZ is essential for propagation of the malignant phenotype. They show that constitutively active TAZ tumor-derived cells exhibit unique tumor-initiating properties, including increased self-renewal and metastatic seeding potential, acquired chemotherapy resistance and the ability to efficiently regenerate tumor formation in vivo. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-C Promotes Breast Cancer Progression via a Novel Anti-Oxidant Mechanism that Involves Regulation of Superoxide Dismutase 3
In vitro and in vivo assays were performed to determine whether vascular endothelial growth factor-C expression alters tumor initiating cell characteristics and the response of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy and oxidative stress. [Breast Cancer Res] Abstract | Full Article

ABCB4 Is Frequently Epigenetically Silenced in Human Cancers and Inhibits Tumor Growth
Researchers identified the ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 4 (ABCB4) as a novel epigenetically silenced target gene. They investigated the epigenetic regulation of ABCB4 in 26 human lung, breast, skin, liver, head and neck cancer cells lines and in primary cancers by methylation and expression analysis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

TRAIL-Mediated Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells Cultured as 3D Spheroids
Investigators show that the breast cancer cell lines BT20 and MCF7, cultured as 3D tumor spheroids, are more resistant to TNF-alpha-related-apoptosis-inducing-lig​and (TRAIL)-mediated apoptosis by downregulating the expression of death receptors that initiate TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Sclerotium rolfsii Lectin Induces Stronger Inhibition of Proliferation in Human Breast Cancer Cells than Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells by Induction of Cell Apoptosis
The authors investigated the influence of S. rolfsii lectin on proliferation of human breast cancer cells, non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cells and normal mammary epithelial cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

Berberine-Induced Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells Is Mediated by Reactive Oxygen Species Generation and Mitochondrial-Related Apoptotic Pathway
Berberine-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway in human breast cancer cells were investigated. Results revealed that berberine exerted an antitumor activity in breast cancer cells by reactive oxygen species generation and mitochondrial-related apoptotic pathway. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Endocrine Therapy with or without Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Fulvestrant with or without Lapatinib for Postmenopausal Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer – CALGB 40302 (Alliance)
Investigators determined whether lapatinib would improve progression-free survival among women with hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer treated with fulvestrant. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Phase I Study to Assess the Combination of Afatinib with Trastuzumab in Patients with Advanced or Metastatic HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
This Phase I study utilized a 3+3 dose escalation to determine the maximum tolerated dose of oral once-daily afatinib in combination with the recommended dose of intravenous trastuzumab. [Clin Cancer Res] Abstract

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

Gene ‘Switches’ Could Predict when Breast Cancers Will Spread to the Brain
Scientists have found a pattern of genetic ‘switches’ that are linked to breast cancer’s spread to the brain. [Press release from Cancer Research UK discussing research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference, Liverpool] Press Release

Immunomedics Provide Update on Phase II Study of Isactuzumab Govitecan in Patients with Diverse Metastatic Solid Cancers
Immunomedics, Inc. announced that isactuzumab govitecan, the company’s proprietary solid-tumor antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), continues to produce encouraging results in a Phase II clinical trial in heavily-pretreated patients with diverse, metastatic solid cancers. [Press release from Immunomedics Inc. discussing research presented at the 5^th Annual World ADC Summit, San Diego] Press Release

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

City of Hope Awarded $8 Million to Launch Stem Cell Therapy Clinic Focused on Fighting Incurable Disease
Identifying cures for currently incurable diseases and providing patients safe, fast, and potentially life-saving treatments is the focus of City of Hope’s new Alpha Clinic for Cell Therapy and Innovation. The clinic is funded by an $8 million, five-year grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. [City of Hope] 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 Professor – Breast/Abdominal Surgery or Gynecology (Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Molecular Cancer Biology (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Cancer Metabolism (New York University Langone Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Protein-Protein Interactions in Leukemia and Breast Cancer (University of Dundee)

PhD Position – Protein Interactions in Cancer Regulation (University of East Anglia)

Postdoctoral Position – Novel DNA Damage Checkpoint Pathways and Variants in Potential Breast Cancer Genes (University of Copenhagen)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Morphogenetic Signaling Pathways in Development and Disease (University of Rochester Medical Center)

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.)

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.