Mammary Cell News Volume 7.12 | Apr 2 2015

ID4 Controls Mammary Stem Cells and Marks Breast Cancers with a Stem Cell-Like Phenotype
Investigators showed that ​inhibitor of differentiation 4 (​ID4) is a key regulator of mammary stem cell self-renewal and marks a subset of basal-like breast cancer with a putative mammary basal cell of origin. [Nat Commun] Abstract | Press Release

​Skp2-MacroH2A1-CDK8 Axis Orchestrates G2/M Transition and Tumorigenesis
Researchers report that breast tumor suppression on ​Skp2 deficiency can be rescued by ​macroH2A1 (​mH2A1) knockdown or ​cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (​CDK8) restoration using mouse tumor models. They further showed that ​CDK8 regulated p27 protein expression by facilitating ​Skp2-mediated ​p27 ubiquitination and degradation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Manic Fringe Promotes a Claudin-Low Breast Cancer Phenotype through Notch-Mediated PIK3CG Induction
Researchers showed that Manic Fringe (Mfng) modulates Notch activation in human and mouse claudin-low breast cancer (CLBC) cell lines, as well as in mouse mammary gland. Mfng silencing in CLBC cell lines reduced cell migration, tumorsphere formation and in vivo tumorigenicity associated with a decrease in the stem-like cell population. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Fibulin-3 Is a Novel TGF-β Pathway Inhibitor in the Breast Cancer Microenvironment
Researchers identified fibulin-3 as a secreted protein in the breast cancer microenvironment, which efficiently inhibits transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in both breast cancer cells and endothelial cells. High fibulin-3 levels inhibited TGF-β-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, invasion and endothelial permeability, while loss of fibulin-3 expression/function promoted these TGF-β-mediated effects. [Oncogene] Abstract

Blocking the Adhesion Cascade at the Pre-Metastatic Niche for Prevention of Breast Cancer Metastasis
Investigators found that the vascular adhesion molecule E-selectin preferentially promoted the shear-resistant adhesion and transendothelial migration of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative/CD44⁺ hormone-independent breast cancer cells, but not of ER-positive/CD44^–/low hormone-dependent cancer cells. [Mol Ther] Abstract

FAK Activity Protects Nucleostemin in Facilitating Breast Cancer Spheroid and Tumor Growth
Human breast carcinoma cells were evaluated for growth in culture and as orthotopic tumors. Researchers found that pharmacological or genetic inhibition of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity prevented MDA-MB-231 and 4T1L breast carcinoma growth as spheroids and as orthotopic tumors. [Breast Cancer Res]
Abstract | Full Article

YAP Enhances Autophagic Flux to Promote Breast Cancer Cell Survival in Response to Nutrient Deprivation
Researchers investigated the role of Yes-associated protein (YAP) in breast cancer cells under nutrient deprivation. They showed that YAP knockdown sensitized MCF7 breast cancer cells to nutrient deprivation-induced apoptosis. [PLoS One] Full Article

Stanniocalicin 2 Suppresses Breast Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion via the PKC/Claudin-1-Mediated Signaling
The authors investigated whether the expression of stanniocalcin (STC) 2 is associated with migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. They found that breast cancer cell line 231 HM transfected with STC2 shRNA displayed high motility, fibroblast morphology, and enhanced cell migration and invasion. [PLoS One] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Loss of TGFβ Receptor Type 2 Expression Impairs Estrogen Response and Confers Tamoxifen Resistance
Scientists analyzed TGFβ receptor type 2 (TGFBR2) expression and correlated it with estrogen receptor α status and phosphorylation in a cohort of 564 patients who had been randomized to tamoxifen or no-adjuvant treatment for invasive breast carcinoma. In all the cohorts they analyzed, they documented an association of low TGFBR2 protein and mRNA expression with tamoxifen resistance. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

A Phase I Clinical Trial of Bavituximab and Paclitaxel in Patients with HER2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer
Investigators conducted a Phase I clinical trial of bavituximab in combination with paclitaxel in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. [Cancer Medicine] Full Article

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

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Teikoku Pharma USA Announces New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Docetaxel Injection Concentrate, Non-Alcohol Formula
Teikoku Pharma USA announced that it has submitted a 505(b)(2) New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Docetaxel Injection Concentrate, Non-Alcohol Formula. Docetaxel Injection Concentrate, Non-Alcohol Formula is for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and head and neck cancer. [Teikoku Pharma USA, Inc.] Press Release

OU Research Team Receives NIH Grant to Facilitate Innovative Technique that Enhances Breast Cancer Detection
An innovative technique that enhances breast cancer detection while reducing radiation dose has been proposed by a University of Oklahoma (UO) research team. In response, the National Cancer Institute has awarded a $3 million grant to the OU team to facilitate the technique, which includes building a patient imaging system and conducting preclinical evaluations and Phase I clinical trials. [University of Oklahoma] 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 Histology Research Technician (King’s College London)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technician – Breast Cancer Research (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Position – Triple Negative Breast Cancer (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer & Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati)

Senior Scientific Operations Manager – Breast Cancer Research (Institute of Cancer Research)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Gene Regulation in Breast Cancer/Stem Cell Biology (University of Cincinnati College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer/Breast Cancer Genomic Instability and Cell Biology (University of Queensland)

Research Associate – Division of Cancer Studies (King’s College London)

Clinician Scientist (National University of Singapore)

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