Mammary Cell News Volume 7.23 | June 18 2015

Endothelial ALK1 Is a Therapeutic Target to Block Metastatic Dissemination of Breast Cancer
Scientists combined a computational biology approach with mechanism-based preclinical trials to identify inhibitors of activin-like receptor kinase (ALK) 1 as effective agents for blocking angiogenesis and metastasis in breast cancer. [Cancer Res] Full Article | Press Release

AF1q Is a Novel TCF7 Co-Factor Which Activates CD44 and Promotes Breast Cancer Metastasis
Investigators showed that AF1q specifically binds to T-cell-factor-7 (TCF7) in the Wnt signaling pathway and results in transcriptional activation of CD44 as well as multiple downstream targets of the TCF7/LEF1. In addition, enhanced AF1q expression promoted breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, mammosphere formation, and chemo-resistance. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Quantification of Regenerative Potential in Primary Human Mammary Epithelial Cells
Researchers present an organoid regeneration assay in which freshly isolated human mammary epithelial cells are cultured in adherent or floating collagen gels, corresponding to a rigid or compliant matrix environment. [Development] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Selective Inhibition of SIN3 Corepressor with Avermectins as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Both selamectin and ivermectin phenocopied the effects of SIN3 interaction domain peptide to block SIN3-paired α-helix interaction with MAD, induced expression of CDH1 and ESR1 and restored tamoxifen sensitivity in MDA-MB-231 human and MMTV-Myc mouse triple negative breast cancers cells in vitro. [Mol Cancer Ther] Abstract

Morphine Modulates Interleukin-4- or Breast Cancer Cell-Induced Pro-Metastatic Activation of Macrophages
Researchers tested whether morphine modulates the activation of macrophages induced by interleukin-4, the prototypical alternatively activated polarization-inducing cytokine, or coculture with breast cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Downregulation of CXCR4 in Metastasized Breast Cancer Cells and Implication in Their Dormancy
The authors analyzed mouse xenograft tumors derived from human breast cancer tissue and the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 to identify the molecules associated with cancer dormancy. [PLoS One] Full Article

Human dCTP Pyrophosphatase 1 Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Stemness through the Modulation on 5-Methyl-dCTP Metabolism and Global Hypomethylation
Researchers confirmed their previous study that DCTPP1 (dCTP pyrophosphatase 1) was significantly hyperexpressed in breast cancer and further demonstrated its strong association with tumor progression and poor prognosis in breast cancer. Knockdown of DCTPP1 in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 cells remarkably retarded proliferation and colony formation in vitro. [Oncogenesis] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Patient-Reported Outcomes with Adjuvant Exemestane versus Tamoxifen in Premenopausal Women with Early Breast Cancer Undergoing Ovarian Suppression (TEXT and SOFT): A Combined Analysis of Two Phase III Randomized Trials
The combined efficacy analysis of the TEXT and SOFT trials showed a significant disease-free survival benefit with exemestane plus ovarian function suppression (OFS) compared with tamoxifen plus OFS. [Lancet Oncol] Abstract

Efficacy of Lapatinib in Therapy-Resistant HER2-Positive Circulating Tumor Cells in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Patients with metastatic breast cancer and HER2-positive circulating tumor cells (CTCs) despite disease stabilization or response to prior therapy, received lapatinib 1500 mg daily in monthly cycles, till disease progression or CTC increase. [PLoS One] Full Article

Relationship between Morphological and Cytogenetic Heterogeneity in Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast: A Report of One Case
Invasive micropapillary carcinoma shows high intratumoral morphological diversity, which represents the degree of cell differentiation, as well as the architectural and invasive growth patterns of tumor cells. [J Clin Pathol] Abstract

Anonymous Donor Gives $20 Million for Cancer Research at Wake Forest Baptist
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has received $20 million to study the effects of muscadine grape extract on prostate and breast cancers. The gift by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous is the largest ever received by the Medical Center. [Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center] Press Release

NIH Awards $1.7 Million to HSC for New Cancer-Fighting Technology
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Cancer Institute has awarded a five-year, $1.7 million grant to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (HSC) to advance the development of new, exosome-based technology that empowers the body’s own natural defenses to fight cancer. [University of New Mexico] Press Release

Ludwig Cancer Research Expands Presence in Lausanne
Ludwig Cancer Research announced that it is opening a new branch in Lausanne, Switzerland. The branch will be focused primarily on applied cancer immunology and the design of novel molecular and cell-based immunotherapies. [Ludwig Cancer Research] Press Release

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Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Positions – Breast Cancer (University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center)

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Oncology (Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Role of BRCA1 in the Repair of DNA Damage (University of Dundee)

Postdoctoral Position – Malignant Breast Cancer Cells in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment (Duke University)

Postdoctoral Position – Fatty Acid Metabolism Inhibition on Chemoresistant TNBC Models (University of Girona)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Regulation of Growth and Survival of Breast Cancer Cells (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Postdoctoral Technician – Prostate/Breast Cancer (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Instructor – Prostate/Breast Cancer (Baylor College of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Positions – Molecular Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

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