Mammary Cell News Volume 8.36 | Sep 15 2016

TOP STORY

A Biobank of Breast Cancer Explants with Preserved Intra-Tumor Heterogeneity to Screen Anticancer Compounds

The inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity of breast cancer needs to be adequately captured in pre-clinical models. Investigators have created a large collection of breast cancer patient-derived tumor xenografts, in which the morphological and molecular characteristics of the originating tumor are preserved through passaging in the mouse. [Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Anks1a Regulates COPII-Mediated Anterograde Transport of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Critical for Tumorigenesis

Despite the importance of the EphA2/ErbB2 complex in the promotion of breast tumorigenesis, the mechanism by which these receptor tyrosine kinases are exported from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) remains poorly understood. Scientists reported that the PTB adaptor Anks1a is specifically localized to the ER on its own serine phosphorylation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Breast Cancer Tumorigenicity Is Dependent on High Expression Levels of NAF-1 and the Lability of Its Fe-S Clusters

Researchers report that overexpression of nutrient-deprivation autophagy factor-1 (NAF-1) in xenograft breast cancer tumors results in a dramatic augmentation in tumor size and aggressiveness and that NAF-1 overexpression enhances the tolerance of cancer cells to oxidative stress. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Rac1 Controls Both the Secretory Function of the Mammary Gland and Its Remodeling for Successive Gestations

Investigators have discovered that Cre-Lox ablation of Rac1 in mammary epithelia causes gross enlargement of the epithelial tree and defective alveolar regeneration in a second pregnancy. Architectural defects arise because loss of Rac1 disrupts clearance in involution following the first lactation. They showed that Rac1 is crucial for mammary alveolar epithelia to switch from secretion to a phagocytic mode and rapidly remove dying neighbors. [Dev Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Enhanced Survival with Implantable Scaffolds That Capture Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells In Vivo

Microporous poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds were developed to capture early metastatic cells and thus serve as a sentinel for early detection. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Phosphorylation of Calcium/Calmodulin-Stimulated Protein Kinase II at T286 Enhances Invasion and Migration of Human Breast Cancer Cells

Scientists demonstrated that Calcium/calmodulin-stimulated protein kinase II (CaMKII) expression and phosphorylation at T286 is increased in breast cancer when compared to normal breast tissue, and that increased CAMK2 mRNA is associated with poor breast cancer patient prognosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Integrin α6/Akt/Erk Signaling Is Essential for Human Breast Cancer Resistance to Radiotherapy

The expression of Integrin α6 (ITGA6) was examined in human breast cancer and normal breast cell lines using western blot analysis. Investigators also explored the role of ITGA6 in the regulation of radiation sensitivity in breast cancer using the colony formation assays, cell cycle analyses, apoptosis assays and immunofluorescence analyses. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Highly Invasive Subpopulation of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells Shows Accelerated Growth, Differential Chemoresistance, Features of Apocrine Tumors and Reduced Tumorigenicity In Vivo

Scientists selected an invasive subpopulation from the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, performing repeated cycles of preparative assays of invasion through Matrigel covered membranes. The invasive sub-population of MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited stronger migratory capacity as compared to parental cells, confirming the highly invasive potential of the selected cell line. [Oncotarget] Full Article

Upregulation of the S1P3 Receptor in Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells Increases Migration and Invasion by Induction of PGE2 and EP2/EP4 Activation

The authors demonstrated that in breast cancer cells, overexpression of sphingolipid molecule sphingosine 1-phoshate₃ and its activation by S1P has pro-inflammatory and pro-metastatic potential by inducing cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E₂ signaling via EP2 and EP4. [Biochim Biophys Acta] Abstract

Deficiency of X-Linked Protein Kinase Nrk During Pregnancy Triggers Breast Tumor in Mice

The authors demonstrated a frequent occurrence of breast tumors in homozygous and heterozygous Nrk mutant mice that have experienced pregnancy/parturition. The tumors never developed in the mutant mice without a history of pregnancy/parturition. [Am J Pathol] Abstract | Press Release

CLINICAL RESEARCH

An Open-Label, Randomized, Parallel, Phase III Trial Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Polymeric Micelle-Formulated Paclitaxel Compared to Conventional Cremophor EL-Based Paclitaxel for Recurrent or Metastatic HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Investigators found that compared with standard paclitaxel, Genexol-PM demonstrated non-inferior and even superior clinical efficacy with a manageable safety profile in patients with metastatic breast cancer. [Cancer Res Treat] Abstract

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells and Signaling Pathways by Phytochemicals: Novel Approach for Breast Cancer Therapy

the authors summarize the current understanding of breast cancer stem cells and their signaling pathways, and the phytochemicals that affect these cells including curcumin, resveratrol, tea polyphenols (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epigallocatechin), sulforaphane, genistein, indole-3-carbinol, 3, 3′-di-indolylmethane, vitamin E, retinoic acid, quercetin, parthenolide, triptolide, 6-shogaol, pterostilbene, isoliquiritigenin, celastrol, and koenimbin. [Semin Cancer Biol] Abstract

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

Zymeworks Doses First Patient in Phase I Trial of ZW25, a Novel Bi-Specific Antibody for the Treatment of HER2-Expressing Cancers

Zymeworks Inc. announced that the first patient was dosed in a Phase I clinical trial of ZW25 for treatment of HER2-expressing tumors. As Zymeworks’ lead therapeutics program, ZW25 is a novel bi-specific antibody developed using the Company’s Azymetric™ platform. [Zymeworks inc.] Press Release

Regen BioPharma, Inc. Responds to FDA on DCellVax Gene-Silenced Breast Cancer Immunotherapy

Regen BioPharma, Inc. announced submission to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of a revised Investigational New Drug application focused on using a novel method to unleash the body’s innate ability to kill cancer. The package submitted contained preclinical experiments as well as details of the proposed clinical trial. [Regen BioPharma, Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Europe Proposes Copyright Reform to Help Scientists Mine Research Papers

The European Commission has announced long-awaited plans to make it easier for researchers to harvest facts and data from research papers — by freeing the computer-aided activity from the shackles of copyright law. [Nature News] Editorial

Illusory Fears Must Not Stifle Chimaera Research

After more than a decade of controversy, the United States is nudging towards approving research on human–animal embryos. The National Institutes of Health closed a month-long public consultation on ‘chimaera research’, and is widely expected to lift a moratorium that forbids federal funding for such work. [Nature News] Editorial

Reproducibility: Respect Your Cells!

Numerous variables can torpedo attempts to replicate cell experiments, from the batch of serum to the shape of growth plates. But there are ways to ensure reliability. [Nature News] Editorial

Outsourcing, Coming Soon to a Lab Near You

A move toward outsourcing could offer entrepreneurial opportunities for scientists who have expertise that can be applied to doing experimental work for clients. Traditionally, companies started by scientists have sold products coming out of academic research. Scientific outsourcing firms, on the other hand, would sell the research process itself. [Science Careers] Editorial

NEW Stem Cells in Drug Discovery
March 6-7, 2017
Cambridge, United Kingdom

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NEW Assistant Professor – Physiology and Biophysics (University of Illinois at Chicago)

Postdoctoral Position or Internship – Cancer Research (Stanford University)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Nuclear Medicine Dosimetry (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Rho GTPase Signaling in the Process of Breast Cancer (University of Leeds)

Faculty Pathologist – Breast Pathology (University of California Los Angeles)

Postdoctoral Researcher – Breast Cancer (Purdue University)

Robert Stowell Chair – Experimental Pathology (University of California, Davis)

Postdoctoral Associate – Bioinformatics of Colorectal and Triple Negative Breast Cancer (University of Miami)

Scientific Director – Oncology (Merck)

Manager – Medical and Breast Imaging (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Director Clinical Research – Medical Oncology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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