Mammary Cell News Volume 8.39 | Oct 06 2016

TOP STORY

Anti-Tubulin Drugs Conjugated to Anti-ErbB Antibodies Selectively Radiosensitize

Researchers reported potent anti-tubulin drugs conjugated to anti-ErbB antibodies selectively radiosensitize to tumors based on surface receptor expression. While two classes of potent anti-tubulins, auristatins and maytansinoids, indiscriminately radiosensitize tumor cells, conjugating these potent anti-tubulins to anti-ErbB antibodies restrict their radiosensitizing capacity. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Repression of p63 and Induction of EMT by Mutant Ras in Mammary Epithelial Cells

The authors found that activated forms of the Harvey Rat Sarcoma Virus GTPase and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha oncogenes strongly repress expression of ∆Np63α, the predominant p63 isoform in basal mammary epithelial cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Cancer Cells Enter Dormancy after Cannibalizing Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs)

Using 3D cocultures to mimic the cellular interactions of an emerging tumor niche, investigators observed that MSCs sequentially surrounded the breast cancer cell, promoted formation of cancer spheroids, and then were internalized/degraded through a process resembling the well-documented yet ill-defined clinical phenomenon of cancer cell cannibalism. This practical 3D coculture model could provide a valuable tool to understand the antitumor activity of MSCs and cell cannibalism. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Protein GRP78 Modulates Lipid Metabolism to Control Drug Sensitivity and Antitumor Immunity in Breast Cancer

Metabolic analysis of breast cancer cells shows that glucose regulated-protein 78 (GRP78) silencing increases the intracellular concentrations of essential polyunsaturated fats, including linoleic acid. The authors validated the effect of GRP78-regulated metabolite changes by treating tumor-bearing mice with tamoxifen and/or linoleic acid. Tumors treated with linoleic acid plus tamoxifen exhibited reduced tumor area and tumor weight. [Cancer Res] Abstract | Press Release

Cip2a Promotes Cell Cycle Progression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating the Expression and Nuclear Export of p27Kip1

Researchers showed that cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A represents a promising target in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) because Cip2a was highly expressed in TNBC cells and tumor tissues, and its expression showed an inverse correlation with overall survival in patients with TNBC. [Oncogene] Abstract

Functional Redundancy between Apc and Apc2 Regulates Tissue Homeostasis and Prevents Tumorigenesis in Murine Mammary Epithelium

The exact contribution of the Wnt-regulating proteins adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and APC2 in the pathogenesis of human breast cancer are ill-defined. Investigators used mouse transgenics to delete Apc and/or Apc2 from mouse mammary epithelium to elucidate the significance of these proteins in mammary homeostasis and delineate their influences on Wnt signaling and tumorigenesis. [Oncogene] Full Article

Mesenchymal Transition of High-Grade Breast Carcinomas Depends on Extracellular Matrix Control of Myeloid Suppressor Cell Activity

The authors expressed SPARC in isogenic cell lines and found that SPARC overexpression in tumor cells reduces their growth rate and induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. [Cell Rep] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Elasticity, Adhesion and Tether Extrusion on Breast Cancer Cells Provide a Signature of Their Invasive Potential

The authors compared elasticity, adhesion and tether extrusion on four breast cancer cell lines with an increasing invasive potential. They found that the adhesion force increases with the invasive potential. Their results provide a mechanical signature of breast cancer cells that correlates with their invasivity. [ACS Appl Mater Interfaces] Abstract

Vasohibin 2 Promotes Human Luminal Breast Cancer Angiogenesis in a Non-Paracrine Manner via Transcriptional Activation of Fibroblast Growth Factor 2

Scientists showed that VASH2 expression is positively correlated with fibroblast growth factor 2 expression and promotes angiogenesis in human luminal breast cancer by transcriptional activation of fibroblast growth factor 2 through non-paracrine mechanisms. [Cancer Lett] Abstract

Stat3 Modulates Chloride Channel Accessory Protein Expression in Normal and Neoplastic Mammary Tissue

Scientists investigated Stat3-mediated regulation of expression of members of the calcium-activated chloride channel regulator (CLCA) family of proteins during involution and mammary carcinogenesis. They used the conditionally immortal mammary epithelial cell line KIM-2, together with mice exhibiting mammary epithelial cell-specific deletion of Stat3 during lactation, they demonstrated that expression of mCLCA1 and mCLCA2 is elevated in concert with activation of Stat3. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Dual Targeting of ANGPT1 and TGFBR2 Genes by miR-204 Controls Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer

Investigators revealed a novel role for miR-204/ANGPT1/TGFβR2 axis in tumor angiogenesis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Serum MicroRNA-21 Expression as a Prognostic and Therapeutic Biomarker for Breast Cancer Patients

Investigators aimed to evaluate the serum miRNA-21 expression and therapy outcome in breast cancer patients and cell lines. [Tumor Biol] Abstract

Alternative Splicing and Cell Survival: From Tissue Homeostasis to Disease

The authors highlight some of the best-known examples of alternative splicing events involved in cell survival. Emphasis is given to the role of this regulation in human cancer and in the response to chemotherapy, providing examples of how alternative splicing of apoptotic genes can be exploited therapeutically. [Cell Death Differ] Abstract

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

Frontline PARP Inhibitor Shrinks Tumors in BRCA-Positive Breast Patients

Researchers showed that all 13 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with BRCA mutations had their tumors shrink significantly when treated with a PARP inhibitor ahead of frontline presurgical chemotherapy in a pilot study. [Press release from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discussing research presented at the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress, Copenhagen] Press Release

Dr. Allen Eaves of STEMCELL Technologies Inc. Named EY Entrepreneur of the Year™ Pacific 2016

Dr. Allen Eaves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company that supplies tools and services to enable life science research, is this year’s Entrepreneur Of The Year Pacific winner. [STEMCELL Technologies (Ernst & Young)] Press Release

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet Has Decided to Award the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Yoshinori Ohsumi

This year’s Nobel Laureate discovered and elucidated mechanisms underlying autophagy, a fundamental process for degrading and recycling cellular components. [Nobel Media MB] Press Release | Editorial

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Commits $57 Million to Fund Cancer Research Worldwide

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) announced a $57 million commitment to breast cancer research for 2016-2017, representing grants to more than 250 scientists at leading academic and medical institutions in 14 countries. BCRF funded research spans the entire spectrum of how cancer starts in the first place to developing new treatments to improve outcomes and quality of life. [The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Grant to TSRI-Led Consortium Expands to $207 Million

The National Institutes of Health, as part of its national Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program, has expanded a five-year funding award to The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) from $120 million to $207 million for research to improve ability to prevent and treat disease. [The Scripps Research Institute] Press Release

Dramatic Twists Could Upend Patent Battle over CRISPR Genome-Editing Method

The 9-month-old patent battle over CRISPR, a novel genome-editing tool that could have immense commercial value, has taken two surprising twists. Last week, attorneys for the Broad Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the research organizations vying for CRISPR rights, submitted motions that could let it win even if it loses. [Science Insider] Editorial

Democratic Databases: Science on GitHub

Scientists are turning to a software–development site to share data and code. [Nature Toolbox] Editorial

Brexit Government’s Anti-Immigration Stance Spooks UK Scientists

UK scientists say they’re dismayed by their new government’s toughened stance on curbing immigration, including ideas to restrict the flow of foreign students and workers. [Nature News] Editorial

UK Bioethicists Eye Designer Babies and CRISPR Cows

From designer babies to engineered mosquitoes, advances in genome-editing technologies such as CRISPR–Cas9 have raised the possibility of tremendous scientific advances — and serious ethical concerns. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW VII InterAmerican Oncology Conference
October 5-6, 2017
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – BioMarker Research Cancer (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

Post Doctoral Associate – Mammary Stem Cell and Cancer Biology (University of Miami)

Post Doctoral Position – Neovascularization and Cancer Biology (The Ohio State University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis (The University of Leeds)

Postdoctoral Associate – Functional Genomics and Cancer (The Jackson Laboratory)

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 Researcher – Breast Cancer (Purdue University)

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

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

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