Mammary Cell News Volume 9.14 | Apr 13 2017

TOP STORY

A Stemness-Related ZEB1–MSRB3 Axis Governs Cellular Pliancy and Breast Cancer Genome Stability

Researchers showed that the differentiation status of normal human mammary epithelial cells dictates cell behavior after an oncogenic event and predetermines the genetic routes toward malignancy. Whereas oncogene induction in differentiated cells induces massive DNA damage, mammary stem cells are resistant, owing to a preemptive program driven by the transcription factor ZEB1 and the methionine sulfoxide reductase MSRB3. [Nat Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

IL-4 Primes the Dynamics of Breast Cancer Progression via DUSP4 Inhibition

The authors showed how breast cancer progression is facilitated by IL-4 secreted by adipose tissue and estrogen receptor-positive and triple-negative breast cancer cell types. Blocking autocrine and paracrine IL-4 signaling with the IL-4Rα antagonist IL-4DM compromised breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion and tumor growth by downregulating MAPK pathway activity. [Cancer Res] Abstract

Aberrant Low Expression of p85α in Stromal Fibroblasts Promotes Breast Cancer Cell Metastasis through Exosome-Mediated Paracrine Wnt10b

Investigators report that aberrantly low expression of p85α in breast cancer stroma is clinically relevant to breast cancer disease progression. They found that stromal fibroblasts can acquire the hallmarks of cancer-associated fibroblasts as a result of the loss of p85α expression. Also, paracrine Wnt10b from p85α-deficient fibroblasts can promote cancer progression via epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition induced by the canonical Wnt pathway. [Oncogene] Full Article

The Transcription Factor MAFK Induces EMT and Malignant Progression of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells through Its Target GPNMB

Researchers found that musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma (MAF) oncogene family protein K (MAFK), a member of the small MAF family of transcription factors that are induced by the transforming growth factor–β pathway, was abundant in human triple-negative breast cancer and aggressive mouse mammary tumor cell lines. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Viscoelastic Properties of Normal and Cancerous Human Breast Cells Are Affected Differently by Contact to Adjacent Cells

Investigators studied the influence of the physical contact between adjacent cells in an epithelial monolayer on the viscoelastic behavior of normal MCF10A, non-invasive cancerous MCF7, and invasive cancerous MDA-MB-231 human breast cells. They found that normal MCF10A cells are stiffer and have a lower fluidity when at confluent than at sparse density. [Acta Biomater] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Metabolomic Characterization of the Effects of Oncogenic PIK3CA Transformation in a Breast Epithelial Cell Line

Researchers probed the phenotypic changes in metabolism following a single copy knock-in of mutant PIK3CA in the MCF10A cell line. They observed effects in several metabolic pathways, including a decrease in glycerophosphocholine level together with increases in glutaminolysis, de novo fatty acid synthesis and pyruvate entry into the tricarboxylic acid cycle. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Anti-Tumor Efficacy of New 7α-Substituted Androstanes as Aromatase Inhibitors in Hormone-Sensitive and Resistant Breast Cancer Cells

Scientists investigated new 7α-substituted steroidal molecules anti-aromatase activity and in vitro effects in sensitive and resistant breast cancer cells. All the steroids efficiently inhibited aromatase in breast cancer cells, establishing new structure-activity relationships for this class of compounds. [J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol] Abstract

Tiamulin Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth and Pulmonary Metastasis by Decreasing the Activity of CD73

The authors determined whether tiamulin, which was found to inhibit CD73, was able to suppress breast cancer development and explored the related mechanisms. Their data demonstrated that tiamulin hydrogen fumarate inhibited CD73 by decreasing the activity instead of the expression of CD73. [BMC Cancer] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Anthracyclines in Early Breast Cancer: The ABC Trials—USOR 06-090, NSABP B-46-I/USOR 07132, and NSABP B-49 (NRG Oncology)

A total of 2,125 patients were randomly assigned to receive docetaxel and cyclophosphamide for six cycle (TC6) regimens and 2,117 patients were randomly assigned to receive doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide regimens with a taxane (TaxAC) regimens. The TaxAC regimens improved invasive disease-free survival in patients with high-risk human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer compared with the TC6 regimen. [J Clin Oncol] Full Article

Role of Adenosine Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer

The authors summarize the role of adenosine in the pathogenesis of breast cancer for a better understanding and hence a better management of this disease. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract

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

Transgene and Institut Bergonié Start the Phase II Part of the METROmaJX Trial

Transgene announced that the first patient with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) has been treated in the Phase II part of the METROmaJX clinical trial at Institut Bergonié. METROmaJX is a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of the co-administration of Pexa-Vec with metronomic cyclophosphamide in patients with advanced solid tumors such as breast cancer and STS. [Transgene] Press Release

Caligor to Support Puma Biotechnology’s Expanded Access Program for PB272 (Neratinib) in the United States

Caligor Opco LLC announced that it will provide regulatory and logistical management for Puma Biotechnology’s expanded access program (EAP) for its investigational breast cancer therapy, PB272, in the United States. The EAP will provide access to neratinib for the treatment of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer (extended adjuvant setting), HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and HER2-mutated solid tumors. [Caligor Opco LLC. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Joining the European Union Leads to Less Cross-Border Collaboration

When the European Union expanded in the 2000s, it had a negative impact on scientific collaborations between researchers in new member countries and elsewhere, a study has found. [Nature News] Editorial

U.S. Report Calls for Research Integrity Board

The U.S. research community needs to do a better job of both investigating misconduct allegations and promoting ethical conduct—or the government might act unilaterally in ways that scientists won’t like. That’s the implicit message sent by a new report out from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine entitled Fostering Integrity in Research. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Review of Canadian Science Calls for Better Oversight, Coordination — and More Money

To reinvigorate its science base, Canada needs to “reinvest” almost CAD $500 million in basic, investigator-led research over the next four years, according to a long-awaited review of the country’s science and innovation landscape. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW ISSCR Annual Meeting 2017
June 14-17, 2017
Boston, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Position(s) – Gene Regulation in Cancer Progression (University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio)

Postdoctoral Research – Cancer Biology (University of Pennsylvania)

Research Fellow – Molecular Biology (Monash University)

Bioinformatics Scientist – Breast Cancer (Windber Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Genetics, Genomics and Informatics (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer Stem Cell (University of Kentucky)

Postdoctoral Position – Metastatic Breast Cancer (Purdue University)

Research Assistant/Associate – Breast Cancer Biology (Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

Assistant or Associate Professor – Breast Cancer Research (Georgetown University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Breast Cancer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center)

Postdoctoral Research Scholar – Breast Tumor Growth (University of Iowa)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Proteoglycans (Thomas Jefferson University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Cancer Research (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Breast Cancer (Tufts University School of Medicine)

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

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