Volume 8.02 | Jan 21 - Mammary Cell News

Mammary Cell News 8.02 January 21, 2016

TOP STORY

Epigenetic Regulation of Metastatic Breast Cancer Progression Could Guide Prognosis and Future Therapies
Researchers have identified a gene called serum deprivation response and the mechanisms by which this gene is down-regulated, or silenced, in breast cancer cells promoting tumor spread. [Press release from Boston University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] Press Release | Full Article

Protocol and Data: Serum-Free, 3D Suspension Assay for Breast Cancer Cells

PUBLICATIONS (Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Nuclear AURKA Acquires Kinase-Independent Transactivating Function to Enhance Breast Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype
Scientists showed that Aurora kinase A (AURKA) translocates to the nucleus and causes distinct oncogenic properties in malignant cells by enhancing breast cancer stem cell phenotype. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Shp2-Induced Epithelial Disorganization Defect is Reversed by HDAC6 Inhibition Independent of Cdc42
Researchers showed that oncogenic Shp2 dephosphorylates Tuba to decrease Cdc42 activation, leading to the abnormal multi-lumen formation of epithelial cells. In HER2-positive breast cancer cells, Shp2 also mediated Cdc42 repression, and HDAC6 inhibition or co-suppression of ERK/myosin II promotes normal epithelial lumen phenotype without increasing Cdc42 activity. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Histone H3 Lysine 4 Acetylation and Methylation Dynamics Define Breast Cancer Subtypes
To define the relative roles of histone H3 methylation and acetylation in breast cancer, the authors determined genomic regions enriched for both marks in normal-like, transformed and metastatic cells using a genome-wide ChIP-Seq approach. [Oncotarget] Full Article

The Immune Microenvironment of Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Researchers profiled tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and expression of the immune checkpoint ligand programmed death ligand 1 in 27 cases of breast ductal carcinoma in situ with known estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor 2 expression using tissue microarrays. [Mod Pathol] Abstract

Squalene Epoxidase is a Bona Fide Oncogene by Amplification with Clinical Relevance in Breast Cancer
Scientists assessed the correlation of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) copy number and gene expression across multiple cancer types, focusing on the clinico-pathological associations in breast cancer (BC). They then investigated whether any biological effect of SQLE inhibition could be observed in BC cell line models. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Enhancement of Human Sodium Iodide Symporter Gene Therapy for Breast Cancer by HDAC Inhibitor Mediated Transcriptional Modulation
Scientists investigated modulation of endogenous, functional sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression by histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter based initial screening of six different HDACi showed 2–10 fold enhancement of NIS promoter activity in majority of the cell types tested. As a result of drug treatment, endogenous NIS transcript and protein showed profound induction in breast cancer cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Targeted PTEN Deletion Plus p53-R270H Mutation in Mouse Mammary Epithelium Induces Aggressive Claudin-Low and Basal-Like Breast Cancer
Investigators demonstrated that WAP-Cre:Pten^f/f:p53^{lox.stop.lox_R270H} mice represent a tractable model to study basal-like breast cancer because unlike p53 deletion, p53(R270H) mutation in the mouse does not skew tumors toward the claudin-low subtype. [Breast Cancer Res] Full Article

Orlistat and Antisense-miRNA-Loaded PLGA-PEG Nanoparticles for Enhanced Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy
Investigators demonstrated that orlistat in combination with antisense-miR-21 or current chemotherapy holds great promise as a novel and versatile treatment agent for triple-negative breast cancer. [Nanomedicine (Lond)] Abstract

Sundew Plant, a Potential Source of Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Selectively Induces G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cells through Upregulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio
In vitro anticancer study revealed that Drosera burmannii is inhibiting the proliferation of MCF-7 cells without affecting the viability of other malignant and non-malignant cells. [Cell Death Discov] Full Article

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Annual Hazard Rates of Recurrence for Breast Cancer During 24 Years of Follow-Up: Results From the International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials I to V
International Breast Cancer Study Group clinical trials I to V randomly assigned 4,105 patients between 1978 and 1985. Annualized hazards were estimated for breast cancer-free interval (primary end point), disease-free survival, and overall survival. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Inferring the Effects of Cancer Treatment: Divergent Results From Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group Meta-Analyses of Randomized Trials and Observational Data From SEER Registries
In the randomized trials, radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery reduced mortality from both breast cancer and all causes. Reductions of similar magnitude were seen in the trials of radiotherapy after mastectomy in node-positive disease. [J Clin Oncol] Abstract

Dissociation Enzymes For Optimized Human Mammary Tissue Dissociation and Culture

REVIEWS

BRCAness Revisited
Tumors that share molecular features of BRCA-mutant tumors— that is, those with ‘BRCAness’ —may also respond to similar therapeutic approaches. Several paradigm shifts require a reassessment of the concept of BRCAness, how this property is assayed and its relevance to our understanding of tumor biology and the treatment of cancer. [Nat Rev Cancer] Abstract

Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Unwitting Accomplices in Breast Cancer Malignancy
The authors discuss the dynamic process whereby molecular and cellular features of the tumor microenvironment act to license tissue-repair mechanisms of macrophages, fostering angiogenesis, metastasis and the support of cancer stem cells. [npj Breast Cancer] Full Article

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

INDUSTRY NEWS

Mary-Claire King, Ph.D. of University of Washington Awarded 2016 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research
The National Foundation for Cancer Research announced that Mary-Claire King, Ph.D., University of Washington professor of medicine (medical genetics) and genome sciences has been awarded the 2016 Szent-Györgyi Prize for Progress in Cancer Research. Dr. King’s pioneering research provided the first evidence of genetic predisposition to breast cancer. [The National Foundation for Cancer Research (PR Newswire Asssociation LLC)] Press Release

Genomic Vision to Demonstrate ‘Molecular Combing’ Technology’s Ability to Identify Novel Cancer-Causing BRCA Gene Variants
Genomic Vision announced its plans to initiate a patient study to demonstrate the value of Genomic Vision’s FiberVision^® molecular combing technology in detecting novel BRCA gene variants associated with a predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer. [Genomic Vision] Press Release

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POLICY NEWS

National Institutes of Health (United States)

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)

EVENTS

NEW Precision: Breast Cancer
February 23-24, 2016
Boston, United States

NEW Cancer as an Evolving and Systemic Disease
March 12-15, 2016
New York City, United States

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

NEW Clinical Researcher – Breast Cancer (Massachusetts General Hospital-Cancer Center)

NEW Post-Doc Fellowship – Breast Cancer Development (University of Pennsylvania)

NEW Post-Doc Fellowship/PhD Studentship – Cancer Cell-Tumor Microenvironment Interactions (University of Helsinki)

Academic Surgical Pathologist – Breast Pathology (Northwestern University)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Breast Cancer Functional Genomics (University of Cambridge)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Breast Cancer Translational Research (University of Bern)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Breast/Ovarian Cancer Therapeutics (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Post-Doc Fellowship – Epidemiologist (German Cancer Research Center)

PhD Studentships – Various Projects (University of Cambridge)

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

PhD Researcher – Cancer Signaling/Epigenetics/Tumor Biology (Institut Curie)

Recruit Top Talent: Reach more than 60,000 potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

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