Project description:MCF-7:PF is a a new in vitro model of antihormone resistant breast cancer that exhibits the characteristics of acquired tamoxifen resistance in vivo. It is well known that estrogen (E2) induces apoptosis in long-term estrogen-deprived breast cancer cells, MCF-7:5C (PubMed References PMID:15862958, PMID:16333030). MCF-7:PF was derived from MCF-7:5C through inhibition of c-Src, which blocks E2-induced apoptosis, coverts E2 responses from apoptosis to proliferation. MCF-7:PF cell growth is stimulated by E2 and SERMS in an ERα-dependent manner. Abstract: A c-Src inhibitor blocks estrogen (E2)-induced stress and converts E2 responses from inducing apoptosis to stimulating growth in E2-deprived breast cancer cells. A resulting cell line, MCF-7:PF, is reprogrammed with features of functional estrogen receptor (ER) and over-expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor beta (IGF-1Rβ). We addressed the question of whether the antiestrogenic selective ER modulator 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) could target ER to prevent E2-stimulated growth in MCF-7:PF cells. Unexpectedly, 4-OHT stimulated cell growth in an ER-dependent manner. However, unlike E2, 4-OHT suppressed classic ER-target genes as does the pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780, even during growth stimulation. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay indicated that 4-OHT did not recruit ER or nuclear receptor coactivator 3 (SRC3) to the promoter of ER-target gene, pS2. Paradoxically, 4-OHT reduced total IGF-1Rβ but increased phosphorylation of IGF-1Rβ, which was responsible for the activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. Mechanistic studies revealed that 4-OHT rapidly activated the non-genomic pathway through ER, but other membrane-associated proteins such as IGF-1Rβ and c-Src participated. Furthermore, 4-OHT was more potent than E2 to up-regulate membrane remodeling molecules and activated focal adhesion molecules to promote cell growth. Therefore, disruption of membrane-associated signaling completely abolished 4-OHT-stimulated cell growth, but not E2-stimulated cell growth. Despite continued suppression of classic ER-target genes, 4-OHT activated the complex network of cytoskeleton remodeling and extracellular matrix-related signaling which facilitated 4-OHT-stimulated cell growth. This study is the first to recapitulate a cellular model in vitro of acquired tamoxifen (TAM) resistance developed in athymic mice in vivo.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells with hTERT/E6/E7 transfected MSCs. hTERT may change gene expression in MSCs. Goal was to determine the gene expressions of immortalized MSCs.
Project description:Substantial evidence implicates IGF-I signaling in the development and progression of breast cancer. To identify transcriptional targets of IGF action in breast cancer cells, we performed gene expression profiling (>22,000 RNA transcripts) of IGF-I-stimulated MCF-7 cells, a well characterized breast cancer cell line that is highly responsive to IGFs. We defined an IGF-I gene signature pattern of hundreds of genes either up-regulated or down-regulated at both 3 and 24 hrs in vitro. After removing genes considered generic to cell proliferation, the signature was examined in four different public profile datasets of clinical breast tumors (representing close to 1000 patients), as well as in profile datasets of experimental models for various oncogenic signaling pathways. Genes with early and sustained regulation by IGF-I were highly enriched for transcriptional targets of the estrogen, Ras, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. The IGF-I signature appeared activated in most estrogen receptor-negative (ER-) clinical breast tumors and in a substantial subset (~25%) of ER+ breast tumors. Patients with tumors showing activation of the IGF-I signature tended to have a shorter time to disease recurrence (including patients not receiving adjuvant therapy), both when considering all patients and the subset of ER+ patients. We found evidence for cross-talk and common transcriptional endpoints between the IGF-I and estrogen systems. Our results support the idea that the IGF-I pathway is one mechanism by which breast tumors may acquire hormone independence and a more aggressive phenotype. Keywords: two group comparison
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human mesenchymal stem cells comparing normoxic MSCs cells with hypoxic MSCs cells. Hypoxia may inhibit senescence of MSCs during expansion. Goal was to determine the effects of hypoxia on global MSCs gene expression.