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Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
 160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a promising anticancer agent derived from Brassica vegetables, but the mechanisms of DIM action are largely unknown. We have shown that DIM can upregulate the expression and stimulate the secretion of interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) in the human MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. This novel effect may provide important clues to explain the anticancer effects of DIM because it is well known that IFNgamma plays an important role in preventing the development of primary and transplanted tumors. Utilizing promoter deletions, we show here that the region between -108 and -36 bp in the IFNgamma promoter, which contains two conserved and essential regulatory elements, is required for DIM-induced IFNgamma expression. DIM activates both JNK and p38 pathways, induces the phosphorylation of c-Jun and ATF-2, and increases the binding of the homodimer or heterodimer of c-Jun/ATF-2 to the proximal AP-1.CREB-ATF-binding element. Moreover, studies with specific enzyme inhibitors showed that up-stream Ca2+-dependent kinase(s) is required for the inducing effects of DIM in MCF-7 cells. These results establish that DIM-induced IFNgamma expression in human breast tumor cells is mediated by activation of both JNK and p38 pathways, which is ultimately dependent on intracellular calcium signaling.
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PMID:DIM stimulates IFNgamma gene expression in human breast cancer cells via the specific activation of JNK and p38 pathways. 1573 41

The proven antiangiogenic activity of zoledronic acid, a third-generation bisphosphonate widely used in bone metastatic cancer patients, led us to investigate if the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-related zoledronic acid modifications are correlated with survival advantages in advanced breast cancer patients. Forty-two consecutive breast cancer patients with scintigraphic and radiographic evidence of bone metastases were treated with a single infusion of 4 mg zoledronic acid before anticancer chemotherapy. The patients were prospectively evaluated for circulating levels of VEGF and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) just before and at 1, 2, 7, and 21 days after zoledronic acid infusion. Afterward, clinical outcome was prospectively monitored. The basal serum VEGF median levels were significantly decreased at each time point, but the major reduction was recorded 21 days after the infusion. In particular, 25 patients of 42 (59.5%) experienced a reduction of at least 25% in the VEGF circulating levels. In contrast, no statistically significant modifications of the IFN-gamma serum levels were recorded. We stratified patients on the basis of this VEGF reduction 21 days after the infusion. No differences in patient features were recorded between those with or without the VEGF reduction. The analysis of survival showed that patients with a reduction in the VEGF circulating levels had a longer time to first skeletal-related event (p = 0.0002), time to bone progression disease (p = 0.0024), and time to performance status worsening (p = 0.0352) than those without the VEGF reduction. No statistically significant differences were recorded in terms of overall survival and time to visceral progression. This study confirms that zoledronic acid could have an in vivo antiangiogenic property and that the VEGF modifications may represent a surrogate marker able to predict time to first skeletal-related event, time to bone progression disease, and time to worsening of performance status.
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PMID:Zoledronic acid-related angiogenesis modifications and survival in advanced breast cancer patients. 1576 88

Icb-1 (C1orf38) is a human gene initially described to be involved in in vitro differentiation processes of endometrial adenocarcinoma and leukemia cells. In this study, we examined the effect of interferon-gamma on icb-1alpha and beta mRNA levels in human cell lines derived from breast cancer and gynecological malignancies. Furthermore, we intended to approach icb-1 gene function by means of RNA interference (RNAi) to analyze the effect of an icb-1 knockdown on human cancer cells in vitro. Three breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231), three ovarian cancer cell lines (SK-OV-3, OVCAR-3 and BG-1) and the endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line HEC-1-A were treated with interferon gamma and the transcript levels of icb-1 isoforms alpha and beta were assessed by means of semiquantitative real-time RT-PCR. Our data demonstrates an interferon-gamma triggered upregulation of icb-1alpha mRNA levels in all breast cancer cell lines and an increase of icb-1beta mRNA in MDA-MB-231 cells. The strongest (about 10-fold) increase of icb-1alpha and beta mRNA after treatment with interferon-gamma was observed in ovarian cancer cell line SK-OV-3. Additionally, our data demonstrates the success of a siRNA-mediated knockdown of icb-1alpha and beta mRNA levels, which resulted in a significant increase of the antiproliferative interferon-gamma effect on SK-OV-3 cells. In conclusion, we report identification of the novel interferon-gamma inducible gene icb-1 which is able to affect the response of ovarian cancer cells to this cytokine.
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PMID:Expression of icb-1 gene is interferon-gamma inducible in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines and affects the IFN gamma-response of SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells. 1621 72

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) constitute a distinct subset of DC found in human peripheral lymph nodes (LN), but little is known about their function. Cell suspensions were prepared from tumor draining LN (n=20) and control LN (n=11) of women undergoing surgical resection for primary breast cancer and elective surgery for benign conditions, respectively. Using four-color flow cytometry, human leukocyte antigen-DR+ DC subsets were identified phenotypically. The proportions and numbers of cells innately producing interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were also measured from intracellular accumulation of cytokine after blocking with monensin. All flow cytometry data were collected without compensation and were compensated off-line using the Winlist algorithm (Verity software). This package also provided the subtraction program to calculate percentage positive cells and intensity of staining. PDC (CD11c-, CD123+) expressed more cytokines than did myeloid DC (CD11c+) or CD1a+ putative "migratory" DC (P<0.001). LN PDC from patients with a good prognosis (px; n=11) demonstrated a relative increase in IL-12 and IFN-gamma expression (median IL-10:IL-12 ratio=0.78 and median IL-4:IFN-gamma ratio=0.7), and PDC from LN draining poor px cancer (n=9) showed a relative increase in IL-10 and IL-4 expression (median IL-10:IL-12 ratio=1.31 and median IL-4:IFN-gamma ratio=2.6). The difference in IL-4:IFN-gamma expression between good and poor px cancer groups was significant (P<0.05). Thus, PDC innately producing cytokines were identified in cell suspensions from human LN, and the character of PDC cytokine secretion may differ between two breast cancer prognostic groups. We speculate that a shift towards PDC IL-10 and IL-4 expression could promote tumor tolerance in LN draining poor px breast cancer.
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PMID:Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) are the major DC subset innately producing cytokines in human lymph nodes. 1626 May 87

Dendritic cell (DC) defects are an important component of immunosuppression in cancer. Here, we assessed whether cancer could affect circulating DC populations and its correlation with tumor progression. The blood DC compartment was evaluated in 136 patients with breast cancer, prostate cancer, and malignant glioma. Phenotypic, quantitative, and functional analyses were performed at various stages of disease. Patients had significantly fewer circulating myeloid (CD11c+) and plasmacytoid (CD123+) DC, and a concurrent accumulation of CD11c(-)CD123(-) immature cells that expressed high levels of HLA-DR+ immature cells (DR(+)IC). Although DR(+)IC exhibited a limited expression of markers ascribed to mature hematopoietic lineages, expression of HLA-DR, CD40, and CD86 suggested a role as antigen-presenting cells. Nevertheless, DR(+)IC had reduced capacity to capture antigens and elicited poor proliferation and interferon-gamma secretion by T-lymphocytes. Importantly, increased numbers of DR(+)IC correlated with disease status. Patients with metastatic breast cancer showed a larger number of DR(+)IC in the circulation than patients with local/nodal disease. Similarly, in patients with fully resected glioma, the proportion of DR(+)IC in the blood increased when evaluation indicated tumor recurrence. Reduction of blood DC correlating with accumulation of a population of immature cells with poor immunologic function may be associated with increased immunodeficiency observed in cancer.
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PMID:A population of HLA-DR+ immature cells accumulates in the blood dendritic cell compartment of patients with different types of cancer. 1635 94

There is growing evidence that deregulation of E2F transcription factors is causatively involved in the patho-physiology of various tumors. However, no data on the role of E2F family members in tumor biology of ovarian cancer are available. We here describe an expression study of all known E2F transcription factors and their coactivators DP-1 and DP-2 in various human ovarian cancer cell lines and the breast cancer cell line T47D and their involvement in pathways affected by interferon-gamma and EGF. A significant overexpression of the proliferation-promoting E2F1 and especially E2F2 points to a pivotal role in modulating the uncontrolled proliferation in ovarian cancer cells. Of special note is the fact that interferon-gamma treatment did not only caused a reduction of the proliferation-promoting transcription factors E2F1 and E2F2, but also increased the inhibiting transcription factors E2F4 and E2F5, thus underlining the importance of an E2F cross-talk in the anti-proliferative function of interferon-gamma. Moreover, an increase in DP-1 and E2F3 is probably involved in the proliferation-enhancing effect of EGF. Our study provides a new insight in the crucial role of E2F cross-talk, especially the role of the inhibiting transcription factors E2F4 and E2F5, in the tumor biology of cancer and its possible usefulness as targets in anti-cancer therapy.
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PMID:Heterogeneous cross-talk of E2F family members is crucially involved in growth modulatory effects of interferon-gamma and EGF. 1688 Jul 36

The purpose of this study was to examine the direct and stress-buffering effect of optimism and satisfaction with social support on immune responses in women with breast cancer. Participants were 54 post-operative (M = 19 days) breast cancer patients who completed questionnaires on stress, optimism, and satisfaction with social support and provided blood to measure natural killer cell activity (NKCA) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) from whole blood. Higher levels of stress were associated with decrements in NKCA and IFN-gamma. Optimism moderated the relationship of stress on NKCA but was not related to IFN-gamma. Satisfaction with social support was unrelated to immune responses. Results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing stress and enhancing optimism in women with breast cancer might promote optimal immune response.
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PMID:Stress, optimism, and social support: impact on immune responses in breast cancer. 1724 9

The searches for drugs that exhibit antineoplastic activity and regulate blood pressure are among the most prevalent and compelling research activities today. Amazingly, there is ample precedence for the antiproliferative action of vitamin-D-related compounds and their role as endocrine suppressors of renin biosynthesis. We have recently synthesized a number of novel calcitriol analogs of the gemini family and originally selected for further studies an epimeric pair related to 19-nor-calcitriol whose 21-methyl group was replaced by a 5,5,5-trifluoro-4-hydroxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pentynyl group. While maintaining the acceptable calcemic responses, the IC50 concentrations of interferon-gamma release were reduced and the antiproliferative activity and inhibition of renin mRNA expression enhanced. Replacing the geminal methyl groups on the calcitriol-related side chain of these gemini compounds with trideuteriomethyl moieties further boosted the potency in the colon cancer model in mice some 10-fold, reduced NMU-induced breast cancer carcinogenesis in rats and decreased the IC(50) values for renin mRNA inhibition into the pM range.
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PMID:Calcitriol derivatives with two different side chains at C-20 III. An epimeric pair of the gemini family with unprecedented antiproliferative effects on tumor cells and renin mRNA expression inhibition. 1725 79

Adrenal gland involvement could account for 6% of active tuberculosis. The diagnosis of this extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis is difficult, especially when presenting as unilateral adrenal tumor. This report describes an unusual case of adrenal tuberculosis presenting as a tumor occurring shortly after surgical removal of an adrenal pheochromocytoma located in the opposite gland, in a 63-year-old woman with a previous history of breast cancer. At initial presentation, the patient suffered from symptomatic paroxysmal hypertension. A pheochromocytoma in the left adrenal was diagnosed and resected. One year later, while physical examination and biological parameters were unremarkable, an enhanced adrenal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a right adrenal mass mimicking the CT features of the resected pheochromocytoma. A peripheral tissular rim delineating a central hypodensity characterized this tumor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the same findings on gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted slices, while the mass was not seen on T2-weighted images. No tumoral signal loss was observed on out of phase images when using the in phase-out of phase T1-weighted sequence. Because of the tumoral evolution and the uncertainty of the nature of that lesion, the patient underwent a second adrenalectomy. Definitive diagnosis was provided by culture of tissue sample, which resulted in the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In an era of tuberculosis resurgence, this unusual case underscores the necessity of keeping in mind adrenal tuberculosis as a possible differential diagnosis in adrenal tumors of uncertainty nature. It stresses the importance of culture of biopsy tumor, whenever feasible, to avoid unnecessary operations. In the near future, interferon-gamma assay could be a valuable means to recognize extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis.
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PMID:Adrenal tuberculosis after a pheochromocytoma: a misleading tumoral presentation. 1755 92

The recently cloned human gene named "placental immunoregulatory ferritin" (PLIF) is a pregnancy-related immunomodulator. Recombinant PLIF and its bioactive domain C48 are immune-suppressive and induce pronounced IL-10 production by immune cells. PLIF is expressed in the placenta and breast cancer cells. Blocking PLIF in pregnant mice by anti-C48 antibodies inhibited placental and fetal growth and modulated the cytokine network. It has been revealed that anti-C48 treatment inhibited MCF-7 tumor growth in nude mice. However, this significant effect was observed only in those transfused with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blocking PLIF in tumor-engrafted human immune cell transfused mice resulted in massive infiltration of human CD45+ cells (mainly CD8+ T cells), both intratumorally and in the tumor periphery, and a significant number of caspase-3+ cells. In vitro, anti-C48 treatment of MCF-7 tumor cells cocultured with human lymphocytes induced a significant increase in interferon-gamma secretion. We conclude that blocking PLIF inhibits breast cancer growth, possibly by an effect on the cytokine network in immune cells and on breakdown of immunosuppression.
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PMID:Antibodies to placental immunoregulatory ferritin with transfer of polyclonal lymphocytes arrest MCF-7 human breast cancer growth in a nude mouse model. 1760 31


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