Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0006142 (breast cancer)
160,383 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes of 15 kDa (PEA-15) binds to extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases to alter ERK1/2 cellular localization and target preferences and binds to adaptors in the extrinsic cell death pathway to block apoptosis. Here, we report that PEA-15 protein expression is inversely correlated with the invasive behavior of breast cancer in an immunohistochemical analysis of a breast cancer progression tissue microarray. Short hairpin RNA-mediated inhibition of PEA-15 expression increased the invasion of PEA-15-expressing tumor cells in vitro, suggesting a causative role for PEA-15 in the inhibition of invasion. This causative role was confirmed by the finding that the enforced expression of PEA-15 in invasive tumor cells reduced invasion. The effect of PEA-15 on tumor invasion is mediated by its interaction with ERK1/2 as shown by the following: (a) PEA-15 mutants that fail to bind ERK1/2 did not inhibit invasion; (b) overexpression of ERK1 or activated MAP/ERK kinase (MEK) reversed the inhibitory effect of PEA-15; (c) when an inhibitor of ERK1/2 activation reduced invasion, PEA-15 expression did not significantly reduce invasion further. Furthermore, we find that the effect of PEA-15 on invasion seems to relate to the nuclear localization of activated ERK1/2. PEA-15 inhibits invasion by keeping ERK out of the nucleus, as a PEA-15 mutant that cannot prevent ERK nuclear localization was not able to inhibit invasion. In addition, membrane-localized ERK1, which sequesters endogenous ERK1 to prevent its nuclear localization, also inhibited invasion. These results reveal that PEA-15 regulates cancer cell invasion via its ability to bind ERK1/2 and indicate that nuclear entry of ERK1/2 is important in tumor behavior.
...
PMID:PEA-15 inhibits tumor cell invasion by binding to extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2. 1730 92

Nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of multiple signalling proteins is critical in the control of processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, or apoptosis. One group of proteins whose activity depends on this nucleocytoplasmic traffic includes the mitogen-activated protein kinases. Usually, these kinases reside in the cytoplasm and move to the nucleus upon dual phosphorylation. One of these kinases, Erk5, has been found to reside in the nucleus of breast cancer cells that overexpress the ErbB2 receptor. This raises questions with respect to the mechanisms implicated in Erk5 nuclear location in these cells, as well as the biological consequences of this nuclear residency. In breast cancer cells overexpressing ErbB2, Erk5 dual phosphorylation required ErbB2 tyrosine kinase activity; however, Erk5 nuclear residency did not require ErbB2 activity. Furthermore, translocation of Erk5 from the cytosol to the nucleus occurred in the absence of dual phosphorylation. Nuclear residency of Erk5 in these cells depended on the integrity of a nuclear localization signal present in the unique C-terminus of Erk5. The Erk5 form expressed by these breast cancer cells included the N- and C-terminal cytoplasmic targeting signals, yet Erk5 was nuclear, and remained at this location throughout the interphase without being tightly bound to DNA. Biological studies using a mutant Erk5 that accumulates in the nucleus indicate that nuclear Erk5 favours MEF2-dependent transcriptional activity, and inhibits TRAIL-induced cell death.
...
PMID:Erk5 nuclear location is independent on dual phosphorylation, and favours resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. 1731 2

E2F-1 controls multiple cellular activities through transcriptional regulation of its target genes. As a mediator of cell death, E2F-1 can eliminate latent neoplastic cells through apoptosis. However, the mechanism by which E2F-1 mediates cancer cell killing is largely unknown. In this paper, we report that phosphatase of activated cells 1 (PAC1) phosphatase is a direct transcription target of E2F-1 in signaling apoptosis. We show that ectopic E2F-1 increases expression of PAC1 at both transcriptional and translational levels in breast cancer cells. E2F-1 physically interacts with the promoter of PAC1, binds to its consensus sequence in the promoter and transactivates the PAC1 promoter. E2F-1 suppresses extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation through PAC1 and causes cancer cell death by apoptosis following treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent N-4-hydroxyphenylretinamide (4-HPR). Furthermore, ectopic PAC1 inhibits ERK phosphorylation and mediates cell killing. Moreover, endogenous E2F-1 upregulates PAC1 and suppresses ERK activity, leading to cell death in response to 4-HPR. These results reveal a crucial role of PAC1 in E2F-1-directed apoptosis. Our study demonstrates that E2F-1 mediates apoptosis through transcriptional regulation of PAC1 and subsequent suppression of the ERK signaling. Our findings establish a functional link between E2F-1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases. The E2F-1-PAC1 cascade in cancer cell killing may provide a molecular basis for cancer therapeutic intervention.
...
PMID:PAC1 is a direct transcription target of E2F-1 in apoptotic signaling. 1747 Dec 34

The HER2/neu oncogene is an important diagnostic and prognostic factor and therapeutic target in breast and other cancers. We developed and characterized a breast cancer cell line (Bam1a) that overexpresses the activated HER2/neu and ErbB-3 and has a gene expression profile consistent with the ErbB-2 genetic signature. We evaluated the effects of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/HER2 inhibitor, gefitinib, on this breast tumor line in vitro and in vivo. We characterized the effects of gefitinib on EGFR, HER2, and ErbB-3 phosphorylation by Western blot and determined the effects on downstream signaling through growth, survival, and stress pathways and the effect on proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. Gefitinib treatment diminished phosphorylation of the ErbB-3 > EGFR > HER2/neu and signal transducers and activators of transcriptions in a dose-dependent fashion. Downstream mitogenic signaling through mitogen-activated protein (MAP)/extracellular signal regulated kinase kinase, p44/42 MAP kinase (MAPK) and stress signaling through c-Jun-NH(2)-kinase (JNK) 1 and c-Jun was impaired (1 micromol/L, 4-24 h), leading to cytostasis and cell cycle arrest within 24 h by decreased cyclin D1, cyclin B1, and p(Ser795)Rb and increased p27. Proliferation and colony formation were inhibited at 0.5 and 1 micromol/L, respectively, and correlated with altered gene expression profiles. Diminished survival signaling through Akt, induction of bim, loss of connexin43, and decreased production of vascular endothelial growth factor-D preceded caspase-3 and poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage and apoptosis (>50% 2 micromol/L, 48 h). Oral administration of gefitinib was able to prevent the outgrowth of Bam1a tumor cells from palpable lesions, shrink established tumors, eliminate HER2 and HER3 phosphorylation, and decrease MAPK and Akt signaling in vivo. A variant of the Bam1a cell line, IR-5, with acquired ability to grow in 5 micromol/L gefitinib was developed and characterized. IR-5 bears a novel point mutation in the HER2/neu that corresponds to a L726I in the ATP-binding pocket and correlates with a log decrease in sensitivity to gefitinib, increased heterodimerization with EGFR and HER3, and impaired down-regulation. Gene expression profiling of IR-5 showed increased expression of EMP-1, NOTCH-1, FLT-1, PDGFB, and several other genes that may contribute to the resistant phenotype and sustain signaling through MAPK and Akt. This model will be useful in understanding the differences between intrinsic drug sensitivity and acquired resistance in the context of therapeutic strategies that target oncogene addicted diseases.
...
PMID:Breast cancer expressing the activated HER2/neu is sensitive to gefitinib in vitro and in vivo and acquires resistance through a novel point mutation in the HER2/neu. 1763 94

The transcriptional cofactor FHL2 interacts with a broad variety of transcription factors and its expression is often deregulated in various types of cancer. Here we analyzed for the first time the molecular function of FHL2 in breast cancer. FHL2 is overexpressed in almost all human mammary carcinoma samples tested but not in normal breast tissues and only low levels of FHL2 expression were present in four premalignant ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Cell cycle analysis revealed an upregulation of endogenous FHL2 towards G2/M in MDA-MB 231 cells and an accelerated G2/M transition when FHL2 expression was suppressed in these cells. In search for G2/M specific target genes regulated by FHL2, we found that expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21Cip1/Waf1 (hereafter p21) is dependent on FHL2 in MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. Downregulation of FHL2 by shRNA abrogated the cell cycle dependent upregulation of p21 as well as the induction of p21 in response to treatment with the DNA damaging agent doxorubicin. FHL2-dependent p21 expression occurs in a p53-independent manner and p21 expression can be downregulated by specific inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), implicating an involvement of MAPK signaling in this regulation. Analysis of FHL2 contribution to the MAPK signaling identified FHL2 as an important downstream effector of MAPKs in breast cancer cells, capable of transactivating endogenous AP1 target genes as well as AP1 dependent reporter genes. Finally, downregulation of FHL2 reduces the ability of MDA-MB 231 cells to form colonies in soft agar, while FHL2 overexpression enhances colony formation of breast cancer cells. Thus, our findings indicate that overexpression of the transcriptional cofactor FHL2 contributes to breast cancer development by mediating transcriptional activation of MAPK target genes known to be involved in cancer progression, such as p21.
...
PMID:FHL2 regulates cell cycle-dependent and doxorubicin-induced p21Cip1/Waf1 expression in breast cancer cells. 1768 92

Progesterone receptors (PRs) mediate proliferation during breast development and contribute to breast cancer progression, in part by synergizing with peptide growth factors. We have previously identified PR Ser294 as a key site for direct regulation of PR location, activity, and turnover in response to phosphorylation events. Herein, we sought to better understand how hormonal cross talk alters PR function. We demonstrate that progestins (R5020 and RU486) induce rapid (15 min) sumoylation of PR Lys388; sumoylation represses PR transcriptional activity on selected progesterone response element-driven and endogenous promoters and retards ligand-induced PR down-regulation. Consistent with this finding, we show that stabilized but weakly active phospho-mutant S294A PRs are heavily sumoylated. Conversely, desumoylated PR, created by mutation of PR Lys388 (K388R) or by overexpression of sentrin (SUMO)-specific protease desumoylating enzymes, are hypersensitive to low progestin concentrations. Combination of K388R and S294A mutations (KRSA double-mutant PR) rescues both transcription and turnover of impaired phospho-mutant (S294A) receptors. Notably, phosphorylation events antagonize PR-B but not PR-A sumoylation. Treatment of cells with epidermal growth factor or transient expression of activated mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase kinase or cyclin-dependent protein kinase 2 induces PR-B Ser294 phosphorylation and blocks PR-B sumoylation, thereby derepressing receptor activity; PR-A is resistant to these events. Modulation of reversible PR sumoylation in response to diverse hormonal signals provides a mechanism for rapid isoform-specific changes in hormone responsiveness. In the context of elevated protein kinase activities, such as during mammary gland development or breast cancer progression, phosphorylated PR-B may be undersumoylated, transcriptionally hyperactive, and unstable/undetectable.
...
PMID:Phosphorylation-dependent antagonism of sumoylation derepresses progesterone receptor action in breast cancer cells. 1771 77

Inappropriate up-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in pathogenesis of various types of human cancer. Thus, COX-2 has been recognized as an important target for the chemoprevention of several human malignancies including breast cancer. COX-2 expression is known to be regulated by the eukaryotic transcription factor NF-kappaB. In an attempt to link the NF-kappaB activation and COX-2 induction during mammary carcinogenesis, we have examined the effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a prototype tumor promoter and a mitogen, on NF-kappaB activation and COX-2 expression in the immortalized human breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A). Treatment of MCF10A cells with TPA resulted in transient induction of NF-kappaB DNA binding with maximal activation observed at 30 min. Increased DNA binding of NF-kappaB was accompanied by enhancement of its transcriptional activity as determined by the luciferase reporter gene assay. Under the same experimental conditions, expression of COX-2 mRNA and its protein product peaked at 2h and 4h, respectively. TPA treatment caused an increase in the production of prostaglandin E(2). Treatment of cells with the NF-kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate resulted in significant suppression of TPA-induced COX-2 expression. TPA induced activation of ERK1/2 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) via phosphorylation. PD98059 (ERK inhibitor) and SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) down-regulated the COX-2 expression induced by TPA. Furthermore, TPA-induced COX-2 induction as well as NF-kappaB activation was blocked in MCF10A cells transfected with dominant negative mutant ERK1/2 or p38 MAPK. These results suggest that both p38 and ERK MAPKs activates NF-kappaB signaling, which in turn induces COX-2 expression in TPA-stimulated human mammary epithelial cells.
...
PMID:Roles of ERK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases in phorbol ester-induced NF-kappaB activation and COX-2 expression in human breast epithelial cells. 1776 25

The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway is a potential target in cancer therapy. Constitutive phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), which is one of the MAPKs has been detected in a variety of tumors. Calcitonin (CT) is a polypeptide hormone secreted by the thyroid gland and has been used to treat the osteoporosis and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. We report that CT decreases ERK1/2 phosphorylation in cancer cells showing constitutive phosphorylated ERK1/2. In MDA-MB-231 cells, a breast cancer cell line showing constitutive phosphorylated ERK1/2, CT phosphorylated c-Raf at Ser(259) via the protein kinase A pathway, resulting in suppression of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. CT significantly reduced the tumor volume of MDA-MB-231 cells showing constitutive phosphorylated ERK1/2 compared with saline buffer. However, CT did not exert any significant effects on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells, a breast cancer cell line, showing non-constitutive phosphorylated ERK1/2. These novel findings indicate that CT may be used to target ERK in the treatment of cancer.
...
PMID:Calcitonin targets extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in human cancers. 1805 85

The present studies have determined whether interactions between the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor flavopiridol and the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA; vorinostat; Zolinza) occur in breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 cells were treated with flavopiridol (25-100 nmol/L) and vorinostat (125-500 nmol/L) in vitro, and mechanisms of cell killing were determined. Concurrent treatment of cells with flavopiridol and vorinostat or treatment of cells with flavopiridol followed by vorinostat promoted cell killing in a greater than additive fashion. Similar data were obtained with the CDK inhibitor roscovitine. Flavopiridol suppressed c-FLIP-l/s and BCL-xL expression, whereas vorinostat reduced expression of BCL-xL, and combined exposure to flavopiridol and vorinostat reduced MCL-1 and X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) levels. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of caspase-8 reduced flavopiridol toxicity, but abolished killing by vorinostat and cell death caused by the vorinostat/flavopiridol regimen. Loss of BAX/BAK function or loss of BID function modestly reduced flavopiridol toxicity, but abolished vorinostat-mediated potentiation of flavopiridol toxicity, as did inhibition of caspase-9. Inhibition and/or deletion of cathepsin B function significantly attenuated vorinostat/flavopiridol lethality. Flavopiridol suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and AKT activity and expression of activated forms of AKT and mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase 1 maintained c-FLIP-l/s, BCL-xL, and XIAP expression and protected cells against flavopiridol/vorinostat lethality. Overexpression of c-FLIP-s and BCL-xL abolished the lethality of flavopiridol/vorinostat. Collectively, these data argue that flavopiridol enhances the lethality of vorinostat in breast cancer cells in part through the inhibition of AKT and ERK1/2 function, leading to reduced expression of multiple inhibitors of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, as well as activation of cathepsin protease-dependent pathways.
...
PMID:Extrinsic pathway- and cathepsin-dependent induction of mitochondrial dysfunction are essential for synergistic flavopiridol and vorinostat lethality in breast cancer cells. 1806 90

Mesothelin (MSLN) is a glycoprotein that is overexpressed in various tumors. MSLN is present on the cell surface and is also released into body fluids or culture supernatants from MSLN-positive tumor cells. Despite intensive study of MSLN as a diagnostic marker or target for immunotherapy, its biological function is largely unknown. In the present study, we examined the effects of ectopic expression of MSLN in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231). We found that overexpression of MSLN promoted anchorage-independent growth in soft agar. In addition, MDA-MB-231 cells expressing high levels of MSLN exhibited resistance to anoikis (a type of apoptosis induced by detachment from substratum), as indicated by decreased DNA fragmentation and down-regulation of the proapoptotic protein Bim. Incubating MSLN-expressing MDA-MB-231 cells in the presence of U0126, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase kinase, induced accumulation of Bim and restored susceptibility to anoikis. Western blot analysis also revealed that overexpression of MSLN resulted in sustained activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and suppression of Bim. The present results constitute novel evidence that MSLN enables cells to survive under anchorage-independent conditions by suppressing Bim induction via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway.
...
PMID:Mesothelin promotes anchorage-independent growth and prevents anoikis via extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway in human breast cancer cells. 1824 28


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>