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

In estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer cells such as MCF-7 cells, the anti-tumor effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) (1,25D(3)) may be secondary to disruption of estrogen mediated survival signals. If so, then sensitivity to 1,25D(3) mediated growth arrest could be reduced in estrogen independent breast cancer cells. The aim of these studies was to determine the effects of 1,25D(3) and EB1089 on the ER negative, invasive human breast cancer cell line SUM-159PT. 1,25D(3) and EB1089 reduced SUM-159PT cell growth subsequent to elevation of p27 and p21 levels. 1,25D(3) mediated apoptosis of SUM-159PT cells was associated with an enrichment of membrane bound bax, a redistribution of cytochome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol and PARP cleavage. 1,25D(3) and EB1089 also inhibited SUM-159PT cell invasion through an 8 microM Matrigel membrane. In pre-clinical studies, EB1089 dramatically reduced the growth of SUM-159PT xenografts in nude mice. The decreased size of tumors from EB1089 treated mice was associated with decreased proliferation and increased DNA fragmentation. Our data support the concept that Vitamin D(3) compounds trigger apoptosis by mechanisms independent of estrogen signaling. These studies indicate that Vitamin D(3) based therapeutics may be beneficial, alone or in conjunction with other agents, for the treatment of estrogen independent breast cancer.
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PMID:Efficacy of Vitamin D compounds to modulate estrogen receptor negative breast cancer growth and invasion. 1271 Oct 2

Previous studies have identified RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate, VES) as a potential chemotherapeutic agent. VES induces human breast cancer cells to undergo apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by restoring transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and Fas (CD95) apoptotic signaling pathways, that contribute to the activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK)-mediated apoptosis. The objective of these studies was to clarify biochemical events involved in VES-induced apoptosis. Data show that VES-induced apoptosis involves: (a) translocation of Bax from the cytosol to the mitochondria and cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol as determined by Western immunoblot analyses of mitochondrial- and cytosolic-enriched cellular fractions; (b) increased permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes as determined by confocal and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses of loss of a mitochondrial selective fluorescent dye; (c) processing of caspase-9 and -3 but not caspase-8 to active forms and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) as determined by Western immunoblot analyses using antibodies capable of detecting both proenzyme and processed enzyme forms or the intact or cleaved forms of PARP. Transient transfection of cells with antisense oligonucleotides to Bax or transient overexpression of Bcl-2 prevented VES-induced mitochondrial permeability transition and apoptosis. The use of cell-permeable caspase inhibitors indicated that caspase-9 and -3 but not caspase-8 are involved in VES-induced apoptosis. JNK inhibitor II blocked VES-induced Bax conformational change, indicating a role for JNK in Bax translocation to the mitochondria. Taken together, these data suggest that the activation of JNK, translocation of Bax to the mitochondria, increased mitochondrial membrane permeability with release of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and -3 are critical events in VES-induced apoptosis of human MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells.
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PMID:RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate-induced apoptosis of human breast cancer cells involves Bax translocation to mitochondria. 1275 Feb 70

Beta-lapachone (beta-Lap) triggers apoptosis in a number of human breast and prostate cancer cell lines through a unique apoptotic pathway that is dependent upon NQO1, a two-electron reductase. Recently, our laboratory showed that beta-lap-exposed MCF-7 cells exhibited an early increase in intracellular cytosolic Ca(2+) from endoplasmic reticulum stores, and that BAPTA-AM (an intracellular Ca(2+) chelator) blocked these early increases and partially inhibited all aspects of beta-lap-induced apoptosis. We now show that exposure of NQO1-expressing breast cancer cells to beta-lap stimulates a unique proteolytic apoptotic pathway involving mu-calpain activation. No apparent activation of m-calpain was noted. Upon activation, mu-calpain translocated to the nucleus concomitant with specific nuclear proteolytic events. Apoptotic responses in beta-lap-exposed NQO1-expressing cells were significantly delayed and survival enhanced by exogenous over-expression of calpastatin, a natural inhibitor of mu- and m-calpains. Furthermore, purified mu-calpain cleaved PARP to a unique fragment (approximately 60 kDa), not previously reported for calpains. We provide evidence that beta-lap-induced, mu-calpain-stimulated apoptosis does not involve any known apoptotic caspases; the activated fragments of caspases were not observed after beta-lap exposures, nor were there any changes in the pro-enzyme forms as measured by Western blot analyses. The ability of beta-lap to trigger an apparently novel, p53-independent, calpain-mediated apoptotic cell death further support the development of this drug for improved breast cancer therapy.
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PMID:Mu-calpain activation in beta-lapachone-mediated apoptosis. 1275 May 53

This study shows a strong association between cell attachment to substratum and activation of beta 1-integrin-signaling with resistance to the camptothecin derivative topotecan (TPT) in breast cancer cells. We propose a mechanistic-driven approach to sensitize the cells to camptothecins. ZR-75-1 anchorage-dependent breast cancer cell line, its derivative 9D3S suspension cells (9D3S-S), and 9D3S cells attached to fibronectin-coated plates (9D3S-A) were treated with TPT (1 microM) or CPT-11 (40 microM) for 48 h. Programmed cell death (PCD), as shown by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), pro-caspase-3 and pro-caspase-9 cleavage, was observed in 9D3S-S cells but not in ZR-75-1 or 9D3S-A cells. Because p125 focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a transducer in the beta 1-integrin signaling pathway, it is essential to cell adhesion and it is overexpressed in metastatic breast cancer, we hypothesized that attenuation of FAK might enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to camptothecins. Moreover, inhibition of FAK gene expression by a phosphorothioated antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting the portion of the gene encoding amino acids 262-268, increased the sensitivity of ZR-75-1, MDA-MB-231 and MCF7 breast cancer cells to treatment with TPT or CPT-11.
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PMID:Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase by antisense oligonucleotides enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to camptothecins. 1284 14

This study aimed to investigate the apoptotic effects of novel paclitaxel analogs on NCI/ADR-RES breast cancer cells. Using the colony formation assay, the cytotoxicity of three novel paclitaxel analogs were evaluated on NCI/ADR-RES cells which overexpress multidrug-resistant gene (MDR1). All three novel paclitaxel analogs exhibited significantly higher cytotoxicity on NCI/ADR-RES cells than paclitaxel. One analog, TL139, was 140 times more effective than paclitaxel. Using TUNEL and DNA fragmentation assay, remarkably increased apoptosis in the paclitaxel analog-treated cells was observed at 48-72 hours, but not in paclitaxel-treated cells. Caspases-3/7 were dramatically activated at 48-72 hours by the novel paclitaxel analogs. The enhanced activity of caspases-3/7 was evidently verified by the measurement of the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The increased activity of caspases-3/7 significantly correlated with the enhanced apoptosis and cell survival data. Treatment with paclitaxel analogs resulted in a significant amount of mitotic arrest. Using Western blot, the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 protein was found in palictaxel analog-treated cells in a time-dependent manner similar to that of mitotic arrest, thereby indicating that there existed a close correlation between Bcl-2 phosphorylation and mitotic arrest that preceded apoptosis. We conclude that novel taxane analogs could effectively kill MDR1-positive breast cancer cells via the mode of apoptosis.
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PMID:Enhanced apoptotic effects of novel paclitaxel analogs on NCI/ADR-RES breast cancer cells. 1292 66

The importance of the mitochondria in UV-induced apoptosis has become increasingly apparent. Following DNA damage cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors are released from the mitochondria, allowing for formation of the apoptosome and subsequent cleavage and activation of caspase-9. Active caspase-9 then activates downstream caspases-3 and/or -7, which in turn cleave poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP) and other down-stream targets, resulting in apoptosis. In an effort to understand the mechanisms of Akt-mediated cell survival in breast cancer, we studied the effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I treatment on UV-treated MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Apoptosis was induced in MCF-7 cells after UV treatment, as measured by caspase-7 and PARP cleavage, and IGF-I co-treatment protected against this response. Surprisingly caspase-9 cleavage was unchanged with UV and/or IGF-I treatment. Using MCF-7 cells overexpressing caspase-3 we have shown that resistance of caspase-9 to cleavage was not altered by the expression of caspase-3. Furthermore, overexpression of caspase-9 did not enhance PARP or caspase-7 cleavage after UV treatment. Because caspase-8 was activated with UV treatment alone, we believe that UV-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells occurs independently of cytochrome c and caspase-9, supporting the existence of a cytoplasmic inhibitor of cytochrome c in MCF-7 cells. We anticipate that such inhibitors may be overexpressed in cancer cells, allowing for treatment resistance.
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PMID:UV-induced apoptosis is mediated independent of caspase-9 in MCF-7 cells: a model for cytochrome c resistance. 1295 16

Sulforaphane (SUL), an isothiocyanate found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to induce phase II detoxification enzymes, inhibit chemically induced mammary tumors in rats, and more recently to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells of the colon. Here, we provide evidence that SUL also acts as a breast cancer anti-proliferative agent. The BALB/c mouse mammary carcinoma cell line F3II was treated with SUL at concentrations up to 15 microM and examined for markers of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Treatment of asynchronous F3II cells with 15 microM SUL resulted in G2/M cell cycle arrest, elevated p34cdc2 (cdc2) kinase activity, Bcl-2 down-regulation, evidence of caspase activation, and aggregation of condensed nuclear chromatin. Subsequent exposure of synchronized cells to 15 microM SUL resulted in elevated numbers of prophase/prometaphase mitotic figures, indicating cell cycle progression beyond G2 and arrest early within mitosis. Moreover, cells treated with 15 microM SUL displayed aberrant mitotic spindles, and higher doses of SUL inhibited tubulin polymerization in vitro. In addition, BALB/c mice injected s.c. with F3II cells and subsequently injected daily i.v. with SUL (15 nmol/day for 13 days) developed significantly smaller tumors (approximately 60% less in mass) than vehicle-treated controls. Western blot analysis of tumor proteins demonstrated significantly (P<0.05) reduced PCNA and elevated PARP fragmentation in samples from animals dosed with SUL. Taken together, these results indicate that SUL has mammary cancer suppressive actions both in cell culture and in the whole animal. Inhibition of mammary carcinogenesis appears in part to involve perturbation of mitotic microtubules and early M-phase block associated with cdc2 kinase activation, indicating that cells arrest prior to metaphase exit.
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PMID:Sulforaphane: a naturally occurring mammary carcinoma mitotic inhibitor, which disrupts tubulin polymerization. 1457 57

Drug resistance is a major impediment to the successful treatment of breast cancer using chemotherapy. The photoactivatable drug calphostin C has shown promise in killing select drug-resistant tumor cells lines in vitro. To assess the effectiveness of this agent in killing doxorubicin- or paclitaxel-resistant breast tumor cells and to explore its mode of action, MCF-7 cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of either doxorubicin or paclitaxel until maximum resistance was obtained. This resulted in the creation of isogenic drug-resistant MCF-7TAX and MCF-7DOX cell lines, which were approximately 50- and 65-fold resistant to paclitaxel and doxorubicin, respectively. Interestingly, calphostin C was able to kill MCF-7TAX cells as efficiently as wildtype MCF-7 cells (IC50s were 9.2 and 13.2 nM, respectively), while MCF-7DOX cells required a 5-fold higher concentration of calphostin C to achieve the same killing (IC50 = 64.2 nM). Consistent with their known mechanisms of action, paclitaxel killed tumor cells by inducing mitotic arrest and cell multinucleation, while doxorubicin induced plasma membrane blebbing and decreased nuclear staining with propidium iodide. In contrast, cytoplasmic vacuolization accompanied cell killing by calphostin C in these cell lines, without the induction of caspase-8 or PARP cleavage or the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. Calphostin C had little effect on the uptake of either paclitaxel or doxorubicin by the cells. Taken together, the above data suggests that calphostin C is able to potently kill drug-resistant breast tumor cells through a mechanism that may involve the induction of cytoplasmic vacuolization, without activation of typical apoptotic pathways. Consequently, calphostin C may prove useful clinically to combat tumor growth in breast cancer patients whose tumors have become unresponsive to anthracyclines or taxanes, particularly in association with photodynamic therapy.
Breast Cancer Res Treat 2003 Nov
PMID:Potent killing of paclitaxel- and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells by calphostin C accompanied by cytoplasmic vacuolization. 1469 56

Taxotere is a cytotoxin effective in treating breast and prostate cancer. It stabilizes microtubules and causes catastrophic cell cycle arrest in G2/M. Taxanes also initiate apoptosis by activating signal pathways, such as the jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Strategies aimed at potentiating cell death signaling may improve their efficacy while lessening the potential side effects. We reported that all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) potentiated taxane-mediated cell death. Here we investigated whether ATRA potentiates cell death signaling through the JNK pathway. Activation of JNK by Taxotere 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 microM was observed at 24 h in adherent cells and increased at 48 h. Taxotere 0.001 microM-induced JNK activation started after 48 h and increased at 72 h. The timing and intensity of PARP cleavage was similar to that of JNK activation. JNK activation and PARP cleavage induced by 30 nM Taxotere at 48 h were reversed by curcumin, PD169316 and SP600125, JNK inhibitors in order of progressive specificity. None of these inhibitors had an effect on p38 or ERK phosphorylation. All three inhibitors reversed Taxotere-induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2. ATRA induced JNK activation at 24, 48 and 72 h. Incubating cells with ATRA 0.01 microM for 3 days prior to Taxotere treatment potentiated Taxotere-induced JNK activation 24 and 48 h later, an effect sustained for 72 h. Cytotoxicities from 3-day ATRA 0.01 microM incubations were synergistic with subsequent 1-h Taxotere 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 microM incubations in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3, and additive in breast cancer cell line SK-Br-3. These data demonstrate the potentiation of Taxotere-induced cell death by ATRA pretreatment in breast and prostate cancer cells, and support a mechanism through accentuated and sustained JNK activation.
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PMID:All-trans retinoic acid potentiates Taxotere-induced cell death mediated by Jun N-terminal kinase in breast cancer cells. 1472 71

Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) is a nuclear transcription factor that mediates interferon and other cytokine effects and appears to have antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo in cancer cells. We have constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad-IRF-1) that infects mammary cells with high efficiency and results in high levels of functional IRF-1 protein in transfected cells. Overexpression of IRF-1 in two mouse breast cancer cell lines, C3-L5 and TS/A, resulted in apoptosis in these cell lines as assessed by Annexin V staining. The involvement of caspases was confirmed by significant inhibition of apoptosis by a caspase inhibitor, and by demonstration of caspase-3 activity, cleavage of caspase-3, and PARP cleavage. Interestingly, the growth of nonmalignant breast cell lines C127I and NMuMG did not appear to be inhibited by IRF-1 overexpression. Suppression of growth for breast cancer cell lines in vivo was demonstrated by both preinfection of breast cancer cells ex vivo and by intratumoral injection of Ad-IRF-1 into established tumors in their natural hosts. The mechanism of apoptosis may involve the transcriptional upregulation of bak, caspase-8, and caspase-7 expression. These data support the antitumor potential of IRF-1 and the use of agents that increase IRF-1 in breast cancer.
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PMID:IRF-1 expression induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor growth in mouse mammary cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. 1476 41


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