TOP STORIES

Stem Cell 'Daughters' Lead to Breast Cancer
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have found that a population of breast cells called luminal progenitor cells are likely to be responsible for breast cancers that develop in women carrying mutations in the gene BRCA1. [Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville]

SCIENCE NEWS

Avastin(R) (Bevacizumab) Now Approved For Use In Combination With Docetaxel For The First Line Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer, UK
European commission approves broader label for Avastin allowing combination with docetaxel for the first-line treatment of advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. [Roche UK, Shire Park]

Breast Cancer: Study of Radiation After Mastectomy Includes Chinese for First Time
For the first time, a large international breast cancer study will recruit up to 200 patients from Beijing and six other Chinese cities to participate in a randomized clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of radiation therapy after mastectomy. [Edinburgh Cancer Centre, Edinburgh]

Breakthrough Breast Cancer Audit Reveals Striking Differences in Breast Cancer Treatment Based on Age
Older women across the UK are less likely to receive standard treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery than younger women with a similar diagnosis. [Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Edinburgh]

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

LABORATORY RESEARCH

Aberrant Luminal Progenitors as The Candidate Target Population for Basal Tumor Development in BRCA1 Mutation Carriers
Study findings suggest that an aberrant luminal progenitor population is a target for transformation in BRCA1-associated basal tumors. [Nat Med]

Residual Breast Cancers after Conventional Therapy Display Mesenchymal as Well as Tumor-Initiating Features
Targeting proteins involved in epithelial-mesenchymal-transition may provide a therapeutic strategy for eliminating surviving cells to prevent recurrence and improve long-term survival in breast cancer patients. [PNAS]

A Developmentally Regulated Inducer of EMT, LBX1, Contributes To Breast Cancer Progression
Aberrant expression of LBX1 may lead to the activation of a developmentally regulated EMT pathway in human breast cancer. [Genes Dev]

Moderate Increase in Mdr1a/1b Expression Causes in vivo Resistance to Doxorubicin in a Mouse Model for Hereditary Breast Cancer
Study results show that even moderate increases of Mdr1 expression (as low as 5-fold) are sufficient to cause doxorubicin resistance. [Cancer Res]

A Loss-of-Function Polymorphism in The Propeptide Domain of The LOX Gene and Breast Cancer
Findings in this study identify for the first time genetic polymorphism as a mechanism of impaired tumor suppressor function of LOX-PP and suggest that it may play an etiologic role in ER-negative breast cancer. [Cancer Res]

hCLCA2 Is a p53-Inducible Inhibitor of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation
Results reveal hCLCA2 as a novel p53-inducible growth inhibitor, explain how its down-regulation confers a survival advantage to tumor cells, and suggest both prognostic and therapeutic applications. [Cancer Res]

Endothelial Cell Migration and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression Are The Result of Loss of Breast Tissue Polarity
This study confirms the importance of tissue architecture and polarity in malignant progression. [Cancer Res]

LMO4 is an Essential Mediator of ErbB2/HER2/Neu-Induced Breast Cancer Cell Cycle Progression
LMO4 is a novel cell cycle regulator with a key role in mediating ErbB2-induced proliferation, a hallmark of ErbB2-positive disease. [Oncogene]

Normal Human Mammary Epithelial Cells Proliferate Rapidly in The Presence of Elevated Levels of the Tumor Suppressors p53 and p21WAF1/CIP1
Increased levels of p53 in post-selection human mammary epithelial cells are due to the presence of an Mdm2 fragment that binds p53 but does not result in its degradation. [J Cell Sci]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Second Primary Breast Cancer Occurrence According to Hormone Receptor Status
Women with HR-negative first tumors have nearly a 10-fold elevated risk of developing HR-negative second tumors, compared with the general population. [J Natl Cancer Inst]

White House to Award Nation's Highest Civilian Honor to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Founder Nancy G. Brinker
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the worldwide breast cancer movement was nominated for the highest civilian honor in the United States - the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

NextGen Acquires Pending Patent from Oxon Life Science Linked to Breast Cancer Stem Cells
The anticipated patent describes an improved application for identifying and purifying undifferentiated stem cells from solid breast carcinomas that are usually resistant to conventional therapies.

POLICY NEWS

Obama Enacts New U.S. Stem Cell Research Rules
U.S. President Barack Obama directed federal agencies on Thursday to enact new rules governing federally funded research on human embryonic stem cells.

Germany Tightens Law on Stem Cell Treatments
Treatments in Germany involving adult stem cells will be more closely regulated after revision of Germany's medical products law received final approval by the Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament.

Events

Next Generation Comprehensive Breast Centers of Excellence
September 29-October 2, 2009
Baltimore, MD, United States

2009 National Cancer Research Institute Conference
October 4-7, 2009
Birmingham, United Kingdom

Global Breast Cancer Conference
October 8-10, 2009
Seoul, South Korea

Gordon Research Conference - Stem Cells and Cancer
September 13-18, 2009
Les Diablerets, Switzerland

AACR - Advances in Breast Cancer Research
October 13-16, 2009
San Diego, CA, United States

32nd Annual CTRC - AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
December 9-13, 2009
San Antonio, TX

Gordon Research Conference - Mammary Gland Biology
June 6-11, 2010
Lucca (Barga), Italy

The 21st Meeting of the European Association for Cancer Research
June 26-29, 2010
Oslo, Norway

Visit our events pageto stay up to date with the latest events in the cell, gene and immunotherapy community.

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