SCIENCE NEWS

New Understanding of How to Prevent Destruction of a Tumor Suppressor: Discovery May Lead to New Treatments for Late Stage Cancers
Researchers have determined how the protein Mdm2, which is elevated in late-stage cancers, disables genes that suppress the growth of tumors. The finding may lead to the development of new drugs for late stage breast cancer and other difficult to treat malignancies. [Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis]

Gene's Position in the Nucleus Can be Used to Distinguish Cancerous From Normal Breast Tissue
Researchers have identified several genes whose spatial position inside the cell nucleus is altered in invasive breast cancer when compared to normal breast tissue. [The National Cancer Institute, Bethesda]

Spices Halt Growth of Breast Stem Cells, Study Finds
When the dietary compounds curcumin, which is derived from the Indian spice turmeric, and piperine, derived from black peppers, were applied to breast cells in culture, they decreased the number of stem cells while having no effect on normal differentiated cells. [University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor]

Matrix Density-Induced Mechanoregulation of Breast Cell Phenotype, Signaling and Gene Expression Through a FAK-ERK Linkage
Current data provide compelling evidence for the importance of the mechanical features of the microenvironment, and suggest that mechanotransduction in these cells occurs through a FAK-Rho-ERK signaling network with extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as a bottleneck through which much of the response to mechanical stimuli is regulated. [Oncogene]

Telomerase Deficiency and Telomere Dysfunction Inhibit Mammary Tumors Induced by Polyomavirus Middle T Oncogene
Results indicate that, in the setting of viral oncoprotein mammary tumorigenesis, telomerase-dependent telomere maintenance facilitates the formation and metastatic progression of mammary tumors. [Oncogene]

Targeting Breast Stem Cells With the Cancer Preventive Compounds Curcumin and Piperine
To determine whether the dietary polyphenols, curcumin, and piperine are able to modulate the self-renewal of normal and malignant breast stem cells, researchers examined the effects of these compounds on mammosphere formation, expression of the breast stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and Wnt signaling. [Breast Cancer Res Treat]

Disease-Specific Gene Repositioning in Breast Cancer
Researchers have identified several genes whose nuclear positions are altered in human invasive breast cancer compared with normal breast tissue. [J Cell Biol]

Human Mammary Cancer Progression Model Recapitulates Methylation Events Associated With Breast Premalignancy
Researchers characterized a mammary progression model that recapitulates molecular and methylation alterations observed in many breast cancers. Their data suggest that concomitant methylation of RASSF1A and SFRP1 marks an early event in mammary transformation and may thus have prognostic potential. [Breast Cancer Res]

Sulindac Sulfide Selectively Inhibits Growth and Induces Apoptosis of Human Breast Tumor Cells by Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibition, Elevation of Cyclic GMP, and Activation of Protein Kinase G
Researchers show that sulindac sulfide induces apoptosis and inhibits the growth of human breast tumor cells. [Mol Cancer Ther]

CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phase II Multicenter Trial of Anthracycline Rechallenge With Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Plus Cyclophosphamide for First-Line Therapy of Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated With Adjuvant Anthracyclines
Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide is effective and well tolerated in patients with metastatic breast cancer who have received prior adjuvant anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. [J Clin Oncol]

Women Researchers Less Likely to Receive Major Career Funding Grants
Women were less likely than men to receive major funding for scientific research. The study also found that only a quarter of all researchers, both men and women, who received a major early career award went on to get further federal funding within five years.

Weekly NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices, December 11, 2009

EVENTS

32nd Annual 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

12th Milan Breast Cancer Conference
June 16-18, 2010
Milan, Italy

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

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

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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