Notch activation stimulates migration of breast cancer cells and promotes tumor growth |
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Authors: | Victoria Bolós Emilia Mira Beatriz Martínez-Poveda Guillermo Luxán Marta Ca?amero Carlos Martínez-A Santos Ma?es José Luis de la Pompa |
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Affiliation: | 1.Program of Cardiovascular Developmental Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Development and Repair, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, E-28029 Madrid, Spain;2.Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/CSIC, Darwin 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain;3.Comparative Pathology Unit, Biotechnology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, E-28029 Madrid, Spain |
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Abstract: |
IntroductionDysregulated NOTCH receptor activity has been implicated in breast cancer but the mechanisms by which NOTCH contributes to transformation are not yet clear, as it has context-dependent effects on the properties of transformed cells.MethodsWe have used various in vitro and in vivo carcinogenic models to analyze the impact of Notch signaling in the onset and progression of breast tumors.ResultsWe found that ectopic expression of the Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) in MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cell line caused reduction and delocalization of E-CADHERIN levels and increased migratory and invasive abilities. Notch inhibition in the invasive breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 resulted in increased E-CADHERIN expression and a parallel reduction in their invasive capacity. The growth of subcutaneous xenografts produced with MCF-7 cells was boosted after N1ICD induction, in a cell autonomous manner. In vivo Notch1 activation in the mammary gland using the MMTV-Cre driver caused the formation of papillary tumors that showed increased Hes1 and Hey1 expression and delocalized E-cadherin staining.ConclusionsThese results confirm NOTCH1 as a signal triggering epithelial-mesenchymal transition in epithelial cancer cells, which may have implications in tumor dissemination, metastasis and proliferation in vivo. The identification of specific factors interacting with NOTCH signaling could thus be relevant to fully understanding the role of NOTCH in breast neoplasia. |
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Keywords: | Mammary tumor MCF-7 HT-29 MDA-MB-231 NOTCH E-CADHERIN EMT migration growth |
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