Expression and Function of FGF-8 During Murine Mammary Gland Development and Tumorigenesis
Abstract
Fibroblasts growth factors (FGFs) are potent growth factors that have been shown to play crucial roles in developmental processes and have been correlated with tumorigenesis. FGFs make up a family of eighteen genes (FGF I-18) coding for secreted ligands and four genes coding for the FGF receptor. Several recent studies have suggested a correlation between FGF8 expression and tumorigenesis. FGF8 can transform NIH 3T3 cells, is overexpressed in human prostate and breast tumors and is expressed in several tumor cell lines. FGF8 is the only FGF family member that has been shown to be overexpressed in human breast cancer. Experiments in our laboratory suggest that FGF8 is expressed at very low levels during virgin development and increases during pregnancy. Overexpression of FGF8 was detected in several mammary gland tumors derived from hyperplastic alveolar nodules and the DIM3 mammary tumor cell line. This is in contrast to other FGF family members that are generally down regulated during pregnancy and in tumors. The objective of this proposal is to understand the mechanism of FGF8 action in mammary tumorigenesis and development using mammary reconstitution experiments. Towards this end a system of inducible FGFR activation has been developed to elucidate the role of receptor signaling in mammary tumorigenesis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA381342
Entities
People
- Bryan E. Welm
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine