The Role of Integrins in Breast Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

Our objective was to investigate the role of integrins in the metastasis of human breast cancer. Integrins play an important role in cell adhesions with extracellular matrix proteins and the maintenance of normal differentiation. Variants of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-435 were selected for different expression of alpha 6 integrin. High alpha 6 expressing cells showed enhanced binding to laminin and were more metastatic to the lungs of nude mice. MDA-MB-435 cells lack beta 4 integrin, due to alternate splicing of beta 4 RNA transcripts. Study of a panel of human breast cancer cells revealed a relationship between alpha 6 expression and malignant growth and metastasis in nude mice. The results support a hypothesis that high alpha 6 integrin expression promotes metastasis of breast cancer cells.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA381790

Entities

People

  • Janet Price

Organizations

  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bone And Bones
  • Bone Diseases
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Cellular Structures
  • Chemistry
  • Medical Personnel
  • Metastasis
  • Neoplasms
  • Oncology
  • Proteins

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.