Biological Effects of Calcium Hydroxyapatile Crystals in Breast Cancer
Abstract
Radiographic mammary microcalcifications are one of the most pertinent diagnostic markers of breast cancer. Breast tissue calcification in the form of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals is strongly associated with malignant disease. HA crystals play a well-described role in a number of disease processes unrelated to the breast, including severe cartilage destruction. The characteristics of HA believed to be essential to pathogenesis include their ability to induce I) cell replication and 2) matrix metalloprotease (MMP) production, both of which may be relevant to growth and/or metastasis of breast cancer. The goal of this project is to test the hypothesis that HA crystals facilitate breast cancer progression because of their ability to induce mitogenesis and MMP production. We have shown that calcium HA crystals enhance mitogenesis in normal HF, non- malignant mammary cell lines (HMEC and Hs578BSt) and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and Hs578T) alone or in co-culture. HA crystals enhance the production of a variety of MMP in normal or breast cancer cell lines alone or in co-culture. In addition, HA crystals can enhance PGE2 production in some mammary cell lines by upregulation of cyclo-oxygenases (COX) 1 and 2. Finally, HA crystals induce IL-lb but not TNF-a in HF. Taken together, these data support the active role of calcium HA in breast cancer progression.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388473
Entities
People
- Geraldine Mccarthy
Organizations
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland