Role of BRCA1 in Estrogen Receptor Expression in Breast Cancer

Abstract

The overall goal of our research is to investigate the correlation between BRCAl-mutated breast cancers and the Estrogen Receptor (ER)-negative phenotype. At this point in our work, experiments with patient specimens are too preliminary for conclusions. We have analyzed DNA from a panel of cell lines as we've worked out the specific conditions of our assays, as well as to allow for correlation with published literature with these cell lines. These analyses have revealed heterogeneity in the CpG methylation status of the ER promoter in ER-negative cell lines that had not previously been appreciated. Whereas some such cell lines show methylation at this promoter (e.g. MDA-231 cells), as reported in the literature, others do not. For instance, minimal-to-no methylation was evident in the HCC1937 breast cancer cell line (derived from a BRCA1 mutation carrier) or the 184B5 line of immortalized mammary epithelial cells. Neither of these lines have been included in prior reports of ER promoter methylation in the past. It is as yet unclear which, if any, of these cell lines will be representative of the status found from actual tumor specimens.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA389663

Entities

People

  • Kristen A. Doherty

Organizations

  • Dartmouth College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anatomy
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cells
  • Cells (Biology)
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Electronic Mail
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Estrogens
  • Methylation
  • Mutations
  • Neoplasms
  • New Hampshire
  • Tumor Cell Line

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.