The Role of ROS in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Abstract
Numerous cancer cells generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are thought to promote cell proliferation, cell motility and invasion, prerequisites for tumor metastasis. Recently novel ROS-generating enzymes termed Nox have been identified in epithelial cells. Transfer of Nox into non-transforming epithelial cells increased ROS production and rendered these cells tumorigenic. Our project will identify Nox family members in cancer cells and evaluate if they are required for constitutive ROS generation and altered cell behavior. Breast cancer cell lines were screened by RT-PCR for the presence of identified nox genes and did not contain known Nox family members, as expected due to their tissue specificity. The regulation of Nox-based enzyme systems might be under control of small GTPases and their effectors. We will test this hypothesis by introducing mutants of these regulatory molecules into breast cancer cells via adenoviral transfer and evaluate ROS generation. To test the involvement of Nox family members in cell migration and invasion, in vitro assays systems are used to test Nox-transfected cell lines and cancer cell lines, which are inhibited in their ability to generate ROS. The activity of deregulated Nox proteins leading to ROS generation may have wide ranging implications in tumorigenic events including metastasis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA392390
Entities
People
- Ulla G. Knaus
Organizations
- Scripps Research