Cadherin-11 and Breast Cancer
Abstract
Cadherin-11 is unique amongst cadherins in that it exists as two alternatively spliced forms that are expressed together in the same cell. In year 1 of this grant we show that expression of wild-type cadherin-11 with or without co-expression of the C-terminal truncated splice variant, promotes epithelial differentiation of the cadherin-negative SKBR3 cell line. Exogenous wild-type cadherin-11 association with and membrane recruitment of beta catenin and p120 is unaffected by co-expression of the truncated variant. Cadherin-11 expressing cells exhibited modest changes in cell proliferation and no change in anchorage independent growth. However, co-expression of wild-type cadherin-11 and the splice variant promoted a dramatic increase in the ability of SKBR3 cells and E-cadherin positive MCF-7 cells to traverse Matrigel-coated filters. Biochemical studies indicate that the truncated variant is secreted from the cell and enters a detergent-insoluble extracellular compartment. These data suggest that the presence of the cadherin- ii splice variant promotes invasion of cadherin-11 I positive breast cancer cells, perhaps by promoting cell-ECM interactions. In other studies a new antibody specific for cadherin-11 variant was developed and a series of cell lines expressing cadherin-11 ribozymes have been made.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA407421
Entities
People
- Stephen Byers
Organizations
- Georgetown University