Mammary Stromal Effects on Epithelial Differentiation and Expression of ESX and ErbB2 (HER2/neu)
Abstract
A novel system for studying growth of normal human mammary epithelium in vivo as grafts in athymic nude mice has been developed. The key feature of this model is the reconstitution of the epithelial-stromal interactions required for normal growth and differentiation of the human mammary epithelium, which produces ducts that are comparable to the normal human mammary gland. Human breast epithelial organoids were combined with mammary fibroblasts from mouse or human origin in collagen gels, which were subsequently transplanted under the renal capsule of female nude mice hosts. The resulting grafts showed an increase in the ductal density than observed previously. These ducts expressed appropriate markers for luminal and myoepithelial cells and steroid receptors. This model allows for a variety of epithelial and stromal cells to be used in combination, which would aid in understanding key factors that regulate normal human mammary gland development. The manuscript detailing this data has been accepted for publication in the December 2002 issue of Endocrinology. The experiments currently in progress utilize both normal and tumor epithelium and carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAF) in this model to assess the effect of CAF on the development of normal human mammary epithelium. CAF from a variety of tumors including ErbB2 positive tumors will be used.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA421067
Entities
People
- Gerald Cunha
- Hema R. Parmar
Organizations
- University of California, San Francisco