Assessment of the Activation State of Rho Family GTP-Binding Proteins in Breast Cancer Cells and Specimens

Abstract

Rho GTPases are known to play roles in various aspects of cancer development. To establish a causal link between activation of individual Rho GTPases and certain aspects of breast cancer, we have started to search for a functional association of Rho GTPases with mitogenic conditions and various physiological or pathological situations that may be connected to mammary cell transformation. As stated in this final report, we have established a method using the Rho GTPase-interactive effector domains of WASP, PAK 1, and Rhotekin to semi-quantitatively define the activation states of Rho family members Cdc42, Rac 1, and RhoA in cancer cells, and have applied this method to a number of cellular conditions which are related to mammary tumorigenesis. These studies are significant since the findings further confirmed the involvement of Rho GTPases in diverse physiological and pathological situations that may contribute to mammary carcinogenesis. The results obtained strongly support our long term goal to implicate specific Rho GTPases in breast cancer development and to devise novel anti-cancer therapeutics targeting individual Rho signaling pathways.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA429446

Entities

People

  • Yi Zheng

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Health Services
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Lymphocytes

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Theoretical Analysis.