Beta-Catenin: A Potential Survival Marker of Breast Cancer Stem Cells
Abstract
The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has been extensively studied for its role in development and cancer. It has been established that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling regulates the self renewal of normal stem cells in the hematopoietic system, the epidermis, as well as many other organs, but the importance of this pathway in breast stem/progenitors has not yet been investigated. The overall objective of this study is to determine the mechanisms by which beta-catenin might promote breast stem/progenitor cell survival, while inhibiting mammary differentiation. If the Wnt/beta-catenin signal transduction pathway is critical for breast stem cell survival, it may be possible to sensitize these cells to chemotherapeutic agents by inhibiting this pathway. These studies may, therefore, provide new targets for understanding the etiology of, and be critical for the design of new treatments for, breast cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA446859
Entities
People
- Jeffrey M. Rosen
- Mercy S. Chen
Organizations
- Baylor College of Medicine