Disruption of the Circadian Rhythms of Gene Expression and the Development of Breast Cancer

Abstract

This project uses a mouse model to examine the effects of shiftwork on the expression of genes that are directly involved in the genesis and progression of breast cancer. Task 1: Shift work simulation experiments in mice have been accomplished. High variability has made it advisable to increase the number of animals from n=5 per group to n=10. Results show that shift work produces a shift in the rhythm of core clock genes and the attenuation of expression of genes involved in cell cycle. A manuscript with these results is currently in preparation. Task 2: Two preliminary experiments have been carried out to assess the grafting success of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 tumour cells. We expect to run the full experiment within 8 weeks. Task 4: We have successfully crossed the Clock mutation on to a BALB/c-Foxn1nu background. The pups from this cross were not viable due to the inability of the mothers to lactate their offspring. This, in itself, is a very interesting finding. We have been able to maintain this colony by cross fostering the mutant pups to a lactating heterozygote mother. As a backup we have started to cross the Clock mutation on to a Severe combined immuno-defficient (SCID) mouse background with the expectation that these will not manifest the same problems.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA467567

Entities

People

  • David J. Kennaway

Organizations

  • University of Adelaide

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Animals
  • Australia
  • Biomedical Research
  • Brain
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Circadian Rhythms
  • Department Of Defense
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Phenomena
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Mammary Glands
  • Neoplasms
  • Simulations
  • Tumor Cell Line

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Circadian Sleep-Wake Regulation and Chronobiology
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).
  • Systems Analysis and Design