Role of Rac GTPases in Chemokine-Stimulated Breast Carcinoma Metastasis
Abstract
CXCR4 is highly expressed in breast carcinoma cells and is essential for breast cancer metastasis to the lung. The molecular mechanisms of CXCR4-mediated breast cancer metastasis are poorly understood. In this project we aimed to test the hypothesis that Rac proteins are essential for CXCR4-mediated breast carcinoma cell proliferation and survival, thereby contributing to breast cancer metastasis. In Task 1, we have investigated the role of Rac proteins in CXCR4-regulated breast carcinoma cell proliferation and survival in vitro. We have focused our analysis on a novel splice form of Rac1 that is induced during breast cancer progression. We have shown that Rac1b is induced under stress-related conditions, including hypoxia, ionizing radiation and serum starvation and that Rac1 and Rac1b play distinct roles in cell proliferation and cellular signaling events. In Task 2, we planned to determine the contribution of Rac proteins to breast cancer metastasis in vivo, but we had to terminate this line of research due to technical difficulties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA502287
Entities
People
- Marc Symons