Crosstalk Between Leptin Receptor and IGF-IR in Breast Cancer: A Potential Mediator of Chemoresistance

Abstract

Obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer, and is associated with reduced treatment response and reduced overall survival. The obesity-associated hormones IGF-I and leptin and their receptors, IGF-IR and leptin receptor (Ob-R), are elevated in breast cancer. Previously we reported a novel interaction and cross-talk between IGF-IR and Ob-R in breast cancer cell lines. Our work this year has focused on determining the effects of combined inhibition of Ob-R and IGF-IR on breast cancer cell proliferation. Because we have been unable to identify an effective inhibitor of leptin receptor, we are using an inhibitor of JAK2, which is immediately downstream of the leptin receptor. Inhibition of JAK2 reduced MCF7 cell proliferation. Results described in this report indicate that adipocyte-secreted factors found in conditioned media collected from adipocytes may in fact alter response to taxanes. Furthermore, MCF7 cells appear to be dependent upon JAK2 signaling, which is downstream of leptin receptor and potentially upregulated during obesity. Thus, JAK2 inhibition downstream of leptin receptor is a potential strategy for combating obesity-associated breast cancer and possibly for improving chemosensitivity of obesity-associated breast cancers.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA525623

Entities

People

  • Rita Nahta

Organizations

  • Emory University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Co-Channel Interference
  • Culture Media
  • Department Of Defense
  • Fat Cells
  • Growth Factors
  • Inhibition
  • Inhibitors
  • Neoplasms
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • Oncology (Cancer Research).