In Utero Influences, Breast Stem Cells, and Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand the biological determinants of breast density, a strong predictor of human breast cancer risk, in an animal model of in utero insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) exposure. In utero exposure of 5 micrograms of total IGF-1 during gestational days 10 to 18 in pregnant wild type C57BL/6J or IGF-1 deficient mice resulted in significantly heavier body weights of the offspring at post-natal day 3, day 7, and even up to day 21 when compared to PBS controls, but not at birth. This positive association was extended to levels of putative breast stem/progenitor CD49f14. ABSTRACT +CD24+ and CD49f+CD29+CD24+ cells and breast density, as assessed by the sum of the different mammary gland structures per unit area per gland. The findings demonstrate that in utero exposure to low levels of mitogens such as IGF-1 may be sufficient to influence cancer risk in the adult life, in particular breast cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA553934
Entities
People
- Chung-cheng Hsieh
Organizations
- University of Massachusetts