Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Abstract

This project seeks to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). 681 genes showed consistent and highly significant overexpression in TNBC compared to receptor-positive cancers in 2 data sets. For two genes, 3 of the 4 siRNAs showed preferential growth inhibition in TNBC cells. These two genes were the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) and very low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR). Exposure to their cognate ligands, reelin and apolipoprotein E isoform 4 (ApoE4), stimulated the growth of TNBC cells in vitro. Suppression of the expression of either LRP8 or VLDLR or exposure to RAP (an inhibitor of ligand binding) abolished ligand-induced proliferation. High-throughput protein and metabolic arrays revealed that ApoE4 stimulation rescued TNBC cells from serum-starvation induced up-regulation of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis, increased protein expression of oncogenes involved in the MAPK/ERK and DNA repair pathways, and reduced the serum-starvation induction of biochemicals involved in oxidative stress response and glycolytic metabolism. shLRP8 MDA-MB-231 xenografts had reduced tumor volume and increased levels of necrotic cells, in comparison to parental and shCON xenografts. These results indicate that LRP8-APOE signaling confers survival advantages to TNBC tumors under reduced nutrient conditions and during environmental stress. As such, they may serve as potential targets for the treatment of triple-negative breast disease.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA584897

Entities

People

  • Christine Shiang

Organizations

  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Chemistry
  • Data Sets
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Genes
  • Genetics
  • Identification
  • Inhibition
  • Lipids
  • Metabolism
  • Neoplasms
  • Nutrition Disorders
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Proteins
  • Throughput
  • Xenografts

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Molecular Biology and Genetics
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology