Bone Factors Regulating the Osteotropism of Metastatic Breast Cancer
Abstract
This project seeks to identify the critical molecular interactions and cellular processes responsible for the preferential establishment of breast cancer metastases in the human skeleton. We are testing the hypothesis that malignant breast adenocarcinoma cells subvert the cooperative paracrine interactions between normal bone cells, endothelial cells, and the extracellular matrix in order to establish metastatic foci. We have developed strong preliminary data showing mimicry of the osteoblast phenotype by invasive breast adenocarcinoma cells; this mimicry includes a pattern of gene expression which may explain the osteotropism (homing and metastatic growth in bone) of breast cancer. In model human cell lines, and sublines recovered from bone metastases in nude mice, the inappropriate expression of the "bone specific" transcription factor CBFA1 appears to correlate with the degree of malignancy, and this probably drives the osteoblast mimicry; normal breast tissue does not express CBFA1.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADB248366
Entities
People
- Peter V. Hauschka