Extracellular Matrix in Breast Cancer Invasion
Abstract
The subject of this research is breast cancer metastasis. Our long-term goal is to find cancer treatments based on targeting directly the metastasis process. An Important element of innovation in our approach is that we visualize metastasis as a problem of breakdown in tissue organization. Consequently, for the purposes of cancer treatment, our target is the mammary gland as a tissue, rather than the individual cells. By taking a strictly reductionist approach, we are investigating the actual molecular mechanisms that keep breast epithelial cells segregated on the luminal side of the basal lamina. These epithelial cells are the ones from which invasive breast cancer arises. In our previous work, we identified a molecular mechanism (1, 2) that determines whether normal or cancer breast cells may or may not cross the basal lamina. This mechanism relies on the interaction of laminin-5, a major extracellular matrix molecule of basal lamina, with matrix metalloproteases and integrins. The specific challenge of this proposal is to determine how pervasive this mechanism is in regulating migratory versus stationary behavior of breast epithelial cells. If such mechanism is an important one, we will be one step away from entering a discovery phase for novel drugs or treatments that prevent or block breast cancer invasion.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADB258887
Entities
People
- Vito Quaranta
Organizations
- Scripps Research