Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) gene amplification in MDA-MB-231 aggressive breast cancer cells.
Recent studies using human breast cancer cell lines, animal models, and human tissue biopsies have suggested a close correlation between the expression of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) and the progression of breast cancer. This study investigates the genetic status of the PBR gene in two human breast cancer cell lines: MDA-MB-231 cells, which are an aggressive breast cancer cell line that contains high levels of PBR, and MCF-7 cells, which are a nonaggressive cell line that contains low levels of PBR. Both DNA (Southern) blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses indicate that the PBR gene is amplified in MDA-MB-231 relative to MCF-7 cells. These data suggest that PBR gene amplification may be an important indicator of breast cancer progression.
Hardwick
Matthew
M
Division of Hormone Research, Department of Cell Biology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown, Washington DC 20007, USA.
Cavalli
Luciane R
LR
Barlow
Keith D
KD
Haddad
Bassem R
BR
Papadopoulos
Vassilios
V
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A