title: Do early premalignant changes in normal breast epithelial cells predict cancer development?
abstract: A recent report suggests that, in an in vitro model of premalignant breast cells (vHMECs), silencing of INK4A gene is accompanied by over-expression of cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-2. This suggests that COX-2 over-expression may be an early event in breast cancer aetiology permitting clones within the normal epithelium to evade apoptosis, to increase their numbers and perhaps acquire further changes that promote the formation of hyperplasias, and eventually carcinomas. While COX-2 expression in normal breast epithelium in vivo has not been proven to be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, its over-expression in the premalignant model in vitro does provide preliminary evidence that COX-2 inhibition may be a useful chemoprevention strategy.
authors.affiliation: CR-UK Department of Medical Oncology, University of Manchester, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bundred
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2