Gene expression profiling of early involuting mammary gland reveals novel genes potentially relevant to human breast cancer.
Mammary gland involution represents one of the most dramatic examples of programmed cell death/apoptosis and tissue regression during development, yet large gaps still exist in the understanding of the mechanisms involved, and the key factors that trigger involution, are not yet identified. With the focus on identifying "novel" genes associated with mammary gland regression, we used microarray analysis to examine differentially expressed genes during early mammary gland involution in the mouse. We then examined the relevance of candidate genes to human tumorigenesis and identified a number of genes not previously implicated or not well characterized in human breast cancer. The expression levels of these genes in human breast cancer were confirmed in breast cancer cell lines and breast tumor tissues. This pilot study demonstrates proof of principle that through the analysis of gene expression during mammary gland involution, it may be possible to identify "novel" genes relevant human breast cancer.
Blanchard
Anne
A
University of Manitoba, Department of Pathology, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Shiu
Robert
R
Booth
Stephanie
S
Sorensen
Garrett
G
DeCorby
Nicole
N
Nistor
Andreea
A
Wong
Paul
P
Leygue
Etienne
E
Myal
Yvonne
Y
D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D062445:Claudin-1; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D052138:Genes, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
C568108:CLDN1 protein, human; D062445:Claudin-1; C568113:Cldn1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins