Transcription profile of a human breast cancer cell line expressing MMTV-like sequences.
BACKGROUND
It has been postulated that inflammation caused by certain viruses might result in cancer. Recently, it was shown that childhood lymphoblastic leukemia, breast and ovarian cancers express an interferon-related signature, providing support for this notion. We have previously shown that 38% of the sporadic breast cancers contain MMTV-like env gene sequences. To find out if the presence and expression of MMTV-like sequences correlated with an inflammatory phenotype, we have compared the expression profile of two sublines of MCF-7 cells, one containing the MMTV-like sequences (env+), the other one lacking them (env-).


RESULTS
The results indicated that there were 47 differentially expressed genes between the two sublines. Among 27 upregulated genes in the env+ cells there were 7 interferon-related genes, 5 TNF-connected genes and 2 TGFbeta-related genes.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the env+ cells were most likely responding to an infectious agent, and support the hypothesis that a viral infection may play a role in breast cancer pathogenesis.
Fernandez-Cobo
Mariana
M
Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA. mariana.fernandez@mssm.edu
Melana
Stella M
SM
Holland
James F
JF
Pogo
Beatriz G T
BG