Breast cancer stem cells: something out of notching?
We and others have established that the developmental Notch receptor signaling pathway is active in breast cancer cell lines, as well as in preinvasive and invasive primary samples. Recently, a role for Notch in regulating the hierarchy of stem and progenitor cells in both normal and cancer epithelium has been elucidated. Because inhibiting the Notch receptor signaling pathway is a possible future breast cancer therapy, here, we review the expression and activity of the different ligands and receptors and summarize the various ways in which the pathway's activity can be inhibited, and the likely effects of inhibition on different tumor cell subpopulations.
Breast Biology Group, School of Cancer and Enabling Sciences, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, University of Manchester;, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Hannah
H
Harrison
Gillian
G
Farnie
Keith R
KR
Brennan
Robert B
RB
Clarke
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C424126:DLL4 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C106075:NOTCH4 protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000074562:Receptor, Notch4; D051880:Receptors, Notch