title: Die and let live: harnessing BikDD to combat breast cancer stem cells.
abstract: One of the possible mechanisms contributing to the intrinsic resistance of cancer stem cells (CSCs) to conventional therapies is the inefficiency of activating the apoptotic machinery. In a recent study by Lang and colleagues, the engineered constitutively active pro-apoptotic protein BikDD, which works by inhibiting multiple Bcl-2 family members, was tested in various preclinical breast cancer models. Delivered to cells via an innovative cancer cell-specific gene-therapy approach, BikDD showed potent activity against CSCs and synergized with lapatinib and paclitaxel treatment. This novel and promising therapy warrants further translation to the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. rschiff@bcm.edu
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: Meghana V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schiff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051927:CD24 Antigen / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000187:drug effects; D000077341:Lapatinib; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C096820:BIK protein, human; D051927:CD24 Antigen; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011799:Quinazolines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000077341:Lapatinib; D017239:Paclitaxel