title: HAS2 and CD44 in breast tumorigenesis.
abstract: Metastatic spread of breast cancer cells, facilitated by the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, is responsible for the majority of breast cancer mortality. Increased levels of hyaluronan due to deregulation of hyaluronan-synthesizing enzymes, like HAS2, and expression of CD44, the key receptor for hyaluronan, are correlated to poor outcome of patients with basal-like breast cancer. TGFβ induces HAS2 and CD44, both of which are required in the course of efficient TGFβ-induced EMT processes by mammary epithelial cells. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor-stroma interactions in breast cancer including the regulation of HAS2 and CD44 expression may contribute to the development of better strategies to treat breast cancer patients.
authors: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: evi.heldin@licr.uu.se.
authors: Paraskevi
authors: P
authors: Heldin
authors: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Kaustuv
authors: K
authors: Basu
authors: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Inna
authors: I
authors: Kozlova
authors: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Helena
authors: H
authors: Porsch
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000502:physiology*; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; C101754:HAS2 protein, human; D000076002:Hyaluronan Synthases
keywords: Adhesion receptors; Breast cancer; CD44; EMT; HASes; HYALs; Hyaluronan; Hyaluronan synthesis and degradation; Invasion; Metastasis; Receptors for growth factors and cytokines