title: Regulation of the breast cancer stem cell phenotype by hypoxia-inducible factors.
abstract: The small subpopulation of breast cancer cells that possess the capability for self-renewal and formation of secondary tumours that recapitulate the heterogeneity of the primary tumour are referred to as tumour-initiating cells or BCSCs (breast cancer stem cells). The hypoxic tumour microenvironment and chemotherapy actively induce the BCSC phenotype. HIFs (hypoxia-inducible factors) are required and molecular mechanisms by which they promote the BCSC phenotype have recently been delineated. HIF inhibitors block chemotherapy-induced enrichment of BCSCs, suggesting that their use may improve the response to chemotherapy and increase the survival of breast cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, U.S.A. gsemenza@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Gregg L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Semenza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D000099162:Endothelial PAS Domain-Containing Protein 1