NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Study of metastasis of human breast cancer cells in immunodeficient mice shows distinct organ-specific dissemination, researchers report in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. The genetic signature of these cells appears to differ by destination.
“This work demonstrates that different breast cancer cells from the same patient can spread...to different vital organs -- the lung, the bones, the adrenal glands,” senior investigator Dr. Joan Massague told Reuters Health.
Dr. Massague of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York and colleagues note that microarray technology allows examination of expression of 70 genes in primary breast cancer tumors. These are highly indicative of a poor prognosis (see related Reuters Health reports November 2, 2004, December 18, 2002, and January 30, 2002.)
The researchers found that in their mouse model, despite showing markedly different abilities to metastasize, individual cells established in culture from the pleural effusion of a breast cancer patient exhibited this poor prognosis signature to a similar degree.
Moreover, using a gene expression signature associated with bone metastasis, the team was able to distinguish between primary carcinomas that preferentially metastasized to bone from those with other destinations.
This work, Dr. Massague concluded, “sets the stage for the discovery of genes that allow these tumor cells to form such metastases and for their neutralization with suitable drugs.”
Source: J Clin Invest 2005;115:44-55. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Animal Diseases: Disease Models, Animal: Genetic Techniques: Investigative Techniques: Gene Expression Profiling: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: DiseasesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
