Project Details
Description
PUBLIC ABSTRACT
This study plans to focus on the life of breast cancer (BC) before the cancer cells invade bone. Specifically, the studies will determine why the cancer cells that close to the bone within the cavity of bone marrow evade current treatments. This study is important for an early phase of the disease as well as during a "sleepy" phase when the cancer cells are in remission. During both times, the cancer cells are quiet and are considered "hidden." The premise is that the cancer cells form a bridge with bone marrow stroma. This bridge is referred as gap junctions. The bridge allows the cancer cells to accept small molecules called microRNA (miRNAs) from the stromal cells. These miRNAs cause the cancer cells to stop replicating and remain quiet, but alive. In addition, the miRNAs prevent the cancer cells from interrupting the normal function of the bone marrow. This means that a regular medical examination will indicate normal functioning bone marrow and gives a false impression that there are no cancer cells. The studies will use a lab method in which the cancer cells are placed in contact with bone marrow stroma. Two low aggressive cancer cells will be studied: T47D and MCF7 in three aims. Aim 1 will determine levels of the miRNA in the cancer cells before they contact stroma and after contact. This aim will verify if the changes are due to passage from one cell to the other through a bridge between cells. Aim 2 will expand on the first to determine if the miRNAs also include those that cause the cancer cells to co-exist with other cells in bone marrow. The second part of the aim will also include investigational study to ensure that the miRNAs are causing the quiet mode of the cancer cells. Aim 3 plans to determine if the survival of the cancer cells could be linked to the miRNAs. The aims are expected to identify new treatments for a particular subset of cancer cells that cannot be currently targeted in bone marrow and perhaps open avenues for the return of autologous bone marrow transplantation for breast cancer.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 1/1/07 → 12/31/07 |
Funding
- U.S. Department of Defense: $117,000.00