Alterations of EGFR, p53 and PTEN that mimic changes found in basal-like breast cancer promote transformation of human mammary epithelial cells

Maira M. Pires, Benjamin D. Hopkins, Lao H. Saal, Ramon E. Parsons

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Breast cancer can be classified into different molecular subtypes with varying clinical and pathological characteristics. The basal-like breast cancer subtype represents one of the most aggressive and lethal types of breast cancer, and due to poor mechanistic understanding, it lacks targeted therapy. Many basal-like breast cancer patient samples display alterations of established drivers of cancer development, including elevated expression of EGFR, p53 inactivating mutations and loss of expression of the tumor suppressor PTEN; however, their contribution to human basal-like breast cancer pathogenesis remains ill-defined. Using non-transformed human mammary epithelial cells, we set out to determine whether altering EGFR, p53 and PTEN in different combinations could contribute to basal-like breast cancer progression through transformation of cells. Altering PTEN in combination with either p53 or EGFR in contrast to any of the single alterations caused increased growth of transformed colonies in soft agar. Concomitantly modifying all three genes led to the highest rate of cellular proliferation and the greatest degree of anchorage-independent colony formation. Results from our effort to engineer a model of BBC expressing alterations of EGFR, p53 and PTEN suggest that these changes are cooperative and likely play a causal role in basal-like breast cancer pathogenesis. Consideration should be given to targeting EGFR and restoring p53 and PTEN signaling simultaneously as a strategy for treatment of this subtype of breast cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)246-253
Number of pages8
JournalCancer Biology and Therapy
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Basal-like breast cancer
  • Dominant-negative
  • EGFR
  • MCF10A
  • Oncogene
  • P53
  • PTEN
  • Soft agar
  • Transformation
  • Tumor suppressor

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