Targeting of CD151 in Breast Cancer and in Breast Cancer Stem Cells

摘要

A mouse model for spontaneous breast cancer has been set up to analyze the role of CD151 during breast cancer progression. Using this model, which involves amplification of the ErbB2 oncogene, preliminary data was then obtained indicating that the absence of CD151 causes a substantial delay in the appearance of mouse mammary tumors. To confirm these preliminary results, we next set up a larger scale experiment to evaluate the role of CD151 during mammary tumor progression. Results from this larger scale experiment are pending further growth of the mice. In another experiment, a subpopulation of human MCF7 cells was isolated that has 'stem-cell' like properties. Removal of CD151 from this 'stem cell'-like population dramatically diminished cell invasion and responsiveness to EGF. In addition, the CD151 gene was successfully ablated from several different human mammary carcinoma cell lines, by using an siRNA strategy. As a consequence of CD151 removal, human mammary epithelial cells show diminished invasion, migration, signaling, adhesion, and EGFR collaboration. Together these results establish that CD151 plays a major role in the progression of breast cancer.