Role of the Mammary Adenocarcinoma Cell Transferrin Response in Breast Cancer Metastasis

摘要

Prior to the grant, we had found that breast cancer expression of the transferrin receptor (TfR) and concomitant response to transferrin correlated with the metastatic capabilities of the cells. The purpose of the grant was to test this by purposefully altering breast cancer cell TfR expression, and to determine the effects of this on their metastatic behavior. In addition, the creation of and assessment of self-Tf producing cells was proposed as well as the testing of some known TfR modulators on breast cancer cell TfR level. In a rat breast cancer cell model, lab-induced elevation of cellular TfR by selection or transfection techniques caused an increase in metastatic capability, proving the major aims of the grant. Attempts to decrease TfR expression by antisense TfR transfection were met with major roadblocks, however, successful accomplishment of this was performed in vitro. A plasmid containing the human Tf cDNA was unable to confer Tf production in transfected cells. Interleukins which have major TfR level modulating effects on certain immune and other cells were found not to fluctuate breast cancer cell TfR levels.