Classification and characterization of a novel basal-like breast cancer group.

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25870384
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Tumor biology; Tumor diagnostics
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: ITOU Junji 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 特定助教 (10638844)
• Research Collaborator: MATSUMOTO Yoshiaki
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 癌細胞 / 転写因子 / 増殖能 / 運動能

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Understanding molecular characteristics of cancer will facilitate cancer therapy. This study found a novel basal-like breast cancer cell group, the malignancy of which is regulated by a transcription factor SALL4. Knockdown experiments for SALL4 revealed that SALL4 maintains cell proliferation. In addition, SALL4 increases motility via suppression of cell-cell adhesion. These observations contribute to our understanding of basal-like breast cancer.
To further study for basal-like breast cancer cells, this study established a novel fluorescent protein-based proliferation assay. This assay utilizes photoconvertible fluorescent protein, Kaede, for pulse-labeling. In our observation, there always are few non- or slow-cycling cells in basal-like breast cancer cell lines. This technique will be a useful tool for cancer researches and anti-cancer drug development.

Free Research Field

分子腫瘍学