Accession Number:

ADA495683

Title:

LIV-1 and Zn Transporters: Establishing a Link Between Hyperprolactinemia and Breast Cancer

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 15 Sep 2007-14 Sep 2008

Corporate Author:

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV UNIVERSITY PARK

Report Date:

2008-10-14

Pagination or Media Count:

57.0

Abstract:

Evidence implicates dysregulated cellular zinc Zn metabolism in breast cancer. Regulation of Zn transport controls programmed cell death which is uncoupled in cancer. A relationship between hyperprolactinemia and breast cancer has been observed. We speculate prolactin modulates cellular Zn metabolism. Clinical studies have suggested the Zn importer Zip6 LIV-1 as a prognostic marker for breast cancer however, the functional relevance is unknown. We explored Zip6 function and examined its regulation by prolactin in tumorigenic T47D cells. Zinc level of T47D cells was 20 higher than in normal breast cells. Zip6 protein abundance was 10-fold higher, 90 of which was located intracellularly, suggesting that if functional, Zip6 traffics to the plasma membrane. Zip6-attenuation reduced cellular Zn level, cytochrome c release and caspase activity but preliminarily increased cell proliferation and tumorigenesis potentially from decreased E-cadherin expression. Prolactin increased Zn uptake however, neither Zip6 expression or localization was affected, implicating other Zn transporters in this process. In summary, Zip6 over-expression may act as a tumor suppressor suggesting that therapies attempting to attenuate Zip6 expression may result in enhanced proliferation and metastasis. Thus, elucidating novel prognostic markers and understanding their role in breast cancer transformation and progression is critical to developing efficacious therapies.

Subject Categories:

  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE