Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Orthotopic Transplantation of Breast Tumors as Preclinical Models for Breast Cancer
Published on: May 18, 2020
Gene expression profiling to identify oncogenic determinants of autocrine human growth hormone in human mammary
Xiu Qin Xu1, B Starling Emerald, Eyleen L K Goh
1Microarray and Expression Genomics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Republic of Singapore.
Abstract:
We have exploited a discrepancy in the oncogenic potential of autocrine and exogenous human growth hormone (hGH) in an attempt to identify molecules that could potentially be involved in oncogenic transformation of the human mammary epithelial cell. Microarray analysis of 19,000 human genes identified a subset of 305 genes in a human mammary carcinoma cell line that were remarkably different in their response to autocrine and exogenous hGH. Autocrine and exogenous hGH also regulated 167 common genes. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR confirmed differential regulation of genes by either autocrine or exogenous hGH. Functional analysis of one of the identified autocrine hGH-regulated genes, TFF3, determined that its expression is sufficient to support anchorage-independent growth of human mammary carcinoma cells. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of TFF3 concordantly abrogated anchorage-independent growth of mammary carcinoma cells and abrogated the ability of autocrine hGH to stimulate oncogenic transformation of immortalized human mammary epithelial cells. Further functional characterization of the identified subset of specifically autocrine hGH regulated genes will delineate additional novel oncogenes for the human mammary epithelial cell.
Related Concept Videos
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Autocrine Signaling
Autocrine Signaling in Macrophages
Under normal physiological conditions, autocrine signaling is essential for maintaining homeostasis. This process is well characterized in...