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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
09:49
Non-enzymatic, Serum-free Tissue Culture of Pre-invasive Breast Lesions for Spontaneous Generation of Mammospheres
Published on: November 8, 2014
Recapitulation of a normal cellular growth program in early invasive breast-cancer
V Djonov1, H Altermatt, A Arnold
1DEPT CLIN RES,CLIN & EXPTL RES,CH-3004 BERN,SWITZERLAND. INST PATHOL,CH-3010 BERN,SWITZERLAND.
International Journal of Oncology
|May 10, 2011
Summary
Pubertal breast growth shares markers with early breast cancer development. These findings in mice and humans may help identify early signs of invasive breast cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Identifying early markers for breast cancer progression is crucial.
- Understanding the transition from normal cell growth to neoplastic development is key.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify markers indicating the potential for neoplastic progression in breast tissue.
- To compare normal pubertal mammary epithelial cell growth with carcinogenesis in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed cell proliferation, stromelysin-1 expression, and tenascin expression.
- Utilized a mouse model for normal growth and carcinogenesis.
- Investigated neoplastic lesions in human breast tissue.
Main Results:
- Observed parallels between pubertal mammary growth and invasive mouse mammary tumors.
- Myoepithelial to epithelial transition in proliferation and stromelysin-1 expression marked both normal growth and early aggressive tumor development.
- Pubertal growth characteristics were recapitulated in human ductal carcinomas, indicating early invasive stages.
Conclusions:
- Mammary gland development during puberty shares key cellular and molecular characteristics with early breast cancer.
- Stromelysin-1 expression and myoepithelial changes may serve as early indicators of neoplastic progression.
- These findings suggest potential biomarkers for identifying early-stage invasive and potentially malignant breast lesions.
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