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Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
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Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model

Published on: March 20, 2020

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Autophagy-related 7 modulates tumor progression in triple-negative breast cancer

Mingyang Li1, Jingwei Liu1, Sihui Li1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education; Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University;, Liaoning Province Collaborative Innovation Center of Aging Related Disease Diagnosis and Treatment and Prevention, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China.

Laboratory Investigation; a Journal of Technical Methods and Pathology
|April 17, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) is significantly downregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Higher Atg7 expression correlates with better outcomes and inhibits TNBC cell growth, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • The role of autophagy in breast cancer is not fully understood.
  • Autophagy-related 7 (Atg7) is a key protein in the autophagy pathway.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of Atg7 in breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
  • To correlate Atg7 expression with clinical and pathological features in TNBC patients.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Atg7 expression in breast cancer cell lines and patient tissues.
  • In vitro experiments assessing the effects of Atg7 on TNBC cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • Investigation of Atg7's impact on aerobic glycolysis in TNBC cells.

Main Results:

  • Atg7 expression was significantly lower in TNBC tissues compared to normal tissues.
  • Higher Atg7 expression was associated with favorable clinicopathological factors and improved prognosis in TNBC.
  • Atg7 inhibited proliferation and migration, promoted apoptosis, and suppressed EMT by reducing aerobic glycolysis in TNBC cell lines.

Conclusions:

  • Atg7 plays a crucial role in modulating the biological behavior of TNBC.
  • Atg7 acts as a tumor suppressor in TNBC by inhibiting proliferation, migration, and EMT, and promoting apoptosis.
  • These findings highlight Atg7 as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.

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