Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2025

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers
06:02

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers

Published on: February 20, 2017

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A Network of 17 Microtubule-Related Genes Highlights Functional Deregulations in Breast Cancer

Sylvie Rodrigues-Ferreira1,2,3, Morgane Morin1,2, Gwenn Guichaoua4,5

  • 1Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, F-94800 Villejuif, France.

Cancers
|October 14, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Microtubule-related genes are altered in breast cancer, impacting patient survival. Targeting mitotic Aurora kinases offers a potential therapeutic strategy for breast cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microtubule-associated proteins and kinases regulate the cytoskeleton and are implicated in cancer.
  • A previous study identified 17 microtubule-related (MT-Rel) genes differentially expressed in taxane-resistant breast tumors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the expression, prognostic significance, and functional impact of 17 MT-Rel genes in breast cancer.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets within these MT-Rel genes.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis in breast tumors versus normal tissue.
  • Prognostic value assessment using patient survival data.
  • Systems Biology approach to map functional networks.
  • Identification of essential genes for cell survival.

Main Results:

  • 14 MT-Rel genes were upregulated in breast tumors, with 6 overexpressed >10-fold.
  • Four MT-Rel genes (KIF11, AURKB, TPX2, KIFC1) are essential for cell survival.
  • Overexpression of 14 genes and underexpression of 3 genes correlated with poor patient survival.
  • Three functional networks centered on spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis were identified.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified specific MT-Rel genes as potential biomarkers for breast cancer prognosis.
  • Mitotic Aurora kinases and their substrates represent promising therapeutic targets for breast cancer.
Keywords:
Aurora kinasesSystems Biologybiomarkerkinesinsmitotic defectsprognostic valuetherapeutic targets

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