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Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors in human breast tissue
J Smith1, A Yelland, R Baillie
1CRC Laboratories, Department of Medical Oncology, Charing Cross Hospital, London, U.K.
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|January 1, 1994
Summary
Human breast tissues, both cancerous and normal, release acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF). A distinct FGF variant with potent transforming activity was also found in some breast cancers, suggesting a novel therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play roles in cell growth and tissue repair.
- Previous studies indicated altered FGF levels in rat mammary tumors during remission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and activity of FGFs in human breast tissues and cell lines.
- To characterize novel FGF variants in breast cancer.
Main Methods:
- Assay of conditioned medium (CM) from human breast tissues and cell lines for FGF activity.
- Heparin chromatography to purify and characterize FGFs.
- Immunoblotting and neutralization assays using antibodies against various FGFs.
Main Results:
- The majority of human breast cancer tissues, benign tissues, and adjacent normal tissues released active acidic FGF (aFGF).
- A minority of cancers and one benign tissue secreted a novel, potent transforming and mitogenic FGF, distinct from known FGFs.
- This novel FGF competed with aFGF for receptor binding, and its activity was not neutralized by antibodies to aFGF, bFGF, or kFGF.
Conclusions:
- Active aFGF is present in most human breast tissues, including cancerous, benign, and adjacent normal samples.
- A novel, potent FGF variant associated with breast cancer transformation and mitogenicity warrants further investigation.
- This novel FGF may represent a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment.