September 1 Cancer Research Highlights

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Selected Articles from the September 1, 2007 Issue

The articles referenced in this Highlights section will be available online in HTML and PDF formats to all interested users at no charge until the next issue of Cancer Research is published. Click on the article title to view the complete article.

View the Table of Contents for the September 1 issue of Cancer Research.

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Novel Markers for Mammosphere-Initiating Cells Identified

Liao et al.

Page 8131

In addition to in vivo mammary gland reconstitution, “mammospheres” are becoming an in vitro test of the activity of mammary gland stem cells or progenitors. However, it is unknown what fractions of mammary gland epithelial cells can form mammospheres in vitro, and whether these cells represent the same cell population that is capable of mammary gland reconstitution in vivo. Based on immunophenotype, Liao and colleagues isolated a population of mouse mammary gland cells that are capable of forming mammospheres in vitro. Their identification of novel cell-surface markers for mammosphere-initiating cells, including endoglin protein and prion protein, will facilitate the elucidation of the details of the cell biology of mammary gland epithelial stem cells or progenitors.

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Profiling Prostate Cancer Progression Using Combined Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization

Kim et al.

Page 8229

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Meriolins Inhibit Cyclin-Dependent Kinases

Bettayeb et al.

Page 8325

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Seizure 6-Like (SEZ6L) Gene Increases Lung Cancer Risk

Gorlov et al.

Page 8406

DNA-pooling in combination with high-throughput sequencing was performed as a part of the SEQUENOM Genefinder project. In the pilot study, Gorlov and colleagues tested 83,715 SNPs, located primarily in gene-based regions, to identify polymorphic susceptibility variants for lung cancer. The study identified a candidate region overlying the Seizure 6-Like (SEZ6L) gene. The authors found a nearly two-fold elevated and statistically significant level of SEZ6L expression in tumor samples compared to normal lung tissues, and concluded that the SEZ6L Met430Ile polymorphic variant plays a role in increasing lung cancer risk.

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Candidate Chromosomal Regions for Mammographic Density

Vachon et al.

Page 8412

Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer that likely contributes to a large proportion of the disease. Two thirds of the variation in mammographic density appears to be genetically influenced. Vachon and colleagues have presented strong evidence for a chromosomal region containing a gene or genes responsible for 20% of the variation in mammographic density. Identifying and understanding genes for mammographic density could translate to improving breast cancer risk stratification and identifying patients who could benefit from early prevention strategies. 

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