The Association of RGS2 and Slug in the Androgen-induced Acquisition of Mesenchymal Features of Breast MDA-MB-453 Cancer Cells.

Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells is a prerequisite to cancer cell invasion and metastasis. This process involves a network of molecular alterations. Androgen receptor (AR) plays an important role in the biology of breast cancers, particularly those dependent on AR expression like luminal AR (LAR) breast cancer subtype.

Androgen downregulates desmocollin-2 in association with induction of mesenchymal transition of breast MDA-MB-453 cancer cells.

Desmosomes are cellular structures that are critical in cell-cell adhesion and in maintaining tissue architecture. Changes in the expression of desmocollin-2 (DSC2) have been noted during tumor progression into an invasive phenotype and as cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We have previously reported that breast MDA-MB-453 cancer cells, a luminal androgen receptor (AR) model of triple-negative breast cancer, acquire mesenchymal features when treated with the AR agonist, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Involvement of β-catenin in Androgen-induced Mesenchymal Transition of Breast MDA-MB-453 Cancer Cells.

The cellular and molecular dynamics of DHT-induced EMT in MDA-MB-453 cells were investigated.:PCR arrays were used to examine the expression of EMT-regulatory genes. Immunoblotting was used to detect protein levels and confirm protein-protein interaction following immunoprecipitation.