CXC chemokines located in the 4q21 region are up-regulated in breast cancer.

Recent data suggest that chemokines could be essential players in breast carcinogenesis. We previously showed that the CXC chemokine CXCL8 (interleukin-8) was overexpressed in estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-negative breast cell lines. Analysis of CXCL8 chromosomal location showed that several CXC chemokines (CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL4, CXCL4V1, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL7, and CXCL8) were localized in the same narrow region (360 kb in size) of chromosome 4.

Oestrogen receptor negative breast cancers exhibit high cytokine content.

Introduction: An emerging hypothesis suggests that cytokines could play an important role in cancer as potential modulators of angiogenesis and leucocyte infiltration.

Methods: A novel multiplexed flow cytometry technology was used to measure the expression of 17 cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 [p70], IL-13, IL-17, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [CSF], granulocyte-macrophage CSF, IFN-gamma, monocyte chemoattractant protein [MCP]-1, macrophage inflammatory protein [MIP]-1beta, tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha) at the protein level in 105 breast carcinoma. B lymphocyte, T lymphocyte and macrophage levels were determined by immunohistochemistry.

ADP ribosylation factor like 2 (Arl2) protein influences microtubule dynamics in breast cancer cells.

ADP ribosylation factor like 2 (Arl2) protein is involved in the folding of tubulin peptides. Variants of the human adenocarcinoma line MCF7 cells with increased or reduced content of Arl2 protein were produced and characterized. Western blot analysis performed after separation of the different fractions of tubulins showed that the content in polymerizable soluble heterodimers was significantly increased in cells with the highest Arl2 expression level (MA+) and reduced in cells with the lowest Arl2 expression level (MA-) in comparison to control cells (MP).