Identification of Two Genetic Loci Associated with Leukopenia after Chemotherapy in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Purpose: To identify molecular predictors of grade 3/4 neutropenic or leukopenic events (NLE) after chemotherapy using a genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Experimental Design: A GWAS was performed on patients in the phase III chemotherapy study SUCCESS-A (n = 3,322). Genotyping was done using the Illumina HumanOmniExpress-12v1 array.

Transdifferentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells into mural cells drives vasculogenic mimicry in glioblastomas.

Recent evidence has shown that glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) can transdifferentiate into endothelial cells and vascular-like tumor cells. The latter pattern of vascularization indicates an alternative microvascular circulation known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM). However, it remains to be clarified how the GSC-driven VM makes a significant contribution to tumor vasculature.

Glioblastoma-derived tumor cells induce vasculogenic mimicry through Flk-1 protein activation.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is extremely aggressive and essentially incurable. Its malignancy is characterized by vigorous microvascular proliferations. Recent evidence has shown that tumor cells display the ability to drive blood-perfused vasculogenic mimicry (VM), an alternative microvascular circulation independent of endothelial cell angiogenesis.

Inhibitory activity of YKL-40 in mammary epithelial cell differentiation and polarization induced by lactogenic hormones: a role in mammary tissue involution.

We previously reported that a secreted glycoprotein YKL-40 acts as an angiogenic factor to promote breast cancer angiogenesis. However, its functional role in normal mammary gland development is poorly understood. Here we investigated its biophysiological activity in mammary epithelial development and mammary tissue morphogenesis.

The novel lupus antigen related protein acheron enhances the development of human breast cancer.

Acheron (Achn) is a new member of the Lupus antigen family of RNA binding proteins. Previous studies have shown that Achn controls developmental decisions in neurons and muscle. In the human mammary gland, Achn expression is restricted to ductal myoepithelial cells.

Role of YKL-40 in the angiogenesis, radioresistance, and progression of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma is one of the most fatal cancers, characterized by a strong vascularized phenotype. YKL-40, a secreted glycoprotein, is overexpressed in patients with glioblastomas and has potential as a novel tumor biomarker. The molecular mechanisms of YKL-40 in glioblastoma development, however, are poorly understood.