This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Integrating factor analysis and a transgenic mouse model to reveal a peripheral blood predictor of breast tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe analyzed gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from breast cancer patients, patients with benign breast abnormalities, healthy cancer-free individuals as well as patients with other types of cancer (gastrointestinal and brain cancers).
Integrating factor analysis and a transgenic mouse model to reveal a peripheral blood predictor of breast tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesFemale MMTV/c-MYC transgenic mice expressed the c-MYC proto-oncogene or a more stable point mutation variant (T58A) of the gene under the control of the hormone-responsive MMTV long terminal repeat (LTR) in an FVB/NJ background (Jackson Laboratories, Bar Harbor, ME). The hormones released during pregnancy and lactation have been shown to enhance expression of the oncogene. Thus, the mice were maintained in a continuous breeding program. Mice were monitored twice weekly for tumor development by palpation and tumors were measured twice weekly. Once the tumors reached 3cm3 the animals were sacrificed and tissue was obtained to confirm the tumors by histological analysis. As a control, female mice of the same age and background strain were maintained in the same facility and under the same breeding conditions as their transgenic counterparts.
Integrating factor analysis and a transgenic mouse model to reveal a peripheral blood predictor of breast tumors.
Specimen part
View SamplesE2F1 has been shown to induce both proliferation and apoptosis.
An E2F1-dependent gene expression program that determines the balance between proliferation and cell death.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used microarrays to compare gene expression profiles between mouse mammary tumors initiated by Myc to those that have escaped Myc oncogene dependence.
Heterogeneity in MYC-induced mammary tumors contributes to escape from oncogene dependence.
Specimen part
View SamplesE2F1 induces numerous genes, including transcription factors, upon activation. The transcription factors then further cooperates with E2F1 to regulate the target genes and enhance the transcriptional effect.
E2F1-Mediated Induction of NFYB Attenuates Apoptosis via Joint Regulation of a Pro-Survival Transcriptional Program.
Cell line
View SamplesWe have used primary MEFs derived from wild type and E2F4 null mice growing asynchrounously in serum to generate a signature for E2F4 pathway activation. 10 wild type and 10 E2F4 null samples were each assayed using the Affymetrics Mouse Genome 430A 2.0 array.
Patterns of cell signaling pathway activation that characterize mammary development.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesEffect of FOXO knockdown on E2F1-mediated transcription
FOXO transcription factors control E2F1 transcriptional specificity and apoptotic function.
Specimen part, Cell line, Treatment
View SamplesHuman cancers result from a complex series of genetic alterations resulting in heterogeneous disease states. Dissecting this heterogeneity is critical for understanding underlying mechanisms and providing opportunities for therapeutics matching the complexity. Mouse models of cancer have generally been employed to reduce this complexity and focus on the role of single genes. Nevertheless, our analysis of tumors arising in the MMTV-Myc model of mammary carcinogenesis reveals substantial heterogeneity, seen in both histological and expression phenotypes. One contribution to this heterogeneity is the substantial frequency of activating Ras mutations, the frequency of which can be changed by alterations in Myc. Additionally, we show that these Myc-induced mammary tumors exhibit even greater heterogeneity, revealed by distinct histological subtypes as well as distinct patterns of gene expression, than many other mouse models of tumorigenesis. Two of the major histological subtypes are characterized by differential patterns of cellular signaling pathways, including B-Catenin and Stat3 activities. We also demonstrate the predictive nature of this approach though examining metastatic potential. Together, these data reveal that a combination of histological and genomic analyses can uncover substantial heterogeneity in mammary tumor formation and therefore highlight aspects of tumor phenotype not evident in the population as a whole.
Genetic heterogeneity of Myc-induced mammary tumors reflecting diverse phenotypes including metastatic potential.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesGiven the very substantial heterogeneity of most human cancers, it is likely that most cancer therapeutics will be active in only a small fraction of any population of patients. As such, the development of new therapeutics, coupled with methods to match a therapy with the individual patient, will be critical to achieving significant gains in disease outcome. One such opportunity is the use of expression signatures to identify key oncogenic phenotypes that can serve not only as biomarkers but also as a means of identifying therapeutic compounds that might specifically target these phenotypes. Given the potential importance of targeting tumors exhibiting a stem-like phenotype, we have developed an expression signature that reflects common biological aspects of various stem-like characteristics. The Consensus Stemness Ranking (CSR) signature is upregulated in cancer stem cell enriched samples, at advanced tumor stages and is associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancer types. Using two independent computational approaches we utilized the CSR signature to identify clinically useful compounds that could target the CSR phenotype. In vitro assays confirmed selectivity of several predicted compounds including topoisomerase inhibitors and resveratrol towards breast cancer cell lines that exhibit a high-CSR phenotype. Importantly, the CSR signature could predict clinical response of breast cancer patients to a neoadjuvant regimen that included a CSR-specific agent. Collectively, these results suggest therapeutic opportunities to target the CSR phenotype in a relevant cohort of cancer patients.
Using a stem cell-based signature to guide therapeutic selection in cancer.
Specimen part, Cell line
View Samples