Abstract
Despite evidence demonstrating the role of beta1-integrin in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation in vitro, the importance of this cell adhesion receptor during the initiation and progression of epithelial tumors in vivo remains unclear. Here we have used the Cre/LoxP1 recombination system to disrupt beta1-integrin function in the mammary epithelium of a transgenic mouse model of human breast cancer. Using this approach, we show that beta1-integrin expression is critical for the initiation of mammary tumorigenesis in vivo, and for maintaining the proliferative capacity of late-stage tumor cells. These observations provide a direct demonstration that beta1-integrin plays a critical role in both the initiation and maintenance of mammary tumor growth in vivo.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Breast Neoplasms / genetics
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Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
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Breast Neoplasms / pathology
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Cell Division
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Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
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Female
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Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
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Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Gene Targeting*
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Humans
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Integrin beta1 / genetics*
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Integrin beta1 / metabolism*
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Mammary Glands, Animal / anatomy & histology
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Mammary Glands, Animal / growth & development
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Mammary Glands, Animal / metabolism
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Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
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Mice
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Mice, Transgenic
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Neoplasm Transplantation
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
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Tumor Cells, Cultured
Substances
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Integrin beta1
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Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Focal Adhesion Kinase 1
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Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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PTK2 protein, human
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Ptk2 protein, mouse