Role of CD31/platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in in vitro and in vivo growth and differentiation of human breast cancer cells.

ABSTRACT: Breast ductal carcinoma in situ is an intraductal proliferation of malignant epithelial cells that diffuse within the ductal system without stromal invasion. Our finding that a subset of these tumors express CD31/platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 suggests that breast cancer represents an informative model for studying the involvement of the molecule in the morphogenesis, differentiation, and diffusion of this disease. Transfection of CD31 in MDA-MB-231 cells caused reduction in growth, loss of CD44, and acquisition of a ductal morphology. The same effects were maintained in vivo, in which CD31(+) tumors grew with in situ-like aspects, papillary differentiation, and a secretory phenotype. CD44 was down-modulated, with the CD31(+) cells blocked in the G(1) phase. The morphology w

SUBMITTER: Righi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851235 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature