Prolactin-induced mouse mammary carcinomas model estrogen resistant luminal breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Tumors that express estrogen receptor alpha (ERα+) comprise 75% of breast cancers in women. While treatments directed against this receptor have successfully lowered mortality rates, many primary tumors initially or later exhibit resistance. The paucity of murine models of this "luminal" tumor subtype has hindered studies of factors that promote their pathogenesis and modulate responsiveness to estrogen-directed therapeutics. Since epidemiologic studies closely link prolactin and the development of ERα+ tumors in women, we examined characteristics of the aggressive ERα+ and ERα- carcinomas which develop in response to mammary prolactin in a murine transgenic model (neu-related lipocalin- prolactin (NRL-PRL)). To evaluate their relationship to clinical tumors, we determ

SUBMITTER: Arendt LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3109579 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature