Global gene expression analysis of the interaction between cancer cells and osteoblasts to predict bone metastasis in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Bone metastasis is a main cause of morbidity in breast cancer. Since breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, the interactions of cancer cells with the skeletal host cells might also be diverse. We hypothesized that gene expression signatures induced by heterotypic interaction of breast cancer cells and osteoblasts might be of clinical relevance.

Methodology/principal findings

We established an ex vivo co-culture model using benign breast epithelial cells or a panel of 5 malignant breast epithelial cells in combination with primary human osteoblasts and determined associated gene expression changes with HEEBO microarrays. Pretreatment gene expression profiles of 295 early stage breast cancers published from the Netherlands Cancer Institute with a median follow up

SUBMITTER: Rajski M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3250506 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature