Twist overexpression promotes chromosomal instability in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7

Description (Set) Chromosomal instability, the continuous formation of novel chromosome mutations at a rate higher than in normal cells, is a defining characteristic of most human cancers. Twist is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that is a major regulator of mesenchymal phenotypes. JHU scientists have developed a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7/Twist) that stably overexpresses human Twist. The overexpression of Twist causes an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition (EMLT) which leads to an increase in invasiveness and motility of this cell line. Studies of the MCF-7/Twist cell line indicates Twist in some capacity, promotes chromosomal instability in the MCF-7 cell line. These findings have validated previous results that Twist-expressing tumors exhibited increased chromosomal abnormalities as compared to Twist non-expressers. This represents the first direct correlation between overexpression of Twist and increased chromosomal instability in both tissue culture and patient breast tumors. Proposed Use (Set) This cancer cell line can be used as a model to study the role of Twist (a basic-helix-loop-helix protein essential for embryogenesis) in breast cancer biogenesis and metastasis.

Inventor(s): Raman, Venu ,Vesuna, Farhad

Type of Offer: Licensing



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