ATIP3, a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for metastatic breast tumors

3^rd World Congress on Cancer Science & Therapy

October 21-23, 2013 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Francisco Airport, CA, USA

Clara Nahmias

Accepted Abstracts: J Cancer Sci Ther

Abstract :

Breast cancer metastasis, a leading cause of death by malignancy in women worldwide, does not fully benefit from available therapies. Efforts are being made to identify molecular markers that may predict metastatic outcome and represent new therapeutic targets for personalized treatments against metastatic breast tumors. Studies from our group have shown that ATIP3, the major product of MTUS1 candidate tumor suppressor gene, is down-regulated in invasive breast tumors of the triple- negative subtype. Low levels of ATIP3 correlate with reduced overall survival among patients with metastatic breast cancer. Ectopic expression of ATIP3 into breast cancer cell lines limits tumor growth and metastatic colonization in experimental mouse models. Furthermore we show that ATIP3 is a novel microtubule-associated protein that regulates microtubule dynamics and consequently mitosis, cell polarity, directionality and migration. Our results identify ATIP3 as a new promising therapeutic target against metastatic breast tumors of poor prognosis.

Biography :

Upon completion of her Ph.D. thesis at the Institut Pasteur (Paris) in 1989, Clara Nahmias joined the Institut Cochin at the University Paris Descartes where she directed research on growth-inhibitory angiotensin II AT2 receptor signalling pathways. This led to the identification of novel intracellular cascades associated to G protein coupled receptor activation, including functional activation of tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 and trans-inactivation of receptor tyrosine kinases, and the cloning of a novel family of proteins designated ATIP (AT2 receptor-interacting proteins). Her major focus of research since 2004 concerns the multiple effects of ATIPs in brain functions and tumor suppression. Recent studies have identified ATIP3 as a novel biomarker for invasive, triple negative and metastatic breast tumors. Concurrently, her team investigates the role of angiotensin II and its membrane receptors as novel regulators of breast cancer metastasis. These studies are expected to lead to the development of targeted treatment against invasive breast cancer progression and metastatic dissemination.