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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 3/2000

01-06-2000 | Review

Homeobox genes in mammary gland development and neoplasia

Author: Michael T Lewis

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 3/2000

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Abstract

Both normal development and neoplastic progression involve cellular transitions from one physiological state to another. Whereas much is being discovered about signal transduction networks involved in regulating these transitions, little progress has been made in identifying the higher order genetic determinants that establish and maintain mammary cell identity and dictate cell type-specific responses to mammotropic signals. Homeobox genes are a large superfamily of genes whose members function in establishing and maintaining cell fate and cell identity throughout embryonic development. Recent genetic and expression analyses strongly suggest that homeobox genes may perform similar functions at specific developmental transition points in the mammary gland. These analyses also suggest that homeobox genes may play a contributory or causal role in breast cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Homeobox genes in mammary gland development and neoplasia
Author
Michael T Lewis
Publication date
01-06-2000
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 3/2000
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr49

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