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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia
Published in: Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia 2/2008

01-06-2008

Amphiregulin: Role in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer

Authors: Jean McBryan, Jillian Howlin, Silvia Napoletano, Finian Martin

Published in: Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia | Issue 2/2008

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Abstract

Extensive epithelial cell proliferation underlies the ductal morphogenesis of puberty that generates the mammary tree that will eventually fill the fat pad. This estrogen-dependent process is believed to be essentially dependent on locally produced growth factors that act in a paracrine fashion. EGF-like growth factor ligands, acting through EGF receptors are some of the principal promoters of pubertal ductal morphogenesis. Amphiregulin is the most abundant EGF-like growth factor in the pubertal mammary gland. Its gene is transcriptionally regulated by ERα, and recent evidence identifies it as a key mediator of the estrogen-driven epithelial cell proliferation of puberty: The pubertal deficiency in mammary gland ductal morphogenesis in ERα, amphiregulin, and EGFR knockout mice phenocopy each other. As a prognostic indicator in human breast cancer, amphiregulin indicates an outcome identical to that predicted by ERα presence. Despite this, a range of studies both on preneoplastic human breast tissue and on cell culture based models of breast cancer, suggest a possibly significant role for amphiregulin in driving human breast cancer progression. Here we summarise our current understanding of amphiregulin’s contribution to mammary gland development and breast cancer progression.
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Metadata
Title
Amphiregulin: Role in Mammary Gland Development and Breast Cancer
Authors
Jean McBryan
Jillian Howlin
Silvia Napoletano
Finian Martin
Publication date
01-06-2008
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia / Issue 2/2008
Print ISSN: 1083-3021
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7039
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-008-9075-7

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