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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

TIMELESS contributes to the progression of breast cancer through activation of MYC

Authors: Limin Chi, Yujiao Zou, Ling Qin, Weifeng Ma, Yanyan Hao, Yao Tang, Rongcheng Luo, Ziqing Wu

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death among women. TIMELESS (TIM), a circadian rhythm regulator, has been recently implicated in the progression of human cancer. However, the role of TIM in the progression of breast cancer has not been well-characterized.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used to examine TIM levels in breast cancer specimens. Mammosphere formation analysis and side population analysis were used to examine the effect of TIM on the self-renewal of breast cancer stem cells. A wound healing assay and a Transwell assay were used to determine the role of TIM in breast cancer cell migration and invasion. A soft agar growth assay in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo were used to determine the role of TIM in tumorigenicity.

Results

TIM levels in both breast cancer cell lines and tissues were significantly upregulated. Patients with high TIM had poorer prognosis than patients with low TIM. Overexpression of TIM dramatically enhanced, while knockdown of TIM suppressed the self-renewal of cancer stem cells (CSCs), cell invasion and migration abilities of breast cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, overexpression of TIM significantly augmented, while knockdown of TIM reduced the tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells in vivo. Mechanism studies revealed that TIM upregulated the expression and the trans-activity of the well-known oncogene MYC. Inhibition of MYC significantly blocked the effects of TIM on CSC population, cell invasion and anchor-independent cell growth.

Conclusion

TIM plays an important role in promoting breast cancer progression and may represent a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
TIMELESS contributes to the progression of breast cancer through activation of MYC
Authors
Limin Chi
Yujiao Zou
Ling Qin
Weifeng Ma
Yanyan Hao
Yao Tang
Rongcheng Luo
Ziqing Wu
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-017-0838-1

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