Emerging Roles of Nodal and Cripto-1: From Embryogenesis to Breast Cancer Progression

Issue title: Stem Cells and Breast Cancer

Guest editors: Barbara K. Vonderhaar and Gilbert H. Smith

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Strizzi, Luigi^{a; 1} | Postovit, Lynne-Marie^{a; c; 1} | Margaryan, Naira V.^a | Seftor, Elisabeth A.^a | Abbott, Daniel E.^a | Seftor, Richard E.B.^a | Salomon, David S.^{b; *} | Hendrix, Mary J.C.^a

Affiliations: [a] Children's Memorial Research Center, Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60614, USA | [b] Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mammary Biology & Tumorigenesis Laboratory Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA | [c] Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Mary J.C. Hendrix, President and Scientific Director, Children's Memorial Research Center, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 222, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. Tel.: +1 773 755 6528; Fax: +1 773 755 6534; E-mail: mjchendrix@childrensmemorial.org

Note: [1] Authors contributed equally to the work.

Abstract: Breast carcinoma cells and embryonic progenitors similarly implement stem cell-associated signaling pathways to sustain continued growth and plasticity. Indeed, recent studies have implicated signaling pathways, including those associated with the Notch, and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) superfamilies, as instrumental to both embryological development and breast cancer progression. In particular, Nodal, an embryonic morphogen belonging to the TGF-β superfamily, and its co-receptor, Cripto-1, are requisite to both embryogenesis and mammary gland maturation. Moreover, these developmental proteins have been shown to promote breast cancer progression. Here, we review the role of Nodal and its co-receptor Cripto-1 during development and we describe how this signaling pathway may be involved in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Moreover, we emphasize the potential utility of this signaling pathway as a novel target for the treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer.

Keywords: Nodal, Cripto-1, embryogenesis, mammary development, breast cancer

DOI: 10.3233/BD-2008-29110

Journal: Breast Disease, vol. 29, no. 1, pp. 91-103, 2008