Effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts-derived CCL7 on proliferation and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer cells / 国际生物医学工程杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-derived chemokine ligands 7 (CCL7) on the proliferation and invasion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Methods The mRNA expression level and protein level of CCL7 in CAFs and paracancerous fibroblasts were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western Blot respectively. To confirm the paracrine level of CCL7 in CAFs and paracancerous fibroblasts, the protein levels of CCL7 in the corresponding conditional medium were detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The effect of CCL7 on the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231 (TNBC cell line) was investigated by MTS assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Results In comparison with paracancerous fibroblasts, the mRNA expression level and protein level of CCL7 in CAFs were significantly increased (both P<0.01). There was an obviously increase of paracrine level of CCL7 in CAFs-conditional medium (P<0.01). The MTS assay and Transwell assay results indicated that CCL7 was more able to promote the proliferation and invasion of MDA-MB-231. Conclusion CAFs in the TNBC stroma can produce more chemokine CCL7, and CCL7 can promote the proliferation and invasion of TNBC cells

Identification of patients with node-negative, triple-negative breast cancer who benefit from adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.

AIM: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a relatively poor prognosis compared to other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the role of adjuvant cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) in node-negative TNBC and to identify patients who could benefit from this therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with node-negative TNBC after surgery followed by either adjuvant chemotherapy with CMF or observation only. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and December 2006, 276 patients with node-negative TNBC were eligible for inclusion in this study. The median follow-up time was 85.0 months by the end of 2010. The CMF (N=211) and observation (N=65) groups did not significantly differ with regard to T-stage, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and tumour grade, but patients in the former group were on average younger (p<0.01). Adjuvant CMF was associated with favourable disease-free survival (DFS) (p=0.04). The CMF group also had a significantly lower locoregional recurrence rate than the observation group (0.4% vs. 9.2%, p=0.02). Subgroup analysis revealed that patients in the CMF group had significantly better DFS than those in the observation group among those with tumours larger than 2 cm (hazard ratio=0.38, p=0.02) and those who underwent partial mastectomy (hazard ratio=0.28, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Adjuvant CMF chemotherapy was effective in reducing locoregional recurrence rate and prolong DFS in patients with node-negative TNBC, particularly in those with tumours of more than 2 cm or who had undergone partial mastectomy.