Telomeric DNA induces apoptosis and senescence of human breast carcinoma cells

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Americans. We have identified an inducible cancer avoidance mechanism in cells that reduces mutation rate, reduces and delays carcinogenesis after carcinogen exposure, and induces apoptosis and/or senescence of already transformed cells by simultaneously activat...

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Published in:	Breast cancer research : BCR Vol. 9; no. 1; p. R13
Main Authors:	Yaar, Mina, Eller, Mark S, Panova, Izabela, Kubera, John, Wee, Lee Hng, Cowan, Kenneth H, Gilchrest, Barbara A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England BioMed Central Ltd 01-01-2007 National Library of Medicine - MEDLINE Abstracts BioMed Central
Subjects:	Anthracyclines Apoptosis Breast cancer Breast Neoplasms - pathology Cancer Carcinoma Cellular Senescence DNA DNA Damage DNA repair Female Genetic aspects Humans Oligonucleotides Telomere - genetics Telomeres Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Summary:	Cancer is a leading cause of death in Americans. We have identified an inducible cancer avoidance mechanism in cells that reduces mutation rate, reduces and delays carcinogenesis after carcinogen exposure, and induces apoptosis and/or senescence of already transformed cells by simultaneously activating multiple overlapping and redundant DNA damage response pathways. The human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7, the adriamycin-resistant MCF-7 (Adr/MCF-7) cell line, as well as normal human mammary epithelial (NME) cells were treated with DNA oligonucleotides homologous to the telomere 3' overhang (T-oligos). SCID mice received intravenous injections of MCF-7 cells followed by intravenous administration of T-oligos. Acting through ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and its downstream effectors, T-oligos induced apoptosis and senescence of MCF-7 cells but not NME cells, in which these signaling pathways were induced to a far lesser extent. In MCF-7 cells, experimental telomere loop disruption caused identical responses, consistent with the hypothesis that T-oligos act by mimicking telomere overhang exposure. In vivo, T-oligos greatly prolonged survival of SCID mice following intravenous injection of human breast carcinoma cells. By inducing DNA damage-like responses in MCF-7 cells, T-oligos provide insight into innate cancer avoidance mechanisms and may offer a novel approach to treatment of breast cancer and other malignancies.
ISSN:	1465-542X 1465-5411 1465-542X
DOI:	10.1186/bcr1646