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Summary of the gap analysis for the initiation of breast cancer |
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| What do we know? |
Animal models have given us great insight into the molecular pathways involved in breast development and dysregulation in cancer. |
| What are the gaps? |
The relationship of signalling pathways to ductal and acinar breast architecture. |
| The need for widespread use of more appropriate in vivo and culture methods. |
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| The importance of stroma and other cell types, cell adhesion and the extracellular matrix. |
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| Understanding stem cells. |
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| Understanding mechanisms of epithelial apoptosis. |
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| Understanding how pregnancy and functional differentiation in the breast protect against breast cancer. |
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| Problems |
The breast cell lines used and their culture conditions. |
| A wider variety of promoters with spatial, temporal and differentiation control of gene expression is needed. |
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| The need for mouse models of specific breast cancer types, for example, triple negative breast cancer. |
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| The implantation methods for single cells in vivo. |
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| Translational implications |
Understanding the complex interactions between cell types should provide new opportunities for intervention. |
| Identifying pre-invasive changes has implications for patient-tailored approaches. |
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| Recommendations |
Develop three-dimensional cell culture models, containing multiple cell types, which reflect the tissue architecture of the normal and diseased breast. |
| Generate better animal models, in which gene expression can be manipulated in each cell type of the mammary gland and will not be altered by transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation. |
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| Gain a greater understanding of the genetic changes that occur within atypias and DCIS. |
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Thompson et al. Breast Cancer Research 2008 10:R26 doi:10.1186/bcr1983 |
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