Gap Junctions and Breast Cancer Dormancy

Garima Sinha; Alejandra I Ferrer; Caitlyn A Moore; Yahaira Naaldijk; Pranela Rameshwar

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2020.01.013

Gap Junctions and Breast Cancer Dormancy

Trends Cancer. 2020 Apr;6(4):348-357. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.01.013. Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Authors

Garima Sinha¹, Alejandra I Ferrer¹, Caitlyn A Moore¹, Yahaira Naaldijk², Pranela Rameshwar³

Affiliations

¹ Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA; Department of Medicine - Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
² Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
³ Department of Medicine - Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA. Electronic address: rameshwa@njms.rutgers.edu.

PMID: 32209448
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.01.013

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) relapse, despite clinical advancement, remains one of the biggest issues in the field. Intercellular communication, specifically via connexin (Cx)-mediated gap junctions (GJs), play a key role in the long-term survival of these, treatment-resistant breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), allowing for relapse. Both basic and clinical evidence reveal dual roles for GJs, in tumor suppression, generally referred to as dormancy, and progression and metastasis. GJ intercellular communication (GJIC) can be mediated by multiple types of Cxs, depending on the organ to which the BC cells metastasize. This review expands on the differential expression of Cx-mediated GJIC between CSCs and niche cells within a given microenvironment.

Keywords: bone marrow; breast cancer; connexin; dormancy; gap junction; metastasis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Autophagy / drug effects
Autophagy / immunology
Breast / growth & development
Breast / pathology
Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
Breast Neoplasms / immunology
Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
Cell Communication / drug effects
Cell Communication / immunology
Connexins / antagonists & inhibitors
Connexins / drug effects
Connexins / immunology
Connexins / metabolism*
Disease Models, Animal
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / immunology
Female
Gap Junctions / drug effects
Gap Junctions / immunology
Gap Junctions / pathology*
Humans
Mammary Glands, Animal / growth & development
Mammary Glands, Animal / pathology
Mice
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / immunology
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / prevention & control
Neoplastic Stem Cells / pathology
Tumor Escape / drug effects
Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
Tumor Microenvironment / immunology

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Connexins