The Effects of Inflammatory Cytokines on Integrin Expression in Breast Cancer

In 2015, the American Cancer Society predicts that 40,290 American will die of breast cancer. Over 90% of these deaths are caused by breast cancer metastasis to organs such as lung, liver, brain, and bone. While the role of inflammatory cytokines in metastatic breast cancer is not entirely understood, these proteins have been shown to promote increased tumor cell migration, invasive potential, and cell detachment, ultimately resulting in increased tumor progression and metastatic potential. Integrins are transmembrane receptor proteins that can mediate and send signals, which are important for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, as well as regulate specific processes such as angiogenesis, lymphogenesis, cell motility, and migration due to their adhesive nature. In this study, we investigated the effects inflammatory cytokines on the expression of various integrins and subsequent downstream signaling targets. Investigating the effects of inflammatory cytokines on the molecular processes of migration and invasion could help lead to the development of a novel therapy for preventing metastases in breast cancer patients.