Actin – filamentous protein involved in muscle contraction which also serves as an important structural molecule for the cytoskeleton of many eukaryotic cells.
Adipocyte – animal connective tissue cell specialized for the synthesis and storage of fat. Such cells are bloated with globules of triglycerides.
Angiogenesis – the growth of new blood vessels. In order for tumors to grow and spread, a cancer cell must somehow stimulate growth of new blood vessels.
Angiogenic – the development of new blood vessels resulting in vascularisation of a tissue. This occurs normally following injury and is part of the repair mechanism. Angiogenesis is seen in cancer where angiogenic factors establish the blood supply for the malignant cells. Tumors cannot grow beyond 1 mm in volume without establishing a blood supply.
Anthropometry – the study of human body measurement for use in anthropological classification and comparison.
Apoptosis – programmed cell death. Some cells have limited life-spans, at the end of which they are genetically programmed to self-destruct. Apoptosis typically does not occur in malignant cells.
Bifurcate – to split into two parts, or branch.
Bioinformatics – the science of managing and analyzing biological data using advanced computing techniques. Especially important in analyzing genomic research data.
C/EBPβ – transcription factor responsible for regulating genetic transcription of TGFβ and cyclin-E.
Cell Differentiation – the process by which a cell becomes specialized in order to perform a specific function.
Crosstalk – the interaction between neighboring cells, most notable stromal and epithelial cells.
Cyclin – a family of proteins involved in the progression of cells through the cell cycle.
Definitions
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DGAT1 – catalyzes the formation of triglycerides, essential for the formation of adipose tissue.
DNA – DeoxyriboNucleic Acid: the polymeric macromolecule in the cell that carries the genetic instructions for making living organisms.
EGFR – epidermal growth factor receptor, present on the stromal surface and responds to amphiregulin(AREG).
Ephrin – expressed during various well defined stages of development in assorted locations and concentrations, a principle cell guidance system during vertebrate and invertebrate development.
Epidemiology – the study of the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population.
Estrogen Receptor (ER) – a protein found inside the cells of mammary tissue, female reproductivetissue, and some cancer cells. Estrogen will bind to an ER and stimulate proliferation during normal mammary gland development.
ER positive + (Estrogen receptor positive) describes breast cells that have a protein to which estrogen will bind. Cancer cells that are ER+ need estrogen to grow and may stop growing when treated with hormones that block estrogen from binding.
ER negative – (Estrogen receptor negative) describes breast cells that do not have a protein to which the hormone estrogen will bind. Cancer cells that are ER- do not need estrogen to grow and usually do not stop growing when treated with hormones that block estrogen from binding.
Evolutionarily Conserved – a base sequence in a DNA molecule or an amino acid sequence in a protein that has remained essentially unchanged throughout evolution.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) – term used to describe the surrounding substance or environment of a cell. It has recently become clear that the ECM can influence the behavior of cells quite markedly; an important fctor to consider when growing cells in vitro. Removing cells from their normal environment can have far reaching effects.
FGF – Fibroblast growth factor, a structurally related growth factor for mesodermal or neuroectodermal cells.
GATA3 – the GATA3 gene is a member of the GATA multi-gene family. These genes play an essential role in activating target genes or specific cell fates and also in repressing target genes of alternate cell fates. Breast cancers with high GATA3 expression have a good prognosis, while cancers with low GATA3 expression tend to be poorly differentiated with a poor prognosis.
Gene – the functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to offspring. A gene occupies a specific position on a chromosome. Genetic alterations or mutations are associated with breast cancer risk. The two main types of genes that are now recognized as playing a role in cancer include oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.
Genomics – the comprehensive study of whole sets of genes and their interactions.
GFP – Green Fluorescent Protein, a protein found in jellyfish that is used as a marker to highlight something within a cell.
GH – Growth Hormone, produced by anterior pituitary that stimulates liver to produce prerequisites to cell division and growth of the organism.
Growth factor – a complex family of polypeptide hormones or biological factors that are produced by the body to control growth, division and maturation. They regulate the division and proliferation of cells and influence the growth rate of some cancers.
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Hedgehog Signaling – regulating adult stem cells involved in maintenance and regeneration of adult tissues.
IGF1 – a polypeptide protein hormone similar in molecular structure to insulin. It plays an important role in childhood growth and continues to have anabolic effects in adults.
Immunofluorescence – labeling of antibodies or antigens with fluorescent dyes. This technique is often used to visualize the subcellular distribution of biomolecules of interest.
Immunofluorescent – any method in which a fluorescent-labeled antibody is used to determine the location or detect the presence of the corresponding antigen, using a fluorescence microscope or by confocal microscopy.
Immunohistochemistry – localization of immunoreactive substances using labelled antibodies as reagents.
In vivo – literally means “in life.” In science, in vivo describes the biological processes as they are observed to occur in the natural environment, i.e. within a living organism. Animal testing and clinical trials are forms of in vivo research.
Involution – A rolling or turning inward, occurs during ductal formation.
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Ionizing radiation (IR) – high-energy radiation capable of producing ionization in substances through which it passes. When a person is exposed to radiation, the incoming photons interact with macromolecules like DNA or protein, or with the water molecules that make up most tissue. The interaction with water molecules creates electrically charged atoms, or “ions” that are also highly energized and harmful to living cells. Ionizing radiation is used for both diagnostic and therapeutic medical applications, which means that people are exposed over a very large dose range. While cancer therapy may deliver cumulative doses of up to 80 Gy (Gy is a unit of dose), much of radiation biology has been conducted in the range of 1-10 Gy. Epidemiological studies of cancer incidence have shown significant risk for some cancers at doses above 0.5 Gy.
Ischemic – A low oxygen state usually due to obstruction of the arterial blood supply or inadequate blood flow in the tissue.
Kinase – type of enzyme that transfers phosphate groups from high-energy donor molecules to specific target molecules; the process is termed phosphorylation. Kinases act on and modify the activity of specific proteins and are used extensively to transmit signals and control complex processes in cells.
Knockout model – a genetically engineered mouse in which one or more genes have been turned off through a gene knockout. Knockout mice are important animal models for studying the role of genes which have been sequenced, but have unknown functions. By causing a specific gene to be inactive in the mouse and observing any differences from normal behavior or condition, researchers can infer its probable function.
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Lentivirus – genus of slow viruses characterized by a long incubation period. Lentiviruses can deliver a significant amount of genetic information into the DNA of the host cell, so they are one of the most efficient methods of gene delivery.
MAPK – Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases; kinases that are activated when quiescent cells are treated with mitogens (a substance which is able to induce cell division) and therefore potentially transmit signal for entry into cell cycle.
Mesenchyme – tissue in the embryo that will develop into adult stroma.
Metabonomics – the study of the total metabolite pool (the metabolome) specifically through nuclear magnetic resonance profiling.
Metastatic – spread of a disease from the organ or tissue of origin to another part of the body.
Mfge8 – facilitates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and enhances in vivo clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes.
Microarray – DNA microarrays can be used to measure changes in expression levels of certain genes or to detect single nucleotide variations/mutations.
Microenvironment – describes the local and systemic architecture surrounding a cancer cell. A microenvironment includes other cells, growth factors, enzymes, and parts of the blood and lymphatic systems.
Murine – of or relating to members of the rodent family; includes rats and mice.
Neoplasia – literally means “new growth.” Neoplasia in cancer research refers to abnormal and uncontrolled growth of new cells and thus has the same meaning as tumor. The neoplasia may be benign or malignant.
Neoplastic Cell – A cell that is part of a tumor.
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p53 – A tumor suppressor gene that is frequently inactivated or mutated in tumors and transformed cells and is able to cause potentially cancerous cells to destroy themselves. When the p53 gene has been damaged or altered, p53 loses its ability to block cell growth.
Pathology – the scientific study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences.
Phagocytosis – uptake of particulate material, such as microorganisms or cell fragments. The material is taken into the cell in membrane bound vesicles in which the engulfed material is killed and digested.
Phenotype – the characteristics displayed by an organism under a particular set of environmental factors, regardless of the actual genotype of the organism. Phenotype is the result of interaction between a certain genotype and the environment.
Pleiotropy – the ability of a single allele to have more than one distinguishable effect.
Polymorphism – the quality or character of occurring in several different forms.
Proliferation – growth
Proteomics – the study of the full set of proteins (the proteome) encoded by a genome.
Puberty – the stage of adolescence in which an individual becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction.
Radiation Therapy – see Ionizing Radiation.
Receptor – a protein that lets a cell recognize a chemical messenger, such as a hormone. Receptors and hormones work like a lock (receptor) and key (hormone).
Senescence – permanent arrest of cell division. This process has been thought to be involved in aging.
Stroma – connective tissue cells of an organ found in the loose connective tissue. Most often associated with the uterine mucosa, ovary, and mammary gland.
Tanner stage – stage of puberty based on pubic hair growth, development of genitalia in boys, and breast development in girls.
Telomeres – specialized DNA-protein structures that cap DNA (chormosome) ends. Telomeric structures are crucial for maintaining DNA integrity and rpeserving genome stability. Dysfunctional telomeres lead to genomic instability. Genomic instability is a hallmark of cancer and has also been proposed to contribute to aging.
TGFβ – secreted by many different cell types, stimulates wound healing but in vitro is also a growth inhibitor for certain cell types.
Thelarche – beginning of development of the breasts in the female.
Toxicology – study of the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population.
Transcription Factors – molecules that activate transcription of select genes when bound to upstream promoters.
Transduction – transfer of genetic material from one microorganism to another by a viral agent, such as a lentivirus.
Transgenic – describes an organism that has had genes from another organism put into its genome through recombinant DNA techniques.
Trophic – pertaining to nutrition.
Tumor Suppressor Proteins – role is to maintain the integrity of the DNA in cells. The activation of a tumor suppressor gene at certain "check points" puts on the "brakes" and allows the cell to check for any damage in its DNA. Without these "brakes," cells with damaged DNA pass damage on to daughter cells. The damage becomes a permanent mutation in future generations of new cells. Accumulation of such mutations can lead to cancer development.
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Vasculature – an associated network of blood vessels in an organ.
Wnt4 – a secreted protein involved in female fetal genital development.
