TIMELESS contributes to the progression of breast cancer through activation of MYC

• DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0838-1
• Publication Date: 2017-05-02T08:50:43Z
• Authors: Limin Chi; Yujiao Zou; Ling Qin; Weifeng Ma; Yanyan Hao; Yao Tang; Rongcheng Luo; Ziqing Wu
• Keywords: Surgical oncology; Timeless

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and leading cause of death among women. TIMELESS (TIM), a circadian rhythm regulator, has been recently implicated in progression human cancer. However, role TIM breast not well-characterized. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used to examine levels specimens. Mammosphere formation analysis side population were effect on self-renewal stem cells. A wound healing assay Transwell determine cell migration invasion. soft agar growth vitro tumorigenicity vivo tumorigenicity. both lines tissues significantly upregulated. Patients with high had poorer prognosis than patients low TIM. Overexpression dramatically enhanced, while knockdown suppressed cells (CSCs), invasion abilities vitro. Moreover, overexpression augmented, reduced vivo. Mechanism studies revealed that upregulated expression trans-activity well-known oncogene MYC. Inhibition MYC blocked effects CSC population, anchor-independent growth. plays an important promoting may represent novel therapeutic target for