Singh Rajesh R, Kumar Rakesh
Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia. 2007 Sep;12(2-3):115-25. doi: 10.1007/s10911-007-9043-7.
Since breast cancer and its associated metastasis are a global health problem and a major cause of mortality among women, research efforts to understand the development, morphogenesis, and functioning of the mammary gland are a high priority. Myriad signaling pathways, transcription factors, and associated transcriptional coregulators have been identified in both normal functioning and neoplastic transformation of the mammary gland. The discovery of the metastasis tumor antigen 1 (MTA1) gene, its overexpression in cancer and metastasis and its subsequent identification as an integral part of the chromatin remodeling complex heralded extensive research on its physiological role. Subsequent identification of additional gene family members, namely MTA1s, MTA2, and MTA3, and their functions in the cell has resulted in the establishment of the significance of the MTA family. The role of these proteins in modulating hormonal responses in normal mammary glands and in breast cancer has resulted in their identification as important molecular markers and potential therapeutic targets.
由于乳腺癌及其相关转移是一个全球性的健康问题，也是女性死亡的主要原因，因此了解乳腺发育、形态发生和功能的研究工作是当务之急。在乳腺的正常功能和肿瘤转化过程中，已经鉴定出无数的信号通路、转录因子和相关的转录共调节因子。转移肿瘤抗原1（MTA1）基因的发现、其在癌症和转移中的过表达以及随后被鉴定为染色质重塑复合体的一个组成部分，引发了对其生理作用的广泛研究。随后鉴定出其他基因家族成员，即MTA1s、MTA2和MTA3，以及它们在细胞中的功能，从而确立了MTA家族的重要性。这些蛋白质在调节正常乳腺和乳腺癌中的激素反应方面的作用，使其被鉴定为重要的分子标志物和潜在的治疗靶点。
