DCIK细胞用于肺癌临床免疫治疗

观察细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK 细胞)和同源树突状细胞(DC)共培养后,共培养细胞树突状细胞调节的细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(DCIK 细胞)体外细胞毒活性,并观察DCIK细胞治疗肺癌的近期临床疗效、免疫学活性及副反应.收录 12例确诊肺癌经标准治疗方案治疗的患者,取外周血分离单个核细胞(PBMC),体外诱导出DC和CIK细胞共培养后,观察DCIK细胞表型,用MTT法测体外细胞毒活性;当效靶比为20∶1、10∶1时,DCIK细胞体外细胞毒活性杀伤率分别为55%、46.2%.所有患者均接受一定剂量的 DCIK细胞过继免疫治疗,观察其近期临床疗效、免疫反应、不良反应.12例患者中完全缓解 1例,部分缓解4例,病情稳定1例,近期有效率为41.6%,疾病控制率为50%,病情进展共6例,其中死亡2例.与DCIK细胞回输前相比,患者CD4 、CD8 、CD56 均有明显的升高(P＜0.05),这表示可以诱导患者产生特异性的免疫反应.除两例患者出现一过性的发热外,其余患者基本无不良反应.DCIK细胞在肺癌免疫治疗中能诱导机体产生特异性的免疫反应,亦是新的杀伤肿瘤细胞的效应细胞,有较好的临床疗效.     

癌睾丸抗原TFDP3与乳腺癌上皮间质化(EMT)的相关性研究

目的:本研究探讨了癌睾丸抗原TFDP3与乳腺癌细胞上皮间质化(epithelial-mesenchymal transition,EMT)的关系。方法:本研究中选取了乳腺癌细胞系(MCF-10A,MCF-7,SK-BR-3和MDA-MB-231)作为研究对象,通过Western Blot的方法筛选获得了TFDP3低水平表达的乳腺癌细胞株。进一步通过质粒转染的方式构建TFDP3过表达的细胞系模型,观察TFDP3在EMT中的作用。结果:TFDP3在MCF-10A及SK-BR-3中不表达,在间质化程度较高的MDA-MB-231中高水平表达,而在上皮化程度较高的MCF-7中的低水平表达。MCF-7中过表达TFDP3后,上皮细胞标记分子E-cadherin表达下调,而间质细胞标记分子N-cadherin、Snail、Twist及细胞骨架蛋白Vimentin表达上调。结论:TFDP3可以促进乳腺癌细胞发生EMT。     

人间充质干细胞对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响研究

目的通过构建间充质干细胞(MSC)与乳腺癌细胞间相互作用的共培养模型,探讨MSC对乳腺癌细胞生长的影响。方法用含荧光基因第三代自身失活慢病毒载体感染人类脐带分离提取的MSC和乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231、MCF-7,以单独培养的乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231和MCF-7分别设立对照,2种乳腺癌细胞分别与MSC共培养,检测乳腺癌细胞在MSC作用下增生能力的改变,流式细胞术检测共培养后细胞表面标记物表达。两组间比较采用独立样本t检验,多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,多重比较采用Dunnet-t检验。结果MSC在与乳腺癌细胞共培养过程中促进肿瘤细胞生长,第3天共培养组乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞数高于单独MDA-MB-231培养组[(5.50±0.71)×10^3个比(1.63±0.41)×10^3个],培养至第7天,两组间MDA-MB-231细胞数差异进一步增大[(81.25±7.40)×10^3个比(26.25±4.15)×10^3个],差异具有统计学意义(P均<0.001);共培养后MSC促进乳腺癌细胞表达干细胞特有标记物CD90,MCF-7从共培养第2天CD90表达率(1.38±0.30)﹪升高至第9天(92.45±2.04)﹪。在共培养中MSC围绕肿瘤细胞集落方式生长,在形态上变长,并发现一种新型混合细胞(hybrid融合细胞)同时表达绿色和红色荧光,且对化疗药物更敏感。结论MSC促进乳腺癌细胞的生长,伴随MSC形态学改变和hybrid融合细胞出现,乳腺癌细胞获得MSC特有CD90表达。     

抗原负载DCs诱导的CIK细胞对B16黑色素瘤抑制作用的形态学观察

目的:探讨抗原负载树突状细胞(dentritic cells,DCs)诱导的CIK(cytokine induced killer)细胞对B16黑色素瘤的抑瘤作用。方法:分离、培养DC和CIK细胞,取部分DC进行肿瘤抗原负载,将其与CIK细胞按1:10的比例共培养3d,即为抗原负载的DC-CIK。建立B16黑色素瘤小鼠模型,分别于瘤周围皮下注射经Brdu标记的CIK、DC-CIK、抗原负载DC-CIK。按注射细胞进行分组,测量注射前后各组小鼠的瘤体积,计算抑瘤率,比较其抑瘤作用。应用免疫组化方法和透射电镜观察抗原负载DC-CIK细胞在皮肤中的分布及杀伤肿瘤细胞的形态学表现。结果:抗原负载DC诱导的CIK(细胞组抑瘤率(86.57%)高于CIK细胞组(33.34%,P<0.05)和DC-CIK细胞组(61.08%,P<0.05);光镜下抗原负载DC-CIK细胞主要分布在皮下组织,癌组织周围,特别是癌巢周边。透射电镜下抗原负载DC-CIK细胞体积大,核有切迹,细胞质内细胞器丰富,粗面内质网扩张。细胞表面有突起,与肿瘤细胞密切接触。大量肿瘤细胞凋亡、坏死。结论:CIK细胞经抗原负载DC诱导后抑瘤作用明显强于单纯CIK细胞和DC-CIK细胞。     

PLAC1特异性TCR基因修饰T细胞对乳腺癌的抗肿瘤作用

目的研究胎盘特异性基因1（PLAC1）特异性T细胞受体（TCR）基因修饰T细胞对乳腺癌的抗肿瘤作用。 方法磁珠分选人类白细胞抗原分型为A2（HLA-A2）的志愿者外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中的CD8⁺ T细胞,流式检测CD8⁺ T细胞的表型。通过慢病毒载体构建、包装,将可识别乳腺癌肿瘤抗原PLAC1的HLA-A2限制性的TCR基因导入CD8⁺ T细胞（称为TCR-T细胞）,以慢病毒空载体包装、感染的CD8⁺ T细胞（NC-T细胞）作为对照细胞,通过流式细胞术检测PLAC1特异性TCR的表达效率。免疫荧光和流式细胞术检测乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和MDA-MB-231（三阴性乳腺癌细胞）的PLAC1和HLA-A2血清型的表达。WST-1法检测不同效靶比（5?:?1、10?:?1和20?:?1）TCR-T细胞或NC-T细胞与乳腺癌细胞MCF-7或MDA-MB-231作用后的细胞毒性,并通过ELISA检测共培养后T细胞IFN-γ的释放量。通过裸鼠皮下人乳腺癌移植瘤模型检测TCR-T细胞以及NC-T细胞的抗肿瘤作用。采用单因素方差分析及独立t检验进行统计学分析。 结果磁珠分选出的CD8⁺ T细胞CD3⁺ CD8⁺比例达到（98.89±0.30）%。经慢病毒感染、五聚体检测,TCR-T细胞中PLAC1特异性TCR的正确表达率为（24.58±0.82）%,NC-T细胞不表达PLAC1特异性TCR。免疫荧光和流式结果显示乳腺癌细胞MCF-7和MDA-MB-231为HLA-A2和PLAC1双阳性表达细胞。其中流式检测结果显示,MCF-7和MDA-MB-231细胞中HLA-A2的表达效率分别为（93.04±1.36）%和（98.72±0.12）%。在效靶比为20?:?1时,TCR-T细胞对MCF-7杀伤率为（51.5±1.37）%,高于NC-T细胞对MCF-7的杀伤率（5.93±2.40）%,t = 15.507,P < 0.01;TCR-T细胞对MDA-MB-231杀伤率为（44.34±2.20）%,高于NC-T细胞对MDA-MB-231杀伤率（5.15±2.40）% （t?= 10.694,P < 0.01）。在相同效靶比情况下,TCR-T细胞对MCF-7或MDA-MB-231细胞的细胞毒性高于NC-T细胞,且随着效靶比的增加杀伤效果增强。在效靶比为20?:?1时,与MCF-7共培养后TCR-T细胞IFN-γ的分泌水平[（347.49±4.10）pg/ml]高于NC-T细胞[（18.14±6.22）pg/ml]（t = -76.638,P < 0.01）;与MDA-MB-231共培养后TCR-T细胞IFN-γ的分泌水平为（255.25±6.85）pg/ml,高于NC-T细胞[（14.70±6.38）pg/ml] （t = -44.526,P < 0.01）,且随着效靶比的增加分泌量升高。在裸鼠皮下人乳腺癌移植瘤实验中,生理盐水组和NC-T细胞移植组小鼠的肿瘤生长迅速,TCR-T细胞治疗组小鼠肿瘤生长相对缓慢,在移植后第35天,生理盐水组、NC-T细胞组和TCR-T细胞组小鼠肿瘤的平均体积分别为（5?636.96±2?879.55）mm³、（5?522.12±3?391.48）mm³和（1?403.85±1?394.31）mm³,TCR-T细胞治疗组小鼠肿瘤体积明显小于生理盐水组（F = 0.1813,P < 0.05）和NC-T细胞组（F = 0.1307,P?< 0.05）。 结论PLAC1特异性TCR基因修饰T细胞对乳腺癌细胞具有较强的抗肿瘤作用,PLAC1可作为乳腺癌治疗的潜在靶标;PLAC1特异性TCR基因修饰T细胞治疗是PLAC1表达阳性的乳腺癌治疗的新策略。     

树突细胞联合细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞对急性白血病细胞的体外杀伤作用

目的:研究细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK)与同源树突状细胞(DC)共培养后CIK细胞的表型、增殖活性的变化,及抗急性白血病细胞活性.方法:正常人外周血单个核细胞诱导DC和CIK细胞,将DC与CIK共培养,以CIK细胞单独培养为对照.用台盼蓝活细胞计数计算细胞扩增倍数,MTT法测定杀伤活性,流式细胞术分析免疫表型.结果:DC-CIK细胞增殖能力明显高于CIK细胞(P＜0.05); DC、CIK细胞共培养后,CD3+ CD8+、CD3+ CD56+双阳性细胞比率较同条件下CIK细胞组显著增多(P＜0.05);在2.5∶1-20∶1的效靶比范围内,DC-CIK共培养物对AML细胞的杀伤率显著高于CIK细胞(P＜0.05),且杀伤率与效靶比呈正相关.结论:DC-CIK细胞的增殖能力、对AML细胞的杀伤活性均高于CIK细胞,为DC-CIK细胞免疫治疗提供了实验和理论依据.     

绿色荧光蛋白标记的人乳腺癌细胞株对化疗药物和DC/CIK治疗敏感性的研究

目的:研究绿色荧光蛋白AcGFP基因标记的人乳腺癌细胞株MCF7-pAcGFP对6种化疗药物的敏感性以及DC/CIK对其杀伤活性.方法:应用Fugene HD Transfection Reagent转染MCF-7细胞,经G418筛选获得稳定表达pAcGFP的乳腺癌细胞.采用MTT方法检测MCF7-pAcGFP细胞对6种化疗药物的敏感性以及DC/CIK对MCF7-pAcGFP细胞的杀伤活性.结果:稳定表达pAcGFP的乳腺癌细胞MCF7-pAcGFP对6种化疗药物的敏感性与未转染前相似(P>0.05),均对5-氟尿嘧啶、表柔比星和紫杉醇较为敏感;DC/CIK对MCF7细胞和MCF7-pAcGFP细胞的杀伤能力相同(P>0.05).结论:MCF7-pAcGFP细胞可代替MCF-7细胞用于抗乳腺癌药物筛选.     

化疗联合DC 和CIK方案治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床疗效观察

摘要目的：探讨化疗联合树突状细胞(DC)和细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK)方案治疗非小细胞肺癌的临床疗效。方法：随机选取 2008年10月份-2011 年02 月份因非小细胞肺癌就诊于我院进行治疗的患者120 例,随机分为治疗组60 例患者（采用化疗联合 树突状细胞(DC)和细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK)方案治疗）,对照组60 例患者（采用常规化疗）,统计两组患者的治疗效果以及 生活质量情况,并对结果进行统计分析。结果：治疗组患者治疗总有效率为68.4%,生活质量提高率为88.4%,明显好于与对照组, 经统计分析,P<0.05,差异存在显著性。结论：化疗联合树突状细胞(DC)和细胞因子诱导的杀伤细胞(CIK)方案治疗非小细胞肺癌 能够显著改善患者的生活质量,是治疗非小细胞肺癌的有效方法。     

共培养的树突状细胞与CIK细胞的体外增殖和杀瘤活性研究

本文观察树突状细胞与同源CIK细胞共培养后培养物的表型、增殖活性变化,及DC对CIK细胞细胞毒活性的影响。提取健康供血者的PBMC,常规诱导出DC与CIK细胞,用A549肺腺癌细胞裂解液抗原冲击DC,并和CIK细胞共培养,动态观察DC-CIK培养物增殖活性和表型变化;定量检测细胞培养上清中的IFN-γ和IL-12;并用MTT法检测共培养细胞杀伤A549肺腺癌细胞和BEL-7404肝癌细胞的活性。结果表明DC与CIK细胞共培养,通过彼此的相互作用诱导出比CIK细胞增殖活性和杀伤活性更强的细胞群体。经A549肺腺癌细胞裂解液抗原冲击的DC活化的CIK,对A549肺腺癌细胞的杀伤活性高于单纯CIK细胞,差异显著(p<0.05)。二者对BEL-7404肝癌细胞的杀伤活性无显著差异。实验证明DC与CIK共培养细胞是一种增殖活性和细胞毒活性高于CIK细胞的免疫活性细胞,经肿瘤抗原冲击的DC能明显提高CIK对肿瘤细胞的杀伤活性,具有更广阔的应用前景。     

毛钩藤碱通过线粒体途径诱导乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞凋亡

本研究旨在观察毛钩藤碱对人乳腺癌细胞的抑制作用,并探讨其分子机制。选取人正常乳腺上皮MCF-10A细胞、乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞作为研究对象,采用CCK-8法检测细胞活性,采用流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡和线粒体膜电位(mitochondrial membrane potential,MMP),采用Western blot检测Bcl-2、Bax、cleaved-caspase 9、cleaved-caspase 3以及胞浆中细胞色素C(cytochrome C,Cyt C)的蛋白水平。结果显示,毛钩藤碱可显著降低MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞存活率,且该作用呈时间和剂量依赖性(P0.05);毛钩藤碱作用MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞48 h的IC50分别为447.79和179.06μmol/L;毛钩藤碱可诱导MDA-MB-231细胞发生凋亡和MMP去极化(P0.05),促进线粒体释放Cyt C(P0.05),激活caspase 9和caspase 3(P0.05),这些作用均可被线粒体通透性转换孔(mitochondrial permeability transition pore,MPTP)特异性阻断剂环孢素A(cyclosporin A,CsA)显著抑制(P0.05);此外,毛钩藤碱显著下调MDA-MB-231细胞Bcl-2蛋白水平并上调Bax蛋白水平(P0.05)。以上结果提示,毛钩藤碱可诱导MDA-MB-231细胞发生凋亡,这可能与其调低Bcl-2/Bax蛋白比值,从而引起MPTP持续开放和Cyt C释放,最终导致caspase 9和caspase 3活化有关。     

Specific expression of the human voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 in highly metastatic breast cancer cells, promotes tumor progression and metastasis

The newly discovered human voltage-gated proton channel Hv1 is essential for proton transfer, which contains a voltage sensor domain (VSD) without a pore domain. We report here for the first time that Hv1 is specifically expressed in the highly metastatic human breast tumor tissues, but not in poorly metastatic breast cancer tissues, detected by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, real-time RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry showed that the expression levels of Hv1 have significant differences among breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, MDA-MB-453, T-47D and SK-BR-3, in which Hv1 is expressed at a high level in highly metastatic human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, but at a very low level in poorly metastatic human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Inhibition of Hv1 expression in the highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly decreases the invasion and migration of the cells. The intracellular pH of MDA-MB-231 cells down-regulated Hv1 expression by siRNA is obviously decreased compared with MDA-MB-231 with the scrambled siRNA. The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and gelatinase activity in MDA-MB-231 cells suppressed Hv1 by siRNA were reduced. Our results strongly suggest that Hv1 regulates breast cancer intracellular pH and exacerbates the migratory ability of metastatic cells.     

5-Alkynyl-2'-deoxyuridines: chromatography-free synthesis and cytotoxicity evaluation against human breast cancer cells

Starting with 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, a series of 5-alkynyl-2'-deoxyuridines (with n-propyl, cyclopropyl, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl, p-tolyl, p-tert-butylphenyl, p-pentylphenyl, and trimethylsilyl alkyne substituents) have been synthesized via the palladium-catalyzed (Sonogashira) coupling reaction followed by a simplified isolation protocol (76-94% yield). The cytotoxic activity of modified nucleosides against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells has been determined in vitro. 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, the only nucleoside in the series containing a terminal acetylene, is the most potent inhibitor with IC(50) (microM) 0.4+/-0.3 for MCF-7 and 4.4+/-0.4 for MDA-MB-231.     

Critical role of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis in benzyl isothiocyanate-induced apoptotic cell death

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a constituent of edible cruciferous vegetables, decreases viability of cancer cells by causing apoptosis but the mechanism of cell death is not fully understood. The present study was undertaken to determine the role of Bcl-2 family proteins in BITC-induced apoptosis using MDA-MB-231 (breast), MCF-7 (breast), and HCT-116 (colon) human cancer cells. The B-cell lymphoma 2 interacting mediator of cell death (Bim) protein was dispensable for proapoptotic response to BITC in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells as judged by RNA interference studies. Instead, the BITC-treated MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited upregulation of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) protein. The BITC-mediated induction of PUMA was relatively more pronounced in MCF-7 cells due to the presence of wild-type p53 compared with MDA-MB-231 with mutant p53. The BITC-induced apoptosis was partially but significantly attenuated by RNA interference of PUMA in MCF-7 cells. The PUMA knockout variant of HCT-116 cells exhibited significant resistance towards BITC-induced apoptosis compared with wild-type HCT-116 cells. Attenuation of BITC-induced apoptosis in PUMA knockout HCT-116 cells was accompanied by enhanced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest due to induction of p21 and down regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 protein. The BITC treatment caused a decrease in protein levels of Bcl-xL (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells) and Bcl-2 (MCF-7 cells). Ectopic expression of Bcl-xL in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and that of Bcl-2 in MCF-7 cells conferred protection against proapoptotic response to BITC. Interestingly, the BITC-treated MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited induction of Bcl-2 protein expression, and RNA interference of Bcl-2 in this cell line resulted in augmentation of BITC-induced apoptosis. The BITC-mediated inhibition of MDA-MB-231 xenograft growth in vivo was associated with the induction of PUMA protein in the tumor. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that Bim-independent apoptosis by BITC in cancer cells is mediated by PUMA.     

Characterization of metabolic profile of intact non-tumor and tumor breast cells by high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

¹H high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H HR–MAS NMR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the metabolic profile of an intact non-tumor breast cell line (MCF-10A) and intact breast tumor cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). In the spectra of MCF-10A cells, six metabolites were assigned, with glucose and ethanol in higher concentrations. Fifteen metabolites were assigned in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 ¹H HR–MAS NMR spectra. They did not show glucose and ethanol, and the major component in both tumor cells was phosphocholine (higher in MDA-MB-231 than in MCF-7), which can be considered as a tumor biomarker of breast cancer malignant transformation. These tumor cells also show acetone signal that was higher in MDA-MB-231 cells than in MCF-7 cells. The high acetone level may be an indication of high demand for energy in MDA-MB-231 to maintain cell proliferation. The higher acetone and phosphocholine levels in MDA-MB-231 cells indicate the higher malignance of the cell line. Therefore, HR–MAS is a rapid reproducible method to study the metabolic profile of intact breast cells, with minimal sample preparation and contamination, which are critical in the analyses of slow-growth cells.     

Influence of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists on human mammary carcinoma cell lines and their xenografts

The specific binding of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist in estradiol-dependent MCF-7 and estradiol-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells has been studied using [3H]Ovurelin [(D-3H-Phe6),des-Gly10-LH-RH- ethylamide]. The results of Scatchard analyses suggest the presence of a single class of receptor sites, both in cell suspensions and membrane fractions. Evaluation of these peptide receptors appears to reflect additional characteristics of biological behaviour of these human breast cancer cells. The synthetic LH-RH agonist Ovurelin [(D-Phe6),des-Gly10-LH-RH-ethylamide] can directly interfere (25-30%) with the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in culture. The inhibitory effect of Ovurelin in vitro was negligible in the MCF-7 cell line. In the in vivo experiments the treated immunosuppressed mice bearing either MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 xenografts responded to the high-dose LH-RH analogue Zoladex depot and Decapeptyl depot therapy. Since the MDA-MB-231 tumour was found to be ER-negative it seems possible that the regression of this xenograft results from the direct antitumor action of the LH-RH agonist.     

Development of methotrexate proline prodrug to overcome resistance by MDA-MB-231 cells

The resistance to methotrexate by a number of cancer cells such as breast cancer cell-line MDA-MB-231 due to poor permeability renders it less effective as an anticancer agent for these cells. Proline prodrug of methotrexate (Pro-MTX) was designed as a substrate of prolidase which is specific for imido bond of dipeptide containing proline and expected to penetrate MDA-MB-231 cells more efficiently. The prodrug was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis method and examined as a substrate of pure prolidase as well as cell homogenate. The cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 and non-methotrexate resistant breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 was also examined by XTT assay. The results showed that Pro-MTX was a substrate of prolidase. It was also shown that the prodrug could be converted to parent drug methotrexate in Caco-2 and HeLa cell homogenate. When tested with Caco-2 and MCF-7 cells, Pro-MTX showed weaker cytotoxicity compared with methotrexate. But for methotrexate resistant MDA-MB-231 cells, Pro-MTX showed stronger activity than methotrexate. The results indicated that the proline prodrug of methotrexate may overcome the resistance of human breast cancer cells in culture.     

Pyruvate Carboxylase Is Up-Regulated in Breast Cancer and Essential to Support Growth and Invasion of MDA-MB-231 Cells

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) is an anaplerotic enzyme that catalyzes the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate, which is crucial for replenishing tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates when they are used for biosynthetic purposes. We examined the expression of PC by immunohistochemistry of paraffin-embedded breast tissue sections of 57 breast cancer patients with different stages of cancer progression. PC was expressed in the cancerous areas of breast tissue at higher levels than in the non-cancerous areas. We also found statistical association between the levels of PC expression and tumor size and tumor stage (P < 0.05). The involvement of PC with these two parameters was further studied in four breast cancer cell lines with different metastatic potentials; i.e., MCF-7, SKBR3 (low metastasis), MDA-MB-435 (moderate metastasis) and MDA-MB-231 (high metastasis). The abundance of both PC mRNA and protein in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 cells was 2-3-fold higher than that in MCF-7 and SKBR3 cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of PC expression in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 cells resulted in a 50% reduction of cell proliferation, migration and in vitro invasion ability, under both glutamine-dependent and glutamine-depleted conditions. Overexpression of PC in MCF-7 cells resulted in a 2-fold increase in their proliferation rate, migration and invasion abilities. Taken together the above results suggest that anaplerosis via PC is important for breast cancer cells to support their growth and motility.