Polycomb complex protein BMI1 confers resistance to tamoxifen in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer

We report that BMI1 promotes tamoxifen resistance in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC). BMI1 overexpression conferred MCF7 and TD47  cells resistance to tamoxifen; BMI1 knockdown sensitized the process. In MCF7-derived tamoxifen resistant cells, BMI1 expression was upregulated and BMI1 knockdown reduced the resistance. BMI1 is an oncogene; its oncogenic activity is attributed to BMI1-stimulated E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, a p rocess that requires BMI1's ring finger (RF) domain. However, a BMI1 mutant without RF conferred tamoxifen resistance.

Source: Cancer Letters - April 4, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Diane Ojo, Xiaozeng Lin, Ying Wu, Jessica Cockburn, Anita Bane, Damu Tang Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research