Tumor-initiating cells with reprogramming plasticity are thought to be essential for cancer development and metastatic regeneration in many cancers; however, the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. We have previously identified that CD44, a breast tumor-initiating cell marker, drives mammosphere self-renewal and multicellular aggregation of circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters,...
Breast cancer cells acquire many genetic alterations in apoptotic signaling pathways rendering them resistant to apoptosis. Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor-2 (HER-2/ErbB2/neu) is amplified or overexpressed in approximately 30% of breast and ovarian tumors and correlates with poor prognosis. Although HER-2 is an orphan receptor, it forms potent signaling heterodimers...