Abstract 440: Myoglobin in breast cancer: Regulation, function and relevance

Background Following an accidental observation, we aimed to analyse expression, regulation and function of myoglobin (Mb) in breast cancer. Methods Immunohistochemistry/Immunofluorescence, microdissection, transmission electron microscopy, Western blot, qPCR, cell culture (under normoxia and hypoxia), shRNA and siRNA knockdown, in silico data mining, high resolution respirometry. Functional assays: proliferation, migration and colony formation. Results Mb protein is de novo expressed in 71% of invasive breast carcinomas (n=917) in association with the hypoxia inducible factor 2α (HIF-2 α), carbonic anhydrase IX and a better prognosis. Expression of Mb in breast cancer was confirmed on mRNA level and occurred irrespective of rhabdomyoid differentiation and was inducible by prolonged hypoxia in breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB231, MDA-MB468, MCF7) with a median change fold of 3.4 after 72 hours. Interestingly, hypoxically induced MB mRNA originated from a novel, alternative transcription start site 6 kb upstream of the genuine ATG codon. Functionally, stable myoglobin knockdown in MDA-MB468 cells was associated with a stimulated O 2 uptake during mild hypoxia, yet did not impact the O 2 diffusion gradient in these small cells during limiting conditions. Knockdown of Mb also conferred a significant retardation of the cells’ in vitro motility to close an inflicted wound within the normoxic culture. Conclusions Regarding cancer cells, unconventional functions of myoglobin, not directly related to the transport of oxygen, thus need to be envisioned. These unprecedented findings may have fundamental implications for our understanding of non-muscle Mb in solid tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 440.