Research Article

Progression of Luminal Breast Tumors Is Promoted by Ménage à Trois between the Inflammatory Cytokine TNFα and the Hormonal and Growth-Supporting Arms of the Tumor Microenvironment

Figure 6

Combined stimulation by TNFα + Estrogen + EGF leads to potent downregulation of E-cadherin expression by breast tumor cells. ((a), (B)) Determination of E-cadherin expression. Breast tumor cells were stimulated by (a1) TNFα, (a2) estrogen, (a3) EGF, or (B) TNFα + Estrogen + EGF (concentrations as in Figure 1) for three days. Non-stimulated: cells grown with the diluents of the above factors. The expression of E-cadherin on the surface of the cells was determined by FACS analyses, using specific Abs to E-cadherin. Isotype: isotype matched Abs, used as control in the FACS analyses. In all panels, the results are from a representative experiment of .
720536.fig.006