T47-D cells and type V collagen: a model for the study of apoptotic gene expression by breast cancer cells.

We have previously reported that type V collagen is a poorly adhesive, anti-proliferative and motility-inhibitory substrate for the 8701-BC breast cancer cell line, which also triggers DNA fragmentation and impairs survival of the same cell line. In the present work we have extended to other breast cancer cell lines (T47-D, MDA-MB231, Hs578T) our investigation of type V collagen influence on the DNA status and cell survival, also examining whether adhesion and growth of cells on this collagen substrate could exert some effect on the expression level of selected apoptosis-related genes. We report here that, among the cell lines tested, only T47-D is responsive to the death-promoting influence of type V collagen. In addition, the latter induces changes in gene expression by up-regulating p53, Waf-1, Cas, Dap kinase and caspases 1, -5 and -14 and down-regulating Bcl-2. Our data validate the T47-D line as a suitable in vitro model for further and more detailed studies on the molecular mechanisms of the death response induced by type V collagen on mammary tumor cells.