Lost in inflammatory
breast cancer (LIBC)

???

Gene: maps to 6q22 (van Golen K.L. et al., 1999).
mRNA: size: 2.5 kb (van Golen K.L. et al., 1999).
Protein: the LIBC mRNA encodes a predicted 331-amino acid, 36.9-kDa protein with 57% homology to human connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) precursor. CTGF proteins are highly conserved throughout mammalian evolution and are members of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein family. LIBC contains 36 cysteine residues and the IGF-binding domain GCGCCKIC starting at amino acid 48. Both protein kinase C and casein kinase 2 phosphorylation sites are present at the COOH-terminal domain. LIBC seems to be N-linked glycosylated and has several predicted myristylation sites throughout the NH2 terminus of the protein that may associate LIBC with the plasma membrane and may aid in its interaction with IGF and insulin receptors (van Golen K.L. et al., 1999).

Cell lines:

Tumors:
- A significant difference in the expression of the LIBC mRNA was seen when comparing inflammatory and noninflammatory tumor samples. LIBC was expressed in only 20% of inflammatory tumors, in comparison with 79% (P=0.0013) of noninflammatory tumors (van Golen K.L. et al., 1999).

van Golen K.L. et al. (1999) A novel putative low-affinity insulin-like growth factor-binding protein, LIBC (Lost in Inflammatory Breast Cancer), and RhoC GTPase correlate with the inflammatory breast cancer phenotype. Clin. Cancer Res. 5, 2511-2519.

Under construction