“Role of Reishi on cell surface proteins and signaling modulation in Inflammatory Breast Cancer"
The main goal of this investigation is to validate the inhibitory role of Reishi on IBC progression via the inhibition of plasma membrane proteins and subsequent EGFR intracellular signaling events. Plasma membrane proteins will be labeled via “stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture” (SILAC) and analyzed via mass spectrometry (MS)-based quantitative proteomics. For studying the cell surface proteome we will compare non-treated IBC SUM-149 vs. non-cancerous mammary epithelial MCF-10A cells. To study Reishi effects on SUM-149 cell membrane protein inhibition, we will compare non-treated vs. Reishi treated cells. Moreover, to investigate the therapeutic potential of Reishi in IBC cells, focusing on EGFR or HER2 signaling cascades, the IBC SUM149 and SUM190 cells will be treated with lapatinib (EGFR and HER2 inhibitor), erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor) and/or Reishi to analyze the effects on cell proliferation, tumor spheroid formation, invasion, and EGFR/HER2 signaling to MAP/ERK and AKT pathways.