NFATc3 deficiency may contribute to the development of mammary gland adenocarcinorna in aging female mice

The nuclear transcription factor of activated T cells (NFAT) suggested to be a tumor suppressor. Here we report that two out of three NFATc3-/- and two in four NFATc3+/- female mice developed aggressive mammary adenocarcinoma by 12.5 and 16 mo of age, respectively, with no occurrences in age-matched wild-type littermates (N-14). Thus, our data suggest that NFATc3 can suppress the development of mammary gland tumors in female mice. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.