Final answer:
Human connexins have been shown to reduce the capacity of breast cancer to form tumors in mice. Connexins help in cell communication, and breast cancer is one of the cancers associated with mutations in the p53 protein, which include also pancreatic, lung, and renal cell cancers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When introduced with human connexins, breast cancer type in mice has been shown to have a reduced capacity to form tumors. Connexins are integral membrane proteins that form gap junctions, which are crucial for cell-to-cell communication. The disruption of this communication is a characteristic of cancer cells, leading to unregulated growth. Adding human connexins may help restore normal communication pathways in cancer cells, thus inhibiting their ability to grow into tumors.
Mutations in the gene for the p53 protein (TP53 in humans) are associated with many human cancers, including pancreatic, lung, renal cell, and breast cancer. The p53 protein is a tumor suppressor, and its normal function can be disrupted by mutations, contributing to the development of cancer. Breast cancer in mice, when studied in relation to connexins, provides a model for understanding the potential treatments that might also be applicable to human cancers.