基底样乳腺癌（BLBC）是一种恶性程度很高的乳腺癌亚型，其预后差，病人生存期短，对常规乳腺癌治疗方法不敏感，目前缺乏有效的靶向治疗手段。研究表明，BLBC是一种与炎症密切相关的疾病，它的迅速生长和转移依赖于从肿瘤微环境发出的促癌炎症信号。最近我们报道了Twist/BRD4复合体在BLBC细胞内诱导关键致癌基因表达的工作机制，然而人们完全不清楚Twist是否调控炎症因子信号通路，以及这些调控是否参与BLBC的演进。我们在BLBC细胞中发现了Twist/BRD4复合体的新靶基因IL31RA，并鉴定出IL31RA在促进BLBC演进中的关键作用。这是首次发现Twist调控炎症反应以及炎症因子信号通路，同时我们的研究将揭示Twist/BRD4/IL31RA信号推动BLBC肿瘤演进的工作机制，为靶向治疗BLBC提供理论基础。

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer associated with early metastasis to brain and lung, poor prognosis and short survival. BLBC tumors generally do not respond to the most available breast cancer treatments. Currently, there is no targeted therapy for BLBC. Studies have shown that BLBC is an inflammation-associated disease–its rapid tumor growth and metastasis is heavily dependent upon cytokines. Previously we reported a mechanism which Twist/BRD4 complex directs oncogene expression in basal-like breast cancer, pharmacologic inhibition of the Twist/BRD4 association inhibited oncogene transcription, suppressed invasion, cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties and tumorigenicity of BLBC cells. It is not clear whether Twist is involved in inflammation response and regulation of cytokines signaling as well as how these regulations participate in BLBC development. Here, we identified IL31RA as a novel targeted gene of Twist/BRD4 in BLBC cells, and determined the critical roles of Twist in inflammation and IL31RA induction in BLBC progression. Our study will lay groundwork for developing new therapeutic strategies against the deadly BLBC.