Altered ribosomal profile in acquired resistance and reversal associates with pathological response to chemotherapy in inflammatory breast cancer.

Therapeutic resistance presents a significant hurdle in combating inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), adding to the complexity of its management. To investigate these mechanisms, we conducted a comprehensive analysis using transcriptomic and proteomic profiling in a preclinical model alone with correlates of treatment response in IBC patients. This included SUM149 cell lines derived from treatment-naïve patients, along with acquired drug resistance (rSUM149) and others in a state of resistance reversal (rrSUM149), aiming to uncover drug resistance networks. We identified specific ribosomal proteins associated with acquiring resistance. These correlated with elevated levels of molecular markers such as pERK, CDK1, XIAP, and SOD2. While resistance reversal in rrSUM149 cells largely normalized the expression profile, VIPER analysis revealed persistent alterations in ribosomal process-related proteins (AGO2, Exportin 1, RPL5), suggesting their continued involvement in drug resistance. Moreover, genes linked to ribosomal processes were significantly enriched (P < 0.001) among overexpressed genes in IBC patients (n = 87) who exhibited a pathological complete response (pCR) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Given the common hyperactivation of MAPK in IBC tumors, including rSUM149, we evaluated Merestinib, a multikinase inhibitor in clinical trials. It effectively targeted pERK and peIF4E pathways, suppressed downstream targets, induced cell death in drug-resistant rSUM149 cells, and showed synergistic effects with another tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Lapatinib) in parental cells. This underscores its significant impact on protein synthesis signaling, crucial for combating translational dependence in cancer cells. In summary, our study elucidates adaptive changes in IBC cells in response to therapy and treatment pauses, guiding precision medicine approaches for this challenging cancer type.

XIAP overexpressing inflammatory breast cancer patients have high infiltration of immunosuppressive subsets and increased TNFR1 signaling targetable with Birinapant.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the expression pattern of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a cellular stress sensor, and delineate the associated changes in the tumor immune microenvironment (TiME) for prognostic value and new therapeutic targets in inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was conducted to assess the spatial localization of immune subsets, XIAP, and PDL1 expression in IBC and non-inflammatory breast cancer (nIBC) pretreatment tumors (n = 142). Validation and further exploration were performed by gene expression analysis of patient tumors along with signaling studies in a co-culture model. RESULTS: High XIAP in 37/81 IBC patients correlated significantly with high PD-L1, increased infiltration of FOXP3+ Tregs, CD163+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), low CD8/CD163 ratio in both tumor stroma (TS) and invasive margins (IM), and higher CD8+ T cells and CD79α+ B cells in the IM. Gene set enrichment analysis identified cellular stress response- and inflammation-related genes along with tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) expression in high-XIAP IBC tumors. Induction of TNFR1 and XIAP was observed when patient-derived SUM149 IBC cells were co-cultured with human macrophage-conditioned media simulating TAMs, further demonstrating that the TNF-α signaling pathway is a likely candidate governing TAM-induced XIAP overexpression in IBC cells. Finally, addition of Birinapant, a pan IAP antagonist, induced cell death in the pro-survival cytokine-enriched conditions. CONCLUSION: Using immunophenotyping and gene expression analysis in patient biospecimens along with in silico modeling and a preclinical model with a pan-IAP antagonist, this study revealed an interplay between increased TAMs, TNF-α signaling, and XIAP activation during (immune) stress in IBC. These data demonstrate the potential of IAP antagonists as immunomodulators for improving IBC therapeutic regimens.

Identification of barriers at the primary care provider level to improve inflammatory breast cancer diagnosis and management.

The purpose of this study, based in the United States, was to evaluate knowledge gaps and barriers related to diagnosis and care of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a rare but lethal breast cancer subtype, amongst Primary Care Providers (PCP) as they are often the first point of contact when patients notice initial symptoms. PCP participants in the Duke University Health System, federally qualified health center, corporate employee health and community practices, nearby academic medical center, Duke physician assistant and advanced practice nurse leadership program alumni were first selected in a convenience sample and for semi-structured interviews (n = 11). Based on these data, an online survey tool was developed and disseminated (n = 78) to assess salient measures of IBC diagnosis, health disparity factors, referral and care coordination practices, COVID-19 impact, and continuing medical education (CME). PCP reported access to care and knowledge gaps in symptom recognition (mean = 3.3, range 1-7) as major barriers. Only 31 % reported ever suspecting IBC in a patient. PCP (n = 49) responded being challenged with referral delays in diagnostic imaging. Additionally, since the COVID-19 pandemic started, 63 % reported breast cancer referral delays, and 33 % reported diagnosing less breast cancer. PCP stated interest in CME in their practice for improved diagnosis and patient care, which included online (53 %), lunch time or other in-service training (33 %), patient and provider-facing websites (32 %). Challenges communicating rare cancer information, gaps in confidence in diagnosing IBC, and timely follow-up with patients and specialists underscores the need for developing PCP educational modules to improve guideline-concordant care.

Cumulative environmental quality is associated with breast cancer incidence differentially by summary stage and urbanicity.

Individual environmental contaminants have been associated with breast cancer; however, evaluations of multiple exposures simultaneously are limited. Herein, we evaluated associations between breast cancer summary stages and the Environmental Quality Index (EQI), which includes a range of environmental factors across five domains. The EQI (2000-2005) was linked to county-level age-standardized incidence rates (SIRs) obtained from the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (2010-2014). Incidence rates and SIRs of total, in situ, localized, regional, and distant breast cancers were evaluated stratified by rural-urban status. In counties with poor environmental quality compared to those with good environmental quality, total breast cancer incidence was higher by 10.82 cases per 100,000 persons (95% CI 2.04, 19.60, p = 0.02). This association was most pronounced for localized breast cancer (ß = 5.59, 95% CI 0.59, 10.58, p = 0.03). Higher incidence of early-stage disease (carcinoma in situ ß = 5.25, 95% CI 2.34, 8.16, p = 0.00 and localized breast cancer ß = 6.98, 95% CI 2.24, 11.73, p = 0.00) and total breast cancer (ß = 11.44, 95% CI 3.01, 19.87, p = 0.01) occurred in counties with poor land quality, especially urban counties. Our analyses indicate significant associations between environmental quality and breast cancer incidence, which differ by breast cancer stage and urbanicity, identifying a critical need to assess cumulative environmental exposures in the context of cancer stage.

A Novel Preclinical Murine Model to Monitor Inflammatory Breast Cancer Tumor Growth and Lymphovascular Invasion.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), an understudied and lethal breast cancer, is often misdiagnosed due to its unique presentation of diffuse tumor cell clusters in the skin and dermal lymphatics. Here, we describe a window chamber technique in combination with a novel transgenic mouse model that has red fluorescent lymphatics (ProxTom RFP Nu/Nu) to simulate IBC clinicopathological hallmarks. Various breast cancer cells stably transfected to express green or red fluorescent reporters were transplanted into mice bearing dorsal skinfold window chambers. Intravital fluorescence microscopy and the in vivo imaging system (IVIS) were used to serially quantify local tumor growth, motility, length density of lymph and blood vessels, and degree of tumor cell lymphatic invasion over 0-140 h. This short-term, longitudinal imaging time frame in studying transient or dynamic events of diffuse and collectively migrating tumor cells in the local environment and quantitative analysis of the tumor area, motility, and vessel characteristics can be expanded to investigate other cancer cell types exhibiting lymphovascular invasion, a key step in metastatic dissemination. It was found that these models were able to effectively track tumor cluster migration and dissemination, which is a hallmark of IBC clinically, and was recapitulated in these mouse models.

Adaptive stress response genes associated with breast cancer subtypes and survival outcomes reveal race-related differences.

Aggressive breast cancer variants, like triple negative and inflammatory breast cancer, contribute to disparities in survival and clinical outcomes among African American (AA) patients compared to White (W) patients. We previously identified the dominant role of anti-apoptotic protein XIAP in regulating tumor cell adaptive stress response (ASR) that promotes a hyperproliferative, drug resistant phenotype. Using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified 46-88 ASR genes that are differentially expressed (2-fold-change and adjusted p-value < 0.05) depending on PAM50 breast cancer subtype. On average, 20% of all 226 ASR genes exhibited race-related differential expression. These genes were functionally relevant in cell cycle, DNA damage response, signal transduction, and regulation of cell death-related processes. Moreover, 23% of the differentially expressed ASR genes were associated with AA and/or W breast cancer patient survival. These identified genes represent potential therapeutic targets to improve breast cancer outcomes and mitigate associated health disparities.

Comparative transcriptional analyses of preclinical models and patient samples reveal MYC and RELA driven expression patterns that define the molecular landscape of IBC.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive disease for which the spectrum of preclinical models was rather limited in the past. More recently, novel cell lines and xenografts have been developed. This study evaluates the transcriptome of an extended series of IBC preclinical models and performed a comparative analysis with patient samples to determine the extent to which the current models recapitulate the molecular characteristics of IBC observed clinically. We demonstrate that the IBC preclinical models are exclusively estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and of the basal-like subtype, which reflects to some extent the predominance of these subtypes in patient samples. The IBC-specific 79-signature we previously reported was retrained and discriminated between IBC and non-IBC preclinical models, but with a relatively high rate of false positive predictions. Further analyses of gene expression profiles revealed important roles for cell proliferation, MYC transcriptional activity, and TNFɑ/NFκB in the biology of IBC. Patterns of MYC expression and transcriptional activity were further explored in patient samples, which revealed interactions with ESR1 expression that are contrasting in IBC and nIBC and notable given the comparatively poor outcomes of ER+ IBC. Our analyses also suggest important roles for NMYC, MXD3, MAX, and MLX in shaping MYC signaling in IBC. Overall, we demonstrate that the IBC preclinical models can be used to unravel cancer cell intrinsic molecular features, and thus constitute valuable research tools. Nevertheless, the current lack of ER-positive IBC models remains a major hurdle, particularly since interactions with the ER pathway appear to be relevant for IBC.

Non-canonical role of Hippo tumor suppressor serine/threonine kinase 3 STK3 in prostate cancer.

Serine/threonine kinase 3 (STK3) is an essential member of the highly conserved Hippo tumor suppressor pathway that regulates Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and TAZ. STK3 and its paralog STK4 initiate a phosphorylation cascade that regulates YAP1/TAZ inhibition and degradation, which is important for regulated cell growth and organ size. Deregulation of this pathway leads to hyperactivation of YAP1 in various cancers. Counter to the canonical tumor suppression role of STK3, we report that in the context of prostate cancer (PC), STK3 has a pro-tumorigenic role. Our investigation started with the observation that STK3, but not STK4, is frequently amplified in PC. Additionally, high STK3 expression is associated with decreased overall survival and positively correlates with androgen receptor (AR) activity in metastatic castrate-resistant PC. XMU-MP-1, an STK3/4 inhibitor, slowed cell proliferation, spheroid growth, and Matrigel invasion in multiple models. Genetic depletion of STK3 decreased proliferation in several PC cell lines. In a syngeneic allograft model, STK3 loss slowed tumor growth kinetics in vivo, and biochemical analysis suggests a mitotic growth arrest phenotype. To further probe the role of STK3 in PC, we identified and validated a new set of selective STK3 inhibitors, with enhanced kinase selectivity relative to XMU-MP-1, that inhibited tumor spheroid growth and invasion. Consistent with the canonical role, inhibition of STK3 induced cardiomyocyte growth and had chemoprotective effects. Our results indicate that STK3 has a non-canonical role in PC progression and that inhibition of STK3 may have a therapeutic potential for PC that merits further investigation.

Expression of X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (XIAP) in Breast Cancer Is Associated with Shorter Survival and Resistance to Chemotherapy.

XIAP, the most potent inhibitor of cell death pathways, is linked to chemotherapy resistance and tumor aggressiveness. Currently, multiple XIAP-targeting agents are in clinical trials. However, the characterization of XIAP expression in relation to clinicopathological variables in large clinical series of breast cancer is lacking. We retrospectively analyzed non-metastatic, non-inflammatory, primary, invasive breast cancer samples for XIAP mRNA (n = 2341) and protein (n = 367) expression. XIAP expression was analyzed as a continuous value and correlated with clinicopathological variables. XIAP mRNA expression was heterogeneous across samples and significantly associated with younger patients' age (≤50 years), pathological ductal type, lower tumor grade, node-positive status, HR+/HER2- status, and PAM50 luminal B subtype. Higher XIAP expression was associated with shorter DFS in uni- and multivariate analyses in 909 informative patients. Very similar correlations were observed at the protein level. This prognostic impact was significant in the HR+/HER2- but not in the TN subtype. Finally, XIAP mRNA expression was associated with lower pCR rate to anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy in both uni- and multivariate analyses in 1203 informative patients. Higher XIAP expression in invasive breast cancer is independently associated with poorer prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy, suggesting the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting XIAP.

Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon intake in the US adult population from NHANES 2005-2014 identifies vulnerable subpopulations, suggests interaction between tobacco smoke exposure and sociodemographic factors.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a toxic and ubiquitous class of environmental chemicals, products of fuel combustion from human and natural sources. The objective of this study was to identify vulnerable populations for high PAH exposure and variability, to better understand where to target PAH exposure reduction initiatives. Urinary metabolite data were collected from 9517 individuals from the U.S. CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey years 2005-2014 for four parental PAHs naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene. We utilized these urinary biomarkers to estimate PAH intake, and regression models were fit for multiple demographic and lifestyle variables, to determine variable effects, interactions, odds of high versus low PAH intake. Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure accounted for the largest PAH intake rate variability (25.62%), and there were strongest interactions between race/ethnicity and smoking or SHS exposure, reflected in a much greater contribution of smoking to PAH intake in non-Hispanic Whites as compared to other races/ethnicities. Increased odds of high PAH intake were seen in older age groups, obese persons, college graduates, midrange incomes, smokers, and those who were SHS exposed. Among the non-smoking population, effects of other demographic factors lessened, suggesting a highly interactive nature. Our results suggest that there are demographic subpopulations with high PAH intake as a result of different smoking behaviors and potentially other exposures. This has human health, environmental justice, and regulatory implications wherein smoking cessation programs, SHS exposure regulations, and public health initiatives could be better targeted towards vulnerable subpopulations to meaningfully reduce PAH exposures.

Hymenolepis diminuta-based helminth therapy in C3(1)-TAg mice does not alter breast tumor onset or progression.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: An individual's risk of breast cancer is profoundly affected by evolutionary mismatch. Mismatches in Western society known to increase the risk of breast cancer include a sedentary lifestyle and reproductive factors. Biota alteration, characterized by a loss of biodiversity from the ecosystem of the human body as a result of Western society, is a mismatch known to increase the risk of a variety of inflammation-related diseases, including colitis-associated colon cancer. However, the effect of biota alteration on breast cancer has not been evaluated. METHODOLOGY: In this study, we utilized the C3(1)-TAg mouse model of breast cancer to evaluate the role of biota alteration in the development of breast cancer. This model has been used to recapitulate the role of exercise and pregnancy in reducing the risk of breast cancer. C3(1)-TAg mice were treated with Hymenolepis diminuta, a benign helminth that has been shown to reverse the effects of biota alteration in animal models. RESULTS: No effect of the helminth H. diminuta was observed. Neither the latency nor tumor growth was affected by the therapy, and no significant effects on tumor transcriptome were observed based on RNAseq analysis. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that biota alteration, although known to affect a variety of Western-associated diseases, might not be a significant factor in the high rate of breast cancer observed in Western societies. LAY SUMMARY: An almost complete loss of intestinal worms in high-income countries has led to increases in allergic disorders, autoimmune conditions, and perhaps colon cancer. However, in this study, results using laboratory mice suggest that loss of intestinal worms might not be associated with breast cancer.

Birinapant Enhances Gemcitabine's Antitumor Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Inducing Intrinsic Pathway-Dependent Apoptosis.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subgroup of breast cancer, and patients with TNBC have few therapeutic options. Apoptosis resistance is a hallmark of human cancer, and apoptosis regulators have been targeted for drug development for cancer treatment. One class of apoptosis regulators is the inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). Dysregulated IAP expression has been reported in many cancers, including breast cancer, and has been shown to be responsible for resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, IAPs have become attractive molecular targets for cancer treatment. Here, we first investigated the antitumor efficacy of birinapant (TL32711), a biindole-based bivalent mimetic of second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMACs), in TNBC. We found that birinapant as a single agent has differential antiproliferation effects in TNBC cells. We next assessed whether birinapant has a synergistic effect with commonly used anticancer drugs, including entinostat (class I histone deacetylase inhibitor), cisplatin, paclitaxel, voxtalisib (PI3K inhibitor), dasatinib (Src inhibitor), erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor), and gemcitabine, in TNBC. Among these tested drugs, gemcitabine showed a strong synergistic effect with birinapant. Birinapant significantly enhanced the antitumor activity of gemcitabine in TNBC both in vitro and in xenograft mouse models through activation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway via degradation of cIAP2 and XIAP, leading to apoptotic cell death. Our findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of birinapant to enhance the antitumor efficacy of gemcitabine in TNBC by targeting the IAP family of proteins.

A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-enriched environmental chemical mixture enhances AhR, antiapoptotic signaling and a proliferative phenotype in breast cancer cells.

Emerging evidence suggests the role of environmental chemicals, in particular endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in progression of breast cancer and treatment resistance, which can impact survival outcomes. However, most research tends to focus on tumor etiology and the effect of single chemicals, offering little insight into the effects of realistic complex mixture exposures on tumor progression. Herein, we investigated the effect of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-enriched EDC mixture in a panel of normal and breast cancer cells and in a tumor organoid model. Cells or organoids in culture were treated with EDC mixture at doses estimated from US adult intake of the top four PAH compounds within the mixture from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. We demonstrate that low-dose PAH mixture (6, 30 and 300 nM) increased aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression and CYP activity in estrogen receptor (ER) positive but not normal mammary or ER-negative breast cancer cells, and that upregulated AhR signaling corresponded with increased cell proliferation and expression of antiapoptotic and antioxidant proteins XIAP and SOD1. We employed a mathematical model to validate PAH-mediated increases in AhR and XIAP expression in the MCF-7 ER-positive cell line. Furthermore, the PAH mixture caused significant growth increases in ER-negative breast cancer cell derived 3D tumor organoids, providing further evidence for the role of a natural-derived PAH mixture in enhancing a tumor proliferative phenotype. Together, our integrated cell signaling, computational and phenotype analysis reveals the underlying mechanisms of EDC mixtures in breast cancer progression and survival.

Environmental Quality and Invasive Breast Cancer.

Background: Breast cancer is a complex and multifactorial disease, and environmental factors have been suggested to increase its risk. However, prior research has largely focused on studying exposures to one factor/contaminant at a time, which does not reflect the real-world environment.Methods: Herein, we investigate associations between breast cancer and the environmental quality index (EQI), a comprehensive assessment of five domains of environmental quality (air, water, land, sociodemographic, and built environments) at the county level. Breast cancer diagnoses for North Carolina women were obtained from the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry (2009-2014) and the county of residence at the time of diagnosis was linked with the EQI. We evaluated the odds of localized, regional, or distant metastatic breast cancer in categories of environmental quality using women with carcinoma in situ as registry-based controls.Results: Overall environmental quality was generally not associated with invasive breast cancer; however, all breast cancer types tended to be inversely associated with land quality, particularly in more rural communities [distant metastatic breast cancer was 5%-8% more likely (OR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.14; P = 0.02) compared with carcinoma in situ].Conclusions: Cumulatively, our results suggest that some broad measures of environmental quality are associated with invasive breast cancer but that associations vary by environmental domain, cancer stage, subtype, and urbanicity.Impact: Our findings suggest that components of land quality (e.g., pesticide applications and animal facilities) warrant additional investigation in relation to invasive breast cancer.See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, "Environmental Carcinogenesis: Pathways to Prevention."

Inflammatory breast cancer cells are characterized by abrogated TGFß1-dependent cell motility and SMAD3 activity.

PURPOSE: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer with elevated metastatic potential, characterized by tumor emboli in dermal and parenchymal lymph vessels. This study has investigated the hypothesis that TGFß signaling is implicated in the molecular biology of IBC. METHODS: TGFß1-induced cell motility and gene expression patterns were investigated in three IBC and three non-IBC (nIBC) cell lines. Tissue samples from IBC and nIBC patients were investigated for the expression of nuclear SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD4. SMAD protein levels were related to gene expression data. RESULTS: TGFß1-induced cell motility was strongly abrogated in IBC cells (P = 0.003). Genes differentially expressed between IBC and nIBC cells post TGFß1 exposure revealed attenuated expression of SMAD3 transcriptional regulators, but overexpression of MYC target genes in IBC. IBC patient samples demonstrated a near absence of SMAD3 and -4 expression in the primary tumor compared to nIBC patient samples (P < 0.001) and a further reduction of staining intensity in tumor emboli. Integration of gene and protein expression data revealed that a substantial fraction of the IBC signature genes correlated with SMAD3 and these genes are indicative of attenuated SMAD3 signaling in IBC. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate attenuated SMAD3 transcriptional activity and SMAD protein expression in IBC, together with obliterated TGFß1-induced IBC cell motility. The further reduction of nuclear SMAD expression levels in tumor emboli suggests that the activity of these transcription factors is involved in the metastatic dissemination of IBC cells, possibly by enabling collective invasion after partial EMT.

Extent of axillary surgery in inflammatory breast cancer: a survival analysis of 3500 patients.

PURPOSE: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive variant for which axillary lymph node (LN) dissection following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains standard of care. But with increasingly effective systemic therapy, it is unclear whether more limited axillary surgery may be appropriate in some IBC patients. We sought to examine whether extent of axillary LN surgery was associated with overall survival (OS) for IBC. METHODS: Female breast cancer patients with non-metastatic IBC (cT4d) diagnosed 2010-2014 were identified in the National Cancer Data Base. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate the association between extent of axillary surgery (≤ 9 vs ≥ 10 LNs removed) and OS after adjusting for covariates, including post-NACT nodal status (ypN0 vs ypN1-3) and radiotherapy receipt (yes/no). RESULTS: 3471 patients were included: 597 (17.2%) had cN0 disease, 1833 (52.8%) had cN1 disease, and 1041 (30%) had cN2-3 disease. 49.9% of cN0 patients were confirmed to be ypN0 on post-NACT surgical pathology. Being ypN0 (vs ypN1-3) was associated with improved adjusted OS for all patients. Radiotherapy was associated with improved adjusted OS for cN1 and cN2-3 patients but not for cN0 patients. Regardless of ypN status, there was a trend towards improved adjusted OS with having ≥ 10 (vs ≤ 9) LNs removed for cN2-3 patients (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.60-1.01, p = 0.06) but not for cN0 patients (p = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: A majority of IBC patients in our study presented with node-positive disease, and for those presenting with cN2-3 disease, more extensive axillary surgery is potentially associated with improved survival. For cN0 patients, however, more extensive axillary surgery was not associated with a survival benefit, suggesting an opportunity for more personalized care.

An innovative educational program for addressing health disparities in translational cancer research.

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and Duke Cancer Institute implemented an NCI-funded Translational Cancer Disparities Research Partnership to enhance translational cancer research, increase the pool of underrepresented racial and ethnic group (UREG) researchers in the translational and clinical research workforce, and equip UREG trainees with skills to increase diversity in clinical trials. The Cancer Research Education Program (C-REP) provided training for UREG graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at Duke and NCCU. An innovative component of C-REP is the Translational Immersion Experience (TIE), which enabled Scholars to gain knowledge across eight domains of clinical and translational research (clinical trials operations, data monitoring, regulatory affairs, UREG accrual, biobanking, community engagement, community outreach, and high-throughput drug screening). Program-specific evaluative metrics were created for three broad domains (clinical operations, basic science/lab research, and population-based science) and eight TIE domains. Two cohorts (n = 13) completed pre- and post-surveys to determine program impact and identify recommendations for program improvement. Scholars reported statistically significant gains in knowledge across three broad domains of biomedical research and seven distinct areas within TIE. Training in translational research incorporating immersions in clinical trials operation, biobanking, drug development, and community engagement adds value to career development of UREG researchers.

Perspectives on Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Research, Clinical Management and Community Engagement from the Duke IBC Consortium.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an understudied and aggressive form of breast cancer with a poor prognosis, accounting for 2-6% of new breast cancer diagnoses but 10% of all breast cancer-related deaths in the United States. Currently there are no therapeutic regimens developed specifically for IBC, and it is critical to recognize that all aspects of treating IBC - including staging, diagnosis, and therapy - are vastly different than other breast cancers. In December 2014, under the umbrella of an interdisciplinary initiative supported by the Duke School of Medicine, researchers, clinicians, research administrators, and patient advocates formed the Duke Consortium for IBC to address the needs of patients in North Carolina (an ethnically and economically diverse state with 100 counties) and across the Southeastern United States. The primary goal of this group is to translate research into action and improve both awareness and patient care through collaborations with local, national and international IBC programs. The consortium held its inaugural meeting on Feb 28, 2018, which also marked Rare Disease Day and convened national research experts, clinicians, patients, advocates, government representatives, foundation leaders, staff, and trainees. The meeting focused on new developments and challenges in the clinical management of IBC, research challenges and opportunities, and an interactive session to garner input from patients, advocates, and community partners that would inform a strategic plan toward continuing improvements in IBC patient care, research, and education.

Toward understanding cancer stem cell heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) formation are two paramount processes driving tumor progression, therapy resistance, and cancer metastasis. Recent experiments show that cells with varying EMT and CSC phenotypes are spatially segregated in the primary tumor. The underlying mechanisms generating such spatiotemporal dynamics in the tumor microenvironment, however, remain largely unexplored. Here, we show through a mechanism-based dynamical model that the diffusion of EMT-inducing signals such as TGF-ß, together with noncell autonomous control of EMT and CSC decision making via the Notch signaling pathway, can explain experimentally observed disparate localization of subsets of CSCs with varying EMT phenotypes in the tumor. Our simulations show that the more mesenchymal CSCs lie at the invasive edge, while the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) CSCs reside in the tumor interior. Further, motivated by the role of Notch-Jagged signaling in mediating EMT and stemness, we investigated the microenvironmental factors that promote Notch-Jagged signaling. We show that many inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 that can promote Notch-Jagged signaling can (i) stabilize a hybrid E/M phenotype, (ii) increase the likelihood of spatial proximity of hybrid E/M cells, and (iii) expand the fraction of CSCs. To validate the predicted connection between Notch-Jagged signaling and stemness, we knocked down JAG1 in hybrid E/M SUM149 human breast cancer cells in vitro. JAG1 knockdown significantly restricted tumor organoid formation, confirming the key role that Notch-Jagged signaling can play in tumor progression. Together, our integrated computational-experimental framework reveals the underlying principles of spatiotemporal dynamics of EMT and CSCs.

Assessing Cancer Risk Associated with Aquatic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution Reveals Dietary Routes of Exposure and Vulnerable Populations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure is widespread, and many PAHs are considered carcinogenic. The PAH-contaminated AWI Superfund site in Virginia provides a model for studying a complex PAH mixture and its extrapolation to cancer risk and PAH exposure in the general population. We examined cancer risk at the Superfund site due to sediment-derived PAHs and then evaluated PAH sources in the general population and potentially vulnerable subpopulations upon PAH mixture exposure. The PAH mixture was assessed for potential carcinogenicity using the US EPA's OncoLogic™ ranking tool and the US EPA list of priority PAHs. Cancer risk due to PAH exposure was calculated for Superfund site users and compared to the US EPA assessment. Human intake and health endpoints of PAHs within the mixture were extracted from USEtox® chemical fate database, while mean intake exposure was calculated for U.S. adults for select PAHs using NHANES database urinary biomarkers. Eleven PAH compounds within the mixture were of carcinogenic concern, and seven PAHs conveyed significant excess cancer risk at the Superfund site and in the general population, wherein PAH-contaminated seafood ingestion was a main contributor. Other dietary sources of PAHs derived from PAH-contaminated soil or water could also play a role in total exposure. Vulnerable populations to PAH exposure and coinciding increased cancer risk may include, in addition to smokers, children and non-Hispanic blacks, which is a public health concern.