A systems serology approach to identifying key antibody correlates of protection from cerebral malaria in Malawian children.

BACKGROUND: Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) proteins are expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes, mediating parasite sequestration in the vasculature. PfEMP1 is a major target of protective antibodies, but the features of the antibody response are poorly defined. METHODS: In Malawian children with cerebral or uncomplicated malaria, we characterized the antibody response to 39 recombinant PfEMP1 Duffy binding like (DBL) domains or cysteine-rich interdomain regions (CIDRs) in detail, including measures of antibody classes, subclasses, and engagement with Fcγ receptors and complement. Using elastic net regularized logistic regression, we identified a combination of seven antibody targets and Fc features that best distinguished between children with cerebral and uncomplicated malaria. To confirm the role of the selected targets and Fc features, we measured antibody-dependent neutrophil and THP-1 cell phagocytosis of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial protein C (EPCR) co-binding infected erythrocytes. RESULTS: The selected features distinguished between children with cerebral and uncomplicated malaria with 87% accuracy (median, 80-96% interquartile range) and included antibody to well-characterized DBLß3 domains and a less well-characterized CIDRγ12 domain. The abilities of antibodies to engage C1q and FcγRIIIb, rather than levels of IgG, correlated with protection. In line with a role of FcγRIIIb binding antibodies to DBLß3 domains, antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis of ICAM-1 and EPCR co-binding IE was higher in uncomplicated malaria (15% median, 8-38% interquartile range) compared to cerebral malaria (7%, 30-15%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies associated with protection from cerebral malaria target a subset of PfEMP1 domains. The Fc features of protective antibody response include engagement of FcγRIIIb and C1q, and ability to induce antibody-dependent neutrophil phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes. Identifying the targets and Fc features of protective immunity could facilitate the development of PfEMP1-based therapeutics for cerebral malaria.

Targeting mutant p53 with arsenic trioxide: A preclinical study focusing on triple negative breast cancer.

New treatments are urgently required for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). As TP53 is mutated in approximately 80% of TNBC, it is theoretically an attractive target for new drugs for this disease. Arsenic trioxide (ATO), which is used to treat promyelocytic leukaemia, was recently shown to reactivate mutant p53 and restore wild-type functionality. The aim of this study was to evaluate ATO as a potential new treatment for TNBC. Using a panel of 20 cell lines, we found that TNBC cell lines were more sensitive to ATO than non-TNBC cell lines (P = 0.045). Consistent with its ability to reactivate mutant p53, ATO was a more potent inhibitor of proliferation in cell lines with mutant TP53 than the wildtype TP53 (P = 0.027). Direct evidence of mutant p53 reactivation was the induction of multiple wild-type p53 canonical target genes such as CDKN1A, SLC7A11, BBC3, PMAIP1, SESN2, SRXN1 and TXNRD1. Our findings support the activation of mutant p53 by ATO and, furthermore, the possible repurposing of ATO to treat TP53-mutated TNBC.

Mapping the cellular biogeography of human bone marrow niches using single-cell transcriptomics and proteomic imaging.

Non-hematopoietic cells are essential contributors to hematopoiesis. However, heterogeneity and spatial organization of these cells in human bone marrow remain largely uncharacterized. We used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to profile 29,325 non-hematopoietic cells and discovered nine transcriptionally distinct subtypes. We simultaneously profiled 53,417 hematopoietic cells and predicted their interactions with non-hematopoietic subsets. We employed co-detection by indexing (CODEX) to spatially profile over 1.2 million cells. We integrated scRNA-seq and CODEX data to link predicted cellular signaling with spatial proximity. Our analysis revealed a hyperoxygenated arterio-endosteal neighborhood for early myelopoiesis, and an adipocytic localization for early hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). We used our CODEX atlas to annotate new images and uncovered mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) expansion and spatial neighborhoods co-enriched for leukemic blasts and MSCs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient samples. This spatially resolved, multiomic atlas of human bone marrow provides a reference for investigation of cellular interactions that drive hematopoiesis.

Mapping the Cellular Biogeography of Human Bone Marrow Niches Using Single-Cell Transcriptomics and Proteomic Imaging.

The bone marrow is the organ responsible for blood production. Diverse non-hematopoietic cells contribute essentially to hematopoiesis. However, these cells and their spatial organization remain largely uncharacterized as they have been technically challenging to study in humans. Here, we used fresh femoral head samples and performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) to profile 29,325 enriched non-hematopoietic bone marrow cells and discover nine transcriptionally distinct subtypes. We next employed CO-detection by inDEXing (CODEX) multiplexed imaging of 18 individuals, including both healthy and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples, to spatially profile over one million single cells with a novel 53-antibody panel. We discovered a relatively hyperoxygenated arterio-endosteal niche for early myelopoiesis, and an adipocytic, but not endosteal or perivascular, niche for early hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. We used our atlas to predict cell type labels in new bone marrow images and used these predictions to uncover mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) expansion and leukemic blast/MSC-enriched spatial neighborhoods in AML patient samples. Our work represents the first comprehensive, spatially-resolved multiomic atlas of human bone marrow and will serve as a reference for future investigation of cellular interactions that drive hematopoiesis.

Synovium and infrapatellar fat pad share common mesenchymal progenitors and undergo coordinated changes in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects multiple tissues in the knee joint, including the synovium and intra-articular adipose tissue (IAAT) that are attached to each other. However, whether these two tissues share the same progenitor cells and hence function as a single unit in joint homeostasis and diseases is largely unknown. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of synovium and infrapatellar fat pad (IFP), the largest IAAT, from control and OA mice revealed five mesenchymal clusters and predicted mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) as the common progenitors for other cells: synovial lining fibroblasts (SLFs), myofibroblasts (MFs), and preadipocytes 1 and 2. Histologic examination of joints in reporter mice having Dpp4-CreER and Prg4-CreER that label MPCs and SLFs, respectively, demonstrated that Dpp4+ MPCs reside in the synovial sublining layer and give rise to Prg4+ SLFs and Perilipin+ adipocytes during growth and OA progression. After OA injury, both MPCs and SLFs gave rise to MFs, which remained in the thickened synovium at later stages of OA. In culture, Dpp4+ MPCs possessed mesenchymal progenitor properties, such as proliferation and multilineage differentiation. In contrast, Prg4+ SLFs did not contribute to adipocytes in IFP and Prg4+ cells barely grew in vitro. Taken together, we demonstrate that the synovium and joint fat pad are one integrated functional tissue sharing common mesenchymal progenitors and undergoing coordinated changes during OA progression.

Both synovium and intra-articular adipose tissue (IAAT) in knee joint play a critical role in joint health and osteoarthritis (OA) progression. Recent single-cell RNA-sequencing studies have been performed on the mouse and human synovium. However, IAATs residing in close proximity to the synovium have not been studied yet. Our study reveals mesenchymal cell heterogeneity of synovium/infrapatellar fat pad (Syn/IFP) tissue and their OA responses. We identify Dpp4+ multipotent progenitors as a source that give rise to Prg4+ lining layer fibroblasts in the synovium, adipocytes in the IFP, and myofibroblasts in the OA Syn/IFP tissue. Our work demonstrates that Syn/IFP is a functionally connected tissue that shares common mesenchymal progenitors and undergoes coordinated OA changes. This novel insight advances our knowledge of previously understudied joint tissues and provides new directions for drug discovery to treat joint disorders.

A Novel Primary Cilium-Mediated Mechanism Through which Osteocytes Regulate Metastatic Behavior of Both Breast and Prostate Cancer Cells.

Bone metastases are a common cause of suffering in breast and prostate cancer patients, however, the interaction between bone cells and cancer cells is poorly understood. Using a series of co-culture, conditioned media, human cancer spheroid, and organ-on-a-chip experiments, this study reveals that osteocytes suppress cancer cell proliferation and increase migration via tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion. This action is regulated by osteocyte primary cilia and associated intraflagellar transport protein 88 (IFT88). Furthermore, it shows that cancer cells block this mechanism by secreting transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), which disrupts osteocyte cilia and IFT88 gene expression. This bi-directional crosstalk signaling between osteocytes and cancer cells is common to both breast and prostate cancer. This study also proposes that osteocyte inhibition of cancer cell proliferation decreases as cancer cells increase, producing more TGF-ß. Hence, a positive feedback loop develops accelerating metastatic tumor growth. These findings demonstrate the importance of cancer cell-osteocyte signaling in regulating breast and prostate bone metastases and support the development of therapies targeting this pathway.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as a biomarker for lung cancer: Early detection, monitoring and therapy prediction.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), i.e., DNA shed from tumor cells into the bloodstream, is emerging as one of the most useful plasma biomarkers in patients with multiple types of cancer, including patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Indeed, NSCLC was the first malignancy in which measurement of ctDNA was approved for clinical use, i.e., mutational testing of EGFR for predicting response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with advanced disease. Although historically the gold standard method for EGFR mutational analysis required tumor tissue, the use of ctDNA is more convenient and safer for patients, results in a faster turn-around-time for return of results, provides a more complete representation of genetic alteration in heterogeneous tumors and is less costly to perform. Emerging uses of ctDNA in patients with lung or suspected lung cancer include screening for early disease, surveillance following initial treatment and monitoring response to therapy in metastatic disease. For evaluating therapy response, ctDNA appears to be especially useful in patients receiving targeted therapies against driver oncogenes or immunotherapy. Further work should not only validate these emerging findings but also aim to optimize and standardize ctDNA assays.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA): can it be used as a pan-cancer early detection test?

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA, DNA shed by cancer cells) is emerging as one of the most transformative cancer biomarkers discovered to-date. Although potentially useful at all the phases of cancer detection and patient management, one of its most exciting possibilities is as a relatively noninvasive pan-cancer screening test. Preliminary findings with ctDNA tests such as Galleri or CancerSEEK suggest that they have high specificity (> 99.0%) for malignancy. Their sensitivity varies depending on the type of cancer and stage of disease but it is generally low in patients with stage I disease. A major advantage of ctDNA over existing screening strategies is the potential ability to detect multiple cancer types in a single test. A limitation of most studies published to-date is that they are predominantly case-control investigations that were carried out in patients with a previous diagnosis of malignancy and that used apparently healthy subjects as controls. Consequently, the reported sensitivities, specificities and positive predictive values might be lower if the tests are used for screening in asymptomatic populations, that is, in the population where these tests are likely be employed. To demonstrate clinical utility in an asymptomatic population, these tests must be shown to reduce cancer mortality without causing excessive overdiagnosis in a large randomized prospective randomized trial. Such trials are currently ongoing for Galleri and CancerSEEK.

Inappropriate Multi-Target Stool DNA Use for Colorectal Cancer Screening: Risks, Compliance, and Outcomes.

Background Inappropriate or "off-label" use of multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) tests refers to their use in patients for whom colonoscopy or no testing at all is warranted. Examples include a positive family history of colorectal cancer, a history of inflammatory bowel disease, or medical issues necessitating diagnostic colonoscopy, among others. Current understanding of off-label mt-sDNA use for colorectal cancer screening, its associated risks, and outcomes is lacking. We examined off-label mt-sDNA prescription and compliance with testing in an outpatient setting in southeast Michigan. Aims The primary aims of the study were determining the extent of off-label mt-sDNA testing and compliance, and results of all testing, as well as demographic factors associated with off-label prescriptions. The secondary aims were to examine explanations for incomplete testing and factors contributing to successful completion. Methods Using a retrospective design, we identified mt-sDNA orders from outpatient internal medicine clinics between January 1, 2018, to July 31, 2019, to evaluate the proportion of off-label mt-sDNA, results of testing, and follow-up colonoscopies up to one year after order placement. Patients were categorized as "off-label" if any inappropriate criteria were met. Statistical analysis was performed for primary and secondary outcomes. Results From 679 mt-sDNA orders within the study period, 81 (12.1%) had at least one off-label criterion for testing. In total, 404/679 (59.5%) patients completed testing. Lack of follow-up comprised the majority of incompletions (216/275; 78.6%). Only 52 (70.3%) out of 74 positive results were followed by diagnostic colonoscopy. Retired employment status (OR = 1.87; 95%CI, 1.17-2.98; P = 0.008) and age of 76 years or older (OR = 2.28; 95%CI, 0.99-5.21; P = 0.044) were significantly associated with increased risk of off-label mt-sDNA prescription. Increasing age range was associated with higher test completion (χ2 (5) = 12.085, p = 0.034). Multinomial logistic regression revealed an increasing age range (OR = 1.29; 95% CI, 1.09-1.54; P = 0.004), predictive of a positive mt-sDNA result for both groups. There was no significant difference between off-label or on-label groups in the mean number of resected polyps or pathology scores on follow-up colonoscopy. Conclusions Off-label mt-sDNA use remains a concern in the outpatient setting. Compliance for test completion and follow-up colonoscopy for positive results require further improvement. Our findings shed new light on the factors associated with off-label testing while reiterating its burden. We also describe common reasons for incomplete tests in an attempt to augment future colorectal cancer (CRC) screening initiatives.

Degradation of MYC by the mutant p53 reactivator drug, COTI-2 in breast cancer cells.

TP53 (p53) and MYC are amongst the most frequently altered genes in cancer. Both are thus attractive targets for new anticancer therapies. Historically, however, both genes have proved challenging to target and currently there is no approved therapy against either. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the mutant p53 reactivating drug, COTI-2 on MYC. Total MYC, pSer62 MYC and pThr58 MYC were detected using Western blotting. Proteasome-mediated degradation was determined using the proteasome, inhibitor MG-132, while MYC half-life was measured using pulse chase experiments in the presence of cycloheximide. Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Treatment of 5 mutant p53 breast cancer cell lines with COTI-2 resulted in dose-dependent MYC degradation. Addition of the proteasome inhibitor, MG132, rescued the degradation, suggesting that this proteolytic system was at least partly responsible for the inactivation of MYC. Using cycloheximide in pulse chase experiments, COTI-2 was found to reduce the half-life of MYC in 2 different mutant p53 breast cancer cell lines, i.e., from 34.8 to 18.6 min in MDA-MB-232 cells and from 29.6 to 20.3 min in MDA-MB-468 cells. Co-treatment with COTI-2 and the MYC inhibitor, MYCi975 resulted in synergistic growth inhibition in all 4 mutant p53 cell lines investigated. The dual ability of COTI-2 to reactivate mutant p53 and degrade MYC should enable this compound to have broad application as an anticancer drug.

Osteoclastogenesis requires primary cilia disassembly and can be inhibited by promoting primary cilia formation pharmacologically.

The primary cilium is a solitary, sensory organelle with many roles in bone development, maintenance, and function. In the osteogenic cell lineage, including skeletal stem cells, osteoblasts and osteocytes, the primary cilium plays a vital role in the regulation of bone formation and this has made it a promising pharmaceutical target to maintain bone health. While the role of the primary cilium in the osteogenic cell lineage has been increasingly characterized, little is known about the potential impact of targeting the cilium in relation to osteoclasts, a hematopoietic cell responsible for bone resorption. The objective of this study was to determine whether osteoclasts have a primary cilium and to investigate whether or not the primary cilium of macrophages, osteoclast precursors, serves a functional role in osteoclast formation. Using immunocytochemistry, we showed the macrophages have a primary cilium while osteoclasts lack this organelle. Furthermore, we increased macrophage primary cilia incidence and length using fenoldopam mesylate and found that cells undergoing such treatment showed a significant decrease in the expression of osteoclast markers tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, cathepsin K, and c-Fos as well as decreased osteoclast formation. This work is the first to show that macrophage primary cilia resorption may be a necessary step for osteoclast differentiation. Since primary cilia and pre-osteoclasts are responsive to fluid flow, we applied fluid flow at magnitudes present in the bone marrow to differentiating cells and found that osteoclastic gene expression by macrophages was not affected by fluid-flow mechanical stimulation, suggesting that the role of the primary cilium in osteoclastogenesis is not a mechanosensory one. The primary cilium has been suggested to play a role in bone formation, and our findings indicate that it may also present a means to regulate bone resorption, presenting a dual benefit of developing ciliary-targeted pharmaceuticals for bone disease.

Csf1 from marrow adipogenic precursors is required for osteoclast formation and hematopoiesis in bone.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 (Csf1) is an essential growth factor for osteoclast progenitors and an important regulator for bone resorption. It remains elusive which mesenchymal cells synthesize Csf1 to stimulate osteoclastogenesis. We recently identified a novel mesenchymal cell population, marrow adipogenic lineage precursors (MALPs), in bone. Compared to other mesenchymal subpopulations, MALPs expressed Csf1 at a much higher level and this expression was further increased during aging. To investigate its role, we constructed MALP-deficient Csf1 CKO mice using AdipoqCre. These mice had increased femoral trabecular bone mass, but their cortical bone appeared normal. In comparison, depletion of Csf1 in the entire mesenchymal lineage using Prrx1Cre led to a more striking high bone mass phenotype, suggesting that additional mesenchymal subpopulations secrete Csf1. TRAP staining revealed diminished osteoclasts in the femoral secondary spongiosa region of Csf1 CKOAdipoq mice, but not at the chondral-osseous junction nor at the endosteal surface of cortical bone. Moreover, Csf1 CKOAdipoq mice were resistant to LPS-induced calvarial osteolysis. Bone marrow cellularity, hematopoietic progenitors, and macrophages were also reduced in these mice. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that MALPs synthesize Csf1 to control bone remodeling and hematopoiesis.

Vitamin D Supplementation: Does It Have a Preventative or Therapeutic Role in Cancer?

Although best known for its role in skeletal health, a deficiency of vitamin D has also been implicated in cancer formation and progression. The aim of this article was to review the relationship between circulating levels of vitamin D {25(OH)D} and both the risk of developing cancer and outcome from cancer. We also reviewed the effects of vitamin D supplementation on cancer risk and outcome. Our primary focus was on patients with colorectal and breast cancer, as these are two of the cancer types best investigated with respect to the effects of vitamin D on cancer risk and outcome. Based on our review of the literature, we conclude that although low circulating levels of 25(OH)D appears to be associated with an increased risk of developing breast and colorectal cancer, the available evidence suggests that supplementation of healthy subjects with vitamin D does not decrease cancer risk. Supplementation may however, improve outcomes in patients who develop cancer, but this finding remains to be confirmed in an appropriately powered randomized clinical trial.

Targeting Mutant p53 for Cancer Treatment: Moving Closer to Clinical Use?

Mutant p53 is one of the most attractive targets for new anti-cancer drugs. Although traditionally regarded as difficult to drug, several new strategies have recently become available for targeting the mutant protein. One of the most promising of these involves the use of low molecular weight compounds that promote refolding and reactivation of mutant p53 to its wild-type form. Several such reactivating drugs are currently undergoing evaluation in clinical trials, including eprenetapopt (APR-246), COTI-2, arsenic trioxide and PC14586. Of these, the most clinically advanced for targeting mutant p53 is eprenetapopt which has completed phase I, II and III clinical trials, the latter in patients with mutant TP53 myelodysplastic syndrome. Although no data on clinical efficacy are currently available for eprenetapopt, preliminary results suggest that the drug is relatively well tolerated. Other strategies for targeting mutant p53 that have progressed to clinical trials involve the use of drugs promoting degradation of the mutant protein and exploiting the mutant protein for the development of anti-cancer vaccines. With all of these ongoing trials, we should soon know if targeting mutant p53 can be used for cancer treatment. If any of these trials show clinical efficacy, it may be a transformative development for the treatment of patients with cancer since mutant p53 is so prevalent in this disease.

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Biomarker for Monitoring Patients with Solid Cancers: Comparison with Standard Protein Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Protein-based biomarkers are widely used in monitoring patients with diagnosed cancer. These biomarkers however, lack specificity for cancer and have poor sensitivity in detecting early recurrences and monitoring therapy effectiveness. Emerging data suggest that the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) has several advantages over standard biomarkers. CONTENT: Following curative-intent surgery for cancer, the presence of ctDNA is highly predictive of early disease recurrence, while in metastatic cancer an early decline in ctDNA following the initiation of treatment is predictive of good outcome. Compared with protein biomarkers, ctDNA provides greater cancer specificity and sensitivity for detecting early recurrent/metastatic disease. Thus, in patients with surgically resected colorectal cancer, multiple studies have shown that ctDNA is superior to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in detecting residual disease and early recurrence. Similarly, in breast cancer, ctDNA was shown to be more accurate than carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) in detecting early recurrences. Other advantages of ctDNA over protein biomarkers in monitoring cancer patients include a shorter half-life in plasma and an ability to predict likely response to specific therapies and identify mechanisms of therapy resistance. However, in contrast to proteins, ctDNA biomarkers are more expensive to measure, less widely available, and have longer turnaround times for reporting. Furthermore, ctDNA assays are less well standardized. SUMMARY: Because of their advantages, it is likely that ctDNA measurements will enter clinical use in the future, where they will complement existing biomarkers and imaging in managing patients with cancer. Hopefully, these combined approaches will lead to a better outcome for patients.

Statins inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

TP53 (p53) is mutated in 80-90% of cases of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Statins, which are widely used to treat elevated cholesterol, have recently been shown to degrade mutant p53 protein and exhibit anti-cancer activity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of statins in the treatment of TNBC. The anti-proliferative effects of 2 widely used statins were investigated on a panel of 15 cell lines representing the different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Significantly lower IC50 values were found in triple-negative (TN) than in non-TN cell lines (atorvastatin, p < 0.01; simvastatin p < 0.05) indicating greater sensitivity. Furthermore, cell lines containing mutant p53 were more responsive to both statins than cell lines expressing wild-type p53, suggesting that the mutational status of p53 is a potential predictive biomarker for statin response. In addition to inhibiting proliferation, simvastatin was also found to promote cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis. Using an apoptosis array capable of detecting 43 apoptosis-associated proteins, a novel protein shown to be upregulated by simvastatin was the IGF-signalling modulator, IGBP4, a finding we confirmed by Western blotting. Finally, we found synergistic growth inhibition between simvastatin and the IGF-1R inhibitor, OSI-906 as well as between simvastatin and doxorubicin or docetaxel. Our work suggests repurposing of statins for clinical trials in patients with TNBC. Based on our findings, we suggest that these trials investigate statins in combination with either doxorubicin or docetaxel and include p53 mutational status as a potential predictive biomarker.

MYC as a therapeutic target for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer: preclinical investigations with the novel MYC inhibitor, MYCi975.

BACKGROUND: MYC is one of the most frequently altered driver genes in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The aim of this study was to evaluate targeting MYC for the treatment of TNBC. METHODS: The anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects of the recently discovered MYC inhibitor, MYCi975 were investigated in a panel of 14 breast cancer cell lines representing the main molecular forms of breast cancer. RESULTS: IC50 values for growth inhibition by MYCi975 varied from 2.49 to 7.73 µM. Response was inversely related to endogenous MYC levels as measured by western blotting (p = 0.047, r = - 0.5385) or ELISA (p = 0.001, r = - 0.767), i.e., response to MYCi975 decreased as endogenous MYC levels increased. MYCi975 also induced variable levels of apoptosis across the panel of cell lines, ranging from no detectable induction to 80% induction. Inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis were greater in TNBC than in non-TNBC cell lines (p = 0.041 and p = 0.001, respectively). Finally, combined treatment with MYCi975 and either paclitaxel or doxorubicin resulted in enhanced cell growth inhibition. DISCUSSION: Our findings open the possibility of targeting MYC for the treatment of TNBC. Based on our results, we suggest that trials use a combination of MYCi975 and either docetaxel or doxorubicin and include MYC as a putative therapy predictive biomarker.

Analytical Validation of a Novel 6-Gene Signature for Prediction of Distant Recurrence in Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative, Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: OncoMasTR is a recently developed multigene prognostic test for early-stage breast cancer. The test has been developed in a kit-based format for decentralized deployment in molecular pathology laboratories. The analytical performance characteristics of the OncoMasTR test are described in this study. METHODS: Expression levels of 6 genes were measured by 1-step reverse transcription-quantitative PCR on RNA samples prepared from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) breast tumor specimens. Assay precision, reproducibility, input range, and interference were determined using FFPE-derived RNA samples representative of low and high prognostic risk scores. A pooled RNA sample derived from 6 FFPE breast tumor specimens was used to establish the linear range, limit of detection, and amplification efficiency of the individual gene expression assays. RESULTS: The overall precision of the OncoMasTR test was high with an SD of 0.16, which represents less than 2% of the 10-unit risk score range. Test results were reproducible across 4 testing sites, with correlation coefficients of 0.94 to 0.96 for the continuous risk score and concordance of 86% to 96% in low-/high-risk sample classification. Consistent risk scores were obtained across a > 100-fold RNA input range. Individual gene expression assays were linear up to quantification cycle values of 36.0 to 36.9, with amplification efficiencies of 80% to 102%. Test results were not influenced by agents used during RNA isolation, by low levels of copurified genomic DNA, or by moderate levels of copurified adjacent nontumor tissue. CONCLUSION: The OncoMasTR prognostic test displays robust analytical performance that is suitable for deployment by local pathology laboratories for decentralized use.

Use of Circulating Tumour DNA (ctDNA) for Measurement of Therapy Predictive Biomarkers in Patients with Cancer.

Biomarkers that predict likely response or resistance to specific therapies are critical in personalising treatment for cancer patients. Such biomarkers are now available for an increasing number of anti-cancer therapies, especially targeted therapy and immunotherapy. The gold-standard method for determining predictive biomarkers requires tumour tissue. Obtaining tissue, however, is not always possible and even if possible, the amount or quality of tissue obtained may be inadequate for biomarker analysis. Tumour DNA, however, can be released into the bloodstream, giving rise to what is referred to as circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). In contrast to tissue, blood can be obtained from effectively all patients in a minimally invasive and safe manner. Other advantages of blood over tissue for biomarker testing include a shorter turn-around time and an ability to perform serial measurements. Furthermore, blood should provide a more complete profile of mutations present in heterogeneous tumours than a single-needle tissue biopsy. A limitation of blood vis-à-vis tissue, however, is lower sensitivity and, thus, the possibility of missing an actionable mutation. Despite this limitation, blood-based predictive biomarkers, such as mutant EGFR for predicting response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and mutant PIK3CA for predicting response to alpelisib in combination with fulvestrant in advanced breast cancer, may be used when tissue is unavailable. Although tissue remains the gold standard for detecting predictive biomarkers, it is likely that several further blood-based assays will soon be validated and used when tissue is unavailable or unsuitable for analysis.

Targeting p53 for the treatment of cancer.

Dysfunction of the TP53 (p53) gene occurs in most if not all human malignancies. Two principal mechanisms are responsible for this dysfunction; mutation and downregulation of wild-type p53 mediated by MDM2/MDM4. Because of its almost universal inactivation in malignancy, p53 is a highly attractive target for the development of new anticancer drugs. Although multiple strategies have been investigated for targeting dysfunctional p53 for cancer treatment, only 2 of these have so far yielded compounds for testing in clinical trials. These strategies include the identification of compounds for reactivating the mutant form of p53 back to its wild-type form and compounds for inhibiting the interaction between wild-type p53 and MDM2/MDM4. Currently, multiple p53-MDM2/MDM4 antagonists are undergoing clinical trials, the most advanced being idasanutlin which is currently undergoing testing in a phase III clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Two mutant p53-reactivating compounds have progressed to clinical trials, i.e., APR-246 and COTI-2. Although promising data has emerged from the testing of both MDM2/MDM4 inhibitors and mutant p53 reactivating compounds in preclinical models, it is still unclear if these agents have clinical efficacy. However, should any of the compounds currently being evaluated in clinical trials be shown to have efficacy, it is likely to usher in a new era in cancer treatment, especially as p53 dysfunction is so prevalent in human cancers.