Neratinib-based therapy in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer from Asia.

Aim: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of neratinib-based therapy in Asian patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients & methods: We performed a pooled analysis of seven early-phase studies of neratinib given either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents or trastuzumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Results: A total of 793 patients with HER2-positive MBC were included in the efficacy analysis (Asia: 271 patients; other regions: 522 patients). The overall response rate in patients from Asia was 66.4% (180/271) and the median progression-free survival was 55.6 weeks. The most common adverse event in patients from Asia was diarrhea (all-grade: 96.3%; grade 3: 27.4%). Conclusion: Neratinib-based therapy is safe and effective in patients with HER2-positive MBC from Asia.

Voltage-gated K+ channels promote BT-474 breast cancer cell migration.

OBJECTIVE: A variety of ion channels have been implicated in breast cancer proliferation and metastasis. Voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channels not only cause repolarization in excitable cells, but are also involved in multiple cellular functions in non-excitable cells. In this study we investigated the role of Kv channels in migration of BT474 breast cancer cells. METHODS: Transwell technique was used to separate migratory cells from non-migratory ones and these two groups of cells were subject to electrophysiological examinations and microfluorimetric measurements for cytosolic Ca2+. Cell migration was examined in the absence or presence of Kv channel blockers. RESULTS: When compared with non-migratory cells, migratory cells had much higher Kv current densities, but rather unexpectedly, more depolarized membrane potential and reduced Ca2+ influx. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed the presence of Kv1.1, Kv1.3, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, Kv3.3, Kv3.4 and Kv4.3 channels. Cell migration was markedly inhibited by tetraethylammonium (TEA), a delayed rectifier Kv channel blocker, but not by 4-aminopyridine, an A-type Kv channel blocker. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results show that increased Kv channel expression played a role in BT474 cell migration, and Kv channels could be considered as biomarkers or potential therapeutic targets for breast cancer metastasis. The mechanism(s) by which Kv channels enhanced migration appeared unrelated to membrane hyperpolarization and Ca2+ influx.

A Survey of Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer Risk Perception among Menopausal and Postmenopausal Women in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: A lack of understanding in menopausal and postmenopausal women's (PMW) risk perception towards osteoporosis and breast cancer still exists, which is explored in this study. This information might allow health professionals to conduct interventions to improve health behaviors before menopause-related diseases are imminent. METHODS: Between 10 December 2015 and 31 January 2016, 573 menopausal or PMW were successfully interviewed on 17 questions, comprising separate sections for osteoporosis and breast cancer. The target respondents were menopausal or PMW aged 45 to 60 years, with no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or breast cancer, who attended private clinics across Hong Kong for annual physical examination. RESULTS: Regarding menopausal issues, the top three concerns were osteoporosis and fracture (72%), breast cancer (44%), and sleep disorder/insomnia/headache (40%). Among 314 respondents (55%) who tried to prevent osteoporosis, 74% of them began to do it after they were 40 years old. On the other hand, 65% of respondents never had a bone density test. For respondents who said "I'm too young, so I don't need to check", their mean age was 52 years old. Ninety percent of respondents mistakenly believed that regular breast examination, regular breast massage, drink soy milk, or vaccine can prevent breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This survey revealed osteoporosis and breast cancer as the top concerns among menopausal and PMW in Hong Kong. Inadequate health behaviors and misconceptions still exist despite widespread health education in the recent years.

Shikonin inhibits gefitinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer by inhibiting TrxR and activating the EGFR proteasomal degradation pathway.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the dominant type of lung cancer. Molecular targeting has highly improved the treatment efficacy of lung cancer, but new challenges have emerged, such as gefitinib-resistance and cancer recurrence. Therefore, new chemotherapeutic agents and treatment strategies are urgently needed. Shikonin is the main active component of a Chinese medicinal plant 'Zi Cao', which has been shown to exhibit powerful anti-cancer activity in certain types of cancer; however, its activity in gefitinib-resistant lung cancer has never been addressed. In this study, we used a high-throughput screening assay for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors and discovered that Shikonin is a potent inhibitor of EGFR. The cytotoxicity of Shikonin and its anti-cancer mechanism in NSCLC was deeply explored. Shikonin exhibited selective cytotoxicity among two NSCLC cell lines (H1975 and H1650) and one normal lung fibroblast cell line (CCD-19LU). Shikonin significantly increased the activity of caspases and poly (ADP-ribosyl) polymerase (PARP), which are indicators of apoptosis, and the intensity of ROS by greater than 10-fold. NAC, an inhibitor of ROS, completely blocked apoptosis, caspase and PARP activation induced by Shikonin. Shikonin remarkably suppressed the phosphorylation of EGFR and led to EGFR degradation. The enhancement of ROS generation in H1650 and H1975 gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells leads to impairment of growth and induction of apoptosis, whereas modulation of EGFR degradation and its downstream signalling pathways by Shikonin contributes to its anti-tumour properties in H1975 gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cells (with T790M and L858R activating mutations). Shikonin-induced cell apoptosis is closely associated with ROS elevation in the cells. These findings indicate that Shikonin can be an effective small molecule treating gefitinib-resistant NSCLC.

A Survey of Osteoporosis and Breast Cancer Risk Perception among Menopausal and Postmenopausal Women in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVES: A lack of understanding in menopausal and postmenopausal women's (PMW) risk perception towards osteoporosis and breast cancer still exists, which is explored in this study. This information might allow health professionals to conduct interventions to improve health behaviors before menopause-related diseases are imminent. METHODS: Between 10 December 2015 and 31 January 2016, 573 menopausal or PMW were successfully interviewed on 17 questions, comprising separate sections for osteoporosis and breast cancer. The target respondents were menopausal or PMW aged 45 to 60 years, with no previous diagnosis of osteoporosis or breast cancer, who attended private clinics across Hong Kong for annual physical examination. RESULTS: Regarding menopausal issues, the top three concerns were osteoporosis and fracture (72%), breast cancer (44%), and sleep disorder/insomnia/headache (40%). Among 314 respondents (55%) who tried to prevent osteoporosis, 74% of them began to do it after they were 40 years old. On the other hand, 65% of respondents never had a bone density test. For respondents who said “I'm too young, so I don't need to check”, their mean age was 52 years old. Ninety percent of respondents mistakenly believed that regular breast examination, regular breast massage, drink soy milk, or vaccine can prevent breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This survey revealed osteoporosis and breast cancer as the top concerns among menopausal and PMW in Hong Kong. Inadequate health behaviors and misconceptions still exist despite widespread health education in the recent years.

Aromatase inhibitor treatment of breast cancer cells increases the expression of let-7f, a microRNA targeting CYP19A1.

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are considered the gold standard of endocrine therapy for oestrogen receptor-positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients. AI treatment was reported to result in marked alterations of genetic profiles in cancer tissues but its detailed molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated. Therefore, we profiled miRNA expression before and after treatment with letrozole in MCF-7 co-cultured with primary breast cancer stromal cells. Letrozole significantly altered the expression profiles of cancer miRNAs in vitro. Among the elevated miRNAs following letrozole treatment, computational analysis identified let-7f, a tumour-suppressor miRNA which targeted the aromatase gene (CYP19A1) expression. Quantitative real-time PCR assay using MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells as well as clinical specimens of a neoadjuvant study demonstrated a significant inverse correlation between aromatase mRNA and let-7f expression. In addition, high let-7f expression was significantly correlated with low aromatase protein levels evaluated by both immunohistochemistry and the western blotting method in breast cancer cases. Results of 3'UTR luciferase assay also demonstrated the actual let-7f binding sites in CYP19A1, indicating that let-7f directly targets the aromatase gene. Subsequent WST-8 and migration assays performed in let-7f-transfected MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells revealed a significant decrement of their proliferation and migration. These findings all demonstrated that let-7f, a tumour suppressor miRNA in breast cancer, directly targeted the aromatase gene and was restored by AI treatment. Therefore, AIs may exert tumour-suppressing effects upon breast cancer cells by suppressing aromatase gene expression via restoration of let-7f.

Factors predicting seroma formation after mastectomy for Chinese breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Seroma formation after mastectomy typically delays recovery and adds to morbidity. AIMS: This retrospective review was undertaken to identify factors which predict development of seroma after mastectomy for breast cancer patients. SETTING AND DESIGN: 119 consecutive patients intended for mastectomy for the treatment of primary breast cancer were included. Factors taken into consideration were epidemiological, peri-operative in nature and those related to wound drainage output. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total mastectomy was performed and axillary sampling was taken. All patients were reviewed within two weeks after leaving hospital, unless seroma formation was detected before discharge. The diagnosis of seroma was made clinically when a collection was detected beneath the skin flaps. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Student's t test was used with continuous variables and the X2 test for categorical situations. Fisher's exact test was applied when small numbers were encountered. A two-tailed test of P< 0.05 was considered significant. Univariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of seroma formation was eight per cent. Five factors were identified to be significantly related to seroma formation: i) age over 45 years; ii) hypertension; iii) total drainage output exceeding 500 ml in the first three postoperative days; iv) drainage for more than eight days. Immediate breast reconstruction prevents the formation of seroma. CONCLUSION: The presence of hypertension in a patient over 45 years should alert the surgeon to possible seroma formation, particularly when the post-operative drainage exceeded 500 ml in the first three days. Appropriate preventive measures should then be implemented.

Bleeding peptic ulcer: An evolving role for surgical intervention.

Early surgical intervention was previously advocated in patients > 60 years with bleeding peptic ulcer presenting with haemodynamic instability or ongoing transfusion requirements. It is, however, well recognized that emergency surgical intervention with its inherent risks must be reserved for highly selected patients in whom endoscopy initially fails to control exsanquinating haemorrhage or in whom life-threatening bleeding recurs. Therapeutic endoscopy for bleeding ulcer has led to a remarkable decline in rebleeding rates, the need for emergency surgery and mortality. Octogenarians are at risk, particularly when ulcer size exceeds 2 cm. Poor surgical candidates make up two-thirds of patients with major ulcer bleeding and operation is to be avoided if at all possible. Medical therapy with proton pump inhibitor and subsequent eradication of Helicobacter pylori following endoscopic treatment has been shown to be beneficial to outcomes. Should surgery be deemed necessary, it is likely that laparoscopic techniques to control bleeding, with or without the addition of an acid-reducing procedure, will find a role in haemodynamically stable patients undergoing operation on an early elective basis.