Multidimensional quantitative phenotypic and molecular analysis reveals neomorphic behaviors of p53 missense mutants.

Mutations in the TP53 tumor suppressor gene occur in >80% of the triple-negative or basal-like breast cancer. To test whether neomorphic functions of specific TP53 missense mutations contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity, we characterized phenotypes of non-transformed MCF10A-derived cell lines expressing the ten most common missense mutant p53 proteins and observed a wide spectrum of phenotypic changes in cell survival, resistance to apoptosis and anoikis, cell migration, invasion and 3D mammosphere architecture. The p53 mutants R248W, R273C, R248Q, and Y220C are the most aggressive while G245S and Y234C are the least, which correlates with survival rates of basal-like breast cancer patients. Interestingly, a crucial amino acid difference at one position-R273C vs. R273H-has drastic changes on cellular phenotype. RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq analyses show distinct DNA binding properties of different p53 mutants, yielding heterogeneous transcriptomics profiles, and MD simulation provided structural basis of differential DNA binding of different p53 mutants. Integrative statistical and machine-learning-based pathway analysis on gene expression profiles with phenotype vectors across the mutant cell lines identifies quantitative association of multiple pathways including the Hippo/YAP/TAZ pathway with phenotypic aggressiveness. Further, comparative analyses of large transcriptomics datasets on breast cancer cell lines and tumors suggest that dysregulation of the Hippo/YAP/TAZ pathway plays a key role in driving the cellular phenotypes towards basal-like in the presence of more aggressive p53 mutants. Overall, our study describes distinct gain-of-function impacts on protein functions, transcriptional profiles, and cellular behaviors of different p53 missense mutants, which contribute to clinical phenotypic heterogeneity of triple-negative breast tumors.

Achieving Enrollment Outcomes by Aligning Applicant Recruitment and Selection with Unique Organizational Niches.

Several Doctor of Pharmacy programs have rescinded their requirement for applicants to complete the Pharmacy College Admissions Test, modified their requirements for prerequisite coursework, and reduced the minimum grade point average required for admission. As schools and colleges of pharmacy begin to use these and other more holistic approaches to recruitment and admission, the quantity and quality of students in the applicant pool will continue to shift. In alignment with their unique mission, values, and vision statements, pharmacy programs have also expanded aspects of their application and review process to increasingly focus on applicants' leadership skills, community service, teamwork, collaboration skills, and paid and volunteer work. These aspects allow them to look beyond a candidate's academic performance and instead emphasize skills and affective domain areas that are aligned with the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education standards and Center for the Advancement of Pharmacy Education outcomes. Ways in which pharmacy schools and colleges can refine their recruitment and admissions processes to better align with their unique curricular and programmatic niche areas are discussed.