Breast cancer survival in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa: A receptor-defined cohort of women diagnosed from 2009 to 11.

BACKGROUND: South Africa's public healthcare system is better equipped to manage breast cancer than most other SSA countries, but survival rates are unknown. METHODS: A historical cohort of 602 women newly diagnosed with invasive breast carcinoma during 2009-2011 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Soweto, Johannesburg, was followed using health systems data to December 2014. 'Overall survival' time was defined from diagnosis to death or terminal illness. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) associated with woman and tumour characteristics. RESULTS: During a median 2.1 years follow-up (IQR 0.5-3.8), 149 women died or were classified terminally ill; 287 were lost-to-follow-up. 3-year survival was 84% for early stage (I/II) and 56% for late stage (III/IV) tumours (late v early: HR 2.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.9-4.1), however the 42% cumulative losses to follow-up over this period were greater for late stage, half of which occurred within 6 months of diagnosis. After mutual adjustment for stage, grade, age, receptor subtype and HIV status, lower survival was also associated with triple negative (HR 3.1 (95% CI: 1.9-5.0)) and HER2-enriched (2.5 (95% CI: 1.4-4.5)) compared to ER/PR+ HER2- tumours, but not with age or HIV-infection (1.4 (95% CI: 0.8, 2.3)). CONCLUSION: In this South African cohort, breast cancer survival is suboptimal, but was better for early stage and hormone receptor-positive tumours. Efforts to reduce clinic losses in the immediate post-diagnosis period, in addition to early presentation and accelerated diagnosis and treatment, are needed to prevent breast cancer deaths, and survival improvements need to be monitored using prospective studies with active follow-up.

The 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor acts as a receptor for Aß42 internalization.

Neuronal loss is a major neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The associations between soluble Aß oligomers and cellular components cause this neurotoxicity. The 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) has recently been implicated in Aß pathogenesis. In this study the mechanism underlying the pathological role of LRP/LR was elucidated. Försters Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) revealed that LRP/LR and Aß form a biologically relevant interaction. The ability of LRP/LR to form stable associations with endogenously shed Aß was confirmed by pull down assays and Aß-ELISAs. Antibody blockade of this association significantly lowered Aß42 induced apoptosis. Furthermore, antibody blockade and shRNA mediated downregulation of LRP/LR significantly hampered Aß42 internalization. These results suggest that LRP/LR is a receptor for Aß42 internalization, mediating its endocytosis and contributing to the cytotoxicity of the neuropeptide by facilitating intra-cellular Aß42 accumulation. These findings recommend anti-LRP/LR specific antibodies and shRNAs as potential therapeutic tools for AD treatment.

Downregulation of the non-integrin laminin receptor reduces cellular viability by inducing apoptosis in lung and cervical cancer cells.

The non-integrin laminin receptor, here designated the 37-kDa/67-kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR), is involved in many physiologically relevant processes, as well as numerous pathological conditions. The overexpression of LRP/LR on various cancerous cell lines plays critical roles in tumour metastasis and angiogenesis. This study investigated whether LRP/LR is implicated in the maintenance of cellular viability in lung and cervical cancer cell lines. Here we show a significant reduction in cellular viability in the aforementioned cell lines as a result of the siRNA-mediated downregulation of LRP. This reduction in cellular viability is due to increased apoptotic processes, reflected by the loss of nuclear integrity and the significant increase in the activity of caspase-3. These results indicate that LRP/LR is involved in the maintenance of cellular viability in tumorigenic lung and cervix uteri cells through the blockage of apoptosis. Knockdown of LRP/LR by siRNA might represent an alternative therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung and cervical cancer.

In vitro inhibition of angiogenesis by antibodies directed against the 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor.

The 37kDa/67kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) is a central receptor mediating interactions between tumour cells and the basement membrane and is thereby a key player in adhesion and invasion, essential processes in metastatic cancer. To affect continued tumour growth, tumours induce angiogenesis for the constant delivery of nutrients and oxygen. This study aims to determine the blocking effect of the anti-LRP/LR specific antibody, W3 on the angiogenic potential of HUVE (human umbilical vein endothelial) cells. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that 97% of HUVE cells display cell surface LRP/LR. An angiogenesis assay was conducted employing HUVE cells seeded on the basement membrane reconstituent Matrigel™ supplemented with the pro-angiogenic factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Post 18h incubation at 37°C tubular structures, namely tube lengths were assessed. Treatment of established tubular structures with 100 µg/ml anti-LRP/LR specific antibody completely blocked angiogenesis. Our findings suggest a central role of the 37kDa/67kDa LRP/LR in tube formation and recommends anti-LRP/LR specific antibodies as potential therapeutic tools for treatment of tumour angiogenesis.

Anti-LRP/LR specific antibody IgG1-iS18 and knock-down of LRP/LR by shRNAs rescue cells from Aß42 induced cytotoxicity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles, senile plaques and neuronal loss. Amyloid beta (Aß) is proposed to elicit neuronal loss through cell surface receptors. As Aß shares common binding partners with the 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR), we investigated whether these proteins interact and the pathological significance of this association. An LRP/LR-Αß42 interaction was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy and pull down assays. The cell biological effects were investigated by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthaizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and Bromodeoxyuridine assays. LRP/LR and Αß42 co-localised on the cell surface and formed immobilized complexes suggesting an interaction. Antibody blockade by IgG1-iS18 and shRNA mediated down regulation of LRP/LR significantly enhanced cell viability and proliferation in cells co-treated with Αß42 when compared to cells incubated with Αß42 only. Results suggest that LRP/LR is implicated in Αß42 mediated cytotoxicity and that anti-LRP/LR specific antibodies and shRNAs may serve as potential therapeutic tools for AD.

Anti-LRP/LR specific antibodies and shRNAs impede amyloid beta shedding in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia. The amyloid beta (Aß) peptide is the predominant candidate aetiological agent and is generated through the sequential proteolytic cleavage of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) by beta (ß) and gamma (γ) secretases. Since the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) has been shown to regulate Aß shedding, we investigated whether the cellular receptor for PrP(c), namely the 37 kDa/67 kDa Laminin Receptor (LRP/LR) played a role in Aß shedding. Here we show that LRP/LR co-localises with the AD relevant proteins APP, ß- and γ-secretase, respectively. Antibody blockage and shRNA knock-down of LRP/LR reduces Aß shedding, due to impediment of ß-secretase activity, rather than alteration of APP, ß- and γ-secretase levels. These findings indicate that LRP/LR contributes to Aß shedding and recommend anti-LRP/LR specific antibodies and shRNAs as novel therapeutic tools for AD treatment.

Patented biological approaches for the therapeutic modulation of the 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: The 37/67 kDa laminin receptor precursor/laminin receptor (LRP/LR) represents a multifunctional protein located on the cell surface, in the cytosol and the nucleus. The receptor acts as a mediator for cell adhesion, cell proliferation and cell differentiation. It is a key player in invasion and adhesion, major functions of several important metastatic cancer types. The receptor hampers apoptosis thereby favoring cancer progression. LRP/LR plays a major role as a cell surface receptor in prion disorders and may be of considerable importance for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. A series of viruses including Sindbis virus, Dengue virus and Adeno-associated virus use LRP/LR as attachment receptors. Bacteria and Candida albicans use the receptor for pathogenesis. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: Background and patented biological approaches for therapeutic modulation of LRP/LR in neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, viral disorders, bacterial and yeast infections. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: A comprehensive review of the role of LRP/LR in infectious and non-infectious diseases and an insightful assessment of published or patented biological approaches for the therapeutic modulation of LRP/LR. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: Molecular tools such as antibodies directed against LRP/LR have the potential to act as promising alternative therapeutics for the treatment of various diseases.