Abstract P5-05-05: Inhibition of enhanced glucose uptake and glycolysis by KU-55933 as a novel strategy against aggressive breast cancer

The ability of cancer cells to produce large amounts of lactate through aerobic glycosis (Warburg effect) is coupled to high rates of glucose uptake. Enhanced glucose uptake and glycolysis are closely correlated to increased breast tumor aggressiveness and poor prognosis. However, despite the importance of glucose uptake in supplying energy and preventing apoptosis of cancer cells, the majority of current efforts in searching for therapeutic agents targeting glucose metabolism have been aimed at modulating activities of different metabolic enzymes that are involved in glycolysis. Very limited studies have been done in developing novel therapeutic agents against glucose uptake in breast cancer cells.

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a monogenic, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia and oculocutaneous telangiectasias. The gene mutated in this disease, ATM (A-T, mutated), encodes a 370-kDa protein kinase. Although ATM is traditionally considered to be a nuclear protein that functions as a signal transducer in the cellular response to DNA damage, it is now known that ATM is also present in the cytoplasm and has important cytoplasmic functions. We previously discovered that ATM activates Akt, a main regulator of glucose uptake, by stimulating its phosphorylation at Ser473 following insulin treatment. We also found that ATM participates in insulin-mediated glucose uptake in muscle cells, and KU-55933, a specific inhibitor of ATM, strongly inhibits this process.

Recently, we found that KU-55933 inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231, a triple-negative breast cancer cell line. We have also found that KU-55933 inhibits migration of MDA-MB-231 by a cell invasion assay. Furthermore, we found that these cancer cells exhibit enhanced glucose uptake in response to insulin and the addition of KU-55933 leads to a dramatic reduction of insulin-mediated glucose uptake in these cells. To further test whether KU-55933's ability to induce apoptosis is linked to its inhibition of glucose uptake, we performed a cell death ELISA assay in MDA-MB-231 cells treated with KU-55933 and different concentrations of glucose. Our results show that KU-55933 induces apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells, resulting in a similar degree of cell death as glucose starvation, while cells treated with glucose in conjunction with KU-55933 have decreased apoptosis. Moreover, we performed a cell migration assay and found that KU-55933 strongly inhibits the migration of MDA-MB-231 cells (similar to that caused by glucose starvation), which is almost fully rescued by the extra glucose supplemented in the cell culture medium. We have also established a positional isotope labeling-based targeted metabolomics method that can directly measure the conversion from glucose to lactate through glycolysis in cancer cells. Our results show strong production of lactate from glucose in MDA-MB-231 cells even under normal aerobic growth conditions, and KU-55933 strongly inhibits this process. Our findings may lead to the development of KU-55933 and its analogs as a new generation of therapeutic agents against aggressive breast cancer.

Citation Format: Yang D-Q, Harris B, Jiang S, Li Y, Freund D, Hegeman A, Cleary M. Inhibition of enhanced glucose uptake and glycolysis by KU-55933 as a novel strategy against aggressive breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-05.

Framework for the assessment of interaction between CO2 geological storage and other sedimentary basin resources

Sedimentary basins around the world considered suitable for carbon storage usually contain other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, geothermal energy and groundwater. Storing carbon dioxide in geological formations in the basins adds to the competition for access to the subsurface and the use of pore space where other resource-based industries also operate. Managing potential impacts that industrial-scale injection of carbon dioxide may have on other resource development must be focused to prevent potential conflicts and enhance synergies where possible. Such a sustainable coexistence of various resource developments can be accomplished by implementing a Framework for Basin Resource Management strategy (FBRM). The FBRM strategy utilizes the concept of an Area of Review (AOR) for guiding development and regulation of CO2 geological storage projects and for assessing their potential impact on other resources. The AOR is determined by the expected physical distribution of the CO2 plume in the subsurface and the modelled extent of reservoir pressure increase resulting from the injection of the CO2. This information is used to define the region to be characterised and monitored for a CO2 injection project. The geological characterisation and risk- and performance-based monitoring will be most comprehensive within the region of the reservoir containing the carbon dioxide plume and should consider geological features and wells continuously above the plume through to its surface projection; this region defines where increases in reservoir pressure will be greatest and where potential for unplanned migration of carbon dioxide is highest. Beyond the expanse of the carbon dioxide plume, geological characterisation and monitoring should focus only on identified features that could be a potential migration conduit for either formation water or carbon dioxide.

Systematic review of head cooling in adults after traumatic brain injury and stroke

BACKGROUND

Brain injuries resulting from trauma and stroke are common and costly. Cooling therapy may reduce damage and potentially improve outcome. Head cooling targets the site of injury and may have fewer side effects than systemic cooling, but there has been no systematic review and the evidence base is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of non-invasive head cooling after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke on intracranial and/or core body temperature, functional outcome and mortality, determine adverse effects and evaluate cost-effectiveness.

REVIEW METHODS

Search strategy Major international databases [including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, the British Library's Electronic Table of Contents (Zetoc)], The Cochrane Library, trial registers, country-specific databases (including China, Japan), Google Scholar, hypothermia conference reports and reference lists of papers were searched with no publication or language restrictions. The searches were conducted from March 2010 to April 2011, with no back date restriction. Selection criteria For formal analysis of effect of head cooling on functional outcome and mortality: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of non-invasive head cooling in TBI or stroke in adults (aged ≥ 18 years). RCT prespecified in protocol to include adequate randomisation and blinded outcome assessment. For assessment of effect on temperature and adverse effects of cooling methods/devices: studies of any type in TBI, stroke, cardiac arrest and neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (adverse effects only). Data collection and analysis A study assessment and data collection form was developed and piloted. Data on functional outcome, mortality, temperature change and adverse effects of devices were sought and extracted. Two authors independently assessed RCTs for quality using the Cochrane Renal Group checklist.

RESULTS

Out of 46 head-cooling studies in TBI and stroke, there were no RCTs of suitable quality for formal outcome analysis. Twelve studies had useable data on intracranial and core body temperature. These included 99 patients who were cooled after TBI or stroke and 198 patients cooled after cardiac arrest. The data were too heterogeneous for a single summary measure of effect (many studies had no measure of spread) and are therefore presented descriptively. The most effective techniques for which there were adequate data (nasal coolant and liquid cooling helmets) could reduce intracranial temperature by ≥ 1 °C in 1 hour. The main device-related adverse effects were localised skin problems, which were generally mild and self-limiting. There were no suitable data for economic modelling, but an exploratory model of possible treatment effects and cost-effectiveness of head cooling in TBI was created using local patient data.

LIMITATIONS

We conducted extensive and sensitive searches but found no good-quality RCTs of the effect of head cooling on functional outcome that met the review inclusion criteria. Most trials were small and/or of low methodological quality. However, if the trial reports did not reflect the true quality of the research, there may be some excluded trials that should have been included. Temperature data were often poorly reported which made it difficult to assess the effect of head cooling on temperature.

CONCLUSIONS

Whether head cooling improves functional outcome or has benefits and fewer side effects compared with systemic cooling or no cooling could not be established. Some methods of head cooling can reduce intracranial temperature, which is an important first step in determining effectiveness, but there is insufficient evidence to recommend its use outside of research trials. The principal recommendations for research are that active cooling devices show the most promise for further investigation and more robust proof of concept of intracranial and core body temperature reduction with head cooling is required, clearly showing whether temperature has changed and by how much.

FUNDING

The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.

Herd-level prevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in United States dairy herds in 2007

Testing of composite fecal (environmental) samples from high traffic areas in dairy herds has been shown to be a cost-effective and sensitive method for classification of herd status for Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In the National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS) Dairy 2007 study, the apparent herd-level prevalence of MAP was 70.4% (369/524 had ≥ 1 culture-positive composite fecal samples out of 6 tested). Based on these data, the true herd-level prevalence (HP) of MAP infection was estimated using Bayesian methods adjusting for the herd sensitivity (HSe) and herd specificity (HSp) of the test method. The Bayesian prior for HSe of composite fecal cultures was based on data from the NAHMS Dairy 2002 study and the prior for HSp was based on expert opinion. The posterior median HP (base model) was 91.1% (95% probability interval, 81.6 to 99.3%) and estimates were most sensitive to the prior for HSe. The HP was higher than estimated from the NAHMS Dairy 1996 and 2002 studies but estimates are not directly comparable with those of prior NAHMS studies because of the different testing methods and criteria used for herd classification.

SU-E-T-127: Feasibility Study for Using a 2D Array Detector for All Beam Measurements in Monthly Quality Assurance Procedure for a Uniform Scanning Proton Therapy System

PURPOSE

To develop a more efficient monthly quality assurance (QA) process by utilizing one detector with multiple setups instead of multiple detectors with multiple setups.

METHOD

The Sun Nuclear IC Profiler was used to measure machine output, transverse profiles, and depth-dose profiles. The IC Profiler contains 251 ionization chambers aligned in the X, Y, and diagonal axes, and was designed to measure machine output and transverse profiles. In order to measure depth-doses, a Lucite compensator with an angled surface was fabricated. To test the capability of the detector, a proton beam of 10.5 cm range in water was used. The distal edge coincided with the overall water equivalent depth upstream of the detector on central axis. The measurement was repeated with an additional 1.0 mm of solid water placed in front of the detector. The measured profiles from both measurements were compared to quantify the IC Profiler response for a small range change.

RESULTS

The IC Profiler performs within vendor specification for measuring machine output and transverse profiles. When measuring depth-doses with an angled compensator, the IC profiler measures a change in profile along central axis of 17.0% for a 1.0mm range change. Based on overall reproducibility of the beam delivery system, the IC profiler is capable of detecting 0.3 mm range shift. Therefore, the sensivity of the IC profiler response is suffficient to detect sub millimeter changes in delivered range.

CONCLUSION

The Sun Nuclear IC Profiler is capable of measuring machine output, transverse profiles, and depth-dose profile constancy with a high degree of accuracy and precision. Using a single detector for all beam measurements increases the overall QA efficiency by reducing multiple detector overhead while not sacrificing the accuracy and precision of the measurements.

Effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched infant formula with lower protein on growth

Background/Objectives:

Protein concentration is lower in human milk (HM) than in infant formula. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an α-lactalbumin-enriched formula with a lower protein concentration on infant growth, protein markers and biochemistries.

Subjects/Methods:

Healthy term formula-fed (FF) infants 5–14 days old were randomized in this controlled, double-blind trial to standard formula (SF: 14.1 g/l protein, 662 kcal/l) group (n=112) or experimental formula (EF: 12.8 g/l protein, 662 kcal/l) group (n=112) for 120 days; a HM reference group (n=112) was included. Primary outcome was weight gain (g/day) from D0 to D120. Secondary outcomes included serum albumin, plasma amino acids insulin and incidence of study events. Anthropometric measures were expressed as Z-scores using 2006 World Health Organization growth standards.

Results:

A total of 321 of the 336 infants (96%) who enrolled, completed the study. Mean age was 9.6 (±2.9) days; 50% were girls. Mean weight gain (g/day) did not significantly differ between SF vs EF (P=0.67) nor between EF vs HM (P=0.11); however weight gain (g/day) was significantly greater in the SF vs HM group (P=0.04). At day 120, mean weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) and weight-for-length Z-score (WLZ) did not significantly differ between SF vs EF nor EF vs HM; however the WAZ was significantly greater in SF vs HM (P=0.025). Secondary outcomes were within normal ranges for all groups. Incidence of study events did not differ among groups.

Conclusions:

α-Lactalbumin-enriched formula containing12.8 g/l protein was safe and supported age-appropriate growth; weight gain with EF was intermediate between SF and HM groups and resulted in growth similar to HM-fed infants in terms of weight gain, WAZ and WLZ.

Foot ulceration in a secondary care diabetic clinic population: a 4-year prospective study

Diabetes guidelines recommend that feet are stratified into low-risk, increased-risk and high-risk. We examined prospective foot ulceration in our secondary care diabetes clinic. At 4-year follow-up, foot ulceration was present in 1/586 (0.17%) in the low-risk, 10/305 (3.3%) in those at increased-risk and 28/236 (11.9%) in the high-risk group.