RANK Signaling Amplifies WNT-Responsive Mammary Progenitors through R-SPONDIN1

Systemic and local signals must be integrated by mammary stem and progenitor cells to regulate their cyclic growth and turnover in the adult gland. Here, we show RANK-positive luminal progenitors exhibiting WNT pathway activation are selectively expanded in the human breast during the progesterone-high menstrual phase. To investigate underlying mechanisms, we examined mouse models and found that loss of RANK prevents the proliferation of hormone receptor-negative luminal mammary progenitors and basal cells, an accompanying loss of WNT activation, and, hence, a suppression of lobuloalveologenesis. We also show that R-spondin1 is depleted in RANK-null progenitors, and that its exogenous administration rescues key aspects of RANK deficiency by reinstating a WNT response and mammary cell expansion. Our findings point to a novel role of RANK in dictating WNT responsiveness to mediate hormone-induced changes in the growth dynamics of adult mammary cells.

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Luminal progenitors are targets of progesterone in the adult human breast

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Progesterone-induced expansion of mammary epithelial subsets requires RANK

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RANK signaling targets WNT-responsive ER^–PR^– luminal progenitors and basal cells

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RANK controls RSPO1, which rescues defective progenitor expansion in Rank-null state

Tipping the balance: MTDH-SND1 curbs oncogene-induced apoptosis and promotes tumorigenesis

Tumorigenesis is a complex and poorly understood process in which oncogenes can activate competing proapoptotic and proneoplastic programs. A recent paper in Cancer Cell demonstrates a dual role of the MTDH-SND1 complex in suppressing the apoptotic response and promoting breast cancer development, suggesting a new therapeutic avenue.

DNA barcoding reveals diverse growth kinetics of human breast tumour subclones in serially passaged xenografts

Genomic and phenotypic analyses indicate extensive intra- as well as intertumoral heterogeneity in primary human malignant cell populations despite their clonal origin. Cellular DNA barcoding offers a powerful and unbiased alternative to track the number and size of multiple subclones within a single human tumour xenograft and their response to continued in vivo passaging. Using this approach we find clone-initiating cell frequencies that vary from ~1/10 to ~1/10,000 cells transplanted for two human breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer xenografts derived from three different patients. For the cell lines, these frequencies are negatively affected in transplants of more than 20,000 cells. Serial transplants reveal five clonal growth patterns (unchanging, expanding, diminishing, fluctuating or of delayed onset), whose predominance is highly variable both between and within original samples. This study thus demonstrates the high growth potential and diverse growth properties of xenografted human breast cancer cells.

Cancer cells within the same tumour are heterogeneous in their tumorigenic potential, differentiation status and sensitivity to treatments. Here Nguyen et al. use a sensitive DNA barcoding method to characterize the diversity of clonal growth behaviour within human breast tumours.

Hematopoietic PBX-interacting protein (HPIP) is over expressed in breast infiltrative ductal carcinoma and regulates cell adhesion and migration through modulation of focal adhesion dynamics

The scaffolding protein, hematopoietic PBX-interacting protein (HPIP/PBXIP1), regulates cell migration necessary for cancer cell dissemination. However, the mechanism that governs this process remains unknown. We show here that HPIP expression is associated with stages of breast cancer where cell dissemination results in poor patient outcome. Our investigation finds a novel association of HPIP with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) regulating FA dynamics. Interestingly, this interaction that led to activation of FAK protein was mediated by the C-terminal domain of HPIP and not the typical integrin-binding motif. Further, short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of FAK expression significantly reduced HPIP-induced cell migration indicating participation of FAK pathway. Live-cell time-lapse imaging and biochemical analysis further established the role of HPIP in microtubule-induced FA disassembly. We also found that HPIP-mediated MAPK activation led to phosphorylation and subsequent activation of calpain2, and the activated calpain2 in turn proteolyses FA protein, talin. Interestingly, HPIP is also proteolysed by calpain2 in breast cancer cells. The proteolysis of HPIP and talin by calpain2, and the activation of calapin2 by HPIP-mediated MAPK phosphorylation, is a novel regulatory axis to modulate the cell migration signal. Together, we have determined HPIP as a novel activator of FAK and a new substrate of calpain2. These molecular interactions between HPIP and FAK, and HPIP and calpain2 regulate cell adhesion and migration through modulation of FA dynamics.

Effects of agricultural conservation practices on N loads in the Mississippi-atchafalaya river basin

A modeling framework consisting of a farm-scale model, Agricultural Policy Environmental Extender (APEX); a watershed-scale model, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT); and databases was used in the Conservation Effects Assessment Project to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices on cropland. APEX is used to simulate conservation practices on cultivated cropland and Conservation Reserve Program land to assess the edge-of-field water-quality benefits. Flow and pollutant loadings from APEX are input to SWAT. SWAT simulates the remaining noncultivated land and routes flow and loads generated from noncultivated land, point sources, and cropland to the basin outlet. SWAT is used for assessing the effects of practices on local and in-stream water-quality benefits. Each river basin is calibrated and validated for streamflow and loads at multiple gauging stations. The objectives of the current study are to estimate the effects of currently existing and additional conservation practices on total N (TN) loads in the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) and draw insights on TN load reductions necessary for reducing the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The effects of conservation practice scenarios on local and in-stream (riverine) water quality are evaluated. Model results indicate that conservation practices currently on cropland have reduced the TN losses to local waters between 20 and 59% in the six river basins within MARB and the TN load discharged to the Gulf by 17%. Further water-quality improvement can be obtained in the MARB with additional conservation treatment.

A dominant-negative isoform of IKAROS expands primitive normal human hematopoietic cells

Disrupted IKAROS activity is a recurrent feature of some human leukemias, but effects on normal human hematopoietic cells are largely unknown. Here, we used lentivirally mediated expression of a dominant-negative isoform of IKAROS (IK6) to block normal IKAROS activity in primitive human cord blood cells and their progeny. This produced a marked (10-fold) increase in serially transplantable multipotent IK6⁺ cells as well as increased outputs of normally differentiating B cells and granulocytes in transplanted immunodeficient mice, without producing leukemia. Accompanying T/natural killer (NK) cell outputs were unaltered, and erythroid and platelet production was reduced. Mechanistically, IK6 specifically increased human granulopoietic progenitor sensitivity to two growth factors and activated CREB and its targets (c-FOS and Cyclin B1). In more primitive human cells, IK6 prematurely initiated a B cell transcriptional program without affecting the hematopoietic stem cell-associated gene expression profile. Some of these effects were species specific, thus identifying novel roles of IKAROS in regulating normal human hematopoietic cells.

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IKAROS protein is abundantly expressed in primitive human hematopoietic cells

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IK6 enhances human blood stem cell expansion in vivo without causing leukemia

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IK6 has a unique profile of lineage-specific effects on human hematopoietic cells

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IK6 activates B-lineage transcripts prematurely in human blood stem cells

Effect of Diuretics on Salivary Flow, Composition and Oral Health Status: A Clinico-biochemical Study

Background:

Saliva represents an increasingly useful tool of diagnosis. Several factors such as salivary flow rates (SFRs) (unstimulated and stimulated) (U and S), pH, buffering capacity and consistency can be altered due to several disease processes or medications prescribed for various diseases. Alterations of SFRs, pH, buffering capacity and various ion concentrations can influence the pathogenesis of some of the oral diseases.

Aim:

Evaluation of the effect of diuretics on oral health status with regard to SFRs (U and S), pH, buffering capacity, total protein content, various ion concentrations and oral mucosal lesions.

Subjects and Methods:

A total of 100 patients were categorized into test group and control group based on usage of diuretics. Unstimulated and stimulated saliva were collected and evaluated for flow rates. Salivary pH was measured using pH meter. Buffering capacity was measured using Aranha's technique. Salivary Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations were measured using electrolyte analyzer CORNLEY ACCULYTE-3P in ion-selective electrode method. Salivary total protein content was measured by spectrophotometric method. Dental Caries and periodontal status were measured by using decayed, missing, filled teeth index and Russell's periodontal index respectively. Oral mucosal examination was carried out to identify the mucosal lesions.

Results:

The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis using Statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS), version 16, IBM Company by Chi-square test and unpaired t-test. Highly significant P for alterations of SFR/U (P < 0.001), SFR/S (P < 0.001), pH (P < 0.001), Na⁺ concentration (P < 0.001), buffering capacity (P < 0.001) and moderate significance for Cl⁻ concentration (P < 0.01) were found. Alterations of total protein (P = 0.14) and K⁺ (P = 0.65) concentrations were not statistically significant. High prevalence was found for caries (P < 0.01), periodontal status (P < 0.001) and mucosal lesions (P < 0.01).

Conclusion:

Our study shows that diuretic medication significantly reduces SFRs (xerostomia) and alters salivary composition which may have an impact on the incidence of dental caries, periodontal diseases and mucosal lesion formation.

Integrin β3 links therapy resistance and cancer stem cell properties

Heterogeneity in tumour cell properties underlies many treatment failures. Understanding the sources of such heterogeneity has proved to be challenging, but remains critical to improving patient outcomes. Integrin α(v)β₃ expression in multiple types of solid tumour stem cells is now shown to control a pro-survival pathway that contributes to therapy resistance.

Identification of novel small molecule inhibitors of centrosome clustering in cancer cells

Most normal cells have two centrosomes that form bipolar spindles during mitosis, while cancer cells often contain more than two, or "supernumerary" centrosomes. Such cancer cells achieve bipolar division by clustering their centrosomes into two functional poles, and inhibiting this process then leads to cancer-specific cell death. A major problem with clinically used anti-mitotic drugs, such as paclitaxel, is their toxicity in normal cells. To discover new compounds with greater specificity for cancer cells, we established a high-content screen for agents that block centrosome clustering in BT-549 cells, a breast cancer cell line that harbors supernumerary centrosomes. Using this screen, we identified 14 compounds that inhibit centrosome clustering and induce mitotic arrest. Some of these compounds were structurally similar, suggesting a common structural motif important for preventing centrosome clustering. We next compared the effects of these compounds on the growth of several breast and other cancer cell lines, an immortalized normal human mammary epithelial cell line, and progenitor-enriched primary normal human mammary epithelial cells. From these comparisons, we found some compounds that kill breast cancer cells, but not their normal epithelial counterparts, suggesting their potential for targeted therapy. One of these compounds, N2-(3-pyridylmethyl)-5-nitro-2-furamide (Centrosome Clustering Chemical Inhibitor-01, CCCI-01), that showed the greatest differential response in this screen was confirmed to have selective effects on cancer as compared to normal breast progenitors using more precise apoptosis induction and clonogenic growth endpoints. The concentration of CCCI-01 that killed cancer cells in the clonogenic assay spared normal human bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors in the colony-forming cell assay, indicating a potential therapeutic window for CCCI-01, whose selectivity might be further improved by optimizing the compound. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that treatment with CCCI-01 lead to multipolar spindles in BT-549, while maintaining bipolar spindles in the normal primary human mammary epithelial cells. Since centrosome clustering is a complex process involving multiple pathways, the 14 compounds identified in this study provide a potentially novel means to developing non-cross-resistant anti-cancer drugs that block centrosome clustering.

Effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation induced parotid stimulation on salivary flow

Aims and Objectives:

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the duration of stimulation over the parotid salivary flow following the use of transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) in different age groups.

Materials and Methods:

The study was carried out in three different age groups. Under group A individuals from 21 to 35 years of age, group B 36-50 years and group C above 51 years were considered. In each group 30 subjects were taken of whom 15 were males and 15 were females. The placement of pads was approximated bilaterally over the parotid glands. The working parameters of TENS unit were fixed at 50 Hz and the unit was in normal mode.

Results:

Subjects belonging to group B were showing statistically significant increases in the duration of stimulated parotid salivary flow following the use of TENS.

Conclusion:

TENS can be considered as a non-pharmacological alternative to improve salivation for longer period in xerostomia patients.

An integrated modeling approach for estimating the water quality benefits of conservation practices at the river basin scale

The USDA initiated the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) to quantify the environmental benefits of conservation practices at regional and national scales. For this assessment, a sampling and modeling approach is used. This paper provides a technical overview of the modeling approach used in CEAP cropland assessment to estimate the off-site water quality benefits of conservation practices using the Ohio River Basin (ORB) as an example. The modeling approach uses a farm-scale model, Agricultural Policy Environmental Extender (APEX), and a watershed scale model (the Soil and Water Assessment Tool [SWAT]) and databases in the Hydrologic Unit Modeling for the United States system. Databases of land use, soils, land use management, topography, weather, point sources, and atmospheric depositions were developed to derive model inputs. APEX simulates the cultivated cropland, Conserve Reserve Program land, and the practices implemented on them, whereas SWAT simulates the noncultivated land (e.g., pasture, range, urban, and forest) and point sources. Simulation results from APEX are input into SWAT. SWAT routes all sources, including APEX's, to the basin outlet through each eight-digit watershed. Each basin is calibrated for stream flow, sediment, and nutrient loads at multiple gaging sites and turned in for simulating the effects of conservation practice scenarios on water quality. Results indicate that sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loads delivered to the Mississippi River from ORB could be reduced by 16, 15, and 23%, respectively, due to current conservation practices. Modeling tools are useful to provide science-based information for assessing existing conservation programs, developing future programs, and developing insights on load reductions necessary for hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico.

Beneficial role of ZnO photocatalyst supported with porous activated carbon for the mineralization of alizarin cyanin green dye in aqueous solution

The present investigation depicts the development of a simple and low cost method for the removal of color from textile dyeing and printing wastewater using ZnO as photocatalyst supported with porous activated carbon (AC). Photocatalytic degradation studies were carried out for water soluble toxic alizarin cyanin green (ACG) dye in aqueous suspension along with activated carbon (AC) as co-adsorbent. Different parameters like concentration of ACG dye, irradiation time, catalyst concentration and pH have also been studied. The pseudo first order kinetic equation was found to be applicable in the present dye-catalyst systems. It was observed that photocatalytic degradation by ZnO along with AC was a more effective and faster mode of removing ACG from aqueous solutions than the ZnO alone.

Developmental changes in the in vitro activated regenerative activity of primitive mammary epithelial cells

Mouse fetal mammary cells display greater regenerative activity than do adult mammary cells when stimulated to proliferate in a new system that supports the production of transplantable mammary stem cells ex vivo.

Many normal adult tissues contain rare stem cells with extensive self-maintaining regenerative potential. During development, the stem cells of the hematopoietic and neural systems undergo intrinsically specified changes in their self-renewal potential. In the mouse, mammary stem cells with transplantable regenerative activity are first detectable a few days before birth. They share some phenotypic properties with their adult counterparts but are enriched in a subpopulation that displays a distinct gene expression profile. Here we show that fetal mammary epithelial cells have a greater direct and inducible growth potential than their adult counterparts. The latter feature is revealed in a novel culture system that enables large numbers of in vitro clonogenic progenitors as well as mammary stem cells with serially transplantable activity to be produced within 7 days from single fetal or adult input cells. We further show that these responses are highly dependent on novel factors produced by fibroblasts. These findings provide new avenues for elucidating mechanisms that regulate normal mammary epithelial stem cell properties at the single-cell level, how these change during development, and how their perturbation may contribute to transformation.

Many adult tissues are maintained by a rare subset of undifferentiated stem cells that can self-renew and give rise to specialized daughter cells that have a more limited regenerative ability. The recent identification of cells in the fetal and adult mammary gland that display the properties of stem cells provides a foundation for investigating their self-renewal and differentiation control. We now show that these stem cell properties can be elicited from single mouse mammary cells placed in 3D cultures if novel factors produced by fibroblasts are present. Moreover, a comparison of the clonal outputs of fetal and adult mammary cells in this in vitro system shows that the fetal mammary cells have superior regenerative activity relative to their adult counterparts. The ability to activate and quantify the regenerative capacity of single mouse mammary epithelial cells in vitro sets the stage for further investigations of the timing and mechanisms that alter their stem cell properties during development, the potential relevance of these events to other normal epithelial tissues, and how these processes might be involved in the genesis of breast cancer.

Synthesis and corrosion protection properties of poly(o-phenylenediamine) nanofibers

The present study shows a novel method for the synthesis of uniformly-shaped poly(othophenylediamine) (PoPD) nanofibers by chemical oxidative polymerization method for application towards smart corrosion resistance coatings. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) studies confirm morphology of PoPD with three dimensional (3D) networked dendritic superstructures having average diameter of 50–70 nm and several hundred meters of length. UV–vis and FTIR spectral results shows the formation of PoPD nanofibers containing phenazine ring ladder-structure with benzenoid and quinoid imine units. Thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) of PoPD nanofibers possess good thermal stability. The anti-corrosion behavior of PoPD nanofibers on 316L SS was investigated in 3.5% NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) measurements. The PoPD coated 316L SS exhibits higher corrosion potential when compared to uncoated specimen. EIS studies, clearly ascertain that PoPD nanofiber coatings exhibits excellent potential barrier to protect the 316L SS against corrosion in 3.5% NaCl.

The luminal progenitor compartment of the normal human mammary gland constitutes a unique site of telomere dysfunction

Telomeres are essential for genomic integrity, but little is known about their regulation in the normal human mammary gland. We now demonstrate that a phenotypically defined cell population enriched in luminal progenitors (LPs) is characterized by unusually short telomeres independently of donor age. Furthermore, we find that multiple DNA damage response proteins colocalize with telomeres in >95% of LPs but in <5% of basal cells. Paradoxically, 25% of LPs are still capable of exhibiting robust clonogenic activity in vitro. This may be partially explained by the elevated telomerase activity that was also seen only in LPs. Interestingly, this potential telomere salvage mechanism declines with age. Our findings thus reveal marked differences in the telomere biology of different subsets of primitive normal human mammary cells. The chronically dysfunctional telomeres unique to LPs have potentially important implications for normal mammary tissue homeostasis as well as the development of certain breast cancers.

Stem cells and the developing mammary gland

The mammary gland undergoes dynamic changes throughout life. In the mouse, these begin with initial morphogenesis of the gland in the mid-gestation embryo followed by hormonally regulated changes during puberty and later in adulthood. The adult mammary gland contains a hierarchy of cell types with varying potentials for self-maintenance and differentiation. These include cells able to produce complete, functional mammary glands in vivo and that contain daughter cells with the same remarkable regenerative potential, as well as cells with more limited clonogenic activity in vitro. Here we review how applying in vitro and in vivo methods for quantifying these cells in adult mammary tissue to fetal mammary cells has enabled the first cells fulfilling the functional criteria of transplantable, isolated mammary stem cells to be identified a few days before birth. Thereafter, the number of these cells increases rapidly. Populations containing these fetal stem cells display growth and gene expression programs that differ from their adult counterparts but share signatures characteristic of certain types of breast cancer. Such observations reinforce growing evidence of important differences between tissue-specific fetal and adult cells with stem cell properties and emphasize the merits of investigating their molecular basis.

Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the minor salivary glands involving palate and maxillary sinus

Basal cell adenocarcinoma (BCAC) is a rare neoplasm accounting for only 2.9% of all salivary gland neoplasms. BCAC involving palatal minor salivary glands are exceedingly rare, and only 10 cases have been reported in the literature. The treatment of choice is surgical excision. Here, we report a case of a 55-year-old male patient with massive BCAC of palatal minor salivary gland extending into the maxillary sinus. This is the first case of BCAC treated by radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy. A follow-up check conducted after 14-months showed good prognosis.

Hidden diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia-1 unraveled during workup of virilization caused by adrenocortical carcinoma

Multiple endocrine neoplasia-1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant syndrome with classic triad of parathyroid hyperplasia, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, and pituitary adenomas. Other recognized manifestations include carcinoid, cutaneous or adrenocortical tumors. It is commonly presented with clinical features related to parathyroid, pancreas or pituitary lesions. Here, we have presented a case that had virilization and biochemical Cushing's syndrome due to adrenocortical carcinoma as presenting feature of MEN1. Cushing's syndrome in MEN1 is an extremely rare and usually late manifestation and most cases are due to corticotropin-producing pituitary adenomas. Although Cushing's syndrome generally develops years after the more typical manifestations of MEN1 appear, it may be the primary manifestation of MEN1 syndrome particularly when related to adrenal adenoma or carcinoma.

Anticancer activity of Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. Ex. Delile subsp. indica against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma induced solid and ascitic tumor model

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of A. nilotica extract against Dalton's ascitic lymphoma (DAL) induced solid and ascitic tumors in BALB/c mice. Experimental animals received A. nilotica extract (10 mg/kg.bw) intraperitoneally for 10 and 14 consecutive days before induction of solid and ascitic tumors, respectively. Treatment with A. nilotica extract significantly decreased the development of tumor and percentage increase in body weight when compared to DAL induced solid tumor control group, also increasing the life span, restoring the total white blood cell count and hemoglobin content and significantly decreasing the levels of serum aspartate transaminase (SGPT), alanine transaminase (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and nitric oxide (NO) when compared to DAL induced ascitic tumor controls. The treatment also reduced significantly the cellular glutathione (GSH) and nitric oxide levels in treated animals. Histopathological studies also confirmed protective influence. The outcome of the present work indicates that A. nilotica extract could be used as natural anticancer agent for human health.

Abstract 2919: Different ROS control mechanisms and mutagenic consequences in primitive subsets of normal human mammary cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are known mediators of DNA damage and likely contributors to oncogenesis. However, very little is known about the mechanisms controlling ROS in the cells that make up the normal human mammary gland, in spite of its being a major site of cancer development. To investigate how ROS are generated and their potential role in two functionally distinct, primitive normal human mammary epithelial cell compartments (luminal and basal), we isolated these subsets at high purities by FACS and compared the levels within them of ROS, components that positively and negatively regulate ROS, their responses to oxidative stressors and evidence of ROS-associated DNA damage. The results show that purified progenitors of the cells that line the gland lumen (defined by their EpCAM+ CD49f+ phenotype) contain significantly higher levels of superoxide (O2*) anions and H2O2 than the basal cells (defined as EpCAMlow/- CD49fhigh cells and highly enriched in bipotent progenitors and stem cells). We also find that the elevated levels of these ROS elements in the luminal progenitors are associated with a higher content of mitochondria and higher levels of all 3 superoxide dismutases (SOD-1, 2 and 3). The luminal progenitors are also highly resistant to glutathione depletion and express higher levels of both non-canonical non-glutathione anti-oxidant enzymes and multiple enzymes that control ROS-induced nucleotide damage (i.e., OGG-1, MTH-1, MUTYH) providing a likely explanation for their ability to survive following GSH depletion. Interestingly, we found the mitochondrial antioxidant glutathione peroxidase (GPX)-2 enzyme to be expressed almost exclusively and at high levels in basal mammary cells and its depletion, using a shRNA lentivirus, resulted in loss of progenitor viability/activity by basal but not luminal cells. Luminal progenitors also displayed greater resistance to acute oxidative insults (H2O2 and X-radiation) and displayed an increased accrual of oxidative damage-induced (genomic 8-oxo-dGTP) mutations. Our findings reveal a major difference in the molecular machinery that control ROS levels in normal human basal and luminal mammary progenitors. These correlate with an ability of the luminal progenitors to maintain and tolerate elevated levels of ROS and the continuous acquisition of unrepaired ROS-induced DNA damage, thus suggesting a novel and previously unanticipated vulnerability of these cells to undergo oncogenic transformation.

(Supported by Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation/BC-Yukon and the Canadian Cancer Society)

Citation Format: Nagarajan Kannan, Maisam Makarem, Long Nguyen, Jeff Dong, Peter Eirew, Connie Eaves. Different ROS control mechanisms and mutagenic consequences in primitive subsets of normal human mammary cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2919. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2919

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the renal parenchyma

No case of a primary renal parenchymal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been reported previously in the literature although renal pelvic SCCs are well known. We report an unusual case in a 60-year-old lady who presented with significant weight loss. She was found to have a mid and lower pole left renal tumor with enlarged para-aortic nodes. A left radical nephrectomy and nodal dissection was performed and the pathological stage was T4N1M0. No adjuvant therapy was given. She is alive at 13 months post-surgery.