Risk Factors and Preventions of Breast Cancer

PIK3CD correlates with prognosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor immune infiltration in breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Breast carcinoma (BRCA) is one of the most common, fatal, and aggressive cancers, with increasing morbidity that has a major impact on human health. PIK3CD appears to have important roles in the beginning and advancement of various forms of human cancer, according to mounting data. However,the particular role and mechanism of PIK3CD in BRCA remains not fully identified.

METHODOLOGY

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/ ), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) data and the UCSC Xena browser ( https://xenabrowser.net ) data were used in this study's initial pan-cancer analysis of PIK3CD expression and prognosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) that regulated the expression of PIK3CD were subsequently found using a combination of in silico investigations of expression, correlation, and survival. Measurements of PIK3CD expression and an analysis of the in vitro function of PIK3CD in BRCA cells were performed using real-time RT-PCR, Western blotting and Transwell assays.

RESULTS

In BRCA GLI2, RAB32, LAMB1, MGAT2, ITGA8, CHF, COL6A3 and PRRX1-miR-30b-5p axis was identified as the most likely upstream CircRNA-related route of PIK3CD. PIK3CD was correlated with the expression of EMT markers. The PIK3CD cDNA improved the capacity for invasion and migration. The expression of PIK3CD was linked to some of the m1A/m5C/m6A regulators. Additionally, it was discovered that the expression of PIK3CD was found to be highly connected to the expression of immunological checkpoints, immune cell biomarkers, and tumor immune cell invasion.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that PIK3CD expression is associated with prognosis, EMT, and tumor immune infiltration in BRCA patients.

A clinical-radiomics nomogram based on multimodal ultrasound for predicting the malignancy risk in solid hypoechoic breast lesions

Background

In routine clinical examinations, solid hypoechoic breast lesions are frequently encountered, but accurately distinguishing them poses a challenge. This study proposed a clinical-radiomics nomogram based on multimodal ultrasound that enhances the diagnostic accuracy for solid hypoechoic breast lesions.

Method

This retrospective study analyzed ultrasound strain elastography (SE) and automated breast volume scanner images (ABVS) of 423 solid hypoechoic breast lesions from 423 female patients in our hospital between August 2019 and May 2022. They were assigned to the training (n=296) and validation (n=127) groups in a 7:3 ratio by generating random numbers. Radiomics features were extracted and screened from ABVS and SE images, followed by the calculation of the radiomics score (Radscore) based on these features. Subsequently, a nomogram was constructed through multivariate logistic regression to assess the malignancy risk in breast lesions by combining Radscore with Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) scores and clinical risk factors associated with breast malignant lesions. The diagnostic performance, calibration performance, and clinical usefulness of the nomogram were assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve, the calibration curve, and the decision analysis curve, respectively.

Results

The diagnostic performance of the nomogram is significantly superior to that of both the clinical diagnostic model (BI-RADS model) and the multimodal radiomics model (SE+ABVS radiomics model) in training (AUC: 0.972 vs 0.930 vs 0.941) and validation group (AUC:0.964 vs 0.916 vs 0.933). In addition, the nomogram also exhibited a favorable goodness-of-fit and could lead to greater net benefits for patients.

Conclusion

The nomogram enables a more effective assessment of the malignancy risk of solid hypoechoic breast lesions; therefore, it can serve as a new and efficient diagnostic tool for clinical diagnosis.

Molecular interaction of metastasis suppressor genes and tumor microenvironment in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide where the process of metastasis is a major contributor to the mortality associated with this disease. Metastasis suppressor genes are a group of genes that play a crucial role in preventing or inhibiting the spread of cancer cells. They suppress the metastasis process by inhibiting colonization and by inducing dormancy. These genes function by regulating various cellular processes in the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as cell adhesion, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. Dysregulation of metastasis suppressor genes can lead to the acquisition of an invasive and metastatic phenotype and lead to poor prognostic outcomes. The components of the TME generally play a necessary in the metastasis progression of tumor cells. This review has identified and elaborated on the role of a few metastatic suppressors associated with the TME that have been shown to inhibit metastasis in BC by different mechanisms, such as blocking certain cell signaling molecules involved in cancer cell migration, invasion, enhancing immune surveillance of cancer cells, and promoting the formation of a protective extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding the interaction of metastatic suppressor genes and the components of TME has important implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target the metastatic cascade. Targeting these genes or their downstream signaling pathways offers a promising approach to inhibiting the spread of cancer cells and improves patient outcomes.

Effects of Functional and Nutraceutical Foods in the Context of the Mediterranean Diet in Patients Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Several studies report that breast cancer survivors (BCS) tend to have a poor diet, as fruit, vegetable, and legume consumption is often reduced, resulting in a decreased intake of nutraceuticals. Moreover, weight gain has been commonly described among BCS during treatment, increasing recurrence rate and mortality. Improving lifestyle and nutrition after the diagnosis of BC may have important benefits on patients' general health and on specific clinical outcomes. The Mediterranean diet (MD), known for its multiple beneficial effects on health, can be considered a nutritional pool comprising several nutraceuticals: bioactive compounds and foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Recent scientific advances have led to the identification of nutraceuticals that could amplify the benefits of the MD and favorably influence gene expression in these patients. Nutraceuticals could have beneficial effects in the postdiagnostic phase of BC, including helping to mitigate the adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Moreover, the MD could be a valid and easy-to-follow option for managing excess weight. The aim of this narrative review is to evaluate the recent scientific literature on the possible beneficial effects of consuming functional and nutraceutical foods in the framework of MD in BCS.

Global epidemiology of breast cancer based on risk factors: a systematic review

Background

Numerous reviews of the epidemiology and risk factors for breast cancer have been published previously which heighted different directions of breast cancer.

Aim

The present review examined the likelihood that incidence, prevalence, and particular risk factors might vary by geographic region and possibly by food and cultural practices as well.

Methods

A systematic review (2017-2022) was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, reporting on epidemiological and risk factor reports from different world regions. Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms: "Breast neoplasm" "AND" country terms such as "Pakistan/epidemiology", "India/epidemiology", "North America/epidemiology", "South Africa/epidemiology" were used to retrieve 2068 articles from PubMed. After applying inclusion and exclusion terms, 49 papers were selected for systematic review.

Results

Results of selected articles were summarized based on risk factors, world regions and study type. Risk factors were classified into five categories: demographic, genetic and lifestyle risk factors varied among countries. This review article covers a variety of topics, including regions, main findings, and associated risk factors such as genetic factors, and lifestyle. Several studies revealed that lifestyle choices including diet and exercise could affect a person's chance of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer risk has also been linked to genetic variables, including DNA repair gene polymorphisms and mutations in the breast cancer gene (BRCA). It has been found that most of the genetic variability links to the population of Asia while the cause of breast cancer due to lifestyle modifications has been found in American and British people, indicating that demographic, genetic, and, lifestyle risk factors varied among countries.

Conclusion

There are many risk factors for breast cancer, which vary in their importance depending on the world region. However, further investigation is required to better comprehend the particular causes of breast cancer in these areas as well as to create efficient prevention and treatment plans that cater to the local population.

Dietary advanced glycation end products are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in Iranian adults

BACKGROUND

Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can play an important role in increasing inflammatory factors and oxidative stress as risk factors for cancers. In the present study, we aimed to assess the relationship between dietary AGEs and the risk of breast cancer (BC) in Iranian adult women.

METHODS

This hospital-based case-control study includes 401 participants aged ≥ 30 years old. The cases group consisted of 134 women diagnosed with histologically confirmed BC. The control group included 267 women enrolled randomly from patients admitted to the same hospitals. Dietary intake information was determined using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and dietary AGEs intake was computed for all participants. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to determine the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of BC across tertiles of dietary AGEs.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD age and body mass index of the study population were 47.92 ± 10.33 years and 29.43 ± 5.51 kg/m2, respectively. The median (interquartile) of dietary AGEs in all individuals was 9251(7450, 11,818) kU/day. After adjusting for age, first pregnancy age, and energy intake, participants in the highest tertile of dietary AGEs intakes had higher odds of BC compared to those in the lowest tertile of dietary AGEs (OR:2.29;95%CI:1.19-4.39, Ptrend:0.012). Additionally, in the multivariable model, after adjusting for age, age at first pregnancy, energy, menopausal status, family history of cancer, anti-inflammatory drug use, Vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, body mass index, number of childbirths, and history of abortion, breastfeeding, and oral contraceptive pills use, the odds of BC were increased across tertiles of dietary AGEs intake (OR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.18-4.60, Ptrend: 0.017).

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest that a diet with high AGEs is associated with a higher likelihood of BC in adult women.

Evaluation Factors Affecting on Recurrence, Metastasis, and Survival of Breast Cancer in Iranian Women by Multi-State Model Approach

Background

We used the multistate model to investigate how prognostic factors of breast cancer are seen to affect the disease process.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted at Motamed Cancer Institute of Tehran, Iran on 2363 breast cancer patients admitted from 1978 to 2017, and they were followed up until 2018. We applied the multistate models, including four states: diagnosis, recurrence, metastasis, and final absorbing mortality state.

Results

Age over 50 years, positive lymph nodes and tumor size intensified the hazard of transition from diagnosis to metastasis (P=0.002, P<0.001 and P=0.001 respectively) and they also intensified the hazard of transition from diagnosis to mortality (P=0.010, P<0.001 and P<0.001 respectively). At the same time, the educational level decreased the hazard of mentioned transitions (P<0.001). Positive estrogen receptors reduced the hazard of transition from diagnosis to metastasis (P=0.007) and positive lymph nodes also intensified the hazard of transition from metastasis to mortality (P=0.040). Tumor size had an increasing role in the transitions from diagnosis to recurrence, recurrence to metastasis, and metastasis to mortality (P=0.014, P=0.018 and P=0.002 respectively).

Conclusion

Multistate model presented the detailed effects of prognostic factors on progression of breast cancer. Implementing early diagnosis strategies and providing informational programs, especially in younger ages and lower educational level patients may be helpful in reducing the hazard of transition to higher states of breast cancer and increasing the survival of Iranian women with breast cancer by controlling tumor size growth, lymph nodes involvements and estrogen receptor status.

Association of ctDNA detection and recurrence assessment in patients with neoadjuvant treatment

BACKGROUND

The utilization of neoadjuvant therapy is progressively expanding in various clinical settings. However, the absence of a clinically validated biomarker to evaluate the treatment response remains a significant challenge in the field. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection, a novel and emerging monitoring approach in the field of oncology, holds promise as a potential prognostic biomarker for patients with cancer. This meta-analysis investigated the clinical significance of ctDNA detection as a predictive tool for cancer recurrence in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment.

METHODS

A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted using public databases to identify relevant studies that investigated the association between ctDNA detection and cancer recurrence in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment. Hazard ratios (HRs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to assess the relationship between cancer recurrence and relevant factors. Cancer recurrence was considered the primary outcome.

RESULTS

A total of 23 studies encompassing 1590 patients across eight different cancer types were included in the final analysis. Positive ctDNA detection was significantly associated with higher cancer recurrence, especially at post-neoadjuvant treatment and post-surgery time points. The risk values for the different cancer categories and geographic areas also differed significantly.

CONCLUSION

Our comprehensive meta-analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between ctDNA detection and a higher risk of cancer recurrence in patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment. In addition, the risk of recurrence was influenced by variations in cancer type, timing of detection, and geographic region. These findings highlight the promising clinical applicability of ctDNA as a prognostic marker and monitoring approach for patients with cancer. However, the precise mechanism is unknown and more evidence is needed for further research.

Biomarkers and biosensors for early cancer diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis

Cancers continue to be of major concern due to their serious global socioeconomic impact, apart from the continued increase in the incidence of various cancer types. A major challenge that this disease poses is due to the low "early detection" rates which limit the therapeutic outcomes for the affected individuals. Current research has highlighted the discovering biomarkers that help in early cancer detection and the development of technologies for the detection and quantification of such biomarkers. Biomarkers range from proteins to nucleic acids, and can be specific to a particular cancer type. Detection and quantification of such biomarkers at low levels from biological samples is being made possible by the advent of developing biosensors and by using biomedical engineering technologies such as tumor-on-a-chip models. Here, we present biomarkers that can be helpful for the early detection of breast, colorectal, esophageal, lung, liver, ovarian, and prostate cancer. In addition, we discuss the potential of circulating tumor cell DNA (ctDNA) as an early diagnostic marker. Finally, biosensors available for the detection of cancer biomarkers, which is a recent advancement in this area of research, are discussed.

Remodeled tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) parade via natural killer cells reprogramming in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the main cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Despite substantial advances in the identification and management of primary tumors, traditional therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation cannot completely eliminate the danger of relapse and metastatic illness. Metastasis is controlled by microenvironmental and systemic mechanisms, including immunosurveillance. This led to the evolvement of immunotherapies that has gained much attention in the recent years for cancer treatment directed to the innate immune system. The long forgotten innate immune cells known as natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as novel targets for more effective therapeutics for BC. Normally, NK cells has the capacity to identify and eradicate tumor cells either directly or by releasing cytotoxic granules, chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines. Yet, NK cells are exposed to inhibitory signals by cancer cells, which causes them to become dysfunctional in the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in BC, supporting tumor escape and spread. Potential mechanisms of NK cell dysfunction in BC metastasis have been recently identified. Understanding these immunologic pathways driving BC metastasis will lead to improvements in the current immunotherapeutic strategies. In the current review, we highlight how BC evades immunosurveillance by rendering NK cells dysfunctional and we shed the light on novel NK cell- directed therapies.

A mutator-derived prognostic eRNA signature provides insight into the pathogenesis of breast cancer

Abundant evidence suggests that enhancer RNA (eRNA) is closely related to tumorigenesis, and the role of eRNA transcription in promoting genomic instability in cancers is gradually unveiled. However, research on the evaluation of the prognostic value and molecular mechanisms of genomic instability associated eRNAs in breast cancer is long overdue. Here, we integratively analyzed eRNA expression and somatic mutation profiles in breast cancer genome. We identified genomic instability associated eRNAs and developed a prognostic signature based on these eRNAs with the area under the curve (AUC) around 0.8 at 9-year survival. We further found the prognostic value of this signature is independent of common clinical factors and is better than TP53 status. Higher expression of genomic instability associated genes in the high-risk group was observed, suggesting that this eRNA signature may serve as an indicator of genomic instability in breast cancer. We found prognostic eRNA co-expressed genes are mainly enriched in Gene set 'Breast Cancer 8P12-P11 Amplicon', Gene set 'Metabolism of lipids' and GO process 'Ubiquitin protein ligase binding'. Furthermore, 11 eRNA-signature regulated genes are identified by assessing promoter-enhancer interaction. Among these genes, F11R, BHLHE40, and NECTIN4 are previously reported oncogenes and EGOT is a tumor suppressor gene, indicating the direct roles of eRNAs in tumorigenesis.

Breast Cancer: Clinical-Epidemiological Profile and Toxicities of Women Receiving Treatment with Taxanes in the Amazon Region

Breast cancer is the most common malignant disease and the leading cause of mortality among women worldwide. Antineoplastic chemotherapy is one of its primary treatments, typically based on the class of drugs known as taxanes. Despite their proven therapeutic efficacy, these drugs can induce severe toxicities, leading to dose limitations or even treatment discontinuation. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical-epidemiological profile, risk factors, and toxicities of taxane-based chemotherapy treatment in women with breast cancer in the Amazon region. This is a cross-sectional, quantitative, and descriptive study conducted with 300 women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing taxane treatment. Most patients were in the 40-49 age range, of brown ethnicity, and had completed elementary school. The majority of patients had risk factors such as alcoholism and a sedentary lifestyles. Most women had their first pregnancy between the ages of 18 and 21, breastfed their children, had menarche between the ages of 12 and 13, and were pre-menopausal and with a family history of cancer. The most frequent histological type was non-special invasive carcinoma and the Luminal B subtype. Most participants in this study showed taxane toxicity, with neurotoxicity being the most frequent. These findings reveal the importance of early detection, comprehensive risk factors, and effective management of treatment toxicities to improve patient outcomes in breast cancer care in the Amazon region.

Peptide-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Therapy

A monster called cancer is still one of the most challenging human problems and one of the leading causes of death in the world. Different types of treatment methods are used for cancer therapy; however, there are challenges such as high cost and harmful side effects in using these methods. Recent years have witnessed a surge in the development of therapeutic peptides for a wide range of diseases, notably cancer. Peptides are preferred over antibiotics, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer due to a number of aspects, including flexibility, easy modification, low immunogenicity, and inexpensive cost of production. The use of therapeutic peptides in cancer treatment is a novel and intriguing strategy. These peptides provide excellent prospects for targeted drug delivery because of their high selectivity, specificity, small dimensions, good biocompatibility, and simplicity of modification. Target specificity and minimal toxicity are benefits of therapeutic peptides. Additionally, peptides can be used to design antigens or adjuvants for vaccine development. Here, types of therapeutic peptides for cancer therapy will be discussed, such as peptide-based cancer vaccines and tumor-targeting peptides (TTP) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPP).

The oncogenic miR-429 promotes triple-negative breast cancer progression by degrading DLC1

Lines of evidence have demonstrated that the oncogenic miRNAs are pivotal to the progression of breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the biological traits of microRNA-429 (miR-429) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and the underlying molecular mechanism. We found that miR-429 was notably overexpressed in TNBC, and promoted TNBC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by degrading the tumor suppressor DLC1. In conclusion, our findings reveal the mechanism of tumorigenic miR-429 in TNBC, which paves the way for target therapies translation in clinical settings.

The Role of Spirituality on Physical Activity and Sleep Among African American Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors

BACKGROUND

African Americans with chronic conditions have reported the importance of spirituality in their lives. Aspects of spirituality have been shown to be related to physical activity (PA) and sleep, and PA and sleep affect quality of life (QOL). This study examined the association between spirituality, PA, and sleep in long-term African American breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 323 breast cancer survivors who previously participated in a case-only study. During 2015-2016, participants completed a questionnaire focused on survivorship that used validated measures for spirituality, PA, and sleep. Adjusted binary and multinomial logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of spirituality with total PA, meeting PA guidelines, sleep duration, and sleep medication.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 54.8 (SD = 9.89) years. The range of spirituality scores was 7-48 (median = 44). Among participants who had a score ≥ 44, 59% had high total PA, 61% met PA guidelines, 59% had high sleep duration, and 55% did not use sleep medication. Higher spirituality score was associated with higher total PA (aOR for ≥ 681 min/week: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.03-3.50), meeting PA guidelines (aOR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.06-2.98), sleep duration > 7 h/night (aOR: 1.72, 95% CI 1.05-2.83), and lack of sleep medication use (aOR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.24-0.84).

CONCLUSION

In African American long-term breast cancer survivors, a higher spirituality score increased the likelihood of greater PA and high sleep duration. These results indicate that interventions surrounding spirituality may benefit the QOL of African American breast cancer survivors.

Prediabetes and the risk of breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Background

Diabetes has been related to a higher risk of breast cancer (BC) in women. However, it remains unknown whether the incidence of BC is increased in women with prediabetes. A systematic review and meta-analysis was therefore performed to evaluate the relationship between prediabetes and risk of BC.

Methods

Observational studies with longitudinal follow-up relevant to the objective were found via searching Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. A fixed- or random-effects model was used to pool the results depending on heterogeneity.

Results

Eight prospective cohort studies and two nest case-control studies were included. A total of 1069079 community women were involved, and 72136 (6.7%) of them had prediabetes at baseline. During a mean duration follow-up of 9.6 years, 9960 (0.93%) patients were diagnosed as BC. Pooled results with a fixed-effects model showed that women with prediabetes were not associated with a higher incidence of BC as compared to those with normoglycemia (risk ratio: 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.93 to 1.05, p = 0.72) with mild heterogeneity (p for Cochrane Q test = 0.42, I2 = 3%). Subgroup analyses showed that study characteristics such as study design, menopausal status of the women, follow-up duration, diagnostic criteria for prediabetes, methods for validation of BC cases, and study quality scores did not significantly affect the results (p for subgroup analyses all > 0.05).

Conclusion

Women with prediabetes may not be associated with an increased risk of BC as compared to women with normoglycemia.

Efficient and Automatic Breast Cancer Early Diagnosis System Based on the Hierarchical Extreme Learning Machine

Breast cancer is the leading type of cancer in women, causing nearly 600,000 deaths every year, globally. Although the tumors can be localized within the breast, they can spread to other body parts, causing more harm. Therefore, early diagnosis can help reduce the risks of this cancer. However, a breast cancer diagnosis is complicated, requiring biopsy by various methods, such as MRI, ultrasound, BI-RADS, or even needle aspiration and cytology with the suggestions of specialists. On certain occasions, such as body examinations of a large number of people, it is also a large workload to check the images. Therefore, in this work, we present an efficient and automatic diagnosis system based on the hierarchical extreme learning machine (H-ELM) for breast cancer ultrasound results with high efficiency and make a primary diagnosis of the images. To make it compatible to use, this system consists of PNG images and general medical software within the H-ELM framework, which is easily trained and applied. Furthermore, this system only requires ultrasound images on a small scale, of 28×28 pixels, reducing the resources and fulfilling the application with low-resolution images. The experimental results show that the system can achieve 86.13% in the classification of breast cancer based on ultrasound images from the public breast ultrasound images (BUSI) dataset, without other relative information and supervision, which is higher than the conventional deep learning methods on the same dataset. Moreover, the training time is highly reduced, to only 5.31 s, and consumes few resources. The experimental results indicate that this system could be helpful for precise and efficient early diagnosis of breast cancers with primary examination results.

Clinical importance and PI3K/Akt pathway-dependent anti-proliferative role of PALMD and DPT in breast cancer

This study aimed to identify novel differentially expressed genes in breast cancer and to explore the clinical value and the anti-tumor or oncogenic effects of the identified genes using bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments. The differentially expressed genes in breast cancer patients were identified using Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with the cut-off criteria p < 0.05 and |logFC| > 1. The expression levels of palmdelphin (PALMD) and dermatopontin (DPT) in normal tissues and breast cancer tissues were evaluated based on GEPIA and UALCAN databases. PALMD and DPT expression levels in clinical subgroups of patients with breast cancer were analyzed to assess the association of PALMD and DPT expression with clinical characteristics. The prognostic and diagnostic values of PALMD and DPT in breast cancer were evaluated from Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curves and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Pearson's correlation coefficient was performed using LinkedOmics. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was performed using DAVID. The protein levels were evaluated using western blot analysis. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTT and EdU assays. Two important genes, PALMD and DPT, were identified in breast cancer. The expression levels of PALMD and DPT were significantly lower in breast cancer tissues. The expression levels of PALMD were closely related to age, histological type, and T stage of breast cancer patients. The expression levels of DPT were closely related to age, histological type, T stage, N stage, estrogen receptor status, and progesterone receptor status of breast cancer patients. The K-M survival curves showed that PALMD or DPT was not an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer. The ROC curves showed that both PALMD and DPT had good diagnostic potential for breast cancer. KEGG pathway enrichment results showed that PI3K/Akt pathway was an important overlapping signaling for PALMD and DPT. Further studies proved that overexpression of PALMD and DPT inhibited proliferation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells by suppressing the PI3K/Akt pathway. PALMD and DPT knockdown promoted proliferation in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway. These results collectively suggested that PALMD and DPT might serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer.

Recent advances in novel miRNA mediated approaches for targeting breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is considered one of the most frequent cancers among woman worldwide. While conventional therapy has been successful in treating many cases of breast cancer, drug resistance, heterogenicity, tumour features and recurrence, invasion, metastasis and the presence of breast cancer stem cells can hinder the effect of treatments, and can reduce the quality of life of patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Several studies have reported that aberrant expression of specific miRNAs is associated with the pathogenesis of breast cancer. However, miRNAs are emerging as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for breast cancer. Understanding their role in breast cancer biology could help develop more effective treatments for this disease. The present study discusses the biogenesis and function of miRNAs, as well as miRNA therapy approaches for targeting and treating breast cancer cells.

Elucidation of interleukin-19 as a therapeutic target for breast cancer by computational analysis and experimental validation

Interleukin 19 (IL-19) is a cytokine produced by monocytes and belongs to the family of IL-10. The IL-19 protein stimulates fibronectin (FN) expression and assembly, metastasis, and cell division in breast cancer (BC) cells. IL-19, which is connected to breast pathogenesis and has an autocrine action in BC cells, is a key predictor of prognosis for many tumour forms, including breast cancer. Augmented IL-19 expression has been related to poorer clinical outcomes for patients with BC and directly enhances proliferation and migration while also serving as a microenvironment for tumour formation. The main aim of our study was to examine the expression profile, functional role, and prognostic significance of interleukin-19 in BC pathogenesis and also to find out the molecular mechanism of IL-19 in BC. In this work, we used the various computational approach and tools, to evaluate the expression profile and prognostic implication of IL-19 in BC and discover the role of IL-19 in BC pathogenesis. IL-19 was shown to be highly upregulated in BC as compared to other interleukins. Also, its levels were highly overexpressed in liminal BC patients, mostly in 3rd stage groups under the age group of 21-40 years. IL-19 levels were increased in BC and elevated expression of IL-19 was examined to have worse overall survival (OS). The KEGG analysis and gene ontology of IL-19 depict that IL-19 is significantly augmented in cytokine activity and receptor-ligand activity and also in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Moreover, IL-19 showed a high correlation with IL20RA, as later is involved with the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. The in-vivo and in-vitro studies have also reflected that upregulation of IL-19 enhances tumor development and affects clinical outcomes in BC patients through several pathways including the JAK TAT signalling pathway. Overall, our study indicates that IL-19 increases tumour growth and that inhibiting it in addition to standard treatments will greatly improve BC patient's therapeutic responses.

TMEM189 as a target gene of MiR-499a-5p regulates breast cancer progression through the ferroptosis pathway

MicroRNA (miR)-499a-5p has been reported to regulate the progression of various tumours. However, the role of miR-499a-5p in breast cancer is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of miR-499a-5p in breast cancer. The growth effect of miR-499a-5p on breast cancer cells was investigated by the CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay. The luciferase activity assay was used to verify the downstream targets of miR-499a-5p. The levels of GSH, MDA, and ROS were detected by kits. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot were used to determine the expression levels of TMEM189, COX-2, GPX4, and other related genes in cells. miR-499a-5p was down-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells and was shown to reduced the viability, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. Further studies revealed that TMEM189 is a target of miR-499a-5p. miR-499a-5p inhibited breast cancer cell growth by downregulating TMEM189. Furthermore, the down-regulation of TMEM189 promotes ferroptosis in breast cancer cells. The low expression of TMEM189 inhibited the development of breast cancer through the ferroptosis pathway. We have demonstrated for the first time that miR-499a-5p inhibits breast cancer progression by targeting the TMEM189-mediated ferroptosis pathway.

FTO-mediated epigenetic upregulation of LINC01559 confers cell resistance to docetaxel in breast carcinoma by suppressing miR-1343-3p

This study was to explore the regulatory effect of long non-coding RNA LINC01559 on Docetaxel resistance in breast carcinoma (BCa) and its underlying mechanism. In the present study, we found that LINC01559 expression was elevated and LINC01559 overexpression facilitated docetaxel resistance in BCa cells. Moreover, it was revealed that the upregulation of LINC01559 in BCa cells was induced by FTO-mediated demethylation in an m6A-YTHDF2-dependent manner. Additionally, Dual-luciferase reporter assay confirmed the binding ability between LINC01559 and miR-1343-3p, and Pearson correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between them. Particularly, miR-1343-3p inhibition partly abolished the suppression on docetaxel resistance in BCa cells caused by LINC01559 knockdown. To sum up, FTO-mediated epigenetic upregulation of LINC01559 promoted cell resistance to Docetaxel in BCa by negatively regulating miR-1343-3p.

Prophylactic Risk-Reducing Mastectomy (PRRM): A Set Practice or Catch-22 Situation in LMIC. A Single-Centre Prospective Cohort Study

Background Pakistan's hereditary breast cancer has a higher-than-average prevalence. Our acceptability of prophylactic risk-reducing mastectomy (PRRM) still needs to be determined, and genetic testing still needs to be offered to all eligible. The aim is to determine the number of women presenting to our centre who availed of PRRM after positive genetic tests and the main reasons restraining them from considering PRRM.Materials and methods This study is a single-centre, prospective cohort. We collected data from 2017 to 2022 on BRCA1/2 and other (P/LP) gene-positive patients. Continuous variables are presented as means (±SD) and categorical variables in percentages, with a significant P-value of ≤ 0.05.Results Out of 477 tested individuals, only 95(20.12%) had a positive result. BRCA1/2 was positive in 70 cases, while P/LP variants were in 24 cases. Only 32.6% of eligible families underwent genetic testing, with 54.8% positivity. Altogether, 92.6% of patients had BRCA1/2-related cancers. Only 25/95(26.3%) individuals availed of PRRM, the majority had contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy 68% with a 20% reconstruction rate. The main reasons to decline PRRM were false belief of not having any disease 57.44%, followed by family/spouse pressure 51%, body appearance/societal perception, fear of complications/quality of life and financial constraints.Conclusion Genetic testing and its implications are still a grey area for LMICs, primarily due to the scarcity of centres offering genetic testing to eligible populations, followed by prevalent perceptions about prophylactic surgeries among the masses. Addressing relevant issues in LMICs is the need of time.

Evaluation of a population-based breast cancer screening in North China

BACKGROUND

Despite mammography-based screening for breast cancer has been conducted in many countries, there are still little data on participation and diagnostic yield in population-based breast cancer screening in China.

METHODS

We enrolled 151,973 eligible women from four cities in Hebei Province within the period 2013-2021 and followed up until December 31, 2021. Participants aged 40-74 who assessed as high risk were invited to undergo breast ultrasound and mammography examination. Overall and group-specific participation rates were calculated. Multivariable analyses were used to estimate the factors associated with participation rates. The diagnostic yield of both screening and no screening groups was calculated. We further analyzed the stage distribution and molecular subtype of breast cancer cases by different modes of cancer detection.

RESULTS

A total of 42,547 participants were evaluated to be high risk of breast cancer. Among them, 23,009 subjects undertook screening services, with participation rate of 54.08%. Multivariable logistic regression model showed that aged 45-64, high education level, postmenopausal, current smoking, alcohol consumption, family history of breast cancer, and benign breast disease were associated with increased participation of screening. After median follow-up of 3.79 years, there were 456 breast cancer diagnoses of which 65 were screen-detected breast cancers (SBCs), 27 were interval breast cancers (IBCs), 68 were no screening cancers, and 296 were cancers detected outside the screening program. Among them, 92 participants in the screening group (0.40%) and 364 in the non-screening group (0.28%) had breast cancer detected, which resulted in an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% CI 1.13-1.78; P = 0.003). We observed a higher detection rate of breast cancer in the screening group, with ORs of 2.42 (95% CI 1.72-3.41) for early stage (stages 0-I) and 2.12 (95% CI 1.26-3.54) for luminal A subtype. SBCs had higher proportion of early stage (71.93%) and luminal A subtype (47.22%) than other groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant differences in breast cancer diagnosis between the screening and non-screening group imply an urgent need for increased breast cancer awareness and early detection in China.

Functional variant rs10175368 which affects the expression of CYP1B1 plays a protective role against breast cancer in a Chinese Han population

OBJECTIVE

Cytochrome P450 1B1 ( CYP1B1 ) genetic variants are relevant in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Exploring the relationships between CYP1B1 functional variants and breast cancer could improve our understanding of breast cancer molecular pathophysiology.

METHODS

This is a two-stage hospital-based case-control study of a Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed to identify candidate gene variants. 3DSNP, ANNOVAR, and RegulomeDB were used to determine functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The relationship between candidate variants and breast cancer risk was evaluated through unconditional logistic regression analysis. The PancanQTL platform was used to perform cis and trans expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis of positive SNPs. The GSCA platform was then used to compare the gene expression levels of potential target genes between breast cancer tissue and normal tissue adjacent to the cancer.

RESULTS

rs10175368-T acted as a protective factor against breast cancer based on an additive model [odds ratio (OR) = 0.722, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.613-0.850; P < 0.001], and was identified as a protective factor in the postmenopausal population (OR = 0.601; 95% CI, 0.474-0.764; P < 0.001). eQTL analysis and analysis of differential expression in carcinoma and paracancerous tissues revealed that the expression level of CYP1B1 - AS1 was associated with rs10175368 and that CYP1B1-AS1 had significantly higher expression levels in breast cancer tissues than in paracancerous tissues.

CONCLUSION

We show, for the first time in a Chinese Han population, that the functional variant rs10175368 plays a protective role against breast cancer, especially in the postmenopausal population.

Clinical utility of the pan-immune-inflammation value in breast cancer patients

Background

The newly discovered pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) has been illustrated to have good prognostic value for cancer patient prognosis. However, the prognostic usefulness of PIV in breast cancer patients is unknown. As a result, to aid the clinic in providing a distinctive and trustworthy biomarker to better assess breast cancer patient's prognosis, we conducted this meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between PIV and the survival of breast cancer patients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the CNKI databases to screen for eligible studies published up to April 2023. Outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and pathological complete response (pCR). The hazard ratio (HR) and the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were used as the indicators. STATA 15.0 software was used to perform meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias analysis.

Results

A total of eight articles, involving 2953 patients, met the inclusion criteria and were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that patients with higher PIV levels had a significantly shorter OS (HR: 2.045, 95% CI: 1.355-3.086, P = 0.001) and PFS (HR: 1.466, 95% CI: 1.163-1.848, P = 0.001). Besides, the PIV value was negatively correlated with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Sensitivity analysis showed that the results of this study were reliable and stable.

Conclusions

PIV has a good prognostic value in breast cancer patients and is expected to be a prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.

Predicting the molecular mechanism-driven progression of breast cancer through comprehensive network pharmacology and molecular docking approach

Identification of key regulators is a critical step toward discovering biomarker that participate in BC. A gene expression dataset of breast cancer patients was used to construct a network identifying key regulators in breast cancer. Overexpressed genes were identified with BioXpress, and then curated genes were used to construct the BC interactome network. As a result of selecting the genes with the highest degree from the BC network and tracing them, three of them were identified as novel key regulators, since they were involved at all network levels, thus serving as the backbone. There is some evidence in the literature that these genes are associated with BC. In order to treat BC, drugs that can simultaneously interact with multiple targets are promising. When compared with single-target drugs, multi-target drugs have higher efficacy, improved safety profile, and are easier to administer. The haplotype and LD studies of the FN1 gene revealed that the identified variations rs6707530 and rs1250248 may both cause TB, and endometriosis respectively. Interethnic differences in SNP and haplotype frequencies might explain the unpredictability in association studies and may contribute to predicting the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs using FN1.

Elucidating the roles of the mammary and gut microbiomes in breast cancer development

The mammary microbiome is a newly characterized bacterial niche that might offer biological insight into the development of breast cancer. Together with in-depth analysis of the gut microbiome in breast cancer, current evidence using next-generation sequencing and metabolic profiling suggests compositional and functional shifts in microbial consortia are associated with breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the fundamental studies that have progressed this important area of research, focusing on the roles of both the mammary tissue microbiome and the gut microbiome. From the literature, we identified the following major conclusions, (I) There are unique breast and gut microbial signatures (both compositional and functional) that are associated with breast cancer, (II) breast and gut microbiome compositional and breast functional dysbiosis represent potential early events of breast tumor development, (III) specific breast and gut microbes confer host immune responses that can combat breast tumor development and progression, and (IV) chemotherapies alter the microbiome and thus maintenance of a eubiotic microbiome may be key in breast cancer treatment. As the field expectantly advances, it is necessary for the role of the microbiome to continue to be elucidated using multi-omic approaches and translational animal models in order to improve predictive, preventive, and therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.

Combining Molecular and Radiomic Features for Risk Assessment in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer risk is highly variable within the population and current research is leading the shift toward personalized medicine. By accurately assessing an individual woman's risk, we can reduce the risk of over/undertreatment by preventing unnecessary procedures or by elevating screening procedures. Breast density measured from conventional mammography has been established as one of the most dominant risk factors for breast cancer; however, it is currently limited by its ability to characterize more complex breast parenchymal patterns that have been shown to provide additional information to strengthen cancer risk models. Molecular factors ranging from high penetrance, or high likelihood that a mutation will show signs and symptoms of the disease, to combinations of gene mutations with low penetrance have shown promise for augmenting risk assessment. Although imaging biomarkers and molecular biomarkers have both individually demonstrated improved performance in risk assessment, few studies have evaluated them together. This review aims to highlight the current state of the art in breast cancer risk assessment using imaging and genetic biomarkers.

Risk Factors for Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws in Bone Metastatic Breast and Prostate Cancer under Zoledronate Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis from 10 Years of Evaluation

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to analyze the risk factors for BRONJ in patients taking zoledronic acid (ZA) for metastatic breast and prostate cancer.

METHODS

For this, a retrospective, quantitative, observational cohort study was conducted using data on adverse effects in the oral cavity in patients during chemotherapy for treatment of solid tumors available in the electronic patient record system of the Haroldo Juaçaba Hospital/Ceará Cancer Institute in the period from 2010, to 2019. Data were tabulated in Excel and exported to SPSS v20.0 software for statistical analysis, with 95% confidence.

RESULTS

Thus, it can be observed that the prevalence of BRONJ in patients under treatment for breast cancer and prostate cancer was <7%, with age <50 years of age (p=0.009), cytotoxic chemotherapy such as methotrexate (p=0.023), paclitaxel (p=0.005), capecitabine (p<0.001), gemcitabine (p=0.007) and bicalutamide (p=0.016), amount of ZA infusions (p<0.001) and hormone therapy (p=0.007), in addition, a slight reduction in survival and increased use of antidepressants (p=0.014) were observed. The reduced overall survival and increased use of antidepressants in patients who developed BRONJ, reinforcing the need for further research to study the mechanisms involved in the unconventional risk factors for BRONJ.

CONCLUSION

Thus, increasing the attention to these patients to prevent this condition from compromising the prognosis of these individuals.

Hemophilus influenzae Infection's Association With Decreased Risk of Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

Hemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) is a common cause of widespread bacterial infections and has been associated with the stabilization of the microbiome. The microbiome, through modulating systemic inflammation with possible upregulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, may potentiate the development of breast cancer (BC). The purpose of this study was to therefore evaluate the correlation between previous H. influenzae infection and the incidence of BC.

METHODS

A large national database was used to collect International Classification of Disease Ninth and Tenth Codes to evaluate the incidence of BC between January 2010 and December 2019 in patients with and without H. influenzae history. A retrospective cohort study was performed where these groups of individuals were matched by age range, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and antibiotic treatment exposure. Significance and relative risk were obtained using standard statistical procedures.

RESULTS

A total of 13,599 patients were matched by age range and CCI in both the experimental and control groups. BC incidence was 259 (1.905%) in the H. influenzae group compared to 686 (5.044%) in the control group (P < 2.2 × 10-16; odds ratio (OR) = 0.604, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.553 - 0.660). Matching by antibiotic treatment exposure resulted in two groups of 3,189 patients, in which BC incidence was 98 (3.073 %) in the H. influenzae group compared to 171 (5.362%) in the control group (P < 2.2 × 10-16; OR = 0.584, 95% CI: 0.515 - 0.661).

CONCLUSION

The study shows a statistically significant correlation between H. influenzae and a reduced incidence of BC. These results warrant further research regarding H. influenzae's role in upregulating the NLRP3 inflammasome and its potential role in BC prevention and treatment.

A Concise Review on Natural Products and Their Derivatives for Breast Cancer Treatment

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Among other cancers, breast cancer has been found to produce maximum number of cases in 2020. Different factors including geographical, genetic, hormonal, oral contraceptives and modern lifestyle could be responsible for the development of breast cancer and different pathways can be targeted for breast cancer treatment. The various conventional approaches used for the treatment of breast cancer including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone and immunotherapy. But due to the side effects associated with these conventional treatments such as non-selectivity, multidrug resistance and bioavailability, there is a need for the development of better therapeutic agents for breast cancer treatment. Several natural products have been explored for breast cancer treatment. However, many of these natural products suffered from the limitations of poor water solubility and possess toxic side effects. To overcome these limitations, several structural analogs of natural products have been synthesized and possess potent anti-breast cancer effects with less side effects over their precursor molecules. In the present manuscript, we describe the pathogenesis of breast cancer, some potent natural products used in the treatment of breast cancer and their selected structural analogs possessing potent anti-breast cancer effects. Database such as Science direct, Pubmed and Google scholar were searched using keywords 'risk factors', 'screening methods','receptors', and 'natural products and derivatives', Registered clinical trials on selected natural products were also analyzed. Present study concludes that eight selected natural products and their derivatives possess wide potential to exhibit anti-breast cancer effects and could be explored further to develop better chemotherapeutic agents against breast cancer.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of breast cancer risks in relation to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals that may cause breast cancer. However, there lacks consistent research on the association between TCDD, PFAS exposure, and breast cancer. To this end, a meta-analysis was carried out in this review to explore the relationship between these two endocrine disruptors and breast cancer. Relevant literature was searched from 5 databases: Medline, Scopus, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled by fixed-effects and random-effects meta-analysis models. A total of 17 publications were finally included for quantitative evaluation. Meta-analysis showed that TCDD (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.89-1.12, I2 = 39.3%, P = 0.144), PFOA (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.84-1.38, I2 = 85.9%, P < 0.001), PFOS (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.95-1.08, I2 = 65.7%, P < 0.001), PFNA (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.67-1.19, I2 = 74.4%, P < 0.001), and PFHxS (OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.72-1.13, I2 = 74%, P < 0.001) were not significantly correlated with breast cancer. Internal exposure, however, showed a significant positive correlation between TCDD and BC (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.23-6.59, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.882). No statistically significant association between TCDD, PFAS exposure, and breast cancer was observed in this meta-analysis.

Epidemiology and clinicopathologic features of breast cancer in China and the United States

Background

Breast cancer has kept increasing since the past decades and the incidence rate is the highest among all neoplasms nowadays. China, as well as other countries, faces severe burden from the increasing population with breast cancer. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiology and clinicopathologic features of breast cancer in China and the United States (US).

Methods

Data of hospitalized patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2014 in the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CHCAMS) were reviewed. Clinical and demographic data were extracted from medical history systems, and the sixteen-year trends were analyzed. Meanwhile, retrieved data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 1999 to 2014 were used for comparisons.

Results

A total of 18,768 breast cancer patients were included from CHCAMS, China, with 18,685 female cases (99.57%) and 81 male cases (0.43%). A total of 762,954 breast cancer patients were included from the SEER database, US, with 757,357 female cases (99.27%) and 5,597 male cases (0.73%). The peak age of breast cancer was 45-49 years old from 1999 to 2014 in China, while the peak age was 55-59 years from 1999 to 2006 and 60-64 years from 2007 to 2014 in the US. There were more young (<35 years, 6.56% vs. 1.97%, P<0.001), less elderly (≥65 years, 9.99% vs. 40.88%, P<0.001), less stage I (24.93% vs. 48.84%, P<0.001) and more stage III (21.00% vs. 12.35%, P<0.001) breast cancer patients in China than in the US. Patients aged 30-49 years old had a decreased trend (P<0.001), while 55-64 years old patients had an increased trend (P<0.001) from 1999 to 2014 in China, the same trend was also observed in the US. Mucinous carcinoma and histological grade I breast cancer patients increased with age both in China and the US (P<0.001).

Conclusions

The unique epidemiology and clinicopathologic features of breast cancer (earlier peak age, more younger patients, more advanced stage, etc.), as well as the typical trend in China, should be seriously recognized, so as to guide future prevention and management strategies.

Biomarkers derived from CmP signal network in triple negative breast cancers

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women, accounting for approximately 30% of all new cancer cases. The prognosis of breast cancer heavily depends on the stage of diagnosis, with early detection resulting in higher survival rates. Various risk factors, including family history, alcohol consumption and hormone exposure, contribute to breast cancer development. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), characterized by the absence of certain receptors, is particularly aggressive and heterogeneous. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), abnormal dilations of small blood vessels in the brain, is contributed by mutated genes like CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3 through the perturbed formation of the CCM signaling complex (CSC). The CSC-non-classic membrane progesterone receptors (mPRs)-progesterone (PRG) (CmP)/CSC-mPRs-PRG-classic nuclear progesterone receptors (nPRs) (CmPn) signaling network, which integrates the CSC with mPRs and nPRs, plays a role in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Understanding these pathways can provide insights into potential treatments. This paper focuses on the emerging field of CmPn/CmP signal networks, which involve PRG, its receptors (nPRs and mPRs), and the CSC. These networks play a role in tumorigenesis, particularly in TNBCs. Aims to deliver a thorough examination of the CmP/CmPn pathways concerning TNBCs, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of these pathways, explores their applications and highlights their significance in the context of TNBCs.

Role of EGFR and FASN in breast cancer progression

Breast cancer (BC) emerged as one of the life-threatening diseases among females. Despite notable improvements made in cancer detection and treatment worldwide, according to GLOBACAN 2020, BC is the fifth leading cancer, with an estimated 1 in 6 cancer deaths, in a majority of countries. However, the exact cause that leads to BC progression still needs to be determined. Here, we reviewed the role of two novel biomarkers responsible for 50-70% of BC progression. The first one is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which belongs to the ErbB tyrosine kinases family, signalling pathways associated with it play a significant role in regulating cell proliferation and division. Another one is fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme responsible for the de novo lipid synthesis required for cancer cell development. This review presents a rationale for the EGFR-mediated pathways, their interaction with FASN, communion of these two biomarkers with BC, and improvements to overcome drug resistance caused by them.

Mutations in Structural Genes of the Mitochondrial Complex IV May Influence Breast Cancer

Although it has gained more attention in recent years, the relationship between breast cancer (BC) and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is still not well understood. Importantly, Complex IV or Cytochrome C Oxidase (COX) of OXPHOS is one of the key players in mitochondrial balance. An in silico investigation of mutations in structural genes of Complex IV was conducted in BC, comprising 2107 samples. Our findings show four variants (rs267606614, rs753969142, rs199476128 and rs267606884) with significant pathogenic potential. Moreover, we highlight nine genes (MT-CO1, MT-CO2, MT-CO3, CO4I2, COX5A, COX5B, COX6A2, COX6C and COX7B2) with a potential impact on BC.

Evaluation of Serum Fructosamine as Diagnostic Marker of Postoperative Recurrence in the Patients with Breast Cancer

Objectives

A series of laboratory parameters were screened to identify the proper serum markers that could be used to predict breast cancer recurrence at an early stage.

Methods

A case-control retrospective study on 224 patients without postoperative recurrence and 43 patients with postoperative recurrence of breast cancer was performed. The edgeR software package was used to identify the test indicators expressed differently between the two groups. Univariate analysis was used to screen for diagnostic marker that could predict postoperative recurrence of breast cancer. In addition, the differential test indicators at different time points from surgery to recurrence were collected in patients with postoperative recurrence of breast cancer as a verification database.

Results

We screened out three test indicators (TBA, GSP, and URBC) for differential expression, which were all expressed downregulated in the postoperative recurrence group of breast cancer. Univariate analysis suggested that only the difference in GSP levels between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of GSP was 0.662, while the area under the curve of GSP+AFP+CEA+CA125+CA153+age was increased to 0.828. In addition, serum GSP levels were significantly reduced after recurrence compared with before recurrence in breast cancer patients (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

In summary, GSP could be used for early diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence after surgery, and the predicted value of combining GSP, tumor markers, and age was better than that of individual indicators.

Effectiveness of physical exercise programmes in reducing complications associated with secondary lymphoedema to breast cancer: a protocol for an overview of systematic reviews

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer-related lymphoedema (BCRL) is one of the most underestimated and debilitating complications associated with the treatment that women with breast cancer receive. Several systematic reviews (SRs) of different physical exercise programmes have been published, presenting disperse and contradictory clinical results. Therefore, there is a need for access to the best available and summarised evidence to capture and evaluate all the physical exercise programmes that focus on reducing BCRL.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of different physical exercise programmes in reducing the volume of lymphoedema, pain intensity and improving quality of life.

METHOD AND ANALYSIS

The protocol of this overview is reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols, and its methodology is based on Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Only those SRs involving physical exercise by patients with BCRL will be included, whether on its own or combined with other exercises or other physical therapy interventions.The outcomes of interest to be considered will be lymphoedema volume, quality of life, pain intensity, grip strength, range of motion, upper limb function and any adverse event. The MEDLINE/PubMed, Lilacs, Cochrane Library, PEDro and Embase databases will be searched for reports published from database inception to April 2023.Two researchers will perform study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment independently. Any discrepancy will be resolved by consensus, or ultimately, by a third-party reviewer. We will use Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System to assess the overall quality of the body of evidence.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The results of this overview will be published in peer-reviewed scholarly journals and the scientific dissemination will take place in national or international conferences. This study does not require approval from an ethics committee, as it does not directly collect information from patients.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022334433.

Hesperetin effect on MLH1 and MSH2 expression on breast cancer cells BT-549

Due to its genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, breast cancer is very difficult to eliminate. The harmful consequences of conventional therapies like radiation and chemotherapy have prompted the search for organic-based alternatives. Hesperetin (HSP), a flavonoid, has been discovered to possess the ability to hinder the proliferation of cell associated with breast cancer by acting as an epigenetic agent and modifying gene expression. In this investigation, breast cancer cells (BT-549) and normal cells (MCF-10a) were subjected to the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) test and three different doses (200, 400, and 600 μM/mL) of HSP for real-time polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry to examine its cytotoxic and anti-malignant potential. HSP was shown to be cytotoxic to both normal and breast cancer cells, but had a more pronounced effect on the cancer cell lines. After 48 h of treatment, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for BT-549 was 279.2 μM/mL, whereas the IC50 for MCF-10a was 855.4 μM/mL. At high HSP concentrations, upregulation of the MLH1 and MSH2 genes was observed in both cell lines. The influence of HSP on MLH1 gene expression was concentration dependent. Moreover, HSP had a concentration-dependent effect on MSH2 gene expression in the BT-549 cell line but not in the MCF-10a cell line. Cell death and early apoptosis were shown to be concentration dependent upon the application of HSP, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. HSP's capacity to cause apoptosis and its stronger impact on the malignant cell line when analyzed with the normal cell line imply that it might be useful as an effective therapeutic approach for combating breast cancer.

A randomized, single-blind, single-dose, parallel-group study in healthy subjects to demonstrate the pharmacokinetic equivalence of trastuzumab and its biosimilar

BACKGROUND

Trastuzumab is a humanized anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody used in the treatment of breast cancer. This study compared the pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity and safety of trastuzumab (Roche Pharma AG) and its biosimilar (Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd) in healthy Chinese subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A randomized, parallel, double-blind, single-dose study was conducted. Healthy male subjects were randomized to receive trastuzumab (n = 43) or its biosimilar (n = 43) intravenously at a dose of 4 mg. Plasma drug concentrations were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and PK parameters were statistically analyzed. Safety and immunogenicity were also evaluated.

RESULTS

The geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of AUC0-t, Cmax and AUC0-∞ for trastuzumab and its biosimilar were 92.3%, 100.77% and 92.2%, respectively. The 90% CIs were all within 80%-125%, meeting the bioequivalence standards. No serious adverse events or immunogenicity were reported, and all the adverse events reported were mild and similar between the two treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Trastuzumab was well tolerated, showed a similar safety profile to its biosimilar, and demonstrated PK equivalence.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered at the [anonymized].

Lifestyle Quality Indices and Female Breast Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Breast cancer (BC) poses an important burden of disease, which probably could be reduced by adopting healthy lifestyles like healthy body weight, healthy diet, and physical activity, among others. Many studies have reported that adherence to healthy lifestyles may decrease BC risk. The main objective of this study was to estimate a summary association of studies evaluating a healthy lifestyle index and BC risk. A systematic review and meta-analysis following the Cochrane methodology were carried out. Observational studies, including healthy lifestyle indices and their association with BC, were searched from 4 databases. For the meta-analysis, random-effects model was used to evaluate overall BC risk, BC by molecular subtype and menopausal status. Thirty-one studies were included in the systematic review, and 29 studies in the meta-analysis. When the highest vs. the lowest category to a healthy lifestyle index were compared, the study identified a 20% risk reduction for BC in prospective studies (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80 95% CI: 0.78, 0.83) and an odds ratio (OR) of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.86) for retrospective studies. The inverse association remained statistically significant when stratified by menopausal status, except for premenopausal BC in prospective studies. Furthermore, an inverse association was found for molecular subtypes estrogen receptor (ER+)/progesterone receptor (PR+): HR = 0.68 (95%CI: 0.63, 0.73), ER+/PR-: HR = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.67, 0.90) and ER-/PR-: HR = 0.77 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.92). Most studies scored at a low risk of bias and a moderate score for the certainty of the evidence. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of BC, regardless of its molecular subtypes, which should be considered a priority to generate recommendations for BC prevention at a population level. International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) ID: CRD42021267759.

Efficacy of Green Synthesized Nanoparticles in Photodynamic Therapy: A Therapeutic Approach

Cancer is a complex and diverse disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. It poses a significant global public health challenge and remains a leading cause of death. The rise in cancer cases and deaths is a significant worry, emphasizing the immediate need for increased awareness, prevention, and treatment measures. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a potential treatment for various types of cancer, including skin, lung, bladder, and oesophageal cancer. A key advantage of PDT is its ability to selectively target cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This is achieved by preferentially accumulating photosensitizing agents (PS) in cancer cells and precisely directing light activation to the tumour site. Consequently, PDT reduces the risk of harming surrounding healthy cells, which is a common drawback of conventional therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The use of medicinal plants for therapeutic purposes has a long history dating back thousands of years and continues to be an integral part of healthcare in many cultures worldwide. Plant extracts and phytochemicals have demonstrated the ability to enhance the effectiveness of PDT by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoting apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells. This natural approach capitalizes on the eco-friendly nature of plant-based photoactive compounds, offering valuable insights for future research. Nanotechnology has also played a pivotal role in medical advancements, particularly in the development of targeted drug delivery systems. Therefore, this review explores the potential of utilizing photosensitizing phytochemicals derived from medicinal plants as a viable source for PDT in the treatment of cancer. The integration of green photodynamic therapy with plant-based compounds holds promise for novel treatment alternatives for various chronic illnesses. By harnessing the scientific potential of plant-based compounds for PDT, we can pave the way for innovative and sustainable treatment strategies.

Breast cancer brain metastasis: from etiology to state-of-the-art modeling

Currently, breast carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy and the main cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The metastasis of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other organs in the body, notably the lungs, bones, brain, and liver, is what causes breast cancer to ultimately be fatal. Brain metastases occur in as many as 30% of patients with advanced breast cancer, and the 1-year survival rate of these patients is around 20%. Many researchers have focused on brain metastasis, but due to its complexities, many aspects of this process are still relatively unclear. To develop and test novel therapies for this fatal condition, pre-clinical models are required that can mimic the biological processes involved in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). The application of many breakthroughs in the area of tissue engineering has resulted in the development of scaffold or matrix-based culture methods that more accurately imitate the original extracellular matrix (ECM) of metastatic tumors. Furthermore, specific cell lines are now being used to create three-dimensional (3D) cultures that can be used to model metastasis. These 3D cultures satisfy the requirement for in vitro methodologies that allow for a more accurate investigation of the molecular pathways as well as a more in-depth examination of the effects of the medication being tested. In this review, we talk about the latest advances in modeling BCBM using cell lines, animals, and tissue engineering methods.

The combination of multi-approach studies to explore the potential therapeutic mechanisms of imidazole derivatives as an MCF-7 inhibitor in therapeutic strategies

Breast cancer covers a large area of research because of its prevalence and high frequency all over the world. This study is based on drug discovery against breast cancer from a series of imidazole derivatives. A 3D-QSAR and activity atlas model was developed by exploring the dataset computationally, using the machine learning process of Flare. The dataset of compounds was divided into active and inactive compounds according to their biological and structural similarity with the reference drug. The obtained PLS regression model provided an acceptable r ² = 0.81 and q² = 0.51. Protein-ligand interactions of active molecules were shown by molecular docking against six potential targets, namely, TTK, HER2, GR, NUDT5, MTHFS, and NQO2. Then, toxicity risk parameters were evaluated for hit compounds. Finally, after all these screening processes, compound C10 was recognized as the best-hit compound. This study identified a new inhibitor C10 against cancer and provided evidence-based knowledge to discover more analogs.

Correlation between daily life aluminium exposure and breast cancer risk: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological data indicate that the role of environmental factors on breast cancer (BC) incidence remains undetermined. Our daily life exposure to aluminium (Al) is suspected to influence BC development. This review proposes a state of the art on the association between Al and BC risk combined with a critical point of view on the subject.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed database using terms related to Al and BC up to November 18, 2022. Reports were eligible if they were cohort or case-control studies or meta-analyses.

FINDINGS

Six studies focused on the relationship between deodorant and antiperspirant use and BC incidence and didn't produce consistent results. Among 13 studies relating Al content in mammary tissues and BC risk, results are not unanimous to validate higher Al content in tumor tissues compared to healthy ones. We detail parameters that could explain this conclusion: the absence of statistical adjustments on BC risk factors in studies, the confusion between deodorant and antiperspirant terms, the non-assessment of global Al exposure, and the focus on Al in mammary tissues whereas a profile of several metals seems more appropriate. The clinical studies are retrospective. They were carried out on small cohorts and without a long follow-up. On the other hand, studies on cell lines have shown the carcinogenic potential of aluminum. Moreover, studies considered BC as a unique group whereas BC is a heterogeneous disease with multiple tumor subtypes determining the tumor aggressiveness.

CONCLUSION

In light of the precautionary principle and based on the data obtained, it is better to avoid antiperspirants that contain Al. Deodorants without aluminum are not implicated in breast cancer, either clinically or fundamentally.

CXC ELR-Positive Chemokines as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers for Breast Cancer Patients

As the most common type of malignant lesison, breast cancer is a leading challenge for clinicians. Currently, diagnosis is based on self-examination and imaging studies that require confirmation by tissue biopsy. However, there are no easily accessible diagnostic tools that can serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers for breast cancer patients. One of the possible candidates for such markers is a group of chemokines that are closely implicated in each stage of tumorigenesis. Many researchers have noted the potential of this molecule group to become tumor markers and have tried to establish their clinical utility. In this work, we summarize the results obtained by scientists on the usefulness of the ELR-positive CXC group of chemokines in ancillary diagnosis of breast cancer.

Breast cancer: the first comparative evaluation of oncobiome composition between males and females

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence suggests that breast microbiota dysbiosis contributes to cancer initiation, progression, prognosis and treatment efficacy. Anyway, available data are referred only to female patients, and studies on males are completely missing. Male breast cancer (MBC) is 70-100 times less frequent, but the mortality rate adjusted to incidence is higher in men than in females. Currently, MBC diagnostic approaches and treatments have generally been extrapolated from the clinical experience gained in women, while few studies focus on characterizing male cancer biology. Taking into account the rising importance of the oncobiome field and the need of MBC targeted studies, we explored the breast cancer oncobiome of male and female patients.

METHODS

16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed in 20 tumor and 20 non-pathological adjacent FFPE breast tissues from male and female patients.

RESULTS

We documented, for the first time, the presence of a sexually dimorphic breast-associated microbiota, here defined as "breast microgenderome". Moreover, the paired analysis of tumor and non-pathological adjacent tissues suggests the presence of a cancer-associated dysbiosis in male patients, with surrounding tissue conserving a healthier microbiome, whereas in female patients, the entire breast tissue is predisposed to cancer development. Finally, the phylum Tenericutes, especially the genera Mesoplasma and Mycobacterium, could to be involved in breast carcinogenesis, in both sexes, deserving further investigation, not only for its role in cancer development but even as potential prognostic biomarker.

CONCLUSIONS

Breast microbiota characterization can enhance the understanding of male breast cancer pathogenesis, being useful for detection of new prognostic biomarkers and development of innovative personalized therapies, remarking the relevant gender differences.

Ribonuclease 1 Enhances Antitumor Immunity against Breast Cancer by Boosting T cell Activation

The secretory enzyme human ribonuclease 1 (RNase1) is involved in innate immunity and anti-inflammation, achieving host defense and anti-cancer effects; however, whether RNase1 contributes to adaptive immune response in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. Here, we established a syngeneic immunocompetent mouse model in breast cancer and demonstrated that ectopic RNase1 expression significantly inhibited tumor progression. Overall changes in immunological profiles in the mouse tumors were analyzed by mass cytometry and showed that the RNase1-expressing tumor cells significantly induced CD4+ Th1 and Th17 cells and natural killer cells and reduced granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells, supporting that RNase1 favors an antitumor TME. Specifically, RNase1 increased expression of T cell activation marker CD69 in a CD4+ T cell subset. Notably, analysis of cancer-killing potential revealed that T cell-mediated antitumor immunity was enhanced by RNase1, which further collaborated with an EGFR-CD3 bispecific antibody to protect against breast cancer cells across molecular subtypes. Our results uncover a tumor-suppressive role of RNase1 through adaptive immune response in breast cancer in vivo and in vitro, providing a potential treatment strategy of combining RNase1 with cancer immunotherapies for immunocompetent patients.

Structural immunoinformatics approach for rational design of a multi-epitope vaccine against triple negative breast cancer

TNBC is a highly malignant breast cancer known for its aggressive behavior affecting young female adults. The standard treatment for TNBC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, which often have significant side effects. Therefore, novel preventive methods are required to combat TNBC effectively. In this study, we utilized immunoinformatics to construct an in-silico vaccine against TNBC using the TRIM25 molecule via the reverse vaccinology method. Four vaccines were designed by generating T and B-cell epitopes linked with four different linkers. The modeled vaccine was docked and the results showed that vaccine-3 exhibited the highest affinity with the immune receptors. The molecular dynamics results revealed that the binding affinity and stability of Vaccine-3 were greater than those of Vaccine 2 complexes. This study has great potential preventive measures for TNBC, and further research is warranted to evaluate its efficacy in preclinical settings. This study presents an innovative preventive strategy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) through immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology to develop an in-silico vaccine. Leveraging these innovative techniques offers a novel avenue for combating the complex challenges associated with TNBC. This approach demonstrates considerable potential as a significant breakthrough in preventive measures for this particularly aggressive and malignant form of breast cancer.