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Liu Y, Bai J, Dong X, Cao Y, Bao M, Lu Y, Zeng H, Zhan L, Guo Y. Online Charge-Generation Derivatization by Electrochemical Radical Cations of Thianthrene: Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Estrogens in Biological Tissues. Anal Chem 2024. [PMID: 39031066 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Estrogens play a significant role in endocrinology and oncology. Although separation methods coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) have emerged as a powerful tool for studying estrogens, imaging the spatial distributions of estrogens is crucial but remains challenging due to its low endogenous concentration and poor ionization efficiency. Charge-generation derivatization, such as N-alkylpyridinium quaternization and S-methyl thioetherification, represents a method wherein neutral molecules involving analytes and derivatization reagents undergo chemical reactions to establish permanent charges directly onto the analytes to improve detection sensitivity. Here, we developed a novel derivatization reagent, thianthrene (TT), which enabled oxidization to radical cations ([TT]•+) using an electrochemical method and completed the online charge-generation derivatization of estrogens on a mass spectrometry imaging platform. In this strategy, [TT]•+ can efficiently and selectively derivatize estrogens via an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction. Results indicated that derivatization with [TT]•+ can significantly enhance imaging sensitivity (3 orders of magnitude), enabling the visualization of estrogen and its metabolites in ovarian and breast tissues. Furthermore, a higher mass intensity of these estrogens was captured in breast para-cancerous tissues than in cancerous tissues, which might provide estrogens spatial dimension information for further research on the initiation and progression of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and National Center for Organic Mass Spectrometry in Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jiahui Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and National Center for Organic Mass Spectrometry in Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiaoxia Dong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuqi Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and National Center for Organic Mass Spectrometry in Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mingmai Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and National Center for Organic Mass Spectrometry in Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yingjie Lu
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- Comprehensive Exposure Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dalian 116600, China
| | - Lixing Zhan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nutrition, Metabolism and Food Safety, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yinlong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Organometallic Chemistry and National Center for Organic Mass Spectrometry in Shanghai, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
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2
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Dochi H, Kondo S, Murata T, Fukuyo M, Nanbo A, Wakae K, Jiang WP, Hamabe-Horiike T, Tanaka M, Nishiuchi T, Mizokami H, Moriyama-Kita M, Kobayashi E, Hirai N, Komori T, Ueno T, Nakanishi Y, Hatano M, Endo K, Sugimoto H, Wakisaka N, Juang SH, Muramatsu M, Kaneda A, Yoshizaki T. Estrogen induces the expression of EBV lytic protein ZEBRA, a marker of poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:2862-2877. [PMID: 35633182 PMCID: PMC9357606 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Several epidemiological studies have suggested that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic infection is essential for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), as elevation of antibody titers against EBV lytic proteins is a common feature of NPC. Although ZEBRA protein is a key trigger for the initiation of lytic infection, whether its expression affects the prognosis and pathogenesis of NPC remains unclear. In this study, 64 NPC biopsy specimens were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. We found that ZEBRA was significantly associated with a worsening of progression-free survival in NPC (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-11.87; P = 0.037). Moreover, ZEBRA expression positively correlated with key endocrinological proteins, estrogen receptor α, and aromatase. The transcriptional level of ZEBRA is activated by estrogen in an estrogen receptor α-dependent manner, resulting in an increase in structural gene expression levels and extracellular virus DNA copy number in NPC cell lines, reminiscent of lytic infection. Interestingly, it did not suppress cellular proliferation or increase apoptosis, in contrast to cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and sodium butyrate, indicating that viral production induced by estrogen is not a cell lytic phenomenon. Our results suggest that intratumoral estrogen overproduced by aromatase could induce ZEBRA expression and EBV reactivation, contributing to the progression of NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirotomo Dochi
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Satoru Kondo
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takayuki Murata
- Department of Virology and Parasitology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masaki Fukuyo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Asuka Nanbo
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Virology, National Research Center for the Control and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kousho Wakae
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Wen-Ping Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Toshihide Hamabe-Horiike
- Center for Biochemical Research and Education, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Mariko Tanaka
- Center for Biochemical Research and Education, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takumi Nishiuchi
- Division of Integrated Omics research, Bioscience Core Facility, Research Center for Experimental Modeling of Human Disease, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Harue Mizokami
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Makiko Moriyama-Kita
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Eiji Kobayashi
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Hirai
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takeshi Komori
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Ueno
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Yosuke Nakanishi
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Miyako Hatano
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Kazuhira Endo
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Hisashi Sugimoto
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Naohiro Wakisaka
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Shin-Hun Juang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Masamichi Muramatsu
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Yoshizaki
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
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Belikov AV, Leonov SV. Cancer types with high numbers of driver events are largely preventable. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12672. [PMID: 35036090 PMCID: PMC8742550 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a long-standing debate on whether cancer is predominantly driven by extrinsic risk factors such as smoking, or by intrinsic processes such as errors in DNA replication. We have previously shown that the number of rate-limiting driver events per tumor can be estimated from the age distribution of cancer incidence using the gamma/Erlang probability distribution. Here, we show that this number strongly correlates with the proportion of cancer cases attributable to modifiable risk factors for all cancer types except the ones inducible by infection or ultraviolet radiation. The correlation was confirmed for three countries, three corresponding incidence databases and risk estimation studies, as well as for both sexes: USA, males (r = 0.80, P = 0.002), females (r = 0.81, P = 0.0003); England, males (r = 0.90, P < 0.0001), females (r = 0.67, P = 0.002); Australia, males (r = 0.90, P = 0.0004), females (r = 0.68, P = 0.01). Hence, this study suggests that the more driver events a cancer type requires, the more of its cases are due to preventable anthropogenic risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey V. Belikov
- Laboratory of Innovative Medicine, School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Sergey V. Leonov
- Laboratory of Innovative Medicine, School of Biological and Medical Physics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow Region, Russia
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Awale S, Dibwe DF, Balachandran C, Fayez S, Feineis D, Lombe BK, Bringmann G. Ancistrolikokine E 3, a 5,8'-Coupled Naphthylisoquinoline Alkaloid, Eliminates the Tolerance of Cancer Cells to Nutrition Starvation by Inhibition of the Akt/mTOR/Autophagy Signaling Pathway. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:2282-2291. [PMID: 30303002 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells are characterized by their ability to proliferate aggressively under hypovascular and hypoxic conditions in the tumor microenvironment, displaying a remarkable tolerance to nutrition starvation. The antiausterity strategy is a new approach in anticancer drug discovery aiming at the identification of potent agents that inhibit preferentially the survival of tumor cells during a limited supply of nutrients and oxygen. The new 5,8'-coupled naphthyldihydroisoquinoline alkaloid ancistrolikokine E3 (4), isolated from the Congolese liana Ancistrocladus likoko, showed potent preferential cytotoxicity against PANC-1 cells under nutrient-deprived conditions, with a PC50 value of 2.5 μM, without exhibiting toxicity in normal, nutrient-rich medium. The compound was found to induce dramatic alterations in cell morphology, leading to cell death. Moreover, it inhibited significantly PANC-1 cell migration and colony formation in a concentration-dependent manner. This study on 4 provides the first live evidence of the effect of a naphthyldihydroisoquinoline alkaloid against PANC-1 cells in nutrient-deprived medium. Mechanistic investigations conducted suggest that compound 4 is a potent inhibitor of the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. Furthermore, it inhibited the expression levels of the key autophagy regulators Atg5, Atg12, Beclin-1, LC3-I, and LC3-II. The results demonstrated that ancistrolikokine E3 (4) is a potent early-stage inhibitor of the autophagy pathway in PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Ancistrolikokine E3 (4) and related naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids are promising potential lead compounds for anticancer drug development based on the antiausterity strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Awale
- Division of Natural Drug Discovery, Institute of Natural Medicine , University of Toyama , 2630 Sugitani , Toyama 930-0194 , Japan
| | - Dya Fita Dibwe
- Division of Natural Drug Discovery, Institute of Natural Medicine , University of Toyama , 2630 Sugitani , Toyama 930-0194 , Japan
| | - Chandrasekar Balachandran
- Division of Natural Drug Discovery, Institute of Natural Medicine , University of Toyama , 2630 Sugitani , Toyama 930-0194 , Japan
| | - Shaimaa Fayez
- Institute of Organic Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg , Germany
| | - Doris Feineis
- Institute of Organic Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg , Germany
| | - Blaise Kimbadi Lombe
- Institute of Organic Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg , Germany
- Faculté des Sciences , Université de Kinshasa , B.P. 202, Kinshasa XI , Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Gerhard Bringmann
- Institute of Organic Chemistry , University of Würzburg , Am Hubland, D-97074 Würzburg , Germany
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5
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Perkins MS, Louw-du Toit R, Africander D. Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer: Emerging Steroid Receptor Mechanisms. J Mol Endocrinol 2018; 61:R133-R160. [PMID: 29899079 DOI: 10.1530/jme-18-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although hormone therapy is widely used by millions of women to relieve symptoms of menopause, it has been associated with several side-effects such as coronary heart disease, stroke and increased invasive breast cancer risk. These side-effects have caused many women to seek alternatives to conventional hormone therapy, including the controversial custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy suggested to not increase breast cancer risk. Historically estrogens and the estrogen receptor were considered the principal factors promoting breast cancer development and progression, however, a role for other members of the steroid receptor family in breast cancer pathogenesis is now evident, with emerging studies revealing an interplay between some steroid receptors. In this review, we discuss examples of hormone therapy used for the relief of menopausal symptoms, highlighting the distinction between conventional hormone therapy and custom-compounded bioidentical hormone therapy. Moreover, we highlight the fact that not all hormones have been evaluated for an association with increased breast cancer risk. We also summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of steroid receptors in mediating the carcinogenic effects of hormones used in menopausal hormone therapy, with special emphasis on the influence of the interplay or crosstalk between steroid receptors. Unraveling the intertwined nature of steroid hormone receptor signaling pathways in breast cancer biology is of utmost importance, considering that breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. Moreover, understanding these mechanisms may reveal novel prevention or treatment options, and lead to the development of new hormone therapies that does not cause increased breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan S Perkins
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Renate Louw-du Toit
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Donita Africander
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
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6
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McNamara KM, Kannai A, Sasano H. Possible roles for glucocorticoid signalling in breast cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 466:38-50. [PMID: 28687451 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of breast cancer biology, and our ability to manipulate breast cancers have grown exponentially in the last 20 years. Much of that expansion has focused on the roles of steroids in driving these neoplasms. Initially this research focused on estrogens and progesterone receptors, and more recently on androgen actions in breast cancers. This review aims to make the case for glucocorticoids as the next essential steroid subclass that contributes significantly to our understanding of steroidogenic regulation of these neoplasms. Glucocorticoids have the potential to play multiple roles in the regulation of breast cancers including their control of cellular differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation. Beyond this they also act as a master integrator of organ homeostats in relation to such as circadian rhythms and stress responses. Therefore a better understanding of glucocorticoids and breast cancer could help to explain some of the epidemiological links between circadian disruption and/or stress and breast cancer development. Finally glucocorticoids are currently used during chemotherapeutic treatment in breast cancer therapy and yet results of various studies suggest that this may have an adverse impact on treatment success. This review aims to summarise the current evidence for glucocorticoids as actors in breast cancer and then suggest future essential approaches in order to determine the roles of glucocorticoids in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely M McNamara
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Ayako Kannai
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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7
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McNamara KM, Guestini F, Sauer T, Touma J, Bukholm IR, Lindstrøm JC, Sasano H, Geisler J. In breast cancer subtypes steroid sulfatase (STS) is associated with less aggressive tumour characteristics. Br J Cancer 2018; 118:1208-1216. [PMID: 29563635 PMCID: PMC5943586 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The majority of breast cancer cases are steroid dependent neoplasms, with hormonal manipulation of either CYP19/aromatase or oestrogen receptor alpha axis being the most common therapy. Alternate pathways of steroid actions are documented, but their interconnections and correlations to BC subtypes and clinical outcome could be further explored. METHODS We evaluated selected steroid receptors (Androgen Receptor, Oestrogen Receptor alpha and Beta, Glucocorticoid Receptor) and oestrogen pathways (steroid sulfatase (STS), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (17βHSD2) and aromatase) in a cohort of 139 BC cases from Norway. Using logistic and cox regression analysis, we examined interactions between these and clinical outcomes such as distant metastasis, local relapse and survival. RESULTS Our principal finding is an impact of STS expression on the risk for distant metastasis (p<0.001) and local relapses (p <0.001), HER2 subtype (p<0.015), and survival (p<0.001). The suggestion of a beneficial effect of alternative oestrogen synthesis pathways was strengthened by inverted, but non-significant findings for 17βHSD2. CONCLUSIONS Increased intratumoural metabolism of oestrogens through STS is associated with significantly lower incidence of relapse and/or distant metastasis and correspondingly improved prognosis. The enrichment of STS in the HER2 overexpressing subtype is intriguing, especially given the possible role of HER-2 over-expression in endocrine resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely M McNamara
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University Japan, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Fouzia Guestini
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University Japan, Sendai, Japan
| | - Torill Sauer
- Department of Pathology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joel Touma
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Breast- and Endocrine Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Ida Rashida Bukholm
- Department of Breast- and Endocrine Surgery, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Jonas C Lindstrøm
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Helse Sør-Øst Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University Japan, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jürgen Geisler
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway
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8
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Groner BL, Hynes NE. Breast Cancer Patients Have Greatly Benefited from the Progress in Molecular Oncology. PLoS Biol 2016; 14:e2000314. [PMID: 27684370 PMCID: PMC5042426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer research has become a global enterprise, and the number of researchers, as well as the cost for their activities, has skyrocketed. The budget for the National Cancer Institute of the United States National Institutes of Health alone was US$5.2 billion in 2015. Since most of the research is funded by public money, it is perfectly legitimate to ask if these large expenses are worth it. In this brief commentary, we recapitulate some of the breakthroughs that mark the history of breast cancer research over the past decades and emphasize the resulting benefits for afflicted women. In 1971, only 40% of women diagnosed with breast cancer would live another 10 years. Today, nearly 80% of women reach that significant milestone in most developed countries. This dramatic change has afforded breast cancer patients many productive years and a better quality of life. Progress resulted largely from advances in the understanding of the molecular details of the disease and their translation into innovative, rationally designed therapies. These developments are founded on the revolution in molecular and cellular biology, an entirely new array of methods and technologies, the enthusiasm, optimism, and diligence of scientists and clinicians, and the considerable funding efforts from public and private sources. We were lucky to be able to spend our productive years in a period of scientific upheaval in which methods and concepts were revolutionized and that allowed us to contribute, within the global scientific community, to the progress in basic science and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd L. Groner
- Georg Speyer Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- * E-mail: (BLG); (NEH)
| | - Nancy E. Hynes
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (BLG); (NEH)
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