Targeting breast cancer stem cells directly to treat refractory breast cancer

Examining the influence of tumor-infiltrating macrophages on breast cancer outcomes and identifying relevant genes for diagnostic purposes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this research was to investigate how different types of immune cells impact the outlook of individuals with breast cancer, as well as identify the essential genes associated with immune cell subtype enrichment.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to obtain global transcriptome sequencing data sets of breast tissue. The study utilized the CIBERSORT algorithm to determine the presence of 22 different types of immune cells in both breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue.Immune cell infiltration content was utilized to conduct univariate COX analysis in order to identify risk factors linked to breast cancer prognosis.

RESULTS

Univariate COX analysis indicates that Macrophages M1 and B cells naive are beneficial factors for the outlook of individuals with breast cancer (P < 0.05), while Macrophages M2 and Monocytes are detrimental factors for the prognosis of breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). The high infiltration group of macrophage M2 had a poorer prognosis compared to the low infiltration group (P < 0.001); Conversely, the high infiltration group of macrophage M1 had a better prognosis than the low infiltration group (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The study provided an overview of immune cell infiltration in breast cancer tissues, identifying macrophage M1 and macrophage M2 as potential factors in breast cancer development and progression. Additionally, genes associated with macrophage phenotype were analyzed, offering insights into macrophage polarization mechanisms.

Construction and in vitro evaluation of pH-sensitive nanoparticles to reverse drug resistance of breast cancer stem cells

Breast cancer is a major threat to safety and health of women. The breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have multi-drug resistance to chemotherapy drugs, which leads to chemotherapy failure. We proposed a strategy of delivery of tumor-killing drugs and a resistance reversal agent, to enhance inhibition of BCSCs. Here, schisandrin B (SchB)/AP NPs are constructed using acid-grafted-poly (β-amino ester) (ATRA-g-PBAE, AP) grafted polymer nanoparticle encapsulated SchB, with pH-sensitive release function. This drug delivery system has good pharmacological properties and can increase the SchB release with the decrease of pH. The NPs showed cytotoxic effects in reversing ATRA resistance to BCSCs. Lysosomal escape was achieved when the nanoparticles were taken up by BCSCs. In addition, we found that NPs may reverse MDR by inhibiting the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and affecting the energy supply of drug efflux. This study provides a nanodelivery therapy strategy that reverses BCSCs multidrug resistance (MDR) and demonstrates that it did so by interfering with cancer cell energy metabolism. Therefore, the co-delivery strategy of ATRA and SchB provides a new option for the treatment of breast cancer.

Exploring the promising potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in cancer research and therapy

The advent of iPSCs has brought about a significant transformation in stem cell research, opening up promising avenues for advancing cancer treatment. The formation of cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. iPSCs offer a distinctive platform for investigating the origin of cancer, paving the way for novel approaches to cancer treatment, drug testing, and tailored medical interventions. This review article will provide an overview of the science behind iPSCs, the current limitations and challenges in iPSC-based cancer therapy, the ethical and social implications, and the comparative analysis with other stem cell types for cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the applications of iPSCs in tumorigenesis, the future of iPSCs in tumorigenesis research, and highlight successful case studies utilizing iPSCs in tumorigenesis research. The conclusion will summarize the advancements made in iPSC-based tumorigenesis research and the importance of continued investment in iPSC research to unlock the full potential of these cells.