Building a virtual summer research experience in cancer for high school and early undergraduate students: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a unique challenge for summer research programs in 2020, particularly for programs aimed at hands-on experience for younger trainees. The Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center supports two pipeline programs, which traditionally immerse high school juniors, seniors, and early undergraduate students from underrepresented populations in science in hands-on projects in cancer biology labs. However, due to social distancing policies during the pandemic and reduction of research operations, these students were not physically allowed on campus. Thus, the authors set out to strategically pivot to a wholly virtual curriculum and evaluate the Virtual Summer Research Experience in Cancer outcomes.

METHODS

The virtual program included four components: 1. a core science and professional development curriculum led by high school teachers and senior undergraduates; 2. faculty-delivered didactic sessions on cancer science; 3. mentored, virtual research projects with research faculty; and 4. online networking events to encourage vertical mentoring. Outcomes data were measured using a locally created 11-item Research Preparation Scale, daily electronic feedback, and weekly structured evaluation and feedback via Zoom.

RESULTS

Outcome data suggested high self-reported satisfaction with the virtual program. Outcome data also revealed the importance of coordination between multiple entities for seamless program implementation. This includes the active recruitment and participation of high school teachers and further investment in information technology capabilities of institutions.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings reveal a path to educate and train high school and early undergraduate students in cancer research when hands-on, in-person training is not feasible. Virtual research experiences are not only useful to engage students during public health crises but can provide an avenue for cancer centers to expand their cancer education footprints to remotely located schools and universities with limited resources to provide such experiences to their students.

Impact of military trauma exposures on posttraumatic stress and depression in female veterans

Previous research has demonstrated the deleterious effects of traumatic military experiences on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression in female veterans. However, more research is needed to identify the unique predictors of distressing psychological symptoms when both combat-related and sexual trauma are considered, particularly as women's combat exposure in the military increases. Female veterans who had attended at least one appointment at a large Veterans Health Administration medical center were invited to complete questionnaires about traumatic military exposures and psychiatric symptoms. A total of 403 veterans responded, with 383 respondents' data used in analyses. Multiple regression analyses were conducted with trauma exposure items entered simultaneously to determine their association with symptoms of (1) PTSD and (2) depression. Sexual assault had the strongest relationship with both posttraumatic and depressive symptoms. Sexual assault, sexual harassment, feeling in danger of being killed, and seeing others killed/injured were associated with symptoms of PTSD, but only sexual assault and sexual harassment were associated with symptoms of depression, even when accounting for several aspects of combat exposure. Improving assessment for trauma exposure and developing treatments personalized to type of trauma experienced are important clinical research priorities as female service members' roles in the military expand.

Genetic determinants of fetal opiate exposure and risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome: Knowledge deficits and prospects for future research

Opiate-dependent pregnant women receive opiate maintenance medications to prevent illicit use and withdrawal. Fetal opiate exposure causes central nervous system (CNS) alterations which manifest as postnatal physical withdrawal. The extensive variability in the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome phenotype remains unexplained and may be related to variability in fetal exposure and response. Improved understanding of functionally significant genetic variants in pathways influencing placental opiate transfer and fetal response can lead to personalized maternal therapy and optimized neonatal outcomes.

Efficacy of three drugs for protecting against gentamicin-induced hair cell and hearing losses

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Exposure to an ototoxic level of an aminoglycoside can result in hearing loss. In this we study investigated the otoprotective efficacy of dexamethasone (DXM), melatonin (MLT) and tacrolimus (TCR) in gentamicin (GM)-treated animals and cultures. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Wistar rats were divided into controls (treated with saline); exposed to GM only (GM); and three GM-exposed groups treated with either DXM, MLT or TCR. Auditory function and cochlear surface preparations were studied. In vitro studies of oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels, the MAPK pathway and caspase-3 activation were performed in organ of Corti explants from 3-day-old rats. KEY RESULTS DXM, MLT and TCR decreased levels of reactive oxygen species in GM-exposed explants. The mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and TNF-receptor type 1 were significantly reduced in GM + DXM and GM + MLT groups. Phospho-p38 MAPK levels decreased in GM + MLT and GM + TCR groups, while JNK phosphorylation was reduced in GM + DXM and GM + MLT groups. Caspase-3 activation decreased in GM + DXM, GM + MLT and GM + TCR groups. These results were consistent with in vivo results. Local treatment of GM-exposed rat cochleae with either DXM, MLT or TCR preserved auditory function and prevented auditory hair cell loss. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS In organ of Corti explants, GM increased oxidative stress and initiated an inflammatory response that led to the activation of MAPKs and apoptosis of hair cells. The three compounds tested demonstrated otoprotective properties that could be beneficial in the treatment of ototoxicity-induced hearing loss.

S3-5: Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Co-Activating Events in the MAPK and P13K/AKT Pathways in Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancers

INTRODUCTION: The clinical application of next generation sequencing to comprehensively characterize groups of driving mutations in individual metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) genomes has the potential to reveal therapeutically relevant pathway dependencies. Towards this end, we harvested tissue from 14 patients with mTNBC and are conducting deep whole genome and transcriptome sequencing for each case to identify mutations that can guide therapeutic targeting within available phase I/II clinical trials.

METHODS: Metastatic tumor tissue was harvested from 14 mTNBC patients, and 7 samples have undergone total genome and transcriptome sequencing with the others currently underway. We are utilizing the Life Technologies SOLiD® system to sequence germline and tumor DNA to sufficient depth to identify somatic genome alterations including point mutations, indels, and structural events including translocations. Furthermore, RNA-seq is being performed on these tumors, along with a series of age- and ethnicity-matched normal breast controls to perform deep differential expression analysis, isoform expression analysis, and fusion transcript detection. Our team of genome scientists and clinical oncologists are evaluating the sequencing findings and are prioritizing the investigational therapeutic options for each patient.

RESULTS: Our whole genome and transcriptome sequencing study has revealed numerous known and novel mutations in mTNBC. However, all patients’ cancers analyzed to date had alterations that would activate the MAPK pathway, but through various mechanisms in different patients. These include BRAF amplification and overexpression, NF1 homozygous deletion, and consistent IQGAP3 overexpression. Furthermore, all patients’ cancers also harbor mutations that would activate the PI3K/AKT pathway including PTEN homozygous deletion or down-regulation, consistent INPP4B down-regulation, FBXW7 homozygous deletion, and ERAS overexpression. Moreover, although we and others show ERBB4 down-regulation in breast tumors, we are the first to report unique somatic genomic events that significantly alter the ERBB4 locus leading to its loss in the majority (5/7) of our patients’ tumors. Importantly, we are beginning to use these insights to prioritize therapeutic targeting and have observed that one chemotherapy-refractory mTNBC patient, with a high-level BRAF amplification/overexpression along with down-regulation of PTEN and INPP4B, had a major response to combined mek plus akt inhibitors on a phase I study.

CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic interrogation of mTNBCs has revealed events supporting co-activation of the MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways in all the tumors albeit by different mutational mechanisms and supports potential effectiveness of combination therapy in the treatment of mTNBC. We plan to treat these patients with combined mek plus akt inhibitors on a new phase I study beginning in August 2011 to determine the effectiveness of co-inhibition of these pathways based on this frequent genomic context.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr S3-5.

Release rates of levonorgestrel from Silastic capsules, homogeneous rods and covered rods in humans

Three forms of subdermal implants containing levonorgestrel are described. These are: capsules, in which the powdered drug is sealed inside of lengths of Medical Grade Silastic tubing; homogeneous rods, in which the drug is uniformly dispersed in Silastic 382 Medical Grade Elastomer; and covered rods, in which a core rod of drug and filler-free polydimethylsiloxane polymer (50:50, Wt:Wt) are sealed inside thin-walled Silastic tubing. Long-term in vivo release rates from human subjects are presented; 6.5 years for capsules, 3.6 years for homogeneous rods and 4 years for covered rods. Sets of six capsules release a decreasing amount of drug through the first few hundred days in situ and after 500 days a fairly constant rate of about 35 micrograms per day is released (2 micrograms/cm). Homogeneous rods deliver a continuously declining amount of drug during the entire time studied. In the first 100 days the release averages 136 micrograms per day from a set of three 3-cm rods (15 micrograms/cm), gradually declining to 30 micrograms per day (3.3 micrograms/cm) from day 800 to day 1300. The covered rods deliver at a constant rate of 17.5 micrograms per day for a 3-cm rod (5.83 micrograms/cm) through 4 years.