International Journal of Cancer (IJC)

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp A biobank of breast cancer patient-derived organoids shows they match original tumors' traits and drug responses, highlighting their potential in personalized therapy for #BreastCancer 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡ https://lnkd.in/eXEi9-Cw Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Heterogeneity in breast cancer contributes to variations in treatment effectiveness. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have emerged as promising models to predict individualized drug responses, though their applicability to breast cancer remains largely unexplored. Here, the authors established a biobank of breast cancer PDOs to evaluate their feasibility in predicting patient drug response. Experiments demonstrate that the PDOs accurately inherit the histologic and genetic characteristics of the breast tumors from which they are derived. Moreover, drug susceptibility in PDOs corresponded to clinical responses in matched patients. The findings highlight the potential utility of PDOs in guiding personalized therapy for breast cancer patients.

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp   Adipocytes (fat cells) play a role in #TripleNegativeBreastCancer by interacting with tumor cells. The protein SAA1 is key in this process, influencing how adipocytes modify cancer cells   🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡ https://lnkd.in/e4WhCRF3 Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Adipocytes are suspected of playing a role in breast cancer progression, with increasing evidence that adipocytes interact with tumor cells. Potential mechanisms underlying such interactions, however, remain unknown. Here, mechanisms of crosstalk involving adipocytes and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells were investigated in vitro. Experiments identified serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) as a regulator of TNBC cell-induced adipocyte modification. SAA1 expression in human TNBCs was associated with the expression of a cancer-associated adipocyte signature and with aggressive tumor features found to be regulated by adipocytes in cellular models. The findings cast new light on relationships between adipocytes and TNBC progression.

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp   High tumor proliferation is more frequent in women under 50 with #BreastCancer, emphasizing the need for specialized treatment approaches   🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡ https://lnkd.in/eR4XtkVG Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Breast cancers that develop prior to age 40 typically are aggressive and associated with poor prognosis. Whether age-related factors influence the frequency of aggressive clinico-pathologic features in breast cancer, however, remains unknown. In this population-based study, the authors investigated age-related tumor biology in breast cancer, particularly the role of tumor proliferation. Aggressive tumor features, including increased proliferation determined by Ki67 staining, were more frequent among patients under age 50, relative to older patients. Prognostic Ki67 values were also weaker among younger patients. The findings suggest that younger breast cancer patients have unique biological characteristics related to tumor aggressiveness.

NOW ONLINE Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is linked to an increased risk of serous, but not mucinous, borderline ovarian tumors (BOT). The risk rises with multiple PID episodes, suggesting infections in the fallopian tubes may elevate serous BOT risk 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gfrJeYaU Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has been linked to tubo-ovarian carcinoma, but its association with borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) is less understood. This population-based case-control study using Swedish national registers found PID, diagnosed prior to BOT, was associated with serous, but not mucinous, BOT. A significant trend indicated a higher risk of BOT with increasing number of PID episodes. These findings suggest infections of the fallopian tube and surrounding tissue may elevate serous BOT risk.

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp   New gene panel could predict #BreastCancer recurrence after surgery by detecting key genetic changes in healthy tissue 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡ https://lnkd.in/eUNQzUeF Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Patients who undergo breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer have a significant risk of recurrence if the healthy tissue left behind harbors cancer-predisposing alterations. Here, the authors use a custom-made gene panel, to potentially identify the risk of recurrence by detecting such alterations. The authors investigated the gene expression in tumor samples, paired non-cancerous tissue samples, and healthy mammary tissue samples from control individuals. The gene expression signature that emerged was associated with disruptions in estrogen signaling, cell adhesion, and epithelial integrity, as well as increased mortality.

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp   Resistance to CDK4/6 inhibitors and endocrine therapy may be driven by gene copy gains, not mutations in #BreastCancer. Tracking ctDNA could spot progression sooner 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡ https://lnkd.in/ewinxMNv Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) This study indicates that pathogenic mutations potentially associated with resistance to combined cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibition (CDK4/6i) and endocrine therapy are rare in tumors and ctDNA upon disease progression. In contrast, copy number gains in growth-regulating genes are frequent at progression on combined CDK4/6i and endocrine therapy and could be involved in the resistance mechanisms. PIK3CA or private, patient-specific mutation dynamics in longitudinal ctDNA samples allows monitoring of response to combined CDK4/6i and endocrine therapy and often detects disease progression earlier than imaging.

Congratulations to Dr Pat Bowden and the TRANSFORM trial team who recently published the five-year results of the trial in the International Journal of Cancer (IJC). The TRANSFORM trial found that stereotactic radiation therapy for metastatic prostate cancer can delay more toxic forms of treatment for more than five years for many patients. Standard treatment options for men living with metastatic prostate cancer include hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which often have significant negative side effects that impact a patient’s quality of life. Icon Cancer Centre Radiation Oncologist and Principal Investigator of the TRANSFORM trial, Dr Bowden (pictured below right in today's edition of The Australian newspaper) says there are no notable toxicities associated with stereotactic radiation therapy. The TRANSFORM trial is supported by Icon Cancer Foundation, the not-for-profit charity that raises funds to support Icon Cancer Centre’s network of doctors and healthcare professionals to do vital independent research. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gBBtXWwq #prostatecancer #prostatecancerresearch #cancerresearch #clinicaltrial

NOW ONLINE New study links genetic variants in BID and TP63 to #PancreaticCancer risk, highlighting #autophagy 's role in this deadly disease 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gfhFUDW8 The etiology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), among the most aggressive and deadliest cancers worldwide, remains largely unknown. Here, using data from cohorts of European ancestry, the authors investigated the influence on PDAC risk of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with autophagy. Analyses identified multiple SNPs associated with PDAC risk, including variants within BID and TP63. Variants in BID potentially dysregulate BID-dependent autophagy, while those in TP63 may influence PDAC risk by modulating levels of T regulatory cells involved in host immune responses against tumor cells. The variants warrant further study to better elucidate their involvement in PDAC.

#BCAM2024 Virtual Issue|📌 https://lnkd.in/edCydurp   Factors like age, race, and ethnicity affect the risk of delays in starting chemotherapy for #BreastCancer leading to worse outcomes   🔓 FREE to read until 31.10! ➡ https://lnkd.in/eWKZkzvh Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Delays between chemotherapy initiation and surgical resection of breast cancer are associated with worse outcomes than timely chemotherapy. The degree to which clinical and sociodemo-graphic factors impact the risk of delayed chemotherapy is unknown. Here, factors potentially linked to chemotherapy timing were investigated among women treated with adjuvant chemo-therapy for stage I–IIIA breast cancer. Delays were least likely to occur for women at highest risk of progression and recurrence. Factors such as advancing age and race or ethnicity, however, were associated with increased likelihood of delays. The findings can inform strategies aimed at improving timely chemotherapy for breast cancer patients.

NOW ONLINE New study shows that targeting the 14-3-3σ protein may boost chemotherapy response in #ColorectalCancer 🔓 OPEN ACCESS ➡️ https://lnkd.in/esDSuRYt 14-3-3σ functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer and is associated with therapy resistance. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, the authors show that 14-3-3σ restricts the localization of the transcription factor YY1 to the cytoplasm, preventing it from repressing genes of the unfolded protein response pathway. Loss of 14-3-3σ leads to repression of unfolded protein response pathway genes, resulting in decreased tumor progression and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy. Resistance of tumors with high 14-3-3σ levels could be prevented by unfolded protein response pathway inhibitors, some of which are already in clinical trials.