Article
Oncology
Shadi Azam, Mikael Eriksson, Arvid Sjolander, Marike Gabrielson, Roxanna Hellgren, Kamila Czene, Per Hall
Summary: The study revealed that mammographic microcalcification clusters are an independent risk factor for breast cancer, with a higher estimated risk in premenopausal women. For postmenopausal women, microcalcification clusters and mammographic density have a similar influence on breast cancer risk, and there is no interaction between the two factors.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Ellie Darcey, Nina McCarthy, Eric K. Moses, Christobel Saunders, Gemma Cadby, Jennifer Stone
Summary: This study systematically assessed mammographic breast density as an endophenotype for breast cancer and confirmed its association with disease risk and heritability in two independent samples.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Shivaji D. Pawar, Kamal K. Sharma, Suhas G. Sapate, Geetanjali Y. Yadav, Roobaea Alroobaea, Sabah M. Alzahrani, Mustapha Hedabou
Summary: This article proposes an artificial intelligence-based mammographic breast density classifier to assist radiologists in distinguishing Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System categories. By utilizing a multichannel DenseNet architecture to extract significant features from digital mammograms, the proposed classifier demonstrates good performance in testing.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Sara P. Lester, Aparna S. Kaur, Suneela Vegunta
Summary: This review examines emerging evidence for the association of modifiable factors on mammographic breast density (MBD) and the influence of MBD on breast cancer risk, recommending that patients be counseled on modifiable risk factors to tailor breast cancer prevention strategies.
Article
Oncology
Felix Heindl, Peter A. Fasching, Alexander Hein, Carolin C. Hack, Katharina Heusinger, Paul Gass, Patrik Poeschke, Frederik A. Stuebs, Rudiger Schulz-Wendtland, Arndt Hartmann, Ramona Erber, Matthias W. Beckmann, Julia Meyer, Lothar Haeberle, Sebastian M. Jud, Julius Emons
Summary: The study investigated the association between percentage mammographic density (PMD) and disease-free or overall survival in primary breast cancer patients. After adjusting for various factors including age, no significant impact of PMD on survival was found in the patients.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
John Heine, Erin Fowler, Christopher G. Scott, Matthew R. Jensen, John Shepherd, Carrie B. Hruska, Stacey J. Winham, Kathleen R. Brandt, Fang F. Wu, Aaron D. Norman, Vernon S. Pankratz, Diana L. Miglioretti, Karla Kerlikowske, Celine M. Vachon
Summary: The study found that variation measures derived from mammograms were significantly associated with breast cancer risk, showing similar associations in an independent population. These measures were strongly correlated with volumetric density measures but not with dense volume measures.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ROENTGENOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Gordon P. Watt, Julia A. Knight, Christine Lin, Charles F. Lynch, Kathleen E. Malone, Esther M. John, Leslie Bernstein, Jennifer D. Brooks, Anne S. Reiner, Xiaolin Liang, Meghan Woods, Tuong L. Nguyen, John L. Hopper, Malcolm C. Pike, Jonine L. Bernstein
Summary: The study found that mammographic texture features are associated with the risk of contralateral breast cancer, supporting the potential use of texture features for assessing CBC risk in breast cancer survivors. Adjusting for mammographic density and confounders, the texture risk score was positively correlated with the risk of CBC.
Review
Virology
Pankaj Sharma, Divya Kapoor, Deepak Shukla
Summary: This article discusses the role of HPSE and SDC-1 as newly identified host factors that facilitate HSV-1 release during infection.
Article
Oncology
Li Sturesdotter, Anna-Maria Larsson, Sophia Zackrisson, Hanna Sartor
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between breast cancer-specific survival and mammographic breast density and mammographic tumor appearances. The results showed that high breast density did not significantly impact breast cancer-specific survival. Furthermore, tumor appearance also did not affect breast cancer-specific survival in the long term follow-up.
Review
Oncology
F. T. H. Bodewes, A. A. van Asselt, M. D. Dorrius, M. J. W. Greuter, G. H. de Bock
Summary: Mammographic breast density is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, and extremely dense breast tissue increases the risk. The use of digital mammography and BI-RADS lexicon 5th edition provides a novel and lower risk estimate.
Review
Oncology
Maddison Archer, Pallave Dasari, Andreas Evdokiou, Wendy V. Ingman
Summary: Primary prevention strategies are crucial in combating the rising global burden of breast cancer. Breast density, a significant independent risk factor for breast cancer, presents an exciting potential target for reducing incidence. Further research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms underlying high breast density and potentially develop new prevention strategies, with a focus on immune system factors that may play a role in this process.
Article
Oncology
Tuong L. Nguyen, Shuai Li, James G. Dowty, Gillian S. Dite, Zhoufeng Ye, Tu Nguyen-Dumont, Ho N. Trinh, Christopher F. Evans, Maxine Tan, Joohon Sung, Mark A. Jenkins, Graham G. Giles, Melissa C. Southey, John L. Hopper
Summary: This study measured the correlation and contribution of genetic factors to breast cancer risk scores in 593 monozygotic and 326 dizygotic female twin pairs, as well as 1592 sisters. The results showed that genetic factors have a significant impact on risk scores and explain the familial aggregation of breast cancer.
Article
Oncology
Soyeoun Kim, Thi Xuan Mai Tran, Huiyeon Song, Boyoung Park
Summary: Breast density and microcalcifications are associated with breast cancer risk. The study shows that microcalcification is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, and its risk is elevated when combined with breast density.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Oncology
M. Pizzato, G. Carioli, S. Rosso, R. Zanetti, C. La Vecchia
Summary: The study found an association between low breast density and moderately-poorly differentiated breast tumors.
CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Geffen Kleinstern, Christopher G. Scott, Rulla M. Tamimi, Matthew R. Jensen, V. Shane Pankratz, Kimberly A. Bertrand, Aaron D. Norman, Daniel W. Visscher, Fergus J. Couch, Kathleen Brandt, John Shepherd, Fang-Fang Wu, Yunn-Yi Chen, Steven R. Cummings, Stacey Winham, Karla Kerlikowske, Celine M. Vachon
Summary: The study found that mammographic density measures were associated with the risk of all intrinsic molecular subtypes of breast cancer, but significant interactions between age and density measures may have implications for subtype-specific risk models.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH AND TREATMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Michela Parafioriti, Minghong Ni, Maurice Petitou, Courtney J. Mycroft-West, Timothy R. Rudd, Neha S. Gandhi, Vito Ferro, Jeremy E. Turnbull, Marcelo A. Lima, Mark A. Skidmore, David G. Fernig, Edwin A. Yates, Antonella Bisio, Marco Guerrini, Stefano Elli
Summary: The infection of host cells by SARS-CoV-2 involves the recognition of cell surface heparan sulfate by the virus spike protein, leading to viral-cell membrane fusion. Ligand-based NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics were used to investigate the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and heparan sulfate, revealing different binding modes and potential binding sites. This study suggests that diverse heparan sulfate structures may be more effective as inhibitors.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sofia Vuorinen, Rachel K. Okolicsanyi, Martina Gyimesi, Jacob Meyjes-Brown, Deepa Saini, Son H. Pham, Lyn R. Griffiths, Larisa M. Haupt
Summary: Breast cancer is a complex disease, and approximately 20,000 women in Australia were diagnosed with the disease in 2021. Research has identified that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in specific genes may influence the development and progression of breast cancer, providing potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and personalized treatment.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Maria K. Koch, Akhilandeshwari Ravichandran, Berline Murekatete, Julien Clegg, Mary Teresa Joseph, Madison Hampson, Mitchell Jenkinson, Hannah S. Bauer, Cameron Snell, Cheng Liu, Madeline Gough, Erik W. Thompson, Carsten Werner, Dietmar W. Hutmacher, Larisa M. Haupt, Laura J. Bray
Summary: Breast cancer is a complex and dynamic disease, and the leading cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. Evaluation of breast cancer heterogeneity is crucial for identifying new treatment strategies. A new ex vivo culture model using poly(ethylene glycol) and maleimide-functionalized heparin hydrogels is presented, which allows for the culture of human mammary tissue for up to 3 weeks and maintains the tissue structure and phenotype. The model is relevant for testing therapeutic interventions and highlights the importance of donor-to-donor variability and tissue heterogeneity.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sarah Voisin, Kirsten Seale, Macsue Jacques, Shanie Landen, Nicholas R. Harvey, Larisa M. Haupt, Lyn R. Griffiths, Kevin J. Ashton, Vernon G. Coffey, Jamie-Lee M. Thompson, Thomas M. Doering, Malene E. Lindholm, Colum Walsh, Gareth Davison, Rachelle Irwin, Catherine McBride, Ola Hansson, Olof Asplund, Aino E. Heikkinen, Paivi Piirila, Kirsi H. Pietilainen, Miina Ollikainen, Sara Blocquiaux, Martine Thomis, Coletta K. Dawn, Adam P. Sharples, Nir Eynon
Summary: Exercise training can prevent age-related decline in muscle function by targeting epigenetic aging. A meta-analysis of human skeletal muscle samples revealed that individuals with higher aerobic fitness have younger epigenetic and transcriptomic profiles. Exercise training can shift these profiles towards a younger state, while muscle disuse leads to aging of the transcriptome. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights for future studies on optimizing longevity through the combination of therapeutics and exercise regimes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Son H. Pham, Sofia I. Vuorinen, K. M. Taufiqul Arif, Lyn R. Griffiths, Rachel K. Okolicsanyi, Larisa M. Haupt
Summary: Despite the use of anti-HER2 therapy, HER2-positive breast cancers remain a challenge in treatment interventions. This study investigated the role of HSPGs in HER2-positive human breast cancer cell lines and found that the HSPG syndecan-4 (SDC4) core protein significantly regulates cell proliferation. In addition, changes in CK19/AKT signaling were identified as mediators of HER2-positive breast cancer cell proliferation. This study highlights the potential of targeting the HSPGs/CK19-AKT axis to inhibit the proliferation of HER2-positive breast cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Charlene Waryah, Joseph Cursons, Momeneh Foroutan, Christian Pflueger, Edina Wang, Ramyar Molania, Anabel Sorolla, Christopher Wallis, Colette Moses, Irina Glas, Leandro Magalhaes, Erik W. Thompson, Liam G. Fearnley, Christine L. Chaffer, Melissa Davis, Anthony T. Papenfuss, Andrew Redfern, Ryan Lister, Manel Esteller, Pilar Blancafort
Summary: This work successfully silenced ZEB1 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) models through CRISPR/dCas9-mediated epigenetic editing, leading to significant tumor inhibition and the discovery of ZEB1-dependent-signature genes. Epigenetic changes, including reactivation and enhanced chromatin accessibility, were observed in cell adhesion loci, indicating a shift towards a more epithelial state. Silencing of ZEB1 also induced heterochromatin expansion, DNA methylation changes, and chromatin modifications in the ZEB1 promoter. This study demonstrated the potential of epigenome-engineering approaches and customizable precision molecular oncology for targeting poor outcome breast cancers.
Review
Oncology
Charlene Waryah, Eric Alves, Roberta Mazzieri, Riccardo Dolcetti, Erik W. Thompson, Andrew Redfern, Pilar Blancafort
Summary: The article reviews the importance of epithelial plasticity in cancer development, discussing the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer metastasis, drug resistance, etc., and introduces the related regulatory factors and treatment strategies.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Paul J. J. Dunn, Rodney A. A. Lea, Neven Maksemous, Robert A. A. Smith, Heidi G. G. Sutherland, Larisa M. M. Haupt, Lyn R. R. Griffiths
Summary: CADASIL is a disease caused by mutations in NOTCH3, resulting in recurrent strokes, vascular dementia, and migraines. The molecular mechanisms underlying CADASIL pathology are not well understood. Whole exome sequencing identified novel genetic variants in CADASIL-like cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD), and analysis revealed overrepresentation of cell-cell adhesion genes and the involvement of 15 novel candidate genes in CADASIL-related pathology.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Kerina J. Denny, Rodney A. Lea, Ross Lindell-Innes, Larisa M. Haupt, Aaron J. Heffernan, Nicholas R. Harvey, Oliver Hughes, Van T. Cao, Janine Stuart, David L. Paterson, John F. McNamara, Jacobus P. J. Ungerer, Carel J. Pretorius, Lyn R. Griffiths, Jeffrey Lipman
Summary: This study aimed to identify a gene signature that can discriminate between sepsis and aseptic inflammation in ICU patients receiving antibiotics, and compare it to commonly used sepsis biomarkers. Through retrospective diagnosis of 91 patients on antibiotics, 53 differentially expressed genes were identified that accurately distinguished between blood culture positive sepsis and aseptic inflammation. This gene signature was validated in a publicly available database and outperformed previously identified sepsis biomarkers.
JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Sugandha Bhatia, Jennifer H. Gunter, Joshua Burgess, Mark N. Adams, Kenneth O'Byrne, Erik W. Thompson, Pascal H. G. Duijf
Summary: Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) is a characteristic of cancer that promotes invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This study shows that non-cancerous human epithelial lung cells can spontaneously shift towards a mesenchymal-like state without genetic changes. This suggests that acquisition of metastasis-associated features may occur prior to genetic alterations and cancerous transformation.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Shanie Landen, Macsue Jacques, Danielle Hiam, Javier Alvarez-Romero, Ralf B. Schittenhelm, Anup D. Shah, Cheng Huang, Joel R. Steele, Nicholas R. Harvey, Larisa M. Haupt, Lyn R. Griffiths, Kevin J. Ashton, Severine Lamon, Sarah Voisin, Nir Eynon
Summary: This study investigated the effects of sex on DNA methylation and protein expression in skeletal muscle following exercise training. The results showed that sex had a significant impact on protein expression changes, but not on DNA methylation changes. Additionally, exercise and endurance training led to a more similar DNA methylation pattern between males and females.
BIOLOGY OF SEX DIFFERENCES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinyong Lin, Dong Li, Changhong Li, Ziqi Zhuang, Chengchao Chu, Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov, Erik W. W. Thompson, Gang Liu, Peiyu Wang
Summary: Cancer cells are more susceptible to oxidative stress and nanomaterials-based therapies that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been effective in eliminating cancer cells. These therapies, including chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, sonodynamic therapy, as well as multi-modal therapies such as combination therapy, have shown significant inhibition of tumor growth. However, the limitations of multi-modal therapy in material preparation and operation protocols hinder its clinical application. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), as a reliable source of ROS, light, and electromagnetic fields, provides a simple alternative for implementing multi-modal treatments. Therefore, the emerging field of tumor precision medicine is expected to benefit from these promising multi-modal therapies based on ROS-generating nanomaterials and reactive media like CAPs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Binjie Li, Tianji Zhang, Hui Cao, Vito Ferro, Jinping Li, Mingjia Yu
Summary: The spike protein on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is crucial for its fusion with host cells, and heparan sulfate facilitates this fusion process. Researchers have developed a pentasaccharide library to disrupt the interaction between heparan sulfate and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein. Molecular modeling and drug-likeness calculations were performed to assess the antiviral properties of the most promising pentasaccharide. The findings provide valuable insights for the development of HS-mimetics as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)