Project description:To identify novel molecular targets for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), we have employed whole genome microarray expression profiling. We purified 30 surgically resected breast cancer tissue diagnosed triple negative by means of immunohistochemical staining and 13 normal mammary ductal cells with lasermicrobeam microdissection system (PALM MicroBeam, Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Co., Ltd), performed whole human genome microarray, and compared gene expression levels of TNBC, normal mammary ductal cells, and normal vital organs to develop molecular targets with a minimum risk.
Project description:To identify novel molecular targets for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), we have employed whole genome microarray expression profiling. We purified 30 surgically resected breast cancer tissue diagnosed triple negative by means of immunohistochemical staining and 13 normal mammary ductal cells with lasermicrobeam microdissection system (PALM MicroBeam, Carl Zeiss MicroImaging Co., Ltd), performed whole human genome microarray, and compared gene expression levels of TNBC, normal mammary ductal cells, and normal vital organs to develop molecular targets with a minimum risk. Gene expression levels of 30 TNBC, 13 normal mammary ductal cells, and 4 normal vital tissues were evaluated. to clarify the molecular mechanism involved in TNBC, we analyzed gene expression profiles of 30 TNBC as well as 13 normal epithelial ductal cells purified by laser microbeam microdissection, and identified 301 transcripts that were significantly up-regulated and 321 transcripts that were significantly down-regulated in TNBC. In addition, gene-expression profiles analysis of normal human vital organs including heart, lung, liver, and kidney allowed us to identify 90 cancer-specific genes involved in breast carcinogenesis such as NEK2, PBK, DTL, MELK and GPSM2. Among them, we focused on cell cycle regulators, asp (abnormal spindle) homolog, microcephaly associated (Drosophila) (ASPM) and centromere protein K (CENPK) as novel therapeutic targets for TNBC.
Project description:Twenty-four triple-negative breast cancer and 14 adjacent normal tissues were collected from breast cancer patients during surgeries at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH, Taipei, Taiwan). All triple-negative breast cancer samples were invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and were negative in immunohistochemical statuses of ER, PR, and HER2 receptors, as confirmed by professional pathologists. Treatment procedure of all patients followed the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline. All samples were neoadjuvant-free and were collected before systemic chemotherapy treatments. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients who participated in this study. Using human tissues for research in this study was approved by the institutional review board at NTUH. A novel set of 25-miRNA signature identified in this study was able to effectively distinguish between triple-negative breast cancer and adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, we documented the first evidence of seven polycistronic miRNA clusters preferentially harboring deregulated miRNA genes in triple-negative breast cancer.
Project description:Twenty-four triple-negative breast cancer and 14 adjacent normal tissues were collected from breast cancer patients during surgeries at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH, Taipei, Taiwan). All triple-negative breast cancer samples were invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) and were negative in immunohistochemical statuses of ER, PR, and HER2 receptors, as confirmed by professional pathologists. Treatment procedure of all patients followed the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline. All samples were neoadjuvant-free and were collected before systemic chemotherapy treatments. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients who participated in this study. Using human tissues for research in this study was approved by the institutional review board at NTUH. A novel set of 25-miRNA signature identified in this study was able to effectively distinguish between triple-negative breast cancer and adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, we documented the first evidence of seven polycistronic miRNA clusters preferentially harboring deregulated miRNA genes in triple-negative breast cancer. In the present study, a panel of 24 triple-negative breast cancer and 14 adjacent normal tissue samples were examined for the presence of deregulated miRNA genes using the high-throughput sequencing technology. Total RNA was extracted from the triple-negative breast cancer and adjacent normal samples for preparation of small RNA libraries. Each small RNA library was constructed from total RNA of each sample using the SOLiD Total RNA-Seq Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Upon completion of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, small RNA libraries were purified using the SOLiD Library Micro Column Purification Kit (Applied Biosystems) and hybridized to the template beads using the SOLiD EZ bead system (Applied Biosystems). The template beads were amplified and deposited onto subtract for ligation sequencing by SOLiD 4 System (Applied Biosystems).
Project description:To dissect mechanisms of immune escape during breast tumor progression, we analyzed the composition of leukocytes in normal breast tissues, ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), and HER2+ and triple negative invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC). We found significant tissue and tumor subtype-specific differences in multiple cell types including T cells and neutrophils. Analysis of gene expression profiles of T cells demonstrated enrichment for activated GZMB+MKI67+CD8+ effector T cell signatures in DCIS. TCR clonotypes also showed highest diversity in DCIS. Naïve T cell signatures predominated IDCs, especially triple negative subtypes. TIGIT and PDL1 immune checkpoint proteins showed differential expression between DCIS and IDCs with amplification of CD274 (encoding PDL1) only detected in triple negative IDCs. Our results imply that DCIS progression is limited by an anti-tumor immune response that becomes muted in invasive tumors due to selection for cancer cells and microenvironment that suppress activated T cells or no longer trigger their activation.
Project description:This study identifies progression in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as it progresses towards triple negative invasive breast cancer (TNBC).
Project description:This study identifies progression in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as it progresses towards triple negative invasive breast cancer (TNBC).
Project description:Plasticity delineates cancer subtypes with more or less favourable outcomes. In breast cancer, triple-negative is the subtype that lacks the expression of major differentiation markers (i.e. estrogen receptor [ER]), ant its high cellular plasticity results in higher aggressiveness and poor prognosis compared to other subtypes. Whether plasticity poses a vulnerability to cancer cells remains elusive. Here, we show that cancer cell plasticity can be exploited to differentiate triple-negative breast cancer. Using a high-throughput reporter drug screen with 9,501 compounds, we identify three polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitors as major inducers of ER protein expression and downstream activity in triple-negative breast cancer cells via the transcription factor BATF. PLK1 inhibition upregulates a cell differentiation program characterized by increased DNA damage, mitotic arrest and ultimately cell death. Notably, cells surviving PLK1 inhibition have decreased tumorigenic potential, and targeting PLK1 in already established tumours reduces tumour growth both in cell line and patient-derived xenograft models. In addition, genes upregulated upon PLK1 inhibition are correlated with expression in normal breast tissue and confer better overall survival in breast cancer patients. Our results indicate that differentiation therapy based on PLK1 inhibition might be an alternative strategy to treat triple-negative breast cancer.
Project description:Breast cancer develops through the accumulation of genomic changes in the ductal epithelia cells of normal breast tissue. A determination of whether gene expression changes in ductal cells is associated with an increased risk for breast cancer is needed. We sought to determine if the global gene expression profiles of ductal cells of women at high risk for breast cancer or with cytologic ductal epithelial atypia differed from those of women at normal risk or without cytologic atypia. We used microarrays to detail the gene expression profile of breast ductal cells associated with normal risk or high risk for sporadic breast cancer and with or without cytologic epithelial atypia. We did not identify any separation of the sample groups (normal risk vs high-risk, or atypia vs nonatypia) according to expression of subgroups of genes.