Proteomic identification of predictive biomarkers of resistance to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in luminal breast cancer: a possible role for 14-3-3 theta/tau and tBID?

Introduction

Chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle in effective neoadjuvant treatment for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. The ability to predict tumour response would allow chemotherapy administration to be directed towards only those patients who would benefit, thus maximising treatment efficiency. We aimed to identify putative protein biomarkers associated with chemotherapy resistance, using fresh tumour samples with antibody microarray analysis and then to perform pilot clinical validation experiments.

Materials and methods

Chemotherapy resistant and chemotherapy sensitive tumour samples were collected from breast cancer patients who had received anthracycline based neoadjuvant therapy consisting of epirubicin with cyclophosphamide followed by docetaxel. A total of 5 comparative proteomics experiments were performed using invasive ductal carcinomas which demonstrated estrogen receptor positivity (luminal subtype). Protein expression was compared between chemotherapy resistant and chemotherapy sensitive tumour samples using the Panorama XPRESS Profiler725 antibody microarray containing 725 antibodies from a wide variety of cell signalling and apoptosis pathways. A pilot series of archival samples was used for clinical validation of putative predictive biomarkers.

Results

AbMA analysis revealed 38 differentially expressed proteins which demonstrated at least 1.8 fold difference in expression in chemotherapy resistant tumours and 7 of these proteins (Zyxin, 14-3-3 theta/tau, tBID, Pinin, Bcl-xL, RIP and MyD88) were found in at least 2 experiments. Clinical validation in a pilot series of archival samples revealed 14-3-3 theta/tau and tBID to be significantly associated with chemotherapy resistance.

Conclusions

For the first time, antibody microarrays have been used to identify proteins associated with chemotherapy resistance using fresh breast cancer tissue. We propose a potential role for 14-3-3 theta/tau and tBID as predictive biomarkers of neoadjuvant chemotherapy resistance in breast cancer. Further validation in a larger sample series is now required.     

Sterculic acid antagonizes 7-ketocholesterol-mediated inflammation and inhibits choroidal neovascularization

Sterculic acid is a cyclopropene fatty acid with numerous biological activities. In this study we demonstrate that sterculic acid is a potent inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and related inflammation caused by 7-ketocholesterol (7KCh). 7KCh is a highly toxic oxysterol suspected in the pathogenesis of various age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and age-related macular degeneration. Sterculic acid demonstrated to be 5-10 times more effective than other anti-inflammatory fatty acids at inhibiting 7KCh-mediated inflammatory responses in cultured cells. In vivo, sterculic acid was effective at inhibiting the formation of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in the laser-injury rat model. Our data suggests that sterculic acid may be useful in treating CNV in certain forms of age-related macular degeneration.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediating downregulated StAR and 3-beta-HSD and low plasma testosterone caused by hypoxia is attenuated by CPU86017-RS and nifedipine

Background  

Hypoxia exposure initiates low serum testosterone levels that could be attributed to downregulated androgen biosynthesizing genes such as StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) and 3-beta-HSD (3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase) in the testis. It was hypothesized that these abnormalities in the testis by hypoxia are associated with oxidative stress and an increase in chaperones of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) and ER stress could be modulated by a reduction in calcium influx. Therefore, we verify that if an application of CPU86017-RS (simplified as RS, a derivative to berberine) could alleviate the ER stress and depressed gene expressions of StAR and 3-beta-HSD, and low plasma testosterone in hypoxic rats, these were compared with those of nifedipine.     

影响经动脉子宫颈癌热灌注化疗临床疗效的多因素分析

目的:探讨宫颈癌热灌注化疗栓塞的治疗作用及对临床疗效的影响因素分析。方法:对34例宫颈癌病人进行子宫动脉热灌注化疗及栓塞术,分析肿瘤病理类型,肿块大小,周围浸润及淋巴结转移情况等因素对介入治疗的影响。结果:经过对临床疗效的多因素分析肿块大小对治疗效果影响最大,其次为病理类型。其余影响较小。结论:宫颈癌热灌注化疗栓塞术是治疗宫颈癌的一种适合疗法,尤其适用于肿块较小的病人。可以使疾病得到有效控制,增加手术机会。     

华蟾素注射液联合全身化疗治疗中晚期乳腺癌的临床效果分析

目的:探讨华蟾素注射液联合全身化疗治疗中晚期乳腺癌的临床疗效及安全性。方法:选择我科收治的81例中晚期乳腺癌患者并将其随机分为两组,联合组(40例)采用华蟾素注射液联合全身化疗给予治疗,化疗组(41例)单纯给予化疗治疗。治疗后3个月,评价和比较两组的近期和远期疗效,生活质量的改善情况以及不良反应的发生情况。结果:治疗后3个月,联合组治疗有效率明显高于化疗组(P0.05)。截至目前,联合组平均生存期为15个月,化疗组为10个月,两组差异没有统计学意义(P0.05)。联合组的生活质量提高率明显高于化疗组(P0.05)。骨髓抑制和胃肠道反应为两组主要的不良反应,联合组胃肠道反应的发生率明显低于化疗组(P0.05)。结论:华蟾素联合全身化疗对中晚期乳腺癌具有较好的近期治疗效果,并能改善患者的生活质量,且毒副反应较少。