Breast cancer family history and allele-specific DNA methylation in the legacy girls study

Anti-Cancer Potential of Edible/Medicinal Mushrooms in Breast Cancer

Edible/medicinal mushrooms have been traditionally used in Asian countries either in the cuisine or as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. In recent decades, they have aroused increasing attention in Europe as well, due to their health and nutritional benefits. In particular, among the different pharmacological activities reported (antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiviral, immunomodulating, antidiabetic, etc.), edible/medicinal mushrooms have been shown to exert in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects on several kinds of tumors, including breast cancer. In this article, we reviewed mushrooms showing antineoplastic activity again breast cancer cells, especially focusing on the possible bioactive compounds involved and their mechanisms of action. In particular, the following mushrooms have been considered: Agaricus bisporus, Antrodia cinnamomea, Cordyceps sinensis, Cordyceps militaris, Coriolus versicolor, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Lentinula edodes, and Pleurotus ostreatus. We also report insights into the relationship between dietary consumption of edible mushrooms and breast cancer risk, and the results of clinical studies and meta-analyses focusing on the effects of fungal extracts on breast cancer patients.

Evaluating DNA Methylation in Random Fine Needle Aspirates from the Breast to Inform Cancer Risk

Introduction. Critical regulatory genes are functionally silenced by DNA hypermethylation in breast cancer and premalignant lesions. The objective of this study was to examine whether DNA methylation assessed in random fine needle aspirates (rFNA) can be used to inform breast cancer risk. Methods. In 20 women with invasive breast cancer scheduled for surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, cumulative methylation status was assessed in a comprehensive manner. rFNA was performed on tumors, adjacent normal tissues, and all remaining quadrants. Pathology review was conducted on blocks from all excised tissue. The cumulative methylation index (CMI) for 12 genes was assessed by a highly sensitive QM-MSP assay in 280 aspirates and tissue from 11 incidental premalignant lesions. Mann–Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare median CMI by patient, location, and tumor characteristics. Results. The median age of participants was 49 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 44–58). DNA methylation was detectable at high levels in all tumor aspirates (median CMI = 252, IQR: 75–111). Methylation was zero or low in aspirates from adjacent tissue (median CMI = 11, IQR: 0–13), and other quadrants (median CMI = 2, IQR: 1–5). Nineteen incidental lesions were identified in 13 women (4 malignant and 15 premalignant). Median CMI levels were not significantly different in aspirates from quadrants ( $p=0.43$ ) or adjacent tissue ( $p=0.93$ ) in which 11 methylated incidental lesions were identified. Conclusions. The diagnostic accuracy of methylation based on rFNA alone to detect premalignant lesions or at-risk quadrants is poor and therefore should not be used to evaluate cancer risk. A more targeted approach needs to be evaluated.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Brief Review About Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Signaling Pathways, Treatment and Role of Artificial Intelligence

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a kind of breast cancer that lacks estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. This cancer is responsible for more than 15–20% of all breast cancers and is of particular research interest as it is therapeutically challenging mainly because of its low response to therapeutics and highly invasive nature. The non-availability of specific treatment options for TNBC is usually managed by conventional therapy, which often leads to relapse. The focus of this review is to provide up-to-date information related to TNBC epidemiology, risk factors, metastasis, different signaling pathways, and the pathways that can be blocked, immune suppressive cells of the TNBC microenvironment, current and investigation therapies, prognosis, and the role of artificial intelligence in TNBC diagnosis. The data presented in this paper may be helpful for researchers working in the field to obtain general and particular information to advance the understanding of TNBC and provide suitable disease management in the future.

Breast Cancer-Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Classification, Prognostic Markers, and Current Treatment Strategies-An Updated Review

Simple Summary

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It is estimated that 2.3 million new cases of BC are diagnosed globally each year. Based on mRNA gene expression levels, BC can be divided into molecular subtypes that provide insights into new treatment strategies and patient stratifications that impact the management of BC patients. This review addresses the overview on the BC epidemiology, risk factors, classification with an emphasis on molecular types, prognostic biomarkers, as well as possible treatment modalities.

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide with more than 2 million new cases in 2020. Its incidence and death rates have increased over the last three decades due to the change in risk factor profiles, better cancer registration, and cancer detection. The number of risk factors of BC is significant and includes both the modifiable factors and non-modifiable factors. Currently, about 80% of patients with BC are individuals aged >50. Survival depends on both stage and molecular subtype. Invasive BCs comprise wide spectrum tumors that show a variation concerning their clinical presentation, behavior, and morphology. Based on mRNA gene expression levels, BC can be divided into molecular subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and basal-like). The molecular subtypes provide insights into new treatment strategies and patient stratifications that impact the management of BC patients. The eighth edition of TNM classification outlines a new staging system for BC that, in addition to anatomical features, acknowledges biological factors. Treatment of breast cancer is complex and involves a combination of different modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or biological therapies delivered in diverse sequences.

Micronuclei and upper body cancers (head, neck, breast cancers) a systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed on 19 studies on head and neck cancer (HNC) and 21 studies on breast cancer (BC) to evaluate the application of micronucleus (MN) assay as a predictive and prognostic test for cancer risk. In these studies the MN test was applied in peripheral lymphocytes and buccal cells of patients and healthy subjects with family history of cancer. The meta-analysis on MN applied in buccal cells of HNC patients was performed on two subgroups of studies. A significant increase of MN frequency in patients compared to healthy controls was observed for the subgroup on oral cancer (243 cases/370 controls, meta-MR = 4.71 95 %CI:2.75-8.06) and HNC (204 patients/163 controls metaMR=2.28 95 %CI:2.02-2.58). A metaMR = 3.27 (95 %CI:1.41-7.59) was obtained for MN applied in peripheral lymphocytes on HNC (160 cases/160 controls). For BC, the analysis of MN in peripheral lymphocytes showed significantly higher values in patients (n = 761) than in controls (n = 788) (meta-MR1.90 95 % CI:1.44-2.49). No statistically significant increase of baseline MN was detected in studies on groups of healthy subjects with BC family history (n = 224) or with BRCA1/2 mutations (n = 101) with respect to the controls. After ex-vivo challenge with ionizing radiation, the meta-analysis revealed a slightly statistically significant increase in MN only in BC patients (n = 614) compared to controls (n = 622)(meta-MR = 1.11 95 %CI:1.02-1.21); no increase was observed in healthy subjects with BC family history carrying or not BRCA1/2 mutations. Significant difference between BC patients (n = 183) and controls (n = 165) was observed by the meta-analysis of data on MN in buccal cells (MR = 3.89 95 %CI:1.54-9.78). The MN assay in buccal cells has some perspective of clinical application in HNC.

DDT exposure during pregnancy and DNA methylation alterations in female offspring in the Child Health and Development Study

Studies measuring dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) exposure during key windows of susceptibility including the intrauterine period suggest that DDT exposure is associated with breast cancer risk. We hypothesized that prenatal DDT exposure is associated with DNA methylation. Using prospective data from 316 daughters in the Child Health and Development Study, we examined the association between prenatal exposure to DDTs and DNA methylation in blood collected in midlife (mean age: 49 years). To identify differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with markers of DDTs (p,p'-DDT and the primary metabolite of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and o,p'-DDT, the primary constituents of technical DDT), we measured methylation in 30 genes important to breast cancer. We observed DDT DMRs in three genes, CCDC85A, CYP1A1 and ZFPM2, each of which has been previously implicated in pubertal development and breast cancer susceptibility. These findings suggest prenatal DDT exposure may have life-long consequence through alteration in genes relevant to breast cancer.

Reversal of increased mammary tumorigenesis by valproic acid and hydralazine in offspring of dams fed high fat diet during pregnancy

Maternal or paternal high fat (HF) diet can modify the epigenome in germ cells and fetal somatic cells leading to an increased susceptibility among female offspring of multiple generations to develop breast cancer. We determined if combined treatment with broad spectrum DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor hydralazine and histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) will reverse this increased risk. C57BL/6 mouse dams were fed either a corn oil-based HF or control diet during pregnancy. Starting at age 7 weeks, female offspring were administered 3 doses of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to initiate mammary cancer. After last dose, offspring started receiving VPA/hydralazine administered via drinking water: no adverse health effects were detected. VPA/hydralazine reduced mammary tumor multiplicity and lengthened tumor latency in HF offspring when compared with non-treated HF offspring. The drug combination inhibited DNMT3a protein levels and increased expression of the tumor suppressor gene Cdkn2a/p16 in mammary tumors of HF offspring. In control mice not exposed to HF diet in utero, VPA/hydralazine increased mammary tumor incidence and burden, and elevated expression of the unfolded protein response and autophagy genes, including HIF-1α, NFkB, PERK, and SQSTM1/p62. Expression of these genes was already upregulated in HF offspring prior to VPA/hydralazine treatment. These findings suggest that breast cancer prevention strategies with HDAC/DNMT inhibitors need to be individually tailored.

Is breast cancer a result of epigenetic responses to traffic-related air pollution? A review of the latest evidence

Environmental toxicants can exert adverse health effects via epigenetic regulation. We conducted a review of studies assessing traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposure and breast cancer (BC) risk, and the evidence for epigenetic mediation. 14 epidemiological studies demonstrated associations between TRAP exposure and BC risk, in which a total of 26 comparisons were assessed. 11 of these comparisons reported a positive association; whereas 15 comparisons were negative. Five publications linked TRAP exposure to epigenetic alterations in genes that may be related to BC risk. One animal study provided evidence of TRAP-treatment inducing breast tumorigenesis. Associations between TRAP components polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and BC risk were more consistent. While evidence for epigenetic regulation remains limited, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) exposures may alter methylation of breast tumorigenic genes (e.g., EPHB2, LONP1). Future epigenomic studies with environmental measures are needed to interrogate the relationship between TRAP and BC risk.