Targeting breast cancer stem cells directly to treat refractory breast cancer

Novel strategies in breast cancer management: From treatment to long-term remission

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although improvements in early detection and therapy have been made, metastatic breast cancer (mBC) continues to be an incurable disease. Although existing treatments can prolong survival and enhance quality of life, they do not provide a definitive cure. Targeted therapies have significantly improved outcomes, particularly for subtypes such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and hormone receptor (HR)-positive (HR+) BC. Key innovations include antibodydrug conjugates (ADCs) and next-generation endocrine therapies. ADCs combine monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic agents, allowing targeted delivery to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising approach for aggressive subtypes, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Strategies under investigation include chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapies, and natural killer (NK) cell treatments, all aimed at enhancing the ability of the immune system to target and eliminate resistant tumor cells. Tissue engineering, particularly hydrogel-based delivery systems, offers the potential for localized treatment. These systems enable the controlled release of therapeutic agents or immune cells directly to the tumor site, supporting tissue regeneration and enhancing immune surveillance to reduce recurrence. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including treatment resistance, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and high costs. Overcoming these barriers requires further innovation in drug delivery systems and a deeper understanding of tumor biology.

MiR-301b-3p targets and regulates EBF3 to impact the stem-like phenotype of breast cancer cells through glycolysis

BACKGROUND

Cancer stem cells are essential for the development of tumors, their recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Previous studies have shown that the silencing of EBF3 promotes the progression of malignant tumors, but its impact on the stem-like phenotype of tumor cells remains unexplored. Therefore, this work aims to investigate the influence of EBF3 on the stem-like phenotype of breast cancer (BC) cells and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Bioinformatics analysis was utilized to predict EBF3 and miR-301b-3p expression and their binding sites in BC tissues. qRT-PCR was conducted to assess EBF3 and miR-301b-3p expression in BC cells. Cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 assay, while sphere-forming ability was assayed by sphere formation experiments. Western blot analysis was employed to assess the expression of stem cell-related markers and proteins associated with the glycolysis metabolic pathway. ECAR experiments and analysis of glycolysis metabolite production were performed to evaluate cellular glycolysis capacity. Dual-luciferase reporter assays and RIP were utilized to validate the binding relationship between EBF3 and miR-301b-3p.

RESULTS

EBF3 was downregulated in BC tissues and cells, and overexpression of EBF3 repressed the glycolysis capacity of BC cells, thereby suppressing stem-like phenotype. Furthermore, miR-301b-3p was identified as a direct target of EBF3, and its expression was increased in BC. Cell experiments revealed that miR-301b-3p suppressed EBF3 expression, thereby promoting the glycolysis capacity and stem-like phenotype of BC cells.

CONCLUSION

miR-301b-3p enhanced glycolysis and promoted the stem-like phenotype of BC cells by targeting EBF3. These findings can offer new therapeutic approaches for BC.

Epigenetic and Immune Mechanisms Linking Breastfeeding to Lower Breast Cancer Rates

This review shows how mammary stem cells (MaSCs) influence breast development, breastfeeding, and breast cancer risk. MaSCs, which can differentiate into various cell types, are vital for breast tissue health, but also disease development in breast tissue. Research shows that breastfeeding affects MaSCs, offering protection against breast cancer through various mechanisms. Hormonal changes such as increased prolactin concentration, oxytocin secretion, lower progesterone levels, and reduced exposure to estrogen during lactation promote apoptosis in potential cancer cells, boost immune surveillance, and modulate inflammation. Key findings reveal that pregnancy at an earlier age and extended breastfeeding reduce MaSC numbers, lowering cancer risk. Additionally, breastfeeding induces various epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modification, which provide long-term protection against the development of cancer. Components of breast milk, like alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin, contribute by promoting cancer cell apoptosis and inhibiting tumor growth. The dual benefits of breastfeeding are reduced breast cancer risk for mothers and immunological advantages for infants. Multicenter epidemiology research has focused particular attention on longer breastfeeding duration associated with a reduced risk of triple-negative breast cancer. This review offers comprehensive evidence that breastfeeding protects against breast cancer through various biological, hormonal, and molecular mechanisms, showing the importance of promoting breastfeeding as a natural cancer prevention method. This article reviews the role of mammary stem cells in breast development, lactation, and breast cancer.

Examining the influence of tumor-infiltrating macrophages on breast cancer outcomes and identifying relevant genes for diagnostic purposes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this research was to investigate how different types of immune cells impact the outlook of individuals with breast cancer, as well as identify the essential genes associated with immune cell subtype enrichment.

METHODS

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used to obtain global transcriptome sequencing data sets of breast tissue. The study utilized the CIBERSORT algorithm to determine the presence of 22 different types of immune cells in both breast cancer tissue and normal breast tissue.Immune cell infiltration content was utilized to conduct univariate COX analysis in order to identify risk factors linked to breast cancer prognosis.

RESULTS

Univariate COX analysis indicates that Macrophages M1 and B cells naive are beneficial factors for the outlook of individuals with breast cancer (P < 0.05), while Macrophages M2 and Monocytes are detrimental factors for the prognosis of breast cancer patients (P < 0.05). The high infiltration group of macrophage M2 had a poorer prognosis compared to the low infiltration group (P < 0.001); Conversely, the high infiltration group of macrophage M1 had a better prognosis than the low infiltration group (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The study provided an overview of immune cell infiltration in breast cancer tissues, identifying macrophage M1 and macrophage M2 as potential factors in breast cancer development and progression. Additionally, genes associated with macrophage phenotype were analyzed, offering insights into macrophage polarization mechanisms.

Construction and in vitro evaluation of pH-sensitive nanoparticles to reverse drug resistance of breast cancer stem cells

Breast cancer is a major threat to safety and health of women. The breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) have multi-drug resistance to chemotherapy drugs, which leads to chemotherapy failure. We proposed a strategy of delivery of tumor-killing drugs and a resistance reversal agent, to enhance inhibition of BCSCs. Here, schisandrin B (SchB)/AP NPs are constructed using acid-grafted-poly (β-amino ester) (ATRA-g-PBAE, AP) grafted polymer nanoparticle encapsulated SchB, with pH-sensitive release function. This drug delivery system has good pharmacological properties and can increase the SchB release with the decrease of pH. The NPs showed cytotoxic effects in reversing ATRA resistance to BCSCs. Lysosomal escape was achieved when the nanoparticles were taken up by BCSCs. In addition, we found that NPs may reverse MDR by inhibiting the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and affecting the energy supply of drug efflux. This study provides a nanodelivery therapy strategy that reverses BCSCs multidrug resistance (MDR) and demonstrates that it did so by interfering with cancer cell energy metabolism. Therefore, the co-delivery strategy of ATRA and SchB provides a new option for the treatment of breast cancer.

Exploring the promising potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in cancer research and therapy

The advent of iPSCs has brought about a significant transformation in stem cell research, opening up promising avenues for advancing cancer treatment. The formation of cancer is a multifaceted process influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors. iPSCs offer a distinctive platform for investigating the origin of cancer, paving the way for novel approaches to cancer treatment, drug testing, and tailored medical interventions. This review article will provide an overview of the science behind iPSCs, the current limitations and challenges in iPSC-based cancer therapy, the ethical and social implications, and the comparative analysis with other stem cell types for cancer treatment. The article will also discuss the applications of iPSCs in tumorigenesis, the future of iPSCs in tumorigenesis research, and highlight successful case studies utilizing iPSCs in tumorigenesis research. The conclusion will summarize the advancements made in iPSC-based tumorigenesis research and the importance of continued investment in iPSC research to unlock the full potential of these cells.