Triple‑negative breast cancer cells that survive ionizing radiation exhibit an Axl‑dependent aggressive radioresistant phenotype

Mechanisms of radioresistance and radiosensitization strategies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecular subtype of breast cancer that is characterized by a high risk of recurrence and poor prognosis. With the increasingly prominent role of radiotherapy in TNBC treatment, patient resistance to radiotherapy is an attractive area of clinical research. Gene expression changes induced by multiple mechanisms can affect the radiosensitivity of TNBC cells to radiotherapy through a variety of ways, and the enhancement of radioresistance is an important factor in the malignant progression of TNBC. The above pathways mainly include DNA damage repair, programmed cell death, cancer stem cells (CSC), antioxidant function, tumor microenvironment, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway. Tumor cells can reduce the damage of radiotherapy to themselves through the above ways, resulting in radioresistance. Therefore, in this review, we aim to summarize the strategies for immunotherapy combined with radiotherapy, targeted therapy combined with radiotherapy, and epigenetic therapy combined with radiotherapy to identify the best treatment for TNBC and improve the cure and survival rates of patients with TNBC. This review will provide important guidance and inspiration for the clinical practice of radiotherapy for TNBC, which will help deepen our understanding of this field and promote its development.

Proteolysis of TAM receptors in autoimmune diseases and cancer: what does it say to us?

Proteolytic processing of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) leads to the release of ectodomains in the extracellular space. These soluble ectodomains often retain the ligand binding activity and dampen canonical pathways by acting as decoy receptors. On the other hand, shedding the ectodomains may initiate new molecular events and diversification of signalling. Members of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) family of RTKs undergo proteolytic cleavage, and their soluble forms are present in the extracellular space and biological fluids. TAM receptors are expressed in professional phagocytes, mediating apoptotic cell clearance, and suppressing innate immunity. Enhanced shedding of TAM ectodomains is documented in autoimmune and some inflammatory conditions. Also, soluble TAM receptors are present at high levels in the biological fluids of cancer patients and are associated with poor survival. We outline the biology of TAM receptors and discuss how their proteolytic processing impacts autoimmunity and tumorigenesis. In autoimmune diseases, proteolysis of TAM receptors likely reflects reduced canonical signalling in professional phagocytes. In cancer, TAM receptors are expressed in the immune cells of the tumour microenvironment, where they control pathways facilitating immune evasion. In tumour cells, ectodomain shedding activates non-canonical TAM pathways, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and drug resistance.

Personal history of irradiation and risk of breast cancer: A Mendelian randomisation study

Background

Studies on the relationship between personal history of irradiation and breast cancer have been reported for a long time. Still, epidemiological studies have not been conclusive, and the causal relationship is unclear. To address this issue, we employed Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis to examine the association between individual radiation exposure history and breast cancer.

Methods

We used a series of quality control methods to select single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) closely related to exposure. Meanwhile, several analysis methods were used to analyse the sample data to make the conclusion more reliable. To evaluate the horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity and stability of SNPs for breast cancer, the MR-Egger intercept test, Cochran's Q test and 'leave one' sensitivity analysis were used. Finally, the outlier variation determined by the Mendelian Randomisation Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier test is gradually eliminated to reduce the influence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy.

Results

After implementing rigorous quality control procedures, we carefully chose 102 qualified instrumental variables closely associated with the selected exposure for sensitivity analysis. This was conducted to evaluate the heterogeneity, level multiplicity, and stability of SNPs in the context of personal radiation history and its correlation with breast cancer. The results of the inverse variance weighted method analysis revealed a positive correlation between personal radiation and a heightened risk of breast cancer (odds ratio (OR) = 1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.30-1.77). We also validated on another data set; the results were similar (OR = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.27-1.81). Furthermore, the findings from the sensitivity analysis were consistent. At the genetic level, our research demonstrated that personal radiation exposure is associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer.

Conclusions

Using genetic data provides evidence and strengthens the causal link that personal radiation causes breast cancer.

Engineered Adoptive T-Cell Therapies for Breast Cancer: Current Progress, Challenges, and Potential

Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge, and novel treatment approaches are critically needed. This review presents an in-depth analysis of engineered adoptive T-cell therapies (E-ACTs), an innovative frontier in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their application in breast cancer. We explore the evolving landscape of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies, highlighting their potential and challenges in targeting breast cancer. The review addresses key obstacles such as target antigen selection, the complex breast cancer tumor microenvironment, and the persistence of engineered T-cells. We discuss the advances in overcoming these barriers, including strategies to enhance T-cell efficacy. Finally, our comprehensive analysis of the current clinical trials in this area provides insights into the future possibilities and directions of E-ACTs in breast cancer treatment.