Publications by authors named "Ambritha Balasundaram"

Breast cancer (BC) is globally recognized as the second most prevalent form of cancer. It predominantly affects women and can be categorized into distinct types based on the overexpression of specific cancer receptors.The key receptors implicated in this context are the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR), alongside a particularly intricate subclass known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

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Targeted therapy revolutionizes the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), harboring molecular change. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations play a crucial role in the development of NSCLC, serving as a pivotal factor in its pathogenesis. We elucidated the mechanisms of resistance and potential therapeutic strategies in NSCLC resistant to the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI).

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Precise estrus detection in sows is pivotal in increasing the productivity within the pork industry. Sows in estrus exhibit exclusive behaviors when exposed to either a live boar or the steroid pheromones androstenone and androstenol. Recently, a study employing solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has identified a novel salivary molecule in boars, known as quinoline.

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Article Synopsis
  • In non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mutations in the ALK gene, particularly F1174C/L/V, contribute to cancer growth and drug resistance to existing therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
  • This research used computational methods to analyze the binding affinity and effectiveness of the newer ALK inhibitors (TPX-0131 and repotrectinib) compared to the current drug lorlatinib (LOR) against these mutations.
  • Findings indicated that TPX-0131 and repotrectinib exhibited stronger binding energy against the resistant mutations compared to LOR, suggesting they could be more effective for treating ALK-positive NSCLC in future clinical applications.
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Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements occur in about 5% of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Despite being first recognized as EML4-ALK, fusions with several additional genes have been identified, all of which cause constitutive activation of the ALK kinase and subsequently lead to tumor development. ALK inhibitors first-line crizotinib, second-line ceritinib, and alectinib are effective against NSCLC patients with these rearrangements.

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Aims: To identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of paracetamol-metabolizing enzymes that can predict acute liver injury.

Background: Paracetamol is a commonly administered analgesic/antipyretic in critically ill and chronic renal failure patients and several SNPs influence the therapeutic and toxic effects.

Objective: To evaluate the role of machine learning algorithms (MLAs) and bioinformatics tools to delineate the predictor SNPs as well as to understand their molecular dynamics.

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Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by insufficient aspartylglucosaminidase (AGA) activity leading to chronic neurodegeneration. We utilized the PhosphoSitePlus tool to identify the AGA protein's phosphorylation sites. The phosphorylation was induced on the specific residue of the three-dimensional AGA protein, and the structural changes upon phosphorylation were studied molecular dynamics simulation.

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Article Synopsis
  • CDK6 is a crucial protein kinase involved in the cell cycle, making it a potential target for cancer treatments, especially for breast cancer, and this study aims to identify promising new compounds through a drug repurposing strategy.
  • The research found two compounds that bind more effectively to CDK6 than the common drug abemaciclib, showing significant binding affinities and similar absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties.
  • Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that these compounds maintain stability and interactions with CDK6, indicating their potential as effective inhibitors that warrant further laboratory testing.
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Breast cancer biomarkers that detect marginally advanced stages are still challenging. The detection of specific abnormalities, targeted therapy selection, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment effectiveness over time are all made possible by circulating free DNA (cfDNA) analysis. The proposed study will detect specific genetic abnormalities from the plasma cfDNA of a female breast cancer patient by sequencing a cancer-related gene panel (MGM455 - Oncotrack Ultima), including 56 theranostic genes (SNVs and small INDELs).

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Epidemiological link between HPV and SLE is evolving. The possibility of HPV infection-induced molecular mimicry and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was elucidated through detailed analyses. Conserved regions in the structural protein sequences of high-risk HPV types were inferred, and sequence homologies between viral and human peptides were identified to delineate proteins implicated in SLE.

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The vital tissue homeostasis regulator p53 forms a tetramer when it binds to DNA and regulates the genes that mediate essential biological processes such as cell-cycle arrest, senescence, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Missense mutations in the core DNA-binding domain (109-292) simultaneously cause the loss of tumor suppressor function and accumulation of the mutant p53 proteins that are carcinogenic. The most common hotspot mutation at codon 248 in the DNA-binding region, where arginine (R) is substituted by tryptophan (W), glycine (G), leucine (L), proline (P), and glutamine (Q), is reported in various cancers.

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Background: The primary source of death in the world is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, NSCLCs pathophysiology is still not completely understood. The current work sought to study the differential expression of mRNAs involved in NSCLC and their interactions with miRNAs and circRNAs.

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Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains a serious concern globally due to many factors that including late diagnosis, lack of an ideal biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis, and high rate of mortality. In this study, we aimed to identify the essential dysregulated genes and molecular signatures associated with the progression and development of ESCC. The dataset with 15 ESCCs and the 15 adjacent normal tissue samples from the surrounding histopathologically tumor-free mucosa was selected.

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Background: Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. NSCLC accounts for 84% of all lung cancer cases. In recent years, advances in pathway understanding, methods for discovering novel genetic biomarkers, and new drugs designed to inhibit the signaling cascades have enabled clinicians to personalize therapy for NSCLC.

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Background: Supratentorial ependymomas (STEs) are an aggressive group of ependymomas, topographically distinct from their posterior fossa and spinal counterparts. Zinc finger translocation associated (ZFTA) fusion-positive cases have been reported to account for the majority of STEs, although data on its association with poorer outcomes are inconsistent.

Materials And Methods: We assessed the prevalence of the ZFTA fusion by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence in situ hybridization in a cohort of 61 patients (68 samples) with STE.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has one of the highest disability rates among inflammatory joint disorders. However, the reason and possible molecular events are still unclear. There are various treatment options available, but no complete cure.

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