Publications by authors named "Jacqueline S Jeruss"
Psychological Considerations Associated with Lobular Breast Cancer.
Curr Psychiatry Rep
December 2024
Purpose Of Review: Through an overview of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), this review highlights the unique complexities the diagnosis and treatment of this disease represents, followed by psychological considerations for both patients and providers. Perspectives from members of the multidisciplinary treatment team are included.
Recent Findings: A cancer diagnosis can be difficult for patients and their families and can also have a significant impact on the treatment team.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers developed a subcutaneous biomaterial implant designed to mimic a metastatic environment, allowing for early recruitment of tumor cells prior to organ colonization.
- * The study found that porous scaffolds, particularly those with a diameter of 2 mm, effectively captured tumor and immune cells, showing better sensitivity in detecting disease earlier than traditional liquid biopsies.
Article Synopsis
- Antibodies targeting PD-1 are showing promise as a treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), yet only 10-20% of patients benefit, and reliable predictors of treatment response are still needed.
- Researchers developed an innovative microporous implant to create an immunological niche in the body that mimics the immune environment of vital organs, helping to study how gene expression relates to the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 therapy.
- By analyzing changes in myeloid cell and lymphocyte ratios within this niche, the study identified gene signatures that can predict whether patients will respond to immunotherapy, opening doors for personalized cancer treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- NK cell therapies show promise for indolent cancer treatment, but challenges remain in developing effective methods for solid tumors due to complex intracellular signaling processes.
- This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing and live cell imaging to analyze NK cell-generated killing of HeLa cancer cells, allowing researchers to link gene expression with functional outcomes in real time.
- Findings suggest that NF-κB activity plays a significant role in NK cell killing, while STAT1 and MYC did not show the same correlation; the combined methods effectively linked transcriptional data with NK cell behavior.
Metastasis is the stage at which the prognosis substantially decreases for many types of cancer. The ability of tumor cells to metastasize is dependent upon the characteristics of the tumor cells, and the conditioning of distant tissues that support colonization by metastatic cells. In this report, we investigated the systemic alterations in distant tissues caused by multiple human breast cancer cell lines and the impact of these alterations on the tumor cell phenotype.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetastatic breast cancer is often not diagnosed until secondary tumors have become macroscopically visible and millions of tumor cells have invaded distant tissues. Yet, metastasis is initiated by a cascade of events leading to formation of the pre-metastatic niche, which can precede tumor formation by a matter of years. We aimed to distinguish the potential for metastatic disease from nonmetastatic disease at early times in triple-negative breast cancer using sister cell lines 4T1 (metastatic), 4T07 (invasive, nonmetastatic), and 67NR (nonmetastatic).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Biomaterial scaffolds that simulate metastatic organ environments help researchers understand cancer progression and metastasis by revealing complex signaling mechanisms.
- In mouse models of metastatic breast cancer, these scaffolds attract tumor cells destined for the lungs while simultaneously enhancing local immune responses to inhibit their growth.
- Neutrophils play diverse roles in metastasis; they are attracted to both the scaffolds and lungs but can create either supportive or suppressive immune contexts, influencing the behavior of cancer cells differently in each environment.*
Article Synopsis
- Suppressive myeloid cells, like monocytes and neutrophils, hinder the anti-tumor activity of T-cells in metastatic cancer, prompting research into the role of drug-free nanoparticles (NPs) in treating this issue.
- The study found that administering these NPs intravenously to mice with triple-negative breast cancer reprograms lung immune responses, shifting myeloid cells to a more anti-tumor state, which leads to reduced lung metastases.
- In T-cell deficient models, the NPs did not reduce metastases, highlighting the importance of functional T-cells, while post-surgery NP treatment eliminated existing lung metastases in all tested mice.
Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) is not routinely recommended for patients undergoing prophylactic mastectomy (PM), yet omission remains a subject of debate among surgeons. A modern patient cohort was examined to determine occult malignancy (OM) incidence within PM specimens to reinforce current recommendations.
Methods: All PM performed over a 5-year period were retrospectively identified, including women with unilateral breast cancer who underwent synchronous or delayed contralateral PM or women with elevated cancer risk who underwent bilateral PM.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers explored the early stages of lung metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer to identify treatment targets that could stop secondary tumors from forming and improve patient outcomes.
- They found that the early metastatic niche had a significant increase in neutrophils, shifting from an anti-cancer phenotype to a pro-cancer one as the disease progressed.
- The study suggests that understanding these immune cell transitions and identifying specific genes related to the early anti-cancer response could lead to new therapeutic strategies that enhance survival in metastatic breast cancer patients.
Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is a stigmatizing and psychologically devasting side effect of cancer treatment. Scalp cooling therapy (SCT) is the most effective method to reduce CIA, yet it is underutilized. We investigated factors that may impact scalp cooling discussion and use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Given the significant benefit of targeted therapies for HER2+ breast cancer patients in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, it is critical to identify all eligible patients for these treatments. We sought to investigate cT1cN0 HER2+ patients to determine the rate of postsurgical nodal positivity, and to identify presurgical factors associated with nodal positivity. We hypothesize there is a subset of underdiagnosed HER2+ patients who would benefit from preoperative axillary imaging and inclusion in neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTGFβ signaling enacts tumor-suppressive functions in normal cells through promotion of several cell regulatory actions including cell-cycle control and apoptosis. Canonical TGFβ signaling proceeds through phosphorylation of the transcription factor, SMAD3, at the C-terminus of the protein. During oncogenic progression, this tumor suppressant phosphorylation of SMAD3 can be inhibited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Scalp cooling therapy (SCT) is the most effective method to reduce chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA), a highly distressing side effect of cancer treatment. Despite data supporting SCT efficacy and safety, SCT use in the United States is not widespread. Oncologists' interactions with scalp cooling were examined to identify facilitators and barriers to SCT implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe presence of immunosuppressive innate immune cells such as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Ly6C-high monocytes, and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) at a tumor can inhibit effector T cell and NK cell function. Immune checkpoint blockade using anti-PD-1 antibody aims to overcome the immune suppressive environment, yet only a fraction of patients responds. Herein, we test the hypothesis that cargo-free PLG nanoparticles administered intravenously can divert circulating immune cells from the tumor microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in the 4T1 mouse model of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The management of clinically node-positive breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has progressed with the potential to avoid the morbidity of axillary lymph node dissection in patients with complete response to therapy. This study addresses the impact of pretreatment nodal burden and tumor subtype on axillary pathologic complete response (AXpCR) in patients treated with NAC to better inform axillary surgical management.
Methods: A prospective database was reviewed to identify clinically node-positive patients who underwent NAC followed by axillary lymph node dissection.
Article Synopsis
- Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive and hard to detect early, leading researchers to create biomaterial scaffolds that attract tumor cells and mimic the immune environment of metastasis.* -
- In experiments with the KPCY pancreatic cancer model, these scaffolds successfully recruited tumor cells before cancer formation and provided better differentiation between early and late disease stages compared to natural liver sites.* -
- The research highlights the scaffolds' potential for early detection of pancreatic cancer, offering hope for better diagnosis and treatment strategies in this challenging cancer type.*
Article Synopsis
- The Oncofertility Consortium is an international initiative focused on addressing the reproductive concerns of cancer patients, individuals transitioning genders, and others facing treatments that may affect fertility.
- The consortium operates as a community of practice, sharing knowledge and strategies among specialists from various fields to improve healthcare outcomes and quality of life for patients.
- Their ongoing mission is to combine scientific advancements with patient needs, aiming to create a supportive network that adapts to future challenges in reproductive health and survivorship.
Purpose: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in reproductive age women, and treatment can affect fertility; however, there is often concern regarding the safety of increased estradiol (E) levels and potential delays in treatment with ovarian stimulation for fertility preservation (FP). The aim of this study was to compare recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients who pursued FP without concurrent letrozole to those who did not (non-FP).
Methods: We reviewed charts of women with breast cancer who contacted the FP patient navigator (PN) at Northwestern University from 01/2005-01/2018.
Introduction: Guidelines allow for the omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and post-lumpectomy radiotherapy in women ≥ 70 years of age with hormone receptor-positive (HR +) breast cancer. Despite this, national data suggest these procedures have not been widely de-implemented.
Objectives: Our objectives were to evaluate trends in SLNB and post-lumpectomy radiotherapy utilization in patients who are eligible for omission, and evaluate patient preferences as a target for de-implementation of low-value care.