Primary breast tumor-derived cellular models: characterization of tumorigenic, metastatic, and cancer-associated fibroblasts in dissociated tumor (DT) cultures.

Our goal was to establish primary cultures from dissociation of breast tumors in order to provide cellular models that may better recapitulate breast cancer pathogenesis and the metastatic process. Here, we report the characterization of six cellular models derived from the dissociation of primary breast tumor specimens, referred to as "dissociated tumor (DT) cells." In vitro, DT cells were characterized by proliferation assays, colony formation assays, protein, and gene expression profiling, including PAM50 predictor analysis.

ER re-expression and re-sensitization to endocrine therapies in ER-negative breast cancers.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer amongst women in the westernized world. The presence or absence of ERalpha in breast cancers is an important prognostic indicator. About 30-40% of breast cancers lack detectable ERalpha protein.

Therapeutic vaccination for HPV induced cervical cancers.

Cervical Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide and is associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, creating a unique opportunity to treat cervical cancer through anti-viral vaccination. Although a prophylactic vaccine may be available within a year, millions of women, already infected, will continue to suffer from HPV-related disease, emphasizing the need to develop therapeutic vaccination strategies. A majority of clinical trials examining therapeutic vaccination have shown limited efficacy due to examining patients with more advanced-stage cancer who tend to have decreased immune function.

The efficacy of a DNA vaccine containing inserted and replicated regions of the E7 gene for treatment of HPV-16 induced tumors.

A majority of cervical cancers are associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16. A DNA vaccine (E7IR) was designed for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of HPV-16+ tumors containing two repeats of the E7 gene to inactivate transformation and duplicate available epitopes. Mice were vaccinated then tumor challenged, or challenged and then immunized and monitored for tumor volume and survival.

Distribution of human papillomavirus type 16 variants in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-positive and -negative women.

The prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 E6 variant lineages was characterized in a cross-sectional study of 24 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV)-positive and 33 HIV-negative women in New Orleans. The European prototype was the predominant variant in the HIV-negative women (39.4 %), while in the HIV-positive women the European 350G variant was predominant (29.

Optimization of PCR based detection of human papillomavirus DNA from urine specimens.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer. Current screening requires a yearly pelvic exam and Pap smear. However, these procedures are impractical for screening all women at risk for disease.

Peptide-based vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

One approach in the immunotherapy of cancer patients involves vaccination with peptides derived from tumour-associated antigens specifically designed to associate with T cells in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I or II molecules. Several clinical trials in different tumour types have been conducted utilising this vaccination strategy. The majority of trials indicate that peptide vaccination has few toxicities associated with its administration, but disparities exist between in vitro and clinical responses.

Detection of human papillomavirus DNA in urine specimens from human immunodeficiency virus-positive women.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women may represent one of the fastest-growing populations at risk for acquiring cervical cancer and thus require frequent screening. The purpose of the present studies was to validate a PCR-based urine assay by comparing detection and genotyping of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in urine samples and matching cervical swab specimens of HIV-positive women. Despite a difference in amplifiability, the prevalence of any HPV genotype (58% for the cervical swab specimens and 48% for the urine specimens) was not significantly different in this population.