Publications by authors named "Kathleen T Hasselblatt"
Article Synopsis
- * Traditional immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies targeting the PD-(L)1 axis have been largely ineffective, prompting researchers to explore the use of epigenetic modulators for better personalized immunotherapy outcomes.
- * A novel 3D screening platform using patient-derived tumor samples has shown that responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy correlate with immune cell activity and tumor characteristics, suggesting that combining epigenetic priming with ICB could enhance immune response and offer more effective treatment strategies.
Abnormal ion channel expression distinguishes several types of carcinoma. Here, we explore the relationship between voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC) and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We find that EOC cell lines express most VGSC, but at lower levels than fallopian tube secretory epithelial cells (the cells of origin for most EOC) or control fibroblasts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo investigate if differences in imprinting at tropho-microRNA (miRNA) genomic clusters can distinguish between pre-gestational trophoblastic neoplasia cases (pre-GTN) and benign complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) cases at the time of initial uterine evacuation. miRNA sequencing was performed on frozen tissue from 39 CHM cases including 9 GTN cases. DIO3, DLK1, RTL1, and MEG 3 mRNA levels were assessed by qRT-PCR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs with important regulatory functions. Although well-studied in cancer, little is known about the role of microRNAs in premalignant disease. Complete hydatidiform moles are benign forms of gestational trophoblastic disease that progress to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in up to 20% of cases; however, there is no well-established biomarker that can predict the development of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA major challenge in platinum-based cancer therapy is the clinical management of chemoresistant tumors, which have a largely unknown pathogenesis at the level of epigenetic regulation. We evaluated the potential of using global loss of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) levels as a novel diagnostic and prognostic epigenetic marker to better assess platinum-based chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in high-grade serous tumors (HGSOC), the most common and deadliest subtype of ovarian cancer. Furthermore, we identified a targetable pathway to reverse these epigenetic changes, both genetically and pharmacologically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProblem: Resistance to methotrexate is a leading clinical problem in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), but there are limited laboratory models for this condition.
Method Of Study: We created isogenic trophoblastic cell lines resistant to methotrexate and compared these to the parent cell lines using gene expression microarrays and qRT-PCR followed by mechanistic studies using recombinant cytokines, pathway inhibitors, and patient sera.
Results: Gene expression microarrays and focused analysis by qRT-PCR revealed methotrexate led to type I interferon upregulation, in particular interferon alpha 2 (IFNA2), and methotrexate resistance was associated with chronic low level increases in type I interferon expression.