The North Carolina Tissue Consortium: Ensuring Equitable Representation and Accessibility to Cancer Specimens from Eastern North Carolina.

The objective of the North Carolina Tissue Consortium is to facilitate cancer-related research by providing a means through which normal and malignant tissue specimens are procured, processed, stored, and distributed to researchers while protecting the rights and confidentiality of participants.

Proteomic identification of tumor- and metastasis-associated galectin-1 in claudin-low breast cancer.

Background: Metastasis and mortality remain high among breast cancer patients with the claudin-low subtype because these tumors are aggressive, chemoresistant, and lack targeted therapies. Our objective was to utilize discovery-based proteomics to identify proteins associated with claudin-low primary and metastatic tumors to gain insight into pathways and mechanisms of tumor progression.

Methods: We used nano-LC-MS/MS proteomics to analyze orthotopic and metastatic tumors from the syngeneic murine T11 tumor model, which displays gene expression profiles mirroring human claudin-low tumors.

Race May Not Impact Endocrine Therapy-Related Changes in Breast Density.

Background: Reduction in breast density may be a biomarker of endocrine therapy (ET) efficacy. Our objective was to assess the impact of race on ET-related changes in volumetric breast density (VBD).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed longitudinal changes in VBD measures in women with estrogen receptor-positive invasive breast cancer treated with ET.

Therapeutic Effect of Y-27632 on Tumorigenesis and Cisplatin-Induced Peripheral Sensory Loss through RhoA-NF-κB.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major side effect of cancer therapy that frequently requires a reduction or cessation of treatments and negatively impacts the patient's quality of life. There is currently no effective means to prevent or treat CIPN. In this study, we developed and applied CIPN in an immunocompetent, syngeneic murine Lewis Lung Carcinoma (LLCab) model that enabled the elucidation of both tumor and host responses to cisplatin and treatments of Y-27632, a selective inhibitor of Rho kinase/p160.

An Evaluation of a Rural Community-Based Breast Education and Navigation Program: Highlights and Lessons Learned.

Cancer has become the leading cause of death in North Carolina (NC) (North Carolina DHHS, State Center for Health Statistics 2015) and the eastern region of North Carolina (ENC) has experienced greater cancer mortality than the remainder of the state. The Pitt County Breast Wellness Initiative-Education (PCBWI-E) provides culturally tailored breast cancer education and navigation to screening services for uninsured/underinsured women in Pitt and Edgecombe Counties in ENC. PCBWI-E created a network of 23 lay breast health educators, and has educated 735 women on breast health and breast cancer screening guidelines.

The Short-Term Effect of Weight Loss Surgery on Volumetric Breast Density and Fibroglandular Volume.

Purpose: Obesity and breast density are both associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and are potentially modifiable. Weight loss surgery (WLS) causes a significant reduction in the amount of body fat and a decrease in breast cancer risk. The effect of WLS on breast density and its components has not been documented.

Elevated MicroRNA-33 in Sarcoidosis and a Carbon Nanotube Model of Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

We established a murine model of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-induced chronic granulomatous disease, which resembles human sarcoidosis pathology. At 60 days after oropharyngeal MWCNT instillation, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from wild-type mice exhibit an M1 phenotype with elevated proinflammatory cytokines and reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-characteristics also present in human sarcoidosis. Based upon MWCNT-associated PPARγ deficiency, we hypothesized that the PPARγ target gene, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) G1, a lipid transporter with antiinflammatory properties, might also be repressed.

A non-tight junction function of claudin-7-Interaction with integrin signaling in suppressing lung cancer cell proliferation and detachment.

Background: Claudins are a family of tight junction (TJ) membrane proteins involved in a broad spectrum of human diseases including cancer. Claudin-7 is a unique TJ membrane protein in that it has a strong basolateral membrane distribution in epithelial cells and in tissues. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the functional significance of this non-TJ localization of claudin-7 in human lung cancer cells.

Selective preoperative magnetic resonance imaging in women with breast cancer: no reduction in the reoperation rate.

Hypothesis: The use of preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging may have an effect on the reoperation rate in women with operable breast cancer.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: University medical center.

Long-term follow-up study of a prospective multicenter sentinel node trial: molecular detection of breast cancer sentinel node metastases.

Background: This prospective multicenter sentinel lymph node (SLN) trial investigated whether molecular analysis would improve the detection of SLN metastases and their prognostic value. We report mammaglobin quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) results and clinical outcome for 547 patients (mean follow-up 7 years).

Methods: Breast cancer patients (excluding stage IV disease or palpable nodes) were enrolled from 1996 to 2005 at 16 institutional review board-approved sites.

American Society of Clinical Oncology-recommended surveillance and physician specialty among long-term breast cancer survivors.

Background: It is unclear whether it is appropriate to transfer the follow-up care of breast cancer (BrCa) survivors from cancer specialists to primary care physicians (PCPs). This contemporary study compared physician specialty and documented the long-term surveillance of survivors who underwent surgery at an American academic center.

Methods: Women in this institutional review board-approved study underwent breast surgery between 1996 and 2006.

Prognostic implications of isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in sentinel nodes of patients with invasive breast cancer: 10-year analysis of patients enrolled in the prospective East Carolina University/Anne Arundel Medical Center Sentinel Node Multicenter Study.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a more sensitive and accurate nodal staging procedure than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Because of increased pathologic evaluation in the sentinel node era, more nodal micrometastases (MIC) (> 0.2 mm to 2 mm) and isolated tumor cells (ITC; < or = 0.

Real-time PCR to determine transgene copy number and to quantitate the biolocalization of adoptively transferred cells from EGFP-transgenic mice.

Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is a sensitive technique for the detection and quantitation of specific DNA sequences. Here we describe a Taqman qPCR assay for quantification of tissue-localized, adoptively transferred enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-transgenic cells. A standard curve constructed from serial dilutions of a plasmid containing the EGFP transgene was (i) highly reproducible, (ii) detected as few as two copies, and (iii) was included in each qPCR assay.

Clinical and anti-HLA antibody profile of nine renal transplant recipients with failed grafts: donor-specific and non-donor-specific antibody development.

This study applied the single antigen microsphere technology to the retrospective analysis of sequential post-transplant serum samples in the context of the patient's clinical course. Detailed information on nine of the study patients was presented as representative of the larger cohort and illustrative of different patterns of anti-HLA antibody development and different clinical scenarios that culminated in graft failure. Our major observations are summarized as follows: 1.

Identification and characterization of optimal gene expression markers for detection of breast cancer metastasis.

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) status is highly predictive of overall axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer. Historically, SLN-positive patients have undergone axillary lymph node dissection in a second surgery. Intraoperative SLN analysis could reduce the cost and complications of a second surgery; however, existing histopathological methods lack standardization and exhibit poor sensitivity.

Characterization of Lewis lung clonal variants in a model of syngeneic pulmonary murine metastases.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality world-wide. Since the majority of cancer deaths result from metastatic complications, understanding cellular alterations contributing to organ specific metastases is a continuing cancer research goal. Desirable models involve easy, efficient methodologies for development of pulmonary metastases utilizing genetically related syngeneic tumor cell lines varying in clonogenic frequency and growth rate for comparative studies.

Suppression of Lewis lung tumor development in alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase knock-out mice.

Background: Humans lack the gene alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase (GalT) and instead produce abundant cytolytic antibodies against cells bearing the antigen [gal alpha1,3 gal] (alphaGal). We have previously studied humoral anti-alphaGal responses in GalT knock-out (GalT KO) mice and shown that murine anti-alphaGal IgM, like human anti-alphaGal IgM, causes extensive complement-mediated cytolysis of GalT+ murine Lewis Lung carcinoma cells (LLCa) in vitro. Here we test the hypothesis that anti-alphaGal immune responses can inhibit the in vivo development of GalT+ tumors.

Induction of cytolytic anti-Gal antibodies in alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene knockout mice by oral inoculation with Escherichia coli O86:B7 bacteria.

Naturally occurring antibodies against [Gal alpha-1,3-Gal] structures (anti-Gal antibodies) are the primary effectors of human hyperacute rejection (HAR) of nonhuman tissue. Unlike most mammals, humans lack a functional alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GalT) gene and produce abundant anti-Gal antibodies, putatively in response to GalT(+) enteric bacteria. GalT knockout (KO) mice have been generated as a small animal model of HAR but inconsistently express anti-Gal antibodies.