Epigenetic Dysregulation of Imprinting and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Genomic imprinting is an inherited form of parent-of-origin specific epigenetic gene regulation that is dysregulated by poor prenatal nutrition and environmental toxins. encodes for TASK3, a pH-regulated potassium channel membrane protein that is overexpressed in 40% of breast cancer. However, gene amplification accounts for increased expression in <10% of these breast cancers.

Communication around palliative care principles and advance care planning between oncologists, children with advancing cancer and families.

Background: In medical oncology, palliative care principles and advance care planning are often discussed later in illness, limiting time for conversations to guide goal-concordant care. In pediatric oncology, the frequency, timing and content of communication about palliative care principles and advance care planning remains understudied.

Methods: We audio-recorded serial disease re-evaluation conversations between oncologists, children with advancing cancer and their families across the illness trajectory until death or 24 months from last disease progression.