Publications by authors named "Stella P Breininger"
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a rare, progressive, slowly growing neoplastic condition which is poorly understood, with a 5-year progression-free survival rate as low as 48%. PMP is most commonly caused by appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (AMN), and understanding their genetic biology and pathogenicity may allow for the development of better novel systemic treatments to target key deleterious mutations and the implicated pathways. The primary aim of this systematic review was to identify the genetic profile of histologically confirmed human PMP or AMN samples.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe chemotherapy resistance of esophageal adenocarcinomas (EACs) is underpinned by cancer cell extrinsic mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment (TME). We demonstrate that, by targeting the tumor-promoting functions of the predominant TME cell type, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), we can enhance the efficacy of standard-of-care chemotherapy. In ex vivo conditions, PDE5i prevent the transdifferentiation of normal fibroblasts to CAF and abolish the tumor-promoting function of established EAC CAFs.
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- - Oesophageal cancer (OC) is the ninth most prevalent cancer globally, with standard treatment including neoadjuvant therapy (NAT), but only a small percentage of patients show a significant response.
- - The study explored the potential of microRNAs as biomarkers to predict how well patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) or squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) would respond to NAT by analyzing existing studies.
- - Researchers identified a panel of 20 microRNAs that can indicate treatment response, with specific ones like miR-99b and miR-451 being particularly effective for OAC, highlighting the need for more research to enhance predictive accuracy and treatment standardization.
Article Synopsis
- Obesity is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the impact of weight loss on CRC risk and its relationship with microRNA expression is not well understood.
- Researchers studied microRNA expression in the rectal mucosa of obese patients before and after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and healthy non-obese controls, finding significant differences in microRNA levels.
- The study revealed that obesity causes abnormal microRNA expression, which can be normalized after significant weight loss from RYGB, potentially influencing pathways related to inflammation, obesity, and cancer risk.
Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) has a dismal prognosis, where curable disease occurs in less than 40% of patients, and many of those with incurable disease survive for less than a year from diagnosis. Despite the widespread use of systematic chemotherapy in OAC treatment, many patients receive no benefit. New treatments are urgently needed for OAC patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery is the standard of care for locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Unfortunately, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is poor (20-37%), as is the overall survival benefit at five years (9%). The EAC genome is complex and heterogeneous between patients, and it is not yet understood whether specific mutational patterns may result in chemotherapy sensitivity or resistance.
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