Profiling Multiple CD8+ T-Cell Functional Dimensions Enhances Breast Cancer Immune Assessment.

CD8+ T-cell abundance is insufficient to assess antitumor immunity and shows poor performance in predicting breast cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response, presumably owing to the complexity of CD8+ T-cell functionalities. While single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) can dissect the multifaceted functions of CD8+ T cells for better immune assessment, its clinical application is limited. Herein, we developed bulk RNA-seq-based FuncDimen models from integrative analysis of scRNA-seq and matched bulk RNA-seq data, to evaluate CD8+ T-cell functionalities across 5 dimensions: tumor reactivity, cytotoxicity, IFN-γ secretion, proliferation, and apoptosis.

Dynamic changes of respiratory microbiota associated with treatment outcome in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.

Background: Respiratory microbiota is closely related to tuberculosis (TB) initiation and progression. However, the dynamic changes of respiratory microbiota during treatment and its association with TB progression remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 16 healthy individuals and 16 TB patients (10 drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB) and 6 drug-resistant TB (DR-TB)) were recruited.

Interaction of reproductive tract infections with estrogen exposure on breast cancer risk and prognosis.

Background: Reproductive tract infections influenced a series of inflammatory processes which involved in the development of breast cancer, while the processes were largely affected by estrogen. The present study aimed to explore the associations of breast cancer risk and prognosis with reproductive tract infections and the modification effects of estrogen exposure.

Methods: We collected history of reproductive tract infections, menstruation and reproduction from 1003 cases and 1107 controls and a cohort of 4264 breast cancer patients during 2008-2018 in Guangzhou, China.

Effects of Infection-Induced Fever and the Interaction with IL6 rs1800796 Polymorphism on the Prognosis of Breast Cancer.

Background: Previous studies have found that acute febrile infection may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Meanwhile, it is well known that interleukin-6 (IL6) played dual roles in the tumor microenvironment. Fever may stimulate IL6 production, and IL6 rs1800796 also influences the expression of IL6.

Association between weight change and breast cancer prognosis.

Purpose: Results of the associations between weight change after breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis were inconsistent. The modification effects of menopausal status and endocrine therapy on the associations remain poorly understood.

Methods: A total of 2016 breast cancer patients were recruited between October 2008 and January 2018 and followed up until December 31, 2019 in Guangzhou.

Identification of epigenetic modifications mediating the antagonistic effect of selenium against cadmium-induced breast carcinogenesis.

The antagonistic effect of selenium (Se) against cadmium (Cd)-induced breast carcinogenesis was reported, but underlying mechanisms were unclear. The aim of this study was to identify the epigenetically regulated genes and biological pathways mediating the antagonistic effect. We exposed MCF-7 cells to Cd and Se alone or simultaneously.

Prognostic value of glutaminase 1 in breast cancer depends on H3K27me3 expression and menopausal status.

Glutaminase 1 (GLS) is a therapeutic target for breast cancer; although GLS inhibitors have been developed, only a few subjects responded well to the therapy. Considering that the expression of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and menopausal status was closely linked to GLS, we examined the effects of H3K27me3 and menopausal status on GLS to breast cancer prognosis. Data for 962 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer were analyzed.

Time-varying effects of FOXA1 on breast cancer prognosis.

Purpose: Results of previous studies on the associations between Forkhead box A1 (FOXA1) expression in breast cancer tissues and the prognosis varied depending on the follow-up durations. The present study would investigate whether there is a time-varying effect of FOXA1 in breast cancer tissues on the prognosis.

Methods: FOXA1 expressions were evaluated in 1041 primary invasive breast tumors with tissue microarrays by immunohistochemistry.

Differential epigenetic profiles induced by sodium selenite in breast cancer cells.

Objectives: Selenium (Se) was a potential anticancer micronutrient with proposed epigenetic effect. However, the Se-induced epigenome in breast cancer cells was yet to be studied.

Methods: The profiles of DNA methylation, microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and message RNA (mRNA) in breast cancer cells treated with sodium selenite were examined by microarrays.

Differential epigenetic and transcriptional profile in MCF-7 breast cancer cells exposed to cadmium.

Cadmium (Cd) has been confirmed to be associated with breast carcinogenesis, but the mechanism was not clarified yet. Given that epigenetic modification was speculated as underlying mechanism, we examined the differential epigenome caused by Cd in breast cancer cells. Profiles of DNA methylation, microRNA (miRNA), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), and message RNA (mRNA) were derived from Cd-treated and untreated MCF-7 breast cancer cells by microarray.

Associations of reproductive factors with breast cancer prognosis and the modifying effects of menopausal status.

Reproductive factors associated with breast cancer risk may also affect the prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of multiple reproductive factors with breast cancer prognosis and the modifying effects of menopausal status. We obtained data from 3805 breast cancer patients recruited between October 2008 and June 2016 in Guangzhou.

Joint effects of multiple sleep characteristics on breast cancer progression by menopausal status.

Objectives: Sleep has been closely linked to breast cancer risk. However, the association between sleep and breast cancer prognosis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the separate and joint effects of multiple sleep characteristics on breast cancer prognosis among Chinese women.