Project description:Analysis of 143 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary breast tumors using a Custom Breast Cancer Panel and Human Cancer Panel for the DASL platform. Molecular markers between the pathology defined subtypes of breast cancer were assessed to hypothesize potential therapeutic targets specific to the subtypes Molecular Characterization of 143 primary breast carcinomas including 101 triple negative (TN: ER-, PR-, HER2-), 3 HER2-positive (HER2+: ER-, PR-, HER2+), and 39 hormone receptor-positive (HR+: ER+ and/or PR+)
Project description:Analysis of 97 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary breast tumors using Illumina DASL microarray technology on a Custom Breast Cancer Panel and the Illumina Human Cancer Panel. Molecular markers between the pathology defined subtypes of breast cancer were assessed to hypothesize potential therapeutic targets specific to the subtypes Molecular Characterization of 97 primary breast tumor formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens including 24 triple negative (TN: ER-, PR-, HER2-), 9 HER2-positive (HER2+: ER-, PR-, HER2+), and 64 hormone receptor-positive (HR+: ER+ and/or PR+). 91 of the 97 specimens were characterized on the Illumina Human Cancer DASL Panel and 86 of 97 specimens were characterized on a custom Breast Cancer DASL Panel, 80 of these specimens were common to both the Human Cancer DASL Panel and the custom Breast Cancer DASL Panel.
Project description:We performed quantitative TMT-based proteomic analysis of eight human-derived breast cell lines growing in 2D. The dataset includes the total and phospho-proteomes of seven tumour cell lines: T47D (Epithelial, Luminal, ER+/PR+/HER2-), BT474 (Epithelial, Luminal, ER+/PR+/HER2+), SKBR3 (Epithelial, Luminal, ER-/PR-/HER2+), MDA-MB-468 (Epithelial, Basal A, ER-/PR-/HER2-), MDA-MB-231 (Mesenchymal, Basal B, ER-/PR-/HER2-), MDA-MB-231-LM2 (Mesenchymal, Basal B, ER-/PR-/HER2-, a highly metastatic subpopulation 4175 from MDA-MB-231), and SUM159 (Mesenchymal, Basal B, ER-/PR-/HER2-) and one non-tumour cell line: MCF10A (Epithelial, Basal B, ER-/PR-/HER2-). We achieved a depth of over 8,000 proteins and a total of over 20,000 phosphopeptides with MS2 acquisition covering a wide range of biological processes. These eight lines encompass a wide range of genetic subtypes and have diverse morphologies in either 2D (epithelial vs mesenchymal), and/or in 3D environments (Mass, Grape-like, Stellate, Round) (Neve RM, 2006) (Kenny PA, 2007). The study also explored the effects of TGF-β1 during 10 days on the non-tumorigenic MCF10A cells, and their posterior washout and recovery for 40 days. TGF-β1 is a cytokine known to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process associated with cancer progression (Xu J, 2009) (Nieto, 2016). The data can be analysed in isolation or in combination with other orthogonal datasets such as transcriptomes or image-based data (OMICS), for the purpose of predicting tumour outcome, identifying markers, drug response or mechanisms of resistance to therapeutics. These data can provide insights for therapeutic strategies and better understanding of the diverse molecular landscapes of breast cancer cells.
Project description:There is clinical need to predict sensitivity of metastatic hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer to endocrine therapy, and targeted RNA sequencing (RNAseq) offers diagnostic potential to measure both transcriptional activity and functional mutation. We developed the SET ER/PR index to measure gene expression microarray probe sets that were correlated with hormone receptors (ESR1 and PGR) and robust to pre-analytical and analytical influences. We tested SET ER/PR index in biopsies of metastastic HR+/HER2- breast cancer against the treatment outcomes in 140 patients. Then we customized the SETER/PR assay to measure 18 informative, 10 reference transcripts, and sequence the ligand binding domain (LBD) of ESR1 using droplet-based targeted RNAseq, and tested that in residual RNA from 53 patients. Higher SET ER/PR index in metastatic samples predicted longer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when patients received endocrine therapy as next treatment, even after adjustment for clinical-pathologic risk factors (PFS: HR 0.534, 95% CI 0.299 to 0.955, p = 0.035; OS: HR 0.315, 95% CI 0.157 to 0.631, p = 0.001). Mutated ESR1 LBD was detected in 8/53 (15%) of metastases, involving 1% to 98% of ESR1 transcripts (all had high SETER/PR index). A signature based on probe sets with good pre-analytical and analytical performance facilitated our customization of an accurate targeted RNAseq assay to measure both phenotype and genotype of ER-related transcription. Elevated SET ER/PR was associated with prolonged sensitivity to endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer, especially in the absence of mutated ESR1 transcript. We tested SET ER/PR index in biopsies of metastastic HR+/HER2- breast cancer against the treatment outcomes in 140 patients. Then we customized the SET ER/PR assay to measure 18 informative, 10 reference transcripts, and sequence the ligand binding domain (LBD) of ESR1 using droplet-based targeted RNAseq, and tested that in residual RNA from 53 patients. Higher SET ER/PR index in metastatic samples predicted longer progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) when patients received endocrine therapy as next treatment, even after adjustment for clinical-pathologic risk factors (PFS: HR 0.485, 95% CI 0.265 to 0.889, p = 0.019; OS: HR 0.314, 95% CI 0.155 to 0.637, p = 0.001). Mutated ESR1 LBD was detected in 8/53 (15%) of metastases, involving 1% to 98% of ESR1 transcripts (all had high SET ER/PR index). A signature based on probe sets with good pre-analytical and analytical performance facilitated our customization of an accurate targeted RNAseq assay to measure both phenotype and genotype of ER-related transcription. Elevated SET ER/PR was associated with prolonged sensitivity to endocrine therapy in patients with metastatic HR+/HER2- breast cancer, especially in the absence of mutated ESR1 transcript.
Project description:Breast cancer research is hampered by difficulties in obtaining and studying primary human breast tissue, and by the lack of in vivo preclinical models that reflect patient tumor biology accurately. To overcome these limitations, we propagated a cohort of human breast tumors grown in the epithelium-free mammary fat pad of SCID/Beige and NOD/SCID/IL2γ-receptor null (NSG) mice, under a series of transplant conditions. Both models yielded stably transplantable xenografts at comparably high rates (~23% and ~19%, respectively). Of the conditions tested, xenograft take rate was highest in the presence of a low-dose estradiol pellet. Overall, 32 stably transplantable xenograft lines were established, representing unique 25 patients. Most tumors yielding xenografts were “triple-negative” (ER-PR-HER2+) (n=19). However, we established lines from three ER-PR-HER2+ tumors, one ER+PR-HER2-, one ER+PR+HER2- and one “triple-positive” (ER+PR+HER2+) tumor. Serially passaged xenografts show biological consistency with the tumor of origin, are phenotypic stability across multiple transplant generations at the histological, transcriptomic, proteomic, and genomic levels, and show comparable treatment responses. Xenografts representing 12 patients, including two ER+ lines, showed metastasis to the mouse lung. These models thus serve as a renewable, quality-controlled tissue resource for preclinical studies investigating treatment response and metastasis.
Project description:Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease encompassing a number of phenotypically diverse tumours. Expression levels of the estrogen, progesterone and HER2/neu receptors which characterise clinically distinct breast tumors have been shown to change during disease progression and in response to systemic therapies. Mi(cro)RNAs play critical roles in diverse biological processes and are aberrantly expressed in several human neoplasms including breast cancer, where they function as regulators of tumour behaviour and progression. The aims of this study were to identify miRNA signatures that accurately predict the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu receptor status of breast cancer patients to provide insight into the regulation of breast cancer phenotypes and progression. Expression profiling of 353 microRNAs was performed in 29 early stage breast cancer specimens. MiRNA signatures associated with ER, PR and HER2/neu status were generated using artificial neural networks (ANN) and expression of specific microRNAs was validated using RQ-PCR. Results: Stepwise artificial neural network (ANN) analysis identified predictive miRNA signatures corresponding with estrogen (miR-342, miR-299, miR-217, miR -190, miR-135b, miR-218), progesterone (miR-520g, miR-377, miR-527-518a, miR-520f-520c) and HER2/neu (miR-520d, miR-181c, miR-302c, miR-376b, miR-30e) receptor status. MiR-342 and miR-520g expression was further analysed in 95 breast tumours. MiR-342 expression was highest in ER and HER2/neu positive luminal B tumours and lowest in triple-negative tumours. MiR-520g expression was elevated in ER and PR negative tumours.
Project description:Translational breast cancer research is hampered by difficulties in obtaining and studying primary human breast tissue, and by the lack of in vivo preclinical models that reflect patient tumor biology accurately. In an effort to overcome these limitations, we propagated a cohort of human breast tumors grown in the mammary fat pad of SCID/Beige and NOD/SCID/IL2?-receptor null (NSG) two relatively new immunocompromised mouse models, under a series of transplant conditions. Both models yielded stably transplantable xenografts relatively high rates compared with previously available immunocompromised mice. Xenograft lines were established directly from breast cancer patient samples, without intervening culture in vitro, using the epithelium-free mammary fat pad as the transplantation site. Of the conditions tested, xenograft take rate was highest in the presence of a low-dose estradiol pellet. Overall, 35 stably transplantable xenograft lines representing 27 patients were established, using pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and/or post-treatment samples. Most patients yielding xenografts were “triple-negative” (ER-PR-HER2-) (n=21). However, we were able to establish lines from three ER-PR-HER2+ patients, one ER+PR-HER2-, one ER+PR+HER2- and one “triple-positive” (ER+PR+HER2+) patient. Serially passaged xenografts show biological consistency with the tumor of origin at the histopathology level, and remarkable stability across multiple transplant generations at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels. Of the 27 patients represented, xenografts derived from 13 patients showed metastasis to the mouse lung. These models thus serve as a renewable, quality-controlled tissue resource, and should prove useful for preclinical evaluation of experimental therapeutics. reference x sample
Project description:The Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples on selected breast cancer subtypes (ER+/Her2-, ER+/Her2+, ER-/Her2+, and ER-/Her2-) and their paired fresh fine needle aspirated biopsies (FNA) were investigated. The cases represented different subtypes of breast cancers based on their clinical receptors ER (E) and Her2 (H) status to demonstrate the ability of gene profiles to differentiate these tumors. Compared to FNA specimens, FFPE samples yielded relatively more degraded RNA, and 80% of the samples deemed suitable for cDNA-mediated annealing, selection, extension and ligation (DASL) assay. It is able to demonstrate that gene profiles from FFPE microarrays were reproducible and correlated well with the corresponding gene profiles from FNA microarrays. The gene profiles from both FNA and FFPE could differentiate the four breast cancer subtypes, and the expression levels of corresponding gene set were consistent with qRT-PCR and correlated to the clinical outcomes on published microarray data. It supports the use of FFPE specimens to develop a prognostic tool for breast cancers which can obviate the need for fresh specimens. 25 FFPE specimens were processed for whole genome DASL assays using Illumina Human-Ref8 version 3 BeadChips. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC)-type subtypes ER+/Her2-, ER+/Her2+, ER-/Her2+, and ER-/Her2- (ER: estrogen receptor, HER2: human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) were analyzed.
Project description:Translational breast cancer research is hampered by difficulties in obtaining and studying primary human breast tissue, and by the lack of in vivo preclinical models that reflect patient tumor biology accurately. In an effort to overcome these limitations, we propagated a cohort of human breast tumors grown in the mammary fat pad of SCID/Beige and NOD/SCID/IL2?-receptor null (NSG) two relatively new immunocompromised mouse models, under a series of transplant conditions. Both models yielded stably transplantable xenografts relatively high rates compared with previously available immunocompromised mice. Xenograft lines were established directly from breast cancer patient samples, without intervening culture in vitro, using the epithelium-free mammary fat pad as the transplantation site. Of the conditions tested, xenograft take rate was highest in the presence of a low-dose estradiol pellet. Overall, 35 stably transplantable xenograft lines representing 27 patients were established, using pre-treatment, mid-treatment, and/or post-treatment samples. Most patients yielding xenografts were “triple-negative” (ER-PR-HER2-) (n=21). However, we were able to establish lines from three ER-PR-HER2+ patients, one ER+PR-HER2-, one ER+PR+HER2- and one “triple-positive” (ER+PR+HER2+) patient. Serially passaged xenografts show biological consistency with the tumor of origin at the histopathology level, and remarkable stability across multiple transplant generations at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels. Of the 27 patients represented, xenografts derived from 13 patients showed metastasis to the mouse lung. These models thus serve as a renewable, quality-controlled tissue resource, and should prove useful for preclinical evaluation of experimental therapeutics.
Project description:Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive phenotypic breast cancer characterized by ER negative, PR negative and Her2 negative immunohistochemistry status. We embarked on a study to explore the transcriptome of African American and Caucasian TNBC patients and identify race specific biomarkers.