Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.8
5.6
Journals
IJMS
Special Issues
Advances and Mechanisms in Breast Cancer
ijms-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for IJMS Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Advances and Mechanisms in Breast Cancer

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 July 2024 | Viewed by 3880

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ioannis Boutas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Breast Unit, REA Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece
Interests: breast cancer; hormone receptors; triple negative; Her-2neu; pregnancy-associated breast cancer; gene mutations

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent neoplastic diseases in women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Breast cancer treatment is based on a multidisciplinary approach involving various specialists, such as breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and radiation and medical oncologists, leading to a reduction in breast cancer mortality. Novel treatment approaches are being developed and research is being focused on the molecular aspects of breast cancer.

There are numerous research areas that must be addressed with regard to this devastating disease. Thus, this Special Issue offers a timely opportunity to publish studies that aim to explore the molecular aspects of breast cancer. Both original research and review articles are all welcome, especially articles describing the genes and molecular pathways that may serve as novel targets for experimental therapeutics and future clinical trials. It is expected that this Special Issue will become a useful resource for all investigators and clinicians interested in breast cancer research, and will inspire new research directions in the years to come.

Since IJMS is a journal of molecular science, purely clinical studies are suitable. However, clinical or pure model submissions reflecting biomolecular experiments are welcome.

Dr. Ioannis Boutas
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 5891 KiB  
Article
Resistance to Combined Anthracycline–Taxane Chemotherapy Is Associated with Altered Metabolism and Inflammation in Breast Carcinomas
by Otília Menyhárt, János Tibor Fekete and Balázs Győrffy
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(2), 1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25021063 - 15 Jan 2024
Viewed by 910
Abstract
Approximately 30% of early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients experience recurrence after systemic chemotherapy; thus, understanding therapy resistance is crucial in developing more successful treatments. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying resistance to combined anthracycline–taxane treatment by comparing gene expression patterns with subsequent therapeutic [...] Read more.
Approximately 30% of early-stage breast cancer (BC) patients experience recurrence after systemic chemotherapy; thus, understanding therapy resistance is crucial in developing more successful treatments. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying resistance to combined anthracycline–taxane treatment by comparing gene expression patterns with subsequent therapeutic responses. We established a cohort of 634 anthracycline–taxane-treated patients with pathological complete response (PCR) and a separate cohort of 187 patients with relapse-free survival (RFS) data, each having transcriptome-level expression data of 10,017 unique genes. Patients were categorized as responders and non-responders based on their PCR and RFS status, and the expression for each gene was compared between the two groups using a Mann–Whitney U-test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, with fold change (FC) > 1.44. Altogether, 224 overexpressed genes were identified in the tumor samples derived from the patients without PCR; among these, the gene sets associated with xenobiotic metabolism (e.g., CYP3A4, CYP2A6) exhibited significant enrichment. The genes ORAI3 and BCAM differentiated non-responders from responders with the highest AUC values (AUC > 0.75, p < 0.0001). We identified 51 upregulated genes in the tumor samples derived from the patients with relapse within 60 months, participating primarily in inflammation and innate immune responses (e.g., LYN, LY96, ANXA1). Furthermore, the amino acid transporter SLC7A5, distinguishing non-responders from responders, had significantly higher expression in tumors and metastases than in normal tissues (Kruskal–Wallis p = 8.2 × 10−20). The identified biomarkers underscore the significance of tumor metabolism and microenvironment in treatment resistance and can serve as a foundation for preclinical validation studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Mechanisms in Breast Cancer)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 5369 KiB  
Article
The Role of Transcription Factors in the Loss of Inter-Chromosomal Co-Expression for Breast Cancer Subtypes
by Rodrigo Trujillo-Ortíz, Jesús Espinal-Enríquez and Enrique Hernández-Lemus
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(24), 17564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242417564 - 16 Dec 2023
Viewed by 808
Abstract
Breast cancer encompasses a diverse array of subtypes, each exhibiting distinct clinical characteristics and treatment responses. Unraveling the underlying regulatory mechanisms that govern gene expression patterns in these subtypes is essential for advancing our understanding of breast cancer biology. Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) [...] Read more.
Breast cancer encompasses a diverse array of subtypes, each exhibiting distinct clinical characteristics and treatment responses. Unraveling the underlying regulatory mechanisms that govern gene expression patterns in these subtypes is essential for advancing our understanding of breast cancer biology. Gene co-expression networks (GCNs) help us identify groups of genes that work in coordination. Previous research has revealed a marked reduction in the interaction of genes located on different chromosomes within GCNs for breast cancer, as well as for lung, kidney, and hematopoietic cancers. However, the reasons behind why genes on the same chromosome often co-express remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the role of transcription factors in shaping gene co-expression networks within the four main breast cancer subtypes: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+, and Basal, along with normal breast tissue. We identify communities within each GCN and calculate the transcription factors that may regulate these communities, comparing the results across different phenotypes. Our findings indicate that, in general, regulatory behavior is to a large extent similar among breast cancer molecular subtypes and even in healthy networks. This suggests that transcription factor motif usage does not fully determine long-range co-expression patterns. Specific transcription factor motifs, such as CCGGAAG, appear frequently across all phenotypes, even involving multiple highly connected transcription factors. Additionally, certain transcription factors exhibit unique actions in specific subtypes but with limited influence. Our research demonstrates that the loss of inter-chromosomal co-expression is not solely attributable to transcription factor regulation. Although the exact mechanism responsible for this phenomenon remains elusive, this work contributes to a better understanding of gene expression regulatory programs in breast cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Mechanisms in Breast Cancer)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 1027 KiB  
Review
Reverse Onco-Cardiology: What Is the Evidence for Breast Cancer? A Systematic Review of the Literature
by Ioannis Boutas, Adamantia Kontogeorgi, Sophia N. Kalantaridou, Constantine Dimitrakakis, Panagiotis Patsios, Maria Kalantzi and Theodoros Xanthos
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(22), 16500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242216500 - 19 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1790
Abstract
Breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent significant global health challenges, with CVD being the leading cause of mortality and breast cancer, showing a complex pattern of incidence and mortality. We explore the intricate interplay between these two seemingly distinct medical conditions, shedding [...] Read more.
Breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent significant global health challenges, with CVD being the leading cause of mortality and breast cancer, showing a complex pattern of incidence and mortality. We explore the intricate interplay between these two seemingly distinct medical conditions, shedding light on their shared risk factors and potential pathophysiological connections. A specific connection between hypertension (HTN), atrial fibrillation (AF), myocardial infarction (MI), and breast cancer was evaluated. HTN is explored in detail, emphasizing the role of aging, menopause, insulin resistance, and obesity as common factors linking HTN and breast cancer. Moreover, an attempt is made to identify the potential impact of antihypertensive medications and highlight the increased risk of breast cancer among those women, with a focus on potential mechanisms. A summary of key findings underscores the need for a multisystem approach to understanding the relationship between CVD and breast cancer is also explored with a highlight for all the gaps in current research, such as the lack of clinical observational data on MI and breast cancer in humans and the need for studies specifically designed for breast cancer. This paper concludes that there should be a focus on potential clinical applications of further investigation in this field, including personalized prevention and screening strategies for women at risk. Overall, the authors attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of the intricate connections between breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing the importance of further research in this evolving field of cardio-oncology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances and Mechanisms in Breast Cancer)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop