Nuria. REU abstract first draft

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Finding the Ancestral Link among Women with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Nuria Astrid Perez Varela Mentor: Leticia Márquez-Magaña, PhD Description: The ancestral nature of the maternal linage of 100 latinas was identified to determine if an ancestral link exists among patients diagnosed with this form of cancer. Abstract Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2 expression making them especially deadly. This is because these receptors are the targets for highly successful treatments for breast cancer, and their absence makes it difficult to treat TNBC. TNBC is found in 15% of U.S. women with breast cancer, African-American women having the highest incidence (Carey 2006) . In sub-Saharan Africa the rate of TNBC appears to be much higher. A recent study of 75 breast cancer patients in Ghana found that 82% had TNBC (Stark 2010). The high rates of TNBC in African American and Ghanaian women suggest it may have a genetic ancestral component. We studied the mtDNA type of 100 Latinas with and without TNBC to determine if an ancestral link exists among patients diagnosed with this form of cancer. Latinas are a heterogeneous human sub-population having European, Native American, and African ancestry. The ancestral nature of their maternal lineage can be determined by mtDNA typing. Therefore the mtDNA type of 31 latinas with TNBC, 34 with triple positive breast cancer, and 35 unaffected controls wi ll be determined. Preliminary results show that a TNBC cell line has a mtDNA type indicative of African ancestry; whereas, a triple-positive cell line has a mtDNA type indicative of European ancestry. Consequently, we predict that TNBC samples will display greater percentage of African ancestry. The identification of an ancestral link among women with TNBC may allow for development of methods for its early detection and treatment. Work cited Carey LA, Perou CM, Livasy CA, Dressler LG, Cowan D, Conway K, Karaca G, Troester MA, Tse CK, Edmiston S, Deming SL, Geradts J, Cheang MC, Nielsen TO, Moorman PG, Earp HS, Millikan RC. Race, Breast Cancer Subtypes, and Survival in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. JAMA. 2006 Jun 7;295(21):2492-502. Stark A, Kleer CG, Martin I, Awuah B, Nsiah-Asare A, Takyi V, Braman M, Quayson SE, Zarbo R, Wicha M, Newman L. African ancestry and higher prevalence of triple- negative breast cancer: findings from an international study. Cancer. 2010 Nov 1;116(21):4926-32. Steward, Paul A, et al. "Differentially Expressed Transcripts And Dysregulated Signaling Pathways And Networks In African American Breast Cancer." Plos one 8.12 (2013): e82460. MEDLINE. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. Lindner, Robert, et al. "Molecular Phenotypes In Triple Negative Breast Cancer From African American Patients Suggest Targets For Therapy." Plos One 8.11 (2013):

Transcript of Nuria. REU abstract first draft

Page 1: Nuria. REU abstract first draft

Finding the Ancestral Link among Women with Triple-Negative Breast CancerNuria Astrid Perez VarelaMentor: Leticia Márquez-Magaña, PhD

Description:The ancestral nature of the maternal linage of 100 latinas was identified to determine if an ancestral link exists among patients diagnosed with this form of cancer.

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER-2 expression making them especially deadly. This is because these receptors are the targets for highly successful treatments for breast cancer, and their absence makes it difficult to treat TNBC. TNBC is found in 15% of U.S. women with breast cancer, African-American women having the highest incidence (Carey 2006) . In sub-Saharan Africa the rate of TNBC appears to be much higher. A recent study of 75 breast cancer patients in Ghana found that 82% had TNBC (Stark 2010). The high rates of TNBC in African American and Ghanaian women suggest it may have a genetic ancestral component. We studied the mtDNA type of 100 Latinas with and without TNBC to determine if an ancestral link exists among patients diagnosed with this form of cancer. Latinas are a heterogeneous human sub-population having European, Native American, and African ancestry. The ancestral nature of their maternal lineage can be determined by mtDNA typing. Therefore the mtDNA type of 31 latinas with TNBC, 34 with triple positive breast cancer, and 35 unaffected controls will be determined. Preliminary results show that a TNBC cell line has a mtDNA type indicative of African ancestry; whereas, a triple-positive cell line has a mtDNA type indicative of European ancestry. Consequently, we predict that TNBC samples will display greater percentage of African ancestry. The identification of an ancestral link among women with TNBC may allow for development of methods for its early detection and treatment.

Work citedCarey LA, Perou CM, Livasy CA, Dressler LG, Cowan D, Conway K, Karaca G,

Troester MA, Tse CK, Edmiston S, Deming SL, Geradts J, Cheang MC, Nielsen TO, Moorman PG, Earp HS, Millikan RC. Race, Breast Cancer Subtypes, and Survival in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. JAMA. 2006 Jun 7;295(21):2492-502.

Stark A, Kleer CG, Martin I, Awuah B, Nsiah-Asare A, Takyi V, Braman M, Quayson SE, Zarbo R, Wicha M, Newman L. African ancestry and higher prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer: findings from an international study. Cancer. 2010 Nov 1;116(21):4926-32.

Steward, Paul A, et al. "Differentially Expressed Transcripts And Dysregulated Signaling Pathways And Networks In African American Breast Cancer." Plos one 8.12 (2013): e82460. MEDLINE. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

Lindner, Robert, et al. "Molecular Phenotypes In Triple Negative Breast Cancer From African American Patients Suggest Targets For Therapy." Plos One 8.11 (2013):

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e71915. MEDLINE. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.