Learn about breast cancer recurrence and metastasis

Despite advances in cancer detection and treatment, breast cancer recurrence or spread remains a challenge for researchers and oncologists

The American Cancer Society estimates that 44,130 Americans will die from recurrent or metastatic breast cancer

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and the Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati are studying the biological mechanisms

Research background

Waltz said the collaboration with Wells Labs began about 15 years ago, when both teams were working on different oncogenes, the ones that help accelerate cancer cell growth, called Ron and DEK

Waltz, a professor in the Department of Cancer Biology at the University of California School of Medicine and a member of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, said: "We show that both Ron and DEK are very important in breast cancer, and that both Ron and DEK are independently associated with poor overall survival in breast cancer patients

Current research has focused on the role of metabolic plasticity, which is how metabolism in the body is constantly changing, which plays an important role

Wells, a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, director of the Epithelial Cancer and Stem Cell Program at the Cincinnati Children's Center and a member of the Cancer Center, said, "Our metabolism is constantly changing, depending on our genetic structure, but also on the substances

Research results

The team found that the Ron and DEK genes can help cancer cells grow and spread

"So we looked around and found changes in metabolites, and then we used those changes to go back and find out which enzymes were involved in the regulation

By studying the associated enzymes, the team identified a metabolic signature that could help better predict a patient's prognosis

Waltz said: "We can use these metabolic pathways to understand how to better treat cancer patients so that they are less susceptible to breast cancer recurrence

For example, if high levels of an enzyme predict better results, nutritional supplements or other treatments can help promote the activity

"It's much easier to regulate metabolites than to regulate genes," Wells said

Waltz said further research will include looking at how Ron and DEK affect other molecules, such as lipids or fatty acids, which also play a role

"In other words, which metabolite is the most important factor in leading to these undesirable outcomes, and how we target it," Wells said
.

Continuous cooperation

Waltz and Wells say the collaboration in their lab has gone beyond research to include more collaborative discussions and training
for students and lab staff.

Waltz said: "It's interesting for my lab because I think it's best not to do research in a vacuum, which is really great
when you have collaborators who have different views on things.
" This helps to energize lab members because they know that science is not done in a
bubble.
It means a lot to us because we all have an idea and we work together to make that idea a reality
.
”

Wells added: "It's really fun to write and think together, and it's fun
to bring students and faculty together.
It's not that we add up the contributions of each lab and achieve a little more, but rather the synergy of our tools and expertise
.
”

The researchers also received help from the MRI-based metabolomics core at the Cincinnati Children's Center, which provides researchers with state-of-the-art technology
for conducting metabolic-related research.

"This metabolomics facility is really a great bridge, where different groups and labs do metabolomics work, converging in the middle, with Cincinnati children and UC, so that's very important," Wells said
.

Waltz and Wells are particularly noted for the work of Sara Vicente-Muñoz, co-first author of the study and research assistant at the core of Cincinnati pediatric metabolomics, making advances
in research.

"Sara really drove this project," Waltz said
.
"On the basis of collaboration, we have to figure out ways to do
what the University of California and Cincinnati Children's College haven't done yet.
" Sarah did that for us
.
”

NMR-based metabolomic analysis identifies RON-DEK-β-catenin dependent metabolic pathways and a gene signature that stratifies breast cancer patient survival