scholarly journals Novel evolutionary dynamics of small populations in breast cancer adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yael Artzy-Randrup ◽  
Tamir Epstein ◽  
Joel S. Brown ◽  
Ricardo L. B. Costa ◽  
Brian J. Czerniecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Allee Effects ◽  
Population Extinction ◽  
Small Cancer ◽  
Adjuvant And Neoadjuvant Therapy ◽  
Localized Disease ◽  
Demographic Fluctuations

AbstractDisseminated cancer cells (DCCs) are detected in the circulation and bone marrow of up to 40% of breast cancer (BC) patients with clinically localized disease. The formation of metastases is governed by eco-evolutionary interactions of DCCs with the tissue during the transition from microscopic populations to macroscopic disease. Here, we view BC adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments in the context of small population extinction dynamics observed in the Anthropocene era. Specifically, the unique eco-evolutionary dynamics of small asexually reproducing cancer populations render them highly vulnerable to: (1) environmental and demographic fluctuations, (2) Allee effects, (3) genetic drift and (4) population fragmentation. Furthermore, these typically interact, producing self-reinforcing, destructive dynamics—termed the Extinction Vortex—eradicating the population even when none of the perturbations is individually capable of causing extinction. We propose that developing BC adjuvant and neoadjuvant protocols may exploit these dynamics to prevent recovery and proliferation of small cancer populations during and after treatment—termed “Eco-evolutionary rescue” in natural extinctions. We hypothesize more strategic application of currently available agents based on the extinction vulnerabilities of small populations could improve clinical outcomes.

Evolutionary genetics of small populations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Frankham ◽  
Jonathan D. Ballou ◽  
Katherine Ralls ◽  
Mark D. B. Eldridge ◽  
Michele R. Dudash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Evolutionary Genetics ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Genetic Management ◽  
Evolutionary Genetic ◽  
Loss Of Genetic Diversity ◽  
Number Of Individuals

Genetic management of fragmented populations involves the application of evolutionary genetic theory and knowledge to alleviate problems due to inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity in small population fragments. Populations evolve through the effects of mutation, natural selection, chance (genetic drift) and gene flow (migration). Large outbreeding, sexually reproducing populations typically contain substantial genetic diversity, while small populations typically contain reduced levels. Genetic impacts of small population size on inbreeding, loss of genetic diversity and population differentiation are determined by the genetically effective population size, which is usually much smaller than the number of individuals.

scholarly journals Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Management Perspectives and Potential Consequences of Infection

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Justin M. Brown ◽  
Marie-Claire D. Wasson ◽  
Paola Marcato
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Gene Expression Analysis ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
Cell Entry ◽  
Treatment Timing ◽  
Acute Viral Infection ◽  
Localized Disease ◽  
Immunocompromised State

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the need for prioritization strategies for breast cancer treatment, where patients with aggressive disease, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are a high priority for clinical intervention. In this review, we summarize how COVID-19 has thus far impacted the management of TNBC and highlighted where more information is needed to hone shifting guidelines. Due to the immunocompromised state of most TNBC patients receiving treatment, TNBC management during the pandemic presents challenges beyond the constraints of overburdened healthcare systems. We conducted a literature search of treatment recommendations for both primary and targeted TNBC therapeutic strategies during the COVID-19 outbreak and noted changes to treatment timing and drugs of choice. Further, given that SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus, which has systemic consequences, management of TNBC patients with metastatic versus localized disease has additional considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Published dataset gene expression analysis of critical SARS-CoV-2 cell entry proteins in TNBCs suggests that the virus could in theory infect metastasized TNBC cells it contacts. This may have unforeseen consequences in terms of both the dynamics of the resulting acute viral infection and the progression of the chronic metastatic disease. Undoubtedly, the results thus far suggest that more research is required to attain a full understanding of the direct and indirect clinical impacts of COVID-19 on TNBC patients.

scholarly journals Elevated free IGF2 levels in localized, early-stage breast cancer in women

2008 ◽  
Vol 159 (5) ◽  
pp. 595-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrick Espelund ◽  
Søren Cold ◽  
Jan Frystyk ◽  
Hans Ørskov ◽  
Allan Flyvbjerg
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Early Stage Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Disease ◽  
Igf Binding ◽  
Localized Disease ◽  
Igf1 Receptor ◽  
Igf Binding Protein

ObjectiveEpidemiological studies imply an association between circulating IGF1 and breast cancer, whereas the role of IGF2, which also acts on the IGF1 receptor, is less settled. This study investigates the association between IGF2 and breast cancer in patients with localized disease.DesignThe participants were women with well-characterized, early stage, localized breast cancer (n=43) and matched healthy women (n=38), from whom fasting serum levels of IGF-related peptides were measured.ResultsIn patients, mean free IGF2 was increased (+57%, P<0.001), in spite of reduced total IGF2 levels (−12%, P=0.003) when compared with controls. Similar changes were seen in free IGF1 (+28%, P=0.004) and total IGF1 (−16% P=NS). Pro-IGF2 and IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) were unchanged. IGFBP2 was reduced by 22% in the patients (P=0.004). The patients showed reduced IGFBP3 protease activity and accordingly increased levels of intact IGFBP3, whereas total IGFBP3 was unchanged.ConclusionWomen with localized, early-stage breast cancer show elevated circulating free IGF1 and IGF2, reduced total IGF2 and alterations in IGFBPs. The changes observed despite minimal cancer disease suggest a role for the circulating IGF system in the progression of breast cancer in women.

scholarly journals The Performance of Different Artificial Intelligence Models in Predicting Breast Cancer among Individuals Having Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Cancers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Hsuen Hsieh ◽  
Li-Min Sun ◽  
Cheng-Li Lin ◽  
Meng-Ju Hsieh ◽  
Chung Hsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Research Database ◽  
Artificial Intelligence Models ◽  
Artificial Neural Network Ann

Objective: Early reports indicate that individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may have a greater incidence of breast malignancy than patients without T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of three different models for predicting risk of breast cancer in patients with T2DM of different characteristics. Study design and methodology: From 2000 to 2012, data on 636,111 newly diagnosed female T2DM patients were available in the Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. By applying their data, a risk prediction model of breast cancer in patients with T2DM was created. We also collected data on potential predictors of breast cancer so that adjustments for their effect could be made in the analysis. Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technology (SMOTE) was utilized to increase data for small population samples. Each datum was randomly assigned based on a ratio of about 39:1 into the training and test sets. Logistic Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) models were determined using recall, accuracy, F1 score and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: The AUC of the LR (0.834), ANN (0.865), and RF (0.959) models were found. The largest AUC among the three models was seen in the RF model. Conclusions: Although the LR, ANN, and RF models all showed high accuracy predicting the risk of breast cancer in Taiwanese with T2DM, the RF model performed best.

Could the serial determination of Ca15.3 serum improve the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT? Results from small population with previous breast cancer

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 469-477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Evangelista ◽  
Zora Baretta ◽  
Lorenzo Vinante ◽  
Anna Rita Cervino ◽  
Michele Gregianin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Diagnostic Accuracy ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Serial Determination ◽  
Pet Ct

scholarly journals Rescuing Christensenia aesculifolia (Marattiaceae), a plant species with an extremely small population in China

Oryx ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-438
Author(s):  
Lei Cai ◽  
Guiliang Zhang ◽  
Jianying Xiang ◽  
Zhiling Dao ◽  
Weibang Sun
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Provincial Government ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Field Investigations ◽  
Threatened Habitat ◽  
Extant Population

AbstractThe rare and threatened fern Christensenia aesculifolia of South-east Asia is listed in China as a second-ranked plant for national protection and is also categorized as one of 62 plant species with extremely small populations by the Yunnan provincial government. Field investigations during 2014–2017 failed to relocate one previously known population, and revealed that the single known extant population of C. aesculifolia contains only 10 individual plants. The most urgent conservation requirement for this species is to conserve the threatened habitat of the remnant population. Further field surveys and research are also required for an improved understanding of the species’ status.

scholarly journals Mortality Projections for Small Populations: An Application to the Maltese Elderly

Risks ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Menzietti ◽  
Maria Morabito ◽  
Manuela Stranges
Keyword(s):  
Missing Data ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Reference Population ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Adult Mortality ◽  
Small Population ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Small Country ◽  
Mortality Models ◽  
Mortality Projections

In small populations, mortality rates are characterized by a great volatility, the datasets are often available for a few years and suffer from missing data. Therefore, standard mortality models may produce high uncertain and biologically improbable projections. In this paper, we deal with the mortality projections of the Maltese population, a small country with less than 500,000 inhabitants, whose data on exposures and observed deaths suffers from all the typical problems of small populations. We concentrate our analysis on older adult mortality. Starting from some recent suggestions in the literature, we assume that the mortality of a small population can be modeled starting from the mortality of a bigger one (the reference population) adding a spread. The first part of the paper is dedicated to the choice of the reference population, then we test alternative mortality models. Finally, we verify the capacity of the proposed approach to reduce the volatility of the mortality projections. The results obtained show that the model is able to significantly reduce the uncertainty of projected mortality rates and to ensure their coherent and biologically reasonable evolution.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document