Higher population‐based incidence rates of triple‐negative breast cancer among young African‐American women

BACKGROUND: Differences in the breast cancer burden of African‐American women compared with white American women are well documented. Recent controversies have emerged regarding age‐appropriate mammographic screening guidelines, and these surveillance recommendations may influence future breast cancer disparities. The objective of the current study was to evaluate age‐specific breast cancer stage distributions and incidence rates of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) in a population‐based tumor registry. METHODS: The authors analyzed breast cancers from the California Cancer Registry (CCR) that were diagnosed between 1988 and 2006. The results were stratified by age and race/ethnicity, with white Americans identified as non‐Hispanic whites (NHWs) and African Americans identified as non‐Hispanic blacks (NHBs). Breast cancer stage distributions and TNBC incidence rates also were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 375,761 invasive breast cancers were evaluated (including 276,938 in NHWs and 21,681 in NHBs). NHBs and Hispanics tended to be younger than NHWs (median ages 57 years, 54 years, and 64 years, respectively). Lifetime incidence rates were higher for NHWs compared with NHBs and Hispanics; however, for women aged <44 years, incidence was highest among NHBs. NHBs also had higher incidence rates of stage III and IV disease and a higher incidence of TNBC in all age categories. CONCLUSIONS: Population‐based data demonstrated that African‐American women had a more advanced stage distribution for breast cancer compared with white American women and higher incidence rates for TNBC. These patterns were observed for women ages 40 to 49 years and for older women, and they suggest that mammographic screening for the early detection of breast cancer will be particularly relevant for younger African‐American women. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society. The California Cancer Registry revealed higher population‐based incidence rates of early onset, advanced‐stage, and triple‐negative breast cancer for African‐American women compared with white American women. These findings suggested that mammographic screening will be particularly important for young African‐American women.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87175/1/25862_ftp.pd

A systems biology approach to the evolution of plant-virus interactions

[EN] Omic approaches to the analysis of plant-virus interactions are becoming increasingly popular. These types of data, in combination with models of interaction networks, will aid in revealing not only host components that are important for the virus life cycle, but also general patterns about the way in which different viruses manipulate host regulation of gene expression for their own benefit and possible mechanisms by which viruses evade host defenses. Here, we review studies identifying host genes regulated by viruses and discuss how these genes integrate in host regulatory and interaction networks, with a particular focus on the physical properties of these networks. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.This work was supported by grants from the Spanish MICINN (BFU2009-06993) and Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO2010/019). GR is supported by a fellowship from Generalitat Valenciana (BFPI2007-160) and JC by a contract from MICINN (Grant TIN2006-12860). We thank Jose-Antonio Dares and Gustavo G. Gomez for comments.Elena Fito, SF.; Carrera, J.; Rodrigo, J. (2011). A systems biology approach to the evolution of plant-virus interactions. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 14(4):372-377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2011.03.013S37237714

Genetic divergence of rubber tree estimated by multivariate techniques and microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity of 60 Hevea genotypes, consisting of Asiatic, Amazonian, African and IAC clones, and pertaining to the genetic breeding program of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), Brazil, was estimated. Analyses were based on phenotypic multivariate parameters and microsatellites. Five agronomic descriptors were employed in multivariate procedures, such as Standard Euclidian Distance, Tocher clustering and principal component analysis. Genetic variability among the genotypes was estimated with 68 selected polymorphic SSRs, by way of Modified Rogers Genetic Distance and UPGMA clustering. Structure software in a Bayesian approach was used in discriminating among groups. Genetic diversity was estimated through Nei's statistics. The genotypes were clustered into 12 groups according to the Tocher method, while the molecular analysis identified six groups. In the phenotypic and microsatellite analyses, the Amazonian and IAC genotypes were distributed in several groups, whereas the Asiatic were in only a few. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.05 to 0.96. Both high total diversity (HT' = 0.58) and high gene differentiation (G st' = 0.61) were observed, and indicated high genetic variation among the 60 genotypes, which may be useful for breeding programs. The analyzed agronomic parameters and SSRs markers were effective in assessing genetic diversity among Hevea genotypes, besides proving to be useful for characterizing genetic variability

Cassava genome from a wild ancestor to cultivated varieties

Cassava is a major tropical food crop in the Euphorbiaceae family that has high carbohydrate production potential and adaptability to diverse environments. Here we present the draft genome sequences of a wild ancestor and a domesticated variety of cassava and comparative analyses with a partial inbred line. We identify 1,584 and 1,678 gene models specific to the wild and domesticated varieties, respectively, and discover high heterozygosity and millions of single-nucleotide variations. Our analyses reveal that genes involved in photosynthesis, starch accumulation and abiotic stresses have been positively selected, whereas those involved in cell wall biosynthesis and secondary metabolism, including cyanogenic glucoside formation, have been negatively selected in the cultivated varieties, reflecting the result of natural selection and domestication. Differences in microRNA genes and retrotransposon regulation could partly explain an increased carbon flux towards starch accumulation and reduced cyanogenic glucoside accumulation in domesticated cassava. These results may contribute to genetic improvement of cassava through better understanding of its biology