Breast cancer brain metastases: evidence for neuronal-like adaptation in a ‘breast-to-brain’ transition?

Abstract Brain metastases remain a significant challenge in the treatment of breast cancer patients due to the unique environment posed by the central nervous system. A better understanding of the biology of breast cancer cells that have metastasized to the brain is required to develop improved therapies. A recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences article demonstrates that breast cancer cells in the brain microenvironment express γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related genes, enabling them to utilize GABA as an oncometabolite, thus gaining a proliferative advantage. In this viewpoint, we highlight these findings and their potential impact on the treatment of breast cancer brain metastases

Panchromatic Imaging of a Transitional Disk: The Disk of GM Aur in Optical and FUV Scattered Light

We have imaged GM Aur with HST, detected its disk in scattered light at 1400A and 1650A, and compared these with observations at 3300A, 5550A, 1.1 microns, and 1.6 microns. The scattered light increases at shorter wavelengths. The radial surface brightness profile at 3300A shows no evidence of the 24AU radius cavity that has been previously observed in sub-mm observations. Comparison with dust grain opacity models indicates the surface of the entire disk is populated with sub-micron grains. We have compiled an SED from 0.1 microns to 1 mm, and used it to constrain a model of the star+disk system that includes the sub-mm cavity using the Monte Carlo Radiative Transfer code by Barbara Whitney. The best-fit model image indicates that the cavity should be detectable in the F330W bandpass if the cavity has been cleared of both large and small dust grains, but we do not detect it. The lack of an observed cavity can be explained by the presence of sub-microns grains interior to the sub-mm cavity wall. We suggest one explanation for this which could be due to a planet of mass <9 Jupiter masses interior to 24 AU. A unique cylindrical structure is detected in the FUV data from the Advanced Camera for Surveys/Solar Blind Channel. It is aligned along the system semi-minor axis, but does not resemble an accretion-driven jet. The structure is limb-brightened and extends 190 +/- 35 AU above the disk midplane. The inner radius of the limb-brightening is 40 +/- 10 AU, just beyond the sub-millimeter cavity wall.Comment: 40 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables, accepted to Ap

Exile Vol. XL No. 1

38th Year Title Page by Carrie Horner \u2797 i Epigraph by Ezra Pound ii Table of Contents iii-iv Vertigo by Lisa Stillman \u2795 1 Departing Flight by Morgan Roper \u2794 2 Untitled by Lizzie Loud \u2795 3 Marietta by Craig McDonough \u2794 4 Interlaken by Kira A . Pollack \u2794 5 Why Nature Surprises Us by Josh Endicott \u2796 6-7 Untitled by Colin Mack \u2794 7 My Father by Matt Wanat \u2795 8 Legs In The Dust by Alison Stevens \u2795 9-11 Untitled by Lilly Streett \u2794 12 of cigarettes, saltwater and death... by Tricia B. Swearingen \u2794 13 Serendipity by Lizzie Lout \u2795 14 Untitled by Lilly Streett \u2794 15 Summer by Allison Lemieux \u2795 16 And the Rain Fell by Jeremy Aufrance \u2795 17-18 Main Street by Elise Gargarella \u2795 19 Füssen by Morgan Roper \u2794 20 Lightning on the Snow by Matt Wanat \u2795 21 A discussion of 12 year-old murders, of course by Jeremy Aufrance \u2795 22 Get your hands off my hat by Jamie Oliver \u2794 23 The Hero by Sara Sterling Ely \u2796 24-26 Punker Dave by Trevett Allen \u2795 27 still looking for the perfect line by ryan shafer \u2794 28-29 Untitled by Lizzie Loud \u2795 30 Civil War by Katherine Anne Campo \u2794 31 Disposable belief by ryan shafer \u2794 32-33 Schizophrenic Sylvia by Maria Mohiuddin \u2795 34 Excerpts from Revolutions, a novel by Marcu McLaughlin \u2794 35-36 Untitled by Keith Chapman \u2795 37 The Survivors by Kira A. Pollack \u2794 38 Days of Prophecy by Trey Dunham \u2794 39 Untitled by Carrie Horner \u2797 40 What to do by Christopher Harnish \u2794 41 Familiar Stranger by Lisa Stillman \u2795 42-46 Untitled by John Salter \u2797 47 On Meeting Emma by Allison Lemieux \u2795 48 Nude Figure by James Oliver \u2794 49 Tathagata by Leslie Dana Wells \u2794 50 On Fences and My Dogs by Christopher Harnish \u2794 51 Editorial Board 52 Cover, Kira Pollack \u2794 -iv Editorial decision is shared equally among the Editorial Board. -5

Extreme Asymmetry in the Disk of V1247 Ori

We present the first near-infrared scattered-light detection of the transitional disk around V1247 Ori, which was obtained using high-resolution polarimetric differential imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO. Our imaging in the H band reveals the disk morphology at separations of ~0.14"-0.86" (54-330 au) from the central star. The polarized intensity (PI) image shows a remarkable arc-like structure toward the southeast of the star, whereas the fainter northwest region does not exhibit any notable features. The shape of the arm is consistent with an arc of 0.28" $\pm$ 0.09" in radius (108 au from the star), although the possibility of a spiral arm with a small pitch angle cannot be excluded. V1247 Ori features an exceptionally large azimuthal contrast in scattered, polarized light; the radial peak of the southeastern arc is about three times brighter than the northwestern disk measured at the same distance from the star. Combined with the previous indication of an inhomogeneous density distribution in the gap at $\lesssim$46 au, the notable asymmetry in the outer disk suggests the presence of unseen companions and/or planet-forming processes ongoing in the arc.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Integrated RNA and DNA sequencing reveals early drivers of metastatic breast cancer

Breast cancer metastasis remains a clinical challenge, even within a single patient across multiple sites of the disease. Genome-wide comparisons of both the DNA and gene expression of primary tumors and metastases in multiple patients could help elucidate the underlying mechanisms that cause breast cancer metastasis. To address this issue, we performed DNA exome and RNA sequencing of matched primary tumors and multiple metastases from 16 patients, totaling 83 distinct specimens. We identified tumor-specific drivers by integrating known protein-protein network information with RNA expression and somatic DNA alterations and found that genetic drivers were predominantly established in the primary tumor and maintained through metastatic spreading. In addition, our analyses revealed that most genetic drivers were DNA copy number changes, the TP53 mutation was a recurrent founding mutation regardless of subtype, and that multiclonal seeding of metastases was frequent and occurred in multiple subtypes. Genetic drivers unique to metastasis were identified as somatic mutations in the estrogen and androgen receptor genes. These results highlight the complexity of metastatic spreading, be it monoclonal or multiclonal, and suggest that most metastatic drivers are established in the primary tumor, despite the substantial heterogeneity seen in the metastases

Preventing Establishment: An Inventory of Introduced Plants in Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos

As part of an island-wide project to identify and eradicate potentially invasive plant species before they become established, a program of inventories is being carried out in the urban and agricultural zones of the four inhabited islands in Galapagos. This study reports the results of the inventory from Puerto Villamil, a coastal village representing the urban zone of Isabela Island. We visited all 1193 village properties to record the presence of the introduced plants. In addition, information was collected from half of the properties to determine evidence for potential invasiveness of the plant species. We recorded 261 vascular taxa, 13 of which were new records for Galapagos. Most of the species were intentionally grown (cultivated) (73.3%) and used principally as ornamentals. The most frequent taxa we encountered were Cocos nucifera (coconut tree) (22.1%) as a cultivated plant and Paspalum vaginatum (salt water couch) (13.2%) as a non cultivated plant. In addition 39 taxa were naturalized. On the basis of the invasiveness study, we recommend five species for eradication (Abutilon dianthum, Datura inoxia, Datura metel, Senna alata and Solanum capsicoides), one species for hybridization studies (Opuntia ficus-indica) and three species for control (Furcraea hexapetala, Leucaena leucocephala and Paspalum vaginatum)