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Biomedical subjects

Alexander D Borowsky

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander D Borowsky.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Aneuploidy selects for the acquisition of driver genes in breast cancer.

Chromosome instability is highly prevalent in cancer and drives large-scale chromosomal imbalances, known as aneuploidies1-4. How aneuploidy contributes to tumorigenesis remains difficult to study due to the vast numbers of genes affected. Here we established a CRISPR knockout- and activation-linked assay (CRISPR-KOALA), enabling high-throughput bidirectional genetic screens in immunocompetent mouse models of cancer. We developed a compendium of the ten most frequent human chromosome-arm-level alterations in basal-like breast cancer (BLBC), a disease type that is driven by large copy-number alterations (CNAs)5-8. Using CRISPR-KOALA, we screened the mouse orthologues of 3,752 genes on these arms and identified 90 cancer driver genes, the function of the vast majority of which is unknown. These genes drive distinct signalling pathways including MAPK, HIPPO and WNT, reflecting the high degree of BLBC heterogeneity. Manipulating the identified cancer driver genes overcomes the need for CNAs in Trp53-mutant BLBC mouse models. Mechanistically, we identify that PLGRKT is a potent oncogene that lies on chromosome 9p and show that its tumour-promoting activity is associated with highly stress-resistant mitochondria and an increased ability to detoxify reactive oxygen species. Together, our findings reveal that arm-level CNAs can function to select specific driver genes to promote heterogeneous biological processes.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Nkx3.1; Pten mutant mice develop invasive prostate adenocarcinoma and lymph node metastases.

Recent studies have shown that several loss-of-function mouse models of prostate carcinogenesis can develop a spectrum of precancerous lesions that resemble human prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). Here, we have investigated the malignant potential of the high-grade PIN lesions that form in Nkx3.1(+/-); Pten(+/-) compound mutant mice and demonstrate their neoplastic progression in a serial transplantation/tissue recombination assay. Furthermore, we find that a majority of Nkx3.1(+/-); Pten(+/-) mice greater than 1 year of age develop invasive adenocarcinoma, which is frequently accompanied by metastases to lymph nodes. Finally, we observe androgen independence of high-grade PIN lesions after androgen ablation of Nkx3.1(+/-); Pten(+/-) mice. We conclude that Nkx3.1(+/-); Pten(+/-) mice recapitulate key features of advanced prostate cancer and represent a useful model for investigating associated molecular mechanisms and for evaluating therapeutic approaches.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

An antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to p21(Waf1/Cip1) causes apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.

Whereas 40% of human breast carcinomas harbor mutations in the tumor suppressor protein p53, the use of tests demonstrating the presence of p53 mutations as a prognostic marker in breast cancer has not altered clinical management. Therefore, the search for new markers, especially among cell cycle-regulatory molecules, is a high priority, both in terms of prognostication and for identification of novel targets. p21 regulates the outcome of the p53 response to DNA damage, as might occur after administration of a chemotherapeutic agent, and we have shown that attenuation of p21 using an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) inhibits cell proliferation in vitro and decreases growth of Met-1 mammary carcinomas in mice. In the current study, we extend this work to human cells and tissue. Three of eight human breast tumors that we obtained from a tissue bank show markedly increased p21 levels, variably staining in the nucleus and cytosol. All corresponding normal tissues were p21 negative. In the three p21-positive tumors, the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-relevant signaling proteins p85 and PTEN were also increased. To investigate whether p21 is a feasible target for attenuation in human breast cancer, we investigated two human carcinoma cell lines. When transfected with antisense p21 ODN, both MCF7 and T47D breast cancer cells exhibit dose-dependent attenuation of p21 levels, associated with apoptosis in the absence of an additional apoptotic stimulus. Because p21 regulates the cellular repair response to damaged DNA, our work suggests that attenuation of p21 using our antisense p21 ODN may be effective in modulating the progression of breast cancer in either the presence or absence of combination chemotherapy and sets the stage for future clinical trials.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2002

A recombinant rhesus cytomegalovirus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein retains the wild-type phenotype and pathogenicity in fetal macaques.

To facilitate identification of rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV)-infected cells, a recombinant virus expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), designated RhCMV-EGFP, was constructed. An expression cassette for EGFP under the control of the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter was inserted into the intergenic region between unique short 1 (US1) and US2 of the RhCMV genome by homologous recombination. RhCMV-EGFP exhibited comparable growth kinetics to that of wild-type virus in rhesus fibroblast cultures and retained its pathogenicity in monkey fetuses. Typical neurologic syndromes caused by CMV infection were observed in all fetuses experimentally inoculated with RhCMV-EGFP, as evidenced by sonographic and gross examinations. Systemic RhCMV infections were established in all fetuses, as viral antigen was detected in multiple organs and virus was isolated from fetal blood samples. The engineered viral genome was stable following rapid serial passages in vitro and multiple rounds of replication in vivo. Infected cells could be readily distinguished by green fluorescence both in tissue cultures and in the fetuses. In addition, EGFP expression was detected in various cell types that were permissive to RhCMV infection, consistent with a broad tissue tropism of the SV40 promoter. These results demonstrate that RhCMV can be successfully engineered without loss of wild-type replication and pathogenic potential. Further, the spectrum of cortical anomalies and the distribution of infected cells in the brain tissues indicated that RhCMV may have preferentially targeted immature neuronal cells. The pattern of RhCMV infection in the central nervous system may offer an explanation for the severe developmental outcomes associated with congenital human CMV infection early in gestation.

Animals↗