Breast cancer (BC) stem cells (CSCs) resist treatment and can exist as dormant cells in tissues such as the bone marrow (BM). Years before clinical diagnosis, BC cells (BCCs) could migrate from the primary site where the BM niche cells facilitate dedifferentiation into CSCs. Additionally, dedifferentiation could occur by cell autonomous methods. Here we studied the role of Msi 1, a RNA-binding protein, Musashi I (Msi 1). We also analyzed its relationship with the T-cell inhibitory molecule programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in CSCs. PD-L1 is an immune checkpoint that is a target in immune therapy for cancers. Msi 1 can support BCC growth through stabilization of oncogenic transcripts and modulation of stem cell-related gene expression. We reported on a role for Msi 1 to maintain CSCs. This seemed to occur by the differentiation of CSCs to more matured BCCs. This correlated with increased transition from cycling quiescence and reduced expression of stem cell-linked genes. CSCs coexpressed Msi 1 and PD-L1. Msi 1 knockdown led to a significant decrease in CSCs with undetectable PD-L1. This study has implications for Msi 1 as a therapeutic target, in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor. Such treatment could also prevent dedifferentiation of breast cancer to CSCs, and to reverse tumor dormancy. The proposed combined treatment might be appropriate for other solid tumors.
Firearm violence is heavily prominent in large urban cities. Upon closer inspection, a pattern becomes evident whereby violence clusters in marginalized minority populations. In fact, gun violence is the leading cause of death of Hispanic youth aged 15 to 29 in the United States[6]. Unfortunately, many current, existing intervention programs lack the cultural competencies needed to engage directly with impacted communities. This article highlights a novel community participatory collaborative approach for violence intervention. Collaborating with an established program, the VOICE (Violence Outreach Intervention and Community Education) Program, youth from the greater Essex County area participated in gun violence awareness sessions. Activities included virtual education workshops, in-person teaching sessions, and local community engagement activities. The program shows how community engagement, meeting students at where they are, could help us create awareness in how to de-escalate violence. This participatory approach could be an innovative way to break the cycle of violence of our youth, especially Latinos.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.