COLUMBUS, Ohio – Whether vaping and smoking increases the risk for lung cancer, how breastfeeding plays a role in breast cancer diagnosis and new therapies for b-cell malignancies are among the research being presented by faculty of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) at the American Association for Cancer Research® (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024 April 5-10 in San Diego.

A focal point for the cancer research community, the AACR annual meeting highlights the strongest cancer research from institutions around the world. Highlights from the OSUCCC – James team include (all times listed in Pacific):

Vaping, smoking and lung cancer risk 
EXPERT: Marisa Bittoni, PhD, research assistant professor, OSUCCC – James
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 8
Nicotine exposure from vaping has been found to elevate the risk of certain lung conditions. However, the potential impact of vaping on lung cancer risk remains unexplored. In this study, researchers looked at the link between vaping and cigarette smoking and lung cancer risk. People who vaped and smoked were at threefold higher risk of lung cancer compared with those who only smoked. Results suggest that the addition of vaping to smoking may greatly accelerate the risk of lung cancer.

Understanding the link between breastfeeding and the risk of breast cancer 
EXPERTS: Sanjay Mishra, PhD, pathology research scientist, Sarmila Majumder, PhD, research scientist, and Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, MD, medical oncologist, OSUCCC – James Translational Therapeutics Research Program
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Monday, April 8
This research looked at 47 global population health studies that revealed a higher breast cancer risk in women who didn't breastfeed or breastfed briefly. Short-term or no breastfeeding results in abrupt involution of breast tissue and a higher risk for triple-negative breast cancer. Abrupt tissue changes trigger fat cell regrowth, rapid cell death, DNA repair and myeloid cell infiltration, leading to a chronically inflamed microenvironment. Abrupt tissue changes also creates an environment that allows breast cancer cells to thrive, emphasizing the protective role of prolonged breastfeeding. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to prevention strategies for all, particularly Black women who have a lower prevalence of breastfeeding and higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer. Researchers hope to dismantle the barriers to prolonged breastfeeding and gradual weaning.

New targeted drug trial for patients with difficult-to-treat B-cell cancers
EXPERT: Jennifer Woyach, MD, hematologist, OSUCCC – James Leukemia Research Program
WHEN: 1:30 – 5 p.m. Monday, April 8
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a new drug known only as AC676 while in testing in patients with relapsed and treatment -resistant B-cell malignancies. The clinical trial will also evaluate molecular response and the pharmacokinetic profile (how body moves and modifies medication in the body) following single and multiple doses. Study enrollment began in April 2023 with three sites currently open in the United States.

Using obesity-related molecular factors as a roadmap for uterine cancer prevention 
EXPERT: Kalpana Deepa Priya Dorayappan, PhD, research scientist, OSUCCC – James
WHEN: 1:30 – 5 p.m. Monday, April 8
Endometrial cancer is the leading type of gynecologic cancer in the United States, with obesity tied to 57% of cases. This study explores the molecular workings of cancer-driving (oncogenic) protein expression (TMEM205, STAT5 and FAS) and their role in regulating cellular function or disfunction. It offers insights into the mechanisms underlying obesity-driven TMEM205 expression and sheds light on how these cellular mechanisms may influence development of endometrial cancer. Additionally, the study provides pre-clinical evidence supporting the first in-human studies for exosome-targeted therapies aimed at preventing obesity-driven endometrial cancer.

Examining how epigenetic factors, neighborhood factors impact cancer survival 
EXPERT: Jesse Plascak, PhD, research scientist, OSUCCC – James Cancer Control Research Program 
WHEN: 1:30 – 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 9
Epigenetics is the study of how a person’s behaviors and environment can change the way their genes work. Unlike genetic changes, these effects can be reversed and do not change the structure of the genes. Epigenetics can be used to measure biologic aging, how fast we age inside our bodies, which is different than chronologic aging typically measured by counting birthdays.

This study examined whether biologically accelerated age caused by lifestyle factors was associated with living in a low-resource community and shorter breast cancer survival. Greater neighborhood disinvestment (areas with excessive litter, poorer housing conditions, and poor yard conditions) was linked to a 37% shorter survival time among those with biologic aging. Among those with accelerated epigenetic aging who did not survive as long, there was no association between low-resource residency status and survival. These results suggest that neighborhood divestment may be related to shorter cancer survival by acting as a chronic stressor.

Tech could help identify biomarkers EBV-associated central nervous system lymphomas 
EXPERTS: Christoph Weigel, PhD, research scientist, and Robert Baiocchi, MD, PhD, hematologist, OSUCCC – James
WHEN: 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10
Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects the majority of the world’s population, often without causing initial disease. However, in risk settings such as after organ transplant, EBV can transform blood cells into cancer cells, causing lymphoma. When these lymphomas present in the central nervous system, they become hard to treat. 

It is known that treating EBV-driven central nervous system lymphomas with an antiviral drug regimen is highly effective, while other EBV-associated lymphomas usually do not respond well to this treatment. The molecular basis for this is unknown, making it a challenge to decide whether antivirals will benefit the patient. 

This study looked at a new technology that read molecular features on the DNA of EBV. This allowed researchers to identify activation of a key viral protein that allows central nervous system lymphoma cells to respond to antiviral drugs. These identified viral DNA features may be used as a biomarker in the future to allow experts to better diagnose and treat EBV-associated lymphoma. 

To learn more about research at the OSUCCC – James, visit cancer.osu.edu/research. To learn more about the AACR annual meeting, visit aacr.org.

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Media Contact: Mary Ellen Fiorino, Mary.Fiorino@osumc.edu