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Breast cancer remains a significant cause of mortality in females worldwide, despite advances in technology and treatment. MicroRNA expression in breast cancer is studied both as potential biomarkers and for therapeutic purposes. Accumulated evidence revealed microRNA profile of various types of cancer cells following antineoplastic treatment. The progression of research in this area provides better understanding on the anti-cancer mechanism of various natural compounds and drugs specifically on the microRNA regulation. Hence, we aim to systematically review differentially expressed microRNA in MCF-7, a commonly studied breast cancer cell line, after treatment with anti-neoplastic agents. Relevant keywords were used to screen for research articles that reported on the differentially expressed microRNAs in experimental models of MCF-7 before and after anti-neoplastic treatment. Target genes of microRNAs were identified from MiRTarbase and further in silico functional analysis of the target genes were performed using DAVID bioinformatic resources. Two upregulated microRNAs (mir-200c and let-7d) and 3 downregulated microRNAs (mir-27a, mir-27b and mir-203) were identified by highest number of studies. Three microRNAs (let-7a, mir-23a and mir-7) showed inconsistent direction of expression. Genes functional analysis revealed the regulatory effect of microRNA on genes related to angiogenesis, hypoxia, P53, FoxO and PI3K-AKT signalling. Clusters of genes associated to the pathway of angiogenesis, cancers, cell proliferation and apoptosis were noted through protein-protein interaction analysis. MicroRNAs, especially the mir-200c, let-7d, mir-27a, mir-27b and mir-203 from this review could be further validated experimentally to serve as molecular target or biomarkers for anti-neoplastic therapy.

Introduction: Maintaining the relative dose intensity (RDI) of adjuvant chemotherapy at ≥ 85% has been associated with improved treatment outcomes in early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). Increasing evidence has suggested that patients aged ≥ 65 years can maintain the optimal RDI for standard chemotherapy regimens. The present study investigated the RDI of newer adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in this demographic., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data from 281 patients aged ≥ 65 years with a diagnosis of ESBC who had received adjuvant chemotherapy across 3 sites in Queensland, Australia from 2010 to 2015. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients who had received an RDI of ≥ 85%., Results: The median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range, 65-85 years), with 36.3% aged > 70 years. The patient characteristics included tumor stage T3 or T4 in 17% and node-positive disease in 60%. The common chemotherapy regimens included docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (23%), 5-fluorouracil/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide plus docetaxel or paclitaxel (17%); Adriamycin/cyclophosphamide/weekly paclitaxel (38%); and docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab (11%). Primary (15%) and secondary (54%) granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was used. An RDI of ≥ 85% was achieved in 63% of the patients. Significant associations were noted between a reduced RDI and age ≥ 70 years (P < .001), Charlson comorbidity index ≥ 1 (P = .043), initial dose reductions (P = .01), secondary G-CSF use (P = .45), hospital admission (P < .001), and febrile neutropenia (P = .007). Treatment-related toxicities were the most common reason for noncompletion, with high rates of hospital admissions (46%) and febrile neutropenia (22%)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patients aged ≥ 65 years with ESBC can maintain an optimal RDI with modern chemotherapy regimens. Appropriate geriatric assessment and the use of supportive measures such as G-CSF could better assist select groups to maintain an optimal dose intensity., (Crown Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: To provide equality of cancer care to rural patients, Townsville Cancer Centre administers intensive chemotherapy regimens to rural patients with node-positive breast and metastatic colorectal cancers at the same doses as urban patients. Side-effects were usually managed by rural general practitioners locally., Aim: The aim is to determine the safety of this practice by comparing the profile of serious adverse events and dose intensities between urban and rural patients at the Townsville Cancer Centre., Method: A retrospective audit was conducted in patients with metastatic colorectal and node-positive breast cancers during a 24-month period. Fisher's exact test was used for analysis. Rurality was determined as per rural, remote and metropolitan classification., Results: Of the 121 patients included, 70 and 51 patients had breast and colon cancers respectively. The urban versus rural patient split among all patients, breast and colorectal cancer subgroups was 68 versus 53, 43 versus 27 and 25 versus 26 respectively. A total of 421 cycles was given with dose intensity of >95% for breast cancer in both groups (P > 0.05). Rate of febrile neutropenia was 9.3% versus 7.4% (P = 0.56). For XELOX, rate of diarrhoea was 20% versus 19% (P = 0.66) and rate of vomiting was 20% versus 11% (P = 0.11). Only two patients were transferred to Townsville for admission. No toxic death occurred in either group., Conclusion: It appears safe to administer intensive chemotherapy regimens at standard doses to rural patients without increased morbidity or mortality. Support for general practitioners through phone or videoconferencing may reduce the safety concerns., (© 2013 The Authors; Internal Medicine Journal © 2013 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)