Women’s Health and Breast Cancer

Biography

Biography: Brian W. Booth

Abstract

Breast cancer accounts for almost 30$ of new cancer diagnoses and is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in developed countries. Lumpectomy is a common procedure to remove breast tumors resulting in a tissue void. There are currently no highly regarded surgical techniques to repair these voids. The objective of this project is to develop an injectable tissue regeneration matrix with anti-cancer properties. Collagen type I is a common tissue-engineering scaffold due to its intrinsically bioactive and biodegradable qualities. Collagen is a naturally derived material and, when not crosslinked, is enzymatically degraded. Research efforts targeting the potential of natural compounds in the fight against cancer are growing. Tannic acid (TA) belongs to the class of hydrolysable tannins and is found in numerous plants and foods. TA functions as a collagen crosslinking agent through both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic effects; thus, as crosslinked collagen is remodeled TA is released. If used as a biomaterial for tissue-engineering purposes, TA-crosslinked collaged type I would not only serve as an attachment scaffold for cells but also function as an extended release anti-cancer treatment. When normal adipocytes attach and grow on TA-crosslinked collagen type I beads the released TA induces apoptosis in ER+ and HER2+ breast cancer cells with minimal impact on normal breast epithelial cells and adipocytes. The TA-induced apoptosis is mediated by caspases 3, 7 and 9. In conclusion, TA-crosslinked collagen beads show promise as a potential tissue regeneration matrix while providing an anti-cancer effect.