Background: The DNA-damage immune-response (DDIR) signature is an immune-driven gene expression signature retrospectively validated as predicting response to anthracycline-based therapy. This feasibility study prospectively evaluates the use of this assay to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in early breast cancer. Methods: This feasibility study assessed the integration of a novel biomarker into clinical workflows. Tumour samples were collected from patients receiving standard of care neoadjuvant chemotherapy (FEC + /−taxane and anti-HER2 therapy as appropriate) at baseline, mid- and post-chemotherapy. Baseline DDIR signature scores were correlated with pathological treatment response. RNA sequencing was used to assess chemotherapy/response-related changes in biologically linked gene signatures. Results: DDIR signature reports were available within 14 days for 97.8% of 46 patients (13 TNBC, 16 HER2 + ve, 27 ER + HER2-ve). Positive scores predicted response to treatment (odds ratio 4.67 for RCB 0-1 disease (95% CI 1.13–15.09, P = 0.032)). DDIR positivity correlated with immune infiltration and upregulated immune-checkpoint gene expression. Conclusions: This study validates the DDIR signature as predictive of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy which can be integrated into clinical workflows, potentially identifying a subgroup with high sensitivity to anthracycline chemotherapy. Transcriptomic data suggest induction with anthracycline-containing regimens in immune restricted, “cold” tumours may be effective for immune priming. Trial registration: Not applicable (non-interventional study). CRUK Internal Database Number 14232.

Background: Vigorous physical activity has been associated with lower risk of fatal prostate cancer. However, mechanisms contributing to this relationship are not understood. Methods: We studied 117 men with prostate cancer in the University of North Carolina Cancer Survivorship Cohort (UNC CSC) who underwent radical prostatectomy and 101 radiation-treated patients with prostate cancer in FASTMAN. Structured questionnaires administered in UNC CSC assessed physical activity. In both studies, digital image analysis of hematoxylin and eosin–stained tissues was applied to quantify tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in segmented regions. NanoString gene expression profiling in UNC CSC and microarray in FASTMAN were performed on tumor tissue, and a 50-gene signature utilized to predict immune cell types. Results: Vigorous recreational activity, reported by 34 (29.1%) UNC CSC men, was inversely associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte abundance. Tumors of men reporting any vigorous activity versus none showed lower gene expression–predicted abundance of Th, exhausted CD4 T cells, and macrophages. T-cell subsets, including regulatory T cells, Th, Tfh, exhausted CD4 T cells, and macrophages, were associated with an increased risk of biochemical recurrence, only among men with ERG-positive tumors. Conclusions: Vigorous activity was associated with lower prostate tumor inflammation and immune microenvironment differences. Macrophages and T-cell subsets, including those with immunosuppressive roles and those with lower abundance in men reporting vigorous exercise, were associated with worse outcomes in ERG-positive prostate cancer. Impact: Our novel findings contribute to our understanding of the role of the tumor immune microenvironment in prostate cancer progression and may provide insights into how vigorous exercise could affect prostate tumor biology.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the retina play a key role in maintaining function and cell survival. However, excessive ROS can lead to oxidative stress, inducing dysregulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways. The chm^ru848 zebrafish models choroideremia (CHM), an X-linked chorioretinal dystrophy, which predominantly affects the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and choroid. In this study, we examined the transcriptomic signature of the chm^ru848 zebrafish retina to reveal the upregulation of cytokine pathways and glia migration, upregulation of oxidative, ER stress and apoptosis markers, and the dysregulation of glucose metabolism with the downregulation of glycolysis and the upregulation of the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway. Glucose uptake was impaired in the chm^ru848 retina using the 2-NBDG glucose uptake assay. Following the overexpression of human PFKM, partial rescue was seen with the preservation of photoreceptors and RPE and increased glucose uptake, but without modifying glycolysis and oxidative stress markers. Therapies targeting glucose metabolism in CHM may represent a potential remedial approach.

Supplementary Figure S4. Boxplots comparing gene expression-based immune cell types in men with high tumor aggressiveness reporting any vs. no vigorous recreational activity. A. Gleason score ≥4 + 3. B. Clinical stage III-IV.

Supplementary Table S5. Associations between immune cell types and disease aggressiveness in the pooled study, overall and stratified by ERG expression.

Supplementary Figure S3. Boxplots comparing gene expression-based immune cell types in men with low tumor aggressiveness reporting any vs. no vigorous recreational activity. A. Gleason score ≤3 + 4. B. Clinical stage I-II.