Research Publications

  • Research Publications

CRTP Trainees and CRTP Alumni are bold; BHCRI members underlined


PML and PML-like exonucleases restrict retrotransposons in jawed vertebrates
Sabateeshan Mathavarajah, Kathleen L Vergunst, Elias B Habib, Shelby K Williams, Raymond He, Maria Maliougina, Mika Park, Jayme Salsman, Stephane Roy, Ingo Braasch, Andrew J Roger, David N Langelaan, Graham Dellaire

(2022) Nucleic Acids Res

PMID: 36912092

In this study, the authors uncovered through an evolutionary biology approach, a new function for the tumour suppressor PML and related PML-like exonucleases in protecting cells from genomic instability caused by hopping genes called retrotransposons, which can disrupt DNA to cause cancer.


Genistein and Procyanidin B2 reduce carcinogen-induced reactive oxygen species and DNA damage through the activation of Nrf2/ARE cell signaling in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro
Tharindu L Suraweera, JP Jose Merlin, Graham Dellaire, Zhaolin Xu and HP Vasantha Rupasinghe

(2023) Int J Mol Sci

PMID: 36835090

Cancer prevention through dietary modification has been receiving growing interest. This publication demonstrates that among 25 tested dietary antioxidants, two flavonoids (genistein and procyanidin B2) have the potential to boost our antioxidant defence system through the activation of Nrf2/ARE cell signaling. Genistein is an isoflavone present in soy-based food and beverages, whereas procyanidin is abundant in most berries and cocoa-based food.


Anticancer properties of cannabidiol and Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol and synergistic effects with gemcitabine and cisplatin in bladder cancer cell lines

Erin Whynot, Andrea Tomko and Denis Dupre

(2023) J Cannabis Res
– This work looked at the potential effects of various cannabinoids and their potential effect on bladder cancer cells when combined with certain bladder cancer drugs currently used in practice. Our results on cell lines indicate some potential beneficial effects against bladder cancer that deserve to be further researched to see if these results also occur in humans.

 


Perceived executive functioning deficits after diagnosis in women with non-metastatic breast cancer prior to adjuvant therapies
Sheila Garland, Joshua Tulk, Nicole Rodriguez, Joshua Rash, Jonathan Fawcett, Joy McCarthy, Melanie Seal, Kara Laing

(2023) Int J Behav Med

This study demonstrates that trouble with executive functioning (ie difficulty inhibiting impulses, self-monitoring, and regulating emotions) are present in women with breast cancer prior to starting treatment and are worsened by mental fatigue, poor sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms. Early sleep and fatigue interventions may prevent long term problems with cognition.


 


Plain language summary of a fingerprinting technique to monitor blood cancer

Iryna Savinova, Alexandra Fournier, Stacy Grieve, Keith Brunt

(2023) Nanomedicine


 


EGFR-targeted bacteriophage lambda penetrates model stromal and colorectal carcinoma tissues, is taken up into carcinoma cells, and interferes with 3-dimensional tumor formation

Haein Huh, Ding-Wen Chen, Marianna Foldvari, Roderick Slavcev and Jonathan Blay

(2022) Front. Immunol

 


Apigenin directly interacts with and inhibits topoisomerase 1 to upregulate CD26/DPP4 on colorectal carcinoma cells

Julia Fux, Emilie Lefort, Praveen Rao and Jonathan Blay

(2022) Front. Pharmacol


 


Diagnostic Performance and Interreader Agreement of the MRI Clear Cell Likelihood Score for Characterization of cT1a and cT1b Solid Renal Masses: An External Validation Study

Marshall Dunn, Victoria Linehan, Sharon E Clarke, Valerie Keough, Ralph Nelson, Andreu F Costa

(2022) AJR Am J Roentgenol

In this publication the authors evaluated a new algorithm to diagnose patients with kidney masses on MRI. The authors found that the algorithm performs with high measures of diagnostic accuracy, which can help guide patients and their physicians in choosing the right management tool

Dr. Costa is a BHCRI Senior Scientist. This work was supported by a BHCRI New Investigator Award 

 


CD24 as a potential therapeutic target in patients with B-cell leukemia and lymphoma: Current insights
Sherri L Christian

(2022) Dovepress
– In this opinion piece, Dr. Christian discusses the potential of a specific protein to be a good target for treatment of leukemias and lymphomas that originate from B lymphocytes (cells that become antibody-producing cells). This protein, called CD24, is expressed highly on cancer cells and can cause killing of cancer cells. However, it is also expressed on some normal cells and so care must be taken to avoid serious side-effects when targeting CD24 for cancer treatment.

Dr. Christian is a BHCRI Senior Scientist and Associate Professor at Memorial University


 


Integrated changes in thermal stability and proteome abundance during altered nutrient states in Escherichia coli and human cells
Mukhayyo Sultonova, Beau Blackmore, Ronnie Du, Olivier Philips, Joao A Paulo, J Patrick Murphy

(2022) Proteomics

PMID: 360822775
– In this publication, the authors describe a new approach to measure protein activity on a global proteomic scale. To do this, the authors use iosbaric tagging-based multiplexed proteomics to determine changes in protein thermal stability as an indicator of protein activity, which is corrected to the protein’s abundance simultaneously. The approach is demonstrated on both cultured cells starved of glucose and log versus stationary phase E. coli revealing differences in the activities of many proteins not previously associated with these phenomena by quantitative proteomics alone. The approach represents a new opportunity for global protein activity profiling in cancer cells and tissues, to ultimately reveal new mechanistic drivers of cancer with therapeutic potential.

Olivier and Mukhayyo are current trainees in the Cancer Research Training Program. Dr. Murphy is a CRTP Alum and Assistant Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island and a BHCRI Associate Member. 


 


Understanding emerging bioactive metabolites with putative roles in cancer biology
Olivier Philips, Mukhayyo Sultonova, Beau Blackmore, J Patrick Murphy

(2022) Front Oncol

PMID: 36249070
– In this publication, the authors describe endogenous metabolites that have recently been revealed to have bioactive roles in cells. The potential roles of these metabolites in cancer cells, either by acting as post-translational modifiers or interactors with proteins, is discussed. The authors propose that new technologies in proteomics may enlighten mechanistic details about their effect on the proteome, inspiring new therapeutic targets.

Olivier and Mukhayyo are current trainees in the Cancer Research Training Program. Dr. Murphy is a CRTP Alum and Assistant Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island and a BHCRI Associate Member. 


 


Preparation of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns from mouse liver tissue

Lauren Westhaver, Sarah Nersesian, Adam Nelson, Leah MacLean, Emily Carter, Jeanette Boudreau

(2022) STAR Protoc

PMID: 36183256
– This latest publication follows work published in Cell Reports, where the authors demonstrated that dying cells release compounds that slow the generation of immune responses, which could potentially be broadly applicable to disease, including cancer and pre-cancerous conditions, where immunosurveillance (activity of the immune system) is key to controlling cancer development and the rate of its growth. The above publication describes how to isolate the factors released from dying cells; in publishing it, the authors hope to mobilize many research teams to test the impact of dying cells in their model systems, to inform methods to control and direct immune responsiveness, including in patients with cancer. 

Leah MacLean and Emily Carter are current trainees in the Cancer Research Training Program of the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, with funds provided by the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation (DMRF)’s Crease Endowment for Cancer Research to Emily. Sarah Nersesian and Adam Nelson are CRTP Alumni. Adam was supported by Craig’s Cause Pancreatic Cancer Society

Dr. Jeanette Boudreau is a BHCRI Senior Scientist


 


Orthorexia symptoms and disordered eating behaviours in young women with cancer

Meghan Waterman, Rachel M Lee, Jacqueline C Carter, Sheila N Garland

(2022) Eat Behav

PMID: 36201977

In this publication the authors found that young adult women with cancer have more orthorexia (a type of disordered eating that involves an exaggerated and obsessive fixation on healthy eating) symptoms than their peers without cancer. Of the young women in the sample, 36.7% scored in the clinical range for orthorexia-related symptoms.

Rachel Lee is a trainee in the BHCRI Cancer Research Training Program and supported by the Canadian Cancer Society’s JD Irving, Limited – Excellence in Cancer Research Fund.

Dr. Sheila Garland is a BHCRI Senior Scientist


 


The Pleiotropy of PAX5 Gene Products and Function

Parinaz Nasri Nasrabadi, Danick Martin, Ehsan Gharib, Gilles Robichaud

(2022) Int J Mol Sci

PMID: 36077495

In this review paper, the authors provide an overview of the reported literature describing the multiple PAX5 products (ie, proteins, non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs), their regulation and function in cellular processes, cellular biology and cancer.

Danick Martin is a trainee in the BHCRI Cancer Research Training Program and supported jointly by the New Brunswick Health Research Foundation and GIVETOLIVE

Dr. Gilles Robichaud is a BHCRI Senior Scientist


 


The impact of exercise on cardiotoxicity in pediatric and adolescent cancer survivors: A scoping review
Stephanie J Kendall, Jodi E Langley, Mohsen Aghdam, Bruce N Crooks, Nicholas Giacomantonio, Stefan Heinze-Milne, Will J Johnston, Melanie R Keats, Sharon L Mulvagh, Scott A Grandy

(2022) Current Oncology

PMID: 36135069
– The authors of this publication show that any exercise can prevent heart damage caused by anthracyclines, a type of chemotherapy, in childhood cancer survivors. Exercise of any intensity, mode, duration, and administration time can exert a variety of cardioprotective effects and should be implemented as standard oncology care.


 


Antibiotic and antifungal use in pediatric leukemia and lymphoma patients are associated with increasing opportunistic pathogens and decreasing bacteria responsible for activities that enhance colonic defense

Katherine A Dunn, Tamara MacDonald, Gloria J Rodrigues, Zara Forbrigger, Joseph P Bielawski, Morgan GI Langille, Johan Van Limbergen, Ketan Kulkarni

(2022) Front Cell Infect Microbiol

PMID: 35967843
– In this study, the authors demonstrate that routine use of broad-spectrum anti-infectives in pediatric oncology can contribute compromise gastrointestinal integrity and colonic defense while increasing opportunistic pathogens in the gut. 


 


Comparison of anatomically informed class solution template trajectories with patient-specific trajectories for stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy

John David Lincoln, Robert Lee MacDonald, Brian Little, Alasdair Syme, Christopher Grant Thomas

(2022) J Appl Clin Med Phys

PMID: 36052983


 


Nerve growth factor-binding engineered silk films promote neuronal attachment and neurite outgrowth

Lizzy Baker, Lingling Xu, Farideh Badichi Akher, Madelaine K Robertson, Lauren Pugsley-DeBruyn, Chloe Xiaoyi Ma, Xiang-Qin Liu, John P Frampton, Jan K Rainey

(2022) Advanced Functional Materials

 — In this publication the authors show that engineered spider silk protein is able to form films that hold onto molecules that favourably modulate cell growth in the nervous system. Future materials based on this scaffold are being targeted to allow selection of tumour cells over non-tumour cells to enable personalized medicine.


 


Editorial: Cytokine and cytokine receptor-based immunotherapies: Updates, controversies, challenges, and future perspectives
Jun Wang, Brent Johnston, Pedro Berraondo

(2022) Front Immunol

PMID: 35958607


 


ErbB2/Her2-dependent downregulation of a cell death-promoting protein BLNK in breast cancer cells is required for 3D breast tumor growth
Xiaoyang Liu, Sandhya Chipurupalli, Peijia Jiang, Mahtab Tavasoli, Byong Hoon Yoo, Michael McPhee, Sina Mazinani, Giulio Francia, Robert S Kerbel, Kirill V Rosen

(2022) Cell Death Dis


 


Arsenic Speciation and Metallomics Profiling of Human Toenails as a Biomarker to Assess Prostate Cancer Cases: Atlantic PATH Cohort Study

Erin Keltie, Kalli M Hood, Yusong Cui, Ellen Sweeney, Gabriela Ilie, Anil Adisesh, Trevor Dummer, Veni Bharti, Jong Sung Kim

(2022) Front Public Health

PMID: 35875010


 


Three-Dimensional Co-Culture Method for Studying Interactions Between Adipocytes, Extracellular Matrix, and Cancer Cells

Emmanuel C Asante, Nikitha K Pallegar, Alicia M Viloria-Petit, Sherri L Christian

(2022) Methods Mol Biol

PMID: 35737234


 


Culturing Suspension Cancer Cell Lines
Modeline N Longjohn, Hong-Dien Phan, Sherri L Christian

(2022) Methods Mol Biol

PMID: 35737229


 


Overview of the Maintenance of Authentic Cancer Cell Lines
Sherri L Christian

(2022) Methods Mol Biol

PMID: 35737228


 


Breast Cancer Xenograft Murine Models
Wasundara Fernando, Krysta M Coyle, Paola Marcato

(2022) Methods Mol Biol

PMID: 35737231


 


Peptide-Affinity Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles and Cell-Free DNA from Human Plasma
Jeremy W Roy, Catherine A Taylor, Rodney J Ouellette, Stephen M Lewis

(2022) Methods Mol Biol

PMID: 35737249


 


Pain and Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Perri R Tutelman, Christine T Chambers, Melanie Noel, Lauren C Heathcote, Conrad V Fernandez, Annette Flanders, Julia MacLoed, Simon B Sherry, Sebastien Simard, Maya Stern, Sherry H Stewart, Robin Urquhart

(2022) Clin J Pain

PMID: 35686578


 


Understanding Cancer Survivors’ Needs and Experiences Returning to Work Post-Treatment: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study
Robin Urquhart, Sarah Scruton, Cynthia Kendell

(2022) Curr Oncol

PMID: 35621635


 


Anti-cancer potential of cannabis terpenes in a taxol-resistant model of breast cancer
Andrea M Tomko, Erin G Whynot, Lauren F O’Leary, Denis J Dupré

(2022) Can J Physiol Pharmacol

PMID: 35704944


 


Mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns trigger arginase-dependent lymphocyte immunoregulation

Lauren Westhaver, Sarah Nersesian, Adam Nelson, Leah MacLean, Emily Carter, Derek Rowter, Jun Wang, Boris Gala-Lopez, Andrew Stadnyk, Brent Johnston, Jeanette Boudreau

(2022) Cell Rep

PMID: 35613582


 


Genetic and Epigenetic Mechanisms Deregulate the CRL2pVHL Complex in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Brenda C Minatel, David E Cohn, Michelle E Pewarchuk, Mateus C Barros-Filho, Adam P Sage, Greg L Stewart, Erin A Marshall, Nikita Telkar, Victor D Martinez, Patricia P Reis, Wendy P Robinson, Wan L Lam

(2022) Front. Genet


 


The Impact of Resistance Exercise on Muscle Mass in Glioblastoma in Survivors (RESIST): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Melanie R Keats, Scott A Grandy, Christopher Blanchard, Jonathon R Fowles, Heather F Neyedli, Adrienne C Weeks, Mary V MacNeil

(2022) JMIR Res Protoc

PMID: 35507403


 


Measuring fear of cancer recurrence in survivors of childhood cancer: Development and preliminary validation of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI) -Child and Parent versions
Perri Tutelman, Christine Chambers, Lauren Heathcote, Conrad Fernandez, Annette Flanders, Michaela Patton, Fiona Schulte, Gregory Guilcher, Sebastien Simard, Julia MacLeod, Maya Stern

​(2022) Psychooncology

PMID: 35018689


 


Decrease of intracellular glutamine  by STF-62247 results in the accumulation of lipid droplets in von Hippel-Lindau deficient cells

Mathieu Johnson, Sarah Nowlan, Gülsüm Sahin, David Barnett, Andrew Joy, Mohamed Touaibia, Miroslava Cuperlovic-Culf, Daina Zofija Avizonis, Sandra Turcotte

(2022) Front Oncol

PMID: 35223522


 


Modulation of the cell membrane lipid milieu by peroxisomal β-oxidation induces Rho1 signaling to trigger inflammatory responses

Anu Nath, Brendon Parsons, Stephanie Makdissi, Rebecca Chilvers, Yizhu Mu, Ceileigh Weaver, Irene Euodia, Katherine Fitze, Juyang Long, Michal Scur, Duncan Mackenzie, Andrew Makrigiannis, Nicolas Pichaud, Luc Boudreau, Andrew Simmonds, Christine Webber, Beata Derfalvi, Yannick Hammon, Richard Rachubinski, Francesca Di Cara

(2022) Cell Rep

PMID: 35235794

Ceileigh Weaver was a BHCRI summer student in 2019, supported by GIVETOLIVE


 


Toenail speciation biomarkers in arsenic-related disease: a feasibility study for investigating the association between arsenic exposure and chronic disease
Nathan Smith, Erin Keltie, Ellen Sweeney, Swarna Weerasinghe, Kathleen MacPherson, Jong Sung Kim

(2022) Ecotoxicol Environ Saf

PMID: 35144129


 


Analysis of human serum and urine for tentative identification of potentially carcinogenic pesticide-associated N-nitroso compounds using high-resolution mass spectrometry

Crystal Sweeney, Nathan Smith, Ellen Sweeney, Alejandro Cohen, Jong Sung Kim

(2022) Environ Res

PMID: 34896088


 


Characterization of an engineered mucus microenvironment for in vitro modeling of host-microbe interactions

Andy Huang, Courtney O“Brien, Nicholas Dawe, Anas Tahir, Alison Scott, Brendan Leung

(2022) Sci Rep

PMID: 35365684


 


Breast cancer subtype-specific miRNAs: Networks, impacts, and the potential for intervention
Raj Pranap Arun, Hannah F Cahill, Paola Marcato

(2022) Biomedicines

PMID: 35327452


 


Clr-f expression regulates kidney immune and metabolic homeostasis

Haggag S Zein, Elias Abou-Samra, Michal Scur, Alex Gutsol, Clayton W Hall, Bishal Dasgupta, Lara Gharibeh, Turki Abujamel, Daniel Medina-Luna, Gayani S Gamage, Tessa J Pelino, Mona Nemer, Mir Munir A Rahim, Alexander Steinle, Brendon D Parsons, Andrew P Makrigiannis

(2022) Sci Rep

PMID: 35318366


 


NAD+ depletion enhances reovirus-induced oncolysis in multiple myeloma
Barry E Kennedy, Michael Giacomantonio, J Patrick Murphy, Samuel Cutler, Maryanne Sadek, Prathyusha Konda, Joao A Paulo, Gopal P Pathak, Saskia HJ Renkens, Stacy Grieve, Jonathan Pol, Steven P Gygi, Christopher Richardson, Daniel Gaston, Anthony Reiman, Guido Kroemer, Manal O Elnenaei, Shashi A Gujar.

(2022) Mol Ther Oncolytics

PMID: 35284625


 


KIT D816V is dimerization-independent and activates downstream pathways frequently perturbed in mastocytosis
Vinothkumar Rajan, Sergey V Prykhozhji, Aditya Pandey, Alejandro M Cohen, Jan K Rainey, Jason N Berman

(2022) Br J Haematol

PMID: 35245395


 


Natural killer T cell immunotherapy combined with IL-15-expressing oncolytic virotherapy and PD-1 blockade mediates pancreatic tumor regression
Adam Nelson, Simon Gebremeskel, Brian D Lichty, Brent Johnston

(2022) J Immunother Cancer

PMID: 35246474


 


Comparison of visibility of iodinated hydrogel and gadolinium-modified hyaluronic acid spacer gels on computed tomography and onboard imaging
Vlora Riberdy, Ethan Ruiz, Nienke Hoekstra, Gerson Struik, Jean-Philippe Pignol

(2022) Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol

PMID: 35243031


 


Photodynamic therapy of melanoma with new, structurally similar, NIR-absorbing ruthenium (II) complexes promotes tumor growth control via distinct hallmarks of immunogenic cell death

Prathyusha Konda, John A Roque Iii, Liubov M Lifshits, Angelita Alcos, Eissa Azzam, Ge Shi, Colin G Cameron, Sherri A McFarland, Shashi Gujar

(2022) Am J Cancer Research

PMID: 35141014


 


Tinker, Tailor, Tumour Suppressor: The many functions of PRP4K
Elias Habib,  Sabateeshan Mathavarajah, Graham Dellaire

(2022) Front. Genet.


 


Natural Killer Cells: The missing link in effective treatment for high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Morgan Pugh-Toole, Anna Nicolela, Sarah Nersesian, Brendan Leung, Jeanette Boudreau

(2022) Curr Treat Options Oncol.

PMID: 35192139


 


Meta-analysis of microRNA profiling data does not reveal a consensus signature for B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Modeline N Longjohn, Willow R.B. Squires, Sherri L Christian

(2022) Gene

PMID: 35134470


 


Patient-specific collision zones for 4π trajectory optimized radiation therapy

Cassidy Northway, John David Lincoln, Brian Little, Alasdair Syme, Christopher G Thomas

(2022) Med Phys

PMID: 35023581


 


Metabolite profiling reveals a connection between aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A3 and GABA metabolism in breast cancer metastasis
Margaret L Dahn, Hayley R Walsh, Cheryl A Dean, Michael A Giacomantonio, Wasundara Fernando, J Patrick Murphy, Olivia L Walker, Marie-Claire D Wasson, Shashi Gujar, Devanand M Pinto, Paola Marcato

(2022) Metabolomics

PMID: 34989902