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Aim: To obtain an in‐depth understanding of women's decision‐making experiences related to mastectomy. Design: A descriptive qualitative interview study. Methods: Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted face‐to‐face with 27 Chinese women with breast cancer who underwent mastectomy at two tertiary hospitals in mainland China between September 2020 and December 2021 after obtaining the appropriate ethical approvals. Interviews were conducted in Mandarin. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results: Mean age of participants was 48 years (range 31–70). Most participants had low education, low monthly family income, had a partner and health insurance, had been diagnosed with early breast cancer, and had not undergone reconstructive surgery. Six categories related to decision‐making experiences emerged: (1) Emotions affecting decision‐making, (2) Information seeking for decision‐making, (3) Beliefs about mastectomy and the breast, (4) Participation in decision‐making, (5) People who influence decision‐making, and (6) Post‐decision reflection. Participants did not mention the role of nurses in their decision‐making process for mastectomy. Conclusions: This study adds valuable insights into the limited evidence on women's experience with decision‐making about mastectomy from a Chinese perspective, which is important given the continuing high prevalence of mastectomy in many regions. Future studies from other countries and ethnic groups are recommended to gain diverse knowledge. Impact: The findings of this study are useful for nurses and other healthcare professionals in the multidisciplinary team to better support women with breast cancer in their decision‐making process regarding mastectomy. The findings could inform future interventions to support treatment decision‐making and may be relevant to women living in similar socio‐medical contexts to those in mainland China. Reporting Method: The study was reported following the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bone cancer pain is characterized by persistent pain, usually requiring drugs to relieve pain. Baicalin, a flavonoid compound extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis, which has antioxidant and analgesic effects. But, the effect of baicalin on bone cancer pain is unclear. Thus, this study aimed to explore the mechanism of baicalin on SD rats with bone cancer pain. Materials and Methods: The MADB-106 breast cancer cells-induced bone pain model was constructed and carried out baicalin treatment. The therapeutic effect of baicalin on bone cancer pain model was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence staining. We also performed transcriptome sequencing analysis of baicalin in the treatment of bone metastases. Also, RT-qPCR and ELISA were used to detect the expression levels of inflammation factors. Results: After baicalin treatment, osteoclast activation was inhibited and the number of bone trabeculae was increased. Baicalin inhibited the protein expression level of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and PGE2) in the bone metastases group. Based on the transcriptome sequencing of the bone metastases group and the baicalin treatment group, baicalin inhibited the expression of ALPP, DUSP1, CYR61, ALPPL2, SPP1 and TLR4. RT-qPCR was also used to validate the expression levels of these cytokine genes. Conclusion: Baicalin had a certain inhibitory effect on the SD rat model of bone metastasis cancer. These insights can guide future research on the molecular mechanism of bone cancer pain and provide a theoretical basis for baicalin in the treatment of bone pain caused by breast cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Notch signaling molecules play crucial roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis, yet their function in breast cancer remains unclear. Methods: Samples and clinical data from 62 breast cancer patients were collected. After total RNA isolation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to analyze the expression of Notch receptors (Notch1, Notch3 and Notch4) and ligands (DLL4 and JAG1), and their clinical association. Immunohistochemical analysis was used to detect the intracellular domain of Notch1 (Notch1-IC) expression. Results: Notch1 was the dominant receptor while DLL4 was the dominant ligand. The Notch molecules expression pattern for infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) was similar to that for infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) except for JAG1, while Notch1 standard coefficients in ILC were statistically higher than that in IDC. Immunohistochemical results showed that Notch1-IC protein expression paralleled the mRNA level. Breast cancer patients' clinical parameters suggested that Notch1 expression was higher in stage II disease and lower in more advanced stages. The Notch3 positive rate was higher in patients with lower levels of Notch1, and the Notch3 positive rate was lower in patients with higher levels of Notch1. No apparent correlation of Notch molecules with estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) was found. Though high Notch1 and Notch3 RNA levels tended to correlate with c-erbB2 expression, no statistical significance was found. Conclusion: Notch molecules are useful biomarkers in breast cancer especially for Notch1 and DLL4, and Notch1 is expressed differently in different stages of human breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Notch and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling play critical roles in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and thereby may contribute to the development of breast cancer. We constitutively overexpressed active Notch1 in human breast cancer cells to explore the consequences of Notch1 signaling on cell growth and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that EGFR expression was increased. Then, using EGFR inhibitor, we found it exhibited an inhibitory role on human breast cancer cells. Overexpression of Notch1 could reverse EGFR inhibitor-induced cell toxicity, suggesting that Notch and EGFR signaling may be positively cross-linked in human breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy experience difficulty in accessing adequate cancer care in China. Mobile apps have the potential to provide easily accessible support for these women. However, there remains a paucity of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of app-based programs targeting specifically women with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Moreover, women's perceptions and experiences related to using and interacting within the app-based program have rarely been reported. Therefore, an app-based Breast Cancer e-Support program was developed and evaluated using a randomized controlled trial. Based on the incorporation of Bandura's self-efficacy and social exchange theory, Breast Cancer e-Support program lasted for 12 weeks covering 4 cycles of chemotherapy and had 4 components: (1) a Learning forum, (2) a Discussion forum, (3) an Ask-the-Expert forum, and (4) a Personal Stories forum. Objective: As a part of the randomized controlled trial, the aim of this study was to explore the participants' perception of Breast Cancer e-Support program, its strengths and weaknesses, and suggestions to improve the program. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was employed. Thirteen women with breast cancer from 2 university-affiliated hospitals in China, who were randomly allocated to the Breast Cancer e-Support program in the randomized controlled trial, were interviewed from November 2016 to February 2017. Purposive sampling was used based on women's scores of self-efficacy after the completion of the intervention. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the transcripts, allowing the categories and subcategories to flow from the data. Results: The qualitative interviews revealed that participants perceived the Breast Cancer e-Support program to be helpful in enhancing knowledge, improving confidence level, and promoting emotional well-being. Women also identified access to tailored advice from experts and convenience as the benefits of this program. Physical or psychological health status, stigma related with breast cancer, and app instability were mentioned as the challenges to engagement. Suggestions for improvement included adding message reminders to prompt instant communication and search engine to locate information quickly, supplementing more interesting and practical knowledge, updating the information more often, and quickening the responses to women's questions. The participants recommended the Breast Cancer e-Support program to be incorporated as routine care to support women during chemotherapy. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the potential of the Breast Cancer e-Support program to support women during chemotherapy. Future app-based programs should apply a family-centered approach and provide more support on stigma associated with the disease to encourage engagement with the app. Suggestions of improvement regarding the design, content, and operation of the app-based intervention should be addressed in future studies. It is promising to incorporate the Breast Cancer e-Support program into routine care to generalize the benefits. Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000639426; http://www.ANZCTR.org.au/ ACTRN12616000639426.aspx (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6v1n9hGZq) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]