ABSTRACT
Through this project we will determine the role of the mammary tissue microbiome in breast cancer development using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing and dual-transcriptomic sequencing. In the first two years of this project we have selected and received 165 samples from the Susan G. Komen and Indiana University Simon Cancer Center TissueBanks. We completed 16S rRNA sequencing on DNA isolated from all samples in this cohort and note a distinct microbial compositional signature that is associated with breast cancer development. We anticipate submitting this work for publication by February 2021. Due to COVID-19, the RNA isolations from these samples have been delayed until we can return to campus. We anticipate completing RNA isolations in Summer 2021 and will begin our analysis of the RNA sequencing data in Fall 2021. Regardless of these delays, the project is well underway. Results from this work will be key in characterizing host-microbiome cross-talk in the pathogenesis of breast tumor development.