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Figueira AC, Gomes C, de Oliveira JT, Vilhena H, Carvalheira J, de Matos AJF, Pereira PD, Gärtner F. Aberrant P-cadherin expression is associated to aggressive feline mammary carcinomas. BMC Vet Res 2014; 10:270. [PMID: 25424750 PMCID: PMC4254012 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-014-0270-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell-to-cell adhesion glycoproteins playing a critical role in the formation and maintenance of normal tissue architecture. In normal mammary gland, E-cadherin is expressed by luminal epithelial cells, while P-cadherin is restricted to myoepithelial cells. Changes in the expression of classical E- and P-cadherins have been observed in mammary lesions and related to mammary carcinogenesis. P-cadherin and E-cadherin expressions were studied in a series of feline normal mammary glands, hyperplastic/dysplastic lesions, benign and malignant tumours by immunohistochemistry and double-label immunofluorescence. RESULTS In normal tissue and in the majority of hyperplastic/dysplastic lesions and benign tumours, P-cadherin was restricted to myoepithelial cells, while 80% of the malignant tumours expressed P-cadherin in luminal epithelial cells. P-cadherin expression was significantly related to high histological grade of carcinomas (p <0.0001), tumour necrosis (p = 0.001), infiltrative growth (p = 0.0051), and presence of neoplastic emboli (p = 0.0401). Moreover, P-cadherin positive carcinomas had an eightfold likelihood of developing neoplastic emboli than negative tumours. Cadherins expression profile in high grade and in infiltrative tumours was similar, the majority expressing P-cadherin, regardless of E-cadherin expression status. The two cadherins were found to be co-expressed in carcinomas with aberrant P-cadherin expression and preserved E-cadherin. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate a relationship between P-cadherin expression and aggressive biological behaviour of feline mammary carcinomas, suggesting that P-cadherin may be considered an indicator of poor prognosis in this animal species. Moreover, it indicates that, in queens, the aberrant expression of P-cadherin is a better marker of mammary carcinomas aggressive behaviour than the reduction of E-cadherin expression. Further investigation with follow-up studies in feline species should be conducted in order to evaluate the prognostic value of P-cadherin expression in E-cadherin positive carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Figueira
- Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, Campus Universitário de Lordemão, Bloco B, Lordemão, 3020-210, Coimbra, Portugal. .,Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Gomes
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Joana Tavares de Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Hugo Vilhena
- Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama (EUVG), Av. José R. Sousa Fernandes, Campus Universitário de Lordemão, Bloco B, Lordemão, 3020-210, Coimbra, Portugal. .,Hospital Veterinário do Baixo Vouga (HVBV), Estrada Nacional 1, 355, Segadães, 3750-742, Águeda, Portugal. .,Centro de Ciência Animal e Veterinária (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Júlio Carvalheira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. .,Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), Universidade do Porto (UP), Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
| | - Augusto J F de Matos
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. .,Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal (CECA), Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologias Agrárias e Agro Alimentares (ICETA), Universidade do Porto (UP), Rua D. Manuel II, ap° 55142, 4051-401, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Patrícia Dias Pereira
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Fátima Gärtner
- Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira No. 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal.
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52
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Sousa B, Ribeiro AS, Nobre AR, Lopes N, Martins D, Pinheiro C, Vieira AF, Albergaria A, Gerhard R, Schmitt F, Baltazar F, Paredes J. The basal epithelial marker P-cadherin associates with breast cancer cell populations harboring a glycolytic and acid-resistant phenotype. BMC Cancer 2014; 14:734. [PMID: 25269858 PMCID: PMC4190447 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-14-734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer stem cells are hypoxia-resistant and present a preponderant glycolytic metabolism. These characteristics are also found in basal-like breast carcinomas (BLBC), which show increased expression of cancer stem cell markers. Recently, we demonstrated that P-cadherin, a biomarker of BLBC and a poor prognostic factor in this disease, mediates stem-like properties and resistance to radiation therapy. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate if P-cadherin expression was associated to breast cancer cell populations with an adapted phenotype to hypoxia. Methods Immunohistochemistry was performed to address the expression of P-cadherin, hypoxic, glycolytic and acid-resistance biomarkers in primary human breast carcinomas. In vitro studies were performed using basal-like breast cancer cell lines. qRT-PCR, FACS analysis, western blotting and confocal microscopy were used to assess the expression of P-cadherin after HIF-1α stabilization, achieved by CoCl2 treatment. siRNA-mediated knockdown was used to silence the expression of several targets and qRT-PCR was employed to evaluate the effects of P-cadherin on HIF-1α signaling. P-cadherin high and low breast cancer cell populations were sorted by FACS and levels of GLUT1 and CAIX were assessed by FACS and western blotting. Mammosphere forming efficiency was used to determine the stem cell activity after specific siRNA-mediated knockdown, further confirmed by western blotting. Results We demonstrated that P-cadherin overexpression was significantly associated with the expression of HIF-1α, GLUT1, CAIX, MCT1 and CD147 in human breast carcinomas. In vitro, we showed that HIF-1α stabilization was accompanied by increased membrane expression of P-cadherin and that P-cadherin silencing led to a decrease of the mRNA levels of GLUT1 and CAIX. We also found that the cell fractions harboring high levels of P-cadherin were the same exhibiting more GLUT1 and CAIX expression. Finally, we showed that P-cadherin silencing significantly decreases the mammosphere forming efficiency in the same range as the silencing of HIF-1α, CAIX or GLUT1, validating that all these markers are being expressed by the same breast cancer stem cell population. Conclusions Our results establish a link between aberrant P-cadherin expression and hypoxic, glycolytic and acid-resistant breast cancer cells, suggesting a possible role for this marker in cancer cell metabolism. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-734) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joana Paredes
- IPATIMUP- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, Porto 4200-465, Portugal.
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53
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Matchett KB, Lappin TR. Concise Reviews: Cancer Stem Cells: From Concept to Cure. Stem Cells 2014; 32:2563-70. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.1798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. B. Matchett
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology; Queen's University Belfast; Belfast United Kingdom
| | - T. R. Lappin
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology; Queen's University Belfast; Belfast United Kingdom
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54
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Goel HL, Gritsko T, Pursell B, Chang C, Shultz LD, Greiner DL, Norum JH, Toftgard R, Shaw LM, Mercurio AM. Regulated splicing of the α6 integrin cytoplasmic domain determines the fate of breast cancer stem cells. Cell Rep 2014; 7:747-61. [PMID: 24767994 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.03.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the α6β1 integrin has been implicated in the function of breast and other cancer stem cells (CSCs), little is known about its regulation and relationship to mechanisms involved in the genesis of CSCs. We report that a CD44(high)/CD24(low) population, enriched for CSCs, is comprised of distinct epithelial and mesenchymal populations that differ in expression of the two α6 cytoplasmic domain splice variants: α6A and α6B. α6Bβ1 expression defines the mesenchymal population and is necessary for CSC function, a function that cannot be executed by α6A integrins. The generation of α6Bβ1 is tightly controlled and occurs as a consequence of an autocrine vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling that culminates in the transcriptional repression of a key RNA-splicing factor. These data alter our understanding of how α6β1 contributes to breast cancer, and they resolve ambiguities regarding the use of total α6 (CD49f) expression as a biomarker for CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tatiana Gritsko
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Bryan Pursell
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Cheng Chang
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | - Dale L Greiner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jens Henrik Norum
- Department of Bioscience and Nutrition, Center for Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Novum, 14183 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Rune Toftgard
- Department of Bioscience and Nutrition, Center for Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Novum, 14183 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Leslie M Shaw
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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55
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Bernardes N, Ribeiro AS, Abreu S, Vieira AF, Carreto L, Santos M, Seruca R, Paredes J, Fialho AM. High-throughput molecular profiling of a P-cadherin overexpressing breast cancer model reveals new targets for the anti-cancer bacterial protein azurin. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 50:1-9. [PMID: 24509127 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 01/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Azurin is a bacterial protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa which exerts an inhibitory activity in cancer cells. In P-cadherin-overexpressing models, a bad prognosis marker in breast cancer increasing invasion and other malignant features, azurin decreases the invasion of cancer cells. We performed a microarray analysis to compare the expression profile of azurin treated cells with different P-cadherin expression levels. Azurin up-regulated apoptosis mediated by p53 protein, endocytosis and vesicle-mediated transport. In the contrary, in invasive MCF-7/AZ.Pcad cells, azurin decreased the expression of genes associated with cell surface receptors and signal transduction, as well as biological adhesion. Further, azurin decreased adhesion of cells to proteins from the extracellular matrix (ECM) and altered protein expression of integrins α6, β4 and β1 and interfered with the ability of these cells to form mammospheres. Altogether, our results further enlighten the anti-cancer effects mediated by azurin in P-cadherin overexpression breast cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Bernardes
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Center for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal; Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Ribeiro
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Sofia Abreu
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Center for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - André F Vieira
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Laura Carreto
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Manuel Santos
- Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seruca
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Arsenio M Fialho
- Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Center for Biological and Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon, Portugal.
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56
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Lee N, Barthel SR, Schatton T. Melanoma stem cells and metastasis: mimicking hematopoietic cell trafficking? J Transl Med 2014; 94:13-30. [PMID: 24126889 PMCID: PMC3941309 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2013.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a highly metastatic cancer that bears responsibility for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. Amidst the research efforts to better understand melanoma progression, there has been increasing evidence that hints at a role for a subpopulation of virulent cancer cells, termed malignant melanoma stem or initiating cells (MMICs), in metastasis formation. MMICs are characterized by their preferential ability to initiate and propagate tumor growth and their selective capacity for self-renewal and differentiation into less tumorigenic melanoma cells. The frequency of MMICs has been shown to correlate with poor clinical prognosis in melanoma. In addition, MMICs are enriched among circulating tumor cells in the peripheral blood of cancer patients, suggesting that MMICs may be a critical factor in the metastatic cascade. Although these links exist between MMICs and metastatic disease, the mechanisms by which MMICs may advance metastatic progression are only beginning to be elucidated. Recent studies have shown that MMICs express molecules critical for hematopoietic cell maintenance and trafficking, providing a possible explanation for how circulating MMICs could drive melanoma dissemination. We therefore propose that MMICs might fuel melanoma metastasis by exploiting homing mechanisms commonly utilized by hematopoietic cells. Here we review the biological properties of MMICs and the existing literature on their metastatic potential. We will discuss possible mechanisms by which MMICs might initiate metastases in the context of established knowledge of cancer stem cells in other cancers and of hematopoietic homing molecules, with a particular focus on selectins, integrins, chemokines and chemokine receptors known to be expressed by melanoma cells. Biological understanding of how these molecules might be utilized by MMICs to propel the metastatic cascade could critically impact the development of more effective therapies for advanced disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayoung Lee
- Harvard Skin Disease Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Steven R. Barthel
- Harvard Skin Disease Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tobias Schatton
- Harvard Skin Disease Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Transplantation Research Center, Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tobias Schatton, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Rm. 673B, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
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57
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Goel HL, Pursell B, Chang C, Shaw LM, Mao J, Simin K, Kumar P, Vander Kooi CW, Shultz LD, Greiner DL, Norum JH, Toftgard R, Kuperwasser C, Mercurio AM. GLI1 regulates a novel neuropilin-2/α6β1 integrin based autocrine pathway that contributes to breast cancer initiation. EMBO Mol Med 2013; 5:488-508. [PMID: 23436775 PMCID: PMC3628099 DOI: 10.1002/emmm.201202078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The characterization of cells with tumour initiating potential is significant for advancing our understanding of cancer and improving therapy. Aggressive, triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are enriched for tumour-initiating cells (TICs). We investigated that hypothesis that VEGF receptors expressed on TNBC cells mediate autocrine signalling that contributes to tumour initiation. We discovered the VEGF receptor neuropilin-2 (NRP2) is expressed preferentially on TICs, involved in the genesis of TNBCs and necessary for tumour initiation. The mechanism by which NRP2 signalling promotes tumour initiation involves stimulation of the α6β1 integrin, focal adhesion kinase-mediated activation of Ras/MEK signalling and consequent expression of the Hedgehog effector GLI1. GLI1 also induces BMI-1, a key stem cell factor, and it enhances NRP2 expression and the function of α6β1, establishing an autocrine loop. NRP2 can be targeted in vivo to retard tumour initiation. These findings reveal a novel autocrine pathway involving VEGF/NRP2, α6β1 and GLI1 that contributes to the initiation of TNBC. They also support the feasibility of NRP2-based therapy for the treatment of TNBC that targets and impedes the function of TICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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Albergaria A, Resende C, Nobre AR, Ribeiro AS, Sousa B, Machado JC, Seruca R, Paredes J, Schmitt F. CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) isoforms as transcriptional regulators of the pro-invasive CDH3/P-cadherin gene in human breast cancer cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e55749. [PMID: 23405208 PMCID: PMC3566012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
P-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion molecule codified by the CDH3 gene, which expression is highly associated with undifferentiated cells in normal adult epithelial tissues, as well as with poorly differentiated carcinomas. In breast cancer, P-cadherin is frequently overexpressed in high-grade tumours and is a well-established indicator of aggressive tumour behaviour and poor patient prognosis. However, till now, the mechanisms controlling CDH3 gene activation have been poorly explored. Since we recently described the existence of several CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β (C/EBPβ) transcription factor binding sites at the CDH3 promoter, the aim of this study was to assess if the distinct C/EBPβ isoforms were directly involved in the transcriptional activation of the CDH3 gene in breast cancer cells. DNA-protein interactions, mutation analysis and luciferase reporter assay studies have been performed. We demonstrated that C/EBPβ is co-expressed with P-cadherin in breast cancer cells and all the three isoforms function as transcriptional regulators of the CDH3 gene, directly interacting with specific regions of its promoter. Interestingly, this transcriptional activation was only reflected at the P-cadherin protein level concerning the LIP isoform. Taken together, our data show that CDH3 is a newly defined transcriptional target gene of C/EBPβ isoforms in breast cancer, and we also identified the binding sites that are relevant for this activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Albergaria
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Resende
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Nobre
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Ribeiro
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Sousa
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Porto, Portugal
| | - José Carlos Machado
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seruca
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Joana Paredes
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Schmitt
- Cancer Genetics Group, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of Porto University (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty of Porto University, Porto, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Ribeiro AS, Sousa B, Carreto L, Mendes N, Nobre AR, Ricardo S, Albergaria A, Cameselle-Teijeiro JF, Gerhard R, Söderberg O, Seruca R, Santos MA, Schmitt F, Paredes J. P-cadherin functional role is dependent on E-cadherin cellular context: a proof of concept using the breast cancer model. J Pathol 2013. [PMID: 23180380 DOI: 10.1002/path.4143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
P-cadherin overexpression is associated with worse breast cancer survival, being a poor prognostic marker as well as a putative therapeutic target for the aggressive triple-negative and basal-like carcinomas (TNBCs). Previously, we have shown that P-cadherin promotes breast cancer invasion of cells where membrane E-cadherin was maintained; however, it suppresses invasion in models without endogenous cadherins, like melanomas. Here, we investigated if P-cadherin expression would interfere with the normal adhesion complex and which were the cellular/molecular consequences, constituting, in this way, a new mechanism by which E-cadherin invasive-suppressor function was disrupted. Using breast TNBC models, we demonstrated, for the first time, that P-cadherin co-localizes with E-cadherin, promoting cell invasion due to the disruption caused in the interaction between E-cadherin and cytoplasmic catenins. P-cadherin also induces cell migration and survival, modifying the expression profile of cells expressing wild-type E-cadherin and contributing to alter their cellular behaviour. Additionally, E- and P-cadherin co-expressing cells significantly enhanced in vivo tumour growth, compared with cells expressing only E- or only P-cadherin. Finally, we still found that co-expression of both molecules was significantly correlated with high-grade breast carcinomas, biologically aggressive, and with poor patient survival, being a strong prognostic factor in this disease. Our results show a role for E- and P-cadherin co-expression in breast cancer progression and highlight the potential benefit of targeting P-cadherin in the aggressive tumours expressing high levels of this protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Ribeiro
- IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal
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Hale JS, Li M, Lathia JD. The malignant social network: cell-cell adhesion and communication in cancer stem cells. Cell Adh Migr 2012; 6:346-55. [PMID: 22796941 DOI: 10.4161/cam.21294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors contain a vastly complicated cellular network that relies on local communication to execute malignant programs. The molecular cues that are involved in cell-cell adhesion orchestrate large-scale tumor behaviors such as proliferation and invasion. We have recently begun to appreciate that many tumors contain a high degree of cellular heterogeneity and are organized in a cellular hierarchy, with a cancer stem cell (CSC) population identified at the apex in multiple cancer types. CSCs reside in unique microenvironments or niches that are responsible for directing their behavior through cellular interactions between CSCs and stromal cells, generating a malignant social network. Identifying cell-cell adhesion mechanisms in this network has implications for the basic understanding of tumorigenesis and the development of more effective therapies. In this review, we will discuss our current understanding of cell-cell adhesion mechanisms used by CSCs and how these local interactions have global consequences for tumor biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- James S Hale
- Department of Cell Biology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
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