51
|
Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Lertpiriyapong K, Fitzgerald TL, Martelli AM, Cocco L, Rakus D, Gizak A, Terrian D, Steelman LS, McCubrey JA. Novel roles of androgen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, TP53, regulatory RNAs, NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in prostate cancer and prostate cancer stem cells. Adv Biol Regul 2015; 60:64-87. [PMID: 26525204 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer in their lifetime. Over 250,000 men worldwide die annually due to complications from prostate cancer. While advancements in prostate cancer screening and therapies have helped in lowering this statistic, better tests and more effective therapies are still needed. This review will summarize the novel roles of the androgen receptor (AR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the EGFRvIII variant, TP53, long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRs), NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells (CSC) have on the diagnosis, development and treatment of prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William H Chappell
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Stephen L Abrams
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Kvin Lertpiriyapong
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Timothy L Fitzgerald
- Department of Surgery, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Alberto M Martelli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lucio Cocco
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dariusz Rakus
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gizak
- Department of Animal Molecular Physiology, Institute of Experimental Biology, Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - David Terrian
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Linda S Steelman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - James A McCubrey
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
52
|
Kuo HY, Hsu HT, Chen YC, Chang YW, Liu FT, Wu CW. Galectin-3 modulates the EGFR signalling-mediated regulation of Sox2 expression via c-Myc in lung cancer. Glycobiology 2015; 26:155-65. [PMID: 26447186 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwv088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Galectin-3 is a ubiquitous lectin exerting multiple cellular functions such as RNA splicing, protein trafficking and apoptosis. Its expression is positively correlated with the poor prognosis in lung cancer patients. Galectin-3 can promote cancer progression through its effects on cell proliferation, cell survival or cancer metastasis. However, the role of galectin-3 in the regulation of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) is still unclear. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that galectin-3 might regulate lung CSCs via the EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway. In our study, galectin-3 facilitated EGFR activation and enhanced the sphere formation activity of lung cancer cells. Furthermore, galectin-3 promoted Sox2 expression in an EGFR activation-dependent manner; importantly, forced expression of Sox2 blunted the effect of galectin-3 knockdown on lung cancer sphere formation ability. These results suggest that galectin-3 promotes EGFR activation leading to the upregulation of Sox2 expression and lung CSCs properties. Moreover, we showed that the carbohydrate-binding activity of galectin-3 was important for the regulation of EGFR activation, Sox2 expression and sphere formation. We have recently reported that c-Myc is a transcriptional activator of Sox2. We further found that galectin-3 enhanced c-Myc protein stability leading to increased c-Myc binding to the Sox2 gene promoter. We also examined the effect of the stemness factors, Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 on the expression of galectin-3. We found that Oct4 enhanced galectin-3 expression. Our results together suggest that galectin-3 enhances lung cancer stemness through the EGFR/c-Myc/Sox2 axis; Oct4, in turn, promotes galectin-3 expression, forming a positive regulatory loop in lung CSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Yi Kuo
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
| | | | | | | | - Fu-Tong Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Dermatology, University of California at Davis, Davis, USA
| | - Cheng-Wen Wu
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Biomedical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
53
|
Wang J, Zeng H, Li H, Zhang J, Wang S. Roles of sex-determining region Y-box 2 in cell pluripotency and tumor-related signaling pathways. Mol Clin Oncol 2015; 3:1203-1207. [PMID: 26807221 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2015.639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) gene, a member of the Sry-like high-mobility group box (SOX) gene family, encodes the transcription factor Sox2, which significantly contributes to the regulation of cell pluripotency. Sox2 is closely associated with early embryonic development, neural differentiation and other biological processes. An inreasing number of recent studies suggest that Sox2 exerts a positive effect on malignant tumors. According to these results, Sox2 is expected to become a novel target for cancer therapy by unveiling the mechanism through which it affects the biological behavior of tumors. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the detailed association of Sox2 with malignant tumors. The aim of this study was to review the role of Sox2 in pluripotency maintenance, early embryonic development and neural differentiation, as well as investigate the detailed mechanism through which Sox2 regulates cancer stem cells and tumorigenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjie Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Huijuan Zeng
- Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Hanjun Li
- Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Juanjuan Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| | - Shaohua Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
54
|
Mayer MJ, Klotz LH, Venkateswaran V. Metformin and prostate cancer stem cells: a novel therapeutic target. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2015. [PMID: 26215782 DOI: 10.1038/pcan.2015.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in the world. Localized disease can be effectively treated with radiation therapy or radical prostatectomy. However, advanced prostate cancer is more difficult to treat and if metastatic, is incurable. There is a need for more effective therapy for advanced prostate cancer. One potential target is the cancer stem cell (CSC). CSCs have been described in several solid tumors, including prostate cancer, and contribute to therapeutic resistance and tumor recurrence. Metformin, a common oral biguanide used to treat type 2 diabetes, has been demonstrated to have anti-neoplastic effects. Specifically, metformin targets CSCs in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma and colon cancer. Metformin acts directly on the mitochondria to inhibit oxidative phosphorylation and reduce mitochondrial ATP production. This forces tumor cells to compensate by increasing the rate of glycolysis. CSCs rely heavily on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. The glycolytic switch results in an energy crisis in these cells. Metformin could be used to exploit this metabolic weakness in CSCs. This would increase CSC sensitivity to conventional cancer therapies, circumventing treatment resistance and enhancing treatment efficacy. This review will explore the characteristics of prostate CSCs, their role in tumor propagation and therapeutic resistance and the role of metformin as a potential prostate CSC sensitizer to current anticancer therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M J Mayer
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - L H Klotz
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - V Venkateswaran
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
55
|
Samanta S, Sun H, Goel HL, Pursell B, Chang C, Khan A, Greiner DL, Cao S, Lim E, Shultz LD, Mercurio AM. IMP3 promotes stem-like properties in triple-negative breast cancer by regulating SLUG. Oncogene 2015; 35:1111-21. [PMID: 25982283 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
IMP3 (insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA binding protein 3) is an oncofetal protein whose expression is prognostic for poor outcome in several cancers. Although IMP3 is expressed preferentially in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), its function is poorly understood. We observed that IMP3 expression is significantly higher in tumor initiating than in non-tumor initiating breast cancer cells and we demonstrate that IMP3 contributes to self-renewal and tumor initiation, properties associated with cancer stem cells (CSCs). The mechanism by which IMP3 contributes to this phenotype involves its ability to induce the stem cell factor SOX2. IMP3 does not interact with SOX2 mRNA significantly or regulate SOX2 expression directly. We discovered that IMP3 binds avidly to SNAI2 (SLUG) mRNA and regulates its expression by binding to the 5' UTR. This finding is significant because SLUG has been implicated in breast CSCs and TNBC. Moreover, we show that SOX2 is a transcriptional target of SLUG. These data establish a novel mechanism of breast tumor initiation involving IMP3 and they provide a rationale for its association with aggressive disease and poor outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Samanta
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - H Sun
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - H L Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - B Pursell
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - C Chang
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - A Khan
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - D L Greiner
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - S Cao
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - E Lim
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - L D Shultz
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - A M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
56
|
Rothenberg SM, Concannon K, Cullen S, Boulay G, Turke AB, Faber AC, Lockerman EL, Rivera MN, Engelman JA, Maheswaran S, Haber DA. Inhibition of mutant EGFR in lung cancer cells triggers SOX2-FOXO6-dependent survival pathways. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 25686219 PMCID: PMC4384750 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of EGFR-mutant lung cancer with erlotinib results in
dramatic tumor regression but it is invariably followed by drug resistance. In
characterizing early transcriptional changes following drug treatment of mutant
EGFR-addicted cells, we identified the stem cell transcriptional regulator SOX2 as
being rapidly and specifically induced, both in vitro and in vivo. Suppression of
SOX2 sensitizes cells to erlotinib-mediated apoptosis, ultimately decreasing the
emergence of acquired resistance, whereas its ectopic expression reduces drug-induced
cell death. We show that erlotinib relieves EGFR-dependent suppression of FOXO6,
leading to its induction of SOX2, which in turn represses the pro-apoptotic BH3-only
genes BIM and BMF. Together, these observations
point to a physiological feedback mechanism that attenuates oncogene
addiction-mediated cell death associated with the withdrawal of growth factor
signaling and may therefore contribute to the development of resistance. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06132.001 Tumors can form when cells gain mutations in genes that enable them to grow and
divide rapidly. In some human lung cancers, genetic mutations are found in a gene
that makes a protein called EGFR. This protein encourages cells to divide and the
mutations can lead to the cancer cells producing more EGFR, or producing a form of
the protein that is more active. Treating these cancers with a drug called erlotinib inhibits EGFR and makes the
tumors shrink dramatically, but the tumors will usually re-grow because any tumor
cells that survive often become resistant to the drug. There are several ways that
the tumor cells can become resistant, which makes the task of developing a solution
to this problem more difficult. It has been suggested that the tumor cells may enter
a temporary ‘drug-tolerant’ state that helps them to survive and makes
it more likely that they will develop resistance to the drug. However, it is not
clear how this drug-tolerant state might work. To address this question, Rothenberg et al. examined which genes are switched on (or
‘expressed’) in tumor cells with a mutant version of EGFR after they
were treated with the erlotinib drug. The experiments show that a gene called
SOX2 is expressed in these cells. Cells that had lower levels of
SOX2 expression were more sensitive to the effects of the drug
and fewer cells developed resistance. On the other hand, cells that had higher levels
of SOX2 expression were less sensitive to the drug and resistance
was more likely to develop. A protein called FOXO6—which is usually suppressed by EGFR—activates
the SOX2 gene in these cells. Therefore, using erlotinib to inhibit
EGFR to kill the cancer cells increases the activity of FOXO6, which in turn promotes
the survival of some of the cells by activating the SOX2 gene. A
better understanding of the ways in which cancer cells adapt to erlotinib and other
drugs may help us to design more effective treatments with better outcomes for
patients. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06132.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Michael Rothenberg
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Kyle Concannon
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Sarah Cullen
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Gaylor Boulay
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Alexa B Turke
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Anthony C Faber
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Elizabeth L Lockerman
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Miguel N Rivera
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Jeffrey A Engelman
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Shyamala Maheswaran
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| | - Daniel A Haber
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, United States
| |
Collapse
|
57
|
Cao SG, Ming ZJ, Zhang YP, Yang SY. Sex-determining region of Y chromosome-related high-mobility-group box 2 in malignant tumors: current opinions and anticancer therapy. Chin Med J (Engl) 2015; 128:384-9. [PMID: 25635436 PMCID: PMC4837871 DOI: 10.4103/0366-6999.150112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To gain insight into the mechanism by which sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY)-related high-mobility-group box 2 (SOX2) involved in carcinogenesis and cancer stem cells (CSCs). DATA SOURCES The data used in this review were mainly published in English from 2000 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "SOX2," "cancer," "tumor" or "CSCs." STUDY SELECTION Articles studying the mitochondria-related pathologic mechanism and treatment of glaucoma were selected and reviewed. RESULTS SOX2, a transcription factor that is the key in maintaining pluripotent properties of stem cells, is a member of SRY-related high-mobility group domain proteins. SOX2 participates in many biological processes, such as modulation of cell proliferation, regulation of cell death signaling, cell apoptosis, and most importantly, tumor formation and development. Although SOX2 has been implicated in the biology of various tumors and CSCs, the findings are highly controversial, and information regarding the underlying mechanism remains limited. Moreover, the mechanism by which SOX2 involved in carcinogenesis and tumor progression is rather unclear yet. CONCLUSIONS Here, we review the important biological functions of SOX2 in different tumors and CSCs, and the function of SOX2 signaling in the pathobiology of neoplasia, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway, Survivin signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and so on. Targeting towards SOX2 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Guang Cao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
| | - Zong-Juan Ming
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
| | - Yu-Ping Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
| | - Shuan-Ying Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710004, China
| |
Collapse
|
58
|
Wang S, Tie J, Wang R, Hu F, Gao L, Wang W, Wang L, Li Z, Hu S, Tang S, Li M, Wang X, Nie Y, Wu K, Fan D. SOX2, a predictor of survival in gastric cancer, inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis by regulating PTEN. Cancer Lett 2014; 358:210-219. [PMID: 25543086 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.12.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Inconsistent results of SOX2 expression have been reported in gastric cancer (GC). Here, we demonstrated that SOX2 was progressively downregulated during GC development via immunochemistry in 755 human gastric specimens. Low SOX2 levels were associated with pathological stage and clinical outcome. Multivariate analysis indicated that SOX2 protein expression served as an independent prognostic marker for GC. Gain-and loss-of function studies showed the anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic, and pro-apoptotic effects of SOX2 in GC. PTEN was selected as SOX2 targets by cDNA microarray and ChIP-DSL, further identified by luciferase assays, EMSA and ChIP-PCR. PTEN upregulation in response to SOX2-enforced expression suppressed GC malignancy via regulating Akt dephosphorylation. PTEN inhibition reversed SOX2-induced anticancer effects. Moreover, concordant positivity of SOX2 and PTEN proteins in nontumorous tissues but lost in matched GC specimens predicted a worse patient prognosis. Thus, SOX2 proved to be a new marker for evaluating GC outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simeng Wang
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Jun Tie
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| | - Rui Wang
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Fengrong Hu
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Liucun Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Wenlan Wang
- Department of Aerospace Hygiene and Health Service, School of Aerospace Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Lifeng Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Zengshan Li
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Sijun Hu
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Shanhong Tang
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Mengbin Li
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Xin Wang
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Yongzhan Nie
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Kaichun Wu
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Daiming Fan
- State key Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
59
|
SOX2 regulates self-renewal and tumorigenicity of stem-like cells of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2014; 111:2122-30. [PMID: 25321191 PMCID: PMC4260038 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) display cellular heterogeneity and contain cancer stem cells (CSCs). Sex-determining region Y [SRY]-box (SOX)2 is an important regulator of embryonic stem cell fate and is aberrantly expressed in several types of human tumours. Nonetheless, the role of SOX2 in HNSCC remains unclear. Methods: We created cells ectopically expressing SOX2 from previously established HNSCC cells and examined the cell proliferation, self-renewal capacity, and chemoresistance of these cells compared with control cells. In addition, we knocked down SOX2 in primary spheres obtained from HNSCC tumour tissue and assessed the attenuation of stemness-associated traits in these cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we examined the clinical relevance of SOX2 expression in HNSCC patients. Results: SOX2 is aberrantly expressed in primary tissue of HNSCC patients but not in healthy tissue. SOX2 expression correlated with tumour recurrence and poor prognosis of HNSCC patients. Ectopic expression of SOX2 induced cell proliferation via cyclin B1 expression and stemness-associated features, such as self-renewal and chemoresistance. In addition, a knockdown of SOX2 in HNSCC CSCs attenuated their self-renewal capacity, chemoresistance (through ABCG2 suppression), invasion capacity (via snail downregulation), and in vivo tumorigenicity. Conclusions: These results suggest that SOX2 may have important roles in the ‘stemness' and progression of HNSCC. Targeting SOX2-positive tumour cells (CSCs) could be a new therapeutic strategy in HNSCCs.
Collapse
|
60
|
Weina K, Utikal J. SOX2 and cancer: current research and its implications in the clinic. Clin Transl Med 2014; 3:19. [PMID: 25114775 PMCID: PMC4126816 DOI: 10.1186/2001-1326-3-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
SOX2 is a gene that encodes for a transcription factor belonging to the SOX gene family and contains a high-mobility group (HMG) domain, which permits highly specific DNA binding. Consequently, SOX2 functions as an activator or suppressor of gene transcription. SOX2 has been described as an essential embryonic stem cell gene and moreover, a necessary factor for induced cellular reprogramming. SOX2 research has only recently switched focus from embryogenesis and development to SOX2’s function in disease. Particularly, the role of SOX2 in cancer pathogenesis has become of interest in the field. To date, studies have shown SOX2 to be amplified in various cancer types and affect cancer cell physiology via involvement in complicated cell signaling and protein-protein interactions. Recent reviews in this field have highlighted SOX2 in mammalian physiology, development and pathology. In this review, we comprehensively compile what is known to date about SOX2’s involvement in cancer biology, focusing on the most recent findings in the fields of cellular signaling and cancer stem cells. Lastly, we underscore the role of SOX2 in the clinic and highlight new findings, which may provide novel clinical applications for SOX2 as a prognostic marker, indicator of metastasis, biomarker or potential therapeutic target in some cancer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kasia Weina
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68135 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Utikal
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ; Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68135 Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
61
|
Dai W, Tan X, Sun C, Zhou Q. High expression of SOX2 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:8393-406. [PMID: 24828201 PMCID: PMC4057738 DOI: 10.3390/ijms15058393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2014] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determining region Y-BOX2 (SOX2), one of the key members of the SOX family, is a transcription factor that is involved in the maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency and in multiple developmental processes. Recent studies have shown that SOX2 is aberrantly expressed in several types of tumors. The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of SOX2 in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland. In this study, the expression of SOX2 in ACC tissues and matched adjacent non-cancerous tissues was measured by immunohistochemistry, western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. High SOX2 expression occurred in approximately 62.6% of primary ACC. In addition, high expression of SOX2 was significantly associated with T classification (p=0.003) and distant metastasis (p=0.002). The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with high SOX2 expression is poorer than those with low SOX2 expression. When adjusted by multivariate analysis, high SOX2 expression, together with distant metastasis, was an independent prognostic factor. The findings of the present study provide evidence that SOX2 represents a potential novel prognostic biomarker for ACC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Dai
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China.
| | - Xuexin Tan
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China.
| | - Changfu Sun
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China.
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Oromaxillofacial-Head and Neck Surgery & Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
62
|
Mäbert K, Cojoc M, Peitzsch C, Kurth I, Souchelnytskyi S, Dubrovska A. Cancer biomarker discovery: current status and future perspectives. Int J Radiat Biol 2014; 90:659-77. [PMID: 24524284 DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2014.892229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer is a multigene disease which arises as a result of mutational and epigenetic changes coupled with activation of complex signaling networks. The use of biomarkers for early cancer detection, staging and individualization of therapy might improve patient care. A few fundamental issues such as tumor heterogeneity, a highly dynamic nature of the intrinsic and extrinsic determinants of radio- and chemoresistance, along with the plasticity and diversity of cancer stem cells (CSC) make biomarker development a challenging task. In this review we outline the preclinical strategies of cancer biomarker discovery including genomic, proteomic, metabolomic and microRNomic profiling, comparative genome hybridization (CGH), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis, high throughput screening (HTS) and next generation sequencing (NGS). Other promising approaches such as assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTC), analysis of CSC-specific markers and cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) are also discussed. CONCLUSIONS The emergence of powerful proteomic and genomic technologies in conjunction with advanced bioinformatic tools allows the simultaneous analysis of thousands of biological molecules. These techniques yield the discovery of new tumor signatures, which are sensitive and specific enough for early cancer detection, for monitoring disease progression and for proper treatment selection, paving the way to individualized cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Mäbert
- OncoRay-National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology, Medical Faculty Dresden Carl Gustav Carus , TU Dresden , Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
63
|
Hütz K, Mejías-Luque R, Farsakova K, Ogris M, Krebs S, Anton M, Vieth M, Schüller U, Schneider MR, Blum H, Wagner E, Jung A, Gerhard M. The stem cell factor SOX2 regulates the tumorigenic potential in human gastric cancer cells. Carcinogenesis 2014; 35:942-950. [DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgt410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023] Open
|
64
|
Santini R, Pietrobono S, Pandolfi S, Montagnani V, D'Amico M, Penachioni JY, Vinci MC, Borgognoni L, Stecca B. SOX2 regulates self-renewal and tumorigenicity of human melanoma-initiating cells. Oncogene 2014; 33:4697-708. [PMID: 24681955 PMCID: PMC4180644 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive types of human cancer, characterized by enhanced heterogeneity and resistance to conventional therapy at advanced stages. We and others have previously shown that HEDGEHOG-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling is required for melanoma growth and for survival and expansion of melanoma-initiating cells (MICs). Recent reports indicate that HH-GLI signaling regulates a set of genes typically expressed in embryonic stem cells, including SOX2 (sex-determining region Y (SRY)-Box2). Here we address the function of SOX2 in human melanomas and MICs and its interaction with HH-GLI signaling. We find that SOX2 is highly expressed in melanoma stem cells. Knockdown of SOX2 sharply decreases self-renewal in melanoma spheres and in putative melanoma stem cells with high aldehyde dehydrogenase activity (ALDH(high)). Conversely, ectopic expression of SOX2 in melanoma cells enhances their self-renewal in vitro. SOX2 silencing also inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in melanoma cells. In addition, depletion of SOX2 progressively abrogates tumor growth and leads to a significant decrease in tumor-initiating capability of ALDH(high) MICs upon xenotransplantation, suggesting that SOX2 is required for tumor initiation and for continuous tumor growth. We show that SOX2 is regulated by HH signaling and that the transcription factors GLI1 and GLI2, the downstream effectors of HH-GLI signaling, bind to the proximal promoter region of SOX2 in primary melanoma cells. In functional studies, we find that SOX2 function is required for HH-induced melanoma cell growth and MIC self-renewal in vitro. Thus SOX2 is a critical factor for self-renewal and tumorigenicity of MICs and an important mediator of HH-GLI signaling in melanoma. These findings could provide the basis for novel therapeutic strategies based on the inhibition of SOX2 for the treatment of a subset of human melanomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Santini
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - S Pietrobono
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - S Pandolfi
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - V Montagnani
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - M D'Amico
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - J Y Penachioni
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - M C Vinci
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| | - L Borgognoni
- Plastic Surgery Unit, S.M. Annunziata Hospital-Regional Melanoma Referral Center, Istituto Toscano Tumori, Florence, Italy
| | - B Stecca
- Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology, Core Research Laboratory-Istituto Toscano Tumori (CRL-ITT), Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
65
|
Li P, Yang R, Gao WQ. Contributions of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells to the development of castration resistance of prostate cancer. Mol Cancer 2014; 13:55. [PMID: 24618337 PMCID: PMC3975176 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-13-55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
An important clinical challenge in prostate cancer therapy is the inevitable transition from androgen-sensitive to castration-resistant and metastatic prostate cancer. Albeit the androgen receptor (AR) signaling axis has been targeted, the biological mechanism underlying the lethal event of androgen independence remains unclear. New emerging evidences indicate that epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) play crucial roles during the development of castration-resistance and metastasis of prostate cancer. Notably, EMT may be a dynamic process. Castration can induce EMT that may enhance the stemness of CSCs, which in turn results in castration-resistance and metastasis. Reverse of EMT may attenuate the stemness of CSCs and inhibit castration-resistance and metastasis. These prospective approaches suggest that therapies target EMT and CSCs may cast a new light on the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in the future. Here we review recent progress of EMT and CSCs in CRPC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Stem Cell Research Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | | |
Collapse
|