101
|
Abstract
Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer; there is no cure in advanced stages. Identifying molecular participants in melanoma progression may provide useful diagnostic and therapeutic tools. FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51), an immunophilin with a relevant role in developmental stages, is highly expressed in melanoma and correlates with aggressiveness and therapy resistance. We hypothesized a role for FKBP51 in melanoma invasive behaviour. FKBP51 promoted activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes and improved melanoma cell migration and invasion. In addition, FKBP51 induced some melanoma stem cell (MCSC) genes. Purified MCSCs expressed high EMT genes levels, suggesting that genetic programs of EMT and MCSCs overlap. Immunohistochemistry of samples from patients showed intense FKBP51 nuclear signal and cytoplasmic positivity for the stem cell marker nestin in extravasating melanoma cells and metastatic brains. In addition, FKBP51 targeting by small interfering RNA (siRNA) prevented the massive metastatic substitution of liver and lung in a mouse model of experimental metastasis. The present study provides evidence that the genetic programs of cancer stemness and invasiveness overlap in melanoma, and that FKBP51 plays a pivotal role in sustaining such a program.
Collapse
|
102
|
Luo Y, Dallaglio K, Chen Y, Robinson WA, Robinson SE, McCarter MD, Wang J, Gonzalez R, Thompson DC, Norris DA, Roop DR, Vasiliou V, Fujita M. ALDH1A isozymes are markers of human melanoma stem cells and potential therapeutic targets. Stem Cells 2013; 30:2100-13. [PMID: 22887839 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although the concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is well-accepted for many tumors, the existence of such cells in human melanoma has been the subject of debate. In this study, we demonstrate the existence of human melanoma cells that fulfill the criteria for CSCs (self-renewal and differentiation) by serially xenotransplanting cells into nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice. These cells possess high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity with ALDH1A1 and ALDH1A3 being the predominant ALDH isozymes. ALDH-positive melanoma cells are more tumorigenic than ALDH-negative cells in both NOD/SCID mice and NSG mice. Biological analyses of the ALDH-positive melanoma cells reveal the ALDH isozymes to be key molecules regulating the function of these cells. Silencing ALDH1A by siRNA or shRNA leads to cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, decreased cell viability in vitro, and reduced tumorigenesis in vivo. ALDH-positive melanoma cells are more resistant to chemotherapeutic agents and silencing ALDH1A by siRNA sensitizes melanoma cells to drug-induced cell death. Furthermore, we, for the first time, examined the molecular signatures of ALDH-positive CSCs from patient-derived tumor specimens. The signatures of melanoma CSCs include retinoic acid (RA)-driven target genes with RA response elements and genes associated with stem cell function. These findings implicate that ALDH isozymes are not only biomarkers of CSCs but also attractive therapeutic targets for human melanoma. Further investigation of these isozymes and genes will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing CSCs and reveal new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention of cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuchun Luo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
103
|
Mimeault M, Batra SK. Hypoxia-inducing factors as master regulators of stemness properties and altered metabolism of cancer- and metastasis-initiating cells. J Cell Mol Med 2013; 17:30-54. [PMID: 23301832 PMCID: PMC3560853 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 239] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating lines of experimental evidence have revealed that hypoxia-inducible factors, HIF-1α and HIF-2α, are key regulators of the adaptation of cancer- and metastasis-initiating cells and their differentiated progenies to oxygen and nutrient deprivation during cancer progression under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Particularly, the sustained stimulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), stem cell factor (SCF) receptor KIT, transforming growth factor-β receptors (TGF-βRs) and Notch and their downstream signalling elements such as phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/molecular target of rapamycin (mTOR) may lead to an enhanced activity of HIFs. Moreover, the up-regulation of HIFs in cancer cells may also occur in the hypoxic intratumoral regions formed within primary and secondary neoplasms as well as in leukaemic cells and metastatic prostate and breast cancer cells homing in the hypoxic endosteal niche of bone marrow. The activated HIFs may induce the expression of numerous gene products such as induced pluripotency-associated transcription factors (Oct-3/4, Nanog and Sox-2), glycolysis- and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programme-associated molecules, including CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), snail and twist, microRNAs and angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). These gene products in turn can play critical roles for high self-renewal ability, survival, altered energy metabolism, invasion and metastases of cancer cells, angiogenic switch and treatment resistance. Consequently, the targeting of HIF signalling network and altered metabolic pathways represents new promising strategies to eradicate the total mass of cancer cells and improve the efficacy of current therapies against aggressive and metastatic cancers and prevent disease relapse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Mimeault
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
104
|
Nguyen N, Luo Y, Fujita M. Aldehyde dehydrogenase isozymes: markers of cancer stem cells in human melanoma. EXPERT REVIEW OF DERMATOLOGY 2013; 8:111-113. [PMID: 26877760 DOI: 10.1586/edm.13.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Nguyen
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8127, 12801 E 17th Ave., Rm 4124, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yuchun Luo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8127, 12801 E 17th Ave., Rm 4124, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mayumi Fujita
- Department of Dermatology, University of Colorado Denver, Mail Stop 8127, 12801 E 17th Ave., Rm 4124, Aurora, CO 80045, USA and Charles C Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA and Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
105
|
Tumor dormancy and cancer stem cells: two sides of the same coin? ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2013; 734:145-79. [PMID: 23143979 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-1445-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that tumor dormancy represents an important mechanism underlying the observed failure of existing therapeutic modalities to fully eradicate cancers. In addition to its more established role in maintaining minimal residual disease after treatment, dormancy might also critically contribute to early stages of tumor development and the formation of clinically undetectable micrometastatic foci. There are striking parallels between the concept of tumor dormancy and the cancer stem cell (CSC) theory of tumor propagation. For instance, the CSC hypothesis similarly predicts that a subset of self-renewing cancer cells-that is CSCs-is responsible for tumor initiation, bears the preferential ability to survive tumor therapy, and persists long term to ultimately cause delayed cancer recurrence and metastatic progression. Additionally, many of the biological mechanisms involved in controlling the dormant state of a tumor can also govern CSC behavior, including cell cycle modifications, alteration of angiogenic processes, and modulation of antitumor immune responses. In fact, quiescence and immune escape are emerging hallmark features of at least some CSCs, indicating significant overlap between dormant cancer populations and CSCs. Herein, we crucially dissect whether CSCs occupy specific roles in orchestrating the switch between dormancy and exuberant tumor growth. We elucidate how recently uncovered CSC biological features could enable these cells to evade immunologic clearance and regulate cancer expansion, relapse, and progression. We propose that the study of CSC immunobiological pathways holds the promise to critically advance our understanding of the processes mediating tumor dormancy. Ultimately, such research endeavors could unravel novel therapeutic avenues that efficiently target both proliferating and dormant CSCs to minimize the risk of tumor recurrence in cancer patients.
Collapse
|
106
|
Musumeci F, Radi M, Brullo C, Schenone S. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors: drugs and new inhibitors. J Med Chem 2012; 55:10797-822. [PMID: 23098265 DOI: 10.1021/jm301085w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The recent launch onto the market of five VEGFR inhibitors indicates the therapeutic value of these agents and the importance of the research in the field of angiogenesis inhibitors for future oncologic therapy. In this Perspective we briefly report the inhibitors that are in clinical use, while we dedicate two wider sections to the compounds that are in clinical trials and to the new derivatives appearing in the literature. We especially consider the medicinal chemistry aspect of the topic and report the structure-activity relationship studies and the binding mode of some inhibitors as well as the biological data of the compounds discovered in the past 5 years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Musumeci
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
107
|
Kuo WH, Chang YY, Lai LC, Tsai MH, Hsiao CK, Chang KJ, Chuang EY. Molecular characteristics and metastasis predictor genes of triple-negative breast cancer: a clinical study of triple-negative breast carcinomas. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45831. [PMID: 23049873 PMCID: PMC3458056 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer with aggressive tumor behavior and distinct disease etiology. Due to the lack of an effective targeted medicine, treatment options for triple-negative breast cancer are few and recurrence rates are high. Although various multi-gene prognostic markers have been proposed for the prediction of breast cancer outcome, most of them were proven clinically useful only for estrogen receptor-positive breast cancers. Reliable identification of triple-negative patients with a favorable prognosis is not yet possible. Methodology/Principal Findings Clinicopathological information and microarray data from 157 invasive breast carcinomas were collected at National Taiwan University Hospital from 1995 to 2008. Gene expression data of 51 triple-negative and 106 luminal breast cancers were generated by oligonucleotide microarrays. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that the majority (94%) of triple-negative breast cancers were tightly clustered together carrying strong basal-like characteristics. A 45-gene prognostic signature giving 98% predictive accuracy in distant recurrence of our triple-negative patients was determined using the receiver operating characteristic analysis and leave-one-out cross validation. External validation of the prognostic signature in an independent microarray dataset of 59 early-stage triple-negative patients also obtained statistical significance (hazard ratio 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–5.06, Cox P = 0.04), outperforming five other published breast cancer prognostic signatures. The 45-gene signature identified in this study revealed that TGF-β signaling of immune/inflammatory regulation may play an important role in distant metastatic invasion of triple-negative breast cancer. Conclusions/Significance Gene expression data and recurrence information of triple-negative breast cancer were collected and analyzed in this study. A novel set of 45-gene signature was found to be statistically predictive in disease recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer. The 45-gene signature, if further validated, may be a clinically useful tool in risk assessment of distant recurrence for early-stage triple-negative patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Hung Kuo
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Yin Chang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, NTU Center of Genomic Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Liang-Chuan Lai
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mong-Hsun Tsai
- Institute of Biotechnology, College of Bio-resources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuhsing Kate Hsiao
- Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - King-Jen Chang
- Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Cheng Ching General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (EYC); (KJC)
| | - Eric Y. Chuang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Core, NTU Center of Genomic Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (EYC); (KJC)
| |
Collapse
|
108
|
Seftor REB, Hess AR, Seftor EA, Kirschmann DA, Hardy KM, Margaryan NV, Hendrix MJC. Tumor cell vasculogenic mimicry: from controversy to therapeutic promise. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2012; 181:1115-25. [PMID: 22944600 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Revised: 07/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
In 1999, The American Journal of Pathology published an article entitled "Vascular channel formation by human melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro: vasculogenic mimicry," by Maniotis and colleagues, which ignited a spirited debate for several years and earned distinction as a citation classic. Tumor cell vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to the plasticity of aggressive cancer cells forming de novo vascular networks, which thereby contribute to perfusion of rapidly growing tumors, transporting fluid from leaky vessels, and/or connecting with the constitutional endothelial-lined vasculature. The tumor cells capable of VM share a plastic, transendothelial phenotype, which may be induced by hypoxia. Since VM was introduced as a novel paradigm for melanoma tumor perfusion, many studies have contributed new findings illuminating the underlying molecular pathways supporting VM in a variety of tumors, including carcinomas, sarcomas, glioblastomas, astrocytomas, and melanomas. Facilitating the functional plasticity of tumor cell VM are key proteins associated with vascular, stem cell, and hypoxia-related signaling pathways, each deserving serious consideration as potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic indicators of the aggressive, metastatic phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard E B Seftor
- Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60614-3394, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
109
|
Lai CY, Schwartz BE, Hsu MY. CD133+ melanoma subpopulations contribute to perivascular niche morphogenesis and tumorigenicity through vasculogenic mimicry. Cancer Res 2012; 72:5111-8. [PMID: 22865455 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-12-0624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cell subpopulations that express cancer stem cell markers such as CD133 (prominin1) or ABCB5 are thought to be crucial for tumor initiation and heterogeneity, but their biological significance in melanoma has been controversial. Here, we report that CD133(+) and ABCB5(+) subpopulations are colocalized in melanomas in perivascular niches that contain CD144 (VE-cadherin)(+) melanoma cells forming vessel-like channels, a phenomenon termed vasculogenic mimicry (VM). RNAi-mediated attenuation of CD133 established its critical function in morphogenesis of these perivascular niches as well as in melanoma tumorigenicity. Niche-associated genes CD144 and ABCB5 were downregulated in tumors derived from CD133 knockdown (KD) melanoma cells compared with controls. CD133KD cells also lacked the ability to form CD144(+) VM-like channels in a manner that was associated with a depletion of the ABCB5(+) cell subpopulation. Finally, CD133 KD cells exhibited poorer tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, our findings corroborate models in which CD133(+)/ABCB5(+) melanoma cells reside in a complex anastomosing microvascular niche that encompasses CD144(+) VM channels as well as authentic endothelial cell-lined blood vessels. Further, they indicate that CD133(+) cells act as stem-like cells, which drive tumor growth by promoting VM and the morphogenesis of a specialized perivascular niche in melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiou-Yan Lai
- Program in Dermatopathology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
110
|
Vartanian A, Gatsina G, Grigorieva I, Solomko E, Dombrovsky V, Baryshnikov A, Stepanova E. The involvement of Notch signaling in melanoma vasculogenic mimicry. Clin Exp Med 2012; 13:201-9. [PMID: 22627943 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-012-0190-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Notch signaling plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis. Recent studies suggest that Notch signaling also regulates the progression of primary melanomas toward an aggressive phenotype. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of Notch signaling pathway in organization of tumor cells into capillary-like structures (CLS), the phenomenon also known as vasculogenic mimicry (VM). Here, we show that Notch signaling cascade was constitutively active in melanoma cell lines we used. Blocking Notch signaling with the γ-secretase inhibitors, DAPT, dibenzazepine or Jagged1 neutralizing antibody resulted in stabilization of CLS indicating that Notch signaling pathway attenuates melanoma VM. We further studied this phenomenon on melanomas grafted in nude mice. Compared to control, VM channels in DAPT-treated grafted melanoma became larger and more branched. DAPT-treated melanomas also exhibited an up-regulation of MMP-2 and VEGFR1, both known as VM mediators. Moreover, we did not observe necrosis in VM channels areas of DAPT-treated melanomas. These findings indicate that VM regulated by Notch signaling may present a novel target in melanoma therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Vartanian
- N.N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Kashirskoye shosse, 24, 115478, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
111
|
Ribatti D, Nico B, Cimpean AM, Raica M, Crivellato E, Ruggieri S, Vacca A. B16-F10 melanoma cells contribute to the new formation of blood vessels in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane through vasculogenic mimicry. Clin Exp Med 2012; 13:143-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s10238-012-0183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/03/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
112
|
Kirschmann DA, Seftor EA, Hardy KM, Seftor REB, Hendrix MJC. Molecular pathways: vasculogenic mimicry in tumor cells: diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Clin Cancer Res 2012; 18:2726-32. [PMID: 22474319 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-11-3237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tumor cell vasculogenic mimicry (VM) describes the functional plasticity of aggressive cancer cells forming de novo vascular networks, thereby providing a perfusion pathway for rapidly growing tumors, transporting fluid from leaky vessels, and/or connecting with endothelial-lined vasculature. The underlying induction of VM seems to be related to hypoxia, which may also promote the plastic, transendothelial phenotype of tumor cells capable of VM. Since its introduction in 1999 as a novel paradigm for melanoma tumor perfusion, many studies have contributed new insights into the underlying molecular pathways supporting VM in a variety of tumors, including melanoma, glioblastoma, carcinomas, and sarcomas. In particular, critical VM-modulating genes are associated with vascular (VE-cadherin, EphA2, VEGF receptor 1), embryonic and/or stem cell (Nodal, Notch4), and hypoxia-related (hypoxia-inducible factor, Twist1) signaling pathways. Each of these pathways warrants serious scrutiny as potential therapeutic, vascular targets, and diagnostic indicators of plasticity, drug resistance, and the aggressive metastatic phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dawn A Kirschmann
- Children's Memorial Research Center, Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
113
|
Mimeault M, Batra SK. Novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for optimizing the therapeutic management of melanomas. World J Clin Oncol 2012; 3:32-42. [PMID: 22442756 PMCID: PMC3309891 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v3.i3.32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2011] [Revised: 02/12/2012] [Accepted: 03/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous malignant melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer with an extremely poor survival rate for the patients diagnosed with locally invasive and metastatic disease states. Intensive research has led in last few years to an improvement of the early detection and curative treatment of primary cutaneous melanomas that are confined to the skin by tumor surgical resection. However, locally advanced and disseminated melanomas are generally resistant to conventional treatments, including ionizing radiation, systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy and/or adjuvant stem cell-based therapies, and result in the death of patients. The rapid progression of primary melanomas to locally invasive and/or metastatic disease states remains a major obstacle for an early effective diagnosis and a curative therapeutic intervention for melanoma patients. Importantly, recent advances in the melanoma research have led to the identification of different gene products that are often implicated in the malignant transformation of melanocytic cells into melanoma cells, including melanoma stem/progenitor cells, during melanoma initiation and progression to locally advanced and metastatic disease states. The frequent deregulated genes products encompass the oncogenic B-RafV600E and N-RasQ61R mutants, different receptor tyrosine kinases and developmental pathways such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), stem cell-like factor (SCF) receptor KIT, hedgehog, Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGFR receptor. These growth factors can cooperate to activate distinct tumorigenic downstream signaling elements and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated molecules, including phosphatidylinositol 3’-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/ molecular target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1), vimentin, snail and twist. Of therapeutic relevance, these deregulated signal transduction components constitute new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of great clinical interest for improving the efficacy of current diagnostic and prognostic methods and management of patients diagnosed with locally advanced, metastatic and/or relapsed melanomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Mimeault
- Murielle Mimeault, Surinder K Batra, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5870, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
114
|
Linley AJ, Mathieu MG, Miles AK, Rees RC, McArdle SEB, Regad T. The helicase HAGE expressed by malignant melanoma-initiating cells is required for tumor cell proliferation in vivo. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:13633-43. [PMID: 22393060 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.308973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma-initiating cells (MMIC) are a subpopulation of cells responsible for melanoma tumor growth and progression. They are defined by the expression of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) subfamily B member 5 (ABCB5). Here, we identified a critical role for the DEAD-box helicase antigen (HAGE) in ABCB5+ MMIC-dependent tumorigenesis and show that HAGE-specific inactivation inhibits melanoma tumor growth mediated by this tumor-initiating population. Knockdown of HAGE led to a significant decrease in RAS protein expression with a concomitant decrease in activation of the AKT and ERK signaling pathways implicated to play an important role in melanoma progression. To confirm that the reduction in NRAS (Neuroblastoma RAS) expression was dependent on the HAGE helicase activity, we showed that NRAS, effectively silenced by siRNA, could be rescued by reintroduction of HAGE in cells lacking HAGE. Furthermore, we provide a mechanism by which HAGE promotes NRAS unwinding in vitro. We also observed using tumor transplantation in Non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice that the HAGE knockdown in a ABCB5+ melanoma cell line displayed a significant decrease in tumor growth and compared with the control. Our results suggest that the helicase HAGE is required for ABCB5+ MMIC-dependent tumor growth through promoting RAS protein expression and that cancer therapies targeting HAGE helicase may have broad applications for treating malignant melanoma and potentially other cancer types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Linley
- The John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Clifton Lane, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
115
|
Valyi-Nagy K, Kormos B, Ali M, Shukla D, Valyi-Nagy T. Stem cell marker CD271 is expressed by vasculogenic mimicry-forming uveal melanoma cells in three-dimensional cultures. Mol Vis 2012; 18:588-92. [PMID: 22419851 PMCID: PMC3298423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Cancer stem cells have increased resistance against a variety of anti-tumor treatment modalities. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) patterns are present in numerous malignant tumor types, represent the formation of perfusion pathways by tumor cells, and their presence in tumors is associated with adverse outcome. Earlier we have shown that VM-forming tumor cells in three-dimensional (3D) uveal melanoma cultures have increased resistance against cytotoxic agents and oncolytic herpes simplex virus-mediated destruction. The purpose of the current study was to explore the possibility that this increased resistance of VM-forming tumor cells is due to a cancer stem cell phenotype. METHODS The expression of cancer stem cell marker cluster of differentiation 271 (CD271) was determined in traditional two-dimensional (2D) and 3D cultures of C918 uveal melanoma cells by fluorescent immunocytochemistry. RESULTS We found that the VM-forming tumor cell subpopulation in 3D cultures expressed CD271. In contrast, cells grown in 2D cultures and tumor cell subpopulations not participating in VM formation in 3D cultures were negative for CD271. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that VM-forming uveal melanoma cells acquire a cancer stem cell-like phenotype that may play a role in the increased therapy resistance of these cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klara Valyi-Nagy
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Bernadett Kormos
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Mohamed Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Deepak Shukla
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Tibor Valyi-Nagy
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| |
Collapse
|
116
|
Herz K, Heinemann JC, Hesse M, Ottersbach A, Geisen C, Fuegemann CJ, Röll W, Fleischmann BK, Wenzel D. Live monitoring of small vessels during development and disease using the flt-1 promoter element. Basic Res Cardiol 2012; 107:257. [PMID: 22382299 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-012-0257-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2011] [Revised: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Vessel formation is of critical importance for organ function in the normal and diseased state. In particular, the labeling and quantitation of small vessels prove to be technically challenging using current approaches. We have, therefore, established a transgenic embryonic stem (ES) cell line and a transgenic mouse model where the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor VEGFR-1 (flt-1) promoter drives the expression of the live reporter eGFP. Fluorescence microscopy and immunostainings revealed endothelial-specific eGFP labeling of vascular networks. The expression pattern recapitulates that of the endogenous flt-1 gene, because small and large vessels are labeled by eGFP during embryonic development; after birth, the expression becomes more restricted to small vessels. We have explored this in the cardiovascular system more in detail and found that all small vessels and capillaries within the heart are strongly eGFP+. In addition, myocardial injuries have been induced in transgenic mice and prominent vascular remodeling, and an increase in endothelial cell area within the peri-infarct area could be observed underscoring the utility of this mouse model. Thus, the transgenic flt-1/eGFP models are powerful tools to investigate and quantify vascularization in vivo and to probe the effect of different compounds on vessel formation in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katia Herz
- Institute of Physiology I, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
117
|
Treviño-Villarreal JH, Cotanche DA, Sepúlveda R, Bortoni ME, Manneberg O, Udagawa T, Rogers RA. Host-derived pericytes and Sca-1+ cells predominate in the MART-1- stroma fraction of experimentally induced melanoma. J Histochem Cytochem 2012; 59:1060-75. [PMID: 22147606 DOI: 10.1369/0022155411428078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification of cell types in tumor-associated stroma that are involved in the development of melanoma is hampered by their heterogeneity. The authors used flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry to demonstrate that anti-MART-1 antibodies can discriminate between melanoma and stroma cells. They investigated the cellular composition of the MART-1-, non-hematopoietic melanoma-associated stroma, finding it consisted mainly of Sca-1+ and CD146+ cells. These cell types were also observed in the skin and muscle adjacent to developing melanomas. The Sca-1+ cell population was observed distributed in the epidermis, hair follicle bulges, and tumor capsule. The CD146+ population was found distributed within the tumor, mainly associated with blood vessels in a perivascular location. In addition to a perivascular distribution, CD146+ cells expressed α-smooth muscle actin, lacked expression of endothelial markers CD31 and CD34, and were therefore identified as pericytes. Pericytes were found to be associated with CD31+ endothelial cells; however, some pericytes were also observed associated with CD31-, MART-1+ B16 melanoma cells that appeared to form blood vessel structures. Furthermore, the authors observed extensive nuclear expression of HIF-1α in melanoma and stroma cells, suggesting hypoxia is an important factor associated with the melanoma microenvironment and vascularization. The results suggest that pericytes and Sca-1+ stroma cells are important contributors to melanoma development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Humberto Treviño-Villarreal
- BioImaging Laboratory, Program in Molecular Integrative Physiological Sciences, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
118
|
Li C, Liu B, Dai Z, Tao Y. Knockdown of VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) impairs macrophage infiltration, angiogenesis and growth of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). Cancer Biol Ther 2011; 12:872-80. [PMID: 21989163 DOI: 10.4161/cbt.12.10.17672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis. VEGF has been shown to be a central player in this process. The biological activity of VEGF is mainly mediated by two tyrosine kinase receptors, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. While increasing evidence suggests that VEGF/VEGFR-1 signaling is crucial for tumor angiogenesis, its molecular mechanism is not well understood. Here we show that VEGFR-1 knockdown dramatically inhibits tumor growth. This inhibition is associated with significant decrease of tumor VEGF levels and tumor angiogenesis as well as an increased tumor necrosis. Moreover, we demonstrate that VEGF in CRCC tumors is mainly produced by tumor stromal cells instead of the tumor cells themselves. It has been shown that macrophages constitute a significant part of tumor stromal cells and produce a large amount of VEGF. We therefore examined the macrophage infiltration in the xenograft tumors. Remarkably, VEGFR-1 knockdown attenuates the tumor macrophages infiltration. To understand the mechanism, we investigated the impact of VEGFR-1 knockdown on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), one of the main chemoattractants for macrophages. Significantly, VEGFR-1 knockdown inhibits MCP-1 expression of CRCC cells. Taken together, these data indicate that VEGF/VEGFR-1 signaling plays an essential role in initiating tumor angiogenesis by regulating MCP-1 expression, which in turn, attracts macrophages infiltration and VEGF production. Thus, these studies suggest that blockade of VEGFR-1 function may provide a tumor-specific, VEGF-based therapeutic strategy for treatment of CRCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenghai Li
- Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
119
|
Bruce D, Tan PH. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors and the therapeutic targeting of angiogenesis in cancer: where do we go from here? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 18:85-103. [PMID: 22017472 DOI: 10.3109/15419061.2011.619673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor receptors (VEGFRs), the interactions with their ligands and the subsequent signalling pathways are known to play a vital role in tumour angiogenesis. Initial clinical trials of VEGFR inhibitors were disappointing but over the past decade some therapies have been successfully brought to market. At present, VEGFR inhibitors appear to be most promising as adjuvants to conventional chemotherapy. However, several interacting signalling molecules and downstream pathways have recently been shown to interact with VEGFR signalling and provide promising novel targets, such as the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), human epithelial receptor-2, (HER-2) Tie-2 and oestrogen receptors. Elucidation of this web of signalling pathways may identify new therapeutic strategies which may be used in combination with VEGFR inhibitors to augment the efficacy of anti-angiogenic cancer treatments. This review assesses the role of modulating VEGFR activity in cancer and systematically examines current evidence and trials in this area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Bruce
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Science, Oxford University, The John Radcliffe, Headley Way, Oxford, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
120
|
Abstract
Eradication of cancer stem cells to abrogate tumor growth is a new treatment modality. However, like normal cells cancer cells show plasticity. Differentiated tumor stem cells can acquire stem cell properties when they gain access to the stem cell niche. This indicates that eradicating of stem cells (emptying of the niche) alone will not lead to eradication of the tumor. Treatment should be directed to cancer stem cells ànd more mature cancer cells.
Collapse
|
121
|
Expression of a functional VEGFR-1 in tumor cells is a major determinant of anti-PlGF antibodies efficacy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:11590-5. [PMID: 21709213 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1109029108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
PlGF, one of the ligands for VEGFR-1, has been implicated in tumor angiogenesis. However, more recent studies indicate that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of PlGF signaling does not result in reduction of microvascular density in a variety of tumor models. Here we screened 12 human tumor cell lines and identified 3 that are growth inhibited by anti-PlGF antibodies in vivo. We found that efficacy of anti-PlGF treatment strongly correlates with VEGFR-1 expression in tumor cells, but not with antiangiogenesis. In addition, PlGF induced VEGFR-1 signaling and biological responses in tumor cell lines sensitive to anti-PlGF, but not in refractory tumor cell lines or in endothelial cells. Also, genetic ablation of VEGFR-1 signaling in the host did not affect the efficacy of PlGF blockade. Collectively, these findings suggest that the role of PlGF in tumorigenesis largely consists of promoting autocrine/paracrine growth of tumor cells expressing a functional VEGFR-1 rather than stimulation of angiogenesis.
Collapse
|
122
|
Wilson BJ, Schatton T, Zhan Q, Gasser M, Ma J, Saab KR, Schanche R, Waaga-Gasser AM, Gold JS, Huang Q, Murphy GF, Frank MH, Frank NY. ABCB5 identifies a therapy-refractory tumor cell population in colorectal cancer patients. Cancer Res 2011; 71:5307-16. [PMID: 21652540 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Identification and reversal of treatment resistance mechanisms of clinically refractory tumor cells is critical for successful cancer therapy. Here we show that ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5) identifies therapy-refractory tumor cells in colorectal cancer patients following fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemoradiation therapy and provide evidence for a functional role of ABCB5 in colorectal cancer 5-FU resistance. Examination of human colon and colorectal cancer specimens revealed ABCB5 to be expressed only on rare cells within healthy intestinal tissue, whereas clinical colorectal cancers exhibited substantially increased levels of ABCB5 expression. Analysis of successive, patient-matched biopsy specimens obtained prior to and following neoadjuvant 5-FU-based chemoradiation therapy in a series of colorectal cancer patients revealed markedly enhanced abundance of ABCB5-positive tumor cells when residual disease was detected. Consistent with this finding, the ABCB5-expressing tumor cell population was also treatment refractory and exhibited resistance to 5-FU-induced apoptosis in a colorectal cancer xenograft model of 5-FU monotherapy. Mechanistically, short hairpin RNA-mediated ABCB5 knockdown significantly inhibited tumorigenic xenograft growth and sensitized colorectal cancer cells to 5-FU-induced cell killing. Our results identify ABCB5 as a novel molecular marker of therapy-refractory tumor cells in colorectal cancer patients and point to a need for consistent eradication of ABCB5-positive resistant tumor cell populations for more effective colorectal cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Wilson
- Transplantation Research Center, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
123
|
Abstract
Since the identification of self-renewing cells in the hematopoietic system, stem cells have transformed the study of medicine. Cancer biologists have identified stem-like cells in multiple malignancies, including those of solid organs. This has led to the development of a stem cell theory of cancer, which purports that a subpopulation of self-renewing tumor cells is responsible for tumorigenesis. This contrasts with the stochastic model of tumor development, which advances that all tumor cells are capable of tumor formation. Within the field of melanoma, the identity and existence of cancer stem cells has been the subject of recent debate. Much of the controversy may be traced to differences in interpretations and definitions related to the cancer stem cell theory, and the use of dissimilar methodologies to study melanoma cells. Accumulating evidence suggests that cancer stem cells may exist in melanoma, although their frequency may vary and they may be capable of phenotypic plasticity. Importantly, these primitive melanoma cells are not only capable of self-renewal and differentiation plasticity, but also may confer virulence via immune evasion and multidrug resistance, and potentially via vasculogenic mimicry and transition to migratory and metastasizing derivatives. Therapeutic targeting of melanoma stem cells and the pathways that endow them with virulence hold promise for the design of more effective strategies for amelioration and eradication of this most lethal form of skin cancer.
Collapse
|