251
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Joosten SPJ, Mizutani T, Spaargaren M, Clevers H, Pals ST. MET Signaling Overcomes Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition in Normal and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells Causing Drug Resistance. Gastroenterology 2019; 157:1153-1155.e1. [PMID: 31255653 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2019.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sander P J Joosten
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Marcel Spaargaren
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Steven T Pals
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Department of Pathology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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252
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Tirinato L, Pagliari F, Di Franco S, Sogne E, Marafioti MG, Jansen J, Falqui A, Todaro M, Candeloro P, Liberale C, Seco J, Stassi G, Di Fabrizio E. ROS and Lipid Droplet accumulation induced by high glucose exposure in healthy colon and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells. Genes Dis 2019; 7:620-635. [PMID: 33335962 PMCID: PMC7729111 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2019.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid Droplets (LDs) are emerging as crucial players in colon cancer development and maintenance. Their expression has been associated with high tumorigenicity in Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), so that they have been proposed as a new functional marker in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells (CR-CSCs). They are also indirectly involved in the modulation of the tumor microenvironment through the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. There is growing evidence that a possible connection between metabolic alterations and malignant transformation exists, although the effects of nutrients, primarily glucose, on the CSC behavior are still mostly unexplored. Glucose is an essential fuel for cancer cells, and the connections with LDs in the healthy and CSC populations merit to be more deeply investigated. Here, we showed that a high glucose concentration activated the PI3K/AKT pathway and increased the expression of CD133 and CD44v6 CSC markers. Additionally, glucose was responsible for the increased amount of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and LDs in both healthy and CR-CSC samples. We also investigated the gene modulations following the HG treatment and found out that the healthy cell gene profile was the most affected. Lastly, Atorvastatin, a lipid-lowering drug, induced the highest mortality on CR-CSCs without affecting the healthy counterpart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Tirinato
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Loc. Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Pagliari
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Simone Di Franco
- Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elisa Sogne
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maria Grazia Marafioti
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jeanette Jansen
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Department of Physics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Falqui
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Matilde Todaro
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Patrizio Candeloro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Loc. Germaneto, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Carlo Liberale
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Joao Seco
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology, DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg, Department of Physics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Enzo Di Fabrizio
- Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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253
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Park SY, Lee CJ, Choi JH, Kim JH, Kim JW, Kim JY, Nam JS. The JAK2/STAT3/CCND2 Axis promotes colorectal Cancer stem cell persistence and radioresistance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:399. [PMID: 31511084 PMCID: PMC6737692 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1405-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Radiotherapy (RT) is a highly effective multimodal nonsurgical treatment that is essential for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Nevertheless, cell subpopulations displaying intrinsic radioresistance survive after RT. The reactivation of their proliferation and successful colonization at local or distant sites may increase the risk of poor clinical outcomes. Recently, radioresistant cancer cells surviving RT were reported to exhibit a more aggressive phenotype than parental cells, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Methods By investigating public databases containing CRC patient data, we explored potential radioresistance-associated signaling pathways. Then, their mechanistic roles in radioresistance were investigated through multiple validation steps using patient-derived primary CRC cells, human CRC cell lines, and CRC xenografts. Results Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling was activated in radioresistant CRC tissues in correlation with local and distant metastases. JAK2 was preferentially overexpressed in the CRC stem cell subpopulation, which was accompanied by the phosphorylation of STAT proteins, especially STAT3. JAK2/STAT3 signaling played an essential role in promoting tumor initiation and radioresistance by limiting apoptosis and enhancing clonogenic potential. Mechanistically, the direct binding of STAT3 to the cyclin D2 (CCND2) promoter increased CCND2 transcription. CCND2 expression was required for persistent cancer stem cell (CSC) growth via the maintenance of an intact cell cycle and proliferation with low levels of DNA damage accumulation. Conclusion Herein, we first identified JAK2/STAT3/CCND2 signaling as a resistance mechanism for the persistent growth of CSCs after RT, suggesting potential biomarkers and regimens for improving outcomes among CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Yeon Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.,Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Jae Lee
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jang-Hyun Choi
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee-Heun Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Won Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Young Kim
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Seok Nam
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea. .,Cell Logistics Research Center, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
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254
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Zuo Y, Zhang L, Tang W, Tang W. Identification of prognosis-related alternative splicing events in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 23:7762-7772. [PMID: 31489763 PMCID: PMC6815842 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) contributes to protein diversity by modifying most gene transcriptions. Cancer generation and progression are associated with specific splicing events. However, AS signature in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) remains unknown. In this study, genome‐wide AS profiles were generated in 537 patients with KIRC in the cancer genome atlas. With a total of 42 522 mRNA AS events in 10 600 genes acquired, 8164 AS events were significantly associated with the survival of patients with KIRC. Logistic regression analysis of the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was conducted to identify an optimized multivariate prognostic predicting mode containing four predictors. In this model, the receptor‐operator characteristic curves of the training set were built, and the areas under the curves (AUCs) at different times were >0.88, thus indicating a stable and powerful ability in distinguishing patients' outcome. Similarly, the AUCs of the test set at different times were >0.73, verifying the results of the training set. Correlation and gene ontology analyses revealed some potential functions of prognostic AS events. This study provided an optimized survival‐predicting model and promising data resources for future in‐depth studies on AS mechanisms in KIRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongdi Zuo
- Department of NephrologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Liang Zhang
- Department of NephrologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | | | - Wanxin Tang
- Department of NephrologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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255
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Javarsiani MH, Javanmard SH, Colonna F. Metastatic components in colorectal cancer. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN MEDICAL SCIENCES 2019; 24:75. [PMID: 31523261 PMCID: PMC6734673 DOI: 10.4103/jrms.jrms_957_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent experiments have shown that cells with different genetic mutations can give rise to cancer transformation, both in vitro and in vivo, supported by the crosstalk between cancer cells and stroma. The stroma and the complex set of involved cells make up the tumor microenvironment that supports the engraftment of metastatic cells. In fact, environmental factors support colorectal cancer arise by formation and maintenance of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In this review, we discuss interactions between CSCs and their microenvironment that can provide better therapeutic opportunities in the metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shagayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Francesca Colonna
- Department of General Pathology, Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Largo Francesco University, Rome, Italy
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256
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Iyer DN, Sin WY, Ng L. Linking stemness with colorectal cancer initiation, progression, and therapy. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:519-534. [PMID: 31523371 PMCID: PMC6716088 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i8.519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of cancer stem cells caused a paradigm shift in the concepts of origin and development of colorectal cancer. Several unresolved questions remain in this field though. Are colorectal cancer stem cells the cause or an effect of the disease? How do cancer stem cells assist in colorectal tumor dissemination to distant organs? What are the molecular or environmental factors affecting the roles of these cells in colorectal cancer? Through this review, we investigate the key findings until now and attempt to elucidate the origins, physical properties, microenvironmental niches, as well as the molecular signaling network that support the existence, self-renewal, plasticity, quiescence, and the overall maintenance of cancer stem cells in colorectal cancer. Increasing data show that the cancer stem cells play a crucial role not only in the establishment of the primary colorectal tumor but also in the distant spread of the disease. Hence, we will also look at the mechanisms adopted by cancer stem cells to influence the development of metastasis and evade therapeutic targeting and its role in the overall disease prognosis. Finally, we will illustrate the importance of understanding the biology of these cells to develop improved clinical strategies to tackle colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Narayanan Iyer
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Yan Sin
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lui Ng
- Department of Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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257
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Orienti I, Salvati V, Sette G, Zucchetti M, Bongiorno-Borbone L, Peschiaroli A, Zolla L, Francescangeli F, Ferrari M, Matteo C, Bello E, Di Virgilio A, Falchi M, De Angelis ML, Baiocchi M, Melino G, De Maria R, Zeuner A, Eramo A. A novel oral micellar fenretinide formulation with enhanced bioavailability and antitumour activity against multiple tumours from cancer stem cells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:373. [PMID: 31439019 PMCID: PMC6706930 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background An increasing number of anticancer agents has been proposed in recent years with the attempt to overcome treatment-resistant cancer cells and particularly cancer stem cells (CSC), the major culprits for tumour resistance and recurrence. However, a huge obstacle to treatment success is the ineffective delivery of drugs within the tumour environment due to limited solubility, short circulation time or inconsistent stability of compounds that, together with concomitant dose-limiting systemic toxicity, contribute to hamper the achievement of therapeutic drug concentrations. The synthetic retinoid Fenretinide (4-hydroxy (phenyl)retinamide; 4-HPR) formerly emerged as a promising anticancer agent based on pre-clinical and clinical studies. However, a major limitation of fenretinide is traditionally represented by its poor aqueous solubility/bioavailability due to its hydrophobic nature, that undermined the clinical success of previous clinical trials. Methods Here, we developed a novel nano-micellar fenretinide formulation called bionanofenretinide (Bio-nFeR), based on drug encapsulation in an ion-pair stabilized lipid matrix, with the aim to raise fenretinide bioavailability and antitumour efficacy. Results Bio-nFeR displayed marked antitumour activity against lung, colon and melanoma CSC both in vitro and in tumour xenografts, in absence of mice toxicity. Bio-nFeR is suitable for oral administration, reaching therapeutic concentrations within tumours and an unprecedented therapeutic activity in vivo as single agent. Conclusion Altogether, our results indicate Bio-nFeR as a novel anticancer agent with low toxicity and high activity against tumourigenic cells, potentially useful for the treatment of solid tumours of multiple origin. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-019-1383-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Orienti
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvati
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Sette
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Zucchetti
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Angelo Peschiaroli
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Translational Pharmacology IFT, Rome, Italy
| | - Lello Zolla
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | | | - Mariella Ferrari
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Matteo
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Ezia Bello
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Virgilio
- Service for Biotechnology and Animal Welfare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mario Falchi
- National AIDS Center, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Baiocchi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerry Melino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, TOR, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" - I.R.C.C.S, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Adriana Eramo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
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258
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Covert H, Mellor LF, Wolf CL, Ankenbrandt N, Emathinger JM, Tawara K, Oxford JT, Jorcyk CL. OSM-induced CD44 contributes to breast cancer metastatic potential through cell detachment but not epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:7721-7737. [PMID: 31496817 PMCID: PMC6700398 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s208721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hormone receptor status in human breast cancer cells is a strong indicator of the aggressiveness of a tumor. Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are aggressive, difficult to treat, and contribute to high incidences of metastasis by possessing characteristics such as increased tumor cell migration and a large presence of the transmembrane protein, cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) on the cell membrane. Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) cells are less aggressive and do not migrate until undergoing an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods The relationship between EMT and CD44 during metastatic events is assessed by observing changes in EMT markers, tumor cell detachment, and migration following cytokine treatment on both parental and CD44 knockdown human breast tumor cells. Results ER+ T47D and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells treated with OSM demonstrate increased CD44 expression and CD44 cleavage. Conversely, ER- MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells do not show a change in CD44 expression nor undergo EMT in the presence of OSM. In ER+ cells, knockdown expression of CD44 by shRNA did not prevent EMT but did change metastatic processes such as cellular detachment and migration. OSM-induced migration was decreased in both ER+ and ER- cells with shCD44 cells compared to control cells, while the promotion of tumor cell detachment by OSM was decreased in ER+ MCF7-shCD44 cells, as compared to control cells. Interestingly, OSM-induced detachment in ER- MDA-MB-231-shCD44 cells that normally don't detach at significant rates. Conclusion OSM promotes both EMT and tumor cell detachment in ER+ breast cancer cells. Yet, CD44 knockdown did not affect OSM-induced EMT in these cells, while independently decreasing OSM-induced cell detachment. These results suggest that regulation of CD44 by OSM is important for at least part of the metastatic cascade in ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter Covert
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Liliana F Mellor
- Boise State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Boise, ID 83725, USA.,Oncología Molecular, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncologicas (CNIO), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Cody L Wolf
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Nicole Ankenbrandt
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | | | - Ken Tawara
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Julie Thom Oxford
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA.,Boise State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Boise, ID 83725, USA
| | - Cheryl L Jorcyk
- Boise State University, Biomolecular Sciences Program, Boise, ID 83725, USA.,Boise State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Boise, ID 83725, USA
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259
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García-Cárdenas JM, Guerrero S, López-Cortés A, Armendáriz-Castillo I, Guevara-Ramírez P, Pérez-Villa A, Yumiceba V, Zambrano AK, Leone PE, Paz-y-Miño C. Post-transcriptional Regulation of Colorectal Cancer: A Focus on RNA-Binding Proteins. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:65. [PMID: 31440515 PMCID: PMC6693420 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health problem with an estimated 1. 8 million new cases worldwide. To date, most CRC studies have focused on DNA-related aberrations, leaving post-transcriptional processes under-studied. However, post-transcriptional alterations have been shown to play a significant part in the maintenance of cancer features. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) are uprising as critical regulators of every cancer hallmark, yet little is known regarding the underlying mechanisms and key downstream oncogenic targets. Currently, more than a thousand RBPs have been discovered in humans and only a few have been implicated in the carcinogenic process and even much less in CRC. Identification of cancer-related RBPs is of great interest to better understand CRC biology and potentially unveil new targets for cancer therapy and prognostic biomarkers. In this work, we reviewed all RBPs which have a role in CRC, including their control by microRNAs, xenograft studies and their clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - César Paz-y-Miño
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo, Centro de Investigación Genética y Genómica, Universidad UTE, Quito, Ecuador
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260
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Kim SJ, Garcia-Recio S, Creighton CJ, Perou CM, Rosen JM. Alterations in Wnt- and/or STAT3 signaling pathways and the immune microenvironment during metastatic progression. Oncogene 2019; 38:5942-5958. [PMID: 31289359 PMCID: PMC6675631 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0852-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer is an extremely complex disease with limited treatment options due to the lack of information about the major characteristics of metastatic disease. There is an urgent need, therefore, to understand the changes in cellular complexity and dynamics that occur during metastatic progression. In the current study, we analyzed the cellular and molecular differences between primary tumors and paired lung metastases using a syngeneic p53-null mammary tumor model of basal-like breast cancer. Distinct subpopulations driven by the Wnt- and/or STAT3 signaling pathways were detected in vivo using a lentiviral Wnt- and STAT3 signaling reporter system. A significant increase in the overlapping populations driven by both the Wnt- and STAT3 signaling pathways was observed in the lung metastases as compared to the primary tumors. Furthermore, the overlapping populations showed a higher metastatic potential relative to the other populations and pharmacological inhibition of both signaling pathways was shown to markedly reduce the metastatic lesions in established lung metastases. An analysis of the unique molecular features of the lung metastases revealed a significant association with immune response signatures. Specifically, Foxp3 gene expression was markedly increased and elevated levels of Foxp3 + Treg cells were detected in close proximity to lung metastases. Collectively, these studies illustrate the importance of analyzing intratumoral heterogeneity, changes in population dynamics, and the immune microenvironment during metastatic progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Garcia-Recio
- Department Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - C J Creighton
- Department of Medicine and Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - C M Perou
- Department Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - J M Rosen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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261
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Ng S, Tan WJ, Pek MMX, Tan MH, Kurisawa M. Mechanically and chemically defined hydrogel matrices for patient-derived colorectal tumor organoid culture. Biomaterials 2019; 219:119400. [PMID: 31398570 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Patient-derived tumor organoids offer potentially useful models of cancer tissue physiology. Yet, conventional organoid cultures utilize generic matrices that are difficult to tailor for various unique tumor microenvironments. Here, we employ synthetic, enzymatically crosslinked hydrogels to define mechanical and biochemical properties hypothesized to be relevant for maintaining these organoids. We show that a single extracellular matrix component, gelatin, suffices to support colorectal cancer patient-derived xenograft (CRC-PDX) organoid survival, and that high matrix stiffness synergizes with hypoxia to increase organoid growth and metabolism in a majority of CRC-PDX lines tested. Moreover, we demonstrate that defined gelatin-based hydrogels support CRC-PDX tumor growth in vivo and organoid sensitivity to various CRC therapeutic drugs in vitro in a largely comparable fashion to a conventional reconstituted basement membrane matrix. Based on our findings, we propose that enzymatically crosslinked hydrogels potentially provide a platform for designing mechanically and biochemically defined matrices for various types of patient-derived tumor organoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyong Ng
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wai Jin Tan
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle Mi Xue Pek
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Min-Han Tan
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Motoichi Kurisawa
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, 31 Biopolis Way, The Nanos, Singapore, Singapore.
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262
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Chan TS, Shaked Y, Tsai KK. Targeting the Interplay Between Cancer Fibroblasts, Mesenchymal Stem Cells, and Cancer Stem Cells in Desmoplastic Cancers. Front Oncol 2019; 9:688. [PMID: 31417869 PMCID: PMC6684765 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant tumors are highly heterogeneous and likely contain a subset of cancer cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs exist in a dynamic equilibrium with their microenvironments and the CSC phenotype is tightly regulated by both cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic factors including those derived from their surrounding cells or stroma. Many human solid tumors like breast, lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancers are characterized by a pronounced stromal reaction termed “the desmoplastic response.” Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) derived either from resident fibroblasts or tumor-infiltrating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a major component of the stroma in desmoplastic cancers. Recent studies identified subpopulations of CAFs proficient in secreting a plethora of factors to foster CSCs, tumor growth, and invasion. In addition, cytotoxic therapy can lead to the enrichment of functionally perturbed CAFs, which are endowed with additional capabilities to enhance cancer stemness, leading to treatment resistance and tumor aggressiveness. When recruited into the tumor stroma, bone-marrow-derived MSCs can promote cancer stemness by secreting a specific set of paracrine factors or converting into pro-stemness CAFs. Thus, blockade of the crosstalk of pro-stemness CAFs and MSCs with CSCs may provide a new avenue to improving the therapeutic outcome of desmoplastic tumors. This up-to-date, in-depth and balanced review describes the recent progress in understanding the pro-stemness roles of CAFs and tumor-infiltrating MSCs and the associated paracrine signaling processes. We emphasize the effects of systemic chemotherapy on the CAF/MSC–CSC interplay. We summarize various promising and novel approaches in mitigating the stimulatory effect of CAFs or MSCs on CSCs that have shown efficacies in preclinical models of desmoplastic tumors and highlight the unique advantages of CAF- or MSC-targeted therapies. We also discuss potential challenges in the clinical development of CSC- or MSC-targeted therapies and propose CAF-related biomarkers that can guide the next-generation clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tze-Sian Chan
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Integrative Therapy Center for Gastroenterologic Cancers, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yuval Shaked
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Science, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kelvin K Tsai
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Integrative Therapy Center for Gastroenterologic Cancers, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan
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263
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Luongo F, Colonna F, Calapà F, Vitale S, Fiori ME, De Maria R. PTEN Tumor-Suppressor: The Dam of Stemness in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E1076. [PMID: 31366089 PMCID: PMC6721423 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
PTEN is one of the most frequently inactivated tumor suppressor genes in cancer. Loss or variation in PTEN gene/protein levels is commonly observed in a broad spectrum of human cancers, while germline PTEN mutations cause inherited syndromes that lead to increased risk of tumors. PTEN restrains tumorigenesis through different mechanisms ranging from phosphatase-dependent and independent activities, subcellular localization and protein interaction, modulating a broad array of cellular functions including growth, proliferation, survival, DNA repair, and cell motility. The main target of PTEN phosphatase activity is one of the most significant cell growth and pro-survival signaling pathway in cancer: PI3K/AKT/mTOR. Several shreds of evidence shed light on the critical role of PTEN in normal and cancer stem cells (CSCs) homeostasis, with its loss fostering the CSC compartment in both solid and hematologic malignancies. CSCs are responsible for tumor propagation, metastatic spread, resistance to therapy, and relapse. Thus, understanding how alterations of PTEN levels affect CSC hallmarks could be crucial for the development of successful therapeutic approaches. Here, we discuss the most significant findings on PTEN-mediated control of CSC state. We aim to unravel the role of PTEN in the regulation of key mechanisms specific for CSCs, such as self-renewal, quiescence/cell cycle, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT), with a particular focus on PTEN-based therapy resistance mechanisms and their exploitation for novel therapeutic approaches in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Luongo
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Colonna
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Calapà
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Vitale
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Micol E Fiori
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.
- Scientific Vice-Direction, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli"-I.R.C.C.S., Largo Francesco Vito 1-8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
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264
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Hyaluronan-CD44 axis orchestrates cancer stem cell functions. Cell Signal 2019; 63:109377. [PMID: 31362044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2019.109377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The prominent role of CD44 in tumor cell signaling together with its establishment as a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker for various tumor entities imply a key role for CD44 in CSC functional properties. Hyaluronan, the main ligand of CD44, is a major constituent of CSC niche and, therefore, the hyaluronan-CD44 signaling axis is of functional importance in this special microenvironment. This review aims to provide recent advances in the importance of hyaluronan-CD44 interactions in the acquisition and maintenance of a CSC phenotype. Hyaluronan-CD44 axis has a substantial impact on stemness properties of CSCs and drug resistance through induction of EMT program, oxidative stress resistance, secretion of extracellular vesicles/exosomes and epigenetic control. Potential therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs based on the hyaluronan-CD44 axis are also presented.
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265
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Xing S, Li Z, Ma W, He X, Shen S, Wei H, Li ST, Shu Y, Sun L, Zhong X, Huangfu Y, Su L, Feng J, Zhang X, Gao P, Jia WD, Zhang H. DIS3L2 Promotes Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via hnRNP U-Mediated Alternative Splicing. Cancer Res 2019; 79:4923-4936. [PMID: 31331910 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
DIS3-like 3'-5' exoribonuclease 2 (DIS3L2) degrades aberrant RNAs, however, its function in tumorigenesis remains largely unexplored. Here, aberrant DIS3L2 expression promoted human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression via heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) U-mediated alternative splicing. DIS3L2 directly interacted with hnRNP U through its cold-shock domains and promoted inclusion of exon 3b during splicing of pre-Rac1 independent of its exonuclease activity, yielding an oncogenic splicing variant, Rac1b, which is known to stimulate cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. DIS3L2 regulated alternative splicing by recruiting hnRNP U to pre-Rac1. Rac1b was critical for DIS3L2 promotion of liver cancer development both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, DIS3L2 and Rac1b expression highly correlated with HCC progression and patient survival. Taken together, our findings uncover an oncogenic role of DIS3L2, in which it promotes liver cancer progression through a previously unappreciated mechanism of regulating hnRNP U-mediated alterative splicing. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings establish the role and mechanism of the 3'-5' exoribonuclease DIS3L2 in hepatocellular carcinoma carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songge Xing
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.,Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Zhaoyong Li
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Wenhao Ma
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaoping He
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shengqi Shen
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Haoran Wei
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Shi-Ting Li
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ying Shu
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Linchong Sun
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine and Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuying Zhong
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine and Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhao Huangfu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lanhong Su
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Junru Feng
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xiaozhang Zhang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ping Gao
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.,Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine and Institutes for Life Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Dong Jia
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Huafeng Zhang
- Anhui Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Anhui Provincial Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China. .,Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences and Medical Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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266
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Gieniec KA, Butler LM, Worthley DL, Woods SL. Cancer-associated fibroblasts-heroes or villains? Br J Cancer 2019; 121:293-302. [PMID: 31289350 PMCID: PMC6738083 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0509-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were originally presumed to represent a homogeneous population uniformly driving tumorigenesis, united by their morphology and peritumoural location. Our understanding of CAFs has since been shaped by sophisticated in vitro and in vivo experiments, pathological association and, more recently, ablation, and it is now widely appreciated that CAFs form a group of highly heterogeneous cells with no single overarching marker. Studies have demonstrated that the CAF population contains different subtypes based on the expression of marker proteins with the capacity to promote or inhibit cancer, with their biological role as accomplices or adversaries dependent on many factors, including the cancer stage. So, while CAFs have been endlessly shown to promote the growth, survival and spread of tumours via improvements in functionality and an altered secretome, they are also capable of retarding tumorigenesis via largely unknown mechanisms. It is important to reconcile these disparate results so that the functions of, or factors produced by, tumour-promoting subtypes can be specifically targeted to improve cancer patient outcomes. This review will dissect out CAF complexity and CAF-directed cancer treatment strategies in order to provide a case for future, rational therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna A Gieniec
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Lisa M Butler
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Daniel L Worthley
- Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Susan L Woods
- School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia. .,Precision Medicine, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
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267
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De Angelis ML, Francescangeli F, La Torre F, Zeuner A. Stem Cell Plasticity and Dormancy in the Development of Cancer Therapy Resistance. Front Oncol 2019; 9:626. [PMID: 31355143 PMCID: PMC6636659 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment with either standard chemotherapy or targeted agents often results in the emergence of drug-refractory cell populations, ultimately leading to therapy failure. The biological features of drug resistant cells are largely overlapping with those of cancer stem cells and include heterogeneity, plasticity, self-renewal ability, and tumor-initiating capacity. Moreover, drug resistance is usually characterized by a suppression of proliferation that can manifest as quiescence, dormancy, senescence, or proliferative slowdown. Alterations in key cellular pathways such as autophagy, unfolded protein response or redox signaling, as well as metabolic adaptations also contribute to the establishment of drug resistance, thus representing attractive therapeutic targets. Moreover, a complex interplay of drug resistant cells with the micro/macroenvironment and with the immune system plays a key role in dictating and maintaining the resistant phenotype. Recent studies have challenged traditional views of cancer drug resistance providing innovative perspectives, establishing new connections between drug resistant cells and their environment and indicating unexpected therapeutic strategies. In this review we discuss recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms underlying drug resistance and we report novel targeting agents able to overcome the drug resistant status, with particular focus on strategies directed against dormant cells. Research on drug resistant cancer cells will take us one step forward toward the development of novel treatment approaches and the improvement of relapse-free survival in solid and hematological cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Laura De Angelis
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Filippo La Torre
- Department of Surgical Sciences Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ann Zeuner
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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268
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Wu HY, Peng ZG, He RQ, Luo B, Ma J, Hu XH, Dang YW, Chen G, Pan SL. Prognostic index of aberrant mRNA splicing profiling acts as a predictive indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma based on TCGA SpliceSeq data. Int J Oncol 2019; 55:425-438. [PMID: 31268164 PMCID: PMC6615926 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing in tumor cells may be used as a molecular marker for the differential diagnosis of certain tumor types and assessment of prognosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations among alternative splicing events, splicing factors, and the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The alternative splicing event profiles of 371 patients with HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) SpliceSeq data, and the percent-splice-in value for each splicing event was calculated. The association between alternative splicing events and overall survival was evaluated. The most significant prognosis-related splicing events were used to build up a prognostic index (PI). A total of 3,082 survival-associated alternative splicing events were detected in HCC. The final PI based on all of the most significant candidate alternative splicing events exhibited better performance in distinguishing good or poor survival in patients compared to the PI based on a single type of splicing event. Receiver operating characteristic curves confirmed the high efficiency of the PI in predicting the survival of HCC patients, with an area under the curve of 0.914. The overexpression of 32 prognosis-related splicing factor genes could also predict poor prognosis in patients with HCC. In conclusion, the constructed computational prognostic model based on HCC-specific alternative splicing events may be used as a molecular marker for the prognosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua-Yu Wu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pre‑clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Rong-Quan He
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Bin Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Hua Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Yi-Wu Dang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
| | - Shang-Ling Pan
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Pre‑clinical Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 530021, P.R. China
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269
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Zhao H, Zhao C, Li H, Zhang D, Liu G. E2A attenuates tumor-initiating capacity of colorectal cancer cells via the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:276. [PMID: 31234887 PMCID: PMC6591938 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1261-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The E2A gene, which encodes two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, E12 and E47, regulates colorectal cancer progression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, whether E2A regulates the tumor-initiating capacity of colorectal cancer is unclear. Thus, we have studied E2A expression in the initiation of colorectal cancer in vivo and in vitro. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and immunoblot were performed to determine protein levels of E2A in colorectal cancer specimens and cells. RNAi was employed to downregulate E2A expression, and the subsequent change in protein level was evaluated by immunoblot. Sphere-forming assay and enumeration of liver metastasis in mouse models were used to identify the tumor formation ability of colorectal cancer cells. RESULTS E2A expression in colorectal cancer clinical specimens was inversely associated with patients' progression-free survival. Functional studies demonstrated that E2A significantly decreased tumor formation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, nuclear translocation of beta-catenin and activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway occurred after suppression of E2A in colorectal cancer cells. FoxM1 was identified as a down-stream target by mRNA microarray, implying that FoxM1 plays a main role in determining how E2A regulates the tumor-initiating capacity of colorectal cancer. CONCLUSION E2A suppresses tumor-initiating capacity by targeting the FoxM1-Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongchao Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 41 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunlin Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 41 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Haohao Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 41 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Danhua Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 41 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Guanghui Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 41 Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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270
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Chung SY, Huang WC, Chen ZS, Chao TC, Su Y. Elucidation of the mechanism underlying CD44v6-induced transformation of IEC-6 normal intestinal epithelial cells. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:194-209. [PMID: 31219187 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The transformation abilities of CD44s and CD44v6 in normal intestinal epithelial cells have not yet been reported. Herein, we established both CD44s and CD44v6 overexpressing stable clones from rat IEC-6 cells and demonstrated that the CD44v6 clones had higher saturation density and anchorage independence. Additionally, CD44v6 clones were more resistant to oxaliplatin and irinotecan which might be attributed to a significantly increased B-cell lymphoma 2 level and a reduced DNA damage response in these cells. Moreover, c-Met and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signalings were involved in modulating the saturation density in CD44v6 clones. Interestingly, higher activation of both AKT and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) were detected in CD44v6 clones which might account in part for the cell density-independent nuclear localization of Yes-associated protein (YAP). To no surprise, increases of both saturation density and anchorage independence in CD44v6 clones were markedly diminished by PI3K, AKT, MEK, and ERK inhibitors as well as YAP knockdown. By contrast, overexpression of a constitutively active YAP robustly increased the aforementioned phenotypes in IEC-6 cells. Collectively, our results suggest that upregulation of CD44v6, but not CD44s, induces the transformation of normal intestinal epithelial cells possibly via activating the c-Met/AKT/YAP pathway which might also explain the important role of CD44v6 in the initiation of various carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Yi Chung
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wen-Chen Huang
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Zong-Siang Chen
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ta-Chung Chao
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Min University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yeu Su
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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271
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Spadea A, Rios de la Rosa JM, Tirella A, Ashford MB, Williams KJ, Stratford IJ, Tirelli N, Mehibel M. Evaluating the Efficiency of Hyaluronic Acid for Tumor Targeting via CD44. Mol Pharm 2019; 16:2481-2493. [PMID: 31013093 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The development of delivery systems capable of tumor targeting represents a promising strategy to overcome issues related to nonspecific effects of conventional anticancer therapies. Currently, one of the most investigated agents for cancer targeting is hyaluronic acid (HA), since its receptor, CD44, is overexpressed in many cancers. However, most of the studies on CD44/HA interaction have been so far performed in cell-free or genetically modified systems, thus leaving some uncertainty regarding which cell-related factors influence HA binding and internalization (collectively called "uptake") into CD44-expressing cells. To address this, the expression of CD44 (both standard and variants, designated CD44s and CD44v, respectively) was evaluated in human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) and a large panel of cancer cell lines, including breast, prostate, head and neck, pancreatic, ovarian, colorectal, thyroid, and endometrial cancers. Results showed that CD44 isoform profiles and expression levels vary across the cancer cell lines and HDF and are not consistent within the cell origin. Using composite information of CD44 expression, HA binding, and internalization, we found that the expression of CD44v can negatively influence the uptake of HA, and, instead, when cells primarily expressed CD44s, a positive correlation was observed between expression and uptake. In other words, CD44shigh cells bound and internalized more HA compared to CD44slow cells. Moreover, CD44shigh HDFs were less efficient in uptaking HA compared to CD44shigh cancer cells. The experiments described here are the first step toward understanding the interplay between CD44 expression, its functionality, and the underlying mechanism(s) for HA uptake. The results show that factors other than the amount of CD44 receptor can play a role in the interaction with HA, and this represents an important advance with respect to the design of HA-based carriers and the selection of tumors to treat according to their CD44 expression profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Spadea
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre , The University of Manchester , 555 Wilmslow Road , Manchester M20 4GJ , U.K
| | - Julio Manuel Rios de la Rosa
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- BiOncoTech Therapeutics S.L., Science 2 Business Foundation , C/ Santiago Grisolia 2 Tres Cantos , Madrid 28760 , Spain
| | - Annalisa Tirella
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
| | - Marianne B Ashford
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Innovative Medicines Biotech Unit , AstraZeneca , Macclesfield SK10 2NA , U.K
| | - Kaye J Williams
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre , The University of Manchester , 555 Wilmslow Road , Manchester M20 4GJ , U.K
| | - Ian J Stratford
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Manchester Cancer Research Centre , The University of Manchester , 555 Wilmslow Road , Manchester M20 4GJ , U.K
| | - Nicola Tirelli
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , North West Centre of Advanced Drug Delivery (NoWCADD) , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Laboratory of Polymers and Biomaterials , Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia , 16163 Genova , Italy
| | - Manal Mehibel
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health , University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre , Stopford Building , Manchester M13 9PT , U.K
- Department of Radiation Oncology , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305-5847 , United States
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272
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Visioli A, Giani F, Trivieri N, Pracella R, Miccinilli E, Cariglia MG, Palumbo O, Arleo A, Dezi F, Copetti M, Cajola L, Restelli S, Papa V, Sciuto A, Latiano TP, Carella M, Amadori D, Gallerani G, Ricci R, Alfieri S, Pesole G, Vescovi AL, Binda E. Stemness underpinning all steps of human colorectal cancer defines the core of effective therapeutic strategies. EBioMedicine 2019; 44:346-360. [PMID: 31056474 PMCID: PMC6603803 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.04.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite their lethality and ensuing clinical and therapeutic relevance, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remain elusive, poorly characterized biological entities. METHODS AND FINDINGS We perfected a cell system of stable, primary lines from human CRC showing that they possess the full complement of ex- and in-vivo, in xenogeneic models, characteristics of CRC stem cells (CCSCs). Here we show how tumor-initiating, CCSCs cells can establish faithful orthotopic phenocopies of the original disease, which contain cells that spread into the circulatory system. While in the vascular bed, these cells retain stemness, thus qualifying as circulating CCSCs (cCCSCs). This is followed by the establishment of lesions in distant organs, which also contain resident metastatic CCSCs (mCCSCs). INTERPRETATION Our results support the concept that throughout all the stages of CRC, stemness is retained as a continuous property by some of their tumor cells. Importantly, we describe a useful standardized model that can enable isolation and stable perpetuation of human CRC's CCSCs, cCCSCs and mCCSCs, providing a useful platform for studies of CRC initiation and progression that is suitable for the discovery of reliable stage-specific biomarkers and the refinement of new patient-tailored therapies. FUND: This work was financially supported by grants from "Ministero della Salute Italiano"(GR-2011-02351534, RC1703IC36 and RC1803IC35) to Elena Binda and from "Associazione Italiana Cancro" (IG-14368) Angelo L. Vescovi. None of the above funders have any role in study design, data collection, data analysis, interpretation, writing the project.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nadia Trivieri
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pracella
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Elide Miccinilli
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Cariglia
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Orazio Palumbo
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Medical Genetics Unit, Foggia, Italy
| | - Andrea Arleo
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Fabio Dezi
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Copetti
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Biostatistic Unit, Foggia, Italy
| | | | | | - Valerio Papa
- Digestive Surgery Unit, IRCCS "A. Gemelli", Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Sciuto
- IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Abdominal Surgery Unit, Foggia, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Carella
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Medical Genetics Unit, Foggia, Italy
| | - Dino Amadori
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS Meldola, Italy
| | - Giulia Gallerani
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS Meldola, Biosciences Laboratory, Italy
| | - Riccardo Ricci
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS "A. Gemelli", Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Alfieri
- Department of Pathology, IRCCS "A. Gemelli", Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Graziano Pesole
- Istituto di Biomembrane, Bioenergetica e Biotecnologie Molecolari del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bari, Italy; Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Biotecnologie e Biofarmaceutica dell'Università di Bari "A. Moro". Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo L Vescovi
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy; Hyperstem SA, Lugano, Switzerland.
| | - Elena Binda
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, ISBReMIT, Foggia, Italy.
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273
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Abstract
Cancer-initiating cells (CIC) are the driving force in tumor progression. There is strong evidence that CIC fulfill this task via exosomes (TEX), which modulate and reprogram stroma, nontransformed cells, and non-CIC. Characterization of CIC, besides others, builds on expression of CIC markers, many of which are known as metastasis-associated molecules. We here discuss that the linkage between CIC/CIC-TEX and metastasis-associated molecules is not fortuitously, but relies on the contribution of these markers to TEX biogenesis including loading and TEX target interactions. In addition, CIC markers contribute to TEX binding- and uptake-promoted activation of signaling cascades, transcription initiation, and translational control. Our point of view will be outlined for pancreas and colon CIC highly expressing CD44v6, Tspan8, EPCAM, claudin7, and LGR5, which distinctly but coordinately contribute to tumor progression. Despite overwhelming progress in unraveling the metastatic cascade and the multiple tasks taken over by CIC-TEX, there remains a considerable gap in linking CIC biomarkers, TEX, and TEX-initiated target modulation with metastasis. We will try to outline possible bridges, which could allow depicting pathways for new and expectedly powerful therapeutic interference with tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Margot Zöller
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Pancreas Section, University Hospital of Surgery, Heidelberg, Germany.
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274
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Zhang J, Shen L, Deng Y, Sun X, Wang Y, Yao Y, Zhang H, Zou W, Zhang Z, Wan J, Yang L, Zhu J, Zhang Z. A novel LARCassigner3 classification predicts outcomes in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy: a retrospective training and validation analysis. Cancer Manag Res 2019; 11:4153-4170. [PMID: 31123421 PMCID: PMC6511254 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s196662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To build and validate a predictive model of outcome for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Materials and methods: We developed a LARCassigner3 classifier based on tumor and paired normal tissues of patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation and surgery from January 2007 to December 2012 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Excluding 23 pairs of tissues failed in the RNA quality test, rested 197 patients were divided into discovery (n=98) and validation (n=99) cohorts randomly. Median follow-up time was 58 months. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), local recurrent, and distant metastatic rate We constructed a multivariate Cox model to identify the variables independently associated with progression-free and OS. Results: We identified three classifier genes related to relevant colorectal cancer features (CXCL9, SFRP2, and CD44) that formed the LARCassigner3 classifier assay. In the discovery set, the median DFS was 48.1 months (95% confidence interval (CI) 47.3-49.5) in the low-risk group and 23.4 months (95% CI 22.1-24.8) in the high-risk group (p=0.0134); the median OS was 39.2 months (95% CI 38.4-40.3) in the high-risk group and 19.1 months (95% CI 18.3-20.7) in the low-risk group (p=0.0134); 5-year distant metastasis was 13.9% (95% CI 9.0-21.3) in the low-risk group and 49.8% (95% CI 38.7-60.9) in the high-risk group (p=0.0072). Additionally, the different responses to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and the LARCassigner3 low-risk and high-risk groups was statistically significant (p=0.004) in the discovery cohort. Similar results were obtained in the internal evaluation cohort. Conclusions: Patients with LARCassigner3 low-risk tumors were associated with a good prognosis. The clinical utility of using LARCassigner3 subtyping for the identification of patients for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy requires validation in dependent clinical trial cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijun Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Deng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyang Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Yao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Juefeng Wan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifeng Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
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275
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Hirata A, Hatano Y, Niwa M, Hara A, Tomita H. Heterogeneity in Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells. Cancer Prev Res (Phila) 2019; 12:413-420. [DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.capr-18-0482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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276
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Tsai KK, Chan TS, Shaked Y. Next Viable Routes to Targeting Pancreatic Cancer Stemness: Learning from Clinical Setbacks. J Clin Med 2019; 8:jcm8050702. [PMID: 31108941 PMCID: PMC6571629 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8050702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2019] [Revised: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating and highly aggressive malignancy. Existing therapeutic strategies only provide a small survival benefit in patients with PDAC. Laboratory and clinical research have identified various populations of stem-cell-like cancer cells or cancer stem cells (CSCs) as the driving force of PDAC progression, treatment-resistance, and metastasis. Whilst a number of therapeutics aiming at inhibiting or killing CSCs have been developed over the past decade, a series of notable clinical trial setbacks have led to their deprioritization from the pipelines, triggering efforts to refine the current CSC model and exploit alternative therapeutic strategies. This review describes the current and the evolving models of pancreatic CSCs (panCSCs) and the potential factors that hamper the clinical development of panCSC-targeted therapies, emphasizing the heterogeneity, the plasticity, and the non-binary pattern of cancer stemness, as well as the desmoplastic stroma impeding drug penetration. We summarized novel and promising therapeutic strategies implicated by the works of our groups and others' that may overcome these hurdles and have shown efficacies in preclinical models of PDAC, emphasizing the unique advantages of targeting the stroma-engendered panCSC-niches and metronomic chemotherapy. Finally, we proposed feasible clinical trial strategies and biomarkers that can guide the next-generation clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin K Tsai
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Integrative Therapy Center for Gastroenterologic Cancers, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan.
| | - Tze-Sian Chan
- Laboratory of Advanced Molecular Therapeutics, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Integrative Therapy Center for Gastroenterologic Cancers, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Yuval Shaked
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Science, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, Israel.
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277
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Combination of 5-fluorouracil and thymoquinone targets stem cell gene signature in colorectal cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:379. [PMID: 31097715 PMCID: PMC6522523 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1611-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) residing in colorectal cancer tissues have tumorigenic capacity and contribute to chemotherapeutic resistance and disease relapse. It is well known that the survival of colorectal CSCs after 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based therapy leads to cancer recurrence. Thus CSCs represent a promising drug target. Here, we designed and synthesized novel hybrid molecules linking 5-FU with the plant-derived compound thymoquinone (TQ) and tested the potential of individual compounds and their combination to eliminate colorectal CSCs. Both, Combi and SARB hybrid showed augmented cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cells, but were non-toxic to organoids prepared from healthy murine small intestine. NanoString analysis revealed a unique signature of deregulated gene expression in response to the combination of TQ and 5-FU (Combi) and SARB treatment. Importantly, two principle stem cell regulatory pathways WNT/ß-Catenin and PI3K/AKT were found to be downregulated after Combi and hybrid treatment. Furthermore, both treatments strikingly eliminated CD133+ CSC population, accompanying the depleted self-renewal capacity by eradicating long-term propagated 3D tumor cell spheres at sub-toxic doses. In vivo xenografts on chicken eggs of SARB-treated HCT116 cells showed a prominent nuclear ß-Catenin and E-cadherin staining. This was in line with the reduced transcriptional activity of ß-Catenin and diminished cell adhesion under SARB exposure. In contrast to 5-FU, both, Combi and SARB treatment effectively reduced the angiogenic capacity of the remaining resistant tumor cells. Taken together, combination or hybridization of single compounds target simultaneously a broader spectrum of oncogenic pathways leading to an effective eradication of colorectal cancer cells.
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278
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Sun Y, Yu X, Li M, Zou Z. Expression of CD44v6 and lymphatic vessel density in early gastric cancer tissues and their clinical significance. Pak J Med Sci 2019; 35:549-554. [PMID: 31086549 PMCID: PMC6500799 DOI: 10.12669/pjms.35.2.464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To explore the relationships between expression of CD44v6, lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and the clinicopathological parameters of patients. Methods: One hundred early gastric cancer tissues, 55 high-grade gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) tissues, 60 low-grade gastric intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) tissues and 60 chronic superficial gastritis tissues were collected and set as gastric cancer group, HGIN group, LGIN group and gastritis group respectively. The expression of CD44v6 and LVD of patients in all the groups were detected using two-step immunohistochemical method to analyze the relationships between the expression of CD44v6 and lymphatic vessel density in early gastric cancer tissues and their relationships with the clinicopathological parameters of patients. The values of LVD in predicting lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The positive expression of CD44v6 and LVD in the gastritis group, LGIN group, HGIN group and gastric cancer group gradually increased. The positive expression of CD44v6 and LVD in early gastric cancer tissues were in no correlation with the gender, age, tumor site, maximum diameter, differentiation degree and invasion depth (P>0.05) and in a correlation with lymphatic metastasis and lymphatic vessel invasion (P<0.06). The positive expression of CD44v6 in the early gastric cancer tissues was in a positive correlation with LVD (P<0.05). The analysis of ROC curves suggested that the area under ROC curve of predicting lymphatic metastasis of early gastric cancer with LVD was 0.837 (95% CI: 0.756~0.910), and the cut-off value was 14; the corresponding sensitivity and specificity were 63.6% and 90.2 respectively. Conclusion: The expression of CD44v6 and LVD in early gastric cancer tissues are in a close correlation with the clinicopathologic features, and joint detection of expression of CD44v6 and LVD can be taken as the indicator of gastric cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Sun
- Yuting Sun, Queen Mary College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaowei Yu
- Xiaowei Yu, First Clinical Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Mengdi Li
- Mengdi Li, Queen Mary College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Zhenhong Zou
- Zhenhong Zou, Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi, China
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279
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Wang Y, Yang X, Yuan M, Xian S, Zhang L, Yang D, Cheng Y. Promotion of ovarian cancer cell invasion, migration and colony formation by the miR‑21/Wnt/CD44v6 pathway. Oncol Rep 2019; 42:91-102. [PMID: 31115569 PMCID: PMC6549100 DOI: 10.3892/or.2019.7153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) has the highest mortality rate among female malignant tumors, and OC commonly relapses and metastasizes. The mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of ovarian cancer are numerous and complicated. The aim of the present study was to explore an important molecular mechanism that may provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer. In the present study, the expression level of miR‑21 was analyzed in clinical specimens, normal ovarian epithelial cells and three different ovarian cancer epithelial cell lines. Then, in vitro experiments were performed following the transient transfection of miR‑21 mimics and inhibitors into SKOV3 cells. RT‑PCR, western blot analysis, colony formation assay, and Transwell migration and invasion assays were used to explore the role of miR‑21 in ovarian cancer. In addition, Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors and activators were used to validate the hypothesis that the miR‑21/Wnt/CD44v6 pathway plays an important role in OC. In ovarian cancer tissues and cells, miR‑21 was highly expressed, and the high expression of miR‑21 could activate the Wnt signaling pathway to regulate the expression of CD44v6 and affect the proliferation, invasion and migration of OC cells. miR‑21 regulated the expression of CD44v6 by activating the Wnt signaling pathway, which plays an important role in the development of ovarian cancer. These findings provide a potential new therapeutic target for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Mengqin Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Shu Xian
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Dongyong Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Yanxiang Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
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280
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Oct4 Gene Expression in Primary Colorectal Cancer Promotes Liver Metastasis. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:7896524. [PMID: 31191684 PMCID: PMC6525814 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7896524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The Oct4 gene plays an important role in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells and regulates stem cell pluripotency. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between Oct4 expression and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) in clinical samples and investigate the role and abilities of Oct4-positive CRC cells. Methods The study included 158 patients who underwent surgery for CRC between 2009 and 2011. The correlations between the Oct4 gene expression and the clinical parameters were assessed, and liver metastasis-free survival (LMFS) was evaluated in these patients. Oct4-EGFP-positive cells were established to examine their subpopulation and ability. The capacity to form liver metastasis in vivo was examined using CRC cell lines and primary cultured CRC cells. Results LMFS was significantly poor in the Oct4 high-expression group compared with the low-expression group (P = 0.008). Multivariate analyses showed that Oct4 expression (P = 0.015) and TNM stage (P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with LMFS. Oct4-EGFP-positive cells highly expressed stem cell-associated markers and had self-renewal and differentiation abilities. Oct4-high cells actively formed liver metastasis. Conclusion The Oct4 expression was correlated with liver metastasis in CRC patients. Oct4 expression cells have self-renewal and differentiation abilities like those of cancer stem cells. Oct4 contributed to forming liver metastasis in CRC.
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281
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Tumor-suppressive functions of 4-MU on breast cancer cells of different ER status: Regulation of hyaluronan/HAS2/CD44 and specific matrix effectors. Matrix Biol 2019; 78-79:118-138. [DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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282
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Visone R, Bacalini MG, Di Franco S, Ferracin M, Colorito ML, Pagotto S, Laprovitera N, Licastro D, Di Marco M, Scavo E, Bassi C, Saccenti E, Nicotra A, Grzes M, Garagnani P, De Laurenzi V, Valeri N, Mariani-Costantini R, Negrini M, Stassi G, Veronese A. DNA methylation of shelf, shore and open sea CpG positions distinguish high microsatellite instability from low or stable microsatellite status colon cancer stem cells. Epigenomics 2019; 11:587-604. [PMID: 31066579 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2018-0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the genome-wide methylation of genetically characterized colorectal cancer stem cell (CR-CSC) lines. Materials & methods: Eight CR-CSC lines were isolated from primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, cultured and characterized for aneuploidy, mutational status of CRC-related genes and microsatellite instability (MSI). Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed by MethylationEPIC microarray. Results: We describe a distinctive methylation pattern that is maintained following in vivo passages in immune-compromised mice. We identified an epigenetic CR-CSC signature associated with MSI. We noticed that the preponderance of the differentially methylated positions do not reside at CpG islands, but spread to shelf and open sea regions. Conclusion: Given that CRCs with MSI-high status have a lower metastatic potential, the identification of a MSI-related methylation signature could provide new insights and possible targets into metastatic CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Visone
- Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Simone Di Franco
- Cellular & Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Oncological & Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Colorito
- Cellular & Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Surgical, Oncological & Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sara Pagotto
- Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Noemi Laprovitera
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Mirco Di Marco
- Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Emanuela Scavo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Bassi
- Department of Morphology, Surgery & Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Elena Saccenti
- Department of Morphology, Surgery & Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Annalisa Nicotra
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Grzes
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics & Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Jastrzebiec, Poland
| | - Paolo Garagnani
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo De Laurenzi
- Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Nicola Valeri
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Renato Mariani-Costantini
- Department of Medical, Oral & Biotechnological Sciences, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Massimo Negrini
- Department of Morphology, Surgery & Experimental Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic & Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angelo Veronese
- Center of Aging Science & Translational Medicine (CeSI-MeT), G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Medicine & Aging Science, G. d'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy
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283
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Circulating Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Tumor Cells With Loss of Heterozygosity in the TSC2 Gene Show Increased Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity. Chest 2019; 156:298-307. [PMID: 31034819 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2019.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a destructive metastasizing neoplasm of the lung characterized by proliferation of LAM cells in specialized lung nodules. LAM cells are characterized by expression of the prometastatic and cancer-initiating hyaluronan receptor CD44v6, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of TSC1 and TSC2. The circulating neoplastic LAM cells are thought to be involved in metastasis. Because LAM cells display properties of neoplastic, metastatic, and stem cell-like cancer cells, we hypothesized that elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, characteristic of cancer and stem cells, is a property of LAM cells. METHODS We performed an in silico search of ALDH genes in microdissected LAM lung nodules. To identify circulating LAM cells, we osmotically removed red blood cells from whole blood to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which were then sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting based on their level of ALDH activity. RESULTS Microdissected LAM lung nodules possess a distinctive ALDH gene profile. The cell subpopulation with high ALDH activity, isolated from circulating cells, possessed TSC2 LOH in 8 of 14 patients with LAM. Approximately 60% of the circulating cells with high ALDH activity expressed CD44v6. Cells with TSC2 LOH from patients with LAM and LAM/TSC exhibited different properties in different body locations, but all cell types showed high ALDH activity. CONCLUSIONS This new procedure allows for isolation of circulating LAM cells from cultured cells, blood, and chylous effusions and shows that circulating LAM cells are heterogeneous with neoplastic, metastatic, and cancer-stem cell-like properties.
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284
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Khandekar D, Amara S, Tiriveedhi V. Immunogenicity of Tumor Initiating Stem Cells: Potential Applications in Novel Anticancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2019; 9:315. [PMID: 31106150 PMCID: PMC6494937 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor initiating stem cells (TISCs) are a subset of tumor cells, which are implicated in cancer relapse and resistance to chemotherapy. The metabolic programs that drive TISC functions are exquisitely unique and finely-tuned by various oncogene-driven transcription factors to facilitate pro-cancerous adaptive challenges. While this change in TISC metabolic machinery allows for the identification of associated molecular targets with diagnostic and prognostic value, these molecules also have a potential immunological application. Recent studies have shown that these TISC-associated molecules have strong antigenic properties enabling naïve CD8+T lymphocytes to differentiate into cytotoxic effector phenotype with anticancer potential. In spite of the current challenges, a detailed understanding in this direction offers an immense immunotherapeutic opportunity. In this review, we highlight the molecular targets that characterize TISCs, the metabolic landscape of TISCs, potential antitumor immune cell activation, and the opportunities and challenges they present in the development of new cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durga Khandekar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Suneetha Amara
- Department of Medicine, St. Thomas Hospital-Midtown, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Venkataswarup Tiriveedhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
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285
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Taniguchi H, Suzuki Y, Natori Y. The Evolving Landscape of Cancer Stem Cells and Ways to Overcome Cancer Heterogeneity. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11040532. [PMID: 31013960 PMCID: PMC6520864 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11040532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) with therapeutic resistance and plasticity can be found in various types of tumors and are recognized as attractive targets for treatments. As CSCs are derived from tissue stem or progenitor cells, and/or dedifferentiated mature cells, their signal transduction pathways are critical in the regulation of CSCs; chronic inflammation causes the accumulation of genetic mutations and aberrant epigenetic changes in these cells, potentially leading to the production of CSCs. However, the nature of CSCs appears to be stronger than the treatments of the past. To improve the treatments targeting CSCs, it is important to inhibit several molecules on the signaling cascades in CSCs simultaneously, and to overcome cancer heterogeneity caused by the plasticity. To select suitable target molecules for CSCs, we have to explore the landscape of CSCs from the perspective of cancer stemness and signaling systems, based on the curated databases of cancer-related genes. We have been studying the integration of a broad range of knowledge and experiences from cancer biology, and also from other interdisciplinary basic sciences. In this review, we have introduced the concept of developing novel strategies targeting CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Taniguchi
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071, Japan.
- Clinical and Translational Research Center Keio University Hospital, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Yasunori Suzuki
- Clinical and Translational Research Center Keio University Hospital, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Yukikazu Natori
- BioThinkTank Co. Ltd. 4-10-1-E1706 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012, Japan.
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286
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Burz C, Rosca A, Pop VV, Buiga R, Aldea C, Samasca G, Silaghi C, Sur D, Lupan I, Pricopie A. Liquid biopsy challenge and hope in colorectal cancer. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:341-348. [PMID: 30943811 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1597708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer is an important global health burden marked by a high mortality rate. Medical attention is drawn more often by the new targeted therapies, but also by the concept of liquid biopsy. Tumor's genetic profile is the major indicator of the response to targeted therapies and the risk for metastatic relapse. Therefore, analysis of tumor-linked genetic alterations holds a great importance, both for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. Areas covered: The present paper highlights the molecular basis of the liquid biopsy concept and its major clinical applications in colorectal cancer. This consists in circulating tumor cells (CTC) and cell-free tumor DNA (cfDNA) and is described in manuscripts as an alternative to tissue samples, providing more information about tumor heterogeneity and tumor evolution in dynamic. Expert opinion: Liquid biopsy is an innovative, minimally invasive method which enables real-time monitoring of tumor's genetic heterogeneity, being an important step towards personalized medicine. However, despite the large number of detection methods available, it is necessary to standardize them regarding the blood collection processing and sample storage, analysis in order to be implemented in clinical guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Burz
- a Department of Medical Oncology , The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,b Department of Immunology and Allergology , "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Andreea Rosca
- a Department of Medical Oncology , The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Vlad-Vasile Pop
- c Department of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy , "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Rares Buiga
- a Department of Medical Oncology , The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Cornel Aldea
- d Department of Nephrology , Emergency Hospital for Children , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Gabriel Samasca
- b Department of Immunology and Allergology , "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Ciprian Silaghi
- e Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine , "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Daniel Sur
- a Department of Medical Oncology , The Oncology Institute "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Iulia Lupan
- f Department of Molecular Biology and Biotehnology , Babeș-Bolyai University , Cluj-Napoca , Romania.,g Department of Molecular Biology , Institute of Interdisciplinary Research in Bio-Nano-Sciences , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
| | - Andreea Pricopie
- h Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy , "Iuliu Haţieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy , Cluj-Napoca , Romania
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287
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Functions of the APC tumor suppressor protein dependent and independent of canonical WNT signaling: implications for therapeutic targeting. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2019; 37:159-172. [PMID: 29318445 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-017-9725-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The acquisition of biallelic mutations in the APC gene is a rate-limiting step in the development of most colorectal cancers and occurs in the earliest lesions. APC encodes a 312-kDa protein that localizes to multiple subcellular compartments and performs diverse functions. APC participates in a cytoplasmic complex that promotes the destruction of the transcriptional licensing factor β-catenin; APC mutations that abolish this function trigger constitutive activation of the canonical WNT signaling pathway, a characteristic found in almost all colorectal cancers. By negatively regulating canonical WNT signaling, APC counteracts proliferation, promotes differentiation, facilitates apoptosis, and suppresses invasion and tumor progression. APC further antagonizes canonical WNT signaling by interacting with and counteracting β-catenin in the nucleus. APC also suppresses tumor initiation and progression in the colorectal epithelium through functions that are independent of canonical WNT signaling. APC regulates the mitotic spindle to facilitate proper chromosome segregation, localizes to the cell periphery and cell protrusions to establish cell polarity and appropriate directional migration, and inhibits DNA replication by interacting directly with DNA. Mutations in APC are often frameshifts, insertions, or deletions that introduce premature stop codons and lead to the production of truncated APC proteins that lack its normal functions and possess tumorigenic properties. Therapeutic approaches in development for the treatment of APC-deficient tumors are focused on the inhibition of canonical WNT signaling, especially through targets downstream of APC in the pathway, or on the restoration of wild-type APC expression.
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288
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Fiori ME, Di Franco S, Villanova L, Bianca P, Stassi G, De Maria R. Cancer-associated fibroblasts as abettors of tumor progression at the crossroads of EMT and therapy resistance. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:70. [PMID: 30927908 PMCID: PMC6441236 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-0994-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 345] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, the role of the microenvironment in tumor progression and therapeutic outcome has gained increasing attention. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as key players among stromal cells, owing to their abundance in most solid tumors and their diverse tumor-restraining/promoting roles. The interplay between tumor cells and neighboring CAFs takes place by both paracrine signals (cytokines, exosomes and metabolites) or by the multifaceted functions of the surrounding extracellular matrix. Here, we dissect the most recent identified mechanisms underlying CAF-mediated control of tumor progression and therapy resistance, which include induction of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), activation of survival pathways or stemness-related programs and metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells. Importantly, the recently unveiled heterogeneity in CAFs claims tailored therapeutic efforts aimed at eradicating the specific subset facilitating tumor progression, therapy resistance and relapse. However, despite the large amount of pre-clinical data, much effort is still needed to translate CAF-directed anti-cancer strategies from the bench to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Eleonora Fiori
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Di Franco
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lidia Villanova
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Bianca
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy. .,Scientific Vice-Direction - Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" - I.R.C.C.S, Largo Francesco Vito 1-8, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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289
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van der Heijden M, Vermeulen L. Stem cells in homeostasis and cancer of the gut. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:66. [PMID: 30927915 PMCID: PMC6441158 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-0962-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelial lining is one of the most rapidly renewing cell populations in the body. As a result, the gut has been an attractive model to resolve key mechanisms in epithelial homeostasis. In particular the role of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) in the renewal process has been intensely studied. Interestingly, as opposed to the traditional stem cell theory, the ISC is not a static population but displays significant plasticity and in situations of tissue regeneration more differentiated cells can revert back to a stem cell state upon exposure to extracellular signals. Importantly, normal intestinal homeostasis provides important insight into mechanisms that drive colorectal cancer (CRC) development and growth. Specifically, the dynamics of cancer stem cells bear important resemblance to ISC functionality. In this review we present an overview of the current knowledge on ISCs in homeostasis and their role in malignant transformation. Also, we discuss the existence of stem cells in intestinal adenomas and CRC and how these cells contribute to (pre-)malignant growth. Furthermore, we will focus on new paradigms in the field of dynamical cellular hierarchies in CRC and the intimate relationship between tumor cells and their niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maartje van der Heijden
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, Amsterdam, AZ, Netherlands
| | - Louis Vermeulen
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Laboratory for Experimental Oncology and Radiobiology, Center for Experimental and Molecular Medicine, Cancer Center Amsterdam and Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, Amsterdam, AZ, Netherlands.
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290
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Toden S, Kunitoshi S, Cardenas J, Gu J, Hutchins E, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Uetake H, Toiyama Y, Goel A. Cancer stem cell-associated miRNAs serve as prognostic biomarkers in colorectal cancer. JCI Insight 2019; 4:125294. [PMID: 30895943 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.125294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistance in cancer is linked to a subset of cancer cells termed "cancer stem cells" (CSCs), and in particular, those expressing the CD44 variant appear to represent a more aggressive disease phenotype. Herein, we demonstrate that CD44v6 represents a CSC population with increased resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, and its high expression is frequently associated with poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). CD44v6+ cells showed elevated resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and significantly high tumor initiation capacity. Inhibition of CD44v6 resulted in the attenuation of self-renewal capacity and resensitization to chemotherapeutic agents. Of note, miRNA profiling of CD44v6+ spheroid-derived CSCs identified a unique panel of miRNAs indicative of high self-renewal capacity. In particular, miR-1246 was overexpressed in CD44v6+ cells, and associated with poor OS and DFS in CRC patients. We demonstrate that CD44v6+ CSCs induced chemoresistance and enhance tumorigenicity in CRC cells, and this was in part orchestrated by a distinct panel of miRNAs with dysregulated profiles. These findings suggest that specific miRNAs could serve as therapeutic targets as well as promising prognostic biomarkers in patients with colorectal neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shusuke Toden
- Center for Gastrointestinal Research, Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor Research Institute and Sammons Cancer, Dallas Texas, USA
| | - Shigeyasu Kunitoshi
- Center for Gastrointestinal Research, Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor Research Institute and Sammons Cancer, Dallas Texas, USA
| | - Jacob Cardenas
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Jinghua Gu
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Hutchins
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Hiroyuki Uetake
- Department of Translational Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Toiyama
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Pediatric Surgery, Division of Reparative Medicine, Institute of Life Sciences, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Ajay Goel
- Center for Gastrointestinal Research, Center for Translational Genomics and Oncology, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, Baylor Research Institute and Sammons Cancer, Dallas Texas, USA
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291
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Han X, Wang W, He J, Jiang L, Li X. Osteopontin as a biomarker for osteosarcoma therapy and prognosis. Oncol Lett 2019; 17:2592-2598. [PMID: 30854034 PMCID: PMC6365895 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2019.9905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common bone malignancy, and is particularly prevalent in children and adolescents. OS is an aggressive tumor with a tendency to metastasize and invade to para-carcinoma tissues. The primary treatment for this tumor is a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. However, the prognosis remains poor due to chemoresistance and early metastasis. Osteopontin (OPN), a multifunctional secreted protein, has emerged as an important potential biomarker for diagnosing and treating cancer. The overexpression of OPN has been found in numerous malignant tumors, including breast, lung, gastric and ovarian cancer, as well as melanoma. Recent studies have suggested that OPN may provide an important function in the diagnosis and treatment of OS. The present review summarizes current knowledge and progress in understanding the potential role of OPN as a biomarker in OS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingwen Han
- Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Wenji Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing He
- Department of Liver Diseases, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Lei Jiang
- Department of Oncology Surgery, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
| | - Xun Li
- Department of General Surgery, First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, P.R. China
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292
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Tavianatou AG, Caon I, Franchi M, Piperigkou Z, Galesso D, Karamanos NK. Hyaluronan: molecular size-dependent signaling and biological functions in inflammation and cancer. FEBS J 2019; 286:2883-2908. [PMID: 30724463 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan of the extracellular matrix that plays a pivotal role in a variety of biological processes. High-molecular weight HA exhibits different biological properties than oligomers and low-molecular weight HA. Depending on their molecular size, HA fragments can influence cellular behavior in a different mode of action. This phenomenon is attributed to the different manner of interaction with the HA receptors, especially CD44 and RHAMM. Both receptors can trigger signaling cascades that regulate cell functional properties, such as proliferation migration, angiogenesis, and wound healing. HA fragments are able to enhance or attenuate the HA receptor-mediated signaling pathways, as they compete with the endogenous HA for binding to the receptors. The modulation of these pathways could be crucial for the development of pathological conditions, such as inflammation and cancer. The primary goal of this review is to critically present the importance of HA molecular size on cellular signaling, functional cell properties, and morphology in normal and pathological conditions, including inflammation and cancer. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia G Tavianatou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Ilaria Caon
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Marco Franchi
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Zoi Piperigkou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece.,Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) /Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
| | | | - Nikos K Karamanos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece.,Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH) /Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
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293
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Li N, Babaei-Jadidi R, Lorenzi F, Spencer-Dene B, Clarke P, Domingo E, Tulchinsky E, Vries RGJ, Kerr D, Pan Y, He Y, Bates DO, Tomlinson I, Clevers H, Nateri AS. An FBXW7-ZEB2 axis links EMT and tumour microenvironment to promote colorectal cancer stem cells and chemoresistance. Oncogenesis 2019; 8:13. [PMID: 30783098 PMCID: PMC6381143 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-019-0125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients develop recurrence after chemotherapy owing to the survival of stem cell-like cells referred to as cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). The origin of CSCs is linked to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Currently, it remains poorly understood how EMT programmes enable CSCs residing in the tumour microenvironment to escape the effects of chemotherapy. This study identifies a key molecular pathway that is responsible for the formation of drug-resistant CSC populations. Using a modified yeast-2-hybrid system and 2D gel-based proteomics methods, we show that the E3-ubiquitin ligase FBXW7 directly binds and degrades the EMT-inducing transcription factor ZEB2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Loss of FBXW7 induces an EMT that can be effectively reversed by knockdown of ZEB2. The FBXW7-ZEB2 axis regulates such important cancer cell features, as stemness/dedifferentiation, chemoresistance and cell migration in vitro, ex vivo and in animal models of metastasis. High expression of ZEB2 in cancer tissues defines the reduced ZEB2 expression in the cancer-associated stroma in patients and in murine intestinal organoids, demonstrating a tumour-stromal crosstalk that modulates a niche and EMT activation. Our study thus uncovers a new molecular mechanism, by which the CRC cells display differences in resistance to chemotherapy and metastatic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Li
- Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Group, Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Roya Babaei-Jadidi
- Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Group, Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Federica Lorenzi
- Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Group, Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Bradley Spencer-Dene
- Advanced Cell Diagnostics, Henry Wellcome Building of Genomic Medicine, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Philip Clarke
- Cancer Biology Unit, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Enric Domingo
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Henry Wellcome Building of Genomic Medicine, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Eugene Tulchinsky
- Department of Cancer Studies, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Moscow region, Russia
| | - Robert G J Vries
- Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht and University Medical Centre Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584CT, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - David Kerr
- John Radcliffe Hospital, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Yihang Pan
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong He
- The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 518107, Shenzhen, China
| | - David O Bates
- Cancer Biology Unit, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ian Tomlinson
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Henry Wellcome Building of Genomic Medicine, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research, Utrecht and University Medical Centre Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584CT, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Abdolrahman S Nateri
- Cancer Genetics and Stem Cell Group, Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
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294
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Turdo A, Veschi V, Gaggianesi M, Chinnici A, Bianca P, Todaro M, Stassi G. Meeting the Challenge of Targeting Cancer Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:16. [PMID: 30834247 PMCID: PMC6387961 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Notwithstanding cancer patients benefit from a plethora of therapeutic alternatives, drug resistance remains a critical hurdle. Indeed, the high mortality rate is associated with metastatic disease, which is mostly incurable due to the refractoriness of metastatic cells to current treatments. Increasing data demonstrate that tumors contain a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) able to establish primary tumor and metastasis. CSCs are endowed with multiple treatment resistance capabilities comprising a highly efficient DNA damage repair machinery, the activation of survival pathways, enhanced cellular plasticity, immune evasion and the adaptation to a hostile microenvironment. Due to the presence of distinct cell populations within a tumor, cancer research has to face the major challenge of targeting the intra-tumoral as well as inter-tumoral heterogeneity. Thus, targeting molecular drivers operating in CSCs, in combination with standard treatments, may improve cancer patients’ outcomes, yielding long-lasting responses. Here, we report a comprehensive overview on the most significant therapeutic advances that have changed the known paradigms of cancer treatment with a particular emphasis on newly developed compounds that selectively affect the CSC population. Specifically, we are focusing on innovative therapeutic approaches including differentiation therapy, anti-angiogenic compounds, immunotherapy and inhibition of epigenetic enzymes and microenvironmental cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Turdo
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Veronica Veschi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Miriam Gaggianesi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Aurora Chinnici
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola Bianca
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Matilde Todaro
- Department of PROMISE, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical, Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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295
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Soft fibrin matrix downregulates DAB2IP to promote Nanog-dependent growth of colon tumor-repopulating cells. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:151. [PMID: 30770783 PMCID: PMC6377646 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1309-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been shown to be responsible for the recurrence and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). As a crucial microenvironmental factor, extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is known to affect the stemness of CSCs. Recently, fibrin deposition in the stroma of CRC was demonstrated to be responsible for tumor development. In this study, we used salmon fibrin gel to provide a 3D ECM for colon cancer cells and investigated its effects on cell growth as well as the underlying mechanisms. Compared with stiff 420 Pascal (Pa) and 1 050 Pa gels, 90 Pa soft fibrin gel was most efficient at isolating and enriching tumor colonies. The size and number of colony formation negatively correlated with gel stiffness. Specifically, these tumor colonies exhibited efficient tumorigenicity, upregulated stem cell markers, and had anti-chemotherapeutic properties and were thus named tumor-repopulating cells (TRCs). More importantly, the self-renewal molecule Nanog was sharply induced in 3D-cultured colon TRCs; further, Nanog siRNA significantly inhibited colony formation, suggesting the indispensable role of Nanog in TRC growth. A subsequent mechanistic study illustrated that Nanog expression could be modulated through fibrin gel stiffness-induced DAB2IP/PI3K/FOXA1 signaling in colon TRCs.
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296
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Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition Markers and CD44 Isoforms Are Differently Expressed in 2D and 3D Cell Cultures of Prostate Cancer Cells. Cells 2019; 8:cells8020143. [PMID: 30754655 PMCID: PMC6406374 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures allow the mimic of functions of living tissues and provide key information encoded in tissue architecture. Considered the pivotal role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in carcinoma progression, including prostate cancer (PCa), we aimed at investigating the effect of the 3D arrangement on the expression of some key markers of EMT in cultured human prostate cancer (PCa) cells, to better understand PCa cell behavior. PC3 and DU145 PCa cells were cultured in RPMI cell culture medium either in 2D-monolayers or in 3D-spheroids. The main EMT markers E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA), vimentin, Snail, Slug, Twist and Zeb1 were evaluated by confocal microscopy, real-time PCR and Western blot. Confocal microscopy revealed that E-cadherin was similarly expressed at the cell boundaries on the plasma membrane of PCa cells grown in 2D-monolayers, as well as in 3D-spheroids, but resulted up-regulated in 3D-spheroids, compared to 2D-monolayers, at the mRNA and protein level. Moreover, markers of the mesenchymal phenotype were expressed at very low levels in 3D-spheroids, suggesting important differences in the phenotype of PCa cells grown in 3D-spheroids or in 2D-monolayers. Considered as a whole, our findings contribute to a clarification of the role of EMT in PCa and confirm that a 3D cell culture model could provide deeper insight into the understanding of the biology of PCa.
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297
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Martinez M, Moon EK. CAR T Cells for Solid Tumors: New Strategies for Finding, Infiltrating, and Surviving in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2019; 10:128. [PMID: 30804938 PMCID: PMC6370640 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 512] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, T cells that have been genetically engineered to express a receptor that recognizes a specific antigen, have given rise to breakthroughs in treating hematological malignancies. However, their success in treating solid tumors has been limited. The unique challenges posed to CAR T cell therapy by solid tumors can be described in three steps: finding, entering, and surviving in the tumor. The use of dual CAR designs that recognize multiple antigens at once and local administration of CAR T cells are both strategies that have been used to overcome the hurdle of localization to the tumor. Additionally, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment has implications for T cell function in terms of differentiation and exhaustion, and combining CARs with checkpoint blockade or depletion of other suppressive factors in the microenvironment has shown very promising results to mitigate the phenomenon of T cell exhaustion. Finally, identifying and overcoming mechanisms associated with dysfunction in CAR T cells is of vital importance to generating CAR T cells that can proliferate and successfully eliminate tumor cells. The structure and costimulatory domains chosen for the CAR may play an important role in the overall function of CAR T cells in the TME, and “armored” CARs that secrete cytokines and third- and fourth-generation CARs with multiple costimulatory domains offer ways to enhance CAR T cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Martinez
- Perelman School of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Edmund Kyung Moon
- Perelman School of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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298
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Hua F, Shang S, Yang YW, Zhang HZ, Xu TL, Yu JJ, Zhou DD, Cui B, Li K, Lv XX, Zhang XW, Liu SS, Yu JM, Wang F, Zhang C, Huang B, Hu ZW. TRIB3 Interacts With β-Catenin and TCF4 to Increase Stem Cell Features of Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells and Tumorigenesis. Gastroenterology 2019; 156:708-721.e15. [PMID: 30365932 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Activation of Wnt signaling to β-catenin contributes to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Expression of tribbles pseudo-kinase 3 (TRIB3) is increased in some colorectal tumors and associated with poor outcome. We investigated whether increased TRIB3 expression promotes stem cell features of CRC cells and tumor progression by interacting with the Wnt signaling pathway. METHODS We performed studies with C57BL/6J-ApcMin/J mice injected with an adeno-associated virus vector that expresses a small hairpin RNA against Trib3 mRNA (ApcMin/J-Trib3KD) or a control vector (ApcMin/J-Ctrl). We created BALB/c mice that overexpress TRIB3 from an adeno-associated virus vector and mice with small hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of β-catenin. The mice were given azoxymethane followed by dextran sodium sulfate to induce colitis-associated cancer. Intestinal tissues were collected and analyzed by histology, gene expression profiling, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5)-positive (LGR5Pos) and LGR5-negative (LGR5Neg) HCT-8 CRC cells, with or without knockdown or transgenic expression of TRIB3, were sorted and analyzed in sphere-formation assays. We derived organoids from human and mouse colorectal tumors to analyze the function of TRIB3 and test the effect of a peptide inhibitor. Wnt signaling to β-catenin was analyzed in dual luciferase reporter, chromatin precipitation, immunofluorescence, and immunoblot assays. Proteins that interact with TRIB3 were identified by immunoprecipitation. CRC cell lines were grown in nude mice as xenograft tumors. RESULTS At 10 weeks of age, more than half the ApcMin/J-Ctrl mice developed intestinal high-grade epithelial neoplasia, whereas ApcMin/J-Trib3KD mice had no intestinal polyps and normal histology. Colon tissues from ApcMin/J-Trib3KD mice expressed lower levels of genes regulated by β-catenin and genes associated with cancer stem cells. Mice with overexpression of Trib3 developed more tumors after administration of azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate than BALB/c mice. Mice with knockdown of β-catenin had a lower tumor burden after administration of azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate, regardless of Trib3 overexpression. Intestinal tissues from mice with overexpression of Trib3 and knockdown of β-catenin did not have activation of Wnt signaling or expression of genes regulated by β-catenin. LGR5Pos cells sorted from HCT-8 cells expressed higher levels of TRIB3 than LGR5Neg cells. CRC cells that overexpressed TRIB3 had higher levels of transcription by β-catenin and formed larger spheroids than control CRC cells; knockdown of β-catenin prevented the larger organoid size caused by TRIB3 overexpression. TRIB3 interacted physically with β-catenin and transcription factor 4 (TCF4). TRIB3 overexpression increased, and TRIB3 knockdown decreased, recruitment of TCF4 and β-catenin to the promoter region of genes regulated by Wnt. Activated β-catenin increased expression of TRIB3, indicating a positive-feedback loop. A peptide (P2-T3A6) that bound β-catenin disrupted its interaction with TRIB3 and TCF4. In primary CRC cells and HCT-8 cells, P2-T3A6 decreased expression of genes regulated by β-catenin and genes associated with cancer stem cells and decreased cell viability and migration. Injection of C57BL/6J-ApcMin/J mice with P2-T3A6 decreased the number and size of tumor nodules and colon expression of genes regulated by β-catenin. P2-T3A6 increased 5-fluorouracil-induced death of CRC cells and survival times of mice with xenograft tumors. CONCLUSION TRIB3 interacts with β-catenin and TCF4 in intestine cells to increase expression of genes associated with cancer stem cells. Knockdown of TRIB3 decreases colon neoplasia in mice, migration of CRC cells, and their growth as xenograft tumors in mice. Strategies to block TRIB3 activity might be developed for treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Hua
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Shang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Wei Yang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Zeng Zhang
- Institute of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Lei Xu
- Institute of Colorectal Surgery, Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao-Jiao Yu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan-Dan Zhou
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Cui
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Li
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xi Lv
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Wei Zhang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan-Shan Liu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin-Mei Yu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Wang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Huang
- Institute of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuo-Wei Hu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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299
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Zhang H, Brown RL, Wei Y, Zhao P, Liu S, Liu X, Deng Y, Hu X, Zhang J, Gao XD, Kang Y, Mercurio AM, Goel HL, Cheng C. CD44 splice isoform switching determines breast cancer stem cell state. Genes Dev 2019; 33:166-179. [PMID: 30692202 PMCID: PMC6362815 DOI: 10.1101/gad.319889.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Zhang et al. show that manipulating the splicing regulator ESRP1 to shift alternative splicing from splice isoform CD44v to CD44s leads to an induction of cancer stem cell properties. Although changes in alternative splicing have been observed in cancer, their functional contributions still remain largely unclear. Here we report that splice isoforms of the cancer stem cell (CSC) marker CD44 exhibit strikingly opposite functions in breast cancer. Bioinformatic annotation in patient breast cancer in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database reveals that the CD44 standard splice isoform (CD44s) positively associates with the CSC gene signatures, whereas the CD44 variant splice isoforms (CD44v) exhibit an inverse association. We show that CD44s is the predominant isoform expressed in breast CSCs. Elimination of the CD44s isoform impairs CSC traits. Conversely, manipulating the splicing regulator ESRP1 to shift alternative splicing from CD44v to CD44s leads to an induction of CSC properties. We further demonstrate that CD44s activates the PDGFRβ/Stat3 cascade to promote CSC traits. These results reveal CD44 isoform specificity in CSC and non-CSC states and suggest that alternative splicing provides functional gene versatility that is essential for distinct cancer cell states and thus cancer phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghong Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Rhonda L Brown
- Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Yong Wei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Pu Zhao
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Sali Liu
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Xuan Liu
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yu Deng
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xiaohui Hu
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Xin D Gao
- Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
| | - Arthur M Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| | - Hira Lal Goel
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA
| | - Chonghui Cheng
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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300
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Ma L, Dong L, Chang P. CD44v6 engages in colorectal cancer progression. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:30. [PMID: 30631039 PMCID: PMC6328617 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1265-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
CD44 is a transmembrane glycoprotein. When the CD44 gene is expressed, its pre-messenger RNA (mRNA) can be alternatively spliced into mature mRNAs that encode several CD44 isoforms. The mRNA assembles with ten standard exons, and the sixth variant exon encodes CD44v6, which engages in a variety of biological processes, including cell growth, apoptosis, migration, and angiogenesis. Mechanistically, CD44v6 interacts with hyaluronic acid (HA) or osteopontin, or it acts as a coreceptor for various cytokines, such as epidermal growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, and C-X-C motif chemokine 12. In this context, the receptor tyrosine kinase or G protein-coupled receptor-associated signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase and phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt, are activated. Using these actions, homeostasis or regeneration can be facilitated among normal tissues. However, overexpression of the mature mRNA encoding CD44v6 can induce cancer progression. For example, CD44v6 assists colorectal cancer stem cells in colonization, invasion, and metastasis. Overexpression of CD44v6 predicts poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer, as patients with a large number of CD44v6-positive cells in their tumors are generally diagnosed at late stages. Thus, the clinical significance of CD44v6 in colorectal cancer deserves consideration. Preclinical results have indicated satisfactory efficacies of anti-CD44 therapy among several cancers, including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and gastric cancer. Moreover, clinical trials aiming to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and toxicity of a commercialized anti-CD44 monoclonal antibody developed by Roche (RO5429083) have been conducted among patients with CD44-expressing malignant tumors, and a clinical trial focusing on the dose escalation of this antibody is ongoing. Thus, we are hopeful that anti-CD44 therapy will be applied in the treatment of colorectal cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China
| | - Lihua Dong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China.
| | - Pengyu Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, First Bethune Hospital of Jilin University, 130021, Changchun, China.
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