1
|
Gulati R, Lutz M, Hanlon M, Cast A, Karns R, Geller J, Bondoc A, Tiao G, Timchenko L, Timchenko NA. Cellular origin and molecular mechanisms of lung metastases in patients with aggressive hepatoblastoma. Hepatol Commun 2024; 8:e0369. [PMID: 38285876 PMCID: PMC10830083 DOI: 10.1097/hc9.0000000000000369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lung metastases are the most threatening signs for patients with aggressive hepatoblastoma (HBL). Despite intensive studies, the cellular origin and molecular mechanisms of lung metastases in patients with aggressive HBL are not known. The aims of these studies were to identify metastasis-initiating cells in primary liver tumors and to determine if these cells are secreted in the blood, reach the lung, and form lung metastases. APPROACH We have examined mechanisms of activation of key oncogenes in primary liver tumors and lung metastases and the role of these mechanisms in the appearance of metastasis-initiating cells in patients with aggressive HBL by RNA-Seq, immunostaining, chromatin immunoprecipitation, Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR and western blot approaches. Using a protocol that mimics the exit of metastasis-initiating cells from tumors, we generated 16 cell lines from liver tumors and 2 lines from lung metastases of patients with HBL. RESULTS We found that primary HBL liver tumors have a dramatic elevation of neuron-like cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts and that these cells are released into the bloodstream of patients with HBL and found in lung metastases. In the primary liver tumors, the ph-S675-β-catenin pathway activates the expression of markers of cancer-associated fibroblasts; while the ZBTB3-SRCAP pathway activates the expression of markers of neurons via cancer-enhancing genomic regions/aggressive liver cancer domains leading to a dramatic increase of cancer-associated fibroblasts and neuron-like cells. Studies of generated metastasis-initiating cells showed that these cells proliferate rapidly, engage in intense cell-cell interactions, and form tumor clusters. The inhibition of β-catenin in HBL/lung metastases-released cells suppresses the formation of tumor clusters. CONCLUSIONS The inhibition of the β-catenin-cancer-enhancing genomic regions/aggressive liver cancer domains axis could be considered as a therapeutic approach to treat/prevent lung metastases in patients with HBL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruhi Gulati
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Maggie Lutz
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Margaret Hanlon
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ashley Cast
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Rebekah Karns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - James Geller
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alex Bondoc
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Gregory Tiao
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Lubov Timchenko
- Department of Neurology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Nikolai A. Timchenko
- Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang W, Xu Y, Wang X, Oikawa T, Su G, Wauthier E, Wu G, Sethupathy P, He Z, Liu J, Reid LM. Fibrolamellar carcinomas-growth arrested by paracrine signals complexed with synthesized 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate oligosaccharides. Matrix Biol 2023; 121:194-216. [PMID: 37402431 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinomas (FLCs), lethal tumors occurring in children to young adults, have genetic signatures implicating derivation from biliary tree stem cell (BTSC) subpopulations, co-hepato/pancreatic stem cells, involved in hepatic and pancreatic regeneration. FLCs and BTSCs express pluripotency genes, endodermal transcription factors, and stem cell surface, cytoplasmic and proliferation biomarkers. The FLC-PDX model, FLC-TD-2010, is driven ex vivo to express pancreatic acinar traits, hypothesized responsible for this model's propensity for enzymatic degradation of cultures. A stable ex vivo model of FLC-TD-2010 was achieved using organoids in serum-free Kubota's Medium (KM) supplemented with 0.1% hyaluronans (KM/HA). Heparins (10 ng/ml) caused slow expansion of organoids with doubling times of ∼7-9 days. Spheroids, organoids depleted of mesenchymal cells, survived indefinitely in KM/HA in a state of growth arrest for more than 2 months. Expansion was restored with FLCs co-cultured with mesenchymal cell precursors in a ratio of 3:7, implicating paracrine signaling. Signals identified included FGFs, VEGFs, EGFs, Wnts, and others, produced by associated stellate and endothelial cell precursors. Fifty-three, unique heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharides were synthesized, assessed for formation of high affinity complexes with paracrine signals, and each complex screened for biological activity(ies) on organoids. Ten distinct HS-oligosaccharides, all 10-12 mers or larger, and in specific paracrine signal complexes elicited particular biological responses. Of note, complexes of paracrine signals and 3-O sulfated HS-oligosaccharides elicited slowed growth, and with Wnt3a, elicited growth arrest of organoids for months. If future efforts are used to prepare HS-oligosaccharides resistant to breakdown in vivo, then [paracrine signal-HS-oligosaccharide] complexes are potential therapeutic agents for clinical treatments of FLCs, an exciting prospect for a deadly disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yongmei Xu
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Xicheng Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Tsunekazu Oikawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Guowei Su
- Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Eliane Wauthier
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Guoxiu Wu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kleszcz R, Frąckowiak M, Dorna D, Paluszczak J. Combinations of PRI-724 Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Inhibitor with Vismodegib, Erlotinib, or HS-173 Synergistically Inhibit Head and Neck Squamous Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10448. [PMID: 37445628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin, EGFR, and PI3K pathways frequently undergo upregulation in head and neck squamous carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. Moreover, the Wnt/β-catenin pathway together with Hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulate the activity of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the combinatorial use of the Wnt/β-catenin and Hh pathway inhibitors on viability, cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction, cell migration, and expression of CSC markers in tongue (CAL 27) and hypopharynx (FaDu) cancer cells. Co-inhibition of Wnt signaling with EGFR or PI3K pathways was additionally tested. The cells were treated with selective inhibitors of signaling pathways: Wnt/β-catenin (PRI-724), Hh (vismodegib), EGFR (erlotinib), and PI3K (HS-173). Cell viability was evaluated by the resazurin assay. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction were tested by flow cytometric analysis after staining with propidium iodide and Annexin V, respectively. Cell migration was detected by the scratch assay and CSC marker expression by the R-T PCR method. Mixtures of PRI-724 and vismodegib affected cell cycle distribution, greatly reduced cell migration, and downregulated the transcript level of CSC markers, especially POU5F1 encoding OCT4. Combinations of PRI-724 with erlotinib or HS-173 were more potent in inducing apoptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Kleszcz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 4, Święcickiego Str., 60-781 Poznań, Poland
| | - Mikołaj Frąckowiak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 4, Święcickiego Str., 60-781 Poznań, Poland
| | - Dawid Dorna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 4, Święcickiego Str., 60-781 Poznań, Poland
| | - Jarosław Paluszczak
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 4, Święcickiego Str., 60-781 Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Phosphorylation-Mediated Activation of β-Catenin-TCF4-CEGRs/ALCDs Pathway Is an Essential Event in Development of Aggressive Hepatoblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246062. [PMID: 36551548 PMCID: PMC9775972 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Hepatoblastoma (HBL), a deadly malignancy in children, is the most common type of pediatric liver cancer. We recently demonstrated that β-catenin, phosphorylated at S675 (ph-S675-β-catenin), causes pathological alterations in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC), by activating oncogenes and fibrotic genes via human genomic regions, known as cancer-enhancing genomic regions or aggressive liver cancer domains (CEGRs/ALCDs). The aim of this study was to determine the role of the ph-S675-β-catenin-TCF4-CEGRs/ALCDs pathway in HBL. METHODS The ph-S675-β-catenin-TCF4-CEGRs/ALCDs pathway was examined in a large cohort of HBL specimens, in HBL cell lines HepG2 and Huh6, and in patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). RESULTS β-catenin is phosphorylated at S675 in a large portion of tested HBL patients. In these patients, ph-S675-β-catenin forms complexes with TCF4 and opens CEGRs/ALCDs-dependent oncogenes for transcription, leading to a massive overexpression of the oncogenes. The inhibition of the β-catenin-TCF4-CEGRs/ALCDs axis inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells and tumor growth in HBL cell lines and HBL-PDXs. The ph-S675-β-catenin is abundant in mitotic cells. We found that markers of HBL Glypican 3 (GPC3) and Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) are increased in HBL patients by β-catenin-TCF4-p300 complexes. CONCLUSIONS The phosphorylation-mediated activation of the β-catenin-TCF4-p300-CEGRs/ALCDs pathway increases oncogene expression in patients with aggressive liver cancer and promotes the development of hepatoblastoma.
Collapse
|