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Jones VT, Graves-Deal R, Cao Z, Bogatcheva G, Ramirez MA, Harmych SJ, Higginbotham JN, Sharma V, Damalanka VC, Wahoski CC, Joshi N, Irudayam MJ, Roland JT, Ayers GD, Liu Q, Coffey RJ, Janetka JW, Singh B. Inhibition of autocrine HGF maturation overcomes cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:28. [PMID: 38212428 PMCID: PMC10784391 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05071-5] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Although amplifications and mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) act as bona fide oncogenes, in most cancers, RTKs maintain moderate expression and remain wild-type. Consequently, cognate ligands control many facets of tumorigenesis, including resistance to anti-RTK therapies. Herein, we show that the ligands for the RTKs MET and RON, HGF and HGFL, respectively, are synthesized as inactive precursors that are activated by cellular proteases. Our newly generated HGF/HGFL protease inhibitors could overcome both de novo and acquired cetuximab resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). Conversely, HGF overexpression was necessary and sufficient to induce cetuximab resistance and loss of polarity. Moreover, HGF-induced cetuximab resistance could be overcome by the downstream MET inhibitor, crizotinib, and upstream protease inhibitors. Additionally, HAI-1, an endogenous inhibitor of HGF proteases, (i) was downregulated in CRC, (ii) exhibited increased genomic methylation that correlated with poor prognosis, (iii) HAI-1 expression correlated with cetuximab response in a panel of cancer cell lines, and (iv) exogenous addition of recombinant HAI-1 overcame cetuximab resistance in CC-HGF cells. Thus, we describe a targetable, autocrine HAI-1/Protease/HGF/MET axis in cetuximab resistance in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Truong Jones
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Ramona Graves-Deal
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Zheng Cao
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Galina Bogatcheva
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Marisol A Ramirez
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Sarah J Harmych
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - James N Higginbotham
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Vineeta Sharma
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Vishnu C Damalanka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Claudia C Wahoski
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
- Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Neeraj Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Maria Johnson Irudayam
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
| | - Joseph T Roland
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Gregory D Ayers
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Center for Quantitative Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Robert J Coffey
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - James W Janetka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Bhuminder Singh
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 10465J, MRB IV, 2213 Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37232-0441, USA.
- Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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Albadari N, Xie Y, Li W. Deciphering treatment resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer: roles of drug transports, EGFR mutations, and HGF/c-MET signaling. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1340401. [PMID: 38269272 PMCID: PMC10806212 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1340401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2023, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. At the time of the initial visit, 20% of patients diagnosed with CRC have metastatic CRC (mCRC), and another 25% who present with localized disease will later develop metastases. Despite the improvement in response rates with various modulation strategies such as chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of mCRC is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 14%, and the primary reason for treatment failure is believed to be the development of resistance to therapies. Herein, we provide an overview of the main mechanisms of resistance in mCRC and specifically highlight the role of drug transports, EGFR, and HGF/c-MET signaling pathway in mediating mCRC resistance, as well as discuss recent therapeutic approaches to reverse resistance caused by drug transports and resistance to anti-EGFR blockade caused by mutations in EGFR and alteration in HGF/c-MET signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wei Li
- College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
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Umemori K, Ono K, Eguchi T, Kawai H, Nakamura T, Ogawa T, Yoshida K, Kanemoto H, Sato K, Obata K, Ryumon S, Yutori H, Katase N, Okui T, Nagatsuka H, Ibaragi S. EpEX, the soluble extracellular domain of EpCAM, resists cetuximab treatment of EGFR-high head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Oncol 2023; 142:106433. [PMID: 37236125 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2023.106433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cetuximab (Cmab) is a molecularly targeted monoclonal antibody drug for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), although cetuximab resistance is a serious challenge. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is an established marker for many epithelial tumors, while the soluble EpCAM extracellular domain (EpEX) functions as a ligand for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We investigated the expression of EpCAM in HNSC, its involvement in Cmab action, and the mechanism by which soluble EpEX activated EGFR and played key roles in Cmab resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS We first examined EPCAM expression in HNSCs and its clinical significance by searching gene expression array databases. We then examined the effects of soluble EpEX and Cmab on intracellular signaling and Cmab efficacy in HNSC cell lines (HSC-3 and SAS). RESULTS EPCAM expression was found to be enhanced in HNSC tumor tissues compared to normal tissues, and the enhancement was correlated with stage progression and prognosis. Soluble EpEX activated the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway and nuclear translocation of EpCAM intracellular domains (EpICDs) in HNSC cells. EpEX resisted the antitumor effect of Cmab in an EGFR expression-dependent manner. CONCLUSION Soluble EpEX activates EGFR to increase Cmab resistance in HNSC cells. The EpEX-activated Cmab resistance in HNSC is potentially mediated by the EGFR-ERK signaling pathway and the EpCAM cleavage-induced nuclear translocation of EpICD. High expression and cleavage of EpCAM are potential biomarkers for predicting the clinical efficacy and resistance to Cmab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Umemori
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Kisho Ono
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan.
| | - Takanori Eguchi
- Department of Dental Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Hotaka Kawai
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Tomoya Nakamura
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Ogawa
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Yoshida
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Hideka Kanemoto
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Kohei Sato
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Kyoichi Obata
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Shoji Ryumon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Yutori
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Naoki Katase
- Department of Oral Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Okui
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nagatsuka
- Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
| | - Soichiro Ibaragi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
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Kapoor-Narula U, Lenka N. Cancer stem cells and tumor heterogeneity: Deciphering the role in tumor progression and metastasis. Cytokine 2022; 157:155968. [PMID: 35872504 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Tumor heterogeneity, in principle, reflects the variation among different cancer cell populations. It can be termed inter- or intra-tumoral heterogeneity, respectively, based on its occurrence in various tissues from diverse patients or within a single tumor. The intra-tumoral heterogeneity is one of the leading causes of cancer progression and treatment failure, with the cancer stem cells (CSCs) contributing immensely to the same. These niche cells, similar to normal stem cells, possess the characteristics of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple cell types. Moreover, CSCs contribute to tumor growth and surveillance by promoting recurrence, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Diverse factors, including intracellular signalling pathways and tumor microenvironment (TME), play a vital role in regulating these CSCs. Although a panel of markers is considered to identify the CSC pool in various cancers, further research is needed to discriminate cancer-specific CSC markers in those. CSCs have also been found to be promising therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. Several small molecules, natural compounds, antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells, and CAR-natural killer (CAR-NK) cells have emerged as therapeutic tools for specific targeting of CSCs. Interestingly, many of these are in clinical trials too. Despite being a much-explored avenue of research for years, and we have come to understand its nitty-gritty, there is still a tremendous gap in our knowledge concerning its precise genesis and regulation. Hence, a concrete understanding is needed to assess the CSC-TME link and how to target different cancer-specific CSCs by designing newer tools. In this review, we have summarized CSC, its causative, different pathways and factors regulating its growth, association with tumor heterogeneity, and last but not least, discussed many of the promising CSC-targeted therapies for combating cancer metastasis.
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