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Abstract
Mouse models of colorectal cancer (CRC) have been crucial in the identification of the role of genes responsible for the full range of pathology of the human disease and have proved to be dependable for testing anti-cancer drugs. Recent research points toward the relevance of tumor, angiogenic, and immune microenvironments in CRC progression to late-stage disease, as well as the treatment of it. This study examines important mouse models in CRC, discussing inherent strengths and weaknesses disclosed during their construction. It endeavors to provide both a synopsis of previous work covering how investigators have defined various models and to evaluate critically how researchers are most likely to use them in the future. Accumulated evidence regarding the metastatic process and the hope of using checkpoint inhibitors and immunological inhibitor therapies points to the need for a genetically engineered mouse model that is both immunocompetent and autochthonous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Haas Kucherlapati
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Kochi M, Hinoi T, Niitsu H, Miguchi M, Saito Y, Sada H, Sentani K, Sakamoto N, Oue N, Tashiro H, Sotomaru Y, Yasui W, Ohdan H. Oncogenic mutation in RAS-RAF axis leads to increased expression of GREB1, resulting in tumor proliferation in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci 2020; 111:3540-3549. [PMID: 32629543 PMCID: PMC7541019 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BRAFV600E mutation accounts for up to 90% of all BRAF mutations in human colorectal cancer (CRC), and constitutively activates the MEK‐MAPK pathway. It is recognized that neutralizing mAbs for epidermal growth factor receptor alone are not effective for CRC with BRAFV600E mutation. Therefore, there is increasing interest in identification of the possible therapeutic targets in downstream of BRAF mutation in CRCs. To address this, we studied genome engineered mouse models for colonic neoplasia that has BrafV600E mutation on the basis of Apc inactivation, induced in 2 distinct Cre mouse models, CDX2P‐G22Cre and CDX2P‐CreERT2 mice. We carried out oligonucleotide microarray analysis for colonic neoplasia generated in these mouse models, and compared gene expression profiles among Kras/Braf WT, Kras‐mutated, and Braf‐mutated mouse colon tumors to seek new molecular targets corresponding to the KRAS‐BRAF‐MAPK axis. We found that the expression of the growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer protein 1 (Greb1) was the most upregulated gene in Braf‐mutated mouse tumors compared to Kras/Braf WT counterparts. The silencing of GREB1 significantly reduced the proliferation and tumorigenesis of CRC cell lines, whereas the overexpression of GREB1 promoted cell proliferation. Although GREB1 was first identified as a hormone‐responsive gene mediating estrogen‐stimulated cell proliferation in endometriosis, breast, and ovarian cancers, these results suggest that RAS‐RAF‐MAPK signaling upregulates GREB1 expression in CRC, resulting in cellular proliferation. Thus, GREB1 is a possible therapeutic target for CRCs with BrafV600E mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatoshi Kochi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takao Hinoi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Niitsu
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Masashi Miguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Transplant Surgery, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yasufumi Saito
- Department of Surgery, Chugoku Rosai Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Haruki Sada
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.,Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Sentani
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naohide Oue
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tashiro
- Department of Surgery, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sotomaru
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Wataru Yasui
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hideki Ohdan
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Bürtin F, Mullins CS, Linnebacher M. Mouse models of colorectal cancer: Past, present and future perspectives. World J Gastroenterol 2020; 26:1394-1426. [PMID: 32308343 PMCID: PMC7152519 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i13.1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common diagnosed malignancy among both sexes in the United States as well as in the European Union. While the incidence and mortality rates in western, high developed countries are declining, reflecting the success of screening programs and improved treatment regimen, a rise of the overall global CRC burden can be observed due to lifestyle changes paralleling an increasing human development index. Despite a growing insight into the biology of CRC and many therapeutic improvements in the recent decades, preclinical in vivo models are still indispensable for the development of new treatment approaches. Since the development of carcinogen-induced rodent models for CRC more than 80 years ago, a plethora of animal models has been established to study colon cancer biology. Despite tenuous invasiveness and metastatic behavior, these models are useful for chemoprevention studies and to evaluate colitis-related carcinogenesis. Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) mirror the pathogenesis of sporadic as well as inherited CRC depending on the specific molecular pathways activated or inhibited. Although the vast majority of CRC GEMM lack invasiveness, metastasis and tumor heterogeneity, they still have proven useful for examination of the tumor microenvironment as well as systemic immune responses; thus, supporting development of new therapeutic avenues. Induction of metastatic disease by orthotopic injection of CRC cell lines is possible, but the so generated models lack genetic diversity and the number of suited cell lines is very limited. Patient-derived xenografts, in contrast, maintain the pathological and molecular characteristics of the individual patient’s CRC after subcutaneous implantation into immunodeficient mice and are therefore most reliable for preclinical drug development – even in comparison to GEMM or cell line-based analyses. However, subcutaneous patient-derived xenograft models are less suitable for studying most aspects of the tumor microenvironment and anti-tumoral immune responses. The authors review the distinct mouse models of CRC with an emphasis on their clinical relevance and shed light on the latest developments in the field of preclinical CRC models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bürtin
- Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
| | - Christina S Mullins
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
| | - Michael Linnebacher
- Molecular Oncology and Immunotherapy, Department of General, Visceral, Vascular and Transplantation Surgery, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock 18057, Germany
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NUDT7 Loss Promotes KrasG12D CRC Development. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030576. [PMID: 32131398 PMCID: PMC7139971 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have suggested that dysregulation of peroxisomal lipid metabolism might play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Here, we found that KrasG12D-driven CRC tumors demonstrate dysfunctional peroxisomal β-oxidation and identified Nudt7 (peroxisomal coenzyme A diphosphatase NUDT7) as one of responsible peroxisomal genes. In KrasG12D-driven CRC tumors, the expression level of Nudt7 was significantly decreased. Treatment of azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) into Nudt7 knockout (Nudt7−/−) mice significantly induced lipid accumulation and the expression levels of CRC-related genes whereas xenografting of Nudt7-overexpressed LS-174T cells into mice significantly reduced lipid accumulation and the expression levels of CRC-related genes. Ingenuity pathway analysis of microarray using the colon of Nudt7−/− and Nudt7+/+ mice treated with AOM/DSS suggested Wnt signaling as one of activated signaling pathways in Nudt7−/− colons. Upregulated levels of β-catenin were observed in the colons of KrasG12D and AOM/DSS-treated Nudt7−/− mice and downstream targets of β-catenin such as Myc, Ccdn1, and Nos2, were also significantly increased in the colon of Nudt7−/− mice. We observed an increased level of palmitic acid in the colon of Nudt7−/− mice and attachment of palmitic acid-conjugated chitosan patch into the colon of mice induced the expression levels of β-catenin and CRC-related genes. Overall, our data reveal a novel role for peroxisomal NUDT7 in KrasG12D-driven CRC development.
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Saito Y, Hinoi T, Adachi T, Miguchi M, Niitsu H, Kochi M, Sada H, Sotomaru Y, Sakamoto N, Sentani K, Oue N, Yasui W, Tashiro H, Ohdan H. Synbiotics suppress colitis-induced tumorigenesis in a colon-specific cancer mouse model. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216393. [PMID: 31242213 PMCID: PMC6594584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although synbiotics may be effective in maintaining remission of inflammatory bowel disease, their anticarcinogenic effects are still debated. To address this issue, we evaluated the effects of synbiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics on tumorigenesis using a CDX2P-Cre; Apc+/flox mouse model harboring a colon-specific Apc knock out, which develops adenoma and adenocarcinoma of the colon. Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-administration promoted colonic tumor development in CDX2P-Cre; Apc+/flox mice, and these tumors were associated with loss of Apc heterozygosity, as confirmed by observation of well-differentiated adenocarcinomas with β-catenin accumulation in tumor cell cytoplasm. Synbiotics-treatment suppressed dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in CDX2P-Cre; Apc+/flox mice, thereby reducing mortality, and inhibited tumorigenesis accelerated by DSS-administration. Conversely, neither probiotics nor prebiotics had any effect on inflammation and tumorigenesis. Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium breve were detected in the fecal microbiota of probiotics-treated mice. Synbiotics-treatment suppressed DSS-induced expression of IL-6, STAT-3, COX-2, and TNF-α gene transcripts in normal colonic epithelium, indicating the possibility of suppressing tumor development. Importantly, these genes may be potential therapeutic targets in inflammation-associated colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasufumi Saito
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takao Hinoi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Genetics, Hiroshima University Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Tomohiro Adachi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masashi Miguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Niitsu
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, GI medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Masatoshi Kochi
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Haruki Sada
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yusuke Sotomaru
- Natural Science Center for Basic Research and Development, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naoya Sakamoto
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Sentani
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Naohide Oue
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Wataru Yasui
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Hiroshima University Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hirotaka Tashiro
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Molecular Oncology, Institute for Clinical Research, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Hideki Ohdan
- Department of Gastroenterological and Transplant Surgery, Division of Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Major, Graduate School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
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Gasdermin C Is Upregulated by Inactivation of Transforming Growth Factor β Receptor Type II in the Presence of Mutated Apc, Promoting Colorectal Cancer Proliferation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166422. [PMID: 27835699 PMCID: PMC5105946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in TGFBR2, a component of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway, occur in high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC). In mouse models, Tgfbr2 inactivation in the intestinal epithelium accelerates the development of malignant intestinal tumors in combination with disruption of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. However, no studies have further identified the genes influenced by TGFBR2 inactivation following disruption of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. We previously described CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox mice, which is stochastically null for Apc in the colon epithelium. In this study, we generated CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox;Tgfbr2flox/flox mice, with simultaneous loss of Apc and Tgfbr2. These mice developed tumors, including adenocarcinoma in the proximal colon. We compared gene expression profiles between tumors of the two types of mice using microarray analysis. Our results showed that the expression of the murine homolog of GSDMC was significantly upregulated by 9.25-fold in tumors of CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox;Tgfbr2flox/flox mice compared with those of CDX2P-G19Cre;Apcflox/flox mice. We then investigated the role of GSDMC in regulating CRC tumorigenesis. The silencing of GSDMC led to a significant reduction in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of CRC cell lines, whereas the overexpression of GSDMC enhanced cell proliferation. These results suggested that GSDMC functioned as an oncogene, promoting cell proliferation in colorectal carcinogenesis. In conclusion, combined inactivation of both Apc and Tgfbr2 in the colon epithelium of a CRC mouse model promoted development of adenocarcinoma in the proximal colon. Moreover, GSDMC was upregulated by TGFBR2 mutation in CRC and promoted tumor cell proliferation in CRC carcinogenesis, suggesting that GSDMC may be a promising therapeutic target.
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KRAS mutation leads to decreased expression of regulator of calcineurin 2, resulting in tumor proliferation in colorectal cancer. Oncogenesis 2016; 5:e253. [PMID: 27526107 PMCID: PMC5007825 DOI: 10.1038/oncsis.2016.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2016] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
KRAS mutations occur in 30–40% of all cases of human colorectal cancer (CRC). However, to date, specific therapeutic agents against KRAS-mutated CRC have not been developed. We previously described the generation of mouse models of colon cancer with and without Kras mutations (CDX2P-G22Cre;Apcflox/flox; LSL-KrasG12D and CDX2P-G22Cre;Apcflox/flox mice, respectively). Here, the two mouse models were compared to identify candidate genes, which may represent novel therapeutic targets or predictive biomarkers. Differentially expressed genes in tumors from the two mouse models were identified using microarray analysis, and their expression was compared by quantitative reverse transcription–PCR (qRT–PCR) and immunohistochemical analyses in mouse tumors and surgical specimens of human CRC, with or without KRAS mutations, respectively. Furthermore, the functions of candidate genes were studied using human CRC cell lines. Microarray analysis of 34 000 transcripts resulted in the identification of 19 candidate genes. qRT–PCR analysis data showed that four of these candidate genes (Clps, Irx5, Bex1 and Rcan2) exhibited decreased expression in the Kras-mutated mouse model. The expression of the regulator of calcineurin 2 (RCAN2) was also observed to be lower in KRAS-mutated human CRC. Moreover, inhibitory function for cancer cell proliferation dependent on calcineurin was indicated with overexpression and short hairpin RNA knockdown of RCAN2 in human CRC cell lines. KRAS mutations in CRC lead to a decrease in RCAN2 expression, resulting in tumor proliferation due to derepression of calcineurin–nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling. Our findings suggest that calcineurin–NFAT signal may represent a novel molecular target for the treatment of KRAS-mutated CRC.
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