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Zhang J, Miki Y, Iwabuchi E, Xu J, Kanai A, Sagara Y, Ohi Y, Rai Y, Yamaguchi R, Tanaka M, Ishida T, Suzuki T, Sasano H. Induction of SGK1 via glucocorticoid-influenced clinical outcome of triple-negative breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023:10.1007/s10549-023-06990-4. [PMID: 37286891 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-06990-4] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous and aggressive breast malignancy. Glucocorticoid (GC)-glucocorticoid receptor (GR) pathway plays a pivotal role in the cellular responses to various stresses including chemotherapy. Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase-1 (SGK1) is known as an important downstream effector molecule in the GR signaling pathway, we attempted to explore its clinicopathological and functional significance in TNBC in which GR is expressed. METHODS We first immunolocalized GR and SGK1 and correlated the results with clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome in 131 TNBC patients. We also evaluated the effects of SGK1 on the cell proliferation and migration in TNBC cell lines with administration of dexamethasone (DEX) to further clarify the significance of SGK1. RESULTS The status of SGK1 in carcinoma cells was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome in TNBC patients examined and was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, pathological stage, and lymphatic invasion of the patients. In particular, SGK1 immunoreactivity was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence in GR-positive TNBC patients. Subsequent in vitro studies also demonstrated that DEX promoted TNBC cell migration and the silencing of gene expression did inhibit the cell proliferation and migration of TNBC cells under DEX treatment. CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to explore an association between SGK1 and clinicopathological variables and clinical outcome of TNBC patients. SGK1 status was significantly positively correlated with adverse clinical outcome of TNBC patients and promoted carcinoma cell proliferation and migration of carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjia Zhang
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Science and Welfare, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Erina Iwabuchi
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junyao Xu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ayako Kanai
- Department of Breast Surgery, Hachinohe City Hospital, Aomori, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Sagara
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Ohi
- Department of Pathology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Rai
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Rin Yamaguchi
- Department of Pathology, Nagasaki University Hospital, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Maki Tanaka
- JCHO Kurume General Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Takanori Ishida
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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Kalfeist L, Galland L, Ledys F, Ghiringhelli F, Limagne E, Ladoire S. Impact of Glucocorticoid Use in Oncology in the Immunotherapy Era. Cells 2022; 11:770. [PMID: 35269392 PMCID: PMC8909189 DOI: 10.3390/cells11050770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Thanks to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, and anti-allergy properties, glucocorticoids are among the most widely prescribed drugs in patients with cancer. The indications for glucocorticoid use are very wide and varied in the context of cancer and include the symptomatic management of cancer-related symptoms (compression, pain, oedema, altered general state) but also prevention or treatment of common side effects of anti-cancer therapies (nausea, allergies, etc.) or immune-related adverse events (irAE). In this review, we first give an overview of the different clinical situations where glucocorticoids are used in oncology. Next, we describe the current state of knowledge regarding the effects of these molecules on immune response, in particular anti-tumour response, and we summarize available data evaluating how these effects may interfere with the efficacy of immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Kalfeist
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Loïck Galland
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Fanny Ledys
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - François Ghiringhelli
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France
- School of Medicine, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Emeric Limagne
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Sylvain Ladoire
- Platform of Transfer in Cancer Biology, Georges-Francois Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France; (L.K.); (L.G.); (F.L.); (F.G.); (E.L.)
- UMR INSERM 1231 “Lipides Nutrition Cancer”, 21000 Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Center, 21000 Dijon, France
- School of Medicine, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France
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3
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Genetic Variation and Immunohistochemical Localization of the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Breast Cancer Cases from the Breast Cancer Care in Chicago Cohort. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102261. [PMID: 34068181 PMCID: PMC8152982 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid, one of the primary mediators of stress, acts via its receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor (GCR/NR3C1), to regulate a myriad of physiological processes. We measured the genetic variation and protein expression of GCR, and the genes that regulate GCR function or response and examined whether these alterations were associated with breast cancer clinicopathological characteristics. METHOD We used samples from a multiracial cohort of breast cancer patients to assess the association between breast cancer characteristics and the genetic variants of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in GCR/NR3C1, FKBP5, Sgk1, IL-6, ADIPOQ, LEPR, SOD2, CAT, and BCL2. RESULTS Several SNPs were associated with breast cancer characteristics, but statistical significance was lost after adjustment for multiple comparisons. GCR was detected in all normal breast tissues and was predominantly located in the nuclei of the myoepithelial cell layer, whereas the luminal layer was negative for GCR. GCR expression was significantly decreased in all breast cancer tissue types, compared to nontumor tissue, but was not associated with breast cancer characteristics. We found that high nuclear GCR expression was associated with basal cell marker cytokeratin 5/6 positivity. CONCLUSION GCR expression is reduced in breast cancer tissue and correlates with the basal cell marker CK5/6.
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4
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Zhidkova EM, Lylova ES, Savinkova AV, Mertsalov SA, Kirsanov KI, Belitsky GA, Yakubovskaya MG, Lesovaya EA. A Brief Overview of the Paradoxical Role of Glucocorticoids in Breast Cancer. BREAST CANCER-BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH 2020; 14:1178223420974667. [PMID: 33424228 PMCID: PMC7755940 DOI: 10.1177/1178223420974667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are stress hormones that play multiple roles in the regulation of cancer cell differentiation, apoptosis, and proliferation. Some types of cancers, such as hematological malignancies, can be effectively treated by GCs, whereas the responses of epithelial cancers to GC treatment vary, even within cancer subtypes. In particular, GCs are frequently used as supporting treatment of breast cancer (BC) to protect against chemotherapy side effects. In the therapy of nonaggressive luminal subtypes of BC, GCs can have auxiliary antitumor effects due to their cytotoxic actions on cancer cells. However, GCs can promote BC progression, colonization of distant metastatic sites, and metastasis. The effects of GCs on cell proliferation vary with BC subtype and its molecular profile and are realized via the activation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a well-known transcriptional factor involved in the regulation of the expression of multiple genes, cell-cell adhesion, and cell migration and polarity. This review focuses on the roles of GC signaling in the adhesion, migration, and metastasis of BC cells. We discuss the molecular mechanisms of GC actions that lead to BC metastasis and propose alternative pharmacological uses of GCs for BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina M Zhidkova
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Evgeniya S Lylova
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alena V Savinkova
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Kirill I Kirsanov
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia.,Department of General Medical Practice, RUDN University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady A Belitsky
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marianna G Yakubovskaya
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina A Lesovaya
- Department of Oncology, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia.,I.P. Pavlov Ryazan State Medical University, Ryazan, Russia
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5
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Dietrich N, Hoffman JA, Archer TK. BAF Complexes and the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Breast Cancers. CURRENT OPINION IN ENDOCRINE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH 2020; 15:8-14. [PMID: 35128145 PMCID: PMC8813045 DOI: 10.1016/j.coemr.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancers are a diverse group of diseases and are often characterized by their expression of receptors for hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Recently another steroid hormone receptor, the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) has been shown to be a key player in breast cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment. These receptors bind to chromatin to elicit transcriptional changes within cells, which are often inhibited by the structure of chromatin itself. Chromatin remodeling proteins, such as Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG1), function to overcome this physical inhibition of transcription factor function and have been linked to many cancers including breast cancer. Recent efforts to understand the interactions of BRG1 and GR, including genomic and single cell analyses, within breast cancers may give insight into personalized medicine and other potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Dietrich
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
| | - Jackson A. Hoffman
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
| | - Trevor K. Archer
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, North Carolina, United States
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6
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Hoffman JA, Papas BN, Trotter KW, Archer TK. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals a heterogeneous response to Glucocorticoids in breast cancer cells. Commun Biol 2020; 3:126. [PMID: 32170217 PMCID: PMC7070043 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0837-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Steroid hormone receptors such as the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) mediate transcriptional responses to hormones and are frequently targeted in the treatment of human diseases. Experiments using bulk populations of cells have provided a detailed picture of the global transcriptional hormone response but are unable to interrogate cell-to-cell transcriptional heterogeneity. To examine the glucocorticoid response in individual cells, we performed single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) in a human breast cancer cell line. The transcriptional response to hormone was robustly detected in individual cells and scRNAseq provided additional statistical power to identify over 100 GR-regulated genes that were not detected in bulk RNAseq. scRNAseq revealed striking cell-to-cell variability in the hormone response. On average, individual hormone-treated cells showed a response at only 30% of the total set of GR target genes. Understanding the basis of this heterogeneity will be critical for the development of more precise models of steroid hormone signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson A Hoffman
- Chromatin and Gene Expression Section, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Brian N Papas
- Integrative Bioinformatics, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kevin W Trotter
- Chromatin and Gene Expression Section, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Trevor K Archer
- Chromatin and Gene Expression Section, Epigenetics and Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA.
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7
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Kanai A, McNamara KM, Iwabuchi E, Miki Y, Onodera Y, Guestini F, Khalid F, Sagara Y, Ohi Y, Rai Y, Yamaguchi R, Tanaka M, Miyashita M, Ishida T, Sasano H. Significance of glucocorticoid signaling in triple-negative breast cancer patients: a newly revealed interaction with androgen signaling. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2020; 180:97-110. [PMID: 31989378 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-020-05523-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Chemotherapy is the only current effective systemic treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Therefore, the identification of active biological pathways that could become therapeutic targets is crucial. In this study, considering the well-reported biological roles of glucocorticoid and androgen receptors (GR, AR) in TNBC, we attempted to explore the effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) on cell kinetics as well as the potential interaction between GR and AR in TNBC. METHODS We first explored the association between the status of GR, AR, and/or GCs-metabolizing enzymes such as 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11βHSD) 1 and 2 and the clinicopathological variables of the TNBC patients. Thereafter, we also studied the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) with/without dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on TNBC cell lines by assessing the cell proliferation, migration and GC response genes at the transcriptional level. RESULTS GR positivity in carcinoma cells was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome of the patients and AR positivity was significantly associated with lower histological grade and Ki-67 labeling index of the cases examined. In particular, AR positivity was significantly associated with decreased risks of developing recurrence in GR-positive TNBC patients. The subsequent in vitro studies revealed that DEX-promoted cell migration was inhibited by the co-treatment with DHT in GR/AR double-positive HCC38 cells. In addition, DHT inhibited the DEX-increased serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase-1 (SGK1) mRNA expression. CONCLUSION This is the first study to reveal that the interaction of GR and AR did influence the clinical outcome of TNBC patients and GCs induced cell migration in TNBC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Kanai
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Keely May McNamara
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Erina Iwabuchi
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Disaster Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Onodera
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Fouzia Guestini
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Freeha Khalid
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Sagara
- Sagara Hospital, 3-31, Matsubara-cho, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Ohi
- Sagara Hospital, 3-31, Matsubara-cho, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Rai
- Sagara Hospital, 3-31, Matsubara-cho, Kagoshima, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Rin Yamaguchi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kurume University Medical Center, 155-1, Kokubu-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 839-0863, Japan
| | - Maki Tanaka
- JCHO Kurume General Hospital, 21, Kushihara-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0013, Japan
| | - Minoru Miyashita
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takanori Ishida
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1, Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
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8
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Snider H, Villavarajan B, Peng Y, Shepherd LE, Robinson AC, Mueller CR. Region-specific glucocorticoid receptor promoter methylation has both positive and negative prognostic value in patients with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:155. [PMID: 31675993 PMCID: PMC6825343 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-019-0750-x] [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: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1, GR) is frequently downregulated in breast tumors, and evidence suggests it acts as a tumor suppressor in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. We previously found that methylation of the GR promoter CpG island represses gene expression and occurs in ER+ breast tumors. In this study, the prognostic and predictive value of GR methylation was examined in ER+ patients from the CCTG MA.12 clinical trial of tamoxifen versus placebo in women with early breast cancer. METHODS We developed a targeted multiplex bisulfite next-generation sequencing assay to detect methylation at multiple GR promoter regions in DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. Following validation in a small cohort of breast tumors, ER+ FFPE tumor samples from MA.12 (n = 208) were tested. Survival analyses evaluated the impact of GR promoter methylation on patient overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). RESULTS An analysis of TCGA data found that GR methylation is prevalent in ER+ tumors and is associated with decreased gene expression and analysis of public microarray data (KM Plotter) linked decreased GR expression to a poor outcome. In MA.12, two GR promoter regions (U and C) each had prognostic value, but with opposite effects on the outcome. U methylation was associated with poor OS (HR = 1.79, P = 0.041) whereas C methylation was associated with better OS (HR = 0.40, P = 0.040) and DFS (HR = 0.49, P = 0.037). The classification of patients based on the methylation status of the two regions was prognostic for OS (P = 0.006) and DFS (P = 0.041) and revealed a group of patients (U methylated, C unmethylated) with very poor outcomes. Placebo-treated patients in this high-risk group had worse OS (HR = 2.86, P = 0.002) and DFS (HR = 2.09, P = 0.014) compared to the rest of the cohort. CONCLUSION Region-specific GR promoter methylation was an independent prognostic marker for patient survival and identified a subset of patients with poor prognosis, particularly without tamoxifen treatment. These findings provide a foundation for future studies into GR methylation as a promising prognostic biomarker in ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilary Snider
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brithica Villavarajan
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yingwei Peng
- Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lois E Shepherd
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.,Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Andrew C Robinson
- Department of Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Christopher R Mueller
- Division of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. .,Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
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9
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McNamara KM, Kannai A, Sasano H. Possible roles for glucocorticoid signalling in breast cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 466:38-50. [PMID: 28687451 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of breast cancer biology, and our ability to manipulate breast cancers have grown exponentially in the last 20 years. Much of that expansion has focused on the roles of steroids in driving these neoplasms. Initially this research focused on estrogens and progesterone receptors, and more recently on androgen actions in breast cancers. This review aims to make the case for glucocorticoids as the next essential steroid subclass that contributes significantly to our understanding of steroidogenic regulation of these neoplasms. Glucocorticoids have the potential to play multiple roles in the regulation of breast cancers including their control of cellular differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation. Beyond this they also act as a master integrator of organ homeostats in relation to such as circadian rhythms and stress responses. Therefore a better understanding of glucocorticoids and breast cancer could help to explain some of the epidemiological links between circadian disruption and/or stress and breast cancer development. Finally glucocorticoids are currently used during chemotherapeutic treatment in breast cancer therapy and yet results of various studies suggest that this may have an adverse impact on treatment success. This review aims to summarise the current evidence for glucocorticoids as actors in breast cancer and then suggest future essential approaches in order to determine the roles of glucocorticoids in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely M McNamara
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Ayako Kannai
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Graduate Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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10
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Africander D, Storbeck KH. Steroid metabolism in breast cancer: Where are we and what are we missing? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 466:86-97. [PMID: 28527781 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
It is well-known that breast cancer is hormone-dependent and that steroid hormones exert their mitogenic effects by binding to estrogen, progesterone and androgen receptors. Vital to our understanding and treatment of this malignancy, is the local metabolism of steroid hormones in breast cancer tissue. This review summarises our current knowledge on steroid producing pathways in the adrenal, ovary and breast, while focussing on the availability of specific circulating hormone precursors and steroidogenic enzymes involved in the local synthesis and metabolism of steroid hormones in the breast. Consequently, we highlight alternate pathways that may be instrumental in the etiology of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donita Africander
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa.
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11
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Al Sorkhy M, Fahl Z, Ritchie J. Cortisol and Breast Cancer: A review of clinical and molecular evidence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.4993/acrt.26.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Al Sorkhy
- Faculty of pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Zina Fahl
- Faculty of pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Jenna Ritchie
- Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Toronto, Canada
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12
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Dhiman VK, Bolt MJ, White KP. Nuclear receptors in cancer — uncovering new and evolving roles through genomic analysis. Nat Rev Genet 2017; 19:160-174. [DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2017.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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13
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Sperlich J, Kerr R, Teusch N. The Marine Natural Product Pseudopterosin Blocks Cytokine Release of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Monocytic Leukemia Cells by Inhibiting NF-κB Signaling. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:E262. [PMID: 28832545 PMCID: PMC5618401 DOI: 10.3390/md15090262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudopterosins are a group of marine diterpene glycosides which possess an array of biological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. However, despite the striking in vivo anti-inflammatory potential, the underlying in vitro molecular mode of action remains elusive. To date, few studies have examined pseudopterosin effects on cancer cells. However, to our knowledge, no studies have explored their ability to block cytokine release in breast cancer cells and the respective bidirectional communication with associated immune cells. The present work demonstrates that pseudopterosins have the ability to block the key inflammatory signaling pathway nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) by inhibiting the phosphorylation of p65 and IκB (nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor) in leukemia and in breast cancer cells, respectively. Blockade of NF-κB leads to subsequent reduction of the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1). Furthermore, pseudopterosin treatment reduces cytokine expression induced by conditioned media in both cell lines investigated. Interestingly, the presence of pseudopterosins induces a nuclear translocation of the glucocorticoid receptor. When knocking down the glucocorticoid receptor, the natural product loses the ability to block cytokine expression. Thus, we hypothesize that pseudopterosins inhibit NF-κB through activation of the glucocorticoid receptor in triple negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sperlich
- Bio-Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, Technische Hochschule Koeln, Chempark, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.
| | - Russell Kerr
- Department of Chemistry, and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada.
| | - Nicole Teusch
- Bio-Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, Technische Hochschule Koeln, Chempark, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.
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14
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Block TS, Murphy TI, Munster PN, Nguyen DP, Lynch FJ. Glucocorticoid receptor expression in 20 solid tumor types using immunohistochemistry assay. Cancer Manag Res 2017; 9:65-72. [PMID: 28293120 PMCID: PMC5345989 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s124475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity plays a role in many aspects of human physiology and may play a crucial role in chemotherapy resistance in a wide variety of solid tumors. A novel immunohistochemistry (IHC) based assay has been previously developed and validated in order to assess GR immunoreactivity in triple-negative breast cancer. The current study investigates the standardized use of this validated assay to assess GR expression in a broad range of solid tumor malignancies. Methods Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor bank samples (n=236) from 20 different solid tumor types were analyzed immunohistochemically. Nuclear staining was reported based on the H-score method using differential intensity scores (0, 1+, 2+, or 3+) with the percent stained (out of at least 100 carcinoma cells) recorded at each intensity. Results GR was expressed in all tumor types that had been evaluated. Renal cell carcinoma, sarcoma, cervical cancer, and melanoma were those with the highest mean H-scores, indicating high levels of GR expression. Colon, endometrial, and gastric cancers had lower GR staining percentages and intensities, resulting in the lowest mean H-scores. Conclusion A validated IHC assay revealed GR immunoreactivity in all solid tumor types studied and allowed for standardized comparison of reactivity among the different malignancies. Impact Baseline expression levels of GR may be a useful biomarker when pharmaceutically targeting GR in research or clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaddeus S Block
- Corcept Therapeutics, Inc, Menlo Park, CA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
| | | | - Pamela N Munster
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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15
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Nanda R, Stringer-Reasor EM, Saha P, Kocherginsky M, Gibson J, Libao B, Hoffman PC, Obeid E, Merkel DE, Khramtsova G, Skor M, Krausz T, Cohen RN, Ratain MJ, Fleming GF, Conzen SD. A randomized phase I trial of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel with or without mifepristone for advanced breast cancer. SPRINGERPLUS 2016; 5:947. [PMID: 27386391 PMCID: PMC4929099 DOI: 10.1186/s40064-016-2457-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Purpose Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) overexpression is associated with poor prognosis ER-negative breast cancer. GR antagonism with mifepristone increases chemotherapy-induced breast cancer cell death, therefore we conducted a phase I clinical trial of mifepristone and nab-paclitaxel in advanced breast cancer. Methods A novel randomized phase I design was used to assess the effect of mifepristone on nab-paclitaxel pharmacokinetics and toxicity. Patients were randomized to placebo or mifepristone for the first cycle; mifepristone was given to all for subsequent cycles. Results Nine patients were enrolled. All were found to have a twofold or greater increase in serum cortisol after mifepristone administration, reflecting effective GR inhibition. Neutropenia occurred at both nab-paclitaxel dose levels studied (100 and 80 mg/m2), and was easily managed with dose reduction and/or growth factor administration. Pharmacokinetic data suggest an interaction between nab-paclitaxel and mifepristone in some patients. Two patients had complete responses (CR), three partial responses (PR), one stable disease (SD), and three progressive disease (PD). Immunohistochemical staining for GR found six of nine tumors were GR-positive. All six GR-positive tumors were triple-negative at the time of recurrence. Of these six patients, two had CRs, two PRs, one SD, and one PD. Conclusions GR appears to be a promising target in TNBC, and GR inhibition plus chemotherapy produces manageable toxicity. While neutropenia was observed in some, a nab-paclitaxel dose of 100 mg/m2 plus mifepristone 300 mg was found to be tolerable, and a randomized phase II trial of nab-paclitaxel with/without mifepristone is planned in GR-positive advanced TNBC. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-016-2457-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Nanda
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA ; 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637-1470 USA
| | - Erica M Stringer-Reasor
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Poornima Saha
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Masha Kocherginsky
- Department of Health Studies, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2000, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Jean Gibson
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Bernadette Libao
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Philip C Hoffman
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Elias Obeid
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Douglas E Merkel
- Northshore University Health Systems, 2650 Ridge Ave # 4805, Evanston, IL 60201 USA
| | - Galina Khramtsova
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Maxwell Skor
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Thomas Krausz
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave., MC 6101, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Ronald N Cohen
- Section of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 1027, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Mark J Ratain
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Gini F Fleming
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
| | - Suzanne D Conzen
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115, Chicago, IL 60637 USA
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16
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Regan Anderson TM, Ma SH, Raj GV, Cidlowski JA, Helle TM, Knutson TP, Krutilina RI, Seagroves TN, Lange CA. Breast Tumor Kinase (Brk/PTK6) Is Induced by HIF, Glucocorticoid Receptor, and PELP1-Mediated Stress Signaling in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2016; 76:1653-63. [PMID: 26825173 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells use stress response pathways to sustain their pathogenic behavior. In breast cancer, stress response-associated phenotypes are mediated by the breast tumor kinase, Brk (PTK6), via the hypoxia-inducible factors HIF-1α and HIF-2α. Given that glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), we investigated cross-talk between stress hormone-driven GR signaling and HIF-regulated physiologic stress. Primary TNBC tumor explants or cell lines treated with the GR ligand dexamethasone exhibited robust induction of Brk mRNA and protein that was HIF1/2-dependent. HIF and GR coassembled on the BRK promoter in response to either hypoxia or dexamethasone, indicating that Brk is a direct GR/HIF target. Notably, HIF-2α, not HIF-1α, expression was induced by GR signaling, and the important steroid receptor coactivator PELP1 was also found to be induced in a HIF-dependent manner. Mechanistic investigations showed how PELP1 interacted with GR to activate Brk expression and demonstrated that physiologic cell stress, including hypoxia, promoted phosphorylation of GR serine 134, initiating a feed-forward signaling loop that contributed significantly to Brk upregulation. Collectively, our findings linked cellular stress (HIF) and stress hormone (cortisol) signaling in TNBC, identifying the phospho-GR/HIF/PELP1 complex as a potential therapeutic target to limit Brk-driven progression and metastasis in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarah M Regan Anderson
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Shi Hong Ma
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Ganesh V Raj
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - John A Cidlowski
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Taylor M Helle
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Todd P Knutson
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Raisa I Krutilina
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Tiffany N Seagroves
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee HSC, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Carol A Lange
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology and The Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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17
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Baker GM, Murphy T, Block T, Nguyen D, Lynch FJ. Development and validation of an immunohistochemistry assay to assess glucocorticoid receptor expression for clinical trials of mifepristone in breast cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2015; 7:361-8. [PMID: 26673410 PMCID: PMC4675647 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s91546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity has been associated with chemotherapy resistance and poor outcomes in patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The aim of this study was to develop an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay to assess GR expression in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human invasive breast carcinoma samples. METHODS An optimized GR assay protocol was developed using rabbit monoclonal antibody to GR clone D8H2. Precision and reproducibility of the GR IHC assay was determined by conducting multiple staining runs of four invasive breast carcinoma samples using replicate serial sections. Assay sensitivity was examined in 50 TNBC samples (>10 mm) obtained from a tumor bank, and 43 paired TNBC samples from a tissue microarray (TMA) (1.5 mm). GR positivity was assessed using a percent scoring approach with a ≥10% cutoff for nuclear staining of tumor cells at any intensity. Analysis of the paired TMA cores was performed by averaging the scores of the two cores for each case. RESULTS Equivalent cellular patterns of GR reactivity were observed in all replicates from the multiple staining runs; coefficients of variation did not exceed 4.7% for average H-scores greater than 3.4, thus meeting the criteria for assay precision and reproducibility (coefficient of variation ≤20%). GR expression in TNBC single-tissue samples and TMA cores was characterized as mostly nuclear, with some concurrent cytoplasmic reactivity. Eighty-four percent of the 49 evaluable TNBC samples and 60% of the 42 evaluable paired TMA samples were positive for GR expression. CONCLUSION A robust and reproducible GR IHC assay was successfully developed for use in invasive breast carcinoma tissues. Differences in GR expression between larger single tissues and smaller TMA cores illustrate the heterogeneity of the disease, as well as potential intra-tumoral heterogeneity. This assay is currently being utilized in clinical trials of mifepristone, a GR antagonist, in patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle M Baker
- Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Thaddeus Block
- Corcept Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dat Nguyen
- Corcept Therapeutics, Menlo Park, CA, USA
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18
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McNamara KM, Sasano H. Beyond the C18 frontier: Androgen and glucocorticoid metabolism in breast cancer tissues: The role of non-typical steroid hormones in breast cancer development and progression. Steroids 2015; 103:115-22. [PMID: 26057662 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2015.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer's hormonal dependence is well known and has been so for a long time. However in the last two decades great advances have been made in understanding the local metabolism of steroids within tissue. In the form of aromatase inhibition this is already one of the mainstays of breast cancer therapy. This review aims to summarise briefly what is known in terms of the metabolism of C18 steroids but perhaps more importantly to touch on the new developments regarding the importance of the metabolism of androgens and glucocorticoids in breast tissue. It is our hope that this review should provide the reader with a "birds eye view" of the current state of knowledge regarding localised steroid metabolism in the breast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keely May McNamara
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
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19
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Abduljabbar R, Negm OH, Lai CF, Jerjees DA, Al-Kaabi M, Hamed MR, Tighe PJ, Buluwela L, Mukherjee A, Green AR, Ali S, Rakha EA, Ellis IO. Clinical and biological significance of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2015; 150:335-46. [PMID: 25762479 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-015-3335-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors, which exerts anti-proliferative and anti-apoptotic activities. The GR is expressed in a large proportion of breast cancer (BC) although levels generally decrease during cancer progression. This study aimed to determine the clinical and biological significance of GR expression using a large series of early-stage BC with long-term follow-up and BC cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of GR in 999 cases of primary invasive BC prepared as tissue microarrays. Reverse phase protein microarray was used to assess the expression of GR in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Nuclear expression of GR was observed in 61.6 % of breast tumours and was associated with features of good prognosis including smaller tumour size and lower grade with less pleomorphism and low mitotic count. GR expression was positively correlated with expression of oestrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors. In ER-positive tumours, GR was associated with other features of favourable outcome including FOXA1, GATA3 and BEX1 expression, while low GR expression was associated with high Ki67, p53 and CD71 expression. GR expression is associated with features of good outcome but does not provide prognostic information independent of size, stage and grade. Understanding the receptor and its effects on BC behaviour is essential for avoiding any unwanted effects from the use of glucocorticoids in routine oncology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rezvan Abduljabbar
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cell, Department of Histopathology, The University of Nottingham, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, UK,
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20
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Nesset KA, Perri AM, Mueller CR. Frequent promoter hypermethylation and expression reduction of the glucocorticoid receptor gene in breast tumors. Epigenetics 2014; 9:851-9. [PMID: 24622770 DOI: 10.4161/epi.28484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have found that expression of the Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) is altered or reduced in various cancers, while the GR promoter has been shown to be methylated in gastric, lung, and colorectal cancers. Examining a small cohort of matched normal and breast cancer samples we found that GR levels were dramatically reduced in almost all tumors in relation to their normal tissue. The methylation status of the GR promoter was assessed to determine if this observed decrease of expression in breast tumors could be due to epigenetic regulation. While it was not methylated in normal tissue, the GR proximal promoter was methylated in 15% of tumor samples, particularly, but not exclusively, in Estrogen Receptor positive tumors. GR expression in these tumors was particularly low and loss of GR expression was specifically correlated with methylation of the proximal promoter GR B region. Overall, these results show that hypermethylation of the promoter in tumors is a frequent event and suggests that GR may act as a tumor suppressor in breast tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten A Nesset
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine; Queen's Cancer Research Institute; Queen's University; Kingston, ON Canada
| | - Ami M Perri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine; Queen's Cancer Research Institute; Queen's University; Kingston, ON Canada
| | - Christopher R Mueller
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine; Queen's Cancer Research Institute; Queen's University; Kingston, ON Canada
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21
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Butler KS, Hines WC, Heaphy CM, Griffith JK. Coordinate regulation between expression levels of telomere-binding proteins and telomere length in breast carcinomas. Cancer Med 2012; 1:165-75. [PMID: 23342266 PMCID: PMC3544452 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/01/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere dysregulation occurs in both the in situ and invasive stages of many carcinomas, including breast. Knockout experiments have identified several telomere-associated proteins required for proper telomere function and maintenance, including telomere repeat-binding factor 1 and 2 (TRF1 and TRF2), protection of telomeres (POT1), and TRF1-interacting nuclear factor 2 (TIN2). Using telomere content assays and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we examined the relationship between telomere length and the mRNA levels of telomere-associated proteins in breast tumors. The levels of TRF2, TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 mRNA, but not telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) RNA, are inversely correlated with telomere content in breast tumors. Significant associations were identified between the mRNA levels of TRF1, TIN2, and POT1; however, there were no significant associations with the mRNA levels of TRF2 or TERT. These associations suggest that a complex transcriptional program coordinately regulates the expression of these mRNAs. We examined the promoter regions of the telomere-associated proteins to identify transcription factors consistent with the observed patterns of presumed coordinate expression. We demonstrated in human breast cancer cell lines that expressions of TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 are upregulated by dexamethasone, suggesting activation of the glucocorticoid receptor, whereas TERT, TRF2, TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 are upregulated by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), suggesting activation of the nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor. These findings link telomere content in breast tumors to the coordinate expression of several telomere-associated proteins previously shown to be negative regulators of telomere length in cell lines. The results further suggest a possible link between the expressions of the telomere-associated proteins and mediators of stress and inflammation. Telomere content assays and quantitative RT-PCR demonstrate that the levels of TRF2, TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 mRNA, but not telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) RNA, are inversely correlated with telomere content in breast tumors. Within human breast cancer cell lines, expressions of TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 are upregulated by dexamethasone, suggesting activation of the glucocorticoid receptor, whereas TERT, TRF2, TRF1, TIN2, and POT1 are upregulated by TNF-α, suggesting activation of the NFκB transcription factor. These findings link telomere content in breast tumors to the expression of several telomere-associated proteins previously shown to be negative regulators of telomere length in cell lines and suggest a link between the expressions of the telomere-associated proteins and mediators of stress and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly S Butler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131, USA
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22
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Tothova V, Isola J, Parkkila S, Kopacek J, Pastorek J, Pastorekova S, Gibadulinova A. Glucocorticoid receptor-mediated transcriptional activation of S100P gene coding for cancer-related calcium-binding protein. J Cell Biochem 2012; 112:3373-84. [PMID: 21751241 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
S100P is a member of the S100 family of calcium-binding proteins involved in calcium sensing and signal transduction. Its abnormal expression and biological activities are linked to tumor phenotype, namely to increased survival, proliferation, invasion and metastatic propensity of tumor cells. Association of S100P with outcome of tumor treatment and preliminary data from S100P promoter analysis prompted us to study regulation of S100P expression by glucocorticoids, which are implicated in tumor response to chemotherapy. We showed that dexamethasone (DX), a representative glucocorticoid, was capable to induce activity of S100P promoter by means of increased expression, nuclear translocation, and transactivation properties of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Moreover, DX treatment led to decreased phosphorylation of ERK1/2, reduced transcriptional activity of AP1, and modulated activity of some additional transcription factors. We identified a promoter region responsible for DX-mediated transactivation and proved GR binding to S100P promoter. We found that the effect of DX was enhanced by partial but not complete inhibition of the MAPK/ERK pathway, supporting an active crosstalk between GR and MAPK/ERK signal transduction in control of S100P expression. On the other hand, suppression of GR mRNA level by transient siRNA expression resulted in reduced S100P transcription. The role of GR activation in S100P regulation was supported by co-expression of GR with S100P in cells treated with DX. These data suggest that S100P is a direct transcriptional target of glucocorticoid-mediated signaling in tumor cells that is activated through the interplay of GR and MAPK pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Tothova
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84505 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
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23
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Ritter HD, Antonova L, Mueller CR. The unliganded glucocorticoid receptor positively regulates the tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 through GABP beta. Mol Cancer Res 2012; 10:558-69. [PMID: 22328717 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-11-0423-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Loss of BRCA1 tumor suppressor function is a critical event in breast tumorigenesis. We have previously identified the stress hormone hydrocortisone as a negative regulator of BRCA1 expression in nonmalignant mammary cells. Here, we have identified a direct role for the unliganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in BRCA1 upregulation in the absence of hydrocortisone. The positive regulatory effect of GR is lost upon the addition of hydrocortisone. We have shown that GR interacts with the BRCA1 promoter only in the absence of hydrocortisone, and that this interaction is mediated through the β-subunit of the ets transcription factor GA-binding protein (GABP) at the RIBS promoter element. GR and GABPβ interact in both coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian two-hybrid assays, and this interaction involves the N-terminal to central regions of both proteins. This work presents the first evidence of a ligand-independent role for GR as a positive regulator of gene expression, and loss of GR from the BRCA1 promoter in response to stress hormones leads to decreased BRCA1 expression. Because low levels of BRCA1 have been implicated in the development of sporadic breast cancer, this may represent a novel mechanism through which prolonged stress signaling increases breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather D Ritter
- Department of Biochemistry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
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24
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Szmulewitz RZ, Chung E, Al-Ahmadie H, Daniel S, Kocherginsky M, Razmaria A, Zagaja GP, Brendler CB, Stadler WM, Conzen SD. Serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 expression in primary human prostate cancers. Prostate 2012; 72:157-64. [PMID: 21563193 PMCID: PMC6000822 DOI: 10.1002/pros.21416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum/glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1), a known target of the androgen receptor (AR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), is reported to enhance cell survival. This study sought to better define the role of SGK1 and GR in prostate cancer. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed for AR, GR, and SGK1 on primary prostate cancers (n = 138) and 18 prostate cancers from patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy. Relative staining intensity was compared utilizing a Fisher's exact test. Univariate analyses were performed using log-rank and chi-squared tests to evaluate prostate cancer recurrence with respect to SGK1 expression. RESULTS SGK1 expression was strong (3+) in 79% of untreated cancers versus 44% in androgen-deprived cancers (P = 0.003). Conversely, GR expression was present in a higher proportion of androgen-deprived versus untreated cancers (78% vs. 38%, P = 0.002). High-grade cancers were nearly twice as likely to have relatively low (0 to 2+) SGK1 staining compared to low-grade cancers (13.8% vs. 26.5%, P = 0.08). Low SGK1 expression in untreated tumors was associated with increased risk of cancer recurrence (adjusted log-rank test P = 0.077), 5-year progression-free survival 47.8% versus 72.6% (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS SGK1 expression is high in most untreated prostate cancers and declines with androgen deprivation. However, these data suggest that relatively low expression of SGK1 is associated with higher tumor grade and increased cancer recurrence, and is a potential indicator of aberrant AR signaling in these tumors. GR expression increased with androgen deprivation, potentially providing a mechanism for the maintenance of androgen pathway signaling in these tumors. Further study of the AR/GR/SGK1 network in castration resistance.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Disease-Free Survival
- Humans
- Immediate-Early Proteins/biosynthesis
- Immediate-Early Proteins/genetics
- Immediate-Early Proteins/metabolism
- Immunohistochemistry
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/enzymology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent/enzymology
- Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent/genetics
- Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent/pathology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/enzymology
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/biosynthesis
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
- Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
- Receptors, Androgen/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Androgen/genetics
- Receptors, Androgen/metabolism
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
- Tissue Array Analysis
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25
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Pan D, Kocherginsky M, Conzen SD. Activation of the glucocorticoid receptor is associated with poor prognosis in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. Cancer Res 2011; 71:6360-70. [PMID: 21868756 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-0362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 192] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen receptor-negative (ER(-)) breast cancers have limited treatment options and are associated with earlier relapses. Because glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling initiates antiapoptotic pathways in ER(-) breast cancer cells, we hypothesized that activation of these pathways might be associated with poor prognosis in ER(-) disease. Here we report findings from a genome-wide study of GR transcriptional targets in a premalignant ER(-) cell line model of early breast cancer (MCF10A-Myc) and in primary early-stage ER(-) human tumors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with massively parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq) coupled to time-course expression profiling led us to identify epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathways as an important aspect associated with GR activation. We validated these findings by carrying out a meta-analysis of primary breast tumor gene expression from 1,378 early-stage breast cancer patients with long-term clinical follow-up, confirming that high levels of GR expression significantly correlated with shorter relapse-free survival in ER(-) patients who were treated or untreated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Notably, in ER(+) breast cancer patients, high levels of GR expression in tumors were significantly associated with better outcome relative to low levels of GR expression. Gene expression analysis revealed that ER(-) tumors expressing high GR levels exhibited differential activation of EMT, cell adhesion, and inflammation pathways. Our findings suggest a direct transcriptional role for GR in determining the outcome of poor-prognosis ER(-) breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deng Pan
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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26
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Vilasco M, Communal L, Mourra N, Courtin A, Forgez P, Gompel A. Glucocorticoid receptor and breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2011; 130:1-10. [PMID: 21818591 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-011-1689-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Accepted: 07/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Stress enhances glucocorticoid (GC) synthesis, which alters inflammation and immune responses, as well as cellular proliferation and apoptosis in a number of tissues. Increasingly, stress has been associated with cancer progression, and in particular in breast cancer. Consequently, an operational glucocorticoid receptor system in breast tissue influences breast cancer development. In this review, we summarize the data on the GC/GR system in normal and tumoral breast tissue. We also review the molecular mechanisms by which GCs control apoptosis and proliferation in breast cancer models and how GCs alter the chemotherapy of breast cancer treatment when used in combination. Finally, we discuss the participation of GR in breast tumorigenesis under hormone replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Vilasco
- INSERM-UPMC, UMRS 938, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint Antoine, 75012, Paris, France
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27
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Courtin A, Communal L, Vilasco M, Cimino D, Mourra N, de Bortoli M, Taverna D, Faussat AM, Chaouat M, Forgez P, Gompel A. Glucocorticoid receptor activity discriminates between progesterone and medroxyprogesterone acetate effects in breast cells. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2011; 131:49-63. [DOI: 10.1007/s10549-011-1394-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2010] [Accepted: 02/04/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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28
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Estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and glucocorticoid receptor expression in normal breast tissue, breast in situ carcinoma, and invasive breast cancer. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2010; 18:254-7. [PMID: 19875955 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0b013e3181c10180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GCs) are used in cancer treatment to induce programmed cell death in transformed cells of the hematopoietic system and to lessen side effects. Moreover, GCs have been described not only as inhibitors of some chemotherapy or radiation-induced apoptosis, but also as inhibitors of cancer progression by down-regulation or up-regulation of different gene expressions. Recently, it has been suggested that GCs can attenuate estrogen responses through induction of expression and activity of the sulfotransferase. The presence or absence of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in normal and abnormal breast tissue is thus interesting, and the aim of this study was to analyze the expression of GR during the progression of breast tissue. We tested by immunohistochemistry the expression status of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and GR in normal breast parenchyma (n=49), ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN) 1a (n=9), DIN 1b-1c (n=15), DIN 2-3 (n=21), and invasive breast carcinoma (n=39). The evaluation of GR expression was made by using the Allred score. All the normal parenchyma, DIN 1a, DIN 1b, and DIN 1c were ER-positive (ER+) and PR-positive (PR+). Seventeen of 21 DIN 2-3 and 30 of 39 invasive carcinomas were ER+/PR+. The other samples were ER-negative (ER-) and PR-negative (PR-). Moreover, all the ER-/PR- samples were GR-negative. Interestingly, we found a significant correlation between the histologic grade and the GR-negative tumors, and a percentage of positive patients presented with nuclear immunoreaction to GR, which decreases significantly with tumor histologic grade. Understanding the role of GCs in breast carcinoma is thus essential before continuing the widespread use of GCs combined with antineoplastic drugs or agents in the clinical management of women with breast cancer.
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29
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Melhem A, Yamada SD, Fleming GF, Delgado B, Brickley DR, Wu W, Kocherginsky M, Conzen SD. Administration of glucocorticoids to ovarian cancer patients is associated with expression of the anti-apoptotic genes SGK1 and MKP1/DUSP1 in ovarian tissues. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:3196-204. [PMID: 19383827 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-2131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To prevent chemotherapy-related side effects, synthetic glucocorticoids, for example, dexamethasone, are routinely administered to patients with ovarian cancer. However, preclinical data implicate glucocorticoids in suppressing chemotherapy-mediated apoptosis in epithelial tumors. The anti-apoptotic mechanisms underlying this increased survival have been shown to require up-regulation of prosurvival genes, including serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) and map kinase phosphatase 1 (MKP1)/dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1). Despite abundant preclinical data, there are no correlative studies in patients. We therefore evaluated anti-apoptotic gene expression in tumor samples from patients randomized to dexamethasone or normal saline. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Eighteen patients were randomized before exploratory laparotomy for suspected ovarian cancer. Dexamethasone or normal saline was administered i.v. following anesthesia. Ovarian and omental tumor samples were collected intra-operatively before and after infusion. Samples were analyzed for histology and glucocorticoid receptor expression by immunohistochemistry. SGK1 and MKP1/DUSP1 mRNA levels were determined using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS Ten patients were evaluable. At 30 min postinfusion, tumor samples from five patients receiving dexamethasone revealed an average SGK1 mRNA induction of 6.1-fold (SEM, +/-2.6) compared with only 1.5-fold (SEM, +/-0.4) in tumor samples from five patients receiving normal saline (P = 0.028). Average MKP1/DUSP1 mRNA expression was increased by 8.2-fold (SEM, +/-2.9) following dexamethasone versus 1.1-fold (SEM, +/-0.4) following normal saline (P = 0.009). All samples expressed glucocorticoid receptor. CONCLUSION Glucocorticoid administration to patients is associated with rapid up-regulation of SGK1 and MKP1 expression in ovarian tumors. This finding supports the hypothesis that pharmacologic doses of glucocorticoids may decrease chemotherapy effectiveness in ovarian cancer patients through increased anti-apoptotic gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal Melhem
- Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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