Type IV collagen as a potential biomarker of metastatic breast cancer

Inflammation-Associated Cytotoxic Agents in Tumorigenesis

Chronic inflammatory processes are related to all stages of tumorigenesis. As inflammation is closely associated with the activation and release of different cytotoxic agents, the interplay between cytotoxic agents and antagonizing principles is highlighted in this review to address the question of how tumor cells overcome the enhanced values of cytotoxic agents in tumors. In tumor cells, the enhanced formation of mitochondrial-derived reactive species and elevated values of iron ions and free heme are antagonized by an overexpression of enzymes and proteins, contributing to the antioxidative defense and maintenance of redox homeostasis. Through these mechanisms, tumor cells can even survive additional stress caused by radio- and chemotherapy. Through the secretion of active agents from tumor cells, immune cells are suppressed in the tumor microenvironment and an enhanced formation of extracellular matrix components is induced. Different oxidant- and protease-based cytotoxic agents are involved in tumor-mediated immunosuppression, tumor growth, tumor cell invasion, and metastasis. Considering the special metabolic conditions in tumors, the main focus here was directed on the disturbed balance between the cytotoxic agents and protective mechanisms in late-stage tumors. This knowledge is mandatory for the implementation of novel anti-cancerous therapeutic approaches.

Quantitation of native and forced degraded collagens by capillary zone electrophoresis: Method development and validation

A new capillary zone electrophoresis method for collagen quantitation was developed and validated according to the International Council for Harmonization guideline Q2 (R1). The Sircol collagen assay and ultraviolet spectrometry were employed as reference methods. Capillary zone electrophoresis enables specific, simple, and fast determination within 9 min. It is less user-dependent and more automated than the Sircol collagen assay. With a limit of detection of 18.0 μg/mL, the new method is less sensitive than the Sircol collagen assay, which has a limit of detection of 6.5 μg/mL. Nonetheless, capillary zone electrophoresis covers a wider linearity range (50-400 μg/mL) compared to the Sircol collagen assay (5-80 μg/mL), with similar precision. Additional advantages of capillary zone electrophoresis are the ability to gain information on collagen integrity and to simultaneously determine native and denatured collagens. This approach represents a modern and legitimate alternative to the Sircol collagen assay. The developed method has been successfully applied to the study of three collagen products and samples from forced degradation.

Recent progress on the effect of extracellular matrix on occurrence and progression of breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) metastasis is an enormous challenge targeting BC therapy. The extracellular matrix (ECM), the principal component of the BC metastasis niche, is the pivotal driver of breast tumor development, whose biochemical and biophysical characteristics have attracted widespread attention. Here, we review the biological effects of ECM constituents and the influence of ECM stiffness on BC metastasis and drug resistance. We provide an overview of the relative signal transduction mechanisms, existing metastasis models, and targeted drug strategies centered around ECM stiffness. It will shed light on exploring more underlying targets and developing specific drugs aimed at ECM utilizing biomimetic platforms, which are promising for breast cancer treatment.

Tumor collagens predict genetic features and patient outcomes

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical determinant of tumor fate that reflects the output from myriad cell types in the tumor. Collagens constitute the principal components of the tumor ECM. The changing collagen composition in tumors along with their impact on patient outcomes and possible biomarkers remains largely unknown. The RNA expression of the 43 collagen genes from solid tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was clustered to classify tumors. PanCancer analysis revealed how collagens by themselves can identify the tissue of origin. Clustering by collagens in each cancer type demonstrated strong associations with survival, specific immunoenvironments, somatic gene mutations, copy number variations, and aneuploidy. We developed a machine learning classifier that predicts aneuploidy, and chromosome arm copy number alteration (CNA) status based on collagen expression alone with high accuracy in many cancer types with somatic mutations, suggesting a strong relationship between the collagen ECM context and specific molecular alterations. These findings have broad implications in defining the relationship between cancer-related genetic defects and the tumor microenvironment to improve prognosis and therapeutic targeting for patient care, opening new avenues of investigation to define tumor ecosystems.

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Sensor for Cancer Biomarker Detection

A biomarker is a physiological observable marker that acts as a stand-in and, in the best-case scenario, forecasts a clinically significant outcome. Diagnostic biomarkers are more convenient and cost-effective than directly measuring the ultimate clinical outcome. Cancer is among the most prominent global health problems and a major cause of morbidity and death globally. Therefore, cancer biomarker assays that are trustworthy, consistent, precise, and verified are desperately needed. Biomarker-based tumor detection holds a lot of promise for improving disease knowledge at the molecular scale and early detection and surveillance. In contrast to conventional approaches, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) allows for the quick and less invasive screening of a variety of circulating indicators, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), microRNA (miRNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), lipids, and proteins. With several advantages, the SPR technique is a particularly beneficial choice for the point-of-care identification of biomarkers. As a result, it enables the timely detection of tumor markers, which could be used to track cancer development and suppress the relapse of malignant tumors. This review emphasizes advancements in SPR biosensing technologies for cancer detection.

The extracellular matrix protein pattern in the canine neoplastic mammary gland

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the mammary gland provide structure and regulate its development and homeostasis. Alterations in its structure can regulate and support pathogenesis, like breast tumors. Aiming to identify the health and tumoral canine mammary ECM scaffold protein profile by immunohistochemistry, the decellularization process was carried out to remove the cellular content. Additionally, it was verified the influence of health and tumoral ECM on the attachment of health and tumoral cells. The types I, III, IV, and V structural collagens were scarce in the mammary tumor, and ECM fibers were disorganized. Vimentin and CD44 were more common in mammary tumor stroma, suggesting a role in cell migration that results in tumor progression. Elastin, fibronectin, laminin, vitronectin, and osteopontin were similarly detected under healthy and tumor conditions, providing the attachment of normal cells in healthy ECM, while tumoral cells were able to attach in tumoral ECM. The protein pattern demonstrates ECM alteration in canine mammary tumorigenesis, presenting new knowledge on mammary tumor ECM microenvironment.

The involvement of collagen family genes in tumor enlargement of gastric cancer

Extracellular matrix (ECM) not only serves as a support for tumor cell but also regulates cell-cell or cell-matrix cross-talks. Collagens are the most abundant proteins in ECM. Several studies have found that certain collagen genes were overexpressed in gastric cancer (GC) tissues and might serve as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in GC patients. However, the expression patterns of all collagen family genes in GC tissue and their functions are still not clear. With RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data, microarray data, and corresponding clinical data obtained from TCGA, GTEx, and GEO databases, bioinformatics analyses were performed to investigate the correlation between the expression patterns of collagen family genes and GC progression. We found that quite many of the collagen family genes were overexpressed in GC tissues. The increase in mRNA expression of most of these overexpressed collagen genes happened between T1 and T2 stage, which indicates the significance of collagens in tumor enlargement of GC. Notably, the mRNA expressions of these differentially expressed collagens genes were highly positively correlated. The elevated expression of a large number of collagen genes in early T stage might greatly change the composition and structure organization of ECM, contributing to ECM remodeling in GC progression.

Heterogeneity and versatility of the extracellular matrix during the transition from pleomorphic adenoma to carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: cumulative findings from basic research and new insights

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland tumor, accounting for 50%-60% of these neoplasms. If untreated, 6.2% of PA may undergo malignant transformation to carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA). CXPA is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor, whose prevalence represents approximately 3%-6% of all salivary gland tumors. Although the pathogenesis of the PA-CXPA transition remains unclear, CXPA development requires the participation of cellular components and the tumor microenvironment for its progression. The extracellular matrix (ECM) comprises a heterogeneous and versatile network of macromolecules synthesized and secreted by embryonic cells. In the PA-CXPA sequence, ECM is formed by a variety of components including collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminins, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and other glycoproteins, mainly secreted by epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells. Like in other tumors including breast cancer, ECM changes play an important role in the PA-CXPA sequence. This review summarizes what is currently known about the role of ECM during CXPA development.

Plasma and Peritoneal Fluid Fibronectin and Collagen IV Levels as Potential Biomarkers of Endometriosis

Laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool for patients with suspected endometriosis is associated with several potentially life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is imperative to identify reliable, non-invasive biomarkers of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyse the concentrations of fibronectin and type IV collagen in peritoneal fluid and plasma to assess their role as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of endometriosis. Fibronectin and collagen IV protein levels were assessed by surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) biosensors with the usage of monoclonal antibodies. All patients enrolled in the study were referred for laparoscopy for the diagnosis of infertility or chronic pelvic pain (n = 84). The study group included patients with endometriosis confirmed during surgery (n = 49). The concentration of fibronectin in the plasma (329.3 ± 98.5 mg/L) and peritoneal fluid (26.8 ± 11.1 μg/L) in women with endometriosis was significantly higher than in the control group (251.2 ± 84.0 mg/L, 7.0 ± 5.9 μg/L). Fibronectin levels were independent of endometriosis stage (p = 0.874, p = 0.469). No significant differences were observed in collagen IV levels (p = 0.385, p = 0.465). The presence of elevated levels of fibronectin may indicate abnormalities in cell-ECM signalling during the course of endometriosis, and may be a potential biomarker for early detection.

Extracellular matrix degrading enzyme with stroma-targeting peptides enhance the penetration of liposomes into tumors

Various anti-tumor nanomedicines have been developed based on the enhanced permeability and retention effect. However, the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) in tumors remains a major barrier for the delivery and accumulation of nanoparticles into tumors. While ECM-degrading enzymes, such as collagenase, hyaluronidase, and bromelain, have been used to facilitate the accumulation of nanoparticles, serious side effects arising from the current non-tumor-specific delivery methods limit their clinical applications. Here, we report targeted delivery of bromelain into tumor tissues through its covalent attachment to a hyaluronic acid (HA)-peptide conjugate with tumor ECM targeting ability. The ECM targeting peptide, collagen type IV-binding peptide (C4BP), was chosen from six candidate-peptides based on their ability to bind to frozen sections of triple-negative breast cancer, 4T1 tumor ex vivo. The HA- C4BP conjugate showed a significant increase in tumor accumulation in 4T1-bearing mice after intravenous administration compared to unmodified HA. We further demonstrated that the systemic administration of bromelain conjugated C4BP-HA (C4BP-HA-Bro) potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin. C4BP-HA-Bro decreased the number and length of collagen fibers and improved the distribution of doxorubicin within the tumor. No infusion reaction was noted after delivery of C4BP-HA-Bro. C4BP-HA thus offers a potential for effective and safe delivery of bromelain for improved intratumoral delivery of therapeutics.

Collagen Family as Promising Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Cancer

Despite advances in cancer detection and therapy, it has been estimated that the incidence of cancers will increase, while the mortality rate will continue to remain high, a fact explained by the large number of patients diagnosed in advanced stages when therapy is often useless. Therefore, it is necessary to invest knowledge and resources in the development of new non-invasive biomarkers for the early detection of cancer and new therapeutic targets for better health management. In this review, we provided an overview on the collagen family as promising biomarkers and on how they may be exploited as therapeutic targets in cancer. The collagen family tridimensional structure, organization, and functions are very complex, being in a tight relationship with the extracellular matrix, tumor, and immune microenvironment. Moreover, accumulating evidence underlines the role of collagens in promoting tumor growth and creating a permissive tumor microenvironment for metastatic dissemination. Knowledge of the molecular basis of these interactions may help in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, in overcoming chemoresistance, and in providing new targets for cancer therapies.

Macrophages Rapidly Seal off the Punctured Zebrafish Larval Brain through a Vital Honeycomb Network Structure

There is accumulating evidence that macrophages play additional important roles in tissue damage besides their typical phagocytosis. Although the aggregation of macrophages on injured sites has long been observed, few researchers have focused on the role of the overall structure of macrophage aggregation. In this study, we developed a standardized traumatic brain injury (TBI) model in zebrafish larvae to mimic edema and brain tissue spillage symptoms after severe brain trauma. Using time-lapse imaging, we showed that macrophages/microglia in zebrafish larvae responded rapidly and dominated the surface of injured tissue, forming a meaningful honeycomb network structure through their compact aggregation and connection. Disrupting this structure led to fatal edema-like symptoms with severe loss of brain tissue. Using the RNA-Seq, together with the manipulation of in vitro cell lines, we found that collagen IV was indispensable to the formation of honeycomb network structures. Our study thus revealed a novel perspective regarding macrophages forming a protective compact structure with collagen IV. This honeycomb network structure acted as a physical barrier to prevent tissue loss and maintain brain homeostasis after TBI. This study may provide new evidence of macrophages’ function for the rapid protection of brain tissue after brain injury.

Type IV Collagen in Human Colorectal Liver Metastases—Cellular Origin and a Circulating Biomarker

Simple Summary

Patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) can be cured through surgery if metastases are detected early in disease progression. Today, CLM diagnosis relies heavily on diagnostic imaging, and cheap, non-invasive, and efficiently measurable biomarkers are needed. Circulating type IV collagen (COL IV) is a potential biomarker for detecting CLM. Patients with CLM show elevated circulating levels of COL IV and increased tissue expression of COL IV in CLM tissue, which could result from enhanced production and degradation of COL IV. This study aimed to establish the cellular source behind enhanced COL IV levels, which is helpful in the evaluation of the biomarker potential of COL IV. We show that fibroblasts express COL IV both in vitro and in the stromal tissue of CLM. We also found that CLM tissue expresses COL IV-degrading proteases. Lastly, CLM patients have higher circulating COL IV levels than healthy controls.

Abstract

Circulating type IV collagen (cCOL IV) is a potential biomarker for patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLM) who present with elevated levels of COL IV in both CLM tissue and circulation. This study aimed to establish the cellular origin of elevated levels of COL IV and analyze circulating COL IV in CLM patients. The cellular source was established through in situ hybridization, immunohistochemical staining, and morphological evaluation. Cellular expression in vitro was assessed by immunofluorescence. Tissue expression of COL IV-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-2, -7, -9, and -13 was studied with immunohistochemical staining. Plasma levels of COL IV in CLM patients and healthy controls were analyzed with ELISA. This study shows that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) express COL IV in the stroma of CLM and that COL IV is expressed in vitro by fibroblasts but not by tumor cells. MMP-2, -7, -9, and -13 are expressed in CLM tissue, mainly by hepatocytes and immune cells, and circulating COL IV is significantly elevated in CLM patients compared with healthy controls. Our study shows that stromal cells, not tumor cells, produce COL IV in CLM, and that circulating COL IV is elevated in patients with CLM.

Prognostic Value of Stromal Type IV Collagen Expression in Small Invasive Breast Cancers

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Localized breast cancer can be cured by surgery and adjuvant therapy, but mortality remains high for tumors that metastasize early. Type IV collagen is a basement membrane protein, and breach of this extracellular matrix structure is the first step of cancer invasion. Type IV collagen is found in the stroma of many cancers, but its role in tumor biology is unclear. Here, expression of type IV collagen in the stroma of small breast cancers was analyzed, correlated to clinically used prognostic biomarkers and patient survival. The findings were further validated in an independent gene expression data cohort. Tissue samples from 1,379 women with in situ and small invasive breast cancers (≤15 mm) diagnosed in 1986-2004 were included. Primary tumor tissue was collected into tissue microarrays. Type IV collagen expression in tissues was visualized using immunohistochemistry. Gene expression data was extracted from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Out of 1,379 women, 856 had an invasive breast cancer and type IV collagen staining was available for 714 patients. In Kaplan-Meier analysis high type IV collagen expression was significantly associated (p = 0.026) with poorer breast cancer specific survival. There was no correlation of type IV collagen expression to clinically used prognostic biomarkers. High type IV collagen expression was clearly associated to distant metastasis (p = 0.002). In an external validation cohort (n = 1,104), high type IV collagen mRNA expression was significantly (p = 0.041) associated with poorer overall survival, with overexpression of type IV collagen mRNA in metastatic tissue. Stromal type IV collagen expression in the primary tumor correlates to poor breast cancer specific survival most likely due to a higher risk of developing distant metastasis. This ECM protein may function as biomarker to predict the risk of future metastatic disease in patients with breast cancers.

Chemotherapy-Induced Collagen IV Drives Cancer Cell Motility through Activation of Src and Focal Adhesion Kinase

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and deadly subtype of breast cancer, accounting for 30,000 cases annually in the United States. While there are several clinical trials ongoing to identify new agents to treat TNBC, the majority of patients with TNBC are treated with anthracycline- or taxane-based chemotherapies in the neoadjuvant setting, followed by surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy. While many patients respond well to this approach, as many as 25% will suffer local or metastatic recurrence within 5 years. Understanding the mechanisms that drive recurrence after chemotherapy treatment is critical to improving survival for patients with TNBC. It is well established that the extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides structure and support to tissues, is a major driver of tumor growth, local invasion, and dissemination of cancer cells to distant metastatic sites. In the present study, we show that decellularized ECM (dECM) obtained from chemotherapy-treated mice increases motility of treatment-naïve breast cancer cells compared with vehicle-treated dECM. Tandem-mass-tag proteomics revealed that anthracycline- and taxane-based chemotherapies induce drug-specific changes in tumor ECM composition. The basement membrane protein collagen IV was significantly upregulated in the ECM of chemotherapy-treated mice and patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Collagen IV drove invasion via activation of Src and focal adhesion kinase signaling downstream of integrin α1 and α2, and inhibition of collagen IV-driven signaling decreased motility in chemotherapy-treated dECM. These studies provide a novel mechanism by which chemotherapy may induce metastasis via its effects on ECM composition.

SIGNIFICANCE

Cytotoxic chemotherapy induces significant changes in the composition of tumor ECM, inducing a more invasive and aggressive phenotype in residual tumor cells following chemotherapy.

Multiple roles for basement membrane proteins in cancer progression and EMT

Metastasis or the progression of malignancy poses a major challenge in cancer therapy and is the principal reason for increased mortality. The epithelial-Mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the Basement Membrane (BM) allows cells of epithelial phenotype to transform into a mesenchymal-like (quasi-mesenchymal) phenotype and metastasize via the lymphovascular system through a metastatic cascade by intravasation and extravasation. This helps in the progression of carcinoma from the primary site to distant organs. Collagen, laminin, and integrin are the prime components of BM and help in tumor cell metastasis, which makes them ideal cancer drug targets. Further, recent studies have shown that collagen, laminin, and integrin can be used as a biomarker for metastatic cells. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge of such therapeutics, which are either currently in preclinical or clinical stages and could be promising cancer therapeutics. DATA AVAILABILITY: Not applicable.

The role of network-forming collagens in cancer progression

Collagens are the main components of extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment. Both fibrillar and nonfibrillar collagens are involved in tumor progression. The nonfibrillar network-forming collagens such as type IV and type VIII collagens are frequently overexpressed in various types of human cancers, which promotes tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. Studies on the roles of these collagens have shed light on the mechanisms underpinning the effects of this protein family. Future research has to explicit the role of network-forming collagens with respect to cancer progression and treatment. Herein, we review the regulation of network-forming collagens expression in cancer; the roles of network-forming collagens in tumor invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis; and the clinical significance of network-forming collagens expression in cancer patients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Transcriptomic Response to Acidosis Reveals Its Contribution to Bone Metastasis in Breast Cancer Cells

Bone is the most common site of metastasis in breast cancer. Metastasis is promoted by acidosis, which is associated with osteoporosis. To investigate how acidosis could promote bone metastasis, we compared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells in acidosis, bone metastasis, and bone metastatic tumors. The DEGs were identified using Biojupies and GEO2R. The expression profiles were assessed with Morpheus. The overlapping DEGs between acidosis and bone metastasis were compared to the bulk of the DEGs in terms of the most important genes and enriched terms using CytoHubba and STRING. The expression of the genes in this overlap filtered by secreted proteins was assessed in the osteoporosis secretome. The analysis revealed that acidosis-associated transcriptomic changes were more similar to bone metastasis than bone metastatic tumors. Extracellular matrix (ECM) organization would be the main biological process shared between acidosis and bone metastasis. The secretome genes upregulated in acidosis, bone metastasis, and osteoporosis-associated mesenchymal stem cells are enriched for ECM organization and angiogenesis. Therefore, acidosis may be more important in the metastatic niche than in the primary tumor. Acidosis may contribute to bone metastasis by promoting ECM organization. Untreated osteoporosis could favor bone metastasis through the increased secretion of ECM organization proteins.