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Lyu H, Chamberlin HM. Functional distinction in oncogenic Ras variant activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050577. [PMID: 38946472 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Ras genes are important oncogenes that are frequently mutated in cancer. Human oncogenic variants exhibit functional distinctions in terms of their representation in different cancer types, impact on cellular targets and sensitivity to pharmacological treatments. However, how these distinct variants influence and respond to the cellular networks in which they are embedded is poorly understood. To identify novel participants in the complex interplay between Ras genotype and cell interaction networks in vivo, we have developed and tested an experimental framework using a simple vulva-development assay in the nematode C. elegans. Using this system, we evaluated a set of Ras oncogenic substitution changes at G12, G13 and Q61. We found that these variants fall into distinct groups based on phenotypic differences, sensitivity to gene dosage and inhibition of the downstream kinase MEK and their response to genetic modulators that influence Ras activity in a non-autonomous manner. Together, our results demonstrated that oncogenic C. elegans Ras variants exhibit clear distinctions in how they interface with the vulva-development network and showed that extracellular modulators yield variant-restricted effects in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haimeng Lyu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Helen M Chamberlin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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2
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Corchado-Sonera M, Rambani K, Navarro K, Kladney R, Dowdle J, Leone G, Chamberlin HM. Discovery of nonautonomous modulators of activated Ras. G3 GENES|GENOMES|GENETICS 2022; 12:6656354. [PMID: 35929788 PMCID: PMC9526067 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Communication between mesodermal cells and epithelial cells is fundamental to normal animal development and is frequently disrupted in cancer. However, the genes and processes that mediate this communication are incompletely understood. To identify genes that mediate this communication and alter the proliferation of cells with an oncogenic Ras genotype, we carried out a tissue-specific genome-wide RNAi screen in Caenorhabditis elegans animals bearing a let-60(n1046gf) (RasG13E) allele. The screen identifies 24 genes that, when knocked down in adjacent mesodermal tissue, suppress the increased vulval epithelial cell proliferation defect associated with let-60(n1046gf). Importantly, gene knockdown reverts the mutant animals to a wild-type phenotype. Using chimeric animals, we genetically confirm that 2 of the genes function nonautonomously to revert the let-60(n1046gf) phenotype. The effect is genotype restricted, as knockdown does not alter development in a wild type (let-60(+)) or activated EGF receptor (let-23(sa62gf)) background. Although many of the genes identified encode proteins involved in essential cellular processes, including chromatin formation, ribosome function, and mitochondrial ATP metabolism, knockdown does not alter the normal development or function of targeted mesodermal tissues, indicating that the phenotype derives from specific functions performed by these cells. We show that the genes act in a manner distinct from 2 signal ligand classes (EGF and Wnt) known to influence the development of vulval epithelial cells. Altogether, the results identify genes with a novel function in mesodermal cells required for communicating with and promoting the proliferation of adjacent epithelial cells with an activated Ras genotype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Komal Rambani
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kristen Navarro
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Raleigh Kladney
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - James Dowdle
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Gustavo Leone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Helen M Chamberlin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University , Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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3
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Wu J, Liu X, Reeser JAW, Trimboli AJ, Pécot T, Sizemore GM, Naidu SK, Fernandez SA, Yu L, Hallett M, Park M, Leone GW, Hildreth BE, Ostrowski MC. Stromal p53 Regulates Breast Cancer Development, the Immune Landscape, and Survival in an Oncogene-Specific Manner. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:1233-1246. [PMID: 35533313 PMCID: PMC9357052 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Coevolution of tumor cells and adjacent stromal elements is a key feature during tumor progression; however, the precise regulatory mechanisms during this process remain unknown. Here, we show stromal p53 loss enhances oncogenic KrasG12D, but not ErbB2, driven tumorigenesis in murine mammary epithelia. Stroma-specific p53 deletion increases both epithelial and fibroblast proliferation in mammary glands bearing the KrasG12D oncogene in epithelia, while concurrently increasing DNA damage and/or DNA replication stress and decreasing apoptosis in the tumor cells proper. Normal epithelia was not affected by stromal p53 deletion. Tumors with p53-null stroma had a significant decrease in total, cytotoxic, and regulatory T cells; however, there was a significant increase in myeloid-derived suppressor cells, total macrophages, and M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages, with no impact on angiogenesis or connective tissue deposition. Stroma-specific p53 deletion reprogrammed gene expression in both fibroblasts and adjacent epithelium, with p53 targets and chemokine receptors/chemokine signaling pathways in fibroblasts and DNA replication, DNA damage repair, and apoptosis in epithelia being the most significantly impacted biological processes. A gene cluster in p53-deficient mouse fibroblasts was negatively associated with patient survival when compared with two independent datasets. In summary, stroma-specific p53 loss promotes mammary tumorigenesis in an oncogene-specific manner, influences the tumor immune landscape, and ultimately impacts patient survival. IMPLICATIONS Expression of the p53 tumor suppressor in breast cancer tumor stroma regulates tumorigenesis in an oncogene-specific manner, influences the tumor immune landscape, and ultimately impacts patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghai Wu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,Department of Radiation Oncology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Julie A. Wallace Reeser
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Anthony J. Trimboli
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Thierry Pécot
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,Biosit – UMS CNRS 3480, Inserm 018, University of Rennes 1, France
| | - Gina M. Sizemore
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Shan K. Naidu
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Soledad A. Fernandez
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Lianbo Yu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Michael Hallett
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montréal, QC,Department of Biochemistry and Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC
| | - Morag Park
- Department of Biochemistry and Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC
| | - Gustavo W. Leone
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa, WI,Co-Corresponding Authors: Michael C. Ostrowski, Hollings Cancer Center, 86 Jonathon Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, , Phone: 843-792-5012; Blake E. Hildreth III, Shelby Biomedical Research Building, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, , Phone: 205-934-8697, Gustavo Leone, Clinical Cancer Center, Froedtert Hospital Campus, 8800 W. Doyne Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, , Phone: 414-335-1000
| | - Blake E. Hildreth
- Department of Pathology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL,Co-Corresponding Authors: Michael C. Ostrowski, Hollings Cancer Center, 86 Jonathon Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, , Phone: 843-792-5012; Blake E. Hildreth III, Shelby Biomedical Research Building, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, , Phone: 205-934-8697, Gustavo Leone, Clinical Cancer Center, Froedtert Hospital Campus, 8800 W. Doyne Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, , Phone: 414-335-1000
| | - Michael C. Ostrowski
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC,Co-Corresponding Authors: Michael C. Ostrowski, Hollings Cancer Center, 86 Jonathon Lucas Street, Charleston, SC 29425, , Phone: 843-792-5012; Blake E. Hildreth III, Shelby Biomedical Research Building, 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233, , Phone: 205-934-8697, Gustavo Leone, Clinical Cancer Center, Froedtert Hospital Campus, 8800 W. Doyne Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, , Phone: 414-335-1000
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4
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Uddin MN, Wang X. Identification of breast cancer subtypes based on gene expression profiles in breast cancer stroma. Clin Breast Cancer 2022; 22:521-537. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2022.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Pavinato L, Villamor-Payà M, Sanchiz-Calvo M, Andreoli C, Gay M, Vilaseca M, Arauz-Garofalo G, Ciolfi A, Bruselles A, Pippucci T, Prota V, Carli D, Giorgio E, Radio FC, Antona V, Giuffrè M, Ranguin K, Colson C, De Rubeis S, Dimartino P, Buxbaum JD, Ferrero GB, Tartaglia M, Martinelli S, Stracker TH, Brusco A. Functional analysis of TLK2 variants and their proximal interactomes implicates impaired kinase activity and chromatin maintenance defects in their pathogenesis. J Med Genet 2022; 59:170-179. [PMID: 33323470 PMCID: PMC10631451 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2020-107281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Tousled-like kinases 1 and 2 (TLK1 and TLK2) are involved in many fundamental processes, including DNA replication, cell cycle checkpoint recovery and chromatin remodelling. Mutations in TLK2 were recently associated with 'Mental Retardation Autosomal Dominant 57' (MRD57, MIM# 618050), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a highly variable phenotype, including mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, behavioural abnormalities, facial dysmorphisms, microcephaly, epilepsy and skeletal anomalies. METHODS We re-evaluate whole exome sequencing and array-CGH data from a large cohort of patients affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. Using spatial proteomics (BioID) and single-cell gel electrophoresis, we investigated the proximity interaction landscape of TLK2 and analysed the effects of p.(Asp551Gly) and a previously reported missense variant (c.1850C>T; p.(Ser617Leu)) on TLK2 interactions, localisation and activity. RESULTS We identified three new unrelated MRD57 families. Two were sporadic and caused by a missense change (c.1652A>G; p.(Asp551Gly)) or a 39 kb deletion encompassing TLK2, and one was familial with three affected siblings who inherited a nonsense change from an affected mother (c.1423G>T; p.(Glu475Ter)). The clinical phenotypes were consistent with those of previously reported cases. The tested mutations strongly impaired TLK2 kinase activity. Proximal interactions between TLK2 and other factors implicated in neurological disorders, including CHD7, CHD8, BRD4 and NACC1, were identified. Finally, we demonstrated a more relaxed chromatin state in lymphoblastoid cells harbouring the p.(Asp551Gly) variant compared with control cells, conferring susceptibility to DNA damage. CONCLUSION Our study identified novel TLK2 pathogenic variants, confirming and further expanding the MRD57-related phenotype. The molecular characterisation of missense variants increases our knowledge about TLK2 function and provides new insights into its role in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pavinato
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Institute of Human Genetics and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marina Villamor-Payà
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Sanchiz-Calvo
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Andreoli
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Marina Gay
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Vilaseca
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gianluca Arauz-Garofalo
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Ciolfi
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bruselles
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pippucci
- Medical Genetics Unity, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Prota
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Diana Carli
- Department of Pediatrics and Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Elisa Giorgio
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Vincenzo Antona
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario Giuffrè
- Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Kara Ranguin
- Department of Genetics, Reference center for Rare Diseases and Developmental Anomalies, Caen, France
| | - Cindy Colson
- Department of Genetics, Reference center for Rare Diseases and Developmental Anomalies, Caen, France
| | - Silvia De Rubeis
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Paola Dimartino
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Joseph D Buxbaum
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Giovanni Battista Ferrero
- Department of Pediatrics and Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Simone Martinelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Travis H Stracker
- The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Barcelona, Spain
- Radiation Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alfredo Brusco
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Unit of Medical Genetics, "Città della Salute e della Scienza" University Hospital, Torino, Italy
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Sunavala-Dossabhoy G. Disorder at the Start: The Contribution of Dysregulated Translation Initiation to Cancer Therapy Resistance. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2022; 2:765931. [PMID: 35048066 PMCID: PMC8757695 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.765931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of cellular RNA to protein is an energy-intensive process through which synthesized proteins dictate cellular processes and function. Translation is regulated in response to extracellular effectors and availability of amino acids intracellularly. Most eukaryotic mRNA rely on the methyl 7-guanosine (m7G) nucleotide cap to recruit the translation machinery, and the uncoupling of translational control that occurs in tumorigenesis plays a significant role in cancer treatment response. This article provides an overview of the mammalian translation initiation process and the primary mechanisms by which it is regulated. An outline of how deregulation of initiation supports tumorigenesis and how initiation at a downstream open reading frame (ORF) of Tousled-like kinase 1 (TLK1) leads to treatment resistance is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulshan Sunavala-Dossabhoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health and Feist Weiller Cancer Center, Shreveport, LA, United States
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7
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Uddin MN, Wang X. Identification of key tumor stroma-associated transcriptional signatures correlated with survival prognosis and tumor progression in breast cancer. Breast Cancer 2022; 29:541-561. [PMID: 35020130 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-022-01332-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aberrant expression of stromal gene signatures in breast cancer has been widely studied. However, the association of stromal gene signatures with tumor immunity, progression, and clinical outcomes remains lacking. METHODS Based on eight breast tumor stroma (BTS) transcriptomics datasets, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between BTS and normal breast stroma. Based on the DEGs, we identified dysregulated pathways and prognostic hub genes, hub oncogenes, hub protein kinases, and other key marker genes associated with breast cancer. Moreover, we compared the enrichment levels of stromal and immune signatures between breast cancer patients with bad and good clinical outcomes. We also investigated the association between tumor stroma-related genes and breast cancer progression. RESULTS The DEGs included 782 upregulated and 276 downregulated genes in BTS versus normal breast stroma. The pathways significantly associated with the DEGs included cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling, T cell receptor signaling, cell adhesion molecules, focal adhesion, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. Protein-protein interaction network analysis identified the stromal hub genes with prognostic value in breast cancer, including two oncogenes (COL1A1 and IL21R), two protein kinases encoding genes (PRKACA and CSK), and a growth factor encoding gene (PLAU). Moreover, we observed that the patients with bad clinical outcomes were less enriched in stromal and antitumor immune signatures (CD8 + T cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) but more enriched in tumor cells and immunosuppressive signatures (MDSCs and CD4 + regulatory T cells) compared with the patients with good clinical outcomes. The ratios of CD8 + /CD4 + regulatory T cells were lower in the patients with bad clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we identified the tumor stroma-related genes, including MCM4, SPECC1, IMPA2, and AGO2, which were gradually upregulated through grade I, II, and III breast cancers. In contrast, COL14A1, ESR1, SLIT2, IGF1, CH25H, PRR5L, ABCA6, CEP126, IGDCC4, LHFP, MFAP3, PCSK5, RAB37, RBMS3, SETBP1, and TSPAN11 were gradually downregulated through grade I, II, and III breast cancers. It suggests that the expression of these stromal genes has an association with the progression of breast cancers. These progression-associated genes also displayed an expression association with recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS This study identified tumor stroma-associated biomarkers correlated with deregulated pathways, tumor immunity, tumor progression, and clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Our findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nazim Uddin
- Biomedical Informatics Research Lab, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
- Cancer Genomics Research Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
- Big Data Research Institute, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Xiaosheng Wang
- Biomedical Informatics Research Lab, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
- Cancer Genomics Research Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
- Big Data Research Institute, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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Guardia C, Bianchini G, Arpí-LLucià O, Menendez S, Casadevall D, Galbardi B, Dugo M, Servitja S, Montero JC, Soria-Jiménez L, Sabbaghi M, Peña R, Madoz-Gúrpide J, Lloveras B, Lluch A, Eroles P, Arribas J, Pandiella A, Gianni L, Rojo F, Rovira A, Albanell J. Preclinical and Clinical Characterization of Fibroblast-derived Neuregulin-1 on Trastuzumab and Pertuzumab Activity in HER2-positive Breast Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:5096-5108. [PMID: 34385295 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize expression of neuregulin-1 (NRG1), an HER3 ligand, in HER2-positive breast cancer and its relation with the efficacy of trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Characterization of NRG1 expression in tumor cell lines, in tumor specimens, and in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Patient-derived CAFs were used to investigate NRG1 impact on the activity of trastuzumab with or without pertuzumab in HER2-positive breast cancer cells. The relationship between NRG1 expression and pathologic response to anti-HER2-based neoadjuvant therapy was assessed in a retrospective patient cohort and in the NeoSphere trial. RESULTS NRG1 was expressed in HER2-positive breast cancer-derived fibroblasts at significantly higher levels than in cancer cells. NRG1 and the conditioned media (CM) from CAFs phosphorylated HER3 and AKT in cancer cells and mediated trastuzumab resistance. Stable genetic depletion of NRG1 from CAFs overcame trastuzumab resistance. Pertuzumab effectively suppressed trastuzumab resistance mediated by either NRG1 or CAF's CM. NRG1 engaged an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that was prevented by trastuzumab and pertuzumab. In clinical samples, stromal and/or tumor cell expression of NRG1 determined by immunohistochemistry was uncommon (13.2%) yet significantly linked with residual disease following trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy. In the NeoSphere trial, the magnitude of the difference of pathologic complete response rates favoring the pertuzumab arm was higher in the NRG1-high group. CONCLUSIONS CAF-derived NRG1 mediates trastuzumab resistance through HER3/AKT, which might be reverted by pertuzumab. In patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, high expression of NRG1 was associated to poor response to trastuzumab, but not in combination with pertuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Guardia
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Oriol Arpí-LLucià
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Menendez
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Casadevall
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Galbardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Dugo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Servitja
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Luis Soria-Jiménez
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - MohammadA Sabbaghi
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Peña
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Madoz-Gúrpide
- Department of Pathology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz-CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Belen Lloveras
- Department of Pathology, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Lluch
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clínico de Valencia-CIBERONC, Universitat de València, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pilar Eroles
- INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Hospital Clínico de Valencia-CIBERONC, Universitat de València, Barcelona, Spain.,INCLIVA, Biomedical Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Joaquin Arribas
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Preclinical Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Atanasio Pandiella
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, IBSAL-CSIC-CIBERONC, Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Federico Rojo
- Department of Pathology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz-CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain.,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Albanell
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain. .,Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar-CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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Savino A, De Marzo N, Provero P, Poli V. Meta-Analysis of Microdissected Breast Tumors Reveals Genes Regulated in the Stroma but Hidden in Bulk Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3371. [PMID: 34282769 PMCID: PMC8268805 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcriptome data provide a valuable resource for the study of cancer molecular mechanisms, but technical biases, sample heterogeneity, and small sample sizes result in poorly reproducible lists of regulated genes. Additionally, the presence of multiple cellular components contributing to cancer development complicates the interpretation of bulk transcriptomic profiles. To address these issues, we collected 48 microarray datasets derived from laser capture microdissected stroma or epithelium in breast tumors and performed a meta-analysis identifying robust lists of differentially expressed genes. This was used to create a database with carefully harmonized metadata that we make freely available to the research community. As predicted, combining the results of multiple datasets improved statistical power. Moreover, the separate analysis of stroma and epithelium allowed the identification of genes with different contributions in each compartment, which would not be detected by bulk analysis due to their distinct regulation in the two compartments. Our method can be profitably used to help in the discovery of biomarkers and the identification of functionally relevant genes in both the stroma and the epithelium. This database was made to be readily accessible through a user-friendly web interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Savino
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Niccolò De Marzo
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Paolo Provero
- Department of Neurosciences “Rita Levi Montalcini”, University of Turin, Corso Massimo D’Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy;
- Center for Omics Sciences, Ospedale San Raffaele IRCCS, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Poli
- Molecular Biotechnology Center, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Via Nizza 52, 10126 Turin, Italy;
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10
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Shahzad U, Taccone MS, Kumar SA, Okura H, Krumholtz S, Ishida J, Mine C, Gouveia K, Edgar J, Smith C, Hayes M, Huang X, Derry WB, Taylor MD, Rutka JT. Modeling human brain tumors in flies, worms, and zebrafish: From proof of principle to novel therapeutic targets. Neuro Oncol 2021; 23:718-731. [PMID: 33378446 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
For decades, cell biologists and cancer researchers have taken advantage of non-murine species to increase our understanding of the molecular processes that drive normal cell and tissue development, and when perturbed, cause cancer. The advent of whole-genome sequencing has revealed the high genetic homology of these organisms to humans. Seminal studies in non-murine organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio identified many of the signaling pathways involved in cancer. Studies in these organisms offer distinct advantages over mammalian cell or murine systems. Compared to murine models, these three species have shorter lifespans, are less resource intense, and are amenable to high-throughput drug and RNA interference screening to test a myriad of promising drugs against novel targets. In this review, we introduce species-specific breeding strategies, highlight the advantages of modeling brain tumors in each non-mammalian species, and underscore the successes attributed to scientific investigation using these models. We conclude with an optimistic proposal that discoveries in the fields of cancer research, and in particular neuro-oncology, may be expedited using these powerful screening tools and strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uswa Shahzad
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael S Taccone
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sachin A Kumar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hidehiro Okura
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stacey Krumholtz
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Joji Ishida
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Coco Mine
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kyle Gouveia
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Julia Edgar
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Christian Smith
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Madeline Hayes
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xi Huang
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - W Brent Derry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - James T Rutka
- Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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11
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Chamberlin HM, Jain IM, Corchado-Sonera M, Kelley LH, Sharanya D, Jama A, Pabla R, Dawes AT, Gupta BP. Evolution of Transcriptional Repressors Impacts Caenorhabditis Vulval Development. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:1350-1361. [PMID: 31960924 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparative genomic sequence analysis has found that the genes for many chromatin-associated proteins are poorly conserved, but the biological consequences of these sequence changes are not understood. Here, we show that four genes identified for an Inappropriate Vulval cell Proliferation (ivp) phenotype in the nematode Caenorhabditis briggsae exhibit distinct functions and genetic interactions when compared with their orthologs in C. elegans. Specifically, we show that the four C. briggsae ivp genes encode the noncanonical histone HTZ-1/H2A.z and three nematode-specific proteins predicted to function in the nucleus. The mutants exhibit ectopic vulval precursor cell proliferation (the multivulva [Muv] phenotype) due to inappropriate expression of the lin-3/EGF gene, and RNAseq analysis suggests a broad role for these ivp genes in transcriptional repression. Importantly, although the C. briggsae phenotypes have parallels with those seen in the C. elegans synMuv system, except for the highly conserved HTZ-1/H2A.z, comparable mutations in C. elegans ivp orthologs do not exhibit synMuv gene interactions or phenotypes. These results demonstrate the evolutionary changes that can underlie conserved biological outputs and argue that proteins critical to repress inappropriate expression from the genome participate in a rapidly evolving functional landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ish M Jain
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | | | - Leanne H Kelley
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Devika Sharanya
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Abdulrahman Jama
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Romy Pabla
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Adriana T Dawes
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.,Department of Mathematics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Bhagwati P Gupta
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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12
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Amatruda JF. Modeling the developmental origins of pediatric cancer to improve patient outcomes. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:14/2/dmm048930. [PMID: 33619212 PMCID: PMC7927656 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.048930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the treatment of children and adolescents with cancer, multimodal approaches combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can cure most patients, but may cause lifelong health problems in survivors. Current therapies only modestly reflect increased knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of these cancers. Advances in next-generation sequencing have provided unprecedented cataloging of genetic aberrations in tumors, but understanding how these genetic changes drive cellular transformation, and how they can be effectively targeted, will require multidisciplinary collaboration and preclinical models that are truly representative of the in vivo environment. Here, I discuss some of the key challenges in pediatric cancer from my perspective as a physician-scientist, and touch on some promising new approaches that have the potential to transform our understanding of these diseases. Summary: This Perspective discusses the special features that make it challenging to develop new therapies for pediatric cancers, and the ways in which collaboration centered on improved models can meet these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Amatruda
- Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
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13
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Berdiel-Acer M, Maia A, Hristova Z, Borgoni S, Vetter M, Burmester S, Becki C, Michels B, Abnaof K, Binenbaum I, Bethmann D, Chatziioannou A, Hasmann M, Thomssen C, Espinet E, Wiemann S. Stromal NRG1 in luminal breast cancer defines pro-fibrotic and migratory cancer-associated fibroblasts. Oncogene 2021; 40:2651-2666. [PMID: 33692466 PMCID: PMC8049869 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01719-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
HER3 is highly expressed in luminal breast cancer subtypes. Its activation by NRG1 promotes activation of AKT and ERK1/2, contributing to tumour progression and therapy resistance. HER3-targeting agents that block this activation, are currently under phase 1/2 clinical studies, and although they have shown favorable tolerability, their activity as a single agent has proven to be limited. Here we show that phosphorylation and activation of HER3 in luminal breast cancer cells occurs in a paracrine manner and is mediated by NRG1 expressed by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Moreover, we uncover a HER3-independent NRG1 signaling in CAFs that results in the induction of a strong migratory and pro-fibrotic phenotype, describing a subtype of CAFs with elevated expression of NRG1 and an associated transcriptomic profile that determines their functional properties. Finally, we identified Hyaluronan Synthase 2 (HAS2), a targetable molecule strongly correlated with NRG1, as an attractive player supporting NRG1 signaling in CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Berdiel-Acer
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ana Maia
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zhivka Hristova
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simone Borgoni
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Faculty of Biosciences, Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Vetter
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Department of Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Sara Burmester
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Corinna Becki
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Birgitta Michels
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Khalid Abnaof
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ilona Binenbaum
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Medical Informatics for Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.11047.330000 0004 0576 5395Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece ,grid.22459.380000 0001 2232 6894Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Daniel Bethmann
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Institute of Pathology Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Aristotelis Chatziioannou
- grid.22459.380000 0001 2232 6894Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece ,e-NIOS PC, Kallithea-Athens, Greece
| | - Max Hasmann
- grid.424277.0Roche Diagnostics, Penzberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Thomssen
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Department of Gynecology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Elisa Espinet
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Divison of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.482664.aHeidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Wiemann
- grid.7497.d0000 0004 0492 0584Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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14
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Sumbal J, Belisova D, Koledova Z. Fibroblasts: The grey eminence of mammary gland development. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 114:134-142. [PMID: 33158729 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The essential role of mammary gland stroma in the regulation of mammary epithelial development, function, and cancer has long been recognized. Only recently, though, the functions of individual stromal cell populations have begun to become more clarified. Mammary fibroblasts have emerged as master regulators and modulators of epithelial cell behavior through paracrine signaling, extracellular matrix production and remodeling, and through regulation of other stromal cell types. In this review article, we summarize the crucial studies that helped to untangle the roles of fibroblasts in mammary gland development. Furthermore, we discuss the origin, heterogeneity, and plasticity of mammary fibroblasts during mammary development and cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Sumbal
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Denisa Belisova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Koledova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
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15
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Evaluating the therapeutic potential of ADAR1 inhibition for triple-negative breast cancer. Oncogene 2020; 40:189-202. [PMID: 33110236 PMCID: PMC7796950 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01515-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the deadliest form of breast cancer. Unlike other types of breast cancer that can be effectively treated by targeted therapies, no such targeted therapy exists for all TNBC patients. The ADAR1 enzyme carries out A-to-I editing of RNA to prevent sensing of endogenous double-stranded RNAs. ADAR1 is highly expressed in breast cancer including TNBC. Here, we demonstrate that expression of ADAR1, specifically its p150 isoform, is required for the survival of TNBC cell lines. In TNBC cells, knockdown of ADAR1 attenuates proliferation and tumorigenesis. Moreover, ADAR1-knockdown leads to robust translational repression. ADAR1-dependent TNBC cell lines also exhibit elevated IFN stimulated gene expression. IFNAR1 reduction significantly rescued the proliferative defects of ADAR1 loss. These findings establish ADAR1 as a novel therapeutic target for TNBC tumors.
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16
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Lappano R, Rigiracciolo DC, Belfiore A, Maggiolini M, De Francesco EM. Cancer associated fibroblasts: role in breast cancer and potential as therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:559-572. [PMID: 32249708 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1751819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the largest population of stromal cells in breast tumors. Emerging evidence has suggested that CAFs are important players not only in fostering tumor growth and spread but also in altering the tumor response to therapeutic agents. On the basis of these observations, huge efforts have been made to exploit CAFs as potential targets for breast cancer therapy.Areas covered: The current understanding of the hallmarks and biology of CAFs, their multilayered interplay with various cell populations of breast tumor microenvironment toward cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and resistance to anticancer therapies are discussed. In addition, a comprehensive overview of the CAFs-based molecular druggable targets in breast tumors is provided. The most relevant literature, in particular the studies retrieved in Medline in the last 10 years, served for this purpose.Expert opinion: The interest on CAFs as a target to fight breast cancer has becoming a hot topic for drug discovery. Indeed, several CAFs-targeted approaches are emerging as appealing therapeutic strategies in breast cancer. At pre-clinical level, this research field is speedily advancing toward the assessment of successful tactics targeting CAFs in breast cancer. Therefore, anti-CAFs therapies may display an intriguing potential to be exploited in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamaria Lappano
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Belfiore
- Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Marcello Maggiolini
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, Rende, Italy
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17
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Yu L, Zhang J, Brock G, Fernandez S. Fully moderated t-statistic in linear modeling of mixed effects for differential expression analysis. BMC Bioinformatics 2019; 20:675. [PMID: 31861977 PMCID: PMC6923909 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-3248-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression profiling experiments with few replicates lead to great variability in the estimates of gene variances. Toward this end, several moderated t-test methods have been developed to reduce this variability and to increase power for testing differential expression. Most of these moderated methods are based on linear models with fixed effects where residual variances are smoothed under a hierarchical Bayes framework. However, they are inadequate for designs with complex correlation structures, therefore application of moderated methods to linear models with mixed effects are needed for differential expression analysis. RESULTS We demonstrated the implementation of the fully moderated t-statistic method for linear models with mixed effects, where both residual variances and variance estimates of random effects are smoothed under a hierarchical Bayes framework. We compared the proposed method with two current moderated methods and show that the proposed method can control the expected number of false positives at the nominal level, while the two current moderated methods fail. CONCLUSIONS We proposed an approach for testing differential expression under complex correlation structures while providing variance shrinkage. The proposed method is able to improve power by moderation and controls the expected number of false positives properly at the nominal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianbo Yu
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, 1800 Cannon Dr., Columbus, 43210 OH USA
| | - Jianying Zhang
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, 1800 Cannon Dr., Columbus, 43210 OH USA
| | - Guy Brock
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, 1800 Cannon Dr., Columbus, 43210 OH USA
| | - Soledad Fernandez
- Center for Biostatistics, Department of Biomedical Informatics, The Ohio State University, 1800 Cannon Dr., Columbus, 43210 OH USA
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18
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Mapping Mammary Tumor Traits in the Rat. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 2018:249-267. [PMID: 31228161 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9581-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
For nearly a century, the rat has served as a key model for studying the pathophysiology and genetic risk modifiers of breast cancer. Rat mammary tumors that initiate after exposure to carcinogens or estrogens closely resemble the etiological, histopathological, and genomic features of human breast cancer. Recent developments in genome-editing techniques in the rat have also enabled the development of sophisticated models for identifying the genetic modifiers of the nonmalignant tumor microenvironment that contribute to the formation, progression, and outcome of breast cancer. In this protocol review, we discuss the current methodologies for the three genetic mapping techniques in the rat that are widely used for identifying and testing the heritable genetic modifiers of breast cancer.
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19
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Segura-Bayona S, Stracker TH. The Tousled-like kinases regulate genome and epigenome stability: implications in development and disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2019; 76:3827-3841. [PMID: 31302748 PMCID: PMC11105529 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03208-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Tousled-like kinases (TLKs) are an evolutionarily conserved family of serine-threonine kinases that have been implicated in DNA replication, DNA repair, transcription, chromatin structure, viral latency, cell cycle checkpoint control and chromosomal stability in various organisms. The functions of the TLKs appear to depend largely on their ability to regulate the H3/H4 histone chaperone ASF1, although numerous TLK substrates have been proposed. Over the last few years, a clearer picture of TLK function has emerged through the identification of new partners, the definition of specific roles in development and the elucidation of their structural and biochemical properties. In addition, the TLKs have been clearly linked to human disease; both TLK1 and TLK2 are frequently amplified in human cancers and TLK2 mutations have been identified in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and microcephaly. A better understanding of the substrates, regulation and diverse roles of the TLKs is needed to understand their functions in neurodevelopment and determine if they are viable targets for cancer therapy. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge of TLK biology and its potential implications in development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Segura-Bayona
- Department of Oncology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
| | - Travis H Stracker
- Department of Oncology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, C/Baldiri Reixac 10, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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20
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Nair RP, Timiri Shanmugam PS, Sunavala-Dossabhoy G. Discretionary Transduction of MMP-Sensitized Tousled in Head and Neck Cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 14:57-65. [PMID: 31011632 PMCID: PMC6463741 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Oral radiotoxicity is often a limiting factor in cancer treatment. Previously, we demonstrated that transfer of cell-permeable, TAT-fusion Tousled-like kinase 1B (TLK1B) protein in salivary glands effectively mitigates radiation-induced salivary dysfunction. However, similar to most radioprotectors, TLK1B can carry the risk of limiting cancer treatment efficacy. The central goal of the study was, therefore, to reengineer TLK1B as a selective radioprotector of normal cells. Degradation of the extracellular matrix by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a hallmark of aggressive tumors. Increased expression of membrane type 1-MMP (MT1-MMP; also called MMP14) is observed in a variety of cancers including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). To limit TLK1B transduction to normal cells, we rendered the protein susceptible to MT1-MMP cleavage on the premise that high expression of MT1-MMP on the cell surface of HNSCC will suppress TLK1B internalization. Two optimal MT1-MMP-sensitive sequences (MS) were identified that when incorporated in TAT-TLK1B excluded its cellular entry in HNSCC, SCC40, but not immortalized salivary acinar cells, NS-SV-AC. Importantly, administration of MS-harboring TAT-TLK1B did not affect the sensitivity of tumors to radiation in a nude mouse xenograft tumor model. We conclude that a MMP-sensitive TLK1B can be an attractive therapeutic to allay salivary radiotoxicity without compromising cancer treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjith Parameswaran Nair
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
| | - Prakash Srinivasan Timiri Shanmugam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
| | - Gulshan Sunavala-Dossabhoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Shreveport, LA, USA
- Corresponding author: Gulshan Sunavala-Dossabhoy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA.
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21
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Lin M, Yao Z, Zhao N, Zhang C. TLK2 enhances aggressive phenotypes of glioblastoma cells through the activation of SRC signaling pathway. Cancer Biol Ther 2018; 20:101-108. [PMID: 30207834 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2018.1507257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma are among the most common forms of cancer affecting the central nervous system, and yet there is currently no effective means of treating them. In the current study, we reported that tousled-like kinase 2 (TLK2) is a key factor in glioblastoma that modulates SRC signaling, thereby driving tumor malignancy. TLK2 is commonly upregulated in glioblastoma, and such upregulation was associated with poor patient outcomes. TLK2 overexpression induced cell growth, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and cell cycle arrest, while TLK2 knockdown had the opposite effect. SRC pathway inhibition by Saracatinib resulted in reduced TLK2-mediated glioblastoma migration, invasion, confirming a key role for SRC signaling in regulating the functions of TLK2. Together, our findings demonstrate that glioblastoma TLK2 overexpression acts as a key driver of tumor malignancy via SRC signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhui Lin
- a Department of Neurology , First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang , Liaoning , China
| | - Zhicheng Yao
- b Department of Neurology , The people's Hospital of Liaoning Province , Shenyang , Liaoning , China
| | - Na Zhao
- c Department of Laboratory Medicine , The people's Hospital of Liaoning Province , Shenyang , Liaoning , China
| | - Chaodong Zhang
- a Department of Neurology , First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University , Shenyang , Liaoning , China
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22
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Meng Y, Eirin A, Zhu XY, Tang H, Hickson LJ, Lerman A, van Wijnen AJ, Lerman LO. Micro-RNAS Regulate Metabolic Syndrome-induced Senescence in Porcine Adipose Tissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells through the P16/MAPK Pathway. Cell Transplant 2018; 27:1495-1503. [PMID: 30187775 PMCID: PMC6180720 DOI: 10.1177/0963689718795692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) constitute an important repair system, but may be impaired by exposure to cardiovascular risk factors. Consequently, adipose tissue-derived MSCs from pigs with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) show decreased vitality. A growing number of microRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as key modulators of senescence, but their role in regulating senescence in MSC in MetS is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that MetS upregulates in MSC expression of miRNAs that can serve as post-transcriptional regulators of senescence-associated (SA) genes. MSCs were collected from swine abdominal adipose tissue after 16 weeks of Lean or Obese diet ( n = 6 each). Next-generation miRNA sequencing (miRNA-seq) was performed to identify miRNAs up-or down-regulated in MetS-MSCs compared with Lean-MSCs. Functional pathways of SA genes targeted by miRNAs were analyzed using gene ontology. MSC senescence was evaluated by p16 and p21 immunoreactivity, H2AX protein expression, and SA-β-Galactosidase activity. In addition, gene expression of p16, p21, MAPK3 (ERK1) and MAPK14, and MSC migration were studied after inhibition of SA-miR-27b. Senescence biomarkers were significantly elevated in MetS-MSCs. We found seven upregulated miRNAs, including miR-27b, and three downregulated miRNAs in MetS-MSCs, which regulate 35 SA genes, particularly MAPK signaling. Inhibition of miR-27b in cultured MSCs downregulated p16 and MARP3 genes, and increased MSC migration. MetS modulates MSC expression of SA-miRNAs that may regulate their senescence, and the p16 pathway seems to play an important role in MetS-induced MSC senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Meng
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.,2 Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - A Eirin
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - X-Y Zhu
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - H Tang
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - L J Hickson
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - A Lerman
- 3 Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - A J van Wijnen
- 2 Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - L O Lerman
- 1 Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA.,4 Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
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23
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Gupta S, Jain A, Syed SN, Snodgrass RG, Pflüger-Müller B, Leisegang MS, Weigert A, Brandes RP, Ebersberger I, Brüne B, Namgaladze D. IL-6 augments IL-4-induced polarization of primary human macrophages through synergy of STAT3, STAT6 and BATF transcription factors. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1494110. [PMID: 30288360 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1494110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment respond to complex cytokine signals. How these responses shape the phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is incompletely understood. Here we explored how cytokines of the tumor milieu, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-4, interact to influence target gene expression in primary human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs). We show that dual stimulation with IL-4 and IL-6 synergistically modified gene expression. Among the synergistically induced genes are several targets with known pro-tumorigenic properties, such as CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) or CD274 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1)). We found that transcription factors of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family, STAT3 and STAT6 bind regulatory regions of synergistically induced genes in close vicinity. STAT3 and STAT6 co-binding further induces the basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor (BATF), which participates in synergistic induction of target gene expression. Functional analyses revealed increased MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 tumor cell motility in response to conditioned media from co-treated hMDMs compared to cells incubated with media from single cytokine-treated hMDMs. Flow cytometric analysis of T cell populations upon co-culture with hMDMs polarized by different cytokines indicated that dual stimulation promoted immunosuppressive properties of hMDMs in a PD-L1-dependent manner. Analysis of clinical data revealed increased expression of BATF together with TAM markers in tumor stroma of breast cancer patients as compared to normal breast tissue stroma. Collectively, our findings suggest that IL-4 and IL-6 cooperate to alter the human macrophage transcriptome, endowing hMDMs with pro-tumorigenic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahil Gupta
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Arpit Jain
- Department for Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Shahzad Nawaz Syed
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ryan G Snodgrass
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Beatrice Pflüger-Müller
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Matthias S Leisegang
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Weigert
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf P Brandes
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Rhein-Main, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ingo Ebersberger
- Department for Applied Bioinformatics, Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre Frankfurt (BIK-F), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bernhard Brüne
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Research Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Dmitry Namgaladze
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry I, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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24
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Flister MJ, Bergom C. Genetic Modifiers of the Breast Tumor Microenvironment. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:429-444. [PMID: 29860987 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple nonmalignant cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) impact breast cancer risk, metastasis, and response to therapy, yet most heritable mechanisms that influence TME cell function and breast cancer outcomes are largely unknown. Breast cancer risk is ∼30% heritable and >170 genetic loci have been associated with breast cancer traits. However, the majority of candidate genes have poorly defined mechanistic roles in breast cancer biology. Research indicates that breast cancer risk modifiers directly impact cancer cells, yet it is equally plausible that some modifier alleles impact the nonmalignant TME. The objective of this review is to examine the list of current breast cancer candidate genes that may modify breast cancer risk and outcome through the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Flister
- Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Carmen Bergom
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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