Polarity protein alterations in carcinoma: a focus on emerging roles for polarity regulators. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2010;20:41-50. [PMID: 20093003 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2009.12.001]

Cell polarity changes in cancer initiation and progression

Cell polarity, which consists of the morphological, structural, and functional organization of cells along a defined axis, is a feature of healthy cells and tissues. In contrast, abnormal polarity is a hallmark of cancer cells. At the molecular level, key evolutionarily conserved proteins that control polarity establishment and maintenance in various contexts are frequently altered in cancer, but the relevance of these molecular alterations in the oncogenic processes is not always clear. Here, we summarize the recent findings, shedding new light on the involvement of polarity players in cancer development, and discuss the possibility of harnessing cell polarity changes to better predict, diagnose, and cure cancers.

Scribble, Lgl1, and myosin IIA interact with α-/β-catenin to maintain epithelial junction integrity

E-cadherin-catenin complex together with the cytoskeleton, builds the core of Adherens junctions (AJs). It has been reported that Scribble stabilizes the coupling of E-cadherin with catenins promoting epithelial cell adhesion, but the mechanism remains unknown. We show that Scribble, Lgl1, and NMII-A reside in a complex with E-cadherin-catenin complex. Depletion of either Scribble or Lgl1 disrupts the localization of E-cadherin-catenin complex to AJs. aPKCζ phosphorylation of Lgl1 regulates AJ localization of Lgl1 and E-cadherin-catenin complexes. Both Scribble and Lgl1 regulate the activation and recruitment of NMII-A at AJs. Finally, Scribble and Lgl1 are downregulated by TGFβ-induced EMT, and their re-expression during EMT impedes its progression. Our results provide insight into the mechanism regulating AJ integrity by Scribble, Lgl1, and NMII-A.

Elevated MPP6 expression correlates with an unfavorable prognosis, angiogenesis and immune evasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Membrane palmitoylated proteins (MPPs) are engaged in various biological processes, such as cell adhesion and cell polarity. Dysregulated MPP members have different effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, the role of MPP6 in HCC has been unknown.

Method

HCC transcriptome and clinical data from different public databases were downloaded and analyzed, and the results were further validated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) using HCC cell lines and tissues. The association between MPP6 and prognosis, potential pathogenic mechanisms, angiogenesis, immune evasion, tumor mutation burden (TMB) and treatment response in HCC patients was analyzed by bioinformatics and IHC staining.

Results

MPP6 was significantly overexpressed in HCC, and its expression was related to T stage, pathologic stage, histologic grade and adverse prognosis in HCC patients. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the synthesis of genetic materials and the WNT signaling pathway. GEPIA database analysis and IHC staining suggested that MPP6 expression had a positive correlation with angiogenesis. Single-cell dataset analysis indicated that MPP6 was associated with features of the tumor microenvironment. Additional analyses discovered that MPP6 expression was inversely related to immune cell infiltration and was involved in tumor immune evasion. MPP6 expression was positively associated with TMB, and patients with high TMB had an adverse prognosis. Immunotherapy was more effective in HCC patients with low MPP6 expression, whereas those with high MPP6 expression responded better to sorafenib, gemcitabine, 5-FU, and doxorubicin.

Conclusions

Elevated MPP6 expression is associated with an unfavorable prognosis, angiogenesis and immune evasion in HCC. Moreover, MPP6 has the potential to be used to assess TMB and treatment response. Therefore, MPP6 might serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.

Single-cell transcriptomics identifies Keap1-Nrf2 regulated collective invasion in a Drosophila tumor model

Apicobasal cell polarity loss is a founding event in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and epithelial tumorigenesis, yet how pathological polarity loss links to plasticity remains largely unknown. To understand the mechanisms and mediators regulating plasticity upon polarity loss, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of Drosophila ovaries, where inducing polarity-gene l(2)gl-knockdown (Lgl-KD) causes invasive multilayering of the follicular epithelia. Analyzing the integrated Lgl-KD and wildtype transcriptomes, we discovered the cells specific to the various discernible phenotypes and characterized the underlying gene expression. A genetic requirement of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling in promoting multilayer formation of Lgl-KD cells was further identified. Ectopic expression of Keap1 increased the volume of delaminated follicle cells that showed enhanced invasive behavior with significant changes to the cytoskeleton. Overall, our findings describe the comprehensive transcriptome of cells within the follicle cell tumor model at the single-cell resolution and identify a previously unappreciated link between Keap1-Nrf2 signaling and cell plasticity at early tumorigenesis.

Dual Function of Par3 in Tumorigenesis

Cell maintenance and the establishment of cell polarity involve complicated interactions among multiple protein complexes as well as the regulation of different signaling pathways. As an important cell polarity protein, Par3 is evolutionarily conserved and involved in tight junction formation as well as tumorigenesis. In this review, we aimed to explore the function of Par3 in tumorigenesis. Research has shown that Par3 exhibits dual functions in human cancers, both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive. Here, we focus on the activities of Par3 in different stages and types of tumors, aiming to offer a new perspective on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the functions of Par3 in tumor development. Tumor origin, tumor microenvironment, tumor type, cell density, cell–cell contact, and the synergistic effect of Par3 and other tumor-associated signaling pathways may be important reasons for the dual function of Par3. The important role of Par3 in mammalian tumorigenesis and potential signaling pathways is context dependent.

Individual and Co-Expression Patterns of FAM83H and SCRIB at Diagnosis Are Associated with the Survival of Colorectal Carcinoma Patients

Background: FAM83H is important in teeth development; however, an increasing number of reports have indicated a role for it in human cancers. FAM83H is involved in cancer progression in association with various oncogenic molecules, including SCRIB. In the analysis of the public database, there was a significant association between FAM83H and SCRIB in colorectal carcinomas. However, studies evaluating the association of FAM83H and SCRIB in colorectal carcinoma have been limited. Methods: The clinicopathological significance of the immunohistochemical expression of FAM83H and SCRIB was evaluated in 222 colorectal carcinomas. Results: The expressions of FAM83H and SCRIB were significantly associated in colorectal carcinoma tissue. In univariate analysis, the nuclear expressions of FAM83H and SCRIB and the cytoplasmic expression of SCRIB were significantly associated with shorter survival of colorectal carcinomas. The nuclear expressions of FAM83H and SCRIB and the cytoplasmic expression of SCRIB were independent indicators of shorter cancer-specific survival in multivariate analysis. A co-expression pattern of nuclear FAM83H and cytoplasmic SCRIB predicted shorter cancer-specific survival (p < 0.001) and relapse-free survival (p = 0.032) in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This study suggests that FAM83H and SCRIB might be used as prognostic markers of colorectal carcinomas and as potential therapeutic targets for colorectal carcinomas.

Presence of H3K4me3 on Paternally Expressed Genes of the Paternal Genome From Sperm to Implantation

Genomic imprinting, parent-of-origin-specific gene expression, is controlled by differential epigenetic status of the parental chromosomes. While DNA methylation and suppressive histone modifications established during gametogenesis suppress imprinted genes on the inactive allele, how and when the expressed allele gains its active status is not clear. In this study, we asked whether the active histone-3 lysine-4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) marks remain at paternally expressed genes (PEGs) in sperm and embryos before and after fertilization using published data. Here we show that mouse sperm had the active H3K4me3 at more than half of known PEGs, and these genes were present even after fertilization. Using reciprocal cross data, we identified 13 new transient PEGs during zygotic genome activation. Next, we confirmed that the 12 out of the 13 new transient PEGs were associated with the paternal H3K4me3 in sperm. Nine out of the 12 genes were associated with the paternal H3K4me3 in zygotes. Our results show that paternal H3K4me3 marks escape inactivation during the histone-to-protamine transition that occurs during sperm maturation and are present in embryos from early zygotic stages up to implantation.

Studying Cell Polarity Dynamics During Cancer Initiation Using Inducible 3D Organotypic Cultures

Epithelial tissues are highly organized structures that are structured at both the cellular and tissue levels. Individual cells are characterized by an apical membrane facing a central lumen, and a basolateral membrane that contacts adjacent cells and the basement membrane. The maintenance of apical-basal polarity is crucial for maintaining epithelial homeostasis and is considered a barrier to carcinogenesis. Apical-basal cell polarity is compromised in many epithelial cancers, such as breast, lung, and prostate, and has been associated with disease progression. Three-dimensional (3D) organotypic cultures recapitulate the 3D tissue architecture and mechanical properties found in vivo. This chapter describes methods to establish 3D organoids from human cell lines or mouse primary cells with inducible oncogene expression in polarized epithelial structures to investigate mechanisms of tumor initiation, luminal filling, and growth. The method is versatile, and simple modifications can be made to study diverse cell/tissue types and oncogenes.

Mechanisms underlying the cooperation between loss of epithelial polarity and Notch signaling during neoplastic growth in Drosophila

Aggressive neoplastic growth can be initiated by a limited number of genetic alterations, such as the well-established cooperation between loss of cell architecture and hyperactive signaling pathways. However, our understanding of how these different alterations interact and influence each other remains very incomplete. Using Drosophila paradigms of imaginal wing disc epithelial growth, we have monitored the changes in Notch pathway activity according to the polarity status of cells (scrib mutant). We show that the scrib mutation impacts the direct transcriptional output of the Notch pathway, without altering the global distribution of Su(H), the Notch-dedicated transcription factor. The Notch-dependent neoplasms require, however, the action of a group of transcription factors, similar to those previously identified for Ras/scrib neoplasm (namely AP-1, Stat92E, Ftz-F1 and basic leucine zipper factors), further suggesting the importance of this transcription factor network during neoplastic growth. Finally, our work highlights some Notch/scrib specificities, in particular the role of the PAR domain-containing basic leucine zipper transcription factor and Notch direct target Pdp1 for neoplastic growth.

Energy Landscape Analysis of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Network

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key developmental program that is often activated during the cancer invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance. However, it remains a critical question to elucidate the mechanisms of EMT. For example, how to quantify the global stability and stochastic transition dynamics of EMT under fluctuations is yet to be clarified. Here, we describe a framework and detailed steps for stochastic dynamics analysis of EMT. Starting from the underlying EMT gene regulatory network, we quantify the energy landscape of the EMT computationally. Multiple steady-state attractors are identified on the landscape surface, characterizing different cell phenotypes. The kinetic transition paths based on large deviation theory delineate the transition processes between different attractors quantitatively. The EMT or the reverse process, the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), can be achieved by either a direct transition or a step-wise transition that goes through an intermediate state, depending on different extracellular environments. The landscape and transition paths presented in this chapter provide a new physical and quantitative picture to understand the underlying mechanisms of the EMT process. The approach for landscape and path analysis can be extended to other biological networks.

The polarity protein Par3 coordinates positively self-renewal and negatively invasiveness in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a brain malignancy characterized by invasiveness to the surrounding brain tissue and by stem-like cells, which propagate the tumor and may also regulate invasiveness. During brain development, polarity proteins, such as Par3, regulate asymmetric cell division of neuro-glial progenitors and neurite motility. We, therefore, studied the role of the Par3 protein (encoded by PARD3) in GBM. GBM patient transcriptomic data and patient-derived culture analysis indicated diverse levels of expression of PARD3 across and independent from subtypes. Multiplex immunolocalization in GBM tumors identified Par3 protein enrichment in SOX2-, CD133-, and NESTIN-positive (stem-like) cells. Analysis of GBM cultures of the three subtypes (proneural, classical, mesenchymal), revealed decreased gliomasphere forming capacity and enhanced invasiveness upon silencing Par3. GBM cultures with suppressed Par3 showed low expression of stemness (SOX2 and NESTIN) but higher expression of differentiation (GFAP) genes. Moreover, Par3 silencing reduced the expression of a set of genes encoding mitochondrial enzymes that generate ATP. Accordingly, silencing Par3 reduced ATP production and concomitantly increased reactive oxygen species. The latter was required for the enhanced migration observed upon silencing of Par3 as anti-oxidants blocked the enhanced migration. These findings support the notion that Par3 exerts homeostatic redox control, which could limit the tumor cell-derived pool of oxygen radicals, and thereby the tumorigenicity of GBM.

SCRIB Is Involved in the Progression of Ovarian Carcinomas in Association with the Factors Linked to Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Predicts Shorter Survival of Diagnosed Patients

SCRIB is a polarity protein important in maintaining cell junctions. However, recent reports have raised the possibility that SCRIB might have a role in human cancers. Thus, this study evaluated the roles of SCRIB in ovarian cancers. In 102 human ovarian carcinomas, nuclear expression of SCRIB predicted shorter survival of ovarian carcinoma patients, especially in the patients who received post-operative chemotherapy. In SKOV3 and SNU119 ovarian cancer cells, overexpression of SCRIB stimulated the proliferation and invasion of cells. Knockout of SCRIB inhibited in vivo tumor growth of SKOV3 cells and overexpression of SCRIB promoted tumor growth. Overexpression of SCRIB stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by increasing the expression of N-cadherin, snail, TGF-β1, and smad2/3, and decreasing the expression of E-cadherin; the converse was observed with inhibition of SCRIB. In conclusion, this study presents the nuclear expression of SCRIB as a prognostic marker of ovarian carcinomas and suggests that SCRIB is involved in the progression of ovarian carcinomas by stimulating proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related invasiveness.

Tiny Drosophila makes giant strides in cancer research

Cancer burden has been increasing worldwide, making cancer the second leading cause of death in the world. Over the past decades, various experimental models have provided important insights into the nature of cancer. Among them, the fruit fly Drosophila as a whole-animal toolkit has made a decisive contribution to our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of cancer development including loss of cell polarity. In recent years, scalable Drosophila platforms have proven useful also in developing anti-cancer regimens that are effective not only in mammalian models but also in patients. Here, we review studies using Drosophila as a tool to advance cancer study by complementing other traditional research systems.

Not Just Another Scaffolding Protein Family: The Multifaceted MPPs

Membrane palmitoylated proteins (MPPs) are a subfamily of a larger group of multidomain proteins, namely, membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUKs). The ubiquitous expression and multidomain structure of MPPs provide the ability to form diverse protein complexes at the cell membranes, which are involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including establishing the proper cell structure, polarity and cell adhesion. The formation of MPP-dependent complexes in various cell types seems to be based on similar principles, but involves members of different protein groups, such as 4.1-ezrin-radixin-moesin (FERM) domain-containing proteins, polarity proteins or other MAGUKs, showing their multifaceted nature. In this review, we discuss the function of the MPP family in the formation of multiple protein complexes. Notably, we depict their significant role for cell physiology, as the loss of interactions between proteins involved in the complex has a variety of negative consequences. Moreover, based on recent studies concerning the mechanism of membrane raft formation, we shed new light on a possible role played by MPPs in lateral membrane organization.

PtdIns(3,4,5)P3-dependent Rac exchanger 1 (P-Rex1) promotes mammary tumor initiation and metastasis

The Rac-GEF, P-Rex1, activates Rac1 signaling downstream of G protein-coupled receptors and PI3K. Increased P-Rex1 expression promotes melanoma progression; however, its role in breast cancer is complex, with differing reports of the effect of its expression on disease outcome. To address this we analyzed human databases, undertook gene array expression analysis, and generated unique murine models of P-Rex1 gain or loss of function. Analysis of PREX1 mRNA expression in breast cancer cDNA arrays and a METABRIC cohort revealed that higher PREX1 mRNA in ER^+ve/luminal tumors was associated with poor outcome in luminal B cancers. Prex1 deletion in MMTV-neu or MMTV-PyMT mice reduced Rac1 activation in vivo and improved survival. High level MMTV-driven transgenic PREX1 expression resulted in apicobasal polarity defects and increased mammary epithelial cell proliferation associated with hyperplasia and development of de novo mammary tumors. MMTV-PREX1 expression in MMTV-neu mice increased tumor initiation and enhanced metastasis in vivo, but had no effect on primary tumor growth. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 or MEK1/2 reduced P-Rex1-driven tumoroid formation and cell invasion. Therefore, P-Rex1 can act as an oncogene and cooperate with HER2/neu to enhance breast cancer initiation and metastasis, despite having no effect on primary tumor growth.

FAM83H and SCRIB stabilize β-catenin and stimulate progression of gastric carcinoma

FAM83H primarily is known for its function in tooth development. Recently, a role for FAM83H in tumorigenesis, conjunction with MYC and β-catenin, has been suggested. Analysis of public data indicates that FAM83H expression is closely associated with SCRIB expression in human gastric cancers. Therefore, this study investigated the roles of FAM83H and SCRIB in 200 human gastric cancers and gastric cancer cells. In human gastric carcinomas, both the individual and combined expression patterns of the nuclear FAM83H and SCRIB were independent indicators of shorter survival of gastric carcinoma patients. In MKN-45 and NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells, the expression of FAM83H and SCRIB were associated with proliferation and invasiveness of cells. FAM83H-mediated in vivo tumor growth was attenuated with knock-down of SCRIB. Moreover, immunoprecipitation indicates that FAM83H, SCRIB, and β-catenin, form a complex, and knock-down of either FAM83H or SCRIB accelerated proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. In conclusion, this study has found that the individual and combined expression patterns of nuclear FAM83H and SCRIB are prognostic indicators of gastric carcinomas and further suggests that FAM83H and SCRIB are involved in the progression of gastric carcinomas by stabilizing β-catenin.

Cell division symmetry control and cancer stem cells

Stem cells including cancer stem cells (CSC) divide symmetrically or asymmetrically. Usually symmetric cell division makes two daughter cells of the same fate, either as stem cells or more differentiated progenies; while asymmetric cell division (ACD) produces daughter cells of different fates. In this review, we first provide an overview of ACD, and then discuss more molecular details of ACD using the well-characterized Drosophila neuroblast system as an example. Aiming to explore the connections between cell heterogeneity in cancers and the critical need of ACD for self-renewal and generating cell diversity, we then examine how cell division symmetry control impacts common features associated with CSCs, including niche competition, cancer dormancy, drug resistance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reverse process mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), and cancer stem cell plasticity. As CSC may underlie resistance to therapy and cancer metastasis, understanding how cell division mode is selected and executed in these cells will provide possible strategies to target CSC.

High throughput profiling drug response and apoptosis of single polar cells

The drug response of single polar cells was evaluated via single cell trapping on anisotropic microwells for tumor heterogeneity.

Genetic alterations of epithelial polarity genes are associated with loss of polarity in invasive breast cancer

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death for women. The stepwise development of breast cancer through preinvasive to invasive disease is associated with progressive disruption of cellular and tissue organization. Apical-basal polarity is thought to be a barrier to breast cancer development, but the extent and potential mechanisms that contribute to disrupted polarity are incompletely understood. To investigate the cell polarity status of invasive breast cancers, we performed multiplex imaging of polarity markers on tissue cores from 432 patients from a spectrum of grades, stages and molecular subtypes. Apical-basal cell polarity was lost in 100% of cells in all cases studied, indicating that loss of epithelial polarity may be a universal feature of invasive breast cancer. We then analyzed genomic events from the TCGA dataset for an 18-gene set of core polarity genes. Coamplification of polarity genes with established breast oncogenes was found, which is consistent with functional cooperation within signaling amplicons. Gene-expression levels of several polarity genes were significantly associated with survival, and protein localization of Par6 correlated with higher grade, nodal metastasis and molecular subtype. Finally, multiple hotspot mutations in protein-protein interaction domains critical for cell polarity were identified. Our data indicate that genomic events likely contribute to pervasive disruption of epithelial polarity observed in invasive breast cancer.

The role of polarisation of circulating tumour cells in cancer metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from a primary tumour to a distant site of the body. Metastasising tumour cells have to survive and readjust to different environments, such as heterogeneous solid tissues and liquid phase in lymph- or blood circulation, which they achieve through a high degree of plasticity that renders them adaptable to varying conditions. One defining characteristic of the metastatic process is the transition of tumour cells between different polarised phenotypes, ranging from differentiated epithelial polarity to migratory front-rear polarity. Here, we review the polarisation types adopted by tumour cells during the metastatic process and describe the recently discovered single-cell polarity in liquid phase observed in circulating tumour cells. We propose that single-cell polarity constitutes a mode of polarisation of the cell cortex that is uncoupled from the intracellular polarisation machinery, which distinguishes single-cell polarity from other types of polarity identified so far. We discuss how single-cell polarity can contribute to tumour metastasis and the therapeutic potential of this new discovery.

A Polarizing Issue: Diversity in the Mechanisms Underlying Apico-Basolateral Polarization In Vivo

Polarization along an apico-basolateral axis is a hallmark of epithelial cells and is essential for their selective barrier and transporter functions, as well as for their ability to provide mechanical resiliency to organs. Loss of polarity along this axis perturbs development and is associated with a wide number of diseases. We describe three steps involved in polarization: symmetry breaking, polarity establishment, and polarity maintenance. While the proteins involved in these processes are highly conserved among epithelial tissues and species, the execution of these steps varies widely and is context dependent. We review both theoretical principles underlying these steps and recent work demonstrating how apico-basolateral polarity is established in vivo in different tissues, highlighting how developmental and physiological contexts play major roles in the execution of the epithelial polarity program.

CRB3 and the FERM protein EPB41L4B regulate proliferation of mammary epithelial cells through the release of amphiregulin

Numerous observations have suggested a connection between the maintenance of cell polarity and control of cell proliferation; however, the mechanisms underlying these connections remain poorly understood. Here we found that ectopic expression of CRB3, which was previously shown to restore tight junctions and membrane polarity in MCF-10A cells, induced a hyperproliferative phenotype, with significantly enlarged acini in basement membrane culture, similar to structures induced by expression of proliferative oncogenes such as cyclinD1. We found that CRB3-induced proliferation is epidermal growth factor (EGF)-independent and occurs through a mechanism that involves secretion of the EGF-family ligand, amphiregulin (AREG). The increase in AREG secretion is associated with an increase in the number and size of both early and late endosomes. Both the proliferative and endocytic phenotypes associated with CRB3 expression require the FERM-binding domain (FBD) but not the PDZ-binding domain of CRB3, arguing that this proliferative phenotype is independent of the PDZ-dependent polarity signaling by CRB3. We identified the FBD-containing protein, EPB41L4B, as an essential mediator of CRB3-driven proliferation and observed that the CRB3-dependent changes in endocytic trafficking were also dependent on EPB41L4B. Taken together, these data reveal a previously uncharacterized role for CRB3 in regulating proliferation in mammalian cells that is associated with changes in the endocytic trafficking machinery.

Erbin Suppresses KSR1-Mediated RAS/RAF Signaling and Tumorigenesis in Colorectal Cancer

Erbin belongs to the LAP (leucine-rich repeat and PDZ domain) family of scaffolding proteins that plays important roles in orchestrating cell signaling. Here, we show that Erbin functions as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer. Analysis of Erbin expression in colorectal cancer patient specimens revealed that Erbin was downregulated at both mRNA and protein levels in tumor tissues. Knockdown of Erbin disrupted epithelial cell polarity and increased cell proliferation in 3D culture. In addition, silencing Erbin resulted in increased amplitude and duration of signaling through Akt and RAS/RAF pathways. Erbin loss induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which coincided with a significant increase in cell migration and invasion. Erbin interacted with kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (KSR1) and displaced it from the RAF/MEK/ERK complex to prevent signal propagation. Furthermore, genetic deletion of Erbin in Apc knockout mice promoted tumorigenesis and significantly reduced survival. Tumor organoids derived from Erbin/Apc double knockout mice displayed increased tumor initiation potential and activation of Wnt signaling. Results from gene set enrichment analysis revealed that Erbin expression associated positively with the E-cadherin adherens junction pathway and negatively with Wnt signaling in human colorectal cancer. Taken together, our study identifies Erbin as a negative regulator of tumor initiation and progression by suppressing Akt and RAS/RAF signaling in vivoSignificance: These findings establish the scaffold protein Erbin as a negative regulator of EMT and tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer through direct suppression of Akt and RAS/RAF signaling. Cancer Res; 78(17); 4839-52. ©2018 AACR.

Coordination of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signaling and Interfacial Tension Dynamics Drives Radial Intercalation and Tube Elongation

We sought to understand how cells collectively elongate epithelial tubes. We first used 3D culture and biosensor imaging to demonstrate that epithelial cells enrich Ras activity, phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP₃), and F-actin to their leading edges during migration within tissues. PIP₃ enrichment coincided with, and could enrich despite inhibition of, F-actin dynamics, revealing a conserved migratory logic compared with single cells. We discovered that migratory cells can intercalate into the basal tissue surface and contribute to tube elongation. We then connected molecular activities to subcellular mechanics using force inference analysis. Migration and transient intercalation required specific and similar anterior-posterior ratios of interfacial tension. Permanent intercalations were distinguished by their capture at the boundary through time-varying tension dynamics. Finally, we integrated our experimental and computational data to generate a finite element model of tube elongation. Our model revealed that intercalation, interfacial tension dynamics, and high basal stress are together sufficient for mammary morphogenesis.

The cell polarity protein Scrib functions as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer

Scrib is a membrane protein that is involved in the maintenance of apical-basal cell polarity of the epithelial tissues. However, Scrib has also been shown to be mislocalized to the cytoplasm in breast and prostate cancer. Here, for the first time, we report that Scrib not only translocates to the cytoplasm but also to the nucleus in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells, and in mouse and human liver tumor samples. We demonstrate that Scrib overexpression suppresses the growth of HCC cells in vitro, and Scrib deficiency enhances liver tumor growth in vivo. At the molecular level, we have identified the existence of a positive feed-back loop between Yap1 and c-Myc in HCC cells, which Scrib disrupts by simultaneously regulating the MAPK/ERK and Hippo signaling pathways. Overall, Scrib inhibits liver cancer cell proliferation by suppressing the expression of three oncogenes, Yap1, c-Myc and cyclin D1, thereby functioning as a tumor suppressor in liver cancer.

Protein Kinase C-ζ stimulates colorectal cancer cell carcinogenesis via PKC-ζ/Rac1/Pak1/β-Catenin signaling cascade

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in the world and death from CRC accounts for 8% of all cancer deaths both in men and women in the United States. CRC is life-threatening disease due to therapy resistant cancerous cells. The exact mechanisms of cell growth, survival, metastasis and inter & intracellular signaling pathways involved in CRC is still a significant challenge. Hence, investigating the signaling pathways that lead to colon carcinogenesis may give insight into the therapeutic target. In this study, the role of atypical Protein Kinase C (aPKC) on CRC was investigated by using two inhibitors of that protein class: 1) ζ-Stat (8-hydroxynaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid) is a specific inhibitor of PKC-ζ and 2) ICA-I 5-amino-1-(2,3-dihydroxy-4-hydroxymethyl)cyclopentyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide) is a specific inhibitor of PKC-ι. The cell lines tested were CCD18CO normal colon epithelial and LOVO metastatic CRC cells. The inhibition of aPKCs did not bring any significant toxicity on CCD18CO normal colon cell line. Although PKC-ι is an oncogene in many cancers, we found the overexpression of PKC-ζ and its direct association with Rac1. Our findings suggest that the PKC-ζ may be responsible for the abnormal growth, proliferation, and migration of metastatic LOVO colon cancer cells via PKC-ζ/Rac1/Pak1/β-Catenin pathway. These results suggest the possibility of utilizing PKC-ζ inhibitor to block CRC cells growth, proliferation, and metastasis.

Tumour spheres with inverted polarity drive the formation of peritoneal metastases in patients with hypermethylated colorectal carcinomas

Metastases account for 90% of cancer-related deaths; thus, it is vital to understand the biology of tumour dissemination. Here, we collected and monitored >50 patient specimens ex vivo to investigate the cell biology of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastatic spread to the peritoneum. This reveals an unpredicted mode of dissemination. Large clusters of cancer epithelial cells displaying a robust outward apical pole, which we termed tumour spheres with inverted polarity (TSIPs), were observed throughout the process of dissemination. TSIPs form and propagate through the collective apical budding of hypermethylated CRCs downstream of canonical and non-canonical transforming growth factor-β signalling. TSIPs maintain their apical-out topology and use actomyosin contractility to collectively invade three-dimensional extracellular matrices. TSIPs invade paired patient peritoneum explants, initiate metastases in mice xenograft models and correlate with adverse patient prognosis. Thus, despite their epithelial architecture and inverted topology TSIPs seem to drive the metastatic spread of hypermethylated CRCs.

Progressive polarity loss and luminal collapse disrupt tissue organization in carcinoma

Epithelial cancers (carcinoma) account for 80%-90% of all cancers. The development of carcinoma is associated with disrupted epithelial organization and solid ductal structures. The mechanisms underlying the morphological development of carcinoma are poorly understood, but it is thought that loss of cell polarity is an early event. Here we report the characterization of the development of human breast lesions leading to carcinoma. We identified a unique mechanism that generates solid ducts in carcinoma through progressive loss of polarity and collapse of the luminal architecture. This program initiates with asymmetric divisions of polarized cells that generate a stratified epithelium containing both polarized and depolarized cells. Stratified regions form cords that penetrate into the lumen, subdividing it into polarized secondary lumina. The secondary lumina then collapse with a concomitant decrease in RhoA and myosin II activity at the apical membrane and ultimately lose apical-basal polarity. By restoring RhoA activity in mice, ducts maintained lumen and cell polarity. Notably, disrupted tissue architecture through luminal collapse was reversible, and ducts with a lumen were re-established after oncogene suppression in vivo. This reveals a novel and common mechanism that contributes to carcinoma development by progressively disrupting cell and tissue organization.

Development and dynamics of cell polarity at a glance

Cells exhibit morphological and molecular asymmetries that are broadly categorized as cell polarity. The cell polarity established in early embryos prefigures the macroscopic anatomical asymmetries characteristic of adult animals. For example, eggs and early embryos have polarized distributions of RNAs and proteins that generate global anterior/posterior and dorsal/ventral axes. The molecular programs that polarize embryos are subsequently reused in multiple contexts. Epithelial cells require apical/basal polarity to establish their barrier function. Migrating cells polarize in the direction of movement, creating distinct leading and trailing structures. Asymmetrically dividing stem cells partition different molecules between themselves and their daughter cells. Cell polarity can develop de novo, be maintained through rounds of cell division and be dynamically remodeled. In this Cell Science at a Glance review and poster, we describe molecular asymmetries that underlie cell polarity in several cellular contexts. We highlight multiple developmental systems that first establish cell/developmental polarity, and then maintain it. Our poster showcases repeated use of the Par, Scribble and Crumbs polarity complexes, which drive the development of cell polarity in many cell types and organisms. We then briefly discuss the diverse and dynamic changes in cell polarity that occur during cell migration, asymmetric cell division and in planar polarized tissues.

Mechanisms of collective cell movement lacking a leading or free front edge in vivo

Collective cell movement is one of the strategies for achieving the complex shapes of tissues and organs. In this process, multiple cells within a group held together by cell-cell adhesion acquire mobility and move together in the same direction. In some well-studied models of collective cell movement, the mobility depends strongly on traction generated at the leading edge by cells located at the front. However, recent advances in live-imaging techniques have led to the discovery of other types of collective cell movement lacking a leading edge or even a free edge at the front, in a diverse array of morphological events, including tubule elongation, epithelial sheet extension, and tissue rotation. We herein review some of the developmental events that are organized by collective cell movement and attempt to elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, which include membrane protrusions, guidance cues, cell intercalation, and planer cell polarity, or chirality pathways.

Induction and Diagnosis of Tumors in Drosophila Imaginal Disc Epithelia

In the early stages of cancer, transformed mutant cells show cytological abnormalities, begin uncontrolled overgrowth, and progressively disrupt tissue organization. Drosophila melanogaster has emerged as a popular experimental model system in cancer biology to study the genetic and cellular mechanisms of tumorigenesis. In particular, genetic tools for Drosophila imaginal discs (developing epithelia in larvae) enable the creation of transformed pro-tumor cells within a normal epithelial tissue, a situation similar to the initial stages of human cancer. A recent study of tumorigenesis in Drosophila wing imaginal discs, however, showed that tumor initiation depends on the tissue-intrinsic cytoarchitecture and the local microenvironment, suggesting that it is important to consider the region-specific susceptibility to tumorigenic stimuli in evaluating tumor phenotypes in imaginal discs. To facilitate phenotypic analysis of tumor progression in imaginal discs, here we describe a protocol for genetic experiments using the GAL4-UAS system to induce neoplastic tumors in wing imaginal discs. We further introduce a diagnosis method to classify the phenotypes of clonal lesions induced in imaginal epithelia, as a clear classification method to discriminate various stages of tumor progression (such as hyperplasia, dysplasia, or neoplasia) had not been described before. These methods might be broadly applicable to the clonal analysis of tumor phenotypes in various organs in Drosophila.

The epidermal polarity protein Par3 is a non-cell autonomous suppressor of malignant melanoma

Mescher et al. uncover a novel tissue-borne tumor suppression mechanism, engaging polarity proteins in the epithelial microenvironment that prevent malignant outgrowth of neighboring cell types through control of heterologous cell–cell contacts. Moreover, their data support an emerging role of P-cadherin, which is frequently amplified in human carcinoma, as a protumorigenic and proinvasive adhesion molecule, thus placing it as a promising druggable target to disrupt tumor–microenvironment interactions for anticancer therapy.

Melanoma, an aggressive skin malignancy with increasing lifetime risk, originates from melanocytes (MCs) that are in close contact with surrounding epidermal keratinocytes (KCs). How the epidermal microenvironment controls melanomagenesis remains poorly understood. In this study, we identify an unexpected non–cell autonomous role of epidermal polarity proteins, molecular determinants of cytoarchitecture, in malignant melanoma. Epidermal Par3 inactivation in mice promotes MC dedifferentiation, motility, and hyperplasia and, in an autochthonous melanoma model, results in increased tumor formation and lung metastasis. KC-specific Par3 loss up-regulates surface P-cadherin that is essential to promote MC proliferation and phenotypic switch toward dedifferentiation. In agreement, low epidermal PAR3 and high P-cadherin expression correlate with human melanoma progression, whereas elevated P-cadherin levels are associated with reduced survival of melanoma patients, implying that this mechanism also drives human disease. Collectively, our data show that reduced KC Par3 function fosters a permissive P-cadherin–dependent niche for MC transformation, invasion, and metastasis. This reveals a previously unrecognized extrinsic tumor-suppressive mechanism, whereby epithelial polarity proteins dictate the cytoarchitecture and fate of other tissue-resident cells to suppress their malignant outgrowth.

Molecular mechanisms of asymmetric divisions in mammary stem cells

Stem cells have the remarkable ability to undergo proliferative symmetric divisions and self-renewing asymmetric divisions. Balancing of the two modes of division sustains tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. Asymmetric divisions of Drosophila neuroblasts (NBs) and sensory organ precursor (SOP) cells served as prototypes to learn what we consider now principles of asymmetric mitoses. They also provide initial evidence supporting the notion that aberrant symmetric divisions of stem cells could correlate with malignancy. However, transferring the molecular knowledge of circuits underlying asymmetry from flies to mammals has proven more challenging than expected. Several experimental approaches have been used to define asymmetry in mammalian systems, based on daughter cell fate, unequal partitioning of determinants and niche contacts, or proliferative potential. In this review, we aim to provide a critical evaluation of the assays used to establish the stem cell mode of division, with a particular focus on the mammary gland system. In this context, we will discuss the genetic alterations that impinge on the modality of stem cell division and their role in breast cancer development.

A Phenotypic High-Content Screening Assay to Identify Regulators of Membrane Protein Localization

Correct subcellular localization of proteins is a requirement for appropriate function. This is especially true in epithelial cells, which rely on the precise localization of a diverse array of epithelial polarity and cellular adhesion proteins. Loss of cell polarity and adhesion is a hallmark of cancer, and mislocalization of core polarity proteins, such as Scribble, is observed in a range of human epithelial tumors and is prognostic of poor survival. Despite this, little is known about how Scribble membrane localization is regulated. Here, we describe the development and application of a phenotypic high-content screening assay that is designed to specifically quantify membrane levels of Scribble to identify regulators of its membrane localization. A screening platform that is capable of resolving individual cells and quantifying membrane protein localization in confluent epithelial monolayers was developed by using the cytoplasm-to-cell-membrane bioapplication integrated with the Cellomics ArrayScan high-content imaging platform. Application of this method to a boutique human epithelial polarity and signaling small interfering RNA (siRNA) library resulted in highly robust coefficient-of-variance and Z' factor values. As proof of concept, we present two candidate genes whose depletion specifically reduces Scribble protein levels at the membrane. Data mining revealed that these proteins interact with components of the Scribble polarity complex, providing support for the utility of the screening approach. This method is broadly applicable to genome-wide and large-scale compound screening of membrane-bound proteins, and when coupled with pathway analysis the dataset becomes even more valuable and can provide predictive mechanistic insight.

Epithelial Tumors Originate in Tumor Hotspots, a Tissue-Intrinsic Microenvironment

Malignant tumors are caused by uncontrolled proliferation of transformed mutant cells that have lost the ability to maintain tissue integrity. Although a number of causative genetic backgrounds for tumor development have been discovered, the initial steps mutant cells take to escape tissue integrity and trigger tumorigenesis remain elusive. Here, we show through analysis of conserved neoplastic tumor-suppressor genes (nTSGs) in Drosophila wing imaginal disc epithelia that tumor initiation depends on tissue-intrinsic local cytoarchitectures, causing tumors to consistently originate in a specific region of the tissue. In this “tumor hotspot” where cells constitute a network of robust structures on their basal side, nTSG-deficient cells delaminate from the apical side of the epithelium and begin tumorigenic overgrowth by exploiting endogenous Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling activity. Conversely, in other regions, the “tumor coldspot” nTSG-deficient cells are extruded toward the basal side and undergo apoptosis. When the direction of delamination is reversed through suppression of RhoGEF2, an activator of the Rho family small GTPases, and JAK/STAT is activated ectopically in these coldspot nTSG-deficient cells, tumorigenesis is induced. These data indicate that two independent processes, apical delamination and JAK/STAT activation, are concurrently required for the initiation of nTSG-deficient-induced tumorigenesis. Given the conservation of the epithelial cytoarchitecture, tumorigenesis may be generally initiated from tumor hotspots by a similar mechanism.

A genetic study in Drosophila reveals a mechanism of tumorigenesis by which pro-tumor cells initiate dysplastic tumor growth at specific "hotspot" locations in epithelial tissues.

Transformed mutant cells (pro-tumor cells) can evolve through a multistep process in which they become tumorigenic and invasive. Many genes that are involved in the different steps towards cancer development have been identified; however, how certain mutant cells destroy normal tissue organization and undergo uncontrolled proliferation during the initial stages of this process remains largely unclear. Using the epithelial tissue of the wing imaginal discs of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) larvae as a model system, we have analyzed these initial stages of inducing tumors by depletion of a neoplastic tumor suppressor gene (nTSG). We discovered that these tumors always originate from specific regions of the epithelial tissue of the wing disc. We show that in other regions that we dubbed “tumor coldspots” and that lack specific cellular structures, pro-tumor cells are eliminated from the epithelial tissue by the surrounding cells. However, in “tumor hotspots,” cells constitute specific structures in their basal side, and we found that pro-tumor cells successfully avoid potential elimination and deviate from the apical side of the tissue, initiating tumorous overgrowth. Our findings reveal the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the initial steps of tumorigenesis at tumor hotspots in the Drosophila imaginal wing discs.

The RNF146 and tankyrase pathway maintains the junctional Crumbs complex through regulation of angiomotin

The Crumbs complex is an important determinant of epithelial apical-basal polarity that functions in regulation of tight junctions, resistance to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions and as a tumour suppressor. Although the functional role of the Crumbs complex is being elucidated, its regulation is poorly understood. Here, we show that suppression of RNF146, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that recognizes ADP-ribosylated substrates, and tankyrase, a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, disrupts the junctional Crumbs complex and disturbs the function of tight junctions. We show that RNF146 binds a number of polarity-associated proteins, in particular members of the angiomotin (AMOT) family. Accordingly, AMOT proteins are ADP-ribosylated by TNKS2, which drives ubiquitylation by RNF146 and subsequent degradation. Ablation of RNF146 or tankyrase, as well as overexpression of AMOT, led to the relocation of PALS1 (a Crumbs complex component) from the apical membrane to internal puncta, a phenotype that is rescued by AMOTL2 knockdown. We thus reveal a new function of RNF146 and tankyrase in stabilizing the Crumbs complex through downregulation of AMOT proteins at the apical membrane.

Quantifying the landscape and kinetic paths for epithelial-mesenchymal transition from a core circuit

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as a crucial process in embryonic development and cancer metastasis, has been investigated extensively. However, how to quantify the global stability and transition dynamics for EMT under fluctuations remains to be elucidated. Starting from a core EMT genetic circuit composed of three key proteins or microRNAs (microRNA-200, ZEB and SNAIL), we uncovered the potential landscape for the EMT process. Three attractors emerge from the landscape, which correspond to epithelial, mesenchymal and partial EMT states respectively. Based on the landscape, we analyzed two important quantities of the EMT system: the barrier heights between different basins of attraction that describe the degree of difficulty for EMT or backward transition, and the mean first passage time (MFPT) that characterizes the kinetic transition rate. These quantities can be harnessed as measurements for the stability of cell types and the degree of difficulty of transitions between different cell types. We also calculated the minimum action paths (MAPs) by path integral approaches. The MAP delineates the transition processes between different cell types quantitatively. We propose two different EMT processes: a direct EMT from E to P, and a step-wise EMT going through an intermediate state, depending on different extracellular environments. The landscape and kinetic paths we acquired offer a new physical and quantitative way for understanding the mechanisms of EMT processes, and indicate the possible roles for the intermediate states.

aPKC alters the TGFβ response in NSCLC cells through both Smad-dependent and Smad-independent pathways

Transforming growth factor b (TGFb) signaling controls many cellular responses including proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and apoptosis, through the activation of canonical (Smad) as well as non-canonical (e.g., Par6) pathways. Previous studies from our lab have demonstrated that aPKC inhibition regulates TGFb receptor trafficking and signaling. Here, we report that downstream TGFb-dependent transcriptional responses in aPKC-silenced NSCLC cells were reduced compared with those of control cells, despite a temporal extension of Smad2 phosphorylation. We assessed SARA–Smad2–Smad4 association and observed that knockdown of aPKC increased SARA (also known as ZFYVE9) levels and SARA–Smad2 complex formation, increased cytoplasmic retention of Smad2 and reduced Smad2–Smad4 complex formation, which correlated with reduced Smad2 nuclear translocation. Interestingly, we also detected an increase in p38 MAPK phosphorylation and apoptosis in aPKC-silenced cells, which were found to be TRAF6-dependent. Taken together, our results suggest that aPKC isoforms regulate Smad and non-Smad TGFb pathways and that aPKC inhibition sensitizes NSCLC cells to undergo TGFb dependent apoptosis.

LIN7A is a major determinant of cell-polarity defects in breast carcinomas

Background

Polarity defects are a hallmark of most carcinomas. Cells from invasive micropapillary carcinomas (IMPCs) of the breast are characterized by a striking cell polarity inversion and represent an interesting model for the analysis of polarity abnormalities.

Methods

In-depth investigation of polarity proteins in 24 IMPCs and a gene expression profiling, comparing IMPC (n = 73) with invasive carcinomas of no special type (ICNST) (n = 51) have been performed.

Results

IMPCs showed a profound disorganization of the investigated polarity proteins and revealed major abnormalities in their subcellular localization. Gene expression profiling experiments highlighted a number of deregulated genes in the IMPCs that have a role in apico-basal polarity, adhesion and migration. LIN7A, a Crumbs-complex polarity gene, was one of the most differentially over-expressed genes in the IMPCs. Upon LIN7A over-expression, we observed hyperproliferation, invasion and a complete absence of lumen formation, revealing strong polarity defects.

Conclusion

This study therefore shows that LIN7A has a crucial role in the polarity abnormalities associated with breast carcinogenesis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13058-016-0680-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of gyromagnetic fields on human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells

PURPOSE

To investigate the biological effect of gyromagnetic fields (GMFs) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human prostatic adenocarcinoma cells and explore the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

PC-3 cells were grouped into normal control (NC) and GMF treatment groups. Cell proliferation was analyzed with kit-8 and Ki67 immunofluorescence staining, while cell apoptosis was analyzed with flow cytometry double staining of Annexin V-PE/7-AAD. The Akt and p38 MAPK/Caspase signaling pathways were analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, and cell polarization was analyzed with PARD3.

RESULTS

Cell proliferation and activity of the Akt pathway were significantly decreased by the GMF, while cell apoptosis, activity of p38 MAPK, and PARD3-positive cell number were significantly increased in the GMF group compared to the NC group.

CONCLUSION

GMFs inhibit cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and regulate tumor cell polarity conditions, potentially through down-regulating Akt, activating the p38 MAPK/Caspase pathway, and promoting PARD3 expression in PC-3 cells.

Par6G suppresses cell proliferation and is targeted by loss-of-function mutations in multiple cancers

Differentiated epithelial structure communicates with individual constituent epithelial cells to suppress their proliferation activity. However, the pathways linking epithelial structure to cessation of the cell proliferation machinery or to unscheduled proliferation in the context of tumorigenesis are not well defined. Here we demonstrate the strong impact of compromised epithelial integrity on normal and oncogenic Myc-driven proliferation in three-dimensional mammary epithelial organoid culture. Systematic silencing of 34 human homologs of Drosophila genes, with previously established functions in control of epithelial integrity, demonstrates a role for human genes of apico-basal polarity, Wnt and Hippo pathways and actin dynamics in regulation of the size, integrity and cell proliferation in organoids. Perturbation of these pathways leads to diverse functional interactions with Myc: manifested as a RhoA-dependent synthetic lethality and Par6-dependent effects on the cell cycle. Furthermore, we show a role for Par6G as a negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase/phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1/Akt pathway and epithelial cell proliferation and evidence for frequent inactivation of Par6G gene in epithelial cancers. The findings demonstrate that determinants of epithelial structure regulate the cell proliferation activity via conserved and cancer-relevant regulatory circuitries, which are important for epithelial cell cycle restriction and may provide new targets for therapeutic intervention.

Atypical protein kinase C zeta: potential player in cell survival and cell migration of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the most aggressive gynaecological cancers, thus understanding the different biological pathways involved in ovarian cancer progression is important in identifying potential therapeutic targets for the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential roles of Protein Kinase C Zeta (PRKCZ) in ovarian cancer. The atypical protein kinase C isoform, PRKCZ, is involved in the control of various signalling processes including cell proliferation, cell survival, and cell motility, all of which are important for cancer development and progression. Herein, we observe a significant increase in cell survival upon PRKCZ over-expression in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells; additionally, when the cells are treated with small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting PRKCZ, the motility of SKOV3 cells decreased. Furthermore, we demonstrate that over-expression of PRKCZ results in gene and/or protein expression alterations of insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) and integrin beta 3 (ITGB3) in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. Collectively, our study describes PRKCZ as a potential regulatory component of the IGF1R and ITGB3 pathways and suggests that it may play critical roles in ovarian tumourigenesis.

The transcriptional response to tumorigenic polarity loss in Drosophila

Loss of polarity correlates with progression of epithelial cancers, but how plasma membrane misorganization drives oncogenic transcriptional events remains unclear. The polarity regulators of the Drosophila Scribble (Scrib) module are potent tumor suppressors and provide a model for mechanistic investigation. RNA profiling of Scrib mutant tumors reveals multiple signatures of neoplasia, including altered metabolism and dedifferentiation. Prominent among these is upregulation of cytokine-like Unpaired (Upd) ligands, which drive tumor overgrowth. We identified a polarity-responsive enhancer in upd3, which is activated in a coincident manner by both JNK-dependent Fos and aPKC-mediated Yki transcription. This enhancer, and Scrib mutant overgrowth in general, are also sensitive to activity of the Polycomb Group (PcG), suggesting that PcG attenuation upon polarity loss potentiates select targets for activation by JNK and Yki. Our results link epithelial organization to signaling and epigenetic regulators that control tissue repair programs, and provide insight into why epithelial polarity is tumor-suppressive.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03189.001

The cavities and organs within our body are lined with epithelial cells, which connect to each other to form continuous barriers. These cells have a highly polarized structure in which different components are found at the top and bottom of cells. In the fruit fly and most other animals, three genes known as the Scribble module control the polarity of epithelial cells. If these genes are faulty, the cells lose their polarity, break the epithelial barrier, and grow rapidly to form a tumor. Most malignant tumors that form from epithelial cells have lost normal cell polarity, so understanding how the organization and growth of epithelial cells are linked is a critical question.

It is not clear how the loss of cell polarity can drive tumor formation. Here, Bunker et al. used a technique called RNA sequencing to study the expression of genes in tumor cells that have mutations in the Scribble module. Hundreds of genes in the tumor cells had different levels of expression from the levels seen in normal fly cells. One of these is a gene called upd3, which was expressed much more highly in tumor cells than in normal cells. This gene activates a signaling pathway—called the JAK/STAT pathway—that promotes cell growth and division in many animals. Bunker et al. found that experimentally lowering the activity of the JAK/STAT pathway reduced the growth of the tumor cells that had lost normal polarity.

Further experiments show that disrupting the layer of epithelial cells activates two other signaling pathways that work together to switch on the upd3 gene when cell polarity is lost. Proteins belonging to the Polycomb Group also control the expression of upd3 and other genes involved in cell growth by altering how genetic material is packaged in cells.

The similarities between this response and the response to tissue damage suggest that the loss of polarity drives tumor formation through an unstoppable wound-healing reaction. Therefore, Bunker et al.'s findings link the formation of epithelial tumors to the signaling pathways that control the repair of damaged tissues.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.03189.002

The Rho GTPase Rnd1 suppresses mammary tumorigenesis and EMT by restraining Ras-MAPK signalling

We identified the Rho GTPase Rnd1 as a candidate metastasis suppressor in basal-like and triple-negative breast cancer through bioinformatics analysis. Depletion of Rnd1 disrupted epithelial adhesion and polarity, induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cooperated with deregulated expression of c-Myc or loss of p53 to cause neoplastic conversion. Mechanistic studies revealed that Rnd1 suppresses Ras signalling by activating the GAP domain of Plexin B1, which inhibits Rap1. Rap1 inhibition in turn led to derepression of p120 Ras-GAP, which was able to inhibit Ras. Inactivation of Rnd1 in mammary epithelial cells induced highly undifferentiated and invasive tumours in mice. Conversely, Rnd1 expression inhibited spontaneous and experimental lung colonization in mouse models of metastasis. Genomic studies indicated that gene deletion in combination with epigenetic silencing or, more rarely, point mutation inactivates RND1 in human breast cancer. These results reveal a previously unappreciated mechanism through which Rnd1 restrains activation of Ras-MAPK signalling and breast tumour initiation and progression.

A biomaterial model of tumor stromal microenvironment promotes mesenchymal morphology but not epithelial to mesenchymal transition in epithelial cells

The stromal tissue surrounding most carcinomas is comprised of an extracellular matrix densely packed with collagen-I fibers, which are often highly aligned in metastatic disease. Here we developed an in vitro model to test the effect of an aligned fibrous environment on cancer cell morphology and behavior, independent of collagen ligand presentation. We grew cells on a biomimetic surface of aligned electrospun poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) fibers and then examined the effect of this environment on growth rate, morphology, cytoskeletal organization, biochemical and genetic markers of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), cell surface adhesion, and cell migration. We grew a phenotypically normal breast epithelial cell line (MCF10A) and an invasive breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) on three different substrates: typical flat culture surface (glass or plastic), flat PLLA (glass coated with PLLA) or electrospun PLLA fibers. Cells of both types adopted a more mesenchymal morphology when grown on PLLA fibers, and this effect was exaggerated in the more metastatic-like MDA-MB-231 cells. However, neither cell type underwent the changes in gene expression indicative of EMT despite the changes in cell shape, nor did they exhibit the decreased adhesive strength or increased migration typical of metastatic cells. These results suggest that changes in cell morphology alone do not promote a more mesenchymal phenotype and consequently that the aligned fibrous environment surrounding epithelial cancers may not promote EMT solely through topographical cues.

TGF-β1 influences polarity characteristics of epithelial cells during process of culture of colon tissues from neonatal rats in vitro

AIM: To establish a neonatal rat colon tissue culture system and to analyze the effect of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on polarity characteristics of epithelial cells.

METHODS: Forty-eight hours after 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 was added during the process of culture of colon tissues from neonatal rats, the expression changes of Crumbs3, E-cadherin and alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the control group (without TGF-β1) and intervention group (with TGF-β1) were detected by IHC and RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Pavement-like cells could be seen around tissues in the control group after 48 h; Crumbs3 was mainly located at the apical membrane of epithelial cells (P < 0.01); a single layer of α-SMA-positive myofibroblasts along the crypt axis was visible, and α-SMA was lowly expressed in the smooth muscle. However, cells in the intervention group showed different morphology and size; E-cadherin was mainly present in the cytoplasm, and E-cadherin expression was lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05); α-SMA was abundantly expressed in activated fibroblasts (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression of E-cadherin and Crumbs3 in the control group was significantly lower than that in the intervention group (P < 0.05), while the mRNA expression of α-SMA in the intervention group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 induced down-regulation of Crumbs3 and then dramatically changed the phenotype of epithelial cells.