Variation of Trop2 on non-small-cell lung cancer and normal cell membranes revealed by super-resolution fluorescence imaging

Super-resolution imaging reveals the role of DDR1 cluster in NSCLC proliferation

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), a transmembrane protein, is crucial in tumor development. Prior studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between protein cluster distribution on the cell membrane and tumor evolution. However, the precise spatial distribution characteristics of DDR1 on cell membranes and their impact on tumor development remain unclear. In this study, we conducted gene expression analysis to investigate DDR1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its association with patient prognosis. We also employed direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM) imaging to examine DDR1's spatial distribution in NSCLC cells and tissues. Our findings indicate that DDR1 forms larger, tighter, and more abundant clusters in cancer cells and tissues compared to their normal counterparts. Notably, we observed that the enhanced aggregation of DDR1 clusters increased the likelihood of interaction with SRC, thereby activating the SRC-STAT3 signaling pathway in NSCLC cells and promoting cell proliferation. This study provides novel insights into the role of DDR1 aggregation in tumor proliferation, confirms DDR1 as a potential tumor marker, and serves as a valuable resource for future drug development.

Trop2-Targeted Molecular Imaging in Solid Tumors: Current Advances and Future Outlook

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2), a transmembrane glycoprotein, plays a dual role in physiological and pathological processes. In healthy tissues, Trop2 facilitates development and orchestrates intracellular calcium signaling. However, its overexpression in numerous solid tumors shifts its function toward driving cell proliferation and metastasis, thus leading to a poor prognosis. The clinical relevance of Trop2 is underscored by its utility as both a biomarker for diagnostic imaging and a target for therapy. Notably, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved sacituzumab govitecan (SG), a novel Trop2-targeted agent, for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and refractory urothelial cancer, highlighting the significance of Trop2 in clinical oncology. Molecular imaging, a powerful tool for visualizing and quantifying biological phenomena at the molecular and cellular levels, has emerged as a critical technique for studying Trop2. This approach encompasses various modalities, including optical imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and targeted antibodies labeled with radioactive isotopes. Incorporating Trop2-targeted molecular imaging into clinical practice is vital for the early detection, prognostic assessment, and treatment planning of a broad spectrum of solid tumors. Our review captures the latest progress in Trop2-targeted molecular imaging, focusing on both diagnostic and therapeutic applications across diverse tumor types, including lung, breast, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, and cervical cancers, as well as salivary gland carcinomas. We critically evaluate the current state by examining the relevant applications, diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic efficacy, and inherent limitations. Finally, we analyze the challenges impeding widespread clinical application and offer insights into strategies for advancing the field, thereby guiding future research endeavors.

TROP2 promotes the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer cells via calcium ion-dependent ER stress signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the molecular mechanisms of tumor-associated calcium signal transduction factor 2 (TROP2) affecting the occurrence and development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

The TCGA database, immunohistochemical staining, and qRT-PCR were used to analyze the expression of TROP2 in TNBC tissues and cells. The protein expressions of TROP2 and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) after TROP2 knockdown were detected by western blot (WB). Cell proliferation was detected by CCK8 and colony formation assay, Annexin V-APC/PI flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis, and intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) was detected by flow cytometry with Fura 2-AM fluorescent probe. Finally, the morphological changes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) were observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the expression of ER stress (ERS)-related proteins was detected by WB and immunofluorescence staining.

RESULTS

TROP2 was up-regulated in TNBC tumor tissues and cells. Silencing TROP2 decreased the proliferation rate and clone formation number, and increased the apoptosis rate and the Ca2+ level in TNBC cells. These phenomena were reversed after the addition of 2-APB. In addition, after TROP2 knockdown, the expressions of IP3R and ERS-related proteins were up-regulated, the ER was cystic dilated, and ERS was activated. And the addition of 2-APB significantly inhibited the activation of ERS induced by TROP2 knockdown.

CONCLUSION

TROP2 regulated the proliferation and apoptosis of TNBC cells through a Ca2+-dependent ERS signaling pathway.

Targeting Trop2 in solid tumors: a look into structures and novel epitopes

Trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop2) exhibits limited expression in normal tissues but is over-expressed across various solid tumors. The effectiveness of anti-Trop2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) in managing breast cancer validates Trop2 as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, excessive toxicity and a low response rate of ADCs pose ongoing challenges. Safer and more effective strategies should be developed for Trop2-positive cancers. The dynamic structural attributes and the oligomeric assembly of Trop2 present formidable obstacles to the progression of innovative targeted therapeutics. In this review, we summarize recent advancements in understanding Trop2's structure and provide an overview of the epitope characteristics of Trop2-targeted agents. Furthermore, we discuss the correlation between anti-Trop2 agents' epitopes and their respective functions, particularly emphasizing their efficacy and specificity in targeted therapies.

Mechanistic insights into CDCP1 clustering on non-small-cell lung cancer membranes revealed by super-resolution fluorescent imaging

CDCP1 is a transmembrane protein that is involved in a variety of important biological processes and upregulated in a variety of human solid malignancies; however, its spatial distribution and variation at the molecular level remain unclear. To solve this problem, we first analyzed its expression level and prognostic implications in lung cancer. Then, we used super-resolution microscopy to reveal the spatial organization of CDCP1 at different levels, and found that cancer cells generated more and larger CDCP1 clusters than normal cells. Furthermore, we found that CDCP1 can be integrated into larger and denser clusters as functional domains upon activation. Our findings elucidated the significant differences of CDCP1 clustering characteristics between cancer and normal cells, and revealed the relationship between its distribution and function, which will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of its oncogenic mechanism, and will be of great help for the development of CDCP1-targeted drugs for lung cancer.

Advances in Trop2-targeted therapy: Novel agents and opportunities beyond breast cancer

Trop2 is a transmembrane glycoprotein and calcium signal transducer with limited expression in normal human tissues. It is consistently overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors and participates in several oncogenic signaling pathways that lead to tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. As a result, Trop2 has become an attractive therapeutic target in cancer treatment. The anti-Trop2 antibody-drug conjugate (Trodelvy™, sacituzumab govitecan) has been approved to treat metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. However, it is still unclear whether the success observed in Trop2-positive breast cancer could be replicated in other tumor types, owing to the differences in the expression levels and functions of Trop2 across cancer types. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the structures and functions of Trop2 and highlight the potential diagnostic and therapeutic value of Trop2 beyond breast cancer. In addition, the promising novel Trop2-targeted agents in the clinic were discussed, which will likely alter the therapeutic landscape of Trop2-positive tumors in the future.

TROP2 (trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2): a drug target for breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-associated death in women, with the triple negative (TNBC) subtype being characterized by the poorest prognosis. New therapeutic targets are urgently needed to overcome the high metastatic potential, aggressiveness and poor survival of these tumors. Trop2 transmembrane glycoprotein, acting as an intracellular calcium signal transducer, recently emerged as a new potential target in epithelial cancers, in particular in breast cancer.

AREAS COVERED

We summarize the key features of Trop2 structure and function, describing the therapeutic strategies targeting this protein in cancer. Particular attention is paid to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), actually representing the most successful strategy.

EXPERT OPINION

ADCs targeting Trop2 recently received an accelerated FDA approval for the therapy of metastatic TNBC. The prospects for these novel ADCs in BC subtypes other than TNBC are discussed, taking into account the main pitfalls relative to Trop2 structure and function.

Structural insights into the cis and trans assembly of human trophoblast cell surface antigen 2

Human trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (TROP-2) is an important target of tumor therapy, and antibody-drug conjugates with sacituzumab targeting TROP-2 have been approved for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Here, we report the crystal structures of TROP-2-ECD, which can be either cis- or trans-dimers depending on which distinct but overlapping interfaces is used to engage with monomers. The cis- or trans-tetrameric forms of TROP-2 can also be assembled with a non-overlapping interface with either cis- or trans-dimerization, suggesting that cis- and trans-dimers cluster on the cell surface. The binding site of sacituzumab on TROP-2 is mapped to be located on a stretched polypeptide in CPD (Q237-Q252), which is not involved in either cis- or trans-interactions. The present findings will improve understanding of the molecular assembly of TROP-2 on tumor cells and shed light on future design of biologics for tumor therapy.

Mechanistic Insights into Trop2 Clustering on Lung Cancer Cell Membranes Revealed by Super-resolution Imaging

The transmembrane glycoprotein Trop2 plays important roles in various types of human cancers, especially lung cancer. Although it has been found to form clusters on cancer cell membranes, the factors that affect its clustering are not yet fully understood. Here, using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM), we found that Trop2 generated more, larger, and denser clusters on apical cell membranes than on basal membranes and that the differences might be related to the different membrane structures. Moreover, dual-color dSTORM imaging revealed significant colocalization of Trop2 and lipid rafts, and methyl-β-cyclodextrin disruption dramatically impaired the formation of Trop2 clusters, indicating a key role of lipid rafts in Trop2 clustering. Additionally, depolymerization of the actin cytoskeleton decreased Trop2 cluster numbers and areas, revealing that actin can stabilize the clusters. More importantly, stimulation of Trop2 in cancer cells hardly changed the cluster morphology, suggesting that Trop2 is activated and forms clusters in cancer cells. Altogether, our work links the spatial organization of Trop2 to different membrane structures and Trop activation and uncovers the essential roles of lipid rafts and actin in Trop2 cluster maintenance.