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He L, She C, Jiang S, Qi Z, Deng Z, Ji L, Cui Y, Wu J. Mammalian enabled protein enhances tamoxifen sensitivity of the hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients by suppressing the AKT signaling pathway. Biol Direct 2024; 19:21. [PMID: 38459605 PMCID: PMC10921784 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-024-00464-3] [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: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian enabled (MENA) protein is a member of the enabled/vasodilator stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) protein family, which regulates cytoplasmic actin network assembly. It plays a significant role in breast cancer invasion, migration, and resistance against targeted therapy and chemotherapy. However, its role in the efficacy of endocrine therapy for the hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer patients is not known. This study investigated the role of MENA in the resistance against tamoxifen therapy in patients with HR+ breast cancer and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS MENA expression levels in the clinical HR+ breast cancer samples (n = 119) were estimated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) to determine its association with the clinicopathological features, tamoxifen resistance, and survival outcomes. Western blotting (WB) and quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis was performed to estimate the MENA protein and mRNA levels in the tamoxifen-sensitive and -resistant HR+ breast cancer cell lines. Furthermore, CCK8, colony formation, and the transwell invasion and migration assays were used to analyze the effects of MENA knockdown on the biological behavior and tamoxifen sensitivity of the HR+ breast cancer cell lines. Xenograft tumor experiments were performed in the nude mice to determine the tumor growth rates and tamoxifen sensitivity of the control and MENA knockdown HR+ breast cancer cells in the presence and absence of tamoxifen treatment. Furthermore, we estimated the growth rates of organoids derived from the HR+ breast cancer patients (n = 10) with high and low MENA expression levels when treated with tamoxifen. RESULTS HR+ breast cancer patients with low MENA expression demonstrated tamoxifen resistance and poorer prognosis compared to those with high MENA expression. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that MENA expression was an independent predictor of tamoxifen resistance in patients with HR+ breast cancer. MENA knockdown HR+ breast cancer cells showed significantly reduced tamoxifen sensitivity in the in vitro experiments and the in vivo xenograft tumor mouse model compared with the corresponding controls. Furthermore, MENA knockdown increased the in vitro invasion and migration of the HR+ breast cancer cells. HR+ breast cancer organoids with low MENA expression demonstrated reduced tamoxifen sensitivity than those with higher MENA expression. Mechanistically, P-AKT levels were significantly upregulated in the MENA-knockdown HR + breast cancer cells treated with or without 4-OHT compared with the corresponding controls. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that downregulation of MENA promoted tamoxifen resistance in the HR+ breast cancer tissues and cells by enhancing the AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, MENA is a promising prediction biomarker for determining tamoxifen sensitivity in patients with HR+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lifang He
- Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of Shantou University Medical College, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Chuanghong She
- The Breast Center, People's Hospital of Jieyang, Jieyang, Guangdong, China.
| | - Sen Jiang
- Department of Radiology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaochang Qi
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of Shantou University Medical College, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zihao Deng
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of Shantou University Medical College, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Likeng Ji
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of Shantou University Medical College, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yukun Cui
- Laboratory for Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment of Shantou University Medical College, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jundong Wu
- Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China
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Di Modugno F, Di Carlo A, Spada S, Palermo B, D'Ambrosio L, D'Andrea D, Morello G, Belmonte B, Sperduti I, Balzano V, Gallo E, Melchionna R, Panetta M, Campo G, De Nicola F, Goeman F, Antoniani B, Carpano S, Frigè G, Warren S, Gallina F, Lambrechts D, Xiong J, Vincent BG, Wheeler N, Bortone DS, Cappuzzo F, Facciolo F, Tripodo C, Visca P, Nisticò P. Tumoral and stromal hMENA isoforms impact tertiary lymphoid structure localization in lung cancer and predict immune checkpoint blockade response in patients with cancer. EBioMedicine 2024; 101:105003. [PMID: 38340557 PMCID: PMC10869748 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105003] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) correlate with positive outcomes in patients with NSCLC and the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer. The actin regulatory protein hMENA undergoes tissue-specific splicing, producing the epithelial hMENA11a linked to favorable prognosis in early NSCLC, and the mesenchymal hMENAΔv6 found in invasive cancer cells and pro-tumoral cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This study investigates how hMENA isoforms in tumor cells and CAFs relate to TLS presence, localization and impact on patient outcomes and ICB response. METHODS Methods involved RNA-SEQ on NSCLC cells with depleted hMENA isoforms. A retrospective observational study assessed tissues from surgically treated N0 patients with NSCLC, using immunohistochemistry for tumoral and stromal hMENA isoforms, fibronectin, and TLS presence. ICB-treated patient tumors were analyzed using Nanostring nCounter and GeoMx spatial transcriptomics. Multiparametric flow cytometry characterized B cells and tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM). Survival and ICB response were estimated in the cohort and validated using bioinformatics pipelines in different datasets. FINDINGS Findings indicate that hMENA11a in NSCLC cells upregulates the TLS regulator LTβR, decreases fibronectin, and favors CXCL13 production by TRM. Conversely, hMENAΔv6 in CAFs inhibits LTβR-related NF-kB pathway, reduces CXCL13 secretion, and promotes fibronectin production. These patterns are validated in N0 NSCLC tumors, where hMENA11ahigh expression, CAF hMENAΔv6low, and stromal fibronectinlow are associated with intratumoral TLS, linked to memory B cells and predictive of longer survival. The hMENA isoform pattern, fibronectin, and LTβR expression broadly predict ICB response in tumors where TLS indicates an anti-tumor immune response. INTERPRETATION This study uncovers hMENA alternative splicing as an unexplored contributor to TLS-related Tumor Immune Microenvironment (TIME) and a promising biomarker for clinical outcomes and likely ICB responsiveness in N0 patients with NSCLC. FUNDING This work is supported by AIRC (IG 19822), ACC (RCR-2019-23669120), CAL.HUB.RIA Ministero Salute PNRR-POS T4, "Ricerca Corrente" granted by the Italian Ministry of Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Belinda Palermo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, New Hall Block - Room 171, Clifton Campus - NG11 8NS, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Morello
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittoria Balzano
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Campo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca De Nicola
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Antoniani
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Carpano
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianmaria Frigè
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Via Ripamonti 435, Milan, Italy
| | - Sarah Warren
- NanoString Technologies Inc., 530 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Filippo Gallina
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, Herestraat 49 box 912, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jieyi Xiong
- Center for Cancer Biology, Herestraat 49 box 912, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Nathan Wheeler
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Dante S Bortone
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 5206 Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Federico Cappuzzo
- Second Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via E. Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
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Campbell MR, Ruiz-Saenz A, Zhang Y, Peterson E, Steri V, Oeffinger J, Sampang M, Jura N, Moasser MM. Extensive conformational and physical plasticity protects HER2-HER3 tumorigenic signaling. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110285. [PMID: 35108526 PMCID: PMC8865943 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Surface-targeting biotherapeutic agents have been successful in treating HER2-amplified cancers through immunostimulation or chemodelivery but have failed to produce effective inhibitors of constitutive HER2-HER3 signaling. We report an extensive structure-function analysis of this tumor driver, revealing complete uncoupling of intracellular signaling and tumorigenic function from regulation or constraints from their extracellular domains (ECDs). The canonical HER3 ECD conformational changes and exposure of the dimerization interface are nonessential, and the entire ECDs of HER2 and HER3 are redundant for tumorigenic signaling. Restricting the proximation of partner ECDs with bulk and steric clash through extremely disruptive receptor engineering leaves tumorigenic signaling unperturbed. This is likely due to considerable conformational flexibilities across the span of these receptor molecules and substantial undulations in the plane of the plasma membrane, none of which had been foreseen as impediments to targeting strategies. The massive overexpression of HER2 functionally and physically uncouples intracellular signaling from extracellular constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcia R Campbell
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Ana Ruiz-Saenz
- Departments of Cell Biology & Medical Oncology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yuntian Zhang
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Elliott Peterson
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Veronica Steri
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Julie Oeffinger
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Maryjo Sampang
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Natalia Jura
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Mark M Moasser
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Type I IFN-Mediated Immune Response: A Dangerous Liaison in Cancer? BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090913. [PMID: 34571790 PMCID: PMC8469949 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Actin cytoskeleton is a dynamic subcellular component critical for maintaining cell shape and for elaborating response to any stimulus converging on the cell. Cytoskeleton constantly interfaces with diverse cellular components and affects a wide range of processes important in homeostasis and disease. What has been clearly demonstrated to date is that pathogens modify and use host cytoskeleton to their advantage. What is now emerging is that in sterile conditions, when a chronic inflammation occurs as in cancer, the subversion of tissue homeostasis induces an alarm status which mimics infection. This activates cellular players similar to those that solve an infection, but their persistence may pave the way for tumor progression. Understanding molecular mechanisms engaged by cytoskeleton to induce this viral mimicry could improve our knowledge of processes governing tumor progression and resistance to therapy. Abstract Chronic viral infection and cancer are closely inter-related and are both characterized by profound alteration of tissue homeostasis. The actin cytoskeleton dynamics highly participate in tissue homeostasis and act as a sensor leading to an immune-mediated anti-cancer and anti-viral response. Herein we highlight the crucial role of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in participating in a viral mimicry activation with profound effect in anti-tumor immune response. This still poorly explored field understands the cytoskeleton dynamics as a platform of complex signaling pathways which may regulate Type I IFN response in cancer. This emerging network needs to be elucidated to identify more effective anti-cancer strategies and to further advance the immuno-oncology field which has revolutionized the cancer treatment. For a progress to occur in this exciting arena we have to shed light on actin cytoskeleton related pathways and immune response. Herein we summarize the major findings, considering the double sword of the immune response and in particular the role of Type I IFN pathways in resistance to anti-cancer treatment.
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Augustin V, Kins S. Fe65: A Scaffolding Protein of Actin Regulators. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071599. [PMID: 34202290 PMCID: PMC8304848 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The scaffolding protein family Fe65, composed of Fe65, Fe65L1, and Fe65L2, was identified as an interaction partner of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which plays a key function in Alzheimer’s disease. All three Fe65 family members possess three highly conserved interaction domains, forming complexes with diverse binding partners that can be assigned to different cellular functions, such as transactivation of genes in the nucleus, modulation of calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism, and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. In this article, we rule out putative new intracellular signaling mechanisms of the APP-interacting protein Fe65 in the regulation of actin cytoskeleton dynamics in the context of various neuronal functions, such as cell migration, neurite outgrowth, and synaptic plasticity.
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Melchionna R, Spada S, Di Modugno F, D'Andrea D, Di Carlo A, Panetta M, Mileo AM, Sperduti I, Antoniani B, Gallo E, Lawlor RT, Piemonti L, Visca P, Milella M, Grazi GL, Facciolo F, Chen E, Scarpa A, Nisticò P. The actin modulator hMENA regulates GAS6-AXL axis and pro-tumor cancer/stromal cell cooperation. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e50078. [PMID: 32909687 PMCID: PMC7645265 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, which can lead to cancer progression and therapy resistance. We have previously demonstrated that hMENA, a member of the actin regulatory protein of Ena/VASP family, and its tissue-specific isoforms influence a number of intracellular signaling pathways related to cancer progression. Here, we report a novel function of hMENA/hMENAΔv6 isoforms in tumor-promoting CAFs and in the modulation of pro-tumoral cancer cell/CAF crosstalk via GAS6/AXL axis regulation. LC-MS/MS proteomic analysis reveals that CAFs that overexpress hMENAΔv6 secrete the AXL ligand GAS6, favoring the invasiveness of AXL-expressing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Reciprocally, hMENA/hMENAΔv6 regulates AXL expression in tumor cells, thus sustaining GAS6-AXL axis, reported as crucial in EMT, immune evasion, and drug resistance. Clinically, we found that a high hMENA/GAS6/AXL gene expression signature is associated with a poor prognosis in PDAC and NSCLC. We propose that hMENA contributes to cancer progression through paracrine tumor-stroma crosstalk, with far-reaching prognostic and therapeutic implications for NSCLC and PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Sheila Spada
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniel D'Andrea
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Cell Signaling and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anna Di Carlo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Panetta
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Mileo
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Antoniani
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Gallo
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- ARC-NET Research Centre, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Visca
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Department of Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic-Surgery Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Emily Chen
- Thermo Fisher Precision Medicine Science Center, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-NET Research Centre, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
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Enah overexpression is correlated with poor survival and aggressive phenotype in gastric cancer. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:998. [PMID: 30250066 PMCID: PMC6155292 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Enabled homolog (Enah), which is a member of the Ena/VASP family that also includes VASP (vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein) and Ena/VASP like, is a mammalian ortholog of Drosophila Enabled (Ena). An increasing number of studies demonstrated Enah overexpression is involved in human colorectal carcinomas, breast cancers and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the significance of Enah expression in gastric cancer (GC) is poorly elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that Enah is upregulated in GC and associated with AJCC stage, depth of invasion and poor overall survival (OS). Knockdown of Enah inhibited GC cell proliferation and metastasis and vice versa. Further experiments suggested that p-Erk1/2, p-AKT, p-p65, Vimentin and Fibronectin were downregulated and E-cadherin was upregulated after Enah silencing, implicating altered functions in GC proliferation and metastasis. Thus, our study suggests that Enah is a harmful factor for GC and a novel target for GC treatment.
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hMENA isoforms impact NSCLC patient outcome through fibronectin/β1 integrin axis. Oncogene 2018; 37:5605-5617. [PMID: 29907768 PMCID: PMC6193944 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-018-0364-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We demonstrated previously that the splicing of the actin regulator, hMENA, generates two alternatively expressed isoforms, hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6, which have opposite functions in cell invasiveness. Their mechanisms of action have remained unclear. Here we report two major findings: (i) hMENA regulates β1 integrin expression. This was shown by depleting total hMENA, which led to loss of nuclear expression of serum response factor (SRF)-coactivator myocardin-related transcription factor 1 (MRTF-A), leading to an increase in the G-actin/F-actin ratio crucial for MRTF-A localization. This in turn inhibited SRF activity and the expression of its target gene β1 integrin. (ii) hMENA11a reduces and hMENAΔv6 increases β1 integrin activation and signaling. Moreover, exogenous expression of hMENA11a in hMENAΔv6-positive cancer cells dramatically reduces secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, including β1 integrin ligands and metalloproteinases. On the other hand, overexpression of the pro-invasive hMENAΔv6 increases fibronectin production. In primary tumors high hMENA11a correlates with low stromal fibronectin and a favorable clinical outcome of early node-negative non-small-cell lung cancer patients. These data provide new insights into the roles of hMENA11a and hMENAΔv6 in the druggable β1 integrin-ECM signaling axis and allow stratification of patient risk, guiding their clinical management.
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Wang DD, Jin Q, Wang LL, Han SF, Chen YB, Sun GD, Sun SF, Sun SW, Wang T, Liu FJ, Wang P, Shi B. The significance of ENAH in carcinogenesis and prognosis in gastric cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:72466-72479. [PMID: 29069803 PMCID: PMC5641146 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.19801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The ENAH gene, which encodes a member of the enabled/vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (Ena/VASP) family of proteins, is involved in the assembly of actin filaments required for cell adhesion and motility. Recent studies show overexpressed ENAH in several cancer types, and ENAH correlates with tumor invasiveness. This study aimed to investigate the expression and function of ENAH in primary gastric adenocarcinoma, and its prognostic significance. We found significantly increased mRNA (P = 0.0283) and protein (P = 0.0301) expression of ENAH in gastric cancer tissues. ENAH expression markedly associated with tumor size (P < 0.001), T stage (P < 0.001), N stage (P = 0.001), TNM stage (P < 0.001) and prognosis (P < 0.001). Cox regression analyses revealed ENAH expression as an independent predictor of overall survival (P = 0.019). We also analyzed data of 155 gastric cancer cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and found that ENAH expression significantly correlated with age (P = 0.003), T stage (P = 0.023) and prognosis (P = 0.05). Furthermore, the function of ENAH in cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells was analyzed in vitro. Knockdown of ENAH expression suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion in MKN45 cells. Conversely, overexpression of ENAH promoted cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion in MGC803 cells. Our research suggests that ENAH might play promoting functions in carcinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer, and may serve as a valuable prognostic marker for primary gastric adenocarcinoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Dan Wang
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
| | - Qun Jin
- The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei-Lei Wang
- Key Laboratory for Applied Microbiology of Shandong Province, Ecology Institute of Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan 250014, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Fang Han
- The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command, Jinan 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Bing Chen
- Center of Genetic & Prenatal Diagnosis, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Dong Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250031, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Fei Sun
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Wang Sun
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Wang
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan-Jie Liu
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Precision Instrument and Opto Electronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China.,Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Shi
- Shandong Medicinal Biotechnology Centre, Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province, Back and Neck Pain Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250062, People's Republic of China
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10
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Oudin MJ, Barbier L, Schäfer C, Kosciuk T, Miller MA, Han S, Jonas O, Lauffenburger DA, Gertler FB. MENA Confers Resistance to Paclitaxel in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 16:143-155. [PMID: 27811011 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Taxane therapy remains the standard of care for triple-negative breast cancer. However, high frequencies of recurrence and progression in treated patients indicate that metastatic breast cancer cells can acquire resistance to this drug. The actin regulatory protein MENA and particularly its invasive isoform, MENAINV, are established drivers of metastasis. MENAINV expression is significantly correlated with metastasis and poor outcome in human patients with breast cancer. We investigated whether MENA isoforms might play a role in driving resistance to chemotherapeutics. We find that both MENA and MENAINV confer resistance to the taxane paclitaxel, but not to the widely used DNA-damaging agents doxorubicin or cisplatin. Furthermore, paclitaxel treatment does not attenuate growth of MENAINV-driven metastatic lesions. Mechanistically, MENA isoform expression alters the ratio of dynamic and stable microtubule populations in paclitaxel-treated cells. MENA expression also increases MAPK signaling in response to paclitaxel treatment. Decreasing ERK phosphorylation by co-treatment with MEK inhibitor restored paclitaxel sensitivity by driving microtubule stabilization in MENA isoform-expressing cells. Our results reveal a novel mechanism of taxane resistance in highly metastatic breast cancer cells and identify a combination therapy to overcome such resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(1); 143-55. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeleine J Oudin
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Lucie Barbier
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,ENS-Cachan, Cachan, France
| | - Claudia Schäfer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Tatsiana Kosciuk
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Miles A Miller
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sangyoon Han
- Lydia Hill Department for Bioinformatics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Oliver Jonas
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas A Lauffenburger
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Frank B Gertler
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. .,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
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11
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Balsamo M, Mondal C, Carmona G, McClain LM, Riquelme DN, Tadros J, Ma D, Vasile E, Condeelis JS, Lauffenburger DA, Gertler FB. The alternatively-included 11a sequence modifies the effects of Mena on actin cytoskeletal organization and cell behavior. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35298. [PMID: 27748415 PMCID: PMC5066228 DOI: 10.1038/srep35298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
During tumor progression, alternative splicing gives rise to different Mena protein isoforms. We analyzed how Mena11a, an isoform enriched in epithelia and epithelial-like cells, affects Mena-dependent regulation of actin dynamics and cell behavior. While other Mena isoforms promote actin polymerization and drive membrane protrusion, we find that Mena11a decreases actin polymerization and growth factor-stimulated membrane protrusion at lamellipodia. Ectopic Mena11a expression slows mesenchymal-like cell motility, while isoform-specific depletion of endogenous Mena11a in epithelial-like tumor cells perturbs cell:cell junctions and increases membrane protrusion and overall cell motility. Mena11a can dampen membrane protrusion and reduce actin polymerization in the absence of other Mena isoforms, indicating that it is not simply an inactive Mena isoform. We identify a phosphorylation site within 11a that is required for some Mena11a-specific functions. RNA-seq data analysis from patient cohorts demonstrates that the difference between mRNAs encoding constitutive Mena sequences and those containing the 11a exon correlates with metastasis in colorectal cancer, suggesting that 11a exon exclusion contributes to invasive phenotypes and leads to poor clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Balsamo
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Chandrani Mondal
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guillaume Carmona
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Leslie M McClain
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daisy N Riquelme
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jenny Tadros
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Duan Ma
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Eliza Vasile
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - John S Condeelis
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Gruss Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Douglas A Lauffenburger
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Frank B Gertler
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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12
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Melchionna R, Iapicca P, Di Modugno F, Trono P, Sperduti I, Fassan M, Cataldo I, Rusev BC, Lawlor RT, Diodoro MG, Milella M, Grazi GL, Bissell MJ, Scarpa A, Nisticò P. The pattern of hMENA isoforms is regulated by TGF-β1 in pancreatic cancer and may predict patient outcome. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1221556. [PMID: 28123868 PMCID: PMC5213039 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1221556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 07/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease in need of prognostic markers to address therapeutic choices. We have previously shown that alternative splicing of the actin regulator, hMENA, generates hMENA11a, and hMENAΔv6 isoforms with opposite roles in cell invasion. We examined the expression pattern of hMENA isoforms by immunohistochemistry, using anti-pan hMENA and specific anti-hMENA11a antibodies, in 285 PDACs, 15 PanINs, 10 pancreatitis, and normal pancreas. Pan hMENA immunostaining, absent in normal pancreas and low-grade PanINs, was weak in PanIN-3 and had higher levels in virtually all PDACs with 64% of cases showing strong staining. Conversely, the anti-invasive hMENA11a isoform only showed strong staining in 26% of PDAC. The absence of hMENA11a in a subset (34%) of pan-hMENA-positive tumors significantly correlated with poor outcome. The functional effects of hMENA isoforms were analyzed by loss and gain of function experiments in TGF-β1-treated PDAC cell lines. hMENA11a knock-down in PDAC cell lines affected cell-cell adhesion but not invasion. TGF-β1 cooperated with β-catenin signaling to upregulate hMENA and hMENAΔv6 expression but not hMENA11a In the absence of hMENA11a, the hMENA/hMENAΔv6 up-regulation is crucial for SMAD2-mediated TGF-β1 signaling and TGF-β1-induced EMT. Since the hMENA isoform expression pattern correlates with patient outcome, the data suggest that hMENA splicing and related pathways are novel key players in pancreatic tumor microenvironment and may represent promising targets for the development of new prognostic and therapeutic tools in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Melchionna
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Iapicca
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Sperduti
- Biostatistics and Scientific Direction, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Fassan
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Ivana Cataldo
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Borislav C Rusev
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | | | - Michele Milella
- Medical Oncology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- Hepato-pancreato-biliary Surgery Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Mina J Bissell
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California , CA, USA
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- ARC-NET Research Center, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University of Verona , Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
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13
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Trono P, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P. hMENA(11a), a hMENA isoform sending survival signals. Mol Cell Oncol 2015; 3:e1083648. [PMID: 27308605 PMCID: PMC4905527 DOI: 10.1080/23723556.2015.1083648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Human MENA11a (hMENA11a), an epithelial-associated isoform of the actin binding protein enabled homolog (ENAH, also known as mammalian ENA [MENA]), is upregulated and phosphorylated following the activation of human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) 1, HER2, and HER3. Here, we reveal a novel role of this isoform in sustaining cell survival and propose hMENA11a as a marker of HER3 activation and resistance to phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibition therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Trono
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics and Technological Innovation, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute , Rome, Italy
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