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Ferro A, Bottosso M, Dieci MV, Scagliori E, Miglietta F, Aldegheri V, Bonanno L, Caumo F, Guarneri V, Griguolo G, Pasello G. Clinical applications of radiomics and deep learning in breast and lung cancer: A narrative literature review on current evidence and future perspectives. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 203:104479. [PMID: 39151838 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Radiomics, analysing quantitative features from medical imaging, has rapidly become an emerging field in translational oncology. Radiomics has been investigated in several neoplastic malignancies as it might allow for a non-invasive tumour characterization and for the identification of predictive and prognostic biomarkers. Over the last few years, evidence has been accumulating regarding potential clinical applications of machine learning in many crucial moments of cancer patients' history. However, the incorporation of radiomics in clinical decision-making process is still limited by low data reproducibility and study variability. Moreover, the need for prospective validations and standardizations is emerging. In this narrative review, we summarize current evidence regarding radiomic applications in high-incidence cancers (breast and lung) for screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment choice, response, and clinical outcome evaluation. We also discuss pro and cons of the radiomic approach, suggesting possible solutions to critical issues which might invalidate radiomics studies and propose future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Ferro
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Michele Bottosso
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy
| | - Maria Vittoria Dieci
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy.
| | - Elena Scagliori
- Radiology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Federica Miglietta
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy
| | - Vittoria Aldegheri
- Radiology Unit, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Laura Bonanno
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Francesca Caumo
- Unit of Breast Radiology, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy
| | - Valentina Guarneri
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy
| | - Gaia Griguolo
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy
| | - Giulia Pasello
- Division of Medical Oncology 2, Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV - IRCCS, via Gattamelata 64, Padua 35128, Italy; Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, Padova 35128, Italy
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Ma Y, Shih CH, Cheng J, Chen HC, Wang LJ, Tan Y, Chiu YC, Chen YC. High-Throughput Empirical and Virtual Screening to Discover Novel Inhibitors of Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells in Breast Cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.23.614522. [PMID: 39386568 PMCID: PMC11463688 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.23.614522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Therapy resistance in breast cancer is increasingly attributed to polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), which arise through whole-genome doubling and exhibit heightened resilience to standard treatments. Characterized by enlarged nuclei and increased DNA content, these cells tend to be dormant under therapeutic stress, driving disease relapse. Despite their critical role in resistance, strategies to effectively target PGCCs are limited, largely due to the lack of high-throughput methods for assessing their viability. Traditional assays lack the sensitivity needed to detect PGCC-specific elimination, prompting the development of novel approaches. To address this challenge, we developed a high-throughput single-cell morphological analysis workflow designed to differentiate compounds that selectively inhibit non-PGCCs, PGCCs, or both. Using this method, we screened a library of 2,726 FDA Phase 1-approved drugs, identifying promising anti-PGCC candidates, including proteasome inhibitors, FOXM1, CHK, and macrocyclic lactones. Notably, RNA-Seq analysis of cells treated with the macrocyclic lactone Pyronaridine revealed AXL inhibition as a potential strategy for targeting PGCCs. Although our single-cell morphological analysis pipeline is powerful, empirically testing all existing compounds is impractical and inefficient. To overcome this limitation, we trained a machine learning model to predict anti-PGCC efficacy in silico , integrating chemical fingerprints and compound descriptions from prior publications and databases. The model demonstrated a high correlation with experimental outcomes and predicted efficacious compounds in an expanded library of over 6,000 drugs. Among the top-ranked predictions, we experimentally validated two compounds as potent PGCC inhibitors. These findings underscore the synergistic potential of integrating high-throughput empirical screening with machine learning-based virtual screening to accelerate the discovery of novel therapies, particularly for targeting therapy-resistant PGCCs in breast cancer.
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Chiang CC, Anne R, Chawla P, Shaw RM, He S, Rock EC, Zhou M, Cheng J, Gong YN, Chen YC. Deep learning unlocks label-free viability assessment of cancer spheroids in microfluidics. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3169-3182. [PMID: 38804084 PMCID: PMC11165951 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00197d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in cancer treatment, refining therapeutic agents remains a critical task for oncologists. Precise evaluation of drug effectiveness necessitates the use of 3D cell culture instead of traditional 2D monolayers. Microfluidic platforms have enabled high-throughput drug screening with 3D models, but current viability assays for 3D cancer spheroids have limitations in reliability and cytotoxicity. This study introduces a deep learning model for non-destructive, label-free viability estimation based on phase-contrast images, providing a cost-effective, high-throughput solution for continuous spheroid monitoring in microfluidics. Microfluidic technology facilitated the creation of a high-throughput cancer spheroid platform with approximately 12 000 spheroids per chip for drug screening. Validation involved tests with eight conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, revealing a strong correlation between viability assessed via LIVE/DEAD staining and phase-contrast morphology. Extending the model's application to novel compounds and cell lines not in the training dataset yielded promising results, implying the potential for a universal viability estimation model. Experiments with an alternative microscopy setup supported the model's transferability across different laboratories. Using this method, we also tracked the dynamic changes in spheroid viability during the course of drug administration. In summary, this research integrates a robust platform with high-throughput microfluidic cancer spheroid assays and deep learning-based viability estimation, with broad applicability to various cell lines, compounds, and research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Rajiv Anne
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Pooja Chawla
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Rachel M Shaw
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Sarah He
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Biological Sciences, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Edwin C Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Jinxiong Cheng
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Yi-Nan Gong
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
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Zhou M, Ma Y, Chiang CC, Rock EC, Butler SC, Anne R, Yatsenko S, Gong Y, Chen YC. Single-cell morphological and transcriptome analysis unveil inhibitors of polyploid giant breast cancer cells in vitro. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1301. [PMID: 38129519 PMCID: PMC10739852 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05674-5] [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: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence suggests that breast cancer therapeutic resistance and relapse can be driven by polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs). The number of PGCCs increases with the stages of disease and therapeutic stress. Given the importance of PGCCs, it remains challenging to eradicate them. To discover effective anti-PGCC compounds, there is an unmet need to rapidly distinguish compounds that kill non-PGCCs, PGCCs, or both. Here, we establish a single-cell morphological analysis pipeline with a high throughput and great precision to characterize dynamics of individual cells. In this manner, we screen a library to identify promising compounds that inhibit all cancer cells or only PGCCs (e.g., regulators of HDAC, proteasome, and ferroptosis). Additionally, we perform scRNA-Seq to reveal altered cell cycle, metabolism, and ferroptosis sensitivity in breast PGCCs. The combination of single-cell morphological and molecular investigation reveals promising anti-PGCC strategies for breast cancer treatment and other malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Zhou
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Yushu Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Chun-Cheng Chiang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Edwin C Rock
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Samuel Charles Butler
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
| | - Rajiv Anne
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Svetlana Yatsenko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yinan Gong
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Yu-Chih Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, 5115 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15232, USA.
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
- CMU-Pitt Ph.D. Program in Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3420 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA.
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Serrano A, Weber T, Berthelet J, El-Saafin F, Gadipally S, Charafe-Jauffret E, Ginestier C, Mariadason JM, Oakes SR, Britt K, Naik SH, Merino D. Experimental and spontaneous metastasis assays can result in divergence in clonal architecture. Commun Biol 2023; 6:821. [PMID: 37550477 PMCID: PMC10406815 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05167-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Intratumoural heterogeneity is associated with poor outcomes in breast cancer. To understand how malignant clones survive and grow in metastatic niches, in vivo models using cell lines and patient-derived xenografts (PDX) have become the gold standard. Injections of cancer cells in orthotopic sites (spontaneous metastasis assays) or into the vasculature (experimental metastasis assays) have been used interchangeably to study the metastatic cascade from early events or post-intravasation, respectively. However, less is known about how these different routes of injection impact heterogeneity. Herein we directly compared the clonality of spontaneous and experimental metastatic assays using the human cell line MDA-MB-231 and a PDX model. Genetic barcoding was used to study the fitness of the subclones in primary and metastatic sites. Using spontaneous assays, we found that intraductal injections resulted in less diverse tumours compared to other routes of injections. Using experimental metastasis assays via tail vein injection of barcoded MDA-MB-231 cells, we also observed an asymmetry in metastatic heterogeneity between lung and liver that was not observed using spontaneous metastasis assays. These results demonstrate that these assays can result in divergent clonal outputs in terms of metastatic heterogeneity and provide a better understanding of the biases inherent to each technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Serrano
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Tom Weber
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Jean Berthelet
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Farrah El-Saafin
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Sreeja Gadipally
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Emmanuelle Charafe-Jauffret
- CRCM, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Epithelial Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory, Equipe labellisée LIGUE contre le cancer, Marseille, 13009, France
| | - Christophe Ginestier
- CRCM, Inserm, CNRS, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille University, Epithelial Stem Cells and Cancer Laboratory, Equipe labellisée LIGUE contre le cancer, Marseille, 13009, France
| | - John M Mariadason
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Samantha R Oakes
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010, Australia
| | - Kara Britt
- Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention Lab, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Shalin H Naik
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Delphine Merino
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia.
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia.
- Immunology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
- Department of Medical Biology, The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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Henriet E, Knutsdottir H, Grasset EM, Dunworth M, Haynes M, Bader JS, Ewald AJ. Triple negative breast tumors contain heterogeneous cancer cells expressing distinct KRAS-dependent collective and disseminative invasion programs. Oncogene 2023; 42:737-747. [PMID: 36604566 PMCID: PMC10760065 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02586-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Inter-patient and intra-tumoral heterogeneity complicate the identification of predictive biomarkers and effective treatments for basal triple negative breast cancer (b-TNBC). Invasion is the initiating event in metastasis and can occur by both collective and single-cell mechanisms. We cultured primary organoids from a b-TNBC genetically engineered mouse model in 3D collagen gels to characterize their invasive behavior. We observed that organoids from the same tumor presented different phenotypes that we classified as non-invasive, collective and disseminative. To identify molecular regulators driving these invasive phenotypes, we developed a workflow to isolate individual organoids from the collagen gels based on invasive morphology and perform RNA sequencing. We next tested the requirement of differentially regulated genes for invasion using shRNA knock-down. Strikingly, KRAS was required for both collective and disseminative phenotypes. We then performed a drug screen targeting signaling nodes upstream and downstream of KRAS. We found that inhibition of EGFR, MAPK/ERK, or PI3K/AKT signaling reduced invasion. Of these, ERK inhibition was striking for its ability to potently inhibit collective invasion and dissemination. We conclude that different cancer cells in the same b-TNBC tumor can express different metastatic molecular programs and identified KRAS and ERK as essential regulators of collective and single cell dissemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Henriet
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Hildur Knutsdottir
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Eloise M Grasset
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Matthew Dunworth
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Meagan Haynes
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Joel S Bader
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Andrew J Ewald
- Department of Cell Biology, Center for Cell Dynamics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Highly Metastatic Subpopulation of TNBC Cells Has Limited Iron Metabolism and Is a Target of Iron Chelators. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020468. [PMID: 36672419 PMCID: PMC9856351 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Excess iron is known to be a risk factor of carcinogenesis. Although iron chelators show anti-cancer effects, they have not been used successfully to treat cancer patients. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a disease with poor prognosis without effective treatments. Thus, we aimed to evaluate a possibility of iron chelators as a therapy for TNBC. Deferasirox (DFX), an iron chelator, suppressed the growth of 4T1 murine TNBC cell line cells in vitro and in vivo. Lung metastasis was further significantly reduced, leading to the hypothesis that iron metabolism between metastatic and non-metastatic cells may be different. An analysis of existing database demonstrated that the expression of iron-uptake genes was significantly suppressed in TNBC cells that metastasized to lymph nodes or lungs compared to those in primary tumors. A highly metastatic clone of the murine 4T1 TNBC cells (4T1-HM) did not proliferate well under iron-rich or iron-depleted conditions by iron chelators compared to a low-metastatic clone (4T1-LM). Bulk RNA-seq analysis of RNA from 4T1-HM and 4T1-LM cells suggested that the PI3K-AKT pathway might be responsible for this difference. Indeed, DFX suppressed the proliferation via the AKT-mTOR pathway in 4T1-HM and the human MDA-MB-231 cells, a human mesenchymal-like TNBC cell line. DFX also suppressed the growth of 4T1-HM tumors in comparison to 4T1-LM tumors, and reduced lung metastases after surgical resection of primary 4T1 tumors. These results indicated, for the first time, that highly metastatic TNBC cells have limited iron metabolism, and they can be more effectively targeted by iron chelators.
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EZH2-H3K27me3 mediated KRT14 upregulation promotes TNBC peritoneal metastasis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7344. [PMID: 36446780 PMCID: PMC9708848 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35059-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) has a poor prognosis and adverse clinical outcomes among all breast cancer subtypes as there is no available targeted therapy. Overexpression of Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) has been shown to correlate with TNBC's poor prognosis, but the contribution of EZH2 catalytic (H3K27me3) versus non-catalytic EZH2 (NC-EZH2) function in TNBC progression remains elusive. We reveal that selective hyper-activation of functional EZH2 (H3K27me3) over NC-EZH2 alters TNBC metastatic landscape and fosters its peritoneal metastasis, particularly splenic. Instead of H3K27me3-mediated repression of gene expression; here, it promotes KRT14 transcription by attenuating binding of repressor SP1 to its promoter. Further, KRT14 loss significantly reduces TNBC migration, invasion, and peritoneal metastasis. Consistently, human TNBC metastasis displays positive correlation between H3K27me3 and KRT14 levels. Finally, EZH2 knockdown or H3K27me3 inhibition by EPZ6438 reduces TNBC peritoneal metastasis. Altogether, our preclinical findings suggest a rationale for targeting TNBC with EZH2 inhibitors.
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9
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Selistre-de-Araujo HS, Pachane BC, Altei WF. Tumor heterogeneity and the dilemma of antioxidant therapies in cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:1074. [PMID: 36330399 PMCID: PMC9622474 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-4219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Heloisa Sobreiro Selistre-de-Araujo
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Bianca Cruz Pachane
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Physiological Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Wanessa Fernanda Altei
- Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
- Radiation Oncology Department, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, Brazil
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Crenn V, Amiaud J, Gomez-Brouchet A, Potiron V, Gouin F, Rosset P, Nail LRL, Vidal L, Bertin H, Brion R, Tran G, Verrecchia F, Corre I, Redini F. Signature of the vascular tumor microenvironment as a marker of the therapeutic response to doxorubicin in a preclinical model of osteosarcoma. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:1843-1854. [PMID: 35530297 PMCID: PMC9077066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Predicting a response of osteosarcoma patients to chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin or high-dose methotrexate cocktail, remains a challenge in the clinic. Moreover, the prognostic value of currently used necrosis analysis is debatable. New markers of the therapeutic response or the prognostic response are urgently needed. The microenvironment plays a key role in the vascularization of highly heterogeneous tumors. Using the syngeneic MOS-J mouse model of osteosarcoma, we focused our study on the immunohistochemistry of tumor vascularization in order to identify new vessel markers, and to search for potential markers of the therapeutic response. Endomucin+, CD31+, and α-SMA+-positive elements were quantified in control (n=6) and doxorubicin-treated (n=6) mice in three different intra-tumor locations. We also used co-labeling to assess CD31+/Endomucin+ and CD31+/α-SMA+ co-expression. We identified a central tumor zone with a low vascularization profile for all of these markers. We identified two distinct types of vessels: CD31+/Endomucin+ vessels with a sprouting, neo-angiogenic, interlaced appearance, and CD31+/α-SMA+ vessel with a well-defined, mature structure. Doxorubicin appeared to reduce CD31+ expression in the tumor invasion front. In the doxorubicin-sensitive model, there were four times more CD31+/α-SMA+ elements than in the poorly responsive model. Therefore, we propose a methodology based on immunohistochemistry and multiplexed immunofluorescence to use endomucin as a promising new vascular marker in the osteosarcoma model. Moreover, our results suggest that CD31+/α-SMA+ vessels could be considered to be indicators of vasculature normalization and they may be used as specific markers of a good therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Crenn
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Center Hôtel DieuNantes, France
| | - Jérôme Amiaud
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
| | - Anne Gomez-Brouchet
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, University Hospital Center of PurpanToulouse, France
| | - Vincent Potiron
- CRCINA, INSERM, University of Angers, University of NantesNantes, France
- Institut de Cancérologie de l’OuestSaint-Herblain, France
| | | | - Philippe Rosset
- Department of Orthopedics, Trousseau University Hospital CenterTours, France
| | - Louis-Romée Le Nail
- Department of Orthopedics, Trousseau University Hospital CenterTours, France
| | - Luciano Vidal
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Ecole Centrale Nantes, Rapid Manufacturing Platform, GEM UMR 6183 CNRS LaboratoryNantes, France
| | - Helios Bertin
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Center Hôtel DieuNantes, France
| | - Régis Brion
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
| | - Guillaume Tran
- Department of Orthopedics, University Hospital Center Hôtel DieuNantes, France
| | - Franck Verrecchia
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
| | - Isabelle Corre
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
| | - Françoise Redini
- Nantes UniversityINSERM UMR 1238, Nantes, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University of NantesNantes, France
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11
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Frankman ZD, Jiang L, Schroeder JA, Zohar Y. Application of Microfluidic Systems for Breast Cancer Research. MICROMACHINES 2022; 13:152. [PMID: 35208277 PMCID: PMC8877872 DOI: 10.3390/mi13020152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control; breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. Due to early screening and advancements in therapeutic interventions, deaths from breast cancer have declined over time, although breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Most deaths are due to metastasis, as cancer cells from the primary tumor in the breast form secondary tumors in remote sites in distant organs. Over many years, the basic biological mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, as well as the subsequent metastatic cascade, have been studied using cell cultures and animal models. These models, although extremely useful for delineating cellular mechanisms, are poor predictors of physiological responses, primarily due to lack of proper microenvironments. In the last decade, microfluidics has emerged as a technology that could lead to a paradigm shift in breast cancer research. With the introduction of the organ-on-a-chip concept, microfluidic-based systems have been developed to reconstitute the dominant functions of several organs. These systems enable the construction of 3D cellular co-cultures mimicking in vivo tissue-level microenvironments, including that of breast cancer. Several reviews have been presented focusing on breast cancer formation, growth and metastasis, including invasion, intravasation, and extravasation. In this review, realizing that breast cancer can recur decades following post-treatment disease-free survival, we expand the discussion to account for microfluidic applications in the important areas of breast cancer detection, dormancy, and therapeutic development. It appears that, in the future, the role of microfluidics will only increase in the effort to eradicate breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D. Frankman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Linan Jiang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Joyce A. Schroeder
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Yitshak Zohar
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
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12
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Wardhani BWK, Louisa M, Watanabe Y, Setiabudy R, Kato M. TGF-β-Induced TMEPAI Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Doxorubicin-Treated Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells via SMAD3 and PI3K/AKT Pathway Alteration. BREAST CANCER-TARGETS AND THERAPY 2021; 13:529-538. [PMID: 34584450 PMCID: PMC8464328 DOI: 10.2147/bctt.s325429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and overexpression of drug efflux transporters have been reported to cause doxorubicin resistance. Our previous study indicated that TMEPAI (transmembrane prostate androgen-induced protein) attenuated doxorubicin sensitivity in triple-negative breast cancer cells. However, how TMEPAI contributes to doxorubicin resistance in TNBC remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of TMEPAI in doxorubicin resistance in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Methods We used BT549, triple-negative cells wild type (WT), and BT549 TMEPAI knock-out. Both cells were treated with TGF-β 2 ng/mL for 24 hours, followed by TGF-β 2 ng/mL and doxorubicin 12.9 nM for another 24 hours. Afterward, the cells were harvested and counted. Cells were further lysed and used for RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. We determined the expression levels of proliferation, apoptosis, EMT markers, and drug efflux transporters. Additionally, we investigated the expressions of PI3K as well as SMAD3 and AKT phosphorylation. Results TNBC cells were shown to be less sensitive to doxorubicin in the presence of TMEPAI. TMEPAI was shown to alleviate the mRNA expressions of apoptosis markers: Bax, Bcl2, Caspase-3, and Caspase-9. Our results indicated that the presence of TMEPAI greatly amplifies EMT and increases drug efflux transporter expressions after doxorubicin treatment. Furthermore, our findings demonstrated that TMEPAI reduced the action of doxorubicin in inhibiting SMAD3 phosphorylation. TMEPAI was also shown to modify the effect of doxorubicin by reducing PI3K expressions and Akt phosphorylation in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Conclusion Our findings indicate that TMEPAI promotes EMT and drug efflux transporters at least in part by shifting doxorubicin action from SMAD3 phosphorylation reduction to PI3K/AKT inhibition in triple-negative breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bantari W K Wardhani
- Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia.,Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Military Pharmacy, Indonesia Defense University, West Java, Indonesia
| | - Melva Louisa
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yukihide Watanabe
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Rianto Setiabudy
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Mitsuyasu Kato
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
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13
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Abraham HG, Ulintz PJ, Goo L, Yates JA, Little AC, Bao L, Wu Z, Merajver SD. RhoC Modulates Cell Junctions and Type I Interferon Response in Aggressive Breast Cancers. Front Oncol 2021; 11:712041. [PMID: 34513691 PMCID: PMC8428533 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.712041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastases are the leading cause of death in cancer patients. RhoC, a member of the Rho GTPase family, has been shown to facilitate metastasis of aggressive breast cancer cells by influencing motility, invasion, and chemokine secretion, but as yet there is no integrated model of the precise mechanism of how RhoC promotes metastasis. A common phenotypic characteristic of metastatic cells influenced by these mechanisms is dysregulation of cell-cell junctions. Thus, we set out to study how RhoA- and RhoC-GTPase influence the cell-cell junctions in aggressive breast cancers. We demonstrate that CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of RhoC in SUM 149 and MDA 231 breast cancer cells results in increased normalization of junctional integrity denoted by junction protein expression/colocalization. In functional assessments of junction stability, RhoC knockout cells have increased barrier integrity and increased cell-cell adhesion compared to wild-type cells. Whole exome RNA sequencing and targeted gene expression profiling demonstrate decreased expression of Type I interferon-stimulated genes in RhoC knockout cells compared to wild-type, and subsequent treatment with interferon-alpha resulted in significant increases in adhesion and decreases in invasiveness of wild-type cells and a dampened response to interferon-alpha stimulation with respect to adhesion and invasiveness in RhoC knockout cells. We delineate a key role of RhoC-GTPase in modulation of junctions and response to interferon, which supports inhibition of RhoC as a potential anti-invasion therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sofia D. Merajver
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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14
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Garlick JM, Sturlis SM, Bruno PA, Yates JA, Peiffer AL, Liu Y, Goo L, Bao L, De Salle SN, Tamayo-Castillo G, Brooks CL, Merajver SD, Mapp AK. Norstictic Acid Is a Selective Allosteric Transcriptional Regulator. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:9297-9302. [PMID: 34137598 PMCID: PMC8717358 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitors of transcriptional protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have high value both as tools and for therapeutic applications. The PPI network mediated by the transcriptional coactivator Med25, for example, regulates stress-response and motility pathways, and dysregulation of the PPI networks contributes to oncogenesis and metastasis. The canonical transcription factor binding sites within Med25 are large (∼900 Å2) and have little topology, and thus, they do not present an array of attractive small-molecule binding sites for inhibitor discovery. Here we demonstrate that the depsidone natural product norstictic acid functions through an alternative binding site to block Med25-transcriptional activator PPIs in vitro and in cell culture. Norstictic acid targets a binding site comprising a highly dynamic loop flanking one canonical binding surface, and in doing so, it both orthosterically and allosterically alters Med25-driven transcription in a patient-derived model of triple-negative breast cancer. These results highlight the potential of Med25 as a therapeutic target as well as the inhibitor discovery opportunities presented by structurally dynamic loops within otherwise challenging proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Garlick
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Steven M Sturlis
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Paul A Bruno
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Joel A Yates
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Amanda L Peiffer
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Yejun Liu
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Laura Goo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - LiWei Bao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Samantha N De Salle
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | | | - Charles L Brooks
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Sofia D Merajver
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Anna K Mapp
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
- Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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15
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Elango R, Vishnubalaji R, Shaath H, Alajez NM. Molecular subtyping and functional validation of TTK, TPX2, UBE2C, and LRP8 in sensitivity of TNBC to paclitaxel. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 20:601-614. [PMID: 33665229 PMCID: PMC7899947 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients exhibit variable responses to chemotherapy, suggesting an underlying molecular heterogeneity. In the current study, we analyzed publicly available transcriptome data from 360 TNBC and 88 normal breast tissues, which revealed activation of nucleosome and cell cycle as the hallmarks of TNBC. Mechanistic network analysis identified activation of FOXM1 and ERBB2, and suppression of TP53 and NURP1 networks in TNBC. Employing Iterative Clustering and Guide-gene Selection (ICGS), Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), and dimensionality reduction analyses, we classified TNBC into seven molecular subtypes, each exhibiting a unique molecular signature, including immune infiltration (CD19, CD8, and macrophages) and mesenchymal signature, which correlated with variable disease outcomes in a larger cohort (1,070) of BC. Mechanistically, depletion of TTK, TPX2, UBE2C, CDCA7, MELK, NFE2L3, DDX39A, and LRP8 led to substantial inhibition of colony formation of TNBC models, which was further enhanced in the presence of paclitaxel. Our data provide novel insights into the molecular heterogeneity of TNBC and identified TTK, TPX2, UBE2C, and LRP8 as main drivers of TNBC tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Elango
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha 00000, Qatar
| | - Radhakrishnan Vishnubalaji
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha 00000, Qatar
| | - Hibah Shaath
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha 00000, Qatar.,College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Nehad M Alajez
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha 00000, Qatar.,College of Health & Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
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16
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Monterosso ME, Futrega K, Lott WB, Vela I, Williams ED, Doran MR. Using the Microwell-mesh to culture microtissues in vitro and as a carrier to implant microtissues in vivo into mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5118. [PMID: 33664329 PMCID: PMC7933425 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84154-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) are commonly propagated by serial transplantation of "pieces" of tumour in mice, but the cellular composition of pieces is not standardised. Herein, we optimised a microwell platform, the Microwell-mesh, to aggregate precise numbers of cells into arrays of microtissues, and then implanted the Microwell-mesh into NOD-scid IL2γ-/- (NSG) mice to study microtissue growth. First, mesh pore size was optimised using microtissues assembled from bone marrow-derived stromal cells, with mesh opening dimensions of 100×100 μm achieving superior microtissue vascularisation relative to mesh with 36×36 μm mesh openings. The optimised Microwell-mesh was used to assemble and implant PCa cell microtissue arrays (hereafter microtissues formed from cancer cells are referred to as microtumours) into mice. PCa cells were enriched from three different PDX lines, LuCaP35, LuCaP141, and BM18. 3D microtumours showed greater in vitro viability than 2D cultures, but neither proliferated. Microtumours were successfully established in mice 81% (57 of 70), 67% (4 of 6), 76% (19 of 25) for LuCaP35, LuCaP141, and BM18 PCa cells, respectively. Microtumour growth was tracked using live animal imaging for size or bioluminescence signal. If augmented with further imaging advances and cell bar coding, this microtumour model could enable greater resolution of PCa PDX drug response, and lead to the more efficient use of animals. The concept of microtissue assembly in the Microwell-mesh, and implantation in vivo may also have utility in implantation of islets, hair follicles or other organ-specific cells that self-assemble into 3D structures, providing an important bridge between in vitro assembly of mini-organs and in vivo implantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Monterosso
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kathryn Futrega
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies (CBT), School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering (MMPE), Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - William B Lott
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Centre for Biomedical Technologies (CBT), School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering (MMPE), Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ian Vela
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q) and Queensland Bladder Cancer initiative (QBCI), Brisbane, Australia.,Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q) and Queensland Bladder Cancer initiative (QBCI), Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael R Doran
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. .,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia. .,Centre for Biomedical Technologies (CBT), School of Mechanical, Medical, and Process Engineering (MMPE), Science and Engineering Faculty (SEF), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia. .,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q) and Queensland Bladder Cancer initiative (QBCI), Brisbane, Australia. .,Mater Research Institute - University of Queensland (UQ), Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, Australia.
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