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He C. Activating Invasion and Metastasis in Small Cell Lung Cancer: Role of the Tumour Immune Microenvironment and Mechanisms of Vasculogenesis, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Cell Migration, and Organ Tropism. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e70018. [PMID: 39376011 PMCID: PMC11458887 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.70018] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) harbours the most aggressive phenotype of all lung cancers to correlate with its bleak prognosis. The aggression of SCLC is partially attributable to its strong metastatic tendencies. The biological processes facilitating the metastasis in SCLC are still poorly understood and garnering a deeper understanding of these processes may enable the exploration of additional targets against this cancer hallmark in the treatment of SCLC. RECENT FINDINGS This narrative review will discuss the proposed molecular mechanisms by which the cancer hallmark of activating invasion and metastasis is featured in SCLC through important steps of the metastatic pathway, and address the various molecular targets that may be considered for therapeutic intervention. The tumour immune microenvironment plays an important role in facilitating immunotherapy resistance, whilst the poor infiltration of natural killer cells in particular fosters a pro-metastatic environment in SCLC. SCLC vasculogenesis is achieved through VEGF expression and vascular mimicry, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition is facilitated by the expression of the transcriptional repressors of E-cadherin, the suppression of the Notch signalling pathway and tumour heterogeneity. Nuclear factor I/B, selectin and B1 integrin hold important roles in SCLC migration, whilst various molecular markers are expressed by SCLC to assist organ-specific homing during metastasis. The review will also discuss a recent article observing miR-1 mRNA upregulation as a potential therapeutic option in targeting the metastatic activity of SCLC. CONCLUSION Treatment of SCLC remains a clinical challenge due to its recalcitrant and aggressive nature. Amongst the many hallmarks used by SCLC to enable its aggressive behaviour, that of its ability to invade surrounding tissue and metastasise is particularly notable and understanding the molecular mechanisms in SCLC metastasis can identify therapeutic targets to attenuate SCLC aggression and improve mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl He
- Department of Oncology, Eastern HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneAustralia
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Tabei Y, Nakajima Y. IL-1β-activated PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways coordinately promote induction of partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:392. [PMID: 39118068 PMCID: PMC11308217 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01775-8] [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: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process in embryonic development, wound healing, organ fibrosis, and cancer metastasis. Previously, we and others have reported that proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induces EMT. However, the exact mechanisms, especially the signal transduction pathways, underlying IL-1β-mediated EMT are not yet completely understood. Here, we found that IL-1β stimulation leads to the partial EMT-like phenotype in human lung epithelial A549 cells, including the gain of mesenchymal marker (vimentin) and high migratory potential, without the complete loss of epithelial marker (E-cadherin). IL-1β-mediated partial EMT induction was repressed by PI3K inhibitor LY294002, indicating that the PI3K/AKT pathway plays a significant role in the induction. In addition, ERK1/2 inhibitor FR180204 markedly inhibited the IL-1β-mediated partial EMT induction, demonstrating that the MEK/ERK pathway was also involved in the induction. Furthermore, we found that the activation of the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways occurred downstream of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway and the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) pathway, respectively. Our findings suggest that the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways coordinately promote the IL-1β-mediated partial EMT induction. The inhibition of not one but both pathways is expected yield clinical benefits by preventing partial EMT-related disorders such as organ fibrosis and cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Tabei
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2217-14 Hayashi-Cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 761-0395, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiro Nakajima
- Health and Medical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2217-14 Hayashi-Cho, Takamatsu, Kagawa, 761-0395, Japan
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3
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Cheng YC, Zhang Y, Tripathi S, Harshavardhan BV, Jolly MK, Schiebinger G, Levine H, McDonald TO, Michor F. Reconstruction of single-cell lineage trajectories and identification of diversity in fates during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406842121. [PMID: 39093947 PMCID: PMC11317558 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406842121] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Exploring the complexity of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) unveils a diversity of potential cell fates; however, the exact timing and mechanisms by which early cell states diverge into distinct EMT trajectories remain unclear. Studying these EMT trajectories through single-cell RNA sequencing is challenging due to the necessity of sacrificing cells for each measurement. In this study, we employed optimal-transport analysis to reconstruct the past trajectories of different cell fates during TGF-beta-induced EMT in the MCF10A cell line. Our analysis revealed three distinct trajectories leading to low EMT, partial EMT, and high EMT states. Cells along the partial EMT trajectory showed substantial variations in the EMT signature and exhibited pronounced stemness. Throughout this EMT trajectory, we observed a consistent downregulation of the EED and EZH2 genes. This finding was validated by recent inhibitor screens of EMT regulators and CRISPR screen studies. Moreover, we applied our analysis of early-phase differential gene expression to gene sets associated with stemness and proliferation, pinpointing ITGB4, LAMA3, and LAMB3 as genes differentially expressed in the initial stages of the partial versus high EMT trajectories. We also found that CENPF, CKS1B, and MKI67 showed significant upregulation in the high EMT trajectory. While the first group of genes aligns with findings from previous studies, our work uniquely pinpoints the precise timing of these upregulations. Finally, the identification of the latter group of genes sheds light on potential cell cycle targets for modulating EMT trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chen Cheng
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02215
- Center for Cancer Evolution, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing100021, China
| | - Shubham Tripathi
- Yale Center for Systems and Engineering Immunology and Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
| | - B. V. Harshavardhan
- Interdisciplinary Mathematics Initiative, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore560012, India
| | - Geoffrey Schiebinger
- Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BCV6T 1Z2, Canada
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Physics, Northeastern University, Boston, MA02115
| | - Thomas O. McDonald
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02215
- Center for Cancer Evolution, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
| | - Franziska Michor
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA02215
- Center for Cancer Evolution, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA02138
- The Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA02138
- The Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA02115
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4
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Nian Z, Wang D, Wang H, Liu W, Ma Z, Yan J, Cao Y, Li J, Zhao Q, Liu Z. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals the transcriptional program underlying tumor progression and metastasis in neuroblastoma. Front Med 2024; 18:690-707. [PMID: 39014137 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-024-1081-7] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is one of the most common childhood malignancies. Sixty percent of patients present with widely disseminated clinical signs at diagnosis and exhibit poor outcomes. However, the molecular mechanisms triggering NB metastasis remain largely uncharacterized. In this study, we generated a transcriptomic atlas of 15 447 NB cells from eight NB samples, including paired samples of primary tumors and bone marrow metastases. We used time-resolved analysis to chart the evolutionary trajectory of NB cells from the primary tumor to the metastases in the same patient and identified a common 'starter' subpopulation that initiates tumor development and metastasis. The 'starter' population exhibited high expression levels of multiple cell cycle-related genes, indicating the important role of cell cycle upregulation in NB tumor progression. In addition, our evolutionary trajectory analysis demonstrated the involvement of partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (p-EMT) along the metastatic route from the primary site to the bone marrow. Our study provides insights into the program driving NB metastasis and presents a signature of metastasis-initiating cells as an independent prognostic indicator and potential therapeutic target to inhibit the initiation of NB metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Nian
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Wenxu Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Zhenyi Ma
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yanna Cao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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5
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Böpple K, Oren Y, Henry WS, Dong M, Weller S, Thiel J, Kleih M, Gaißler A, Zipperer D, Kopp HG, Aylon Y, Oren M, Essmann F, Liang C, Aulitzky WE. ATF3 characterizes aggressive drug-tolerant persister cells in HGSOC. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:290. [PMID: 38658567 PMCID: PMC11043376 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06674-x] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) represents the most common and lethal subtype of ovarian cancer. Despite initial response to platinum-based standard therapy, patients commonly suffer from relapse that likely originates from drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cells. We generated isogenic clones of treatment-naïve and cisplatin-tolerant persister HGSOC cells. In addition, single-cell RNA sequencing of barcoded cells was performed in a xenograft model with HGSOC cell lines after platinum-based therapy. Published single-cell RNA-sequencing data from neo-adjuvant and non-treated HGSOC patients and patient data from TCGA were analyzed. DTP-derived cells exhibited morphological alterations and upregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. An aggressive subpopulation of DTP-derived cells showed high expression of the stress marker ATF3. Knockdown of ATF3 enhanced the sensitivity of aggressive DTP-derived cells to cisplatin-induced cell death, implying a role for ATF3 stress response in promoting a drug tolerant persister cell state. Furthermore, single cell lineage tracing to detect transcriptional changes in a HGSOC cell line-derived xenograft relapse model showed that cells derived from relapsed solid tumors express increased levels of EMT and multiple endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers, including ATF3. Single cell RNA sequencing of epithelial cells from four HGSOC patients also identified a small cell population resembling DTP cells in all samples. Moreover, analysis of TCGA data from 259 HGSOC patients revealed a significant progression-free survival advantage for patients with low expression of the ATF3-associated partial EMT genes. These findings suggest that increased ATF3 expression together with partial EMT promote the development of aggressive DTP, and thereby relapse in HGSOC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Böpple
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Yaara Oren
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel
| | - Whitney S Henry
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, 455 Main St., Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Meng Dong
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Sandra Weller
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
- Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases (RBCT), Auerbachstr. 110, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Julia Thiel
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Markus Kleih
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Andrea Gaißler
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Damaris Zipperer
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Kopp
- Robert Bosch Hospital, Auerbachstr. 110, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
- Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases (RBCT), Auerbachstr. 110, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Yael Aylon
- Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl St, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Moshe Oren
- Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl St, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Frank Essmann
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch - Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and University of Tuebingen, Auerbachstr. 112, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
- Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases (RBCT), Auerbachstr. 110, 70376, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Chunguang Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter Am Hubland, University of Wuerzburg, 97074, Wuerzburg, Germany.
- Institute of Immunology, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Leutragraben 3, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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6
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Babadag S, Altundag-Erdogan Ö, Akkaya-Ulum YZ, Çelebi-Saltik B. The role of telocytes and miR-21-5p in tumorigenicity and metastasis of breast cancer stem cells. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:395. [PMID: 38446251 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09352-5] [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: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to investigate the roles of telocytes on the metastatic properties of breast cancer stem cells (CSCs), and to re-evaluate the effect of miR-21-5p expression on CSCs following the addition of telocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS Telocytes from human bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated/characterised. This was followed by the isolation/characterisation of CSCs from the MDA-MB-231. miR-21-5p was both overexpressed/inhibited in CSCs. Through co-culture studies, EMT transition and oncogenic properties of CSCs were investigated by analysing changes in ALDH1 and vimentin protein levels as well as changes in the ABCC11, SNAI1, LZTFL1, Oct 3/4, E- and N-cadherin gene expression levels. With the inhibition of miR-21-5p, significant increases in LZTFL and ABCC11 were observed with the addition of telocytes. The expression of the LZTFL gene, which decreased with the overexpression of miR-21-5p, increased in CSCs after co-culture with telocytes. While an increase expression of ABCC11, SNAI1, N-Cadherin, vimentin and ALDH was observed in CSCs after overexpression of miR-21-5p, significant decreases in these expressions were observed after co-culture with telocyte. CONCLUSIONS In our study, by gene/protein level analysis we demonstrated that telocytes may have the potential to reduce cancer metastasis through miR-21-5p in breast cancer progression and reduce EMT transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sena Babadag
- Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Özlem Altundag-Erdogan
- Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Yeliz Z Akkaya-Ulum
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey
| | - Betül Çelebi-Saltik
- Department of Stem Cell Sciences, Hacettepe University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
- Center for Stem Cell Research and Development, Hacettepe University, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
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Shakartalla SB, Ashmawy NS, Semreen MH, Fayed B, Al Shareef ZM, Jayakumar MN, Ibrahim S, Rahmani M, Hamdy R, Soliman SSM. 1H-NMR metabolomics analysis identifies hypoxanthine as a novel metastasis-associated metabolite in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:253. [PMID: 38167685 PMCID: PMC10762038 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50866-y] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in females, mainly because of metastasis. Oncometabolites, produced via metabolic reprogramming, can influence metastatic signaling cascades. Accordingly, and based on our previous results, we propose that metabolites from highly metastatic breast cancer cells behave differently from less-metastatic cells and may play a significant role in metastasis. For instance, we aim to identify these metabolites and their role in breast cancer metastasis. Less metastatic cells (MCF-7) were treated with metabolites secreted from highly metastatic cells (MDA-MB-231) and the gene expression of three epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers including E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin were examined. Some metabolites secreted from MDA-MB-231 cells significantly induced EMT activity. Specifically, hypoxanthine demonstrated a significant EMT effect and increased the migration and invasion effects of MCF-7 cells through a hypoxia-associated mechanism. Hypoxanthine exhibited pro-angiogenic effects via increasing the VEGF and PDGF gene expression and affected lipid metabolism by increasing the gene expression of PCSK-9. Notably, knockdown of purine nucleoside phosphorylase, a gene encoding for an important enzyme in the biosynthesis of hypoxanthine, and inhibition of hypoxanthine uptake caused a significant decrease in hypoxanthine-associated EMT effects. Collectively for the first time, hypoxanthine was identified as a novel metastasis-associated metabolite in breast cancer cells and represents a promising target for diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarra B Shakartalla
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Gezira, P.O. Box. 21111, Wadmedani, Sudan
| | - Naglaa S Ashmawy
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University, P.O. Box 4184, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, P.O. Box 11566, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammad H Semreen
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bahgat Fayed
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Product Department, National Research Centre, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Zainab M Al Shareef
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Manju N Jayakumar
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saleh Ibrahim
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Rahmani
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Biotechnology, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Khalifa University, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Hamdy
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, P.O. Box 44519, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Sameh S M Soliman
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
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8
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Motizuki M, Yokoyama T, Saitoh M, Miyazawa K. The Snail signaling branch downstream of the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway mediates Rho activation and subsequent stress fiber formation. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105580. [PMID: 38141763 PMCID: PMC10821601 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105580] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire malignant phenotypes through an epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is induced by environmental factors or extracellular signaling molecules, including transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). Among epithelial-mesenchymal transition-associated cell responses, cell morphological changes and cell motility are closely associated with remodeling of the actin stress fibers. Here, we examined the TGF-β signaling pathways leading to these cell responses. Through knockdown experiments in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells, we found that Smad3-mediated induction of Snail, but not that of Slug, is indispensable for morphological changes, stress fiber formation, and enhanced motility in cells stimulated with TGF-β. Ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells rescued the defect in morphological changes and stress fiber formation by TGF-β, indicating that the role of Smad3 in these responses is to upregulate Snail expression. Mechanistically, Snail is required for TGF-β-induced upregulation of Wnt5b, which in turn activates RhoA and subsequent stress fiber formation in cooperation with phosphoinositide 3-kinase. However, ectopic expression of Snail in SMAD3-knockout cells failed to rescue the defect in cell motility enhancement by TGF-β, indicating that activation of the Smad3/Snail/Wnt5b axis is indispensable but not sufficient for enhancing cell motility; a Smad3-dependent but Snail-independent pathway to activate Rac1 is additionally required. Therefore, the Smad3-dependent pathway leading to enhanced cell motility has two branches: a Snail-dependent branch to activate RhoA and a Snail-independent branch to activate Rac1. Coordinated activation of these branches, together with activation of non-Smad signaling pathways, mediates enhanced cell motility induced by TGF-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuyoshi Motizuki
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Takashi Yokoyama
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Masao Saitoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan; Center for Medical Education and Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Keiji Miyazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
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9
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Rainone P, Valtorta S, Villa C, Todde S, Cadamuro M, Bertoli G, Conconi D, Lavitrano M, Moresco RM. Evaluating [ 18F]FDG and [ 18F]FLT Radiotracers as Biomarkers of Response for Combined Therapy Outcome in Triple-Negative and Estrogen-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Models. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14124. [PMID: 37762429 PMCID: PMC10532149 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814124] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of death in women. A typical feature of BC cells is the metabolic shift toward increased glycolysis, which has become an interesting therapeutic target for metabolic drugs such as metformin (MET). Recently, the administration of the antihypertensive syrosingopine (SYRO) in combination with MET has shown a synergistic effect toward a variety of cancers. However, a fundamental need remains, which is the development of in vivo biomarkers that are able to detect early clinical response. In this study, we exploited a triple-negative murine BC cell line (4T1) and a metastatic ER+ murine BC cell line (TS/A) in order to investigate, in vivo, the early response to treatment, based on MET and/or SYRO administration, evaluating [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT as potential biomarkers via PET/CT. The study provides evidence that SYRO plus MET has a synergistic effect on tumor growth inhibition in both 4T1 and TS/A experimental models and has showed the highest efficacy on the TNBC xenograft mice (4T1) via the expression reduction in the lactate transporter MCT4 and in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition biomarker Snail, promoting its potential application in therapy settings. In addition, the selective reduction in the [18F]FLT tumor uptake (at 7 dd), observed in the SYRO plus MET treated mice in comparison with the vehicle group, suggests that this radiotracer could be potentially used as a biomarker for the early detection of therapy response, in both evaluated xenografts models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Rainone
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy;
| | - Silvia Valtorta
- Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy;
- NBFC National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Villa
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
| | - Sergio Todde
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy;
- Tecnomed Foundation, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20126 Monza, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Cadamuro
- Department of Medicine (DIMED), University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy;
- General Internal Medicine Unit, Padua University-Hospital, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - Gloria Bertoli
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy;
- NBFC National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Donatella Conconi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
| | - Marialuisa Lavitrano
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
| | - Rosa Maria Moresco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano—Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (P.R.); (C.V.); (S.T.); (D.C.); (M.L.)
- Nuclear Medicine Department, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
- Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology, National Research Council (IBFM-CNR), 20054 Segrate, Italy;
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10
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An Z, Liu W, Li W, Wei M, An C. Application of single-cell RNA sequencing in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Chin J Cancer Res 2023; 35:331-342. [PMID: 37691894 PMCID: PMC10485914 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2023.04.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing has been broadly applied to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) for characterizing the heterogeneity and genomic mutations of HNSCC benefiting from the advantage of single-cell resolution. We summarized most of the current studies and aimed to explore their research methods and ideas, as well as how to transform them into clinical applications. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, we found the differences in tumor cells' expression programs and differentiation tracks. The studies of immune microenvironment allowed us to distinguish immune cell subpopulations, the extensive expression of immune checkpoints, and the complex crosstalk network between immune cells and non-immune cells. For cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), single-cell RNA sequencing had made an irreplaceable contribution to the exploration of their differentiation status, specific CAFs markers, and the interaction with tumor cells and immune cells. In addition, we demonstrated in detail how single-cell RNA sequencing explored the HNSCC epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model and the mechanism of drug resistance, as well as its clinical value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohong An
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Wan Liu
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Wenbin Li
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Minghui Wei
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen Center, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Changming An
- Department of Head & Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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11
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Astore S, Baciarello G, Cerbone L, Calabrò F. Primary and acquired resistance to first-line therapy for clear cell renal cell carcinoma. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:517-546. [PMID: 37842234 PMCID: PMC10571064 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The introduction of first-line combinations had improved the outcomes for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) compared to sunitinib. However, some patients either have inherent resistance or develop resistance as a result of the treatment. Depending on the kind of therapy employed, many factors underlie resistance to systemic therapy. Angiogenesis and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), nevertheless, are inextricably linked. Although angiogenesis and the manipulation of the tumor microenvironment are linked to hypoxia, which emerges as a hallmark of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) pathogenesis, it is only one of the potential elements involved in the distinctive intra- and inter-tumor heterogeneity of RCC that is still dynamic. We may be able to more correctly predict therapy response and comprehend the mechanisms underlying primary or acquired resistance by integrating tumor genetic and immunological markers. In order to provide tools for patient selection and to generate hypotheses for the development of new strategies to overcome resistance, we reviewed the most recent research on the mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR).We can choose patients' treatments and cancer preventive strategies using an evolutionary approach thanks to the few evolutionary trajectories that characterize ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Astore
- Medical Oncology, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome 00152, Italy
| | | | - Linda Cerbone
- Medical Oncology, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome 00152, Italy
| | - Fabio Calabrò
- Medical Oncology, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome 00152, Italy
- Medical Oncology, IRCSS, National Cancer Institute Regina Elena, Rome 00128, Italy
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12
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"Pulsed Hypoxia" Gradually Reprograms Breast Cancer Fibroblasts into Pro-Tumorigenic Cells via Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032494. [PMID: 36768815 PMCID: PMC9916667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia arises in most growing solid tumors and can lead to pleotropic effects that potentially increase tumor aggressiveness and resistance to therapy through regulation of the expression of genes associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). The main goal of the current work was to obtain and investigate the intermediate phenotype of tumor cells undergoing the hypoxia-dependent transition from fibroblast to epithelial morphology. Primary breast cancer fibroblasts BrC4f, being cancer-associated fibroblasts, were subjected to one or two rounds of "pulsed hypoxia" (PH). PH induced transformation of fibroblast-shaped cells to semi-epithelial cells. Western blot analysis, fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry of transformed cells demonstrated the decrease in the mesenchymal markers vimentin and N-cad and an increase in the epithelial marker E-cad. These cells kept mesenchymal markers αSMA and S100A4 and high ALDH activity. Real-time PCR data of the cells after one (BrC4f_Hyp1) and two (BrC4f_Hyp2) rounds of PH showed consistent up-regulation of TWIST1 gene as an early response and ZEB1/2 and SLUG transcriptional activity as a subsequent response. Reversion of BrC4f_Hyp2 cells to normoxia conditions converted them to epithelial-like cells (BrC4e) with decreased expression of EMT genes and up-regulation of MET-related OVOL2 and c-MYC genes. Transplantation of BrC4f and BrC4f_Hyp2 cells into SCID mice showed the acceleration of tumor growth up to 61.6% for BrC4f_Hyp2 cells. To summarize, rounds of PH imitate the MET process of tumorigenesis in which cancer-associated fibroblasts pass through intermediate stages and become more aggressive epithelial-like tumor cells.
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13
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Differences in Immunohistochemical and Ultrastructural Features between Podocytes and Parietal Epithelial Cells (PECs) Are Observed in Developing, Healthy Postnatal, and Pathologically Changed Human Kidneys. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147501. [PMID: 35886848 PMCID: PMC9322852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During human kidney development, cells of the proximal nephron gradually differentiate into podocytes and parietal epithelial cells (PECs). Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells that play a key role in both normal and pathological kidney function. Therefore, the potential of podocytes to regenerate or be replaced by other cell populations (PECs) is of great interest for the possible treatment of kidney diseases. In the present study, we analyzed the proliferation and differentiation capabilities of podocytes and PECs, changes in the expression pattern of nestin, and several early proteins including WNT4, Notch2, and Snail, as well as Ki-67, in tissues of developing, postnatal, and pathologically changed human kidneys by using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Developing PECs showed a higher proliferation rate than podocytes, whereas nestin expression characterized only podocytes and pathologically changed kidneys. In the developing kidneys, WNT4 and Notch2 expression increased moderately in podocytes and strongly in PECs, whereas Snail increased only in PECs in the later fetal period. During human kidney development, WNT4, Notch2, and Snail are involved in early nephrogenesis control. In kidneys affected by congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), WNT4 decreased in both cell populations, whereas Notch2 decreased in FSGS. In contrast, Snail increased both in CNF and FSGS, whereas Notch2 increased only in CNF. Electron microscopy revealed cytoplasmic processes spanning the urinary space between the podocytes and PECs in developing and healthy postnatal kidneys, whereas the CNF and FSGS kidneys were characterized by numerous cellular bridges containing cells with strong expression of nestin and all analyzed proteins. Our results indicate that the mechanisms of gene control in nephrogenesis are reactivated under pathological conditions. These mechanisms could have a role in restoring glomerular integrity by potentially inducing the regeneration of podocytes from PECs.
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14
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Javdani H, Mollaei H, Karimi F, Mahmoudi S, Farahi A, Mirzaei-Parsa MJ, Shahabi A. Review article epithelial to mesenchymal transition‑associated microRNAs in breast cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:9963-9973. [PMID: 35716288 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07553-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite major advances, breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed carcinoma and remains a deadly disease among women worldwide. Many researchers point toward an important role of an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in BC development and promoting metastasis. Here, will be discussed that how functional changes of transcription factors, signaling pathways, and microRNAs (miRNA) in BC promote EMT. A thorough understanding the EMT biology can be important to determine reversing the process and design treatment approaches. There are frequent debates as to whether EMT is really relevant to BC in vivo, in which due to the intrinsic heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, given the importance of EMT in cancer progression and metastasis, the implementation of therapies against cancer-associated EMT will continue to help us develop and test potential treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Javdani
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, Research Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Homa Mollaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Karimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Shiva Mahmoudi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Farahi
- Student Research Committee, Department of Molecular Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Mohamad Javad Mirzaei-Parsa
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Comprehensive Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Arman Shahabi
- Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine Comprehensive Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. .,Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box: 7618747653, Kerman, Iran.
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15
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Saini G, Joshi S, Garlapati C, Li H, Kong J, Krishnamurthy J, Reid MD, Aneja R. Polyploid giant cancer cell characterization: New frontiers in predicting response to chemotherapy in breast cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 81:220-231. [PMID: 33766651 PMCID: PMC8672208 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although polyploid cells were first described nearly two centuries ago, their ability to proliferate has only recently been demonstrated. It also becomes increasingly evident that a subset of tumor cells, polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs), play a critical role in the pathophysiology of breast cancer (BC), among other cancer types. In BC, PGCCs can arise in response to therapy-induced stress. Their progeny possess cancer stem cell (CSC) properties and can repopulate the tumor. By modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME), PGCCs promote BC progression, chemoresistance, metastasis, and relapse and ultimately impact the survival of BC patients. Given their pro- tumorigenic roles, PGCCs have been proposed to possess the ability to predict treatment response and patient prognosis in BC. Traditionally, DNA cytometry has been used to detect PGCCs.. The field will further derive benefit from the development of approaches to accurately detect PGCCs and their progeny using robust PGCC biomarkers. In this review, we present the current state of knowledge about the clinical relevance of PGCCs in BC. We also propose to use an artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis pipeline to identify PGCC and map their interactions with other TME components, thereby facilitating the clinical implementation of PGCCs as biomarkers to predict treatment response and survival outcomes in BC patients. Finally, we summarize efforts to therapeutically target PGCCs to prevent chemoresistance and improve clinical outcomes in patients with BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetanjali Saini
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shriya Joshi
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Hongxiao Li
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Kong
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Computer Science, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Michelle D Reid
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ritu Aneja
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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16
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Wang HY, Zhang XP, Wang W. Regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in hypoxia by the HIF-1α network. FEBS Lett 2022; 596:338-349. [PMID: 34905218 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a significant role in cancer metastasis. A series of models have focused on EMT regulation by TGF-β network. However, how EMT is regulated under hypoxia is less understood. We developed a model of HIF-1α network to explore the potential link between EMT and the network topology. Our results revealed that three positive feedback loops, composed of HIF-1α and its three targets SNAIL, TWIST, and miR-210, should be sequentially activated to induce EMT under aggravating hypoxia. We suggested that the number of the positive feedback loops is critical for determining the number of stable states in EMT. Our work may advance the understanding of the significance of network topology in the regulation of EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang-Yu Wang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Zhang
- Kuang Yaming Honors School, Nanjing University, China
- Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute for Brain Sciences, Nanjing University, China
- National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, China
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17
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Rojas-Sanchez G, García-Miranda A, Montes-Alvarado JB, Cotzomi-Ortega I, Sarmiento-Salinas FL, Jimenez-Ignacio EE, Ramírez-Ramírez D, Romo-Rodríguez RE, Reyes-Leyva J, Vallejo-Ruiz V, Pazos-Salazar NG, Maycotte P. Chloroquine Induces ROS-mediated Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Secretion and Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in ER-positive Breast Cancer Cell Lines. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:341-355. [PMID: 34813005 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09503-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women in the world. Since tumor cells employ autophagy as a survival pathway, it has been proposed that autophagy inhibition could be beneficial for cancer treatment. There are several onging clinical trials where autophagy is being inhibited (using chloroquine, CQ or hydroxychloroquine, HCQ) along with chemotherapy with promising results. However, there is also in vitro evidence in which autophagy inhibition can induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer cells, indicating that, at least in some cases, this strategy could be detrimental for cancer patients. In this study, we found that the genetic inhibition of autophagy primed cells for EMT by inducing a decrease in E-cadherin protein levels, while CQ treatment decreased E-cadherin levels, induced morphological changes related to EMT, increased EMT-related transcription factor (EMT-TF) expression and migration in estrogen receptor positive (ER +) BC cell lines. Importantly, CQ treatment increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) which induced the secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine related to malignancy. Both ROS production and MIF secretion were responsible for the mesenchymal morphology and increased migratory capacity induced by CQ. Our results indicate that CQ treatment increased malignancy by inducing ROS production, MIF secretion and EMT and suggest that autophagy inhibition in ER + BC patients might have detrimental effects. Our data indicates that a careful selection of patients should be performed in order to determine who will benefit the most from autophagy inhibition with available pharmacological agents for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guadalupe Rojas-Sanchez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, Puebla, 72570, Mexico
| | - Alin García-Miranda
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, 39090, Mexico
| | - José Benito Montes-Alvarado
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
| | - Israel Cotzomi-Ortega
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, Puebla, 72570, Mexico
| | - Fabiola Lilí Sarmiento-Salinas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, Puebla, 72570, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Eleazar Jimenez-Ignacio
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
- Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Coatzacoalcos, Coatzacoalcos, 96536, Mexico
| | - Dalia Ramírez-Ramírez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
| | - Rubí Esmeralda Romo-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
| | - Julio Reyes-Leyva
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
| | - Verónica Vallejo-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico
| | - Nidia Gary Pazos-Salazar
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Ciudad Universitaria, Puebla, 72570, Mexico
| | - Paola Maycotte
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Km 4.5 Carretera Atlixco-Metepec HGZ5, Puebla, 74360, Mexico.
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18
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Waza AA, Tarfeen N, Majid S, Hassan Y, Mir R, Rather MY, Shah NUD. Metastatic Breast Cancer, Organotropism and Therapeutics: A Review. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 21:813-828. [PMID: 34365922 DOI: 10.2174/1568009621666210806094410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The final stage of breast cancer involves spreading breast cancer cells to the vital organs like the brain, liver lungs and bones in the process called metastasis. Once the target organ is overtaken by the metastatic breast cancer cells, its usual function is compromised causing organ dysfunction and death. Despite the significant research on breast cancer metastasis, it's still the main culprit of breast cancer-related deaths. Exploring the complex molecular pathways associated with the initiation and progression of breast cancer metastasis could lead to the discovery of more effective ways of treating the devastating phenomenon. The present review article highlights the recent advances to understand the complexity associated with breast cancer metastases, organotropism and therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz Ahmad Waza
- Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, J & K, 190010. India
| | - Najeebul Tarfeen
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006 . India
| | - Sabhiya Majid
- Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, J & K, 190010. India
| | - Yasmeena Hassan
- Division of Nursing, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, Srinagar, J & K. India
| | - Rashid Mir
- Department of Medical Lab Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tabuk. Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohd Younis Rather
- Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU), Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, J & K, 190010. India
| | - Naseer Ue Din Shah
- Centre of Research for Development, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190006 . India
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19
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Zhao Y, Li Z, Zhu Y, Fu J, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Wang S, Wu J, Wang K, Wu R, Sui C, Shen S, Wu X, Wang H, Gao D, Chen L. Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Uncovers Intratumoral Heterogeneity and Underlying Mechanisms for Drug Resistance in Hepatobiliary Tumor Organoids. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2003897. [PMID: 34105295 PMCID: PMC8188185 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202003897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Molecular heterogeneity of hepatobiliary tumor including intertumoral and intratumoral disparity always leads to drug resistance. Here, seven hepatobiliary tumor organoids are generated to explore heterogeneity and evolution via single-cell RNA sequencing. HCC272 with high status of epithelia-mesenchymal transition proves broad-spectrum drug resistance. By examining the expression pattern of cancer stem cells markers (e.g., PROM1, CD44, and EPCAM), it is found that CD44 positive population may render drug resistance in HCC272. UMAP and pseudo-time analysis identify the intratumoral heterogeneity and distinct evolutionary trajectories, of which catenin beta-1 (CTNNB1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) advantage expression clusters are commonly shared across hepatobiliary organoids. CellphoneDB analysis further implies that metabolism advantage organoids with enrichment of hypoxia signal upregulate NEAT1 expression in CD44 subgroup and mediate drug resistance that relies on Jak-STAT pathway. Moreover, metabolism advantage clusters shared in several organoids have similar characteristic genes (GAPDH, NDRG1 (N-Myc downstream regulated 1), ALDOA, and CA9). The combination of GAPDH and NDRG1 is an independent risk factor and predictor for patient survival. This study delineates heterogeneity of hepatobiliary tumor organoids and proposes that the collaboration of intratumoral heterogenic subpopulations renders malignant phenotypes and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences and Institute of Metabolism and Integrative BiologyFudan UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Zhi‐Xuan Li
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Yan‐Jing Zhu
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Jing Fu
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Xiao‐Fang Zhao
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterDepartment of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Ya‐Ni Zhang
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative BiologyFudan UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Shan Wang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterDepartment of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Jian‐Min Wu
- School of Life Sciences and Institute of Metabolism and Integrative BiologyFudan UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Kai‐Ting Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Institute of Metabolism and Integrative BiologyFudan UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Rui Wu
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Cheng‐Jun Sui
- Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Si‐Yun Shen
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
| | - Xuan Wu
- Department of Laboratory MedicineThe Tenth People's Hospital of ShanghaiTongji UniversityShanghai200072China
| | - Hong‐Yang Wang
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterDepartment of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Dong Gao
- The State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular AndrologyCAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesChinese Academy of SciencesShanghai200031China
- Institute for Stem Cell and RegenerationChinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100101China
| | - Lei Chen
- National Center for Liver CancerShanghai200441China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal TransductionEastern Hepatobiliary Surgery HospitalSecond Military Medical UniversityShanghai200438China
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterDepartment of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
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20
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Bornes L, Belthier G, van Rheenen J. Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in the Light of Plasticity and Hybrid E/M States. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10112403. [PMID: 34072345 PMCID: PMC8197992 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10112403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular program which leads to cells losing epithelial features, including cell polarity, cell-cell adhesion and attachment to the basement membrane, while gaining mesenchymal characteristics, such as invasive properties and stemness. This program is involved in embryogenesis, wound healing and cancer progression. Over the years, the role of EMT in cancer progression has been heavily debated, and the requirement of this process in metastasis even has been disputed. In this review, we discuss previous discrepancies in the light of recent findings on EMT, plasticity and hybrid E/M states. Moreover, we highlight various tumor microenvironmental cues and cell intrinsic signaling pathways that induce and sustain EMT programs, plasticity and hybrid E/M states. Lastly, we discuss how recent findings on plasticity, especially on those that enable cells to switch between hybrid E/M states, have changed our understanding on the role of EMT in cancer metastasis, stemness and therapy resistance.
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21
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Donato C, Kunz L, Castro-Giner F, Paasinen-Sohns A, Strittmatter K, Szczerba BM, Scherrer R, Di Maggio N, Heusermann W, Biehlmaier O, Beisel C, Vetter M, Rochlitz C, Weber WP, Banfi A, Schroeder T, Aceto N. Hypoxia Triggers the Intravasation of Clustered Circulating Tumor Cells. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108105. [PMID: 32905777 PMCID: PMC7487783 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed from solid cancers in the form of single or clustered cells, and the latter display an extraordinary ability to initiate metastasis. Yet, the biological phenomena that trigger the shedding of CTC clusters from a primary cancerous lesion are poorly understood. Here, when dynamically labeling breast cancer cells along cancer progression, we observe that the majority of CTC clusters are undergoing hypoxia, while single CTCs are largely normoxic. Strikingly, we find that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeting leads to primary tumor shrinkage, but it increases intra-tumor hypoxia, resulting in a higher CTC cluster shedding rate and metastasis formation. Conversely, pro-angiogenic treatment increases primary tumor size, yet it dramatically suppresses the formation of CTC clusters and metastasis. Thus, intra-tumor hypoxia leads to the formation of clustered CTCs with high metastatic ability, and a pro-angiogenic therapy suppresses metastasis formation through prevention of CTC cluster generation. Hypoxia leads to cell-cell junction upregulation and intravasation of CTC clusters Hypoxic CTC clusters are highly metastatic compared to normoxic CTCs Increase in intra-tumor hypoxia leads to accelerated metastasis Treatment with EpB2 reduces hypoxia and prevents CTC cluster formation
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Donato
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Leo Kunz
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesc Castro-Giner
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aino Paasinen-Sohns
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Karin Strittmatter
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Maria Szczerba
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ramona Scherrer
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nunzia Di Maggio
- Department of Biomedicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wolf Heusermann
- IMCF Imaging Core Facility Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Biehlmaier
- IMCF Imaging Core Facility Biozentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Beisel
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marcus Vetter
- Gynecologic Cancer Center, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Breast Cancer Center, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Rochlitz
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Breast Cancer Center, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Walter Paul Weber
- Breast Cancer Center, University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Surgery, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Banfi
- Department of Biomedicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timm Schroeder
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Aceto
- Department of Biomedicine, Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University of Basel and University Hospital Basel, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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22
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Kvokačková B, Remšík J, Jolly MK, Souček K. Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mediated by Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2188. [PMID: 34063254 PMCID: PMC8125677 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast carcinoma known for its unusually aggressive behavior and poor clinical outcome. Besides the lack of molecular targets for therapy and profound intratumoral heterogeneity, the relatively quick overt metastatic spread remains a major obstacle in effective clinical management. The metastatic colonization of distant sites by primary tumor cells is affected by the microenvironment, epigenetic state of particular subclones, and numerous other factors. One of the most prominent processes contributing to the intratumoral heterogeneity is an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an evolutionarily conserved developmental program frequently hijacked by tumor cells, strengthening their motile and invasive features. In response to various intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, malignant cells can revert the EMT state through the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), a process that is believed to be critical for the establishment of macrometastasis at secondary sites. Notably, cancer cells rarely undergo complete EMT and rather exist in a continuum of E/M intermediate states, preserving high levels of plasticity, as demonstrated in primary tumors and, ultimately, in circulating tumor cells, representing a simplified element of the metastatic cascade. In this review, we focus on cellular drivers underlying EMT/MET phenotypic plasticity and its detrimental consequences in the context of TNBC cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kvokačková
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic;
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Remšík
- Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India;
| | - Karel Souček
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic;
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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23
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Gilmore AC, Flaherty SJ, Somasundaram V, Scheiblin DA, Lockett SJ, Wink DA, Heinz WF. An in vitro tumorigenesis model based on live-cell-generated oxygen and nutrient gradients. Commun Biol 2021; 4:477. [PMID: 33859337 PMCID: PMC8050328 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01954-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is multi-cellular, spatially heterogenous, and contains cell-generated gradients of soluble molecules. Current cell-based model systems lack this complexity or are difficult to interrogate microscopically. We present a 2D live-cell chamber that approximates the TME and demonstrate that breast cancer cells and macrophages generate hypoxic and nutrient gradients, self-organize, and have spatially varying phenotypes along the gradients, leading to new insights into tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne C Gilmore
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Office of Science and Technology Resources, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Sarah J Flaherty
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Office of Science and Technology Resources, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Veena Somasundaram
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - David A Scheiblin
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Stephen J Lockett
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - David A Wink
- Laboratory of Cancer Immunometabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - William F Heinz
- Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA.
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24
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CD73 facilitates EMT progression and promotes lung metastases in triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6035. [PMID: 33727591 PMCID: PMC7966763 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85379-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
CD73 is a cell surface ecto-5′-nucleotidase, which converts extracellular adenosine monophosphate to adenosine. High tumor CD73 expression is associated with poor outcome among triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. Here we investigated the mechanisms by which CD73 might contribute to TNBC progression. This was done by inhibiting CD73 with adenosine 5′-(α, β-methylene) diphosphate (APCP) in MDA-MB-231 or 4T1 TNBC cells or through shRNA-silencing (sh-CD73). Effects of such inhibition on cell behavior was then studied in normoxia and hypoxia in vitro and in an orthotopic mouse model in vivo. CD73 inhibition, through shRNA or APCP significantly decreased cellular viability and migration in normoxia. Inhibition of CD73 also resulted in suppression of hypoxia-induced increase in viability and prevented cell protrusion elongation in both normoxia and hypoxia in cancer cells. Sh-CD73 4T1 cells formed significantly smaller and less invasive 3D organoids in vitro, and significantly smaller orthotopic tumors and less lung metastases than control shRNA cells in vivo. CD73 suppression increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin expression in vitro and in vivo, proposing maintenance of a more epithelial phenotype. In conclusion, our results suggest that CD73 may promote early steps of tumor progression, possibly through facilitating epithelial–mesenchymal transition.
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25
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Aggarwal V, Montoya CA, Donnenberg VS, Sant S. Interplay between tumor microenvironment and partial EMT as the driver of tumor progression. iScience 2021; 24:102113. [PMID: 33659878 PMCID: PMC7892926 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an evolutionary conserved phenomenon, has been extensively studied to address the unresolved variable treatment response across therapeutic regimes in cancer subtypes. EMT has long been envisaged to regulate tumor invasion, migration, and therapeutic resistance during tumorigenesis. However, recently it has been highlighted that EMT involves an intermediate partial EMT (pEMT) phenotype, defined by incomplete loss of epithelial markers and incomplete gain of mesenchymal markers. It has been further emphasized that pEMT transition involves a spectrum of intermediate hybrid states on either side of pEMT spectrum. Emerging evidence underlines bi-directional crosstalk between tumor cells and surrounding microenvironment in acquisition of pEMT phenotype. Although much work is still ongoing to gain mechanistic insights into regulation of pEMT phenotype, it is evident that pEMT plays a critical role in tumor aggressiveness, invasion, migration, and metastasis along with therapeutic resistance. In this review, we focus on important role of tumor-intrinsic factors and tumor microenvironment in driving pEMT and emphasize that engineered controlled microenvironments are instrumental to provide mechanistic insights into pEMT biology. We also discuss the significance of pEMT in regulating hallmarks of tumor progression i.e. cell cycle regulation, collective migration, and therapeutic resistance. Although constantly evolving, current progress and momentum in the pEMT field holds promise to unravel new therapeutic targets to halt tumor progression at early stages as well as tackle the complex therapeutic resistance observed across many cancer types. Partial EMT phenotype drives key hallmarks of tumor progression Role of tumor microenvironment in pEMT phenotype via cellular signaling pathways Engineering 3D in vitro models to study pEMT phenotype Opportunities and challenges in understanding pEMT phenotype
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Aggarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Catalina Ardila Montoya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Vera S Donnenberg
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Shilpa Sant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering; McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, 700 Technology Drive, Room 4307, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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26
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Arora A, Niño JLG, Myaing MZ, Chia S, Arasi B, Ravasio A, Huang RYJ, Dasgupta R, Biro M, Viasnoff V. Two high-yield complementary methods to sort cell populations by their 2D or 3D migration speed. Mol Biol Cell 2020; 31:2779-2790. [PMID: 33085550 PMCID: PMC7851856 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e20-07-0466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential to migrate is one of the most fundamental functions for various epithelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. Image analysis of motile cell populations, both primary and cultured, typically reveals an intercellular variability in migration speeds. However, cell migration chromatography, the sorting of large populations of cells based on their migratory characteristics, cannot be easily performed. The lack of such methods has hindered our understanding of the direct correlation between the capacity to migrate and other cellular properties. Here, we report two novel, easily implementable and readily scalable methods to sort millions of live migratory cancer and immune cells based on their spontaneous migration in two-dimensional and three-dimensional microenvironments, respectively. Correlative downstream transcriptomic, molecular and functional tests reveal marked differences between the fast and slow subpopulations in patient-derived cancer cells. We further employ our method to reveal that sorting the most migratory cytotoxic T lymphocytes yields a pool of cells with enhanced cytotoxicity against cancer cells. This phenotypic assay opens new avenues for the precise characterization of the mechanisms underlying hither to unexplained heterogeneities in migratory phenotypes within a cell population, and for the targeted enrichment of the most potent migratory leukocytes in immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Arora
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Jorge Luis Galeano Niño
- EMBL Australia, Single Molecule Science Node, School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales 2052, Sydney, Australia
| | - Myint Zu Myaing
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Shumei Chia
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Bakya Arasi
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
| | - Andrea Ravasio
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Centre for Translational Medicine, Singapore 117599
| | - Ramanuj Dasgupta
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Maté Biro
- Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore/A*STAR, Singapore 138632
| | - Virgile Viasnoff
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117411
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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27
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Metastatic behavior analyses of tetraspanin TM4SF5-expressing spheres in three-dimensional (3D) cell culture environment. Arch Pharm Res 2020; 43:1162-1172. [PMID: 33222072 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-020-01291-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis involves diverse cellular functions via bidirectional communications between intracellular and extracellular spaces. To achieve development of the anti-metastatic drugs, one needs to consider the efficacy and mode of action (MOA) of the drug candidates to block the metastatic potentials of cancerous cells. Rather than under two-dimensional environment, investigation of the metastatic potentials under three-dimensional environment would be much pharmaceutically beneficent, since it can mimic the in vivo tumor lesions in cancer patients, leading to allowance of drug candidates analyzed in the 3D culture systems to lower failure rates during the anti-metastatic drug development. Here we have reviewed on the analyses of metastatic potentials of certain cancer models in 3D culture systems surrounded with extracellular matrix proteins, which could be supported by TM4SF5- and/or EMT-mediated actions. We particularly focused the initial events of the cancer metastasis, such as invasive outgrowth and dissemination from the cancer cell masses, spheroids, embedded in the 3D gel culture systems. This review summarizes the significance of tetraspanin TM4SF5 and Snail1 that are related to EMT in the metastatic potentials explored in the 3D gel systems.
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28
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Saxena K, Jolly MK, Balamurugan K. Hypoxia, partial EMT and collective migration: Emerging culprits in metastasis. Transl Oncol 2020; 13:100845. [PMID: 32781367 PMCID: PMC7419667 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2020.100845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular biological process involved in migration of primary cancer cells to secondary sites facilitating metastasis. Besides, EMT also confers properties such as stemness, drug resistance and immune evasion which can aid a successful colonization at the distant site. EMT is not a binary process; recent evidence suggests that cells in partial EMT or hybrid E/M phenotype(s) can have enhanced stemness and drug resistance as compared to those undergoing a complete EMT. Moreover, partial EMT enables collective migration of cells as clusters of circulating tumor cells or emboli, further endorsing that cells in hybrid E/M phenotypes may be the 'fittest' for metastasis. Here, we review mechanisms and implications of hybrid E/M phenotypes, including their reported association with hypoxia. Hypoxia-driven activation of HIF-1α can drive EMT. In addition, cyclic hypoxia, as compared to acute or chronic hypoxia, shows the highest levels of active HIF-1α and can augment cancer aggressiveness to a greater extent, including enriching for a partial EMT phenotype. We also discuss how metastasis is influenced by hypoxia, partial EMT and collective cell migration, and call for a better understanding of interconnections among these mechanisms. We discuss the known regulators of hypoxia, hybrid EMT and collective cell migration and highlight the gaps which needs to be filled for connecting these three axes which will increase our understanding of dynamics of metastasis and help control it more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Saxena
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Kuppusamy Balamurugan
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Signaling, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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29
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Terry S, Engelsen AST, Buart S, Elsayed WS, Venkatesh GH, Chouaib S. Hypoxia-driven intratumor heterogeneity and immune evasion. Cancer Lett 2020; 492:1-10. [PMID: 32712233 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
While it is widely accepted that high intratumoral heterogeneity confers serious challenges in the emerging resistance and the subsequent effective therapeutic targeting of cancer, the underlying biology of intratumoral heterogeneity remains elusive. In particular, it remains to be fully elucidated how microenvironmental factors shape genetic and non-genetic heterogeneity, which in turn determine the course of tumor evolution and clinical progression. In this context, hypoxia, a hallmark of most growing cancers, characterized by decreased O2 partial pressure is a key player of the tumor microenvironment. Despite extensive data indicating that hypoxia promotes cellular metabolic adaptation, immune suppression and various steps of tumor progression via hypoxia regulated gene transcription, much less is known about the role of hypoxia in mediating therapy resistance as a driver of tumor evolution through genetic and non-genetic mechanisms. In this review, we will discuss recent evidence supporting a prominent role of hypoxia as a driver of tumor heterogeneity and highlight the multifaceted manner by which this in turn could impact cancer evolution, reprogramming and immune escape. Finally, we will discuss how detailed knowledge of the hypoxic footprint may open up new therapeutic avenues for the management of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Agnete S T Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | - Stéphanie Buart
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France.
| | - Walid Shaaban Elsayed
- Department of Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Goutham Hassan Venkatesh
- Thumbay Research Institute of Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 94805, Villejuif, France; Thumbay Research Institute of Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, 4184, United Arab Emirates.
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30
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Ko YC, Lai TY, Hsu SC, Wang FH, Su SY, Chen YL, Tsai ML, Wu CC, Hsiao JR, Chang JY, Wu YM, Robinson DR, Lin CY, Lin SF. Index of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Is Superior to the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Score in Prognosis Prediction. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071718. [PMID: 32605311 PMCID: PMC7408083 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In many solid tumors, tissue of the mesenchymal subtype is frequently associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), strong stromal infiltration, and poor prognosis. Emerging evidence from tumor ecosystem studies has revealed that the two main components of tumor stroma, namely, infiltrated immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), also express certain typical EMT genes and are not distinguishable from intrinsic tumor EMT, where bulk tissue is concerned. Transcriptomic analysis of xenograft tissues provides a unique advantage in dissecting genes of tumor (human) or stroma (murine) origins. By transcriptomic analysis of xenograft tissues, we found that oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) tumor cells with a high EMT score, the computed mesenchymal likelihood based on the expression signature of canonical EMT markers, are associated with elevated stromal contents featured with fibronectin 1 (Fn1) and transforming growth factor-β (Tgfβ) axis gene expression. In conjugation with meta-analysis of these genes in clinical OSCC datasets, we further extracted a four-gene index, comprising FN1, TGFB2, TGFBR2, and TGFBI, as an indicator of CAF abundance. The CAF index is more powerful than the EMT score in predicting survival outcomes, not only for oral cancer but also for the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer cohort comprising 9356 patients from 32 cancer subtypes. Collectively, our results suggest that a further distinction and integration of the EMT score with the CAF index will enhance prognosis prediction, thus paving the way for curative medicine in clinical oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chieh Ko
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Ting-Yu Lai
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan;
| | - Shu-Ching Hsu
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (S.-C.H.); (F.-H.W.)
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 80708, Taiwan
- PhD Program in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung City 40227, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Hui Wang
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (S.-C.H.); (F.-H.W.)
| | - Sheng-Yao Su
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (S.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.L.)
| | - Yu-Lian Chen
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Min-Lung Tsai
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
| | - Chung-Chun Wu
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Translational Cell Therapy Center, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40447, Taiwan
| | - Jenn-Ren Hsiao
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Collaborative Oncology Group, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan;
| | - Jang-Yang Chang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70403, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Mi Wu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (Y.-M.W.); (D.R.R.)
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dan R. Robinson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (Y.-M.W.); (D.R.R.)
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Chung-Yen Lin
- Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (S.-Y.S.); (C.-Y.L.)
| | - Su-Fang Lin
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan; (Y.-C.K.); (Y.-L.C.); (M.-L.T.); (C.-C.W.); (J.-Y.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-37-206166 (ext. 35107)
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Farina AR, Cappabianca L, Sebastiano M, Zelli V, Guadagni S, Mackay AR. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing: the 11th Hallmark of Cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2020; 39:110. [PMID: 32536347 PMCID: PMC7294618 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-020-01616-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing is a potent driving force in tumour pathogenesis and progression. In this review, we update currents concepts of hypoxia-induced alternative splicing and how it influences tumour biology. Following brief descriptions of tumour-associated hypoxia and the pre-mRNA splicing process, we review the many ways hypoxia regulates alternative splicing and how hypoxia-induced alternative splicing impacts each individual hallmark of cancer. Hypoxia-induced alternative splicing integrates chemical and cellular tumour microenvironments, underpins continuous adaptation of the tumour cellular microenvironment responsible for metastatic progression and plays clear roles in oncogene activation and autonomous tumour growth, tumor suppressor inactivation, tumour cell immortalization, angiogenesis, tumour cell evasion of programmed cell death and the anti-tumour immune response, a tumour-promoting inflammatory response, adaptive metabolic re-programming, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, invasion and genetic instability, all of which combine to promote metastatic disease. The impressive number of hypoxia-induced alternative spliced protein isoforms that characterize tumour progression, classifies hypoxia-induced alternative splicing as the 11th hallmark of cancer, and offers a fertile source of potential diagnostic/prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonietta Rosella Farina
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Lucia Cappabianca
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Michela Sebastiano
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Veronica Zelli
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Stefano Guadagni
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrew Reay Mackay
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
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Jewer M, Lee L, Leibovitch M, Zhang G, Liu J, Findlay SD, Vincent KM, Tandoc K, Dieters-Castator D, Quail DF, Dutta I, Coatham M, Xu Z, Puri A, Guan BJ, Hatzoglou M, Brumwell A, Uniacke J, Patsis C, Koromilas A, Schueler J, Siegers GM, Topisirovic I, Postovit LM. Translational control of breast cancer plasticity. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2498. [PMID: 32427827 PMCID: PMC7237473 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16352-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasticity of neoplasia, whereby cancer cells attain stem-cell-like properties, is required for disease progression and represents a major therapeutic challenge. We report that in breast cancer cells NANOG, SNAIL and NODAL transcripts manifest multiple isoforms characterized by different 5' Untranslated Regions (5'UTRs), whereby translation of a subset of these isoforms is stimulated under hypoxia. The accumulation of the corresponding proteins induces plasticity and "fate-switching" toward stem cell-like phenotypes. Mechanistically, we observe that mTOR inhibitors and chemotherapeutics induce translational activation of a subset of NANOG, SNAIL and NODAL mRNA isoforms akin to hypoxia, engendering stem-cell-like phenotypes. These effects are overcome with drugs that antagonize translational reprogramming caused by eIF2α phosphorylation (e.g. ISRIB), suggesting that the Integrated Stress Response drives breast cancer plasticity. Collectively, our findings reveal a mechanism of induction of plasticity of breast cancer cells and provide a molecular basis for therapeutic strategies aimed at overcoming drug resistance and abrogating metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jewer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Laura Lee
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Matthew Leibovitch
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Scott D Findlay
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Krista M Vincent
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Kristofferson Tandoc
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Dylan Dieters-Castator
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Daniela F Quail
- Goodman Cancer Center, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Indrani Dutta
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Zhihua Xu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Aakshi Puri
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bo-Jhih Guan
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Maria Hatzoglou
- Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Andrea Brumwell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - James Uniacke
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Christos Patsis
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Antonis Koromilas
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Julia Schueler
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Ivan Topisirovic
- Lady Davis Institute, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Lynne-Marie Postovit
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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Gauging the Impact of Cancer Treatment Modalities on Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030743. [PMID: 32245166 PMCID: PMC7140032 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The metastatic cascade consists of multiple complex steps, but the belief that it is a linear process is diminishing. In order to metastasize, cells must enter the blood vessels or body cavities (depending on the cancer type) via active or passive mechanisms. Once in the bloodstream and/or lymphatics, these cancer cells are now termed circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTC numbers as well as CTC clusters have been used as a prognostic marker with higher numbers of CTCs and/or CTC clusters correlating with an unfavorable prognosis. However, we have very limited knowledge about CTC biology, including which of these cells are ultimately responsible for overt metastatic growth, but due to the fact that higher numbers of CTCs correlate with a worse prognosis; it would seem appropriate to either limit CTCs and/or their dissemination. Here, we will discuss the different cancer treatments which may inadvertently promote the mobilization of CTCs and potential CTC therapies to decrease metastasis.
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Casciello F, Al-Ejeh F, Miranda M, Kelly G, Baxter E, Windloch K, Gannon F, Lee JS. G9a-mediated repression of CDH10 in hypoxia enhances breast tumour cell motility and associates with poor survival outcome. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:4515-4529. [PMID: 32292512 PMCID: PMC7150496 DOI: 10.7150/thno.41453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Epigenetic mechanisms are fundamental processes that can modulate gene expression, allowing cellular adaptation to environmental conditions. Hypoxia is an important factor known to initiate the metastatic cascade in cancer, activating cell motility and invasion by silencing cell adhesion genes. G9a is a histone methyltransferase previously shown to accumulate in hypoxic conditions. While its oncogenic activity has been previously reported, not much is known about the role G9a plays in the hypoxia-mediated metastatic cascade. Methods: The role of G9a in cell motility in hypoxic condition was determined by inhibiting G9a either by short-hairpin mediated knock down or pharmacologically using a small molecule inhibitor. Through gene expression profiling, we identified CDH10 to be an important G9a target that regulates breast cancer cell motility. Lung metastasis assay in mice was used to determine the physiological significance of G9a. Results: We demonstrate that, while hypoxia enhances breast cancer migratory capacity, blocking G9a severely reduces cellular motility under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions and prevents the hypoxia-mediated induction of cellular movement. Moreover, inhibition of G9a histone methyltransferase activity in mice using a specific small molecule inhibitor significantly reduced growth and colonisation of breast cancer cells in the lung. We identify the type-II cadherin CDH10 as being a novel hypoxia-dependent gene, directly repressed by G9a through histone methylation. CDH10 overexpression significantly reduces cellular movements in breast cancer cell lines and prevents the hypoxia-mediated increase in cell motility. In addition, we show that CDH10 expression is prognostic in breast cancer and that it is inversely correlated to EHMT2 (G9a) transcript levels in many tumor-types, including breast cancer. Conclusion: We propose that G9a promotes cellular motility during hypoxic stress through the silencing of the cell adhesion molecule CDH10 and we describe CDH10 as a novel prognostic biomarker for breast cancer.
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Mallikarjuna P, Raviprakash TS, Aripaka K, Ljungberg B, Landström M. Interactions between TGF-β type I receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor-α mediates a synergistic crosstalk leading to poor prognosis for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:2141-2156. [PMID: 31339433 PMCID: PMC6986558 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1642069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the significance of expression of HIF-1α, HIF-2α, and SNAIL1 proteins; and TGF-β signaling pathway proteins in ccRCC, their relation with clinicopathological parameters and patient's survival were examined. We also investigated potential crosstalk between HIF-α and TGF-β signaling pathway, including the TGF-β type 1 receptor (ALK5-FL) and the intracellular domain of ALK5 (ALK5-ICD). Tissue samples from 154 ccRCC patients and comparable adjacent kidney cortex samples from 38 patients were analyzed for HIF-1α/2α, TGF-β signaling components, and SNAIL1 proteins by immunoblot. Protein expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α were significantly higher, while SNAIL1 had similar expression levels in ccRCC compared with the kidney cortex. HIF-2α associated with poor cancer-specific survival, while HIF-1α and SNAIL1 did not associate with survival. Moreover, HIF-2α positively correlated with ALK5-ICD, pSMAD2/3, and PAI-1; HIF-1α positively correlated with pSMAD2/3; SNAIL1 positively correlated with ALK5-FL, ALK5-ICD, pSMAD2/3, PAI-1, and HIF-2α. Intriguingly, in vitro experiments performed under normoxic conditions revealed that ALK5 interacts with HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and promotes their expression and the expression of their target genes GLUT1 and CA9, in a VHL dependent manner. We found that ALK5 induces expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, through its kinase activity. Under hypoxic conditions, HIF-α proteins correlated with the activated TGF-β signaling pathway. In conclusion, we reveal that ALK5 plays a pivotal role in synergistic crosstalk between TGF-β signaling and hypoxia pathway, and that the interaction between ALK5 and HIF-α contributes to tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karthik Aripaka
- a Department of Medical Biosciences, Pathology , Umeå , Sweden
| | - Börje Ljungberg
- b Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Urology and Andrology, Umeå University , Umeå , Sweden
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Kim J, Kim B, Kim SM, Yang CE, Song SY, Lee WJ, Lee JH. Hypoxia-Induced Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition Mediates Fibroblast Abnormalities via ERK Activation in Cutaneous Wound Healing. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20102546. [PMID: 31137604 PMCID: PMC6566997 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20102546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies described the involvement of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) in systemic fibrotic diseases, but the role of ERK in cutaneous scarring is unknown. Although hypoxia drives tissue fibrosis by activating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), the specific roles of hypoxia and associated ERK phosphorylation in abnormal fibroblast activity during cutaneous scarring are unclear. Here, we investigated whether pathologic myofibroblast-like keloid fibroblast activity is promoted by hypoxia-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated by ERK activation. ERK phosphorylation was significantly increased in keloid tissue and fibroblasts. Human dermal fibroblasts cultured under hypoxia (1% O2) expressed phosphorylated ERK and exhibited activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Hypoxic human dermal fibroblasts showed increased protein and mRNA levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers. Furthermore, administration of an ERK inhibitor (SCH772984) reduced the hypoxia-induced elevation of collagen type I levels in human dermal fibroblasts. Therefore, ERK may be a promising therapeutic target in profibrogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihee Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
- Scar Laser and Plastic Surgery Center, Yonsei Cancer Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Bomi Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Soo Min Kim
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Chae Eun Yang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju 26426, Korea.
| | - Seung Yong Song
- Scar Laser and Plastic Surgery Center, Yonsei Cancer Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea.
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute for Human Tissue Restoration, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Won Jai Lee
- Scar Laser and Plastic Surgery Center, Yonsei Cancer Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea.
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Institute for Human Tissue Restoration, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
| | - Ju Hee Lee
- Department of Dermatology, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.
- Scar Laser and Plastic Surgery Center, Yonsei Cancer Hospital, Seoul 03722, Korea.
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Furuta M, Kikuchi H, Shoji T, Takashima Y, Kikuchi E, Kikuchi J, Kinoshita I, Dosaka-Akita H, Sakakibara-Konishi J. DLL3 regulates the migration and invasion of small cell lung cancer by modulating Snail. Cancer Sci 2019; 110:1599-1608. [PMID: 30874360 PMCID: PMC6501010 DOI: 10.1111/cas.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Delta‐like protein 3 (DLL3) is a ligand of Notch signaling, which mediates cell‐fate decisions and is tumor‐suppressive or oncogenic depending on the cellular context. Previous studies show that DLL3 is highly expressed in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) but not in normal lung tissue, suggesting that DLL3 might be associated with neuroendocrine tumorigenesis. However, its role in SCLC remains unclear. To investigate the role of DLL3 in tumorigenesis in SCLC, we performed loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function assays using SCLC cell lines. In vitro analysis of cell migration and invasion by transwell assay showed that DLL3 knockdown reduced migration and invasion of SCLC cells, whereas DLL3 overexpression increased these activities. In addition, DLL3 positively regulated SNAI1 expression and knockdown of SNAI1 attenuated the migration and invasion ability of SCLC cells. Moreover, upregulated DLL3 expression induced subcutaneous tumor growth in mouse models. These results indicate that DLL3 promoted tumor growth, migration and invasion in an SCLC model by modulating SNAI1/Snail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megumi Furuta
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hajime Kikuchi
- First Department of Medicine, JA Obihiro Kosei Hospital, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Tetsuaki Shoji
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yuta Takashima
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Eiki Kikuchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Junko Kikuchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kinoshita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Dosaka-Akita
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Jun Sakakibara-Konishi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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SNAIL is induced by tamoxifen and leads to growth inhibition in invasive lobular breast carcinoma. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 175:327-337. [PMID: 30798422 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05161-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is a histological subtype of breast cancer that is predominantly estrogen receptor alpha (ER)-positive (+) and is thus treated with endocrine therapies. Herein, we sought to understand the molecular underpinnings of the 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4OHT) resistance in ILC by assessing the potential role of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition transcription factor (EMT-TF) SNAIL (SNAI1). METHODS Using a series of breast cancer cell lines, we measured the basal, estrogen and 4OHT-induced expression of SNAIL and other EMT-TF family members by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments were performed to assess ER binding to the SNAIL promoter. Cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis were assessed in 2D cultures. 3D growth was assessed in Matrigel and Collagen I cultures. RESULTS Estrogen and 4OHT induced SNAIL expression, but not that of the other EMT-TF family members SLUG (SNAI2) and SMUC (SNAI3), with the 4OHT effect being specific to the lobular but not the ductal subtype. We observed estrogen and 4OHT-induced ER recruitment to the SNAI1 promoter and high endogenous basal levels of SNAIL and several EMT-TFs in ILC cell lines. While SNAIL knockdown had a minor impact on the 4OHT partial agonism in estrogen-depleted conditions, it led to a surprising increase in cell proliferation in full serum. In complementary experiments, inducible SNAI1 overexpression caused decreased proliferation, associated with a cell cycle arrest in G0/G1. Additionally, apoptosis was observed in BCK4 cells. CONCLUSION These data suggest a previously unrecognized role for SNAIL in ILC, substantiating a context-dependent behavior for this EMT-TF.
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Szynglarewicz B, Kasprzak P, Donizy P, Biecek P, Halon A, Matkowski R. Biological Aggressiveness of Subclinical No-Mass Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) Can Be Reflected by the Expression Profiles of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Triggers. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123941. [PMID: 30544617 PMCID: PMC6320898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) have been recently implicated in the process of cancer progression. The aim of this study was to assess how the preoperative expression patterns of EMT biomarkers correlate with the risk of postoperative invasion in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) found on stereotactic breast biopsies. N-cadherin, Snail1, and secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) immunoreactivity was observed in 8%, 62%, and 38% of tumors, respectively. Snail1 and SPARC expressions were significantly related to N-cadherin expression and to each other. The postoperative upgrading rate was associated with a positive preoperative expression of all biomarkers. Significance of Snail1 and SPARC persisted in multivariate analysis, but the impact of SPARC on invasion was more significant. When these two EMT triggers were considered together, the risk of invasion did not significantly differ between the subtypes of DCIS with single positive expression (SPARC−/Snail1+ vs. SPARC+/Snail1−). However, it was significantly lower in single-positive DCIS when compared to lesions of a double-positive profile (SPARC+/Snail1+). Moreover, there were no cases in the double-negative DCIS (SPARC−/Snail1−), with foci of infiltrating cancer found postoperatively in residual postbiopsy lesions. In contrast, DCIS with a combined high SPARC and Snail1 expression (intermediate or strong) had an invasive component in 66–100% of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartlomiej Szynglarewicz
- Breast Unit, Department of Surgical Oncology, Lower Silesia Oncology Center, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Postgraduate Medical Training, Wroclaw Medical University, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Kasprzak
- Department of Breast Imaging, Lower Silesia Oncology Center, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Piotr Donizy
- Department of Pathomorphology and Oncological Cytology, 53-413 Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Przemyslaw Biecek
- Faculty of Mathematics and Information Science, Warsaw University of Technology 00-662 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Agnieszka Halon
- Department of Pathomorphology and Oncological Cytology, 53-413 Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Rafal Matkowski
- Breast Unit, Department of Surgical Oncology, Lower Silesia Oncology Center, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
- Department of Oncology, Faculty of Postgraduate Medical Training, Wroclaw Medical University, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland.
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Yeldag G, Rice A, Del Río Hernández A. Chemoresistance and the Self-Maintaining Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2018; 10:E471. [PMID: 30487436 PMCID: PMC6315745 DOI: 10.3390/cancers10120471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The progression of cancer is associated with alterations in the tumor microenvironment, including changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, matrix rigidity, hypervascularization, hypoxia, and paracrine factors. One key malignant phenotype of cancer cells is their ability to resist chemotherapeutics, and elements of the ECM can promote chemoresistance in cancer cells through a variety of signaling pathways, inducing changes in gene expression and protein activity that allow resistance. Furthermore, the ECM is maintained as an environment that facilitates chemoresistance, since its constitution modulates the phenotype of cancer-associated cells, which themselves affect the microenvironment. In this review, we discuss how the properties of the tumor microenvironment promote chemoresistance in cancer cells, and the interplay between these external stimuli. We focus on both the response of cancer cells to the external environment, as well as the maintenance of the external environment, and how a chemoresistant phenotype emerges from the complex signaling network present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulcen Yeldag
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Alistair Rice
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - Armando Del Río Hernández
- Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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Iser IC, Lenz G, Wink MR. EMT-like process in glioblastomas and reactive astrocytes. Neurochem Int 2018; 122:139-143. [PMID: 30496766 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The concept of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells has accelerated our understanding about cancer spreading. Fortunately, much of this information has been able to be extrapolated to non-epithelial cancers, such as glioblastoma (GBM). Interestingly, reactive astrocytes, which are present in the tumor edge in association with glioma cells, might also undergo EMT-like under stimuli of GBM cells. As result, the positive feedback of reactive astrocytes and glioma cells, could act to promote cancer progression making use of the dynamism of the mesenchymal phenotype. Nonetheless, the interpretation of data regarding EMT-like in GBM and astrocytes requires prudence, mainly because the program of EMT in epithelial tumors may not necessarily be the same as those in gliomas and astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabele C Iser
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde e Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre- UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Guido Lenz
- Departamento de Biofísica e Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio grande do Sul - UFRGS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcia R Wink
- Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde e Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre- UFCSPA, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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42
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Jolly MK, Somarelli JA, Sheth M, Biddle A, Tripathi SC, Armstrong AJ, Hanash SM, Bapat SA, Rangarajan A, Levine H. Hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotypes promote metastasis and therapy resistance across carcinomas. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 194:161-184. [PMID: 30268772 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis and therapy resistance are the major unsolved clinical challenges, and account for nearly all cancer-related deaths. Both metastasis and therapy resistance are fueled by epithelial plasticity, the reversible phenotypic transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET). EMT and MET have been largely considered as binary processes, where cells detach from the primary tumor as individual units with many, if not all, traits of a mesenchymal cell (EMT) and then convert back to being epithelial (MET). However, recent studies have demonstrated that cells can metastasize in ways alternative to traditional EMT paradigm; for example, they can detach as clusters, and/or occupy one or more stable hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotypes that can be the end point of a transition. Such hybrid E/M cells can integrate various epithelial and mesenchymal traits and markers, facilitating collective cell migration. Furthermore, these hybrid E/M cells may possess higher tumor-initiation and metastatic potential as compared to cells on either end of the EMT spectrum. Here, we review in silico, in vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence for the existence of one or more hybrid E/M phenotype(s) in multiple carcinomas, and discuss their implications in tumor-initiation, tumor relapse, therapy resistance, and metastasis. Together, these studies drive the emerging notion that cells in a hybrid E/M phenotype may occupy 'metastatic sweet spot' in multiple subtypes of carcinomas, and pathways linked to this (these) hybrid E/M state(s) may be relevant as prognostic biomarkers as well as a promising therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Jason A Somarelli
- Duke Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Maya Sheth
- Duke Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Adrian Biddle
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Satyendra C Tripathi
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Andrew J Armstrong
- Duke Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Samir M Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Sharmila A Bapat
- National Center for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus, Ganeshkhind, Pune, India
| | - Annapoorni Rangarajan
- Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development & Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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43
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Modeling of mesenchymal hybrid epithelial state and phenotypic transitions in EMT and MET processes of cancer cells. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14323. [PMID: 30254295 PMCID: PMC6156327 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32737-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms between microRNA-200 and transcription factor ZEB in an individual cancer cell, a minimal dynamic model is proposed to study the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) processes of cancer cells. It is shown that each cancer cell can exit in any of three phenotypic states: the epithelial (E) state, the mesenchymal (M) state, and the epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) hybrid state, and the state of cancer cell can interconvert between different states. The phase diagram shows that there are monostable, bistable, and tristable phenotypic states regions in a parameters plane. It is found that different pathway in the phase diagram can correspond to the EMT or the MET process of cancer cells, and there are two possible EMT processes. It is important that the experimental phenomenon of E/M hybrid state appearing in the EMT process but rather in the MET process can be understood through different pathways in the phase diagram. Our numerical simulations show that the effects of noise are opposite to these of time delay on the expression of transcription factor ZEB, and there is competition between noise and time delay in phenotypic transitions process of cancer cells.
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44
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Wang Y, Mirza S, Wu S, Zeng J, Shi W, Band H, Band V, Duan B. 3D hydrogel breast cancer models for studying the effects of hypoxia on epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Oncotarget 2018; 9:32191-32203. [PMID: 30181809 PMCID: PMC6114943 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors are 3D assemblies of cancer cells, together with multiple stromal cell types within an extracellular matrix. Yet, the vast majority of cell-based studies to characterize oncogenesis and discovery of new anti-cancer drugs is conducted using conventional 2D monolayer culture systems, where cells are grown on plastic substratum under normoxic environments. In current study, we generated 3D breast cancer cell culture platform consists of photocrosslinkable hydrogels and encapsulated isogenic primary (21PT) and a metastatic (21MT-2) breast cancer cell lines derived from the primary tumor and pleural effusion from the same patient. We demonstrated that hypoxia decreased cellular assembly size and density, and promoted epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, without affecting cell viability. Next, we showed hypoxia enhanced breast cancer cell migration, and expression and secretion of lysyl oxidase (LOX), which is copper-dependent amine oxidase and has the primary function to drive the crosslinking of collagen and elastin and is regulated by hypoxia. Furthermore, to recapitulate in vivo situation, we generated breast cancer and lung cells (derived from the same patient) contact model by stacking 3D hydrogel constructs with breast cancer cells onto lung mesenchymal cells (LMC) laden-hydrogel and then showed breast cancer cells migrated towards LMC during hypoxia. Lastly, as a validation of this model for future screen of therapeutic agents, we demonstrated that LOX inhibitor exhibited a significant decrease in breast cancer cell viability, migration, and EMT. Taken together, these results validate the use of hydrogels based models to examine hypoxia related EMT in breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Sameer Mirza
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Shaohua Wu
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jiping Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Wen Shi
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Hamid Band
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vimla Band
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Bin Duan
- Mary & Dick Holland Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
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45
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Harrison H, Pegg HJ, Thompson J, Bates C, Shore P. HIF1-alpha expressing cells induce a hypoxic-like response in neighbouring cancer cells. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:674. [PMID: 29925335 PMCID: PMC6011406 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4577-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypoxia stimulates metastasis in cancer and is linked to poor patient prognosis. In tumours, oxygen levels vary and hypoxic regions exist within a generally well-oxygenated tumour. However, whilst the heterogeneous environment is known to contribute to metastatic progression, little is known about the mechanism by which heterogeneic hypoxia contributes to cancer progression. This is largely because existing experimental models do not recapitulate the heterogeneous nature of hypoxia. The primary effector of the hypoxic response is the transcription factor Hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1-alpha). HIF1-alpha is stabilised in response to low oxygen levels in the cellular environment and its expression is seen in hypoxic regions throughout the tumour. Methods We have developed a model system in which HIF1-alpha can be induced within a sub-population of cancer cells, thus enabling us to mimic the effects of heterogeneic HIF1-alpha expression. Results We show that induction of HIF1-alpha not only recapitulates elements of the hypoxic response in the induced cells but also results in significant changes in proliferation, gene expression and mammosphere formation within the HIF1-alpha negative population. Conclusions These findings suggest that the HIF1-alpha expressing cells found within hypoxic regions are likely to contribute to the subsequent progression of a tumour by modifying the behaviour of cells in the non-hypoxic regions of the local micro-environment. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4577-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Harrison
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
| | - Henry J Pegg
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Jamie Thompson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Christian Bates
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Paul Shore
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK.
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46
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Peng JM, Bera R, Chiou CY, Yu MC, Chen TC, Chen CW, Wang TR, Chiang WL, Chai SP, Wei Y, Wang H, Hung MC, Hsieh SY. Actin cytoskeleton remodeling drives epithelial-mesenchymal transition for hepatoma invasion and metastasis in mice. Hepatology 2018; 67:2226-2243. [PMID: 29171033 DOI: 10.1002/hep.29678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED High invasiveness is a hallmark of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Large tumors predict invasion and metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for cancer invasion and metastasis. However, the mechanisms whereby large tumors tend to undergo EMT remain unclear. We conducted a subgenome-wide screen and identified KLHL23 as an HCC invasion suppressor by inhibiting EMT. KLHL23 binds to actin and suppresses actin polymerization. KLHL23 silencing induced filopodium and lamellipodium formation. Moreover, EMT was suppressed by KLHL23 through its action on actin dynamics. Traditionally, actin cytoskeleton remodeling is downstream of EMT reprogramming. It is therefore intriguing to ask why and how KLHL23 inversely regulates EMT. Activation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling by either KLHL23 silencing or treatment with actin cytoskeleton modulators augmented cellular hypoxic responses in a cell-density-dependent manner, resulting in hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and Notch signals and subsequent EMT. Environmental hypoxia did not induce EMT unless actin cytoskeleton remodeling was simultaneously activated and only when cells were at high density. The resulting EMT was reversed by either adenosine 5'-triphosphate supplementation or actin polymerization inhibitors. Down-regulation of KLHL23 was associated with invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis of HCC and pancreatic cancer. Correlations of tumor size with EMT and inverse association of expression of KLHL23 with HIF/Notch signals were further validated in patient-derived xenograft HCCs in mice. CONCLUSION Simultaneously activation of actin cytoskeleton remodeling by intrinsic (such as KLHL23 down-regulation) or microenvironment cues is crucial for cell-density-dependent and hypoxia-mediated EMT, providing a mechanistic link between large tumor size and invasion/metastasis. Our findings provide a means of developing the prevention and treatment strategies for tumor invasion and metastasis. (Hepatology 2018;67:2226-2243).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jei-Ming Peng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Rabindranath Bera
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yung Chiou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Chin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tse-Chin Chen
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Rui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Ling Chiang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Pei Chai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yongkun Wei
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Huamin Wang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sen-Yung Hsieh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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47
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Chang HY, Tseng YK, Chen YC, Shu CW, Lin MI, Liou HH, Fu TY, Lin YC, Ger LP, Yeh MH, Liu PF. High snail expression predicts a poor prognosis in breast invasive ductal carcinoma patients with HER2/EGFR-positive subtypes. Surg Oncol 2018; 27:314-320. [PMID: 29937187 DOI: 10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High Snail expression is known as a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer. However, its prognostic impact for breast cancer with different molecular subtypes is still controversial. METHODS Snail expression was examined by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarray slides of 85 corresponding tumor-adjacent normal (CTAN) and 247 breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) tissues. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to assess the impact of Snail expression on survival rate by different molecular subtypes of breast IDC patients. RESULTS The level of Snail expression in IDC tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in CTAN tissues. Moreover, high Snail expression had direct impacts on poor disease specific survival (DSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in breast IDC patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive statuses as well as the HER2 intrinsic subtype. Additionally, breast IDC patients with a combination of three prognostic factors, including high Snail expression and HER2-positive and EGFR-positive statuses, had much poor DSS and DFS with a statistically significant linear trend. CONCLUSION High Snail expression could predict a poor prognosis for breast IDC patients with HER2/EGFR-positive subtypes.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Breast Neoplasms/surgery
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/surgery
- Case-Control Studies
- ErbB Receptors/metabolism
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Prognosis
- Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Snail Family Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Survival Rate
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yu Chang
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Kai Tseng
- Department of Orthopedics, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 50008, Taiwan; Department of Orthopedics, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan 70401, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chia Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Wen Shu
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Miaw-I Lin
- Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Han Liou
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Ying Fu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Chung Lin
- Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
| | - Luo-Ping Ger
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsin Yeh
- Department of Surgery, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.
| | - Pei-Feng Liu
- Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung 81362, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, Shu-Zen Junior College of Medicine and Management, Kaohsiung 82144, Taiwan.
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48
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Prognostic significance of epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotypes in upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2018; 214:547-554. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 01/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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49
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Jiang J, Wang GZ, Wang Y, Huang HZ, Li WT, Qu XD. Hypoxia-induced HMGB1 expression of HCC promotes tumor invasiveness and metastasis via regulating macrophage-derived IL-6. Exp Cell Res 2018; 367:81-88. [PMID: 29571949 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through promotion of spontaneous metastasis but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we hypothesis that tumor cell-derived HMGB1 orchestrates macrophages infiltration and promotes metastasis of HCC via enhancing macrophage-secreted IL-6 under hypoxia. HMGB1 expression was robustly exacerbated in tumors of HCC patients with PVTT. Meanwhile, hypoxia exposure gave rise to HMGB1 expression in hepatoma cells of human and mouse in a HIF-1α-dependent manner and subsequently induced the infiltration and reprogramming of macrophages to augment the expression of Il-6. Further study demonstrated macrophage-derived IL-6 enhanced the invasiveness and metastasis of murine HCC cells. Therefore, our study provides a novel understanding of the relationship between tumor cells and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) in the context of hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Jiang
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China; Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Zhi Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao-Zhe Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen-Tao Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xu-Dong Qu
- Shanghai Institute of Medical Imaging, Shanghai, China; Department of Interventional Radiology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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50
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Jolly MK, Tripathi SC, Jia D, Mooney SM, Celiktas M, Hanash SM, Mani SA, Pienta KJ, Ben-Jacob E, Levine H. Stability of the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotype. Oncotarget 2017; 7:27067-84. [PMID: 27008704 PMCID: PMC5053633 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 287] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and its reverse – Mesenchymal to Epithelial Transition (MET) – are hallmarks of cellular plasticity during embryonic development and cancer metastasis. During EMT, epithelial cells lose cell-cell adhesion and gain migratory and invasive traits either partially or completely, leading to a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (hybrid E/M) or a mesenchymal phenotype respectively. Mesenchymal cells move individually, but hybrid E/M cells migrate collectively as observed during gastrulation, wound healing, and the formation of tumor clusters detected as Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs). Typically, the hybrid E/M phenotype has largely been tacitly assumed to be transient and ‘metastable’. Here, we identify certain ‘phenotypic stability factors’ (PSFs) such as GRHL2 that couple to the core EMT decision-making circuit (miR-200/ZEB) and stabilize hybrid E/M phenotype. Further, we show that H1975 lung cancer cells can display a stable hybrid E/M phenotype and migrate collectively, a behavior that is impaired by knockdown of GRHL2 and another previously identified PSF - OVOL. In addition, our computational model predicts that GRHL2 can also associate hybrid E/M phenotype with high tumor-initiating potential, a prediction strengthened by the observation that the higher levels of these PSFs may be predictive of poor patient outcome. Finally, based on these specific examples, we deduce certain network motifs that can stabilize the hybrid E/M phenotype. Our results suggest that partial EMT, i.e. a hybrid E/M phenotype, need not be ‘metastable’, and strengthen the emerging notion that partial EMT, but not necessarily a complete EMT, is associated with aggressive tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Satyendra C Tripathi
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Steven M Mooney
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Muge Celiktas
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Samir M Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Red and Charline McCombs Institute for The Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sendurai A Mani
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Metastasis Research Center, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kenneth J Pienta
- The James Brady Urological Institute, and Departments of Urology, Oncology, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eshel Ben-Jacob
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Graduate Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,School of Physics and Astronomy and The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
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