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Chimento A, D’Amico M, Pezzi V, De Amicis F. Notch Signaling in Breast Tumor Microenvironment as Mediator of Drug Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116296. [PMID: 35682974 PMCID: PMC9181656 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling dysregulation encourages breast cancer progression through different mechanisms such as stem cell maintenance, cell proliferation and migration/invasion. Furthermore, Notch is a crucial driver regulating juxtracrine and paracrine communications between tumor and stroma. The complex interplay between the abnormal Notch pathway orchestrating the activation of other signals and cellular heterogeneity contribute towards remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. These changes, together with tumor evolution and treatment pressure, drive breast cancer drug resistance. Preclinical studies have shown that targeting the Notch pathway can prevent or reverse resistance, reducing or eliminating breast cancer stem cells. In the present review, we will summarize the current scientific evidence that highlights the involvement of Notch activation within the breast tumor microenvironment, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tumor/stroma/immune system interplay and its involvement in mechanisms of therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Chimento
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; (A.C.); (M.D.); (F.D.A.)
| | - Maria D’Amico
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; (A.C.); (M.D.); (F.D.A.)
- Health Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pezzi
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; (A.C.); (M.D.); (F.D.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0984-493148
| | - Francesca De Amicis
- Department of Pharmacy and Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy; (A.C.); (M.D.); (F.D.A.)
- Health Center, University of Calabria, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
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2
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Chen W, Wei W, Yu L, Ye Z, Huang F, Zhang L, Hu S, Cai C. Mammary Development and Breast Cancer: a Notch Perspective. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:309-320. [PMID: 34374886 PMCID: PMC8566423 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-021-09496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammary gland development primarily occurs postnatally, and this unique process is complex and regulated by systemic hormones and local growth factors. The mammary gland is also a highly dynamic organ that undergoes profound changes at puberty and during the reproductive cycle. These changes are driven by mammary stem cells (MaSCs). Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death in women. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play prominent roles in tumor initiation, drug resistance, tumor recurrence, and metastasis. The highly conserved Notch signaling pathway functions as a key regulator of the niche mediating mammary organogenesis and breast neoplasia. In this review, we discuss mechanisms by which Notch contributes to breast carcinoma pathology and suggest potentials for therapeutic targeting of Notch in breast cancer. In summary, we provide a comprehensive overview of Notch functions in regulating MaSCs, mammary development, and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Liya Yu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zi Ye
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Fujing Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Liyan Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shiqi Hu
- DU-ANU Joint Science College, Shandong University, Weihai, 264200, China
| | - Cheguo Cai
- Department of Orthopaedics, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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Nandi A, Chakrabarti R. The many facets of Notch signaling in breast cancer: toward overcoming therapeutic resistance. Genes Dev 2021; 34:1422-1438. [PMID: 33872192 PMCID: PMC7608750 DOI: 10.1101/gad.342287.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this review, Nandi et al. revisit the mechanisms by which Notch receptors and ligands contribute to normal mammary gland development and breast tumor progression. The authors also discuss combinatorial approaches aimed at disrupting Notch- and TME-mediated resistance that may improve prognosis in breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women and is a complex disease with high intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity. Such heterogeneity is a major driving force behind failure of current therapies and development of resistance. Due to the limitations of conventional therapies and inevitable emergence of acquired drug resistance (chemo and endocrine) as well as radio resistance, it is essential to design novel therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis for breast cancer patients. Deregulated Notch signaling within the breast tumor and its tumor microenvironment (TME) is linked to poor clinical outcomes in treatment of resistant breast cancer. Notch receptors and ligands are also important for normal mammary development, suggesting the potential for conserved signaling pathways between normal mammary gland development and breast cancer. In this review, we focus on mechanisms by which Notch receptors and ligands contribute to normal mammary gland development and breast tumor progression. We also discuss how complex interactions between cancer cells and the TME may reduce treatment efficacy and ultimately lead to acquired drug or radio resistance. Potential combinatorial approaches aimed at disrupting Notch- and TME-mediated resistance that may aid in achieving in an improved patient prognosis are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajeya Nandi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Rumela Chakrabarti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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4
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BeLow M, Osipo C. Notch Signaling in Breast Cancer: A Role in Drug Resistance. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102204. [PMID: 33003540 PMCID: PMC7601482 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease that can be subdivided into unique molecular subtypes based on protein expression of the Estrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor, and/or the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2. Therapeutic approaches are designed to inhibit these overexpressed receptors either by endocrine therapy, targeted therapies, or combinations with cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, a significant percentage of breast cancers are inherently resistant or acquire resistance to therapies, and mechanisms that promote resistance remain poorly understood. Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway that regulates cell fate, including survival and self-renewal of stem cells, proliferation, or differentiation. Deregulation of Notch signaling promotes resistance to targeted or cytotoxic therapies by enriching of a small population of resistant cells, referred to as breast cancer stem cells, within the bulk tumor; enhancing stem-like features during the process of de-differentiation of tumor cells; or promoting epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Preclinical studies have shown that targeting the Notch pathway can prevent or reverse resistance through reduction or elimination of breast cancer stem cells. However, Notch inhibitors have yet to be clinically approved for the treatment of breast cancer, mainly due to dose-limiting gastrointestinal toxicity. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms of Notch-mediated resistance in breast cancer cells and breast cancer stem cells, and various methods of targeting Notch through γ-secretase inhibitors, Notch signaling biologics, or transcriptional inhibitors. We also discuss future plans for identification of novel Notch-targeted therapies, in order to reduce toxicity and improve outcomes for women with resistant breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna BeLow
- Integrated Cell Biology Program, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60513, USA;
| | - Clodia Osipo
- Integrated Cell Biology Program, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60513, USA;
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60513, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-708-327-2372
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Liubomirski Y, Ben-Baruch A. Notch-Inflammation Networks in Regulation of Breast Cancer Progression. Cells 2020; 9:cells9071576. [PMID: 32605277 PMCID: PMC7407628 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [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: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the Notch family and chronic inflammation were each separately demonstrated to have prominent malignancy-supporting roles in breast cancer. Recent investigations indicate that bi-directional interactions that exist between these two pathways promote the malignancy phenotype of breast tumor cells and of their tumor microenvironment. In this review article, we demonstrate the importance of Notch-inflammation interplays in malignancy by describing three key networks that act in breast cancer and their impacts on functions that contribute to disease progression: (1) Cross-talks of the Notch pathway with myeloid cells that are important players in cancer-related inflammation, focusing mainly on macrophages; (2) Cross-talks of the Notch pathway with pro-inflammatory factors, exemplified mainly by Notch interactions with interleukin 6 and its downstream pathways (STAT3); (3) Cross-talks of the Notch pathway with typical inflammatory transcription factors, primarily NF-κB. These three networks enhance tumor-promoting functions in different breast tumor subtypes and act in reciprocal manners, whereby Notch family members activate inflammatory elements and vice versa. These characteristics illustrate the fundamental roles played by Notch-inflammation interactions in elevating breast cancer progression and propose that joint targeting of both pathways together may provide more effective and less toxic treatment approaches in this disease.
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Notch1/2/3/4 are prognostic biomarker and correlated with immune infiltrates in gastric cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:2595-2609. [PMID: 32028262 PMCID: PMC7041744 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Notch refers to a set of genes encoding a family of transmembrane receptors in mammalian cells. Previous evidence indicated that Notch receptors were implicated in the onset of gastric cancer. However, there is little evidence on the different genetic expression patterns of the four Notch receptors and their values for patient prognosis. Most recently, we investigated the transcriptional data of Notch receptors and related patient survival in patients with GC based on several databases, including ONCOMINE, GEPIA, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, cBioPortal and TIMER. According to our findings, gastric cancer tissues, compared with adjacent normal tissues presented a higher level of expression of Notch1/2/3. We also performed a survival analysis and noted that gastric cancer patients with high transcription levels of Notch1/2/3/4 had a low relapse-free survival. In gastric cancer patients, higher levels of infiltration in their CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells were positive associated with the expression of Notch receptors. Notch expression had significant association with diverse immune marker sets in gastric cancer. Overall, this study provides evidence that Notch1/2/3/4 could become the potential targets for precision treatment and new biomarkers in the prognosis of gastric cancer.
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Gersey Z, Osiason AD, Bloom L, Shah S, Thompson JW, Bregy A, Agarwal N, Komotar RJ. Therapeutic Targeting of the Notch Pathway in Glioblastoma Multiforme. World Neurosurg 2019; 131:252-263.e2. [PMID: 31376551 DOI: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.07.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and deadly form of brain tumor. After standard treatment of resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, the 5-year survival is <5%. In recent years, research has uncovered several potential targets within the Notch signaling pathway, which may lead to improved patient outcomes. METHODS A literature search was performed for articles containing the terms "Glioblastoma" and "Receptors, Notch" between 2003 and July 2015. Of the 62 articles retrieved, 46 met our criteria and were included in our review. Nine articles were identified from other sources and were subsequently included, leaving 55 articles reviewed. RESULTS Of the 55 articles reviewed, 47 used established human GBM cell lines. Seventeen articles used human GBM surgical samples. Forty-five of 48 articles that assessed Notch activity showed increased expression in GBM cell lines. Targeting the Notch pathway was carried out through Notch knockdown and overexpression and targeting δ-like ligand, Jagged, γ-secretase, ADAM10, ADAM17, and Mastermindlike protein 1. Arsenic trioxide, microRNAs, and several other compounds were shown to have an effect on the Notch pathway in GBM. Notch activity in GBM was also shown to be associated with hypoxia and certain cancer-related molecular pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/MAPK. Most articles concluded that Notch activity amplifies malignant characteristics in GBM and targeting this pathway can bring about amelioration of these effects. CONCLUSIONS Recent literature suggests targeting the Notch pathway has great potential for future therapies for GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Gersey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Adam D Osiason
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Laura Bloom
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Sumedh Shah
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - John W Thompson
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Amade Bregy
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nitin Agarwal
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ricardo J Komotar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
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Castro-Pérez E, Rodríguez CI, Mikheil D, Siddique S, McCarthy A, Newton MA, Setaluri V. Melanoma Progression Inhibits Pluripotency and Differentiation of Melanoma-Derived iPSCs Produces Cells with Neural-like Mixed Dysplastic Phenotype. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 13:177-192. [PMID: 31231022 PMCID: PMC6627006 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanomas are known to exhibit phenotypic plasticity. However, the role cellular plasticity plays in melanoma tumor progression and drug resistance is not fully understood. Here, we used reprogramming of melanocytes and melanoma cells to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSCs) to investigate the relationship between cellular plasticity and melanoma progression and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor resistance. We found that melanocyte reprogramming is prevented by the expression of oncogenic BRAF, and in melanoma cells harboring oncogenic BRAF and sensitive to MAPK inhibitors, reprogramming can be restored by inhibition of the activated oncogenic pathway. Our data also suggest that melanoma tumor progression acts as a barrier to reprogramming. Under conditions that promote melanocytic differentiation of fibroblast- and melanocyte-derived iPSCs, melanoma-derived iPSCs exhibited neural cell-like dysplasia and increased MAPK inhibitor resistance. These data suggest that iPSC-like reprogramming and drug resistance of differentiated cells can serve as a model to understand melanoma cell plasticity-dependent mechanisms in recurrence of aggressive drug-resistant melanoma. Metastatic melanoma exhibits less plasticity to reprogramming than primary melanoma Oncogenic BRAFV600E and resistance to MAPKi inhibit reprogramming of melanoma Differentiation of melanoma-iPSCs produces cells with mixed dysplastic phenotype Melanoma-iPSC-differentiated cells exhibit acquired resistance to MAPKi
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgardo Castro-Pérez
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Carlos I Rodríguez
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Dareen Mikheil
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Shakir Siddique
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Alexandra McCarthy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Michael A Newton
- Department of Statistics, Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Vijayasaradhi Setaluri
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53706, USA; William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53705, USA.
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Mollen EWJ, Ient J, Tjan-Heijnen VCG, Boersma LJ, Miele L, Smidt ML, Vooijs MAGG. Moving Breast Cancer Therapy up a Notch. Front Oncol 2018; 8:518. [PMID: 30515368 PMCID: PMC6256059 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy, worldwide. Treatment decisions are based on tumor stage, histological subtype, and receptor expression and include combinations of surgery, radiotherapy, and systemic treatment. These, together with earlier diagnosis, have resulted in increased survival. However, initial treatment efficacy cannot be guaranteed upfront, and these treatments may come with (long-term) serious adverse effects, negatively affecting a patient's quality of life. Gene expression-based tests can accurately estimate the risk of recurrence in early stage breast cancers. Disease recurrence correlates with treatment resistance, creating a major need to resensitize tumors to treatment. Notch signaling is frequently deregulated in cancer and is involved in treatment resistance. Preclinical research has already identified many combinatory therapeutic options where Notch involvement enhances the effectiveness of radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapies for breast cancer. However, the benefit of targeting Notch has remained clinically inconclusive. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on targeting the Notch pathway to enhance current treatments for breast cancer and to combat treatment resistance. Furthermore, we propose mechanisms to further exploit Notch-based therapeutics in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik W J Mollen
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jonathan Ient
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Vivianne C G Tjan-Heijnen
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Liesbeth J Boersma
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States.,Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Marjolein L Smidt
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Marc A G G Vooijs
- Department of Radiotherapy, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.,Department of Radiation Oncology (MAASTRO), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, Netherlands
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10
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Notch inhibitors and their role in the treatment of triple negative breast cancer: promises and failures. Curr Opin Oncol 2017; 29:411-427. [DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Fazio C, Ricciardiello L. Inflammation and Notch signaling: a crosstalk with opposite effects on tumorigenesis. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2515. [PMID: 27929540 PMCID: PMC5260996 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2016] [Revised: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The Notch cascade is a fundamental and highly conserved pathway able to control cell-fate. The Notch pathway arises from the interaction of one of the Notch receptors (Notch1–4) with different types of ligands; in particular, the Notch pathway can be activated canonically (through the ligands Jagged1, Jagged2, DLL1, DLL3 or DLL4) or non-canonically (through various molecules shared by other pathways). In the context of tumor biology, the deregulation of Notch signaling is found to be crucial, but it is still not clear if the activation of this pathway exerts a tumor-promoting or a tumor suppressing function in different cancer settings. Untill now, it is well known that the inflammatory compartment is critically involved in tumor progression; however, inflammation, which occurs as a physiological response to damage, can also drive protective processes toward carcinogenesis. Therefore, the role of inflammation in cancer is still controversial and needs to be further clarified. Interestingly, recent literature reports that some of the signaling molecules modulated by the cells of the immune system also belong to or interact with the canonical and non-canonical Notch pathways, delineating a possible link between Notch activation and inflammatory environment. In this review we analyze the hypothesis that specific inflammatory conditions can control the activation of the Notch pathway in terms of biological effect, partially explaining the dichotomy of both phenomena. For this purpose, we detail the molecular links reported in the literature connecting inflammation and Notch signaling in different types of tumor, with a particular focus on colorectal carcinogenesis, which represents a perfect example of context-dependent interaction between malignant transformation and immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Fazio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Luigi Ricciardiello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Callahan R, Chestnut BA, Raafat A. Original Research: Featured Article: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) inhibits Notch and c-Myc signaling: Five-day treatment permanently rescues mammary development. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2016; 242:53-67. [PMID: 27550925 DOI: 10.1177/1535370216665175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Wap-Int3 transgenic females expressing the Notch4 intracellular domain (designated Int3) from the whey acidic protein promoter exhibit two phenotypes in the mammary gland: blockage of lobuloalveolar development and lactation, and tumor development with 100% penetrance. Previously, we have shown that treatment of Wap-Int3 tumor bearing mice with Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is associated with complete regression of the tumor. In the present study, we show that treatment of Wap-Int3 mice during day 1 through day 6 of pregnancy with Gleevec leads to the restoration of their lobuloalveolar development and ability to lactate in subsequent pregnancies in absence of Gleevec treatment. In addition, these mice do not develop mammary tumors. We investigated the mechanism for Gleevec regulation of Notch signaling and found that Gleevec treatment results in a loss of Int3 protein but not of Int3 mRNA in HC11 mouse mammary epithelial cells expressing Int3. The addition of MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, shows increased ubiquitination of Int3 in the presence of Gleevec. Thus, Gleevec affects the stability of Int3 by promoting the degradation of Int3 via E3 ubiquitin ligases targeting it for the proteasome degradation. Gleevec is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that acts on c-Kit and PDGFR. Therefore, we investigated the downstream substrate kinase GSK3β to ascertain the possible role that this kinase might play in the stability of Int3. Data show that Gleevec degradation of Int3 is GSK3β dependent. We have expanded our study of the effects Gleevec has on tumorigenesis of other oncogenes. We have found that anchorage-independent growth of HC11-c-Myc cells as well as tumor growth in nude mice is inhibited by Gleevec treatment. As with Int3, Gleevec treatment appears to destabilize the c-Myc protein but not mRNA. These results indicate that Gleevec could be a potential therapeutic drug for patients bearing Notch4 and/or c-Myc positive breast carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Callahan
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Barry A Chestnut
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Ahmed Raafat
- Basic Research Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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13
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Abravanel DL, Belka GK, Pan TC, Pant DK, Collins MA, Sterner CJ, Chodosh LA. Notch promotes recurrence of dormant tumor cells following HER2/neu-targeted therapy. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:2484-96. [PMID: 25961456 DOI: 10.1172/jci74883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer mortality is principally due to recurrent tumors that arise from a reservoir of residual tumor cells that survive therapy. Remarkably, breast cancers can recur after extended periods of clinical remission, implying that at least some residual tumor cells pass through a dormant phase prior to relapse. Nevertheless, the mechanisms that contribute to breast cancer recurrence are poorly understood. Using a mouse model of recurrent mammary tumorigenesis in combination with bioinformatics analyses of breast cancer patients, we have identified a role for Notch signaling in mammary tumor dormancy and recurrence. Specifically, we found that Notch signaling is acutely upregulated in tumor cells following HER2/neu pathway inhibition, that Notch signaling remains activated in a subset of dormant residual tumor cells that persist following HER2/neu downregulation, that activation of Notch signaling accelerates tumor recurrence, and that inhibition of Notch signaling by either genetic or pharmacological approaches impairs recurrence in mice. Consistent with these findings, meta-analysis of microarray data from over 4,000 breast cancer patients revealed that elevated Notch pathway activity is independently associated with an increased rate of recurrence. Together, these results implicate Notch signaling in tumor recurrence from dormant residual tumor cells and provide evidence that dormancy is a targetable stage of breast cancer progression.
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MESH Headings
- Aged
- Animals
- Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Databases, Genetic
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Heterografts
- Humans
- Meta-Analysis as Topic
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, Transgenic
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/metabolism
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Neoplasm Transplantation
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Receptor, ErbB-2
- Receptors, Notch/genetics
- Receptors, Notch/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Li D, Masiero M, Banham AH, Harris AL. The notch ligand JAGGED1 as a target for anti-tumor therapy. Front Oncol 2014; 4:254. [PMID: 25309874 PMCID: PMC4174884 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch pathway is increasingly attracting attention as a source of therapeutic targets for cancer. Ligand-induced Notch signaling has been implicated in various aspects of cancer biology; as a consequence, pan-Notch inhibitors and therapeutic antibodies targeting one or more of the Notch receptors have been investigated for cancer therapy. Alternatively, Notch ligands provide attractive options for therapy in cancer treatment due to their more restricted expression and better-defined functions, as well as their low rate of mutations in cancer. One of the Notch ligands, Jagged1 (JAG1), is overexpressed in many cancer types, and plays an important role in several aspects of tumor biology. In fact, JAG1-stimulated Notch activation is directly implicated in tumor growth through maintaining cancer stem cell populations, promoting cell survival, inhibiting apoptosis, and driving cell proliferation and metastasis. In addition, JAG1 can indirectly affect cancer by influencing tumor microenvironment components such as tumor vasculature and immune cell infiltration. This article gives an overview of JAG1 and its role in tumor biology, and its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demin Li
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Massimo Masiero
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Alison H Banham
- Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Adrian L Harris
- Cancer Research UK Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Department of Oncology, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
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15
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Carvalho FLF, Simons BW, Eberhart CG, Berman DM. Notch signaling in prostate cancer: a moving target. Prostate 2014; 74:933-45. [PMID: 24737393 PMCID: PMC4323172 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2013] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION By regulating cell fate, proliferation, and survival, Notch pathway signaling provides critical input into differentiation, organization, and function of multiple tissues. Notch signaling is also becoming an increasingly recognized feature in malignancy, including prostate cancer, where it may play oncogenic or tumor suppressive roles. METHODS Based on an electronic literature search from 2000 to 2013 we identified, summarized, and integrated published research on Notch signaling dynamics in prostate homeostasis and prostate cancer. RESULTS In benign prostate, Notch controls the differentiation state and architecture of the gland. In prostate cancer, similar features correlate with lethal potential and may be influenced by Notch. Increased Notch1 can confer a survival advantage on prostate cancer cells, and levels of Notch family members, such as Jagged2, Notch3, and Hes6 increase with higher cancer grade. However, Notch signaling can also antagonize growth and survival of both benign and malignant prostate cells, possibly through antagonistic effects of the Notch target HEY1 on androgen receptor function. DISCUSSION Notch signaling can dramatically influence prostate development and disease. Determining the cellular contexts where Notch promotes or suppresses prostate growth could open opportunities for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe L F Carvalho
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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16
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Raafat A, Strizzi L, Lashin K, Ginsburg E, McCurdy D, Salomon D, Smith GH, Medina D, Callahan R. Effects of age and parity on mammary gland lesions and progenitor cells in the FVB/N-RC mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43624. [PMID: 22952723 PMCID: PMC3431359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The FVB/N mouse strain is extensively used in the development of animal models for breast cancer research. Recently it has been reported that the aging FVB/N mice develop spontaneous mammary lesions and tumors accompanied with abnormalities in the pituitary glands. These observations have a great impact on the mouse models of human breast cancer. We have developed a population of inbred FVB/N mice (designated FVB/N-RC) that have been genetically isolated for 20 years. To study the effects of age and parity on abnormalities of the mammary glands of FVB/N-RC mice, twenty-five nulliparous and multiparous (3-4 pregnancies) females were euthanized at 16-22 months of age. Examination of the mammary glands did not reveal macroscopic evidence of mammary gland tumors in either aged-nulliparous or multiparous FVB/N-RC mice (0/25). However, histological analysis of the mammary glands showed rare focal nodules of squamous changes in 2 of the aged multiparous mice. Mammary gland hyperplasia was detected in 8% and 71% of the aged-nulliparous and aged-multiparous mice, respectively. Epithelial contents and serum levels of triiodothyronine were significantly higher in the experimental groups than the 14-wk-old control mice. Immuno-histochemical staining of the pituitary gland pars distalis showed no difference in prolactin staining between the control and the aged mice. Tissue transplant and dilution studies showed no effect of age and/or parity on the ability of putative progenitor cells present among the injected mammary cells to repopulate a cleared fat pad and develop a full mammary gland outgrowth. This FVB/N-RC mouse substrain is suitable to develop mouse models for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Raafat
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Luigi Strizzi
- Children's Memorial Research Center, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Karim Lashin
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Erika Ginsburg
- Office of the Director, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David McCurdy
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Salomon
- Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute; National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gilbert H. Smith
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Daniel Medina
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Robert Callahan
- Cell and Cancer Biology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
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Wong NKY, Fuller M, Sung S, Wong F, Karsan A. Heterogeneity of breast cancer stem cells as evidenced with Notch-dependent and Notch-independent populations. Cancer Med 2012; 1:105-13. [PMID: 23342261 PMCID: PMC3544441 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2012] [Revised: 05/24/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have suggested the potential importance of Notch signaling to the cancer stem cell population in some tumors, but it is not known whether all cells in the cancer stem cell fraction require Notch activity. To address this issue, we blocked Notch activity in MCF-7 cells by expressing a dominant-negative MAML-GFP (dnMAML) construct, which inhibits signaling through all Notch receptors, and quantified the effect on tumor-initiating activity. Inhibition of Notch signaling reduced primary tumor sphere formation and side population. Functional quantification of tumor-initiating cell numbers in vivo showed a significant decrease, but not a complete abrogation, of these cells in dnMAML-expressing cells. Interestingly, when assessed in secondary assays in vitro or in vivo, there was no difference in tumor-initiating activity between the dnMAML-expressing cells and control cells. The fact that a subpopulation of dnMAML-expressing cells was capable of forming primary and secondary tumors indicates that there are Notch-independent tumor-initiating cells in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Our findings thus provide direct evidence for a heterogeneous cancer stem cell pool, which will require combination therapies against multiple oncogenic pathways to eliminate the tumor-initiating cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson K Y Wong
- Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Agency Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, Canada
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18
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Klauzinska M, Baljinnyam B, Raafat A, Rodriguez-Canales J, Strizzi L, Greer YE, Rubin JS, Callahan R. Rspo2/Int7 regulates invasiveness and tumorigenic properties of mammary epithelial cells. J Cell Physiol 2012; 227:1960-71. [PMID: 21732367 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Rspo2 was identified as a novel common integration site (CIS) for the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) in viral induced mouse mammary tumors. Here we show that Rspo2 modulates Wnt signaling in mouse mammary epithelial cells. Co-expression of both genes resulted in an intermediate growth phenotype on plastic and had minor effects on the growth-promoting properties of Wnt1 in soft agar. However, individual Rspo2 and Wnt1 HC11 transfectants as well as the double transfectant were tumorigenic in athymic nude mice, with tumors from each line having distinctive histological characteristics. Rspo2 and Rspo2/Wnt1 tumors contained many spindle cells, consistent with an epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) phenotype. When Rspo2 and Rspo2/Wnt1 tumor cells were transferred into naïve mice, they exhibited greater metastatic activity than cells derived from Wnt1 tumors. For comparison, C57MG/Wnt1/Rspo2 co-transfectants exhibited invasive properties in three-dimensional (3D) Matrigel cultures that were not seen with cells transfected only with Wnt1 or Rspo2. Use of Dickkopf-1, a specific antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, or short hairpin RNA targeting β-catenin expression demonstrated that the invasive activity was not mediated by β-catenin. Our results indicate that Rspo2 and Wnt1 have mutually distinct effects on mammary epithelial cell growth and these effects are context-dependent. While Rspo2 and Wnt1 act synergistically in the β-catenin pathway, other mechanisms are responsible for the invasive properties of stable double transfectants observed in 3D Matrigel cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Klauzinska
- Oncogenetics Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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19
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Targeting Notch signaling for cancer therapeutic intervention. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2012; 65:191-234. [PMID: 22959027 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-397927-8.00007-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved, intercellular signaling cascade. The Notch proteins are single-pass receptors that are activated upon interaction with the Delta (or Delta-like) and Jagged/Serrate families of membrane-bound ligands. Association of ligand-receptor leads to proteolytic cleavages that liberate the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) from the plasma membrane. The NICD translocates to the nucleus, where it forms a complex with the DNA-binding protein CSL, displacing a histone deacetylase (HDAc)-corepressor (CoR) complex from CSL. Components of a transcriptional complex, such as MAML1 and histone acetyltransferases (HATs), are recruited to the NICD-CSL complex, leading to the transcriptional activation of Notch target genes. The Notch signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell fate decision, tissue patterning, morphogenesis, and is hence regarded as a developmental pathway. However, if this pathway goes awry, it contributes to cellular transformation and tumorigenesis. There is mounting evidence that this pathway is dysregulated in a variety of malignancies, and can behave as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending upon cell context. This chapter highlights the current evidence for aberration of the Notch signaling pathway in a wide range of tumors from hematological cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma, through to lung, skin, breast, pancreas, colon, prostate, ovarian, brain, and liver tumors. It proposes that the Notch signaling pathway may represent novel target for cancer therapeutic intervention.
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20
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Abstract
Classically known for its indispensible role in embryonic development, the Notch signalling pathway is gaining recognition for its regulation of adult tissue homoeostasis and aberrant activation in disease pathogenesis. The pathway has been implicated in cancer initiation and development, as well as early stages of cancer progression by regulating conserved cellular programs such as the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. We recently extended the role of Notch signalling to late stages of tumour progression by elucidating a stroma-dependent mechanism for the pathway in osteolytic bone metastasis. Of clinical significance, disrupting the Notch pathway and associated molecular mediators of Notch-dependent bone metastasis may provide novel therapeutic strategies to combat aggressive bone metastatic disease.
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21
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Ercan C, van Diest PJ, Vooijs M. Mammary development and breast cancer: the role of stem cells. Curr Mol Med 2011; 11:270-85. [PMID: 21506923 DOI: 10.2174/156652411795678007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The mammary gland is a highly regenerative organ that can undergo multiple cycles of proliferation, lactation and involution, a process controlled by stem cells. The last decade much progress has been made in the identification of signaling pathways that function in these stem cells to control self-renewal, lineage commitment and epithelial differentiation in the normal mammary gland. The same signaling pathways that control physiological mammary development and homeostasis are also often found deregulated in breast cancer. Here we provide an overview on the functional and molecular identification of mammary stem cells in the context of both normal breast development and breast cancer. We discuss the contribution of some key signaling pathways with an emphasis on Notch receptor signaling, a cell fate determination pathway often deregulated in breast cancer. A further understanding of the biological roles of the Notch pathway in mammary stem cell behavior and carcinogenesis might be relevant for the development of future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ercan
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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22
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Sun Y, Klauzinska M, Lake RJ, Lee JM, Santopietro S, Raafat A, Salomon D, Callahan R, Artavanis-Tsakonas S. Trp53 regulates Notch 4 signaling through Mdm2. J Cell Sci 2011; 124:1067-76. [PMID: 21402876 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.068965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Notch receptors and their ligands have crucial roles in development and tumorigenesis. We present evidence demonstrating the existence of an antagonistic relationship between Notch 4 and Trp53, which is controlled by the Mdm2-dependent ubiquitylation and degradation of the Notch receptor. We show that this signal-controlling mechanism is mediated by physical interactions between Mdm2 and Notch 4 and suggest the existence of a trimeric complex between Trp53, Notch 4 and Mdm2, which ultimately regulates Notch activity. Functional studies indicate that Trp53 can suppress NICD4-induced anchorage-independent growth in mammary epithelial cells and present evidence showing that Trp53 has a pivotal role in the suppression of Notch-associated tumorigenesis in the mammary gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youping Sun
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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23
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Douville J, Beaulieu R, Balicki D. ALDH1 as a functional marker of cancer stem and progenitor cells. Stem Cells Dev 2010; 18:17-25. [PMID: 18573038 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2008.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 259] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have now been described in a variety of tissues, even in those where the cells' turn over rate is slow, such as the brain and the resting mammary gland. There is also accumulating evidence that tumors are derived from and are maintained by a rare population of dysregulated stem cells. However, discrepancies in the markers used and reported have slowed down the functional characterization of these somatic stem cells. To circumvent this challenging issue, universal stem cell markers with properties common to all stem cell types must be discovered and exploited. In line with this idea, the measurement of aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1 (ALDH1) activity shows promising potential as a universal marker for the identification and isolation of stem cells from multiple sources. Herein, we review the available data reporting utilization of ALDH1 activity as a means to identify and isolate stem cells and cancer stem cells, with a special focus on the mammary gland and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Douville
- Research Centre (CRCHUM) and Department of Medicine, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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24
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Transforming acidic coiled-coil protein-3 (Tacc3) acts as a negative regulator of Notch signaling through binding to CDC10/Ankyrin repeats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2010; 400:606-12. [PMID: 20804727 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.08.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2010] [Accepted: 08/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We have identified the transforming acidic coiled-coil protein-3 (Tacc3) as a binding partner for Notch4/Int3 and were able to show that it binds to the intracellular domain (ICD) of all members of the Notch receptor family. Members of the Tacc family reside at the centrosomes and associates with microtubules. Recent studies suggest that Tacc3 also contributes to the regulation of gene transcription. Tacc3 specifically interacts with the Notch4/Int3 CDC10/Ankyrin repeats and to a lesser extent, with residues C-terminal to these repeats in the ICD. Dual label immunofluorescence of mouse mammary tissue shows Tacc3 co-localizes with the Notch3 ICD. Co-immunoprecipitation of endogenous Notch and Tacc3 proteins from NIH3T3 cell extracts, lung and mammary gland confirms that these two proteins interact under physiological conditions. In addition, knock down of Tacc3 in NIH3T3 cells leads to the up-regulation of Hey2, a target gene for Notch signaling. The affinity of Tacc3 binding to Notch4/Int3 ICD is similar to that between Rbpj and Notch4/Int3 ICD. Notch4/Int3 ICD-Tacc3 interaction results in the inhibition of transcription from a Hes1-Luciferase reporter vector in COS-1 cells. The inhibition was reversed in these cells by increasing the levels of Rbpj. Taken together, these results suggest that Tacc3 is a negative regulator of the Notch signaling pathway.
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25
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Yin L, Velazquez OC, Liu ZJ. Notch signaling: emerging molecular targets for cancer therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 2010; 80:690-701. [PMID: 20361945 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2010] [Revised: 03/23/2010] [Accepted: 03/24/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway is a highly conserved developmental pathway, which plays a critical role in cell-fate decision, tissue patterning and morphogenesis. There is increasing evidence that this pathway is dysregulated in a variety of malignancies, and can behave as either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending upon cell context. This review highlights the current evidence for aberration of the Notch signaling pathway in a wide range of tumors from hematological cancers, such as leukemia and lymphoma through to skin, breast, lung, pancreas, colon and brain tumors. It proposes that the Notch signaling pathway may represent novel therapeutic targets and will be a welcome asset to the cancer therapeutic arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yin
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, United States
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26
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Dose-dependent induction of distinct phenotypic responses to Notch pathway activation in mammary epithelial cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2010; 107:5012-7. [PMID: 20194747 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1000896107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of Notch receptors has been implicated in breast cancer; however, the mechanisms contributing to Notch-dependent transformation remain elusive because Notch displays dichotomous functional activities, promoting both proliferation and growth arrest. We investigated the cellular basis for the heterogeneous responses to Notch pathway activation in 3D cultures of MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells. Expression of a constitutively active Notch-1 intracellular domain (NICD) was found to induce two distinct types of 3D structures: large, hyperproliferative structures and small, growth-arrested structures with reduced cell-to-matrix adhesion. Interestingly, we found that these heterogeneous phenotypes reflect differences in Notch pathway activation levels; high Notch activity caused down-regulation of multiple matrix-adhesion genes and inhibition of proliferation, whereas low Notch activity maintained matrix adhesion and provoked a strong hyperproliferative response. Moreover, microarray analyses implicated NICD-induced p63 down-regulation in loss of matrix adhesion. In addition, a reverse-phase protein array-based analysis and subsequent loss-of-function studies identified STAT3 as a dominant downstream mediator of the NICD-induced outgrowth. These results indicate that the phenotypic responses to Notch are determined by the dose of pathway activation; and this dose affects the balance between growth-stimulative and growth-suppressive effects. This unique feature of Notch signaling provides insights into mechanisms that contribute to the dichotomous effects of Notch during development and tumorigenesis.
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27
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Blanchard A, Nistor A, Castaneda FE, Martin D, Hicks GG, Amara F, Shiu RPC, Myal Y. Generation and initial characterization of the prolactin-inducible protein (PIP) null mouse: accompanying global changes in gene expression in the submandibular gland. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2010; 87:859-72. [PMID: 20052012 DOI: 10.1139/y09-077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The human prolactin-inducible protein/gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (hPIP/GCDFP-15) is a secretory glycoprotein found primarily in apocrine tissues including the breast and salivary glands. With largely unknown functions, PIP has been implicated in breast cancer and metastasis, host defense processes and T lymphocyte apoptosis. To begin to address PIP function in vivo, we generated the PIP null mouse (Pip-/-). Additionally, to determine the effect of the loss of PIP on gene expression and to gain insight into some of the molecular mechanisms underlying PIP function, microarray analysis of the submandibular gland was also undertaken. Pip-/- mice developed normally with no overt differences in behaviour or gross morphology and were fertile. However, histological examination of 3-month-old Pip-/- mice sometimes showed enlarged submandibular lymph nodes, lymphocytic aggregations within the prostate lobes, and enlarged medulla in the thymus. Functional analysis of gene expression revealed sets of multiple differentially expressed genes associated with cell death and survival, lipid metabolism, inflammation, immune disease, and cancer, as a consequence of mPIP abrogation. Taken together, these studies lend support to an immunomodulatory role for PIP in vivo and provide further insights into potentially novel signaling pathways and regulatory networks for PIP.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Blanchard
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 401-727 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5, Canada
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28
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Abstract
In recent years a substantial body of evidence derived from not only preclinical but also clinical studies has accumulated in support of Notch signaling playing important oncogenic roles in several types of cancer. The finding that activating Notch mutations are frequently found in patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the best examples for a critical role of Notch signaling in cancer, a fact that motivated many researchers and clinicians to study the role of Notch also in solid tumors. Hence Notch signaling has gained increasing attention as a potential therapeutic target. In this book chapter we would like to discuss our current knowledge of Notch signaling within different types of solid cancers as well as advantages and disadvantages of potential new therapies that try to target the oncogenic properties of Notch signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Koch
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), Lausanne, Switzerland
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29
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Pinnix CC, Lee JT, Liu ZJ, McDaid R, Balint K, Beverly LJ, Brafford PA, Xiao M, Himes B, Zabierowski SE, Yashiro-Ohtani Y, Nathanson KL, Bengston A, Pollock PM, Weeraratna AT, Nickoloff BJ, Pear WS, Capobianco AJ, Herlyn M. Active Notch1 confers a transformed phenotype to primary human melanocytes. Cancer Res 2009; 69:5312-20. [PMID: 19549918 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-3767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The importance of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in melanoma is underscored by the prevalence of activating mutations in N-Ras and B-Raf, yet clinical development of inhibitors of this pathway has been largely ineffective, suggesting that alternative oncogenes may also promote melanoma. Notch is an interesting candidate that has only been correlated with melanoma development and progression; a thorough assessment of tumor-initiating effects of activated Notch on human melanocytes would clarify the mounting correlative evidence and perhaps identify a novel target for an otherwise untreatable disease. Analysis of a substantial panel of cell lines and patient lesions showed that Notch activity is significantly higher in melanomas than their nontransformed counterparts. The use of a constitutively active, truncated Notch transgene construct (N(IC)) was exploited to determine if Notch activation is a "driving" event in melanocytic transformation or instead a "passenger" event associated with melanoma progression. N(IC)-infected melanocytes displayed increased proliferative capacity and biological features more reminiscent of melanoma, such as dysregulated cell adhesion and migration. Gene expression analyses supported these observations and aided in the identification of MCAM, an adhesion molecule associated with acquisition of the malignant phenotype, as a direct target of Notch transactivation. N(IC)-positive melanocytes grew at clonal density, proliferated in limiting media conditions, and also exhibited anchorage-independent growth, suggesting that Notch alone is a transforming oncogene in human melanocytes, a phenomenon not previously described for any melanoma oncogene. This new information yields valuable insight into the basic epidemiology of melanoma and launches a realm of possibilities for drug intervention in this deadly disease.
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30
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Rbpj conditional knockout reveals distinct functions of Notch4/Int3 in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. Oncogene 2008; 28:219-30. [PMID: 18836481 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2008.379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mice expressing the Notch 4 intracellular domain (ICD) (Int3) in the mammary gland have two phenotypes: arrest of mammary alveolar/lobular development and mammary tumorigenesis. Notch4 signaling is mediated primarily through the interaction of Int3 with the transcription repressor/activator Rbpj. We have conditionally ablated the Rbpj gene in the mammary glands of mice expressing whey acidic protein (Wap)-Int3. Interestingly, Rbpj knockout mice (Wap-Cre(+)/Rbpj(-/-)/Wap-Int3) have normal mammary gland development, suggesting that the effect of endogenous Notch signaling on mammary gland development is complete by day 15 of pregnancy. RBP-J heterozygous (Wap-Cre(+)/Rbpj(-/+)/Wap-Int3) and Rbpj control (Rbpj(flox/flox)/Wap-Int3) mice are phenotypically the same as Wap-Int3 mice with respect to mammary gland development and tumorigenesis. In addition, the Wap-Cre(+)/Rbpj(-/-)/Wap-Int3-knockout mice also developed mammary tumors at a frequency similar to Rbpj heterozygous and Wap-Int3 control mice but with a slightly longer latency. Thus, the effect on mammary gland development is dependent on the interaction of the Notch ICD with the transcription repressor/activator Rbpj, and Notch-induced mammary tumor development is independent of this interaction.
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31
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Bouras T, Pal B, Vaillant F, Harburg G, Asselin-Labat ML, Oakes SR, Lindeman GJ, Visvader JE. Notch Signaling Regulates Mammary Stem Cell Function and Luminal Cell-Fate Commitment. Cell Stem Cell 2008; 3:429-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2008.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 299] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2008] [Revised: 06/26/2008] [Accepted: 08/04/2008] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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32
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Raouf A, Zhao Y, To K, Stingl J, Delaney A, Barbara M, Iscove N, Jones S, McKinney S, Emerman J, Aparicio S, Marra M, Eaves C. Transcriptome analysis of the normal human mammary cell commitment and differentiation process. Cell Stem Cell 2008; 3:109-18. [PMID: 18593563 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2008.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2007] [Revised: 04/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/15/2008] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Mature mammary epithelial cells are generated from undifferentiated precursors through a hierarchical process, but the molecular mechanisms involved, particularly in the human mammary gland, are poorly understood. To address this issue, we isolated highly purified subpopulations of primitive bipotent and committed luminal progenitor cells as well as mature luminal and myoepithelial cells from normal human mammary tissue and compared their transcriptomes obtained using three different methods. Elements unique to each subset of mammary cells were identified, and changes that accompany their differentiation in vivo were shown to be recapitulated in vitro. These include a stage-specific change in NOTCH pathway gene expression during the commitment of bipotent progenitors to the luminal lineage. Functional studies further showed NOTCH3 signaling to be critical for this differentiation event to occur in vitro. Taken together, these findings provide an initial foundation for future delineation of mechanisms that perturb primitive human mammary cell growth and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afshin Raouf
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
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Mack DL, Boulanger CA, Callahan R, Smith GH. Expression of truncated Int6/eIF3e in mammary alveolar epithelium leads to persistent hyperplasia and tumorigenesis. Breast Cancer Res 2008; 9:R42. [PMID: 17626637 PMCID: PMC2206715 DOI: 10.1186/bcr1742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2006] [Revised: 03/22/2007] [Accepted: 07/12/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Int6 has been shown to be an interactive participant with the protein translation initiation complex eIF3, the COP9 signalosome and the regulatory lid of the 26S proteasome. Insertion of mouse mammary tumor virus into the Int6 locus creates a C-terminally truncated form of the protein. Expression of the truncated form of Int6 (Int6sh) in stably transfected human and mouse mammary epithelial cell lines leads to cellular transformation. In addition, decreased expression of Int6/eIF3e is observed in approximately one third of all human breast carcinomas. Methods To validate that Int6sh has transforming activity in vivo, a transgenic mouse model was designed using the whey acidic protein (Wap) promoter to target expression of truncated Int6 to differentiating alveolar epithelial cells in the mammary gland. Microarray analyses were performed on normal, premalignant and malignant WapInt6sh expressing tissues. Results Mammary tumors developed in 42% of WapInt6sh heterozygous parous females at an average age of 18 months. In WapInt6sh mice, the contralateral mammary glands from both tumorous and non-tumorous tissues contained widespread focal alveolar hyperplasia. Only 4% of WapInt6sh non-breeding females developed tumors by 2 years of age. The Wap promoter is active only during estrus in the mammary tissue of cycling non-pregnant mice. Microarray analyses of mammary tissues demonstrated that Int6sh expression in the alveolar tissue altered the mammary transcriptome in a specific manner that was detectable even in the first pregnancy. This Int6sh-specific transcriptome pattern subsequently persisted in both the Int6sh-expressing alveolar hyperplasia and mammary tumors. These observations are consistent with the conclusion that WapInt6sh-expressing alveolar cells survive involution following the cessation of lactation, and subsequently give rise to the mammary tumors that arise in aging multiparous females. Conclusion These observations provide direct in vivo evidence that mammary-specific expression of the Int6sh truncation leads to persistence of alveolar hyperplasia with the accompanying increased predisposition to mammary tumorigenesis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Epithelium/metabolism
- Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3/genetics
- Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-3/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Humans
- Hyperplasia/etiology
- Hyperplasia/pathology
- Male
- Mammary Glands, Animal/metabolism
- Mammary Glands, Animal/pathology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/etiology
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Milk Proteins/genetics
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Plasmids/genetics
- Pregnancy
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Sequence Deletion
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Mack
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Corinne A Boulanger
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Robert Callahan
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Gilbert H Smith
- Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health; Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
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Abstract
Notch is an evolutionarily conserved local cell signaling mechanism that participates in a variety of cellular processes: cell fate specification, differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, adhesion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, migration, and angiogenesis. These processes can be subverted in Notch-mediated pathological situations. In the first part of this review, we will discuss the role of Notch in vertebrate central nervous system development, somitogenesis, cardiovascular and endocrine development, with attention to the mechanisms by which Notch regulates cell fate specification and patterning in these tissues. In the second part, we will review the molecular aspects of Notch-mediated neoplasias, where Notch can act as an oncogene or as a tumor suppressor. From all these studies, it becomes evident that the outcome of Notch signaling is strictly context-dependent and differences in the strength, timing, cell type, and context of the signal may affect the final outcome. It is essential to understand how Notch integrates inputs from other signaling pathways and how specificity is achieved, because this knowledge may be relevant for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Bolós
- Departmento de Inmunología y Oncología, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología/Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Darwin 3, Campus de Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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35
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Wu J, Bresnick EH. Glucocorticoid and growth factor synergism requirement for Notch4 chromatin domain activation. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 27:2411-22. [PMID: 17220278 PMCID: PMC1820485 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.02152-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch signaling pathway modulates cell fate in diverse contexts, including vascular development. Notch4 is selectively expressed in vascular endothelium and regulates vascular remodeling. The signal-dependent transcription factor activator protein 1 (AP-1) activates Notch4 transcription in endothelial cells, but other factors/signals that regulate Notch4 are largely unknown. We demonstrate that, unlike the established transrepression mechanism in which the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonizes AP-1, AP-1 and GR synergistically activated Notch4 transcription in endothelial cells. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and cortisol induced AP-1 and GR occupancy, respectively, at a Notch4 promoter composite response element consisting of an imperfect half-glucocorticoid response element and an AP-1 motif, which mediated signal-dependent activation. Analysis of Notch4 promoter complex assembly provided evidence that GR and AP-1 independently occupy the composite response element, but AP-1 stabilizes GR occupancy. In multipotent 10T1/2 cells, FGF-2 and cortisol induced a histone modification pattern at the Notch4 locus mimicking that present in endothelial cells and reprogrammed Notch4 from a repressed to an active state. These results establish the molecular basis for a novel AP-1/GR-Notch4 axis in vascular endothelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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36
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Raafat A, Zoltan-Jones A, Strizzi L, Bargo S, Kimura K, Salomon D, Callahan R. Kit and PDGFR-alpha activities are necessary for Notch4/Int3-induced tumorigenesis. Oncogene 2006; 26:662-72. [PMID: 16878155 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mice overexpressing Notch4 intracellular domain (Int3) under the control of the whey acidic protein (WAP) or mouse mammary tumor virus-long terminal repeat promoters, develop mammary tumors. Microarray analysis of these tumors revealed high levels of c-Kit expression. Gleevec is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets c-Kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) and c-Abl. This led us to speculate that tyrosine kinase receptor activity might be a driving force in the development of Int3 mammary tumors. WAP-Int3 tumor-bearing mice were treated with continuous release of Gleevec using subcutaneously implanted Alzet pumps. Phosphorylation of c-Kit, PDGFRs and c-Abl is inhibited in Int3 transgenic mammary tumors by Gleevec. Inhibition of these enzymes is associated with a decrease in cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and an induction of apoptosis. To examine the signaling mechanisms underlying Notch4/Int3 tumorigenesis, we employed small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down c-Kit, PDGFRs and c-Abl alone or in combination and observed the effects on soft agar growth of HC11 cells overexpressing Int3. Only siRNA constructs for c-Kit and/or PDGFR-alpha were able to inhibit HC11-Int3 colony formation in soft agar. Our data demonstrate an inhibitory effect of Gleevec on Int3-induced transformation of HC11 cells and mammary tumors and indicate an oncogenic role for c-Kit and PDGFR-alpha tyrosine kinases in the context of Int3 signaling.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use
- Benzamides
- Blotting, Northern
- Cell Differentiation
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Cells, Cultured
- Female
- Imatinib Mesylate
- Immunoprecipitation
- Mammary Glands, Animal/growth & development
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Milk Proteins/genetics
- Milk Proteins/metabolism
- Phosphorylation
- Piperazines/therapeutic use
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins/physiology
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/chemistry
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit/metabolism
- Pyrimidines/therapeutic use
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- Receptor, Notch4
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/genetics
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha/metabolism
- Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Receptors, Notch/physiology
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Affiliation(s)
- A Raafat
- Oncogenetics Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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37
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Buono KD, Robinson GW, Martin C, Shi S, Stanley P, Tanigaki K, Honjo T, Hennighausen L. The canonical Notch/RBP-J signaling pathway controls the balance of cell lineages in mammary epithelium during pregnancy. Dev Biol 2006; 293:565-80. [PMID: 16581056 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2006] [Revised: 02/16/2006] [Accepted: 02/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mammary alveoli are composed of luminal (secretory) and basal (myoepithelial) cells, which are descendants of a common stem cell. This study addressed the role of RBP-J-dependent Notch signaling in the formation, maintenance and cellular composition of alveoli during pregnancy. For this purpose, the genes encoding RBP-J, the shared transcriptional mediator of Notch receptors, and Pofut1, a fucosyltransferase required for the activity of Notch receptors, were deleted in mammary progenitor cells in the mouse using Cre-mediated recombination. Loss of RBP-J and Pofut1 led to an accumulation of basal cell clusters characterized by the presence of cytokeratins (K5) and K14 and smooth muscle actin (SMA) during pregnancy. Hormonal stimulation of mutant tissue induced the expression of the basal cell transcription factor p63 in luminal cells and excessive proliferation of basal cells. A transient enrichment of K6-positive luminal cells was observed upon hormonal treatment suggesting a temporary arrest at an immature stage prior to transdifferentiation and expansion as basal cells. Despite the extensive proliferation of RBP-J-null basal cells during pregnancy, hormonal withdrawal during involution resulted in complete remodeling and the restoration of normal tissue architecture. We propose that the Notch-RBP-J pathway regulates alveolar development during pregnancy by maintaining luminal cell fate and preventing uncontrolled basal cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista D Buono
- Laboratory of Genetics and Physiology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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38
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Abstract
A role for Notch signaling in human breast cancer has been suggested by both the development of adenocarcinomas in the murine mammary gland following pathway activation and the loss of Numb expression, a negative regulator of the Notch pathway, in a large proportion of breast carcinomas. However, it is not clear currently whether Notch signaling is frequently activated in breast tumors, and how it causes cellular transformation. Here, we show accumulation of the intracellular domain of Notch1 and hence increased Notch signaling in a wide variety of human breast carcinomas. In addition, we show that increased RBP-Jkappa-dependent Notch signaling is sufficient to transform normal breast epithelial cells and that the mechanism of transformation is most likely through the suppression of apoptosis. More significantly, we show that attenuation of Notch signaling reverts the transformed phenotype of human breast cancer cell lines, suggesting that inhibition of Notch signaling may be a therapeutic strategy for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spyros Stylianou
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
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39
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Shi W, Harris AL. Notch signaling in breast cancer and tumor angiogenesis: cross-talk and therapeutic potentials. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2006; 11:41-52. [PMID: 16947085 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-006-9011-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway that regulates numerous physiological processes. Disruption of Notch has been implicated in multiple tumor types. Evidence from in vitro experiments, mouse models and human tumor samples indicates that Notch plays a predominantly oncogenic role in breast cancer and interacts with other pathways involved in tumorigenesis. In addition, Notch signaling is required for physiological angiogenesis and may promote tumor angiogenesis. A variety of strategies for blocking Notch signaling, in particular gamma-secretase inhibition, are discussed as potential therapies for breast cancer and tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shi
- Molecular Oncology Laboratories, Cancer Research UK, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
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40
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Sun Y, Strizzi L, Raafat A, Hirota M, Bianco C, Feigenbaum L, Kenney N, Wechselberger C, Callahan R, Salomon DS. Overexpression of human Cripto-1 in transgenic mice delays mammary gland development and differentiation and induces mammary tumorigenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2005; 167:585-97. [PMID: 16049342 PMCID: PMC1603555 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9440(10)63000-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Overexpression of Cripto-1 has been reported in several types of human cancers including breast cancer. To investigate the role of human Cripto-1 (CR-1) in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis, we developed transgenic mice that express the human CR-1 transgene under the regulation of the whey acidic protein (WAP) promoter in the FVB/N mouse background. The CR-1 transgene was detected in the mammary gland of 15-week-old virgin WAP-CR-1 female mice that eventually developed hyperplastic lesions. From mid-pregnancy to early lactation, mammary lobulo-alveolar structures in WAP-CR-1 mice were less differentiated and delayed in their development due to decreased cell proliferation as compared to FVB/N mice. Early involution, due to increased apoptosis, was observed in the mammary glands of WAP-CR-1 mice. Higher levels of phosphorylated AKT and MAPK were detected in mammary glands of multiparous WAP-CR-1 mice as compared to multiparous FVB/N mice suggesting increased cell proliferation and survival of the transgenic mammary gland. In addition, more than half (15 of 29) of the WAP-CR-1 multiparous female mice developed multifocal mammary tumors of mixed histological subtypes. These results demonstrate that overexpression of CR-1 during pregnancy and lactation can lead to alterations in mammary gland development and to production of mammary tumors in multiparous mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youping Sun
- Tumor Growth Factor Section, Mammary Biology and Tumorigenesis Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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