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Sisto M, Lisi S. Epigenetic Regulation of EMP/EMT-Dependent Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2775. [PMID: 38474021 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052775] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis represents a process characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. It often represents the evolution of pathological conditions, causes organ failure, and can, in extreme cases, compromise the functionality of organs to the point of causing death. In recent years, considerable efforts have been made to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying fibrotic evolution and to identify possible therapeutic strategies. Great interest has been aroused by the discovery of a molecular association between epithelial to mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), in particular epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and fibrogenesis, which has led to the identification of complex molecular mechanisms closely interconnected with each other, which could explain EMT-dependent fibrosis. However, the result remains unsatisfactory from a therapeutic point of view. In recent years, advances in epigenetics, based on chromatin remodeling through various histone modifications or through the intervention of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), have provided more information on the fibrotic process, and this could represent a promising path forward for the identification of innovative therapeutic strategies for organ fibrosis. In this review, we summarize current research on epigenetic mechanisms involved in organ fibrosis, with a focus on epigenetic regulation of EMP/EMT-dependent fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Sisto
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 1, I-70124 Bari, Italy
| | - Sabrina Lisi
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience (DiBraiN), Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Piazza Giulio Cesare 1, I-70124 Bari, Italy
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2
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Chen Y, Froelich MF, Tharmaseelan H, Jiang H, Wang Y, Li H, Tao M, Gao Y, Wang J, Liu J, Schoenberg SO, Feng S, Weis M. Computed tomography imaging phenotypes of hepatoblastoma identified from radiomics signatures are associated with the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Pediatr Radiol 2024; 54:58-67. [PMID: 37982901 PMCID: PMC10776468 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-023-05793-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Though neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been widely used in the treatment of hepatoblastoma, there still lacks an effective way to predict its effect. OBJECTIVE To characterize hepatoblastoma based on radiomics image features and identify radiomics-based lesion phenotypes by unsupervised machine learning, intended to build a classifier to predict the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, we segmented the arterial phase images of 137 cases of pediatric hepatoblastoma and extracted the radiomics features using PyRadiomics. Then unsupervised k-means clustering was applied to cluster the tumors, whose result was verified by t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used for feature selection, and the clusters were visually analyzed by radiologists. The correlations between the clusters, clinical and pathological parameters, and qualitative radiological features were analyzed. RESULTS Hepatoblastoma was clustered into three phenotypes (homogenous type, heterogenous type, and nodulated type) based on radiomics features. The clustering results had a high correlation with response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P=0.02). The epithelial ratio and cystic components in radiological features were also associated with the clusters (P=0.029 and 0.008, respectively). CONCLUSIONS This radiomics-based cluster system may have the potential to facilitate the precise treatment of hepatoblastoma. In addition, this study further demonstrated the feasibility of using unsupervised machine learning in a disease without a proper imaging classification system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqian Chen
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Lu, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Matthias F Froelich
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hishan Tharmaseelan
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuanqi Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haitao Li
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingyao Tao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Lu, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jifei Wang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Lu, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Juncheng Liu
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Stefan O Schoenberg
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Shiting Feng
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Lu, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Meike Weis
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim of the University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
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3
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Bhatia S, Gunter JH, Burgess JT, Adams MN, O'Byrne K, Thompson EW, Duijf PH. Stochastic epithelial-mesenchymal transitions diversify non-cancerous lung cell behaviours. Transl Oncol 2023; 37:101760. [PMID: 37611490 PMCID: PMC10466920 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101760] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) is a hallmark of cancer. By enabling cells to shift between different morphological and functional states, EMP promotes invasion, metastasis and therapy resistance. We report that near-diploid non-cancerous human epithelial lung cells spontaneously shift along the EMP spectrum without genetic changes. Strikingly, more than half of single cell-derived clones adopt a mesenchymal morphology. We independently characterise epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like clones. Mesenchymal clones lose epithelial markers, display larger cell aspect ratios and lower motility, with mostly unaltered proliferation rates. Stemness marker expression and metabolic rewiring diverge independently of phenotypes. In 3D culture, more epithelial clones become mesenchymal-like. Thus, non-cancerous epithelial cells may acquire cancer metastasis-associated features prior to genetic alterations and cancerous transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia.
| | - Jennifer H Gunter
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland (APCRC-Q), Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba 4102, Australia
| | - Joshua T Burgess
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark N Adams
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Kenneth O'Byrne
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia; Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia
| | - Pascal Hg Duijf
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health at the Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba 4102, QLD, Australia; Centre for Cancer Biology, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide SA, 5001, Australia; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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4
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Role of CD44 isoforms in epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and metastasis. Clin Exp Metastasis 2022; 39:391-406. [PMID: 35023031 PMCID: PMC10042269 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-022-10146-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cellular plasticity lies at the core of cancer progression, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. Stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in cancer are concepts that represent a cancer cell's ability to coopt and adapt normal developmental programs to promote survival and expansion. The cancer stem cell model states that a small subset of cancer cells with stem cell-like properties are responsible for driving tumorigenesis and metastasis while remaining especially resistant to common chemotherapeutic drugs. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity describes a cancer cell's ability to transition between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes which drives invasion and metastasis. Recent research supports the existence of stable epithelial/mesenchymal hybrid phenotypes which represent highly plastic states with cancer stem cell characteristics. The cell adhesion molecule CD44 is a widely accepted marker for cancer stem cells, and it lies at a functional intersection between signaling networks regulating both stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. CD44 expression is complex, with alternative splicing producing many isoforms. Interestingly, not only does the pattern of isoform expression change during transitions between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes in cancer, but these isoforms have distinct effects on cell behavior including the promotion of metastasis and stemness. The role of CD44 both downstream and upstream of signaling pathways regulating epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and stemness make this protein a valuable target for further research and therapeutic intervention.
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Ungefroren H, Thürling I, Färber B, Kowalke T, Fischer T, De Assis LVM, Braun R, Castven D, Oster H, Konukiewitz B, Wellner UF, Lehnert H, Marquardt JU. The Quasimesenchymal Pancreatic Ductal Epithelial Cell Line PANC-1-A Useful Model to Study Clonal Heterogeneity and EMT Subtype Shifting. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14092057. [PMID: 35565186 PMCID: PMC9101310 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Malignant tumors often escape therapy due to clonal propagation of a subfraction of drug-resistant cancer cells. The underlying phenomenon of intratumoral heterogeneity is driven by epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) involving the developmental programs, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells are converted to invasive mesenchymal cells, and the reverse process, mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), which allows for metastatic outgrowth at distant sites. For therapeutic targeting of EMP, a better understanding of this process is required; however, cellular models with which to study EMP in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are scarce. Using single-cell clonal analysis, we have found the PDAC cell line, PANC-1, to consist of cells with different E/M phenotypes and functional attributes. Parental PANC-1 cultures could be induced in vitro to shift towards either a more mesenchymal or a more epithelial phenotype, and this bidirectional shift was controlled by the small GTPases RAC1 and RAC1b, together identifying PANC-1 cells as a useful model with which to study EMP. Abstract Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is an intrinsic feature of malignant tumors that eventually allows a subfraction of resistant cancer cells to clonally evolve and cause therapy failure or relapse. ITH, cellular plasticity and tumor progression are driven by epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the reverse process, MET. During these developmental programs, epithelial (E) cells are successively converted to invasive mesenchymal (M) cells, or back to E cells, by passing through a series of intermediate E/M states, a phenomenon termed E–M plasticity (EMP). The induction of MET has clinical potential as it can block the initial EMT stages that favor tumor cell dissemination, while its inhibition can curb metastatic outgrowth at distant sites. In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cellular models with which to study EMP or MET induction are scarce. Here, we have generated single cell-derived clonal cultures of the quasimesenchymal PDAC-derived cell line, PANC-1, and found that these differ strongly with respect to cell morphology and EMT marker expression, allowing for their tentative classification as E, E/M or M. Interestingly, the different EMT phenotypes were found to segregate with differences in tumorigenic potential in vitro, as measured by colony forming and invasive activities, and in circadian clock function. Moreover, the individual clones the phenotypes of which remained stable upon prolonged culture also responded differently to treatment with transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 in regard to regulation of growth and individual TGFβ target genes, and to culture conditions that favour ductal-to-endocrine transdifferentiation as a more direct measure for cellular plasticity. Of note, stimulation with TGFβ1 induced a shift in parental PANC-1 cultures towards a more extreme M and invasive phenotype, while exposing the cells to a combination of the proinflammatory cytokines IFNγ, IL1β and TNFα (IIT) elicited a shift towards a more E and less invasive phenotype resembling a MET-like process. Finally, we show that the actions of TGFβ1 and IIT both converge on regulating the ratio of the small GTPase RAC1 and its splice isoform, RAC1b. Our data provide strong evidence for dynamic EMT–MET transitions and qualify this cell line as a useful model with which to study EMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
- Clinic for Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (B.F.); (R.B.); (U.F.W.)
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany;
- Correspondence:
| | - Isabel Thürling
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
| | - Benedikt Färber
- Clinic for Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (B.F.); (R.B.); (U.F.W.)
| | - Tanja Kowalke
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
| | - Tanja Fischer
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
| | - Leonardo Vinícius Monteiro De Assis
- Institute for Neurobiology, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (L.V.M.D.A.); (H.O.)
| | - Rüdiger Braun
- Clinic for Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (B.F.); (R.B.); (U.F.W.)
| | - Darko Castven
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
| | - Henrik Oster
- Institute for Neurobiology, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (L.V.M.D.A.); (H.O.)
| | - Björn Konukiewitz
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Ulrich Friedrich Wellner
- Clinic for Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (B.F.); (R.B.); (U.F.W.)
| | | | - Jens-Uwe Marquardt
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM), University of Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany; (I.T.); (T.K.); (T.F.); (D.C.); (J.-U.M.)
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6
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Circulating tumour cells in the -omics era: how far are we from achieving the 'singularity'? Br J Cancer 2022; 127:173-184. [PMID: 35273384 PMCID: PMC9296521 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01768-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, cancer diagnosis has expanded to include liquid biopsies in addition to tissue biopsies. Liquid biopsies can result in earlier and more accurate diagnosis and more effective monitoring of disease progression than tissue biopsies as samples can be collected frequently. Because of these advantages, liquid biopsies are now used extensively in clinical care. Liquid biopsy samples are analysed for circulating tumour cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA, RNA, proteins and exosomes. CTCs originate from the tumour, play crucial roles in metastasis and carry information on tumour heterogeneity. Multiple single-cell omics approaches allow the characterisation of the molecular makeup of CTCs. It has become evident that CTCs are robust biomarkers for predicting therapy response, clinical development of metastasis and disease progression. This review describes CTC biology, molecular heterogeneity within CTCs and the involvement of EMT in CTC dynamics. In addition, we describe the single-cell multi-omics technologies that have provided insights into the molecular features within therapy-resistant and metastasis-prone CTC populations. Functional studies coupled with integrated multi-omics analyses have the potential to identify therapies that can intervene the functions of CTCs.
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Brown MS, Muller KE, Pattabiraman DR. Quantifying the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) from Bench to Bedside. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:1138. [PMID: 35267444 PMCID: PMC8909103 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and its reversal, the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) are critical components of the metastatic cascade in breast cancer and many other solid tumor types. Recent work has uncovered the presence of a variety of states encompassed within the EMT spectrum, each of which may play unique roles or work collectively to impact tumor progression. However, defining EMT status is not routinely carried out to determine patient prognosis or dictate therapeutic decision-making in the clinic. Identifying and quantifying the presence of various EMT states within a tumor is a critical first step to scoring patient tumors to aid in determining prognosis. Here, we review the major strides taken towards translating our understanding of EMT biology from bench to bedside. We review previously used approaches including basic immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry, single-cell sequencing, and multiplexed tumor mapping. Future studies will benefit from the consideration of multiple methods and combinations of markers in designing a diagnostic tool for detecting and measuring EMT in patient tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith S. Brown
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
| | - Kristen E. Muller
- Department of Pathology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA;
| | - Diwakar R. Pattabiraman
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA;
- Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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8
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Foo J, Basanta D, Rockne RC, Strelez C, Shah C, Ghaffarian K, Mumenthaler SM, Mitchell K, Lathia JD, Frankhouser D, Branciamore S, Kuo YH, Marcucci G, Vander Velde R, Marusyk A, Hang S, Hari K, Jolly MK, Hatzikirou H, Poels K, Spilker M, Shtylla B, Robertson-Tessi M, Anderson ARA. Roadmap on plasticity and epigenetics in cancer. Phys Biol 2022; 19. [PMID: 35078159 PMCID: PMC9190291 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/ac4ee2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of plasticity and epigenetics in shaping cancer evolution and response to therapy has taken center stage with recent technological advances including single cell sequencing. This roadmap article is focused on state-of-the-art mathematical and experimental approaches to interrogate plasticity in cancer, and addresses the following themes and questions: is there a formal overarching framework that encompasses both non-genetic plasticity and mutation-driven somatic evolution? How do we measure and model the role of the microenvironment in influencing/controlling non-genetic plasticity? How can we experimentally study non-genetic plasticity? Which mathematical techniques are required or best suited? What are the clinical and practical applications and implications of these concepts?
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Foo
- University of Minnesota System, School of Mathematics, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455-2020, UNITED STATES
| | - David Basanta
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Center Inc, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-3 West/IMO, Tampa, Florida 33612USA, Tampa, Florida, 33612-9416, UNITED STATES
| | - Russell C Rockne
- Computational and Quantitative Medicine; Division of Mathematical Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Rose Vogel Building (74), Duarte, California, 91010, UNITED STATES
| | - Carly Strelez
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute , Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90064, UNITED STATES
| | - Curran Shah
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute , Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90064, UNITED STATES
| | - Kimya Ghaffarian
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute , Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90064, UNITED STATES
| | - Shannon M Mumenthaler
- Lawrence J. Ellison Institute , Transformative Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90064, UNITED STATES
| | - Kelly Mitchell
- Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195-5243, UNITED STATES
| | - Justin D Lathia
- Department of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, 44195-5243, UNITED STATES
| | - David Frankhouser
- Computational and Quantitative Medicine; Division of Mathematical Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Rose Vogel Building (74), Duarte, California, 91010, UNITED STATES
| | - Sergio Branciamore
- Computational and Quantitative Medicine; Division of Mathematical Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Rose Vogel Building (74), Duarte, California, 91010, UNITED STATES
| | - Ya-Huei Kuo
- Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, City of Hope National Medical Center, Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Rose Vogel Building (74), Duarte, California, 91010, UNITED STATES
| | - Guido Marcucci
- Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, City of Hope National Medical Center, Beckman Research Institute, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Rose Vogel Building (74), Duarte, California, 91010, UNITED STATES
| | - Robert Vander Velde
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Center Inc, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-3 West/IMO, Tampa, Florida 33612USA, Tampa, Florida, 33612-9416, UNITED STATES
| | - Andriy Marusyk
- Cancer Physiology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33612, UNITED STATES
| | - Sui Hang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Systems Biology, WA , WA 98109, UNITED STATES
| | - Kishore Hari
- Indian Institute of Science, 560012 Bangalore, Bangalore, 560012, INDIA
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering,, Indian Institute of Science, 560012 Bangalore, Bangalore, 560012, INDIA
| | - Haralampos Hatzikirou
- Khalifa University, P.O. Box: 127788, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, NA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
| | - Kamrine Poels
- Early Clinical Development, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Early Clinical Development, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, UNITED STATES
| | - Mary Spilker
- Medicine Design, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Medicine Design, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, UNITED STATES
| | - Blerta Shtylla
- Early Clinical Development, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Early Clinical Development, Groton, Connecticut, 06340, UNITED STATES
| | - Mark Robertson-Tessi
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, Florida, 33612, UNITED STATES
| | - Alexander R A Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Co-Director of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, 12902 Magnolia Drive, SRB 4 Rm 24000H, Tampa, Florida 33612, Tampa, 33612, UNITED STATES
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Brisset M, Grandin M, Bernet A, Mehlen P, Hollande F. Dependence receptors: new targets for cancer therapy. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e14495. [PMID: 34542930 PMCID: PMC8573599 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Dependence receptors are known to promote survival and positive signaling such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation when activated, but to actively trigger apoptosis when unbound to their ligand. Their abnormal regulation was shown to be an important feature of tumorigenesis, allowing cancer cells to escape apoptosis triggered by these receptors while promoting in parallel major aspects of tumorigenesis such as proliferation, angiogenesis, invasiveness, and chemoresistance. This involvement in multiple cancer hallmarks has raised interest in dependence receptors as targets for cancer therapy. Although additional studies remain necessary to fully understand the complexity of signaling pathways activated by these receptors and to target them efficiently, it is now clear that dependence receptors represent very exciting targets for future cancer treatment. This manuscript reviews current knowledge on the contribution of dependence receptors to cancer and highlights the potential for therapies that activate pro-apoptotic functions of these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Brisset
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
- University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer ResearchVictorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Mélodie Grandin
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
- University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer ResearchVictorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreMelbourneVic.Australia
| | - Agnès Bernet
- Apoptosis, Cancer and Development LaboratoryCentre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM U1052‐CNRS UMR5286Centre Léon BérardUniversité de LyonLyonFrance
| | - Patrick Mehlen
- Apoptosis, Cancer and Development LaboratoryCentre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, INSERM U1052‐CNRS UMR5286Centre Léon BérardUniversité de LyonLyonFrance
| | - Frédéric Hollande
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Victorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVic.Australia
- University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer ResearchVictorian Comprehensive Cancer CentreMelbourneVic.Australia
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10
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Partial EMT in head and neck cancer biology: a spectrum instead of a switch. Oncogene 2021; 40:5049-5065. [PMID: 34239045 PMCID: PMC8934590 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01868-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has slowly evolved from a simple two state, binary model to a multi-step, dynamic continuum of epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity, with metastable intermediate transition states that may drive cancer metastasis. Head and neck cancer is no exception, and in this review, we use head and neck as a case study for how partial-EMT (p-EMT) cell states may play an important role in cancer progression. In particular, we summarize recent in vitro and in vivo studies that uncover these intermediate transition states, which exhibit both epithelial and mesenchymal properties and appear to have distinct advantages in migration, survival in the bloodstream, and seeding and propagation within secondary metastatic sites. We then summarize the common and distinct regulators of p-EMT as well as methodologies for identifying this unique cellular subpopulation, with a specific emphasis on the role of cutting-edge technologies, such as single cell approaches. Finally, we propose strategies to target p-EMT cells, highlighting potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention to specifically target the process of metastasis. Thus, although significant challenges remain, including numerous gaps in current knowledge, a deeper understanding of EMT plasticity and a genuine identification of EMT as spectrum rather than a switch will be critical for improving patient diagnosis and treatment across oncology.
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11
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Liao C, Wang Q, An J, Long Q, Wang H, Xiang M, Xiang M, Zhao Y, Liu Y, Liu J, Guan X. Partial EMT in Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Snapshot. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:3036-3047. [PMID: 34421348 PMCID: PMC8375241 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.61566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the process of cancer EMT, some subgroups of cancer cells simultaneously exhibit both mesenchymal and epithelial characteristics, a phenomenon termed partial EMT (pEMT). pEMT is a plastic state in which cells coexpress epithelial and mesenchymal markers. In squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), pEMT is regulated, and the phenotype is maintained via the HIPPO pathway, NOTCH pathway and TGF-β pathways and by microRNAs, lncRNAs and the cancer microenvironment (CME); thus, SCC exhibits aggressive tumorigenic properties and high stemness, which leads collective migration and therapy resistance. Few studies have reported therapeutic interventions to address cells that have undergone pEMT, and this approach may be an effective way to inhibit the plasticity, drug resistance and metastatic potential of SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengcheng Liao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
- Microbial Resources and Drug Development Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, Life Sciences Institute, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Jiaxing An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Qian Long
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Meiling Xiang
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Mingli Xiang
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Yujie Zhao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Yulin Liu
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563006, China
| | - Xiaoyan Guan
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
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12
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Morshedi K, Borran S, Ebrahimi MS, Masoud Khooy MJ, Seyedi ZS, Amiri A, Abbasi-Kolli M, Fallah M, Khan H, Sahebkar A, Mirzaei H. Therapeutic effect of curcumin in gastrointestinal cancers: A comprehensive review. Phytother Res 2021; 35:4834-4897. [PMID: 34173992 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers with a high global prevalence are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Accordingly, there is a great need to develop efficient therapeutic approaches. Curcumin, a naturally occurring agent, is a promising compound with documented safety and anticancer activities. Recent studies have demonstrated the activity of curcumin in the prevention and treatment of different cancers. According to systematic studies on curcumin use in various diseases, it can be particularly effective in GI cancers because of its high bioavailability in the gastrointestinal tract. Nevertheless, the clinical applications of curcumin are largely limited because of its low solubility and low chemical stability in water. These limitations may be addressed by the use of relevant analogues or novel delivery systems. Herein, we summarize the pharmacological effects of curcumin against GI cancers. Moreover, we highlight the application of curcumin's analogues and novel delivery systems in the treatment of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korosh Morshedi
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sarina Borran
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Zeynab Sadat Seyedi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
| | - Atefeh Amiri
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abbasi-Kolli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Fallah
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Haroon Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan, Pakistan
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.,Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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13
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Wang P, Zhou R, Thomas P, Zhao L, Zhou R, Mandal S, Jolly MK, Richard DJ, Rehm BHA, Ostrikov K(K, Dai X, Williams ED, Thompson EW. Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition Enhances Cancer Cell Sensitivity to Cytotoxic Effects of Cold Atmospheric Plasmas in Breast and Bladder Cancer Systems. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2889. [PMID: 34207708 PMCID: PMC8226878 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has emerged as a highly selective anticancer agent, most recently in the form of plasma-activated medium (PAM). Since epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in resistance to various cancer therapies, we assessed whether EMT status is associated with PAM response. Mesenchymal breast cancer cell lines, as well as the mesenchymal variant in an isogenic EMT/MET human breast cancer cell system (PMC42-ET/LA), were more sensitive to PAM treatment than their epithelial counterparts, contrary to their responses to other therapies. The same trend was seen in luminal muscle-invasive bladder cancer model (TSU-Pr1/B1/B2) and the non-muscle-invasive basal 5637 bladder cancer cell line. Three-dimensional spheroid cultures of the bladder cancer cell lines were less sensitive to the PAM treatment compared to their two-dimensional counterparts; however, incrementally better responses were again seen in more mesenchymally-shifted cell lines. This study provides evidence that PAM preferentially inhibits mesenchymally-shifted carcinoma cells, which have been associated with resistance to other therapies. Thus, PAM may represent a novel treatment that can selectively inhibit triple-negative breast cancers and a subset of aggressive bladder cancers, which tend to be more mesenchymal. Our approach may potentially be utilized for other aggressive cancers exhibiting EMT and opens new opportunities for CAP and PAM as a promising new onco-therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyu Wang
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane 4059, Australia; (P.W.); (P.T.)
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Renwu Zhou
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (R.Z.)
| | - Patrick Thomas
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane 4059, Australia; (P.W.); (P.T.)
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- Queensland Bladder Cancer Initiative (QBCI), Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Liqian Zhao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Rusen Zhou
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (R.Z.)
| | - Susmita Mandal
- 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
| | - Derek J. Richard
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane 4059, Australia; (P.W.); (P.T.)
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
| | - Bernd H. A. Rehm
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4000, Australia
| | - Xiaofeng Dai
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
| | - Elizabeth D. Williams
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane 4059, Australia; (P.W.); (P.T.)
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (R.Z.)
| | - Erik W. Thompson
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane 4059, Australia; (P.W.); (P.T.)
- Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia
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14
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Murphy RJ, Buenzli PR, Tambyah TA, Thompson EW, Hugo HJ, Baker RE, Simpson MJ. The role of mechanical interactions in EMT. Phys Biol 2021; 18. [PMID: 33789261 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/abf425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The detachment of cells from the boundary of an epithelial tissue and the subsequent invasion of these cells into surrounding tissues is important for cancer development and wound healing, and is strongly associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Chemical signals, such as TGF-β, produced by surrounding tissue can be uptaken by cells and induce EMT. In this work, we present a novel cell-based discrete mathematical model of mechanical cellular relaxation, cell proliferation, and cell detachment driven by chemically-dependent EMT in an epithelial tissue. A continuum description of the model is then derived in the form of a novel nonlinear free boundary problem. Using the discrete and continuum models we explore how the coupling of chemical transport and mechanical interactions influences EMT, and postulate how this could be used to help control EMT in pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J Murphy
- Queensland University of Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Pascal R Buenzli
- Queensland University of Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Tamara A Tambyah
- Queensland University of Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Brisbane, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Honor J Hugo
- Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Brisbane, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Brisbane, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ruth E Baker
- University of Oxford, Mathematical Institute, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Simpson
- Queensland University of Technology, Mathematical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia
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15
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Liu QL, Luo M, Huang C, Chen HN, Zhou ZG. Epigenetic Regulation of Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in the Cancer Metastatic Cascade: Implications for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:657546. [PMID: 33996581 PMCID: PMC8117142 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.657546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the end stage of cancer progression and the direct cause of most cancer-related deaths. The spreading of cancer cells from the primary site to distant organs is a multistep process known as the metastatic cascade, including local invasion, intravasation, survival in the circulation, extravasation, and colonization. Each of these steps is driven by the acquisition of genetic and/or epigenetic alterations within cancer cells, leading to subsequent transformation of metastatic cells. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a cellular process mediating the conversion of cell from epithelial to mesenchymal phenotype, and its reverse transformation, termed mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET), together endow metastatic cells with traits needed to generate overt metastases in different scenarios. The dynamic shift between these two phenotypes and their transitional state, termed partial EMT, emphasizes the plasticity of EMT. Recent advances attributed this plasticity to epigenetic regulation, which has implications for the therapeutic targeting of cancer metastasis. In this review, we will discuss the association between epigenetic events and the multifaceted nature of EMT, which may provide insights into the steps of the cancer metastatic cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Luo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Maochao Luo
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Canhua Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Hai-Ning Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Zong-Guang Zhou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
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16
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Bhatia S, Thompson EW, Gunter JH. Studying the Metabolism of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity Using the Seahorse XFe96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2179:327-340. [PMID: 32939731 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0779-4_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The critical role of metabolism in facilitating cancer cell growth and survival has been demonstrated by a combination of methods including, but not limited to, genomic sequencing, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, measurements of radio-labelled substrate flux and the high throughput measurement of oxidative metabolism in unlabelled live cells using the Seahorse Extracellular Flux (XF) technology. These studies have revealed that tumour cells exhibit a dynamic metabolic plasticity, using numerous pathways including both glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to support cell proliferation, energy production and the synthesis of biomass. These advanced technologies have also demonstrated metabolic differences between cancer cell types, between molecular subtypes within cancers and between cell states. This has been exemplified by examining the transitions of cancer cells between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, referred to as epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP). A growing number of studies are demonstrating significant metabolic alterations associated with these transitions, such as increased use of glycolysis by triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) or glutamine addiction in lung cancer. Models of EMP, including invasive cell lines and xenografts, isolated circulating tumour cells and metastatic tissue have been used to examine EMP metabolism. Understanding the metabolism supporting molecular and cellular plasticity and increased metastatic capacity may reveal metabolic vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited. This chapter describes protocols for using the Seahorse Extracellular Flux Analyzer (XFe96), which simultaneously performs real-time monitoring of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in living cells. As an example, we compare the metabolic profiles generated from two breast cancer sublines that reflect epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes, respectively. We use this example to show how the methodology described can generate bioenergetic results that in turn can be correlated to EMP phenotypes. Normalisation of bioenergetic studies should be considered with respect to cell number, and to potential differences in mitochondrial mass, itself being an important bioenergetics endpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Gunter
- Faculty of Health, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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17
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Wafai R, Williams ED, de Souza E, Simpson PT, McCart Reed AE, Kutasovic JR, Waltham M, Snell CE, Blick T, Thompson EW, Hugo HJ. Integrin alpha-2 and beta-1 expression increases through multiple generations of the EDW01 patient-derived xenograft model of breast cancer-insight into their role in epithelial mesenchymal transition in vivo gained from an in vitro model system. Breast Cancer Res 2020; 22:136. [PMID: 33276802 PMCID: PMC7716465 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-020-01366-8] [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: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancers acquire aggressive capabilities via epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which various integrins/integrin-linked kinase signalling are upregulated. Methods We investigated this in two patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) developed from breast-to-bone metastases, and its functional significance in a breast cancer cell line system. ED03 and EDW01 PDXs were grown subcutaneously in immunocompromised SCID mice through 11 passages and 7 passages, respectively. Tumour tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) for oestrogen receptor (ER)-alpha, E-cadherin, vimentin, Twist1, beta-catenin, P120-RasGAP, CD44, CD24 and Ki67, and RT-qPCR of EMT-related factors (CDH1, VIM, CD44, CD24), integrins beta 1 (ITGB1), alpha 2 (ITGA2) and ILK. Integrin and ILK expression in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced EMT of the PMC42-ET breast cancer cell line was assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting, as were the effects of their transient knockdown via small interfering RNA +/− EGF. Cell migration, changes in cell morphology and adhesion of siRNA-transfected PMC42-ET cells to various extracellular matrix (ECM) substrates was assessed. Results The ED03 (ER+/PR−/HER2−/lobular) and EDW01 (ER+/PR−/HER2−/ductal) PDXs were both classified as molecular subtype luminal A. ED03 xenografts exhibited mutated E-cadherin with minimal expression, but remained vimentin-negative across all passages. In EDW01, the hypoxic indicator gene CAIX and Twist1 were co-ordinately upregulated at passages 4–5, corresponding with a decrease in E-cadherin. At passages 6–7, VIM was upregulated along with ITGB1 and ITGA2, consistent with an increasing EMT. The ED03 PDX displayed minimal change over passages in mice, for all genes examined. ILK, ITGB1 and ITGA2 mRNAs were also increased in the EGF-induced EMT of PMC42-ET cells (in which CDH1 was downregulated) although siRNA against these targets revealed that this induction was not necessary for the observed EMT. However, their knockdown significantly reduced EMT-associated adhesion and Transwell migration. Conclusion Our data suggest that despite an increase in ITGA2 and ITGB1 gene expression in the EMT exhibited by EDW01 PDX over multiple generations, this pathway may not necessarily drive the EMT process. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13058-020-01366-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan Wafai
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth D Williams
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre-Queensland and Queensland Bladder Cancer Initiative, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Emma de Souza
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter T Simpson
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Amy E McCart Reed
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jamie R Kutasovic
- Centre for Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Waltham
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Cameron E Snell
- Cancer Pathology Research Group, Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Mater Pathology, Mater Hospital Brisbane, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Tony Blick
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Honor J Hugo
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. .,Queensland University of Technology, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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18
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Dong B, Qiu Z, Wu Y. Tackle Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition With Epigenetic Drugs in Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:596239. [PMID: 33343366 PMCID: PMC7746977 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.596239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition (EMT) is a de-differentiation process in which epithelial cells lose their epithelial properties to acquire mesenchymal features. EMT is essential for embryogenesis and wound healing but is aberrantly activated in pathological conditions like fibrosis and cancer. Tumor-associated EMT contributes to cancer cell initiation, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance and recurrence. This dynamic and reversible event is governed by EMT-transcription factors (EMT-TFs) with epigenetic complexes. In this review, we discuss recent advances regarding the mechanisms that modulate EMT in the context of epigenetic regulation, with emphasis on epigenetic drugs, such as DNA demethylating reagents, inhibitors of histone modifiers and non-coding RNA medication. Therapeutic contributions that improve epigenetic regulation of EMT will translate the clinical manifestation as treating cancer progression more efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Dong
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Zhaoping Qiu
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Yadi Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, KY, United States,*Correspondence: Yadi Wu,
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19
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Mandal M, Ghosh B, Rajput M, Chatterjee J. Impact of intercellular connectivity on epithelial mesenchymal transition plasticity. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118784. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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20
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LY75 Suppression in Mesenchymal Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells Generates a Stable Hybrid EOC Cellular Phenotype, Associated with Enhanced Tumor Initiation, Spreading and Resistance to Treatment in Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21144992. [PMID: 32679765 PMCID: PMC7404269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The implications of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanisms in the initiation and progression of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remain poorly understood. We have previously shown that suppression of the antigen receptor LY75 directs mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) in EOC cell lines with the mesenchymal phenotype, associated with the loss of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity. In the present study, we used the LY75-mediated modulation of EMT in EOC cells as a model in order to investigate in vivo the specific role of EOC cells, with an epithelial (E), mesenchymal (M) or mixed epithelial plus mesenchymal (E+M) phenotype, in EOC initiation, dissemination and treatment response, following intra-bursal (IB) injections of SKOV3-M (control), SKOV3-E (Ly75KD) and a mixed population of SKOV3-E+M cells, into severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. We found that the IB-injected SKOV3-E cells displayed considerably higher metastatic potential and resistance to treatment as compared to the SKOV3-M cells, due to the acquisition of a Ly75KD-mediated hybrid phenotype and stemness characteristics. We also confirmed in vivo that the LY75 depletion directs suppression of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in EOC cells, suggestive of a protective role of this pathway in EOC etiology. Moreover, our data raise concerns regarding the use of LY75-targeted vaccines for dendritic-cell EOC immunotherapy, due to the possible occurrence of undesirable side effects.
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Identifying inhibitors of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity using a network topology-based approach. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2020; 6:15. [PMID: 32424264 PMCID: PMC7235229 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-020-0132-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the cause of over 90% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer cells undergoing metastasis can switch dynamically between different phenotypes, enabling them to adapt to harsh challenges, such as overcoming anoikis and evading immune response. This ability, known as phenotypic plasticity, is crucial for the survival of cancer cells during metastasis, as well as acquiring therapy resistance. Various biochemical networks have been identified to contribute to phenotypic plasticity, but how plasticity emerges from the dynamics of these networks remains elusive. Here, we investigated the dynamics of various regulatory networks implicated in Epithelial–mesenchymal plasticity (EMP)—an important arm of phenotypic plasticity—through two different mathematical modelling frameworks: a discrete, parameter-independent framework (Boolean) and a continuous, parameter-agnostic modelling framework (RACIPE). Results from either framework in terms of phenotypic distributions obtained from a given EMP network are qualitatively similar and suggest that these networks are multi-stable and can give rise to phenotypic plasticity. Neither method requires specific kinetic parameters, thus our results emphasize that EMP can emerge through these networks over a wide range of parameter sets, elucidating the importance of network topology in enabling phenotypic plasticity. Furthermore, we show that the ability to exhibit phenotypic plasticity correlates positively with the number of positive feedback loops in a given network. These results pave a way toward an unorthodox network topology-based approach to identify crucial links in a given EMP network that can reduce phenotypic plasticity and possibly inhibit metastasis—by reducing the number of positive feedback loops.
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22
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Liu H, Fu Q, Lu Y, Zhang W, Yu P, Liu Z, Sun X. Anti-tubulin agent vinorelbine inhibits metastasis of cancer cells by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 200:112332. [PMID: 32473523 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer invasion and metastasis are the leading causes of death. The process of metastasis or tumor cell dissemination is still much of a mystery. Emerging evidence has shown that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a vital role in the progression of malignant tumor including the inducing cell invasion and metastasis as well as promoting drug resistance. Vinorelbine is a traditional chemotherapeutic agent for treatment of lung cancer and breast cancer by the selectivity to mitotic microtubules. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vinorelbine on three metastatic cancer cells including lung cancer (H1975), liver cancer (HepG2), and colon cancer (HCT116) cells through inhibition of metastatic abilities and EMT program. Vinorelbine inhibited the cancer cell proliferation by MTT and colony formation assays and inducing G2/M arrest and cell apoptosis via regulation of Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. Vinorelbine decrease the migration and invasion ability of the cancer cells by wound healing assay and Tran swell test. The molecular mechanisms of vinorelbine suppressing the metastatic phenotypes of cancer cells through modulation of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin and transcription factors Snail, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Our results demonstrated that vinorelbine inhibited the cancer cell metastasis through a reduction in metastatic mobility, such as migration, invasion, and the EMT. It provided the evidence that vinorelbine can be used alone or with other agents for treatment of metastatic lung cancer, liver cancer and colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, 510000, PR China
| | - Qingshan Fu
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Yao Lu
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Wenqiang Zhang
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Peng Yu
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China
| | - Zhen Liu
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, PR China.
| | - Xiaosheng Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong, 510000, PR China.
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Identifying Therapies to Combat Epithelial Mesenchymal Plasticity-Associated Chemoresistance to Conventional Breast Cancer Therapies Using An shRNA Library Screen. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12051123. [PMID: 32365878 PMCID: PMC7281530 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12051123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease for which the commonly used chemotherapeutic agents primarily include the anthracyclines (doxorubicin, epirubicin), microtubule inhibitors (paclitaxel, docetaxel, eribulin), and alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide). While these drugs can be highly effective, metastatic tumours are frequently refractory to treatment or become resistant upon tumour relapse. METHODS We undertook a cell polarity/epithelial mesenchymal plasticity (EMP)-enriched short hairpin RNA (shRNA) screen in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells to identify factors underpinning heterogeneous responses to three chemotherapeutic agents used clinically in breast cancer: Doxorubicin, docetaxel, and eribulin. shRNA-transduced cells were treated for 6 weeks with the EC10 of each drug, and shRNA representation assessed by deep sequencing. We first identified candidate genes with depleted shRNA, implying that their silencing could promote a response. Using the Broad Institute's Connectivity Map (CMap), we identified partner inhibitors targeting the identified gene families that may induce cell death in combination with doxorubicin, and tested them with all three drug treatments. RESULTS In total, 259 shRNAs were depleted with doxorubicin treatment (at p < 0.01), 66 with docetaxel, and 25 with eribulin. Twenty-four depleted hairpins overlapped between doxorubicin and docetaxel, and shRNAs for TGFB2, RUNX1, CCDC80, and HYOU1 were depleted across all the three drug treatments. Inhibitors of MDM/TP53, TGFBR, and FGFR were identified by CMap as the top pharmaceutical perturbagens and we validated the combinatorial benefits of the TGFBR inhibitor (SB525334) and MDM inhibitor (RITA) with doxorubicin treatment, and also observed synergy between the inhibitor SB525334 and eribulin in MDA-MB-468 cells. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, a cell polarity/EMP-enriched shRNA library screen identified relevant gene products that could be targeted alongside current chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of invasive BC.
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Bhatia S, Wang P, Toh A, Thompson EW. New Insights Into the Role of Phenotypic Plasticity and EMT in Driving Cancer Progression. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:71. [PMID: 32391381 PMCID: PMC7190792 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells demonstrate substantial plasticity in their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) can be characterized into dynamic intermediate states and can be orchestrated by many factors, either intercellularly via epigenetic reprograming, or extracellularly via growth factors, inflammation and/or hypoxia generated by the tumor stromal microenvironment. EMP has the capability to alter phenotype and produce heterogeneity, and thus by changing the whole cancer landscape can attenuate oncogenic signaling networks, invoke anti-apoptotic features, defend against chemotherapeutics and reprogram angiogenic and immune recognition functions. We discuss here the role of phenotypic plasticity in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis and provide an update of the modalities utilized for the molecular characterization of the EMT states and attributes of cellular behavior, including cellular metabolism, in the context of EMP. We also summarize recent findings in dynamic EMP studies that provide new insights into the phenotypic plasticity of EMP flux in cancer and propose therapeutic strategies to impede the metastatic outgrowth of phenotypically heterogeneous tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Peiyu Wang
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Alan Toh
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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25
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Baykal-Köse S, Acikgoz E, Yavuz AS, Gönül Geyik Ö, Ateş H, Sezerman OU, Özsan GH, Yüce Z. Adaptive phenotypic modulations lead to therapy resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia cells. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0229104. [PMID: 32106243 PMCID: PMC7046262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance is a major problem in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We generated a TKI-resistant K562 sub-population, K562-IR, under selective imatinib-mesylate pressure. K562-IR cells are CD34-/CD38-, BCR-Abl-independent, proliferate slowly, highly adherent and form intact tumor spheroids. Loss of CD45 and other hematopoietic markers reveal these cells have diverged from their hematopoietic origin. CD34 negativity, high expression of E-cadherin and CD44; decreased levels of CD45 and β-catenin do not fully confer with the leukemic stem cell (LSC) phenotype. Expression analyses reveal that K562-IR cells differentially express tissue/organ development and differentiation genes. Our data suggest that the observed phenotypic shift is an adaptive process rendering cells under TKI stress to become oncogene independent. Cells develop transcriptional instability in search for a gene expression framework suitable for new environmental stresses, resulting in an adaptive phenotypic shift in which some cells partially display LSC-like properties. With leukemic/cancer stem cell targeted therapies underway, the difference between treating an entity and a spectrum of dynamic cellular states will have conclusive effects on the outcome.
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MESH Headings
- 3T3 Cells
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/genetics
- Antigens, CD/metabolism
- Cadherins/genetics
- Cadherins/metabolism
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cell Proliferation/genetics
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/drug effects
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects
- Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/antagonists & inhibitors
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate/pharmacology
- Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use
- K562 Cells
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Mice
- Mutation/drug effects
- Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
- Protein Domains/genetics
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use
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Affiliation(s)
- Seda Baykal-Köse
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Eda Acikgoz
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Sinan Yavuz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Öykü Gönül Geyik
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Halil Ateş
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Osman Uğur Sezerman
- Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Güner Hayri Özsan
- Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Yüce
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
- * E-mail: ,
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Differential engagement of ORAI1 and TRPC1 in the induction of vimentin expression by different stimuli. J Transl Med 2020; 100:224-233. [PMID: 31243341 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0280-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ca2+ signal is essential in both hypoxia- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. This finding suggests that Ca2+-permeable ion channels participate in the induction of expression of some mesenchymal markers such as vimentin. However, the ion channels involved in vimentin expression induction have not been fully characterized. This work sought to define how differential modulation of the calcium signal effects the induction of vimentin and the Ca2+ influx pathways involved. We identified that the intracellular Ca2+ chelator EGTA-AM, cytochalasin D (a modulator of cytoskeletal dynamics and cell morphology), and the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin are all inducers of vimentin in MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells. EGTA-AM- and thapsigargin-mediated induction of vimentin expression in MDA-MB-468 cells involves store-operated Ca2+ entry, as evidenced by sensitivity to silencing of the molecular components of this pathway, STIM1 and ORAI1. In stark contrast, cytochalasin D-mediated vimentin induction was insensitive to silencing of ORAI1, despite sensitivity to silencing of its canonical activator the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ sensor STIM1. Cytochalasin D-mediated vimentin induction was, however, sensitive to silencing of another reported STIM1 target, TRPC1. Subsequent studies identified that EGTA-AM-induced vimentin expression also partially involved a TRPC1-dependent pathway. These studies define a complex interplay between vimentin expression in this model and the specific Ca2+-permeable ion channels involved. The complexity in the engagement of different Ca2+ influx pathways that regulate vimentin induction are opportunities but also potential challenges in targeting Ca2+ signaling to block EMT in cancer cells. Our findings further highlight the need to identify potential indispensable ion channels that can regulate induction of specific mesenchymal markers via different stimuli.
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27
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Santoni G, Morelli MB, Marinelli O, Nabissi M, Santoni M, Amantini C. Calcium Signaling and the Regulation of Chemosensitivity in Cancer Cells: Role of the Transient Receptor Potential Channels. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1131:505-517. [PMID: 31646523 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-12457-1_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells acquire the ability to modify the calcium signaling network by altering the expression and functions of cation channels, pumps or transporters. Calcium signaling pathways are involved in proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, immune evasion, disruption of cell death pathways, ECM remodelling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and drug resistance. Among cation channels, a pivotal role is played by the Transient Receptor Potential non-selective cation-permeable receptors localized in plasma membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lysosomes. Several findings indicate that the dysregulation in calcium signaling induced by TRP channels is responsible for cancer growth, metastasis and chemoresistance. Drug resistance represents a major limitation in the application of current therapeutic regimens and several efforts are spent to overcome it. Here we describe the ability of Transient Receptor Potential Channels to modify, by altering the intracellular calcium influx, the cancer cell sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Santoni
- School of Pharmacy, Immunopathology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Morelli
- School of Pharmacy, Immunopathology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.,School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Oliviero Marinelli
- School of Pharmacy, Immunopathology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.,School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Massimo Nabissi
- School of Pharmacy, Immunopathology and Molecular Medicine Laboratory, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Matteo Santoni
- Clinic and Oncology Unit, Macerata Hospital, Macerata, Italy
| | - Consuelo Amantini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
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28
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Williams ED, Gao D, Redfern A, Thompson EW. Controversies around epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in cancer metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer 2019; 19:716-732. [PMID: 31666716 PMCID: PMC7055151 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-019-0213-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Experimental evidence accumulated over decades has implicated epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), which collectively encompasses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the reverse process of mesenchymal-epithelial transition, in tumour metastasis, cancer stem cell generation and maintenance, and therapeutic resistance. However, the dynamic nature of EMP processes, the apparent need to reverse mesenchymal changes for the development of macrometastases and the likelihood that only minor cancer cell subpopulations exhibit EMP at any one time have made such evidence difficult to accrue in the clinical setting. In this Perspectives article, we outline the existing preclinical and clinical evidence for EMP and reflect on recent controversies, including the failure of initial lineage-tracing experiments to confirm a major role for EMP in dissemination, and discuss accumulating data suggesting that epithelial features and/or a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype are important in metastasis. We also highlight strategies to address the complexities of therapeutically targeting the EMP process that give consideration to its spatially and temporally divergent roles in metastasis, with the view that this will yield a potent and broad class of therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth D Williams
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Prostate Cancer Research Centre - Queensland (APCRC-Q) and Queensland Bladder Cancer Initiative (QBCI), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dingcheng Gao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Neuberger Berman Lung Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew Redfern
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Fiona Stanley Hospital Campus, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation and School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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29
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Jolly MK, Celià-Terrassa T. Dynamics of Phenotypic Heterogeneity Associated with EMT and Stemness during Cancer Progression. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1542. [PMID: 31557977 PMCID: PMC6832750 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8101542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity contribute to the generation of diverse tumor cell populations, thus enhancing cancer aggressiveness and therapy resistance. Compared to genetic heterogeneity, a consequence of mutational events, phenotypic heterogeneity arises from dynamic, reversible cell state transitions in response to varying intracellular/extracellular signals. Such phenotypic plasticity enables rapid adaptive responses to various stressful conditions and can have a strong impact on cancer progression. Herein, we have reviewed relevant literature on mechanisms associated with dynamic phenotypic changes and cellular plasticity, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stemness, which have been reported to facilitate cancer metastasis. We also discuss how non-cell-autonomous mechanisms such as cell-cell communication can lead to an emergent population-level response in tumors. The molecular mechanisms underlying the complexity of tumor systems are crucial for comprehending cancer progression, and may provide new avenues for designing therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
| | - Toni Celià-Terrassa
- Cancer Research Program, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
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30
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Chin VL, Lim CL. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity-engaging stemness in an interplay of phenotypes. Stem Cell Investig 2019; 6:25. [PMID: 31559312 DOI: 10.21037/sci.2019.08.08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease which results in a functional imbalance between tumour-repressive and oncogenic signals. The WHO highlights the burden of this indomitable disease, listing it as the second leading cause of death globally. The major cause of cancer-related death is rarely the effect of the primary tumour itself, but rather, the devastating spread of cancer cells in metastases. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP)-termed as the ability of cells to maintain its plasticity and transit between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) states-plays a fundamental role in cancer metastasis. These cell transitions allow them migrate from the primary tumour and invade the secondary site. EMP is associated with migration, invasion, colonisation, self-renewal and drug resistance. This review briefly elucidates the mechanism of EMP and the association between cancer stem cells (CSCs) and circulating tumour cells (CTCs), biomarkers and signalling pathways involved in EMP as well as drug resistance and therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vi Ley Chin
- Division of Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Chooi Ling Lim
- Division of Applied Biomedical Science and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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31
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Bhatia S, Monkman J, Blick T, Duijf PH, Nagaraj SH, Thompson EW. Multi-Omics Characterization of the Spontaneous Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition in the PMC42 Breast Cancer Cell Lines. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E1253. [PMID: 31430931 PMCID: PMC6723942 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8081253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP), encompassing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), are considered critical events for cancer metastasis. We investigated chromosomal heterogeneity and chromosomal instability (CIN) profiles of two sister PMC42 breast cancer (BC) cell lines to assess the relationship between their karyotypes and EMP phenotypic plasticity. Karyotyping by GTG banding and exome sequencing were aligned with SWATH quantitative proteomics and existing RNA-sequencing data from the two PMC42 cell lines; the mesenchymal, parental PMC42-ET cell line and the spontaneously epithelially shifted PMC42-LA daughter cell line. These morphologically distinct PMC42 cell lines were also compared with five other BC cell lines (MDA-MB-231, SUM-159, T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468) for their expression of EMP and cell surface markers, and stemness and metabolic profiles. The findings suggest that the epithelially shifted cell line has a significantly altered ploidy of chromosomes 3 and 13, which is reflected in their transcriptomic and proteomic expression profiles. Loss of the TGFβR2 gene from chromosome 3 in the epithelial daughter cell line inhibits its EMT induction by TGF-β stimulus. Thus, integrative 'omics' characterization established that the PMC42 system is a relevant MET model and provides insights into the regulation of phenotypic plasticity in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - James Monkman
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Tony Blick
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Pascal Hg Duijf
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Shivashankar H Nagaraj
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
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Xia L, Lin J, Su J, Oyang L, Wang H, Tan S, Tang Y, Chen X, Liu W, Luo X, Tian Y, Liang J, Su Q, Liao Q, Zhou Y. Diallyl disulfide inhibits colon cancer metastasis by suppressing Rac1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:5713-5728. [PMID: 31410018 PMCID: PMC6645609 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s208738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) provides a novel treatment strategy for tumor metastasis. Our previous studies have shown that diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibits Ras related C3 botulinum toxin substrate1 (Rac1) expression, being a potential agent that suppresses migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. The study provides information on the underlying mechanisms. Methods The expression of Rac1 and EMT markers (vimentin, N-cadherin and E-cadherin) in colon cancer samples was detected. Colon cancer cell lines treated with or without DADS were used to examine EMT markers, Rac1 and its related molecules. Various cell functions related to metastasis were performed in vitro, and further confirmed in vivo. Results Rac1 was highly expressed in colon cancer, and associated with aberrant expression of EMT markers and poor prognosis. Rac1 overexpression induced cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo with down-regulation of E-cadherin and up-regulation of N-cadherin, vimentin, and snail1, whereas inhibition of Rac1 impaired the oncogenic function. DADS suppressed Rac1 expression and activity via inhibition of PI3K/Akt pathway, thus suppressing EMT and invasion and migration of colon cancer cells. The tumor inhibition of DADS was enhanced by knockdown of Rac1, but antagonized by overexpression of Rac1. We further found that DADS blocked EMT via targeting the Rac1-mediated PAK1-LIMK1-Cofilins signaling. Conclusion Rac1 is a potential target molecule for the inhibitory effect of DADS on EMT and invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longzheng Xia
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingguan Lin
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Su
- Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Linda Oyang
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Heran Wang
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiming Tan
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanyan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Luo
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yutong Tian
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiaxin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Su
- Cancer Research Institute, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianjin Liao
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujuan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University and Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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Bhatia S, Monkman J, Blick T, Pinto C, Waltham M, Nagaraj SH, Thompson EW. Interrogation of Phenotypic Plasticity between Epithelial and Mesenchymal States in Breast Cancer. J Clin Med 2019; 8:E893. [PMID: 31234417 PMCID: PMC6617164 DOI: 10.3390/jcm8060893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic interconversions between transitional epithelial and mesenchymal states underpin the epithelial mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) seen in some carcinoma cell systems. We have delineated epithelial and mesenchymal subpopulations existing within the PMC42-LA breast cancer cell line by their EpCAM expression. These purified but phenotypically plastic states, EpCAMHigh (epithelial) and EpCAMLow (mesenchymal), have the ability to regain the phenotypic equilibrium of the parental population (i.e., 80% epithelial and 20% mesenchymal) over time, although the rate of reversion in the mesenchymal direction (epithelial-mesenchymal transition; EMT) is higher than that in the epithelial direction (mesenchymal-epithelial transition; MET). Single-cell clonal propagation was implemented to delineate the molecular and cellular features of this intrinsic heterogeneity with respect to EMP flux. The dynamics of the phenotypic proportions of epithelial and mesenchymal states in single-cell generated clones revealed clonal diversity and intrinsic plasticity. Single cell-derived clonal progenies displayed differences in their functional attributes of proliferation, stemness marker (CD44/CD24), migration, invasion and chemo-sensitivity. Interrogation of genomic copy number variations (CNV) with whole exome sequencing (WES) in the context of chromosome count from metaphase spread indicated that chromosomal instability was not influential in driving intrinsic phenotypic plasticity. Overall, these findings reveal the stochastic nature of both the epithelial and mesenchymal subpopulations, and the single cell-derived clones for differential functional attributes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugandha Bhatia
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - James Monkman
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Tony Blick
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Cletus Pinto
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia.
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia.
| | - Mark Waltham
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia.
- University of Melbourne Department of Surgery, St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia.
| | - Shivashankar H Nagaraj
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Erik W Thompson
- Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4059, Australia.
- School of Biological/Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
- Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
- Invasion and Metastasis Unit, St. Vincent's Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3065, Australia.
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Xia C, Zhang XY, Liu W, Ju M, Ju Y, Bu YZ, Wang W, Shao H. LINC00857 contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy via enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:7970-7977. [PMID: 30506763 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains the fifth most frequent cancer with high mortality rate worldwide. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of HCC progression are still barely known. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as significant therapeutic targets for HCC. Recently, the biological role of LINC00857 in several cancer types has been reported. Our present study was aimed to investigate the role of LINC00857 in HCC progression. We observed that LINC00857 was overexpressed in HCC cell lines (Huh7, Hep3B, HepG2, MHCC-97H, and SNU449). Knockdown of LINC00857 significantly repressed Hep-3B and SNU449 cell proliferation and inhibited the HCC cell colony formation. In addition, cell apoptosis was induced by the silence of LINC00857 and cell cycle progression was blocked in G1 phase. Besides these, downregulation of LINC00857 was able to restrain HCC cell migration and invasion capacity via enhancing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. As displayed, E-cadherin protein expression was increased by LINC00857 silence, while N-cadherin protein level was repressed by LV-shLINC00857 in HCC cells. Finally, the in vivo assays were used and the data indicated that LINC00857 could also obviously suppress the HCC tumor growth in vivo. In conclusion, our study revealed that LINC00857 might provide a novel perspective for the HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Xia
- Department of General Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Zhang
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huai'an Second People's Hospital and The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Wenhui Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Shandong, China
| | - Man Ju
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Shandong, China
| | - Yingdong Ju
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Shandong, China
| | - Yan-Zhi Bu
- Department of General Surgery, Lianshui County People's Hospital, Huai'an, China
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Hongjin Shao
- Department of General Surgery, Liaocheng People's Hospital, 67 Dongchang West Road, Liaocheng, Shandong, China
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Senchukova M, Tomchuk O, Shurygina E, Letuta S, Alidzhanov E, Nikiyan H, Razdobreev D. Calcium Carbonate Nanoparticles Can Activate the Epithelial⁻Mesenchymal Transition in an Experimental Gastric Cancer Model. Biomedicines 2019; 7:biomedicines7010021. [PMID: 30893803 PMCID: PMC6466388 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we have shown the possibility of intramucosal gastric carcinoma induction by the intragastric administration of a mixture of formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide in rats. In this study, we report a sizable increase in carcinogenic properties of the mixture when a suspension containing calcium carbonate nanoparticles was added to it. This technique allowed us to reduce both the number of the carcinogen administrations from twelve to two and the time to the cancer induction from six to four months. Although the induced tumors were represented by the intramucosal carcinomas, they were characterized by the extensive invasion of individual tumor cells and their clusters into the muscle layer and serosa as well as into the omentum and blood vessels. Considering that the invasive tumor cells were positive for vimentin, Snail and TGF-β2, we concluded that their invasion was the result of the activation of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanisms. Thus, taking into account the data obtained, it can be assumed that under the conditions of inflammation or carcinogenesis, the calcium carbonate nanoparticles may affect the activation of EMT mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Senchukova
- Department of Oncology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia.
| | - Olesya Tomchuk
- Department of Histology, Cytology, Embryology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia.
| | - Elena Shurygina
- Department of Pathology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia.
| | - Sergey Letuta
- Department of Biophysics and Condensed Matter Physics, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
- Institute of micro- and nanotechnology, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
| | - Eskender Alidzhanov
- Department of Biophysics and Condensed Matter Physics, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
- Institute of micro- and nanotechnology, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
| | - Hike Nikiyan
- Department of Biophysics and Condensed Matter Physics, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
- Institute of micro- and nanotechnology, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
| | - Dmitry Razdobreev
- Department of Biophysics and Condensed Matter Physics, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
- Institute of micro- and nanotechnology, Orenburg State University, Orenburg 460018, Russia.
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36
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Jia D, George JT, Tripathi SC, Kundnani DL, Lu M, Hanash SM, Onuchic JN, Jolly MK, Levine H. Testing the gene expression classification of the EMT spectrum. Phys Biol 2019; 16:025002. [PMID: 30557866 PMCID: PMC7179477 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/aaf8d4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a central role in cancer metastasis and drug resistance-two persistent clinical challenges. Epithelial cells can undergo a partial or full EMT, attaining either a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) or mesenchymal phenotype, respectively. Recent studies have emphasized that hybrid E/M cells may be more aggressive than their mesenchymal counterparts. However, mechanisms driving hybrid E/M phenotypes remain largely elusive. Here, to better characterize the hybrid E/M phenotype (s) and tumor aggressiveness, we integrate two computational methods-(a) RACIPE-to identify the robust gene expression patterns emerging from the dynamics of a given gene regulatory network, and (b) EMT scoring metric-to calculate the probability that a given gene expression profile displays a hybrid E/M phenotype. We apply the EMT scoring metric to RACIPE-generated gene expression data generated from a core EMT regulatory network and classify the gene expression profiles into relevant categories (epithelial, hybrid E/M, mesenchymal). This categorization is broadly consistent with hierarchical clustering readouts of RACIPE-generated gene expression data. We also show how the EMT scoring metric can be used to distinguish between samples composed of exclusively hybrid E/M cells and those containing mixtures of epithelial and mesenchymal subpopulations using the RACIPE-generated gene expression data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongya Jia
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Program in Systems, Synthetic and Physical Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jason T George
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Satyendra C Tripathi
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Deepali L Kundnani
- Red and Charline McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Mingyang Lu
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, United States of America
- Current address: Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur 440003, India
| | - Samir M Hanash
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
- Red and Charline McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - José N Onuchic
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Current address: Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Herbert Levine
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States of America
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37
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Toward understanding cancer stem cell heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:148-157. [PMID: 30587589 PMCID: PMC6320545 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1815345116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) formation are two paramount processes driving tumor progression, therapy resistance, and cancer metastasis. Recent experiments show that cells with varying EMT and CSC phenotypes are spatially segregated in the primary tumor. The underlying mechanisms generating such spatiotemporal dynamics in the tumor microenvironment, however, remain largely unexplored. Here, we show through a mechanism-based dynamical model that the diffusion of EMT-inducing signals such as TGF-β, together with noncell autonomous control of EMT and CSC decision making via the Notch signaling pathway, can explain experimentally observed disparate localization of subsets of CSCs with varying EMT phenotypes in the tumor. Our simulations show that the more mesenchymal CSCs lie at the invasive edge, while the hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) CSCs reside in the tumor interior. Further, motivated by the role of Notch-Jagged signaling in mediating EMT and stemness, we investigated the microenvironmental factors that promote Notch-Jagged signaling. We show that many inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 that can promote Notch-Jagged signaling can (i) stabilize a hybrid E/M phenotype, (ii) increase the likelihood of spatial proximity of hybrid E/M cells, and (iii) expand the fraction of CSCs. To validate the predicted connection between Notch-Jagged signaling and stemness, we knocked down JAG1 in hybrid E/M SUM149 human breast cancer cells in vitro. JAG1 knockdown significantly restricted tumor organoid formation, confirming the key role that Notch-Jagged signaling can play in tumor progression. Together, our integrated computational-experimental framework reveals the underlying principles of spatiotemporal dynamics of EMT and CSCs.
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38
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Xiao YS, Zeng D, Liang YK, Wu Y, Li MF, Qi YZ, Wei XL, Huang WH, Chen M, Zhang GJ. Major vault protein is a direct target of Notch1 signaling and contributes to chemoresistance in triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2019; 440-441:156-167. [PMID: 30336197 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapy remains a significant problem in the treatment of breast cancer, especially for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in which standard systemic therapy is currently limited to chemotherapeutic agents. Our study aimed to better understand the molecular mechanisms that lead to failure of chemotherapy in TNBC. Herein, we observed elevated expression of Notch1 and major vault protein (MVP) in MDA-MB-231DDPR cells compared to their parental counterparts. We demonstrated that Notch1 could positively regulate the expression of MVP. Also, Notch1 intracellular domain (ICD) was capable of binding to CBF-1 on the promoter of MVP to drive its transcription, resulting in activation of AKT pathway and promoting the progress of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Conversely, silencing of Notch1 and MVP suppressed AKT pathway, reduced EMT and enhanced the sensitivity of TNBC cells to cisplatin and doxorubicin. Survival analysis indicated that the MVP was closely related to shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) in patients with TNBC. Collectively, this study provides evidence that Notch1 activates AKT pathway and promotes EMT partly through direct activation of MVP. Targeting Notch1/MVP pathway appears to have potential in overcoming chemoresistance in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Sheng Xiao
- ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - De Zeng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Yuan-Ke Liang
- ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China; Department of Medical Oncology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713, GZ Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Yang Wu
- ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Mei-Fang Li
- ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Yu-Zhu Qi
- ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Xiao-Long Wei
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Wen-He Huang
- The Cancer Center and the Department of Breast-Thyroid Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 2000 East Xiang'an Rd., Xiang'an, Xiamen, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China
| | - Min Chen
- Central Laboratory, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 2000 East Xiang'an Rd., Xiang'an, Xiamen, China
| | - Guo-Jun Zhang
- The Cancer Center and the Department of Breast-Thyroid Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, 2000 East Xiang'an Rd., Xiang'an, Xiamen, China; ChangJiang Scholar's Laboratory of Shantou University Medical College, 22 Xinling Road, Shantou, China; The Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, China.
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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: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.2] [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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Tripathi K, Garg M. Mechanistic regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through RAS signaling pathway and therapeutic implications in human cancer. J Cell Commun Signal 2018; 12:513-527. [PMID: 29330773 PMCID: PMC6039341 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-017-0441-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RAS effector signaling instead of being simple, unidirectional and linear cascade, is actually recognized as highly complex and dynamic signaling network. RAF-MEK-ERK cascade, being at the center of complex signaling network, links to multiple scaffold proteins through feed forward and feedback mechanisms and dynamically regulate tumor initiation and progression. Three isoforms of Ras harbor mutations in a cell and tissue specific manner. Besides mutations, their epigenetic silencing also attributes them to exhibit oncogenic activities. Recent evidences support the functions of RAS oncoproteins in the acquisition of tumor cells with Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) features/ epithelial plasticity, enhanced metastatic potential and poor patient survival. Google Scholar electronic databases and PubMed were searched for original papers and reviews available till date to collect information on stimulation of EMT core inducers in a Ras driven cancer and their regulation in metastatic spread. Improved understanding of the mechanistic basis of regulatory interactions of microRNAs (miRs) and EMT by reprogramming the expression of targets in Ras activated cancer, may help in designing effective anticancer therapies. Apparent lack of adverse events associated with the delivery of miRs and tissue response make 'drug target miRNA' an ideal therapeutic tool to achieve progression free clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Tripathi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India
| | - Minal Garg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, 226007, India.
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Chen J, Cao S, Situ B, Zhong J, Hu Y, Li S, Huang J, Xu J, Wu S, Lin J, Zhao Q, Cai Z, Zheng L, Wang Q. Metabolic reprogramming-based characterization of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:127. [PMID: 29954422 PMCID: PMC6025832 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0789-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), an advantageous target of liquid biopsy, is an important biomarker for the prognosis and monitoring of cancer. Currently, detection techniques for CTCs are mainly based on the physical and/or epithelial characteristics of tumor cells. However, biofunctional activity markers that can indicate the high metastatic capacity of CTCs are lacking. METHODS Functional microarray, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot were used on five prostate cancer cell lines with different metastatic capacities to identify the metastasis-related metabolic genes. The identified genes were detected in the CTCs of 64 clinical samples using the RNA in situ hybridization. A multi-criteria weighted model was used to determine the optimal metabolic markers for the CTCs test. Based on five fluorescent signals targeting DAPI, CD45, metabolic, epithelial (EpCAM/CKs), and mesenchymal (Vimentin/Twist) markers, the filtration-enriched CTCs were classified as GM+CTCs/GM-CTCs (metabolic types) or E-CTCs/H-CTCs/M-CTCs (EMT types). Correlation analysis and ROC curve were conducted on 54 prostate cancer samples to evaluate the clinical significance of CTCs subtypes. RESULTS Eight metastasis-related metabolic genes were identified, including HK2, PDP2, G6PD, PGK1, PHKA1, PYGL, PDK1, and PKM2. Among them, PGK1 and G6PD were determined as optimal glucose metabolic (GM) markers for CTCs. GM+CTCs (marked by PGK1/G6PD) were detectable in 64.8% (35/54) of prostate cancer patients, accounting for 46.5% (134/288) of total CTCs. An increased GM+CTCs level was associated with advanced tumor stage and metastasis (P < 0.05). In the discrimination of cancer metastasis from non-metastasis, GM+CTCs presented a higher AUC of the ROC curve (0.780) compared with the EMT CTCs subtypes (E-CTCs 0.729, H-CTCs 0.741, and M-CTCs 0.648). A triple tPSA-Gleason-GM+CTCs marker increased the AUC to 0.904, which was better than that of the tPSA-Gleason-H-CTCs marker (0.874). CONCLUSIONS The metabolic marker (PGK1/G6PD) is determined as the indicator for the biofunctional activity analysis of CTCs, compared with the existing morphological (EMT) classification on CTCs. The metabolic characterization of CTCs demonstrates that hypermetabolic GM+CTCs are promising biomarkers for prostate cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shunwang Cao
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Bo Situ
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Juan Zhong
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Nanning, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yanwei Hu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Shufen Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinlan Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Jiasen Xu
- SurExam Bio-Tech, Guangzhou Technology Innovation Base, Science City, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shiyang Wu
- SurExam Bio-Tech, Guangzhou Technology Innovation Base, Science City, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinduan Lin
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Qianwen Zhao
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Cai
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
| | - Lei Zheng
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China. .,Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Rapid Diagnostic Biosensors, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Qian Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 North of Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China. .,Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Navas T, Pfister TD, Colantonio S, Aziz A, Dieckman L, Saul RG, Kaczmarczyk J, Borgel S, Alcoser SY, Hollingshead MG, Lee YH, Bottaro DP, Hiltke T, Whiteley G, Takebe N, Kinders RJ, Parchment RE, Tomaszewski JE, Doroshow JH. Novel antibody reagents for characterization of drug- and tumor microenvironment-induced changes in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0199361. [PMID: 29928062 PMCID: PMC6013203 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0199361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in tumors are associated with tumor aggressiveness, metastasis, drug resistance, and poor prognosis, necessitating the development of reagents for unambiguous detection of CSC- and EMT-associated proteins in tumor specimens. To this end, we generated novel antibodies to EMT- and CSC-associated proteins, including Goosecoid, Sox9, Slug, Snail, and CD133. Importantly, unlike several widely used antibodies to CD133, the anti-CD133 antibodies we generated recognize epitopes distal to known glycosylation sites, enabling analyses that are not confounded by differences in CD133 glycosylation. For all target proteins, we selected antibodies that yielded the expected target protein molecular weights by Western analysis and the correct subcellular localization patterns by immunofluorescence microscopy assay (IFA); binding selectivity was verified by immunoprecipitation−mass spectrometry and by immunohistochemistry and IFA peptide blocking experiments. Finally, we applied these reagents to assess modulation of the respective markers of EMT and CSCs in xenograft tumor models by IFA. We observed that the constitutive presence of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) in the tumor microenvironment of H596 non-small cell lung cancer tumors implanted in homozygous hHGF knock-in transgenic mice induced a more mesenchymal-like tumor state (relative to the epithelial-like state when implanted in control SCID mice), as evidenced by the elevated expression of EMT-associated transcription factors detected by our novel antibodies. Similarly, our new anti-CD133 antibody enabled detection and quantitation of drug-induced reductions in CD133-positive tumor cells following treatment of SUM149PT triple-negative breast cancer xenograft models with the CSC/focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor VS-6063. Thus, our novel antibodies to CSC- and EMT-associated factors exhibit sufficient sensitivity and selectivity for immunofluorescence microscopy studies of these processes in preclinical xenograft tumor specimens and the potential for application with clinical samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Navas
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas D. Pfister
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Simona Colantonio
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Amina Aziz
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Lynda Dieckman
- Biosciences Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Richard G. Saul
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jan Kaczmarczyk
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Suzanne Borgel
- Biological Testing Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Sergio Y. Alcoser
- Biological Testing Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Melinda G. Hollingshead
- Biological Testing Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Young H. Lee
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donald P. Bottaro
- Urologic Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tara Hiltke
- Office of Cancer Clinical Proteomics Research, Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gordon Whiteley
- Antibody Characterization Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Kinders
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ralph E. Parchment
- Clinical Pharmacodynamics Biomarker Program, Applied/Developmental Research Directorate, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph E. Tomaszewski
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - James H. Doroshow
- Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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43
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Wang L, Dai G, Yang J, Wu W, Zhang W. Cervical Cancer Cell Growth, Drug Resistance, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Are Suppressed by y-Secretase Inhibitor RO4929097. Med Sci Monit 2018; 24:4046-4053. [PMID: 29899322 PMCID: PMC6032799 DOI: 10.12659/msm.909452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Notch signaling pathway has been reported to play a pivotal role in tumorigenesis. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that the Notch signaling pathway regulates several cellular processes. The present study investigated the effect of the Notch signaling pathway on cell growth, invasiveness, and drug resistance, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), of cervical cancer cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis to measure the expression level of Notch2. CCK-8, clonality, wound healing, and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the effect of γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI) RO4929097 on cervical cancer cell lines HeLa and Caski. To explore the role of the Notch signaling pathway in EMT, the epithelial and mesenchymal markers were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot after cervical cancer cell lines were treated with GSI RO4929097. RESULTS The expression of Notch2 was found to increase in cervical cancer cell lines compared with the normal immortalized human cervical epithelial cells. GSI RO4929097 was confirmed to inhibit the Notch signaling pathway and impaired the proliferation, drug resistance, migration, and invasion abilities of cervical cancer cells. The protein expression levels of the mesenchymal biomarkers Snail, Twist, and neural cadherin (N-cadherin) decreased; however, the expression of the epithelial biomarker epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) increased in the cervical cancer cells treated with GSI RO4929097. CONCLUSIONS Notch signaling pathway plays an important role in the development and progression of cervical cancer. Blockade of the Notch pathway using GSI RO4929097 inhibited cell growth and reduced chemoresistance, invasion, metastasis, and EMT in cervical cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Guo Dai
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Jian Yang
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Wanrong Wu
- Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China (mainland)
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Hua H, Zhang H, Kong Q, Wang J, Jiang Y. Complex roles of the old drug aspirin in cancer chemoprevention and therapy. Med Res Rev 2018; 39:114-145. [PMID: 29855050 DOI: 10.1002/med.21514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent aspirin is widely used for preventing and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In addition, epidemiologic evidences reveal that aspirin may prevent a variety of human cancers, while data on the association between aspirin and some kinds of cancer are conflicting. Preclinical studies and clinical trials also reveal the therapeutic effect of aspirin on cancer. Although cyclooxygenase is a well-known target of aspirin, recent studies uncover other targets of aspirin and its metabolites, such as AMP-activated protein kinase, cyclin-dependent kinase, heparanase, and histone. Accumulating evidence demonstrate that aspirin may act in different cell types, such as epithelial cell, tumor cell, endothelial cell, platelet, and immune cell. Therefore, aspirin acts on diverse hallmarks of cancer, such as sustained tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and immune evasion. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the use of aspirin for cancer chemoprevention and therapy, and integratively analyze the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of aspirin and its metabolites. We also discuss mechanisms of aspirin resistance and describe some derivatives of aspirin, which aim to overcome the adverse effects of aspirin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Hua
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China.,Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingbin Kong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China.,Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yangfu Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, China.,Laboratory of Oncogene, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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45
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Siriwardena SBSM, Tsunematsu T, Qi G, Ishimaru N, Kudo Y. Invasion-Related Factors as Potential Diagnostic and Therapeutic Targets in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma-A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051462. [PMID: 29758011 PMCID: PMC5983574 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well recognized that the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis is the most important prognostic factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In solid epithelial cancer, the first step during the process of metastasis is the invasion of cancer cells into the underlying stroma, breaching the basement membrane (BM)—the natural barrier between epithelium and the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). The ability to invade and metastasize is a key hallmark of cancer progression, and the most complicated and least understood. These topics continue to be very active fields of cancer research. A number of processes, factors, and signaling pathways are involved in regulating invasion and metastasis. However, appropriate clinical trials for anti-cancer drugs targeting the invasion of OSCC are incomplete. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on invasion-related factors and emerging molecular determinants which can be used as potential for diagnostic and therapeutic targets in OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samadarani B S M Siriwardena
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka.
| | - Takaaki Tsunematsu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
| | - Guangying Qi
- Department of Pathology and Physiopathology, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541004, China.
| | - Naozumi Ishimaru
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan.
| | - Yasusei Kudo
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima 770-8504, Japan.
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46
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Li W, Jiang Z, Xiao X, Wang Z, Wu Z, Ma Q, Cao L. Curcumin inhibits superoxide dismutase-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway in pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Oncol 2018; 52:1593-1602. [PMID: 29512729 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Curcumin is a natural polyphenol compound derived from turmeric. It possesses multiple pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor progression properties. Our recent study demonstrated that superoxide dismutase (SOD)-dependent production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) promoted the invasive and migratory activity of pancreatic cancer cells. However, whether curcumin suppresses SOD-induced cancer progression and the related mechanisms remains unclear. Since epithelial‑to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor metastasis, the aim of the present study was to examine whether curcumin intervenes with SOD-induced EMT in pancreatic cancer and the underlying mechanism. The human pancreatic cancer cells BxPC-3 and Panc-1 were exposed to SOD in the presence or absence of curcumin, catalase (CAT, a scavenger of H2O2), or LY 294002 [a phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor]. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and H2O2 were evaluated by 2,7-dichlorodihydrofluorecein diacetate and H2O2 assay, respectively. The activation of p-Akt and p-nuclear factor (NF)-κB were examined by western blotting. The migratory and invasive abilities of pancreatic cancer cells were tested by the wound healing and Transwell invasion assays. The expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and vimentin (EMT-related genes) were measured by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting at the mRNA and protein levels, respectively. The findings of the present study demonstrated that curcumin decreased SOD-induced production of ROS and H2O2 in BxPC-3 and Panc-1 cells. Curcumin was able to suppress SOD-induced invasion and migration, and it also regulated the expression of the above‑mentioned EMT-related genes and cell morphology. SOD-induced cell invasion was also inhibited by catalase and LY 294002. Furthermore, the levels of p-Akt and p-NF-κB caused by SOD could be offset by treatment with curcumin and LY 294002. To summarize, these results demonstrated that curcumin was able to prevent SOD-driven H2O2-induced pancreatic cancer metastasis by blocking the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. The use of curcumin to inhibit the H2O2/Akt/NF-κB axis may be a promising therapeutic approach to the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Zhengdong Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xue Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Zheng Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Qingyong Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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Schelch K, Wagner C, Hager S, Pirker C, Siess K, Lang E, Lin R, Kirschner MB, Mohr T, Brcic L, Marian B, Holzmann K, Grasl-Kraupp B, Krupitza G, Laszlo V, Klikovits T, Dome B, Hegedus B, Garay T, Reid G, van Zandwijk N, Klepetko W, Berger W, Grusch M, Hoda MA. FGF2 and EGF induce epithelial–mesenchymal transition in malignant pleural mesothelioma cells via a MAPKinase/MMP1 signal. Carcinogenesis 2018; 39:534-545. [DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgy018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Karin Schelch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Christina Wagner
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sonja Hager
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christine Pirker
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Katharina Siess
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Lang
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruby Lin
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Thomas Mohr
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Luka Brcic
- Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Brigitte Marian
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Holzmann
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Grasl-Kraupp
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Krupitza
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Viktoria Laszlo
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Klikovits
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
| | - Balazs Dome
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
- Department of Tumor Biology, National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Institute of Oncology and Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Balazs Hegedus
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
- MTA-SE Molecular Oncology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruhrlandklinik, University Clinic Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Tamas Garay
- MTA-SE Molecular Oncology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Glen Reid
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nico van Zandwijk
- Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Walter Klepetko
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
| | - Walter Berger
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grusch
- Institute of Cancer Research, Department of Medicine I, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mir Alireza Hoda
- Translational Thoracic Oncology Laboratory, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna
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Setúbal Destro Rodrigues MF, Gammon L, Rahman MM, Biddle A, Nunes FD, Mackenzie IC. Effects of Cetuximab and Erlotinib on the behaviour of cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:13488-13500. [PMID: 29568372 PMCID: PMC5862593 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic responses of many solid tumours to chemo- and radio-therapies are far from fully effective but therapies targeting malignancy-related cellular changes show promise for further control. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is commonly overexpressed and investigation of agents that block this receptor indicate a limited response when used alone but an ability to enhance the actions of other drugs. The hierarchical stem cell patterns present in tumours generate cellular heterogeneity and this is further complicated by cancer stem cells (CSC) shifting between epithelial (Epi-CSC) and mesenchymal (EMT-CSC) states. To clarify how such heterogeneity influences responses to EGFR blocking, we examined the effects of Cetuximab and Erlotinib on the cell sub-populations in HNSCC cell lines. These agents reduced cell proliferation for all subpopulations but induced little cell death. They did however induce large shifts of cells between the EMT-CSC, Epi-CSC and differentiating cell compartments. Loss of EMT-CSCs reduced cell motility and is expected to reduce invasion and metastasis. EGFR blocking also induced shifts of Epi-CSCs into the differentiating cell compartment which typically has greater sensitivity to chemo/radiation, an effect expected to enhance the overall response of tumour cell populations to adjunctive therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke Gammon
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Muhammad M Rahman
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Adrian Biddle
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Fabio Daumas Nunes
- Oral Pathology Department, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ian C Mackenzie
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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49
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Scimeca M, Bonfiglio R, Montanaro M, Bonanno E. Osteoblast-like cells in human cancers: new cell type and reliable markers for bone metastasis. Future Oncol 2017; 14:9-11. [PMID: 29219614 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2017-0472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Scimeca
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.,OrchideaLab SRL, Via del Grecale 6, Morlupo, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Bonfiglio
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Montanaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bonanno
- Department of Experimental Medicine & Surgery, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
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Mason J, Blyth B, MacManus MP, Martin OA. Treatment for non-small-cell lung cancer and circulating tumor cells. Lung Cancer Manag 2017; 6:129-139. [PMID: 30643579 PMCID: PMC6310303 DOI: 10.2217/lmt-2017-0019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Surgery is the main curative therapy for patients with localized non-small-cell lung cancer while radiotherapy (RT), alone or with concurrent platinum-based chemotherapy, remains the primary curative modality for locoregionally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. The risk of distant metastasis is high after curative-intent treatment, largely attributable to the presence of undetected micrometastases, but which could also be related to treatment-related increases in circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTC mobilization by RT or systemic therapies might either reflect efficient tumor destruction with improved prognosis, or might promote metastasis and thus represent a potential therapeutic target. RT may induce prometastatic biological alterations in CTC at the cellular level, which are detectable by 'liquid biopsies', though their rarity represents a major challenge. Improved methods of isolation and ex vivo propagation will be essential for the future of CTC research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Mason
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Benjamin Blyth
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael P MacManus
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Olga A Martin
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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