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Mauro LJ, Spartz A, Austin JR, Lange CA. Reevaluating the Role of Progesterone in Ovarian Cancer: Is Progesterone Always Protective? Endocr Rev 2023; 44:1029-1046. [PMID: 37261958 PMCID: PMC11048595 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) represents a collection of rare but lethal gynecologic cancers where the difficulty of early detection due to an often-subtle range of abdominal symptoms contributes to high fatality rates. With the exception of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers, OC most often manifests as a post-menopausal disease, a time in which the ovaries regress and circulating reproductive hormones diminish. Progesterone is thought to be a "protective" hormone that counters the proliferative actions of estrogen, as can be observed in the uterus or breast. Like other steroid hormone receptor family members, the transcriptional activity of the nuclear progesterone receptor (nPR) may be ligand dependent or independent and is fully integrated with other ubiquitous cell signaling pathways often altered in cancers. Emerging evidence in OC models challenges the singular protective role of progesterone/nPR. Herein, we integrate the historical perspective of progesterone on OC development and progression with exciting new research findings and critical interpretations to help paint a broader picture of the role of progesterone and nPR signaling in OC. We hope to alleviate some of the controversy around the role of progesterone and give insight into the importance of nPR actions in disease progression. A new perspective on the role of progesterone and nPR signaling integration will raise awareness to the complexity of nPRs and nPR-driven gene regulation in OC, help to reveal novel biomarkers, and lend critical knowledge for the development of better therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Mauro
- Department of Animal Science-Physiology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Angela Spartz
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Julia R Austin
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Carol A Lange
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology & Transplantation) and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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2
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Li Y, Zhou W, Meng X, Murray SD, Li L, Fronk A, Lazaro-Camp VJ, Wen KK, Wu M, Dupuy A, Leslie KK, Yang S. Utilizing an Endogenous Progesterone Receptor Reporter Gene for Drug Screening and Mechanistic Study in Endometrial Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4883. [PMID: 36230806 PMCID: PMC9561963 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Expression of progesterone receptor (PR) is a favorable prognostic marker for multiple solid tumors. However, PR expression is reduced or lost in malignant tumors. Thus, monitoring and restoring functional PR expression is important in order to sensitize tumor cells to progesterone therapy in endometrial cancer. We developed stable PR reporter gene containing endometrial cancer cell lines monitoring the endogenous PR expression by inserting mCherry and hygromycin resistant gene at the endogenous PR gene locus by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing technique. This allows efficient, real-time monitoring of PR expression in its native epigenetic landscape. Reporter gene expression faithfully reflects and amplifies PR expression following treatment with drugs known to induce PR expression. Small molecular PR inducers have been identified from the FDA-approved 1018 drug library and tested for their ability to restore PR expression. Additionally, several candidate PR repressors have been identified by screening the genome-wide CRISPR knockout (GeCKO) library. This novel endogenous PR reporter gene system facilitates the discovery of a new treatment strategy to enhance PR expression and further sensitize progestin therapy in endometrial cancer. These tools provide a systematic, unbiased approach for monitoring target gene expression, allowing for novel drug discovery and mechanistic exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Xiangbing Meng
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Sarina D. Murray
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Long Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Abby Fronk
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Vanessa J. Lazaro-Camp
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kuo-kuang Wen
- High Throughput Screening Facility at University of Iowa (UIHTS), Iowa City, IA 52242, USA or or
- Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Meng Wu
- High Throughput Screening Facility at University of Iowa (UIHTS), Iowa City, IA 52242, USA or or
- Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Adam Dupuy
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kimberly K. Leslie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Shujie Yang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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3
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Trembley JH, Kren BT, Afzal M, Scaria GA, Klein MA, Ahmed K. Protein kinase CK2 – diverse roles in cancer cell biology and therapeutic promise. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 478:899-926. [PMID: 36114992 PMCID: PMC9483426 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04558-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The association of protein kinase CK2 (formerly casein kinase II or 2) with cell growth and proliferation in cells was apparent at early stages of its investigation. A cancer-specific role for CK2 remained unclear until it was determined that CK2 was also a potent suppressor of cell death (apoptosis); the latter characteristic differentiated its function in normal versus malignant cells because dysregulation of both cell growth and cell death is a universal feature of cancer cells. Over time, it became evident that CK2 exerts its influence on a diverse range of cell functions in normal as well as in transformed cells. As such, CK2 and its substrates are localized in various compartments of the cell. The dysregulation of CK2 is documented in a wide range of malignancies; notably, by increased CK2 protein and activity levels with relatively moderate change in its RNA abundance. High levels of CK2 are associated with poor prognosis in multiple cancer types, and CK2 is a target for active research and testing for cancer therapy. Aspects of CK2 cellular roles and targeting in cancer are discussed in the present review, with focus on nuclear and mitochondrial functions and prostate, breast and head and neck malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janeen H Trembley
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
| | - Betsy T Kren
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
| | - Muhammad Afzal
- Department of Biochemistry, Riphah International University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - George A Scaria
- Hematology/Oncology Section, Primary Care Service Line, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
| | - Mark A Klein
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
- Hematology/Oncology Section, Primary Care Service Line, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Khalil Ahmed
- Research Service, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
- Department of Urology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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4
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Firnau MB, Brieger A. CK2 and the Hallmarks of Cancer. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1987. [PMID: 36009534 PMCID: PMC9405757 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is commonly dysregulated in cancer, impacting diverse molecular pathways. CK2 is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase, constitutively active and ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotes. With over 500 known substrates and being estimated to be responsible for up to 10% of the human phosphoproteome, it is of significant importance. A broad spectrum of diverse types of cancer cells has been already shown to rely on disturbed CK2 levels for their survival. The hallmarks of cancer provide a rationale for understanding cancer's common traits. They constitute the maintenance of proliferative signaling, evasion of growth suppressors, resisting cell death, enabling of replicative immortality, induction of angiogenesis, the activation of invasion and metastasis, as well as avoidance of immune destruction and dysregulation of cellular energetics. In this work, we have compiled evidence from the literature suggesting that CK2 modulates all hallmarks of cancer, thereby promoting oncogenesis and operating as a cancer driver by creating a cellular environment favorable to neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angela Brieger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Biomedical Research Laboratory, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
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Kamaraju S, Fowler AM, Weil E, Wisinski KB, Truong TH, Lehr M, Chaudhary LN, Cheng YC, Chitambar CR, Rui H, Yee D, Lange C. Leveraging Antiprogestins in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6178343. [PMID: 33735382 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Although incurable, the prognosis for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) has considerably improved with the approvals of multiple targeted and cytotoxic therapies. For hormone receptor-positive (HR+), ie, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PgR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (ie, ERBB2 gene nonamplified or HER2-) MBC, current approved treatment options include palliative endocrine therapy (ET), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK 4/6) inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, and PI3 kinase inhibitors. Most treatments target ER+ disease regardless of PgR status. Although the presence of PgR is crucial for ER+ cell proliferation in both normal and malignant mammary tissue, currently, there are no approved treatments that specifically target PgR. Recent literature has demonstrated the potential of antiprogestins in the treatment of MBC both in preclinical and clinical studies. Antiprogestins, including selective PgR modulators (SPRMs) that act as PgR antagonists, are a promising class of therapeutics for overcoming endocrine resistance in patients who develop activating estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) gene mutations after prior endocrine therapy. Herein, we summarize the role of PgR and antiprogestins in the treatment of MBC. Other aspects on the use of functional imaging, clinical trials incorporating novel antiprogestins, and potential treatment combinations to overcome endocrine resistance will be briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sailaja Kamaraju
- Cancer Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Amy M Fowler
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology Medical College of Wisconsin, Cancer Center, 4th Fl Administrative Offices, Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Elizabeth Weil
- Froedtert Health, Cancer Center, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Kari B Wisinski
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology Medical College of Wisconsin, Cancer Center, 4th Fl Administrative Offices, Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Thu H Truong
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Martin Lehr
- Context Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lubna N Chaudhary
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology Medical College of Wisconsin, Cancer Center, 4th Fl Administrative Offices, Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Yee Chung Cheng
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53792, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology Medical College of Wisconsin, Cancer Center, 4th Fl Administrative Offices, Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | | | - Hallgeir Rui
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin , Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Douglas Yee
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Carol Lange
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Salsano S, González-Martín R, Quiñonero A, Pérez-Debén S, Domínguez F. Deciphering the Role of PGRMC1 During Human Decidualization Using an In Vitro Approach. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:2313-2327. [PMID: 33955452 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Non-classical membrane progesterone receptor (mPRs) and progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) expression have been detected in endometrium, but their role in decidualization had not yet been investigated. We previously demonstrated PGRMC1 downregulation in receptive endometrium and that its overexpression inhibits decidualization. Furthermore, during decidualization, PGRMC1 mainly interacts with proteins involved in biosynthesis, intracellular transport, and mitochondrial activity. OBJECTIVE To determine PGRMC1 and mPRs signaling role during decidualization. METHODS Isolated primary endometrial stromal cells (EnSC) were decidualized in vitro in the presence of classic stimuli (E2 + P4), PGRMC1 inhibitor (AG205), or membrane-impermeable P4 (P4-BSA). Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 19 fertile oocyte donors attending the IVI-Valencia in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic. EnSC decidualization was evaluated by prolactin ELISA and F-actin immunostaining. Progesterone receptor localization was evaluated by immunofluorescence. EnSC transcriptomic profiles were analyzed by microarray technology. RESULTS PGRMC1 inhibition during EnSC decidualization (AG205dEnSC) does not interfere with EnSC cytoskeletal rearrangements and prolactin secretion. However, global transcriptional profiling revealed more differentially expressed genes in AG205dEnSC than in dEnSC, compared with nondecidualized EnSC (ndEnSC). In silico analysis showed that PGRMC1 inhibition upregulated more genes related to metabolism, molecular transport, and hormonal biosynthesis compared with control dEnSC. EnSC decidualized in the presence of P4-BSA showed a similar behavior as ndEnSC in terms of morphological features, absence of prolactin secretion, and transcriptomic pattern. CONCLUSION Our findings associate PGRMC1 to hormonal biosynthesis, metabolism, and vesicular transport-important cellular functions for dEnSC supporting pregnancy. Activation of membrane P4 receptor signaling alone was unable to induce downstream effects needed for proper decidualization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Francisco Domínguez
- IVI Foundation-RMA Global, 46026, Valencia, Spain
- IIS La Fe, 46026, Valencia, Spain
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Saha S, Dey S, Nath S. Steroid Hormone Receptors: Links With Cell Cycle Machinery and Breast Cancer Progression. Front Oncol 2021; 11:620214. [PMID: 33777765 PMCID: PMC7994514 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Progression of cells through cell cycle consists of a series of events orchestrated in a regulated fashion. Such processes are influenced by cell cycle regulated expression of various proteins where multiple families of transcription factors take integral parts. Among these, the steroid hormone receptors (SHRs) represent a connection between the external hormone milieu and genes that control cellular proliferation. Therefore, understanding the molecular connection between the transcriptional role of steroid hormone receptors and cell cycle deserves importance in dissecting cellular proliferation in normal as well as malignant conditions. Deregulation of cell cycle promotes malignancies of various origins, including breast cancer. Indeed, SHR members play crucial role in breast cancer progression as well as management. This review focuses on SHR-driven cell cycle regulation and moving forward, attempts to discuss the role of SHR-driven crosstalk between cell cycle anomalies and breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suryendu Saha
- Department of Basic and Translational Research, Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Samya Dey
- Department of Basic and Translational Research, Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Somsubhra Nath
- Department of Basic and Translational Research, Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Kolkata, India
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8
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Hosseinirad H, Novin MG, Hosseini S, Nazarian H, Safaei Z, Hashemi T, Paktinat S, Mofarahe ZS. Evaluation of Expression and Phosphorylation of Progesterone Receptor in Endometrial Stromal Cells of Patients with Recurrent Implantation Failure Compared to Healthy Fertile Women. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:1457-1465. [PMID: 33449351 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00428-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is the repeated failure of good-quality embryos in implantation process following several assisted reproduction cycles. Disruption of the endometrial receptivity is one of the main causes of RIF. Progesterone plays a pivotal role in the endometrial receptivity through the regulation of gene expression pattern by binding to its receptors in the endometrial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression level of progesterone receptor (PR) and its phosphorylated form in the endometrial stromal cells (eSC) of RIF patients and compare it to the eSC of healthy fertile women as control group. After isolation of the eSC from biopsy samples of RIF patients and healthy fertile women and their characterization, expression levels of PR mRNA, PR protein, and phospho-Ser294 PR protein were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in PR mRNA expression (P < 0.01.) and phospho-Ser294 PR protein (P < 0.05) level in RIF patients compared to the control group. These data for the first time suggest that the expression of PR and its phosphorylated form are impaired in RIF patients. Therefore, designing therapeutic methods for improving PR expression status and its regulation in the endometrium of RIF patients may help in improving the final reproductive outcomes of these cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Hosseinirad
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marefat Ghaffari Novin
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sedighe Hosseini
- Preventative Gynecology Research Center (PGRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Nazarian
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Safaei
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Teibeh Hashemi
- Preventative Gynecology Research Center (PGRC), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrokh Paktinat
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Shams Mofarahe
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) mediates progesterone receptor-driven stemness and endocrine resistance in oestrogen receptor+ breast cancer. Br J Cancer 2021; 124:217-227. [PMID: 33144693 PMCID: PMC7782753 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-020-01094-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progesterone receptors (PR) are potent modifiers of endocrine responses. In aberrant signalling cancer contexts, phosphorylation events dramatically alter steroid hormone receptor action. METHODS The transcriptomes of primary tumours and metastases in mice harbouring ER+ breast cancer patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) were analysed following single-cell RNAseq. In vitro assays were employed to delineate mechanisms of endocrine resistance and stemness. RESULTS A 16-gene phospho-Ser294 PR (p-PR) signature predicted poor outcome in ER+ breast cancer. Relative to primary PDX tumours, metastatic lesions expressed abundant p-PR and exhibited an activated PR gene programme with elevated expression of PGR and IRS-1. Breast cancer models of activated PR lost the expression of IGF1R and acquired insulin hypersensitivity with tamoxifen insensitivity. Activated p-PR+ breast cancer cells formed increased tumourspheres with enlarged ALDH+ and CD24-/CD44 populations. E2 induced PR/IRS-1 interaction and exchange of IGF1Rβ for IRS-1 in p-PR-containing transcriptional complexes. Inhibition of IRS-1 or IR and inducible IRS-1 knockdown reduced tumourspheres. Endocrine-resistant models of luminal B breast cancer induced p-PR in 3D cultures and required PR and IRS-1 for tumoursphere formation. CONCLUSIONS Phospho-PR-B cooperates with IRS-1 to promote outgrowth of endocrine-resistant and stem-like breast cancer cells. Targeting phospho-PR/IRS-1 crosstalk may block the emergence of endocrine resistance.
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Dwyer AR, Truong TH, Ostrander JH, Lange CA. 90 YEARS OF PROGESTERONE: Steroid receptors as MAPK signaling sensors in breast cancer: let the fates decide. J Mol Endocrinol 2020; 65:T35-T48. [PMID: 32209723 PMCID: PMC7329584 DOI: 10.1530/jme-19-0274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Steroid hormone receptors (SRs) are classically defined as ligand-activated transcription factors that function as master regulators of gene programs important for a wide range of processes governing adult physiology, development, and cell or tissue homeostasis. A second function of SRs includes the ability to activate cytoplasmic signaling pathways. Estrogen (ER), androgen (AR), and progesterone (PR) receptors bind directly to membrane-associated signaling molecules including mitogenic protein kinases (i.e. c-SRC and AKT), G-proteins, and ion channels to mediate context-dependent actions via rapid activation of downstream signaling pathways. In addition to making direct contact with diverse signaling molecules, SRs are further fully integrated with signaling pathways by virtue of their N-terminal phosphorylation sites that act as regulatory hot-spots capable of sensing the signaling milieu. In particular, ER, AR, PR, and closely related glucocorticoid receptors (GR) share the property of accepting (i.e. sensing) ligand-independent phosphorylation events by proline-directed kinases in the MAPK and CDK families. These signaling inputs act as a 'second ligand' that dramatically impacts cell fate. In the face of drugs that reliably target SR ligand-binding domains to block uncontrolled cancer growth, ligand-independent post-translational modifications guide changes in cell fate that confer increased survival, EMT, migration/invasion, stemness properties, and therapy resistance of non-proliferating SR+ cancer cell subpopulations. The focus of this review is on MAPK pathways in the regulation of SR+ cancer cell fate. MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of PR (Ser294) and GR (Ser134) will primarily be discussed in light of the need to target changes in breast cancer cell fate as part of modernized combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R. Dwyer
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
| | - Thu H. Truong
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
| | - Julie H. Ostrander
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
- Department of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
| | - Carol A. Lange
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
- Department of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN 55455
- Corresponding author: Carol A Lange, Professor, ; 612-626-0621 (phone), University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Effect of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 on expression and phosphorylation of progesterone receptor in cultured endometrial stromal cells of patients with repeated implantation failure. Acta Histochem 2020; 122:151489. [PMID: 31879032 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2019.151489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Repeated implantation failure (RIF) occurs in a condition when good quality embryos fail to implant in the endometrium following several in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Suboptimal endometrial receptivity is one of the main underlying factors that causes this failure. Progesterone is the key regulator of endometrial receptivity which regulates gene expression through binding to its receptors in the endometrial stromal cells (eSC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1,25(OH)2-vitamin D3 on progesterone receptor (PR) expression level and its phosphorylation on Ser294 residues in eSC of RIF patients and healthy fertile women. After isolation of the eSC from biopsy samples of RIF patients and healthy fertile women and their characterization, the cells were incubated with vitamin D3 and the expression level of PR mRNA, PR protein and phospho-Ser294 PR protein were evaluated after treatment. The results showed that vitamin D3 treatment increases PR mRNA and protein level and phospho-Ser294 PR protein level in the isolated eSC of both RIF patients and the control group. These results suggest that vitamin D3 may possibly play a key role during the embryo implantation process by affecting the expression pattern and regulatory modifications of the PR in the eSC.
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12
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Cenciarini ME, Proietti CJ. Molecular mechanisms underlying progesterone receptor action in breast cancer: Insights into cell proliferation and stem cell regulation. Steroids 2019; 152:108503. [PMID: 31562879 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2019.108503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The ovarian steroid hormone progesterone and its nuclear receptor, the Progesterone Receptor (PR), play an essential role in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in the mammary gland. In addition, experimental and clinical evidence demonstrate their critical role in controlling mammary gland tumorigenesis and breast cancer development. When bound to its ligand, the main action of PR is as a transcription factor, which regulates the expression of target genes networks. PR also activates signal transduction pathways through a rapid or non-genomic mechanism in breast cancer cells, an event that is fully integrated with its genomic effects. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms of the ligand-activated PR actions that drive epithelial cell proliferation and the regulation of the stem cell population in the normal breast and in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro E Cenciarini
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Cecilia J Proietti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina.
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13
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Goodman ML, Trinca GM, Walter KR, Papachristou EK, D'Santos CS, Li T, Liu Q, Lai Z, Chalise P, Madan R, Fan F, Markiewicz MA, Jin VX, Carroll JS, Hagan CR. Progesterone Receptor Attenuates STAT1-Mediated IFN Signaling in Breast Cancer. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2019; 202:3076-3086. [PMID: 30936295 PMCID: PMC6504603 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Why some tumors remain indolent and others progress to clinical relevance remains a major unanswered question in cancer biology. IFN signaling in nascent tumors, mediated by STAT1, is a critical step through which the surveilling immune system can recognize and destroy developing tumors. In this study, we have identified an interaction between the progesterone receptor (PR) and STAT1 in breast cancer cells. This interaction inhibited efficient IFN-induced STAT1 phosphorylation, as we observed a decrease in phospho-STAT1 in response to IFN treatment in PR-positive breast cancer cell lines. This phenotype was further potentiated in the presence of PR ligand. In human breast cancer samples, PR-positive tumors exhibited lower levels of phospho-STAT1 as compared with their PR-negative counterparts, indicating that this phenotype translates to human tumors. Breast cancer cells lacking PR exhibited higher levels of IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) RNA, the transcriptional end point of IFN activation, indicating that unliganded PR alone could decrease transcription of ISGs. Moreover, the absence of PR led to increased recruitment of STAT1, STAT2, and IRF9 (key transcription factors necessary for ISG transcription) to ISG promoters. These data indicate that PR, both in the presence and absence of ligand, attenuates IFN-induced STAT1 signaling, culminating in significantly abrogated activation of genes transcribed in response to IFNs. PR-positive tumors may use downregulation of STAT1-mediated IFN signaling to escape immune surveillance, leading to the development of clinically relevant tumors. Selective immune evasion of PR-positive tumors may be one explanation as to why over 65% of breast cancers are PR positive at the time of diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merit L Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
| | - Gloria M Trinca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
| | - Katherine R Walter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
| | - Evangelia K Papachristou
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Clive S D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Tianbao Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Zhao Lai
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Prabhakar Chalise
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
| | - Rashna Madan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160; and
| | - Fang Fan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160; and
| | - Mary A Markiewicz
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
| | - Victor X Jin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229
| | - Jason S Carroll
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160;
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
- University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160
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14
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Truong TH, Dwyer AR, Diep CH, Hu H, Hagen KM, Lange CA. Phosphorylated Progesterone Receptor Isoforms Mediate Opposing Stem Cell and Proliferative Breast Cancer Cell Fates. Endocrinology 2019; 160:430-446. [PMID: 30597041 PMCID: PMC6349004 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone receptors (PRs) are key modifiers of estrogen receptor (ER) target genes and drivers of luminal breast cancer progression. Total PR expression, rather than isoform-specific PR expression, is measured in breast tumors as an indicator of functional ER. We identified phenotypic differences between PR-A and PR-B in luminal breast cancer models with a focus on tumorsphere biology. Our findings indicated that PR-A is a dominant driver of cancer stem cell (CSC) expansion in T47D models, and PR-B is a potent driver of anchorage-independent proliferation. PR-A+ tumorspheres were enriched for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, CD44+/CD24-, and CD49f+/CD24- cell populations relative to PR-B+ tumorspheres. Progestin promoted heightened expression of known CSC-associated target genes in PR-A+ but not PR-B+ cells cultured as tumorspheres. We report robust phosphorylation of PR-A relative to PR-B Ser294 and found that this residue is required for PR-A-induced expression of CSC-associated genes and CSC behavior. Cells expressing PR-A S294A exhibited impaired CSC phenotypes but heightened anchorage-independent cell proliferation. The PR target gene and coactivator, FOXO1, promoted PR phosphorylation and tumorsphere formation. The FOXO1 inhibitor (AS1842856) alone or combined with onapristone (PR antagonist), blunted phosphorylated PR, and tumorsphere formation in PR-A+ and PR-B+ T47D, MCF7, and BT474 models. Our data revealed unique isoform-specific functions of phosphorylated PRs as modulators of distinct and opposing pathways relevant to mechanisms of late recurrence. A clear understanding of PR isoforms, phosphorylation events, and the role of cofactors could lead to novel biomarkers of advanced tumor behavior and reveal new approaches to pharmacologically target CSCs in luminal breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thu H Truong
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Amy R Dwyer
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Caroline H Diep
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Hsiangyu Hu
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Kyla M Hagen
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Carol A Lange
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Correspondence: Carol A. Lange, PhD, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th Street Southeast, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455. E-mail:
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15
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Escher TE, Lui AJ, Geanes ES, Walter KR, Tawfik O, Hagan CR, Lewis-Wambi J. Interaction Between MUC1 and STAT1 Drives IFITM1 Overexpression in Aromatase Inhibitor-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells and Mediates Estrogen-Induced Apoptosis. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1180-1194. [PMID: 30655323 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-18-0916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The human oncoprotein, mucin 1 (MUC1), drives tumorigenesis in breast carcinomas by promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), epigenetic reprogramming, and evasion of immune response. MUC1 interacts with STAT1, through JAK/STAT signaling, and stimulates transcription of IFN-stimulated genes, specifically IFN-induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1). Our laboratory has previously shown that IFITM1 overexpression in aromatase inhibitor (AI)-resistant breast cancer cells promotes aggressiveness. Here, we demonstrate that differential regulation of MUC1 in AI-sensitive (MCF-7 and T-47D) compared with AI-resistant (MCF-7:5C) cells is critical in mediating IFITM1 expression. A tumor microarray of 94 estrogen receptor-positive human breast tumors correlated coexpression of MUC1 and IFITM1 with poor recurrence-free survival, poor overall survival, and AI-resistance. In this study, we investigated the effects of MUC1/IFITM1 on cell survival and proliferation. We knocked down MUC1 levels with siRNA and pharmacologic inhibitors, which abrogated IFITM1 mRNA and protein expression and induced cell death in AI-resistant cells. In vivo, estrogen and ruxolitinib significantly reduced tumor size and decreased expression of MUC1, P-STAT1, and IFITM1. IMPLICATIONS: MUC1 and IFITM1 overexpression drives AI resistance and can be targeted with currently available therapies.Visual Overview: http://mcr.aacrjournals.org/content/molcanres/17/5/1180/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor E Escher
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Asona J Lui
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Department of Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Eric S Geanes
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Katherine R Walter
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Ossama Tawfik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Joan Lewis-Wambi
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.
- Department of Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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16
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Boonyaratanakornkit V, Hamilton N, Márquez-Garbán DC, Pateetin P, McGowan EM, Pietras RJ. Extranuclear signaling by sex steroid receptors and clinical implications in breast cancer. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 466:51-72. [PMID: 29146555 PMCID: PMC5878997 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen and progesterone play essential roles in the development and progression of breast cancer. Over 70% of breast cancers express estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR), emphasizing the need for better understanding of ER and PR signaling. ER and PR are traditionally viewed as transcription factors that directly bind DNA to regulate gene networks. In addition to nuclear signaling, ER and PR mediate hormone-induced, rapid extranuclear signaling at the cell membrane or in the cytoplasm which triggers downstream signaling to regulate rapid or extended cellular responses. Specialized membrane and cytoplasmic proteins may also initiate hormone-induced extranuclear signaling. Rapid extranuclear signaling converges with its nuclear counterpart to amplify ER/PR transcription and specify gene regulatory networks. This review summarizes current understanding and updates on ER and PR extranuclear signaling. Further investigation of ER/PR extranuclear signaling may lead to development of novel targeted therapeutics for breast cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viroj Boonyaratanakornkit
- Department of Clinical Chemistry Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Age-related Inflammation and Degeneration Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Nalo Hamilton
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Diana C Márquez-Garbán
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Prangwan Pateetin
- Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Eileen M McGowan
- Chronic Disease Solutions Team, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, 2007, Sydney, Australia
| | - Richard J Pietras
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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17
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Proietti CJ, Cenciarini ME, Elizalde PV. Revisiting progesterone receptor (PR) actions in breast cancer: Insights into PR repressive functions. Steroids 2018; 133:75-81. [PMID: 29317254 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 12/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone receptor (PR) is a master regulator in female reproductive tissues that controls developmental processes and proliferation and differentiation during the reproductive cycle and pregnancy. PR also plays a role in progression of endocrine-dependent breast cancer. As a member of the nuclear receptor family of ligand-dependent transcription factors, the main action of PR is to regulate networks of target gene expression in response to binding its cognate steroid hormone, progesterone. Liganded-PR transcriptional activation has been thoroughly studied and associated mechanisms have been described while progesterone-mediated repression has remained less explored. The present work summarizes recent advances in the understanding of how PR-mediated repression is accomplished in breast cancer cells and highlights the significance of fully understanding the determinants of context-dependent PR action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia J Proietti
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina.
| | - Mauro E Cenciarini
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Patricia V Elizalde
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
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18
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Leehy KA, Truong TH, Mauro LJ, Lange CA. Progesterone receptors (PR) mediate STAT actions: PR and prolactin receptor signaling crosstalk in breast cancer models. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 176:88-93. [PMID: 28442393 PMCID: PMC5653461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Estrogen is the major mitogenic stimulus of mammary gland development during puberty wherein ER signaling acts to induce abundant PR expression. PR signaling, in contrast, is the primary driver of mammary epithelial cell proliferation in adulthood. The high circulating levels of progesterone during pregnancy signal through PR, inducing expression of the prolactin receptor (PRLR). Cooperation between PR and prolactin (PRL) signaling, via regulation of downstream components in the PRL signaling pathway including JAKs and STATs, facilitates the alveolar morphogenesis observed during pregnancy. Indeed, these pathways are fully integrated via activation of shared signaling pathways (i.e. JAKs, MAPKs) as well as by the convergence of PRs and STATs at target genes relevant to both mammary gland biology and breast cancer progression (i.e. proliferation, stem cell outgrowth, tissue cell type heterogeneity). Thus, rather than a single mediator such as ER, transcription factor cascades (ER>PR>STATs) are responsible for rapid proliferative and developmental programming in the normal mammary gland. It is not surprising that these same mediators typify uncontrolled proliferation in a majority of breast cancers, where ER and PR are most often co-expressed and may cooperate to drive malignant tumor progression. This review will primarily focus on the integration of PR and PRL signaling in breast cancer models and the importance of this cross-talk in cancer progression in the context of mammographic density. Components of these PR/PRL signaling pathways could offer alternative drug targets and logical complements to anti-ER or anti-estrogen-based endocrine therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Leehy
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Thu H Truong
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Laura J Mauro
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
| | - Carol A Lange
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States.
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19
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Li Q, Li K, Yang T, Zhang S, Zhou Y, Li Z, Xiong J, Zhou F, Zhou X, Liu L, Meng R, Wu G. Association of protein kinase CK2 inhibition with cellular radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16134. [PMID: 29170453 PMCID: PMC5700935 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16012-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein kinase CK2 is a highly conserved protein Ser/Thr protein kinase and plays important roles in cell proliferation, protein translation and cell survival. This study investigated the possibility of using CK2 inhibition as a new approach for increasing the efficacy of radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its underlying mechanisms. Kinase inhibition of CK2 was attempted either by using the specific CK2 inhibitor, Quinalizarin or by applying siRNA interference technology to silence the expression of the catalytic subunit of CK2 in A549 and H460 cells. The results showed that CK2α knockdown or Quinalizarin significantly enhanced the radiosensitivity of various NSCLC cells. The notable findings we observed after exposure to both CK2 inhibition and ionizing radiation (IR) were a prolonged delay in radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) repair, robust G2/M checkpoint arrest and increased apoptosis. In vivo studies further demonstrated that compared with each treatment alone, CK2 inhibition combined with IR reduced tumor growth in the H460 cell xenograft model. In conclusion, CK2 is a promising target for the enhancement of radiosensitivity in NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwen Li
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Ke Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Tianyang Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jinrong Xiong
- Oncology Department, The Chinese People's Liberation Army 457 Hospital, Wuhan, 430012, China
| | - Fangzheng Zhou
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaoshu Zhou
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Li Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Rui Meng
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Gang Wu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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20
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Ruhs S, Strätz N, Quarch K, Masch A, Schutkowski M, Gekle M, Grossmann C. Modulation of transcriptional mineralocorticoid receptor activity by casein kinase 2. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15340. [PMID: 29127314 PMCID: PMC5681688 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases is a multifunctional process in which the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor, is involved as proven by numerous clinical studies. The development of pathophysiological MR actions depends on the existence of additional factors e.g. inflammatory cytokines and seems to involve posttranslational MR modifications e.g. phosphorylation. Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is a ubiquitously expressed multifunctional serine/threonine kinase that can be activated under inflammatory conditions as the MR. Sequence analysis and inhibitor experiments revealed that CK2 acts as a positive modulator of MR activity by facilitating MR-DNA interaction with subsequent rapid MR degradation. Peptide microarrays and site-directed mutagenesis experiments identified the highly conserved S459 as a functionally relevant CK2 phosphorylation site of the MR. Moreover, MR-CK2 protein-protein interaction mediated by HSP90 was shown by co-immunoprecipitation. During inflammation, cytokine stimulation led to a CK2-dependent increased expression of proinflammatory genes. The additional MR activation by aldosterone during cytokine stimulation augmented CK2-dependent NFκB signaling which enhanced the expression of proinflammatory genes further. Overall, in an inflammatory environment the bidirectional CK2-MR interaction aggravate the existing pathophysiological cellular situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Ruhs
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06112, Germany.
| | - Nicole Strätz
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06112, Germany
| | - Katja Quarch
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06112, Germany
| | - Antonia Masch
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Division of Enzymology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06110, Germany
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Institute of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Division of Enzymology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06110, Germany
| | - Michael Gekle
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06112, Germany
| | - Claudia Grossmann
- Julius Bernstein Institute of Physiology, University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, 06112, Germany
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21
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Trinca GM, Goodman ML, Papachristou EK, D'Santos CS, Chalise P, Madan R, Slawson C, Hagan CR. O-GlcNAc-Dependent Regulation of Progesterone Receptor Function in Breast Cancer. Discov Oncol 2017; 9:12-21. [PMID: 28929346 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-017-0310-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging clinical trial data implicate progestins in the development of breast cancer. While the role for the progesterone receptor (PR) in this process remains controversial, it is clear that PR, a steroid-activated nuclear receptor, alters the transcriptional landscape of breast cancer. PR interacts with many different types of proteins, including transcriptional co-activators and co-repressors, transcription factors, nuclear receptors, and proteins that post-translationally modify PR (i.e., kinases and phosphatases). Herein, we identify a novel interaction between PR and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), the enzyme that catalyzes the addition of a single N-acetylglucosamine sugar, referred to as O-GlcNAc, to acceptor serines and threonines in target proteins. This interaction between PR and OGT leads to the post-translational modification of PR by O-GlcNAc. Moreover, we show that O-GlcNAcylated PR is more transcriptionally active on PR-target genes, despite the observation that PR messenger RNA and protein levels are decreased when O-GlcNAc levels are high. O-GlcNAcylation in breast cancer is clinically relevant, as we show that O-GlcNAc levels are higher in breast cancer as compared to matched normal tissues, and PR-positive breast cancers have higher levels of OGT. These data predict that under conditions where O-GlcNAc levels are high (breast cancer), PR, through an interaction with the modifying enzyme OGT, will exhibit increased O-GlcNAcylation and potentiated transcriptional activity. Therapeutic strategies aimed at altering cellular O-GlcNAc levels may have profound effects on PR transcriptional activity in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria M Trinca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS3030, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Merit L Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS3030, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | | | - Clive S D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Prabhakar Chalise
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Rashna Madan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pathology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Chad Slawson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS3030, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, MS3030, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA. .,Department of Cancer Biology, and University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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22
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Walter KR, Goodman ML, Singhal H, Hall JA, Li T, Holloran SM, Trinca GM, Gibson KA, Jin VX, Greene GL, Hagan CR. Interferon-Stimulated Genes Are Transcriptionally Repressed by PR in Breast Cancer. Mol Cancer Res 2017; 15:1331-1340. [PMID: 28684637 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-17-0180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The progesterone receptor (PR) regulates transcriptional programs that drive proliferation, survival, and stem cell phenotypes. Although the role of native progesterone in the development of breast cancer remains controversial, PR clearly alters the transcriptome in breast tumors. This study identifies a class of genes, Interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs), potently downregulated by ligand-activated PR which have not been previously shown to be regulated by PR. Progestin-dependent transcriptional repression of ISGs was observed in breast cancer cell line models and human breast tumors. Ligand-independent regulation of ISGs was also observed, as basal transcript levels were markedly higher in cells with PR knockdown. PR repressed ISG transcription in response to IFN treatment, the canonical mechanism through which these genes are activated. Liganded PR is robustly recruited to enhancer regions of ISGs, and ISG transcriptional repression is dependent upon PR's ability to bind DNA. In response to PR activation, key regulatory transcription factors that are required for IFN-activated ISG transcription, STAT2 and IRF9, exhibit impaired recruitment to ISG promoter regions, correlating with PR/ligand-dependent ISG transcriptional repression. IFN activation is a critical early step in nascent tumor recognition and destruction through immunosurveillance. As the large majority of breast tumors are PR positive at the time of diagnosis, PR-dependent downregulation of IFN signaling may be a mechanism through which early PR-positive breast tumors evade the immune system and develop into clinically relevant tumors.Implications: This study highlights a novel transcriptional mechanism through which PR drives breast cancer development and potentially evades the immune system. Mol Cancer Res; 15(10); 1331-40. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Walter
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Merit L Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Hari Singhal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jade A Hall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Tianbao Li
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSA), San Antonio, Texas
| | - Sean M Holloran
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Gloria M Trinca
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Katelin A Gibson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Victor X Jin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio (UTHSA), San Antonio, Texas
| | - Geoffrey L Greene
- The Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Christy R Hagan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. .,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas.,University of Kansas Cancer Center, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
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Knutson TP, Truong TH, Ma S, Brady NJ, Sullivan ME, Raj G, Schwertfeger KL, Lange CA. Posttranslationally modified progesterone receptors direct ligand-specific expression of breast cancer stem cell-associated gene programs. J Hematol Oncol 2017; 10:89. [PMID: 28412963 PMCID: PMC5392969 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-017-0462-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Estrogen and progesterone are potent breast mitogens. In addition to steroid hormones, multiple signaling pathways input to estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) actions via posttranslational events. Protein kinases commonly activated in breast cancers phosphorylate steroid hormone receptors (SRs) and profoundly impact their activities. Methods To better understand the role of modified PRs in breast cancer, we measured total and phospho-Ser294 PRs in 209 human breast tumors represented on 2754 individual tissue spots within a tissue microarray and assayed the regulation of this site in human tumor explants cultured ex vivo. To complement this analysis, we assayed PR target gene regulation in T47D luminal breast cancer models following treatment with progestin (promegestone; R5020) and antiprogestins (mifepristone, onapristone, or aglepristone) in conditions under which the receptor is regulated by Lys388 SUMOylation (K388 intact) or is SUMO-deficient (via K388R mutation to mimic persistent Ser294 phosphorylation). Selected phospho-PR-driven target genes were validated by qRT-PCR and following RUNX2 shRNA knockdown in breast cancer cell lines. Primary and secondary mammosphere assays were performed to implicate phospho-Ser294 PRs, epidermal growth factor signaling, and RUNX2 in breast cancer stem cell biology. Results Phospho-Ser294 PR species were abundant in a majority (54%) of luminal breast tumors, and PR promoter selectivity was exquisitely sensitive to posttranslational modifications. Phospho-PR expression and target gene programs were significantly associated with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Consistent with our finding that activated phospho-PRs undergo rapid ligand-dependent turnover, unique phospho-PR gene signatures were most prevalent in breast tumors clinically designated as PR-low to PR-null (luminal B) and included gene sets associated with cancer stem cell biology (HER2, PAX2, AHR, AR, RUNX). Validation studies demonstrated a requirement for RUNX2 in the regulation of selected phospho-PR target genes (SLC37A2). In vitro mammosphere formation assays support a role for phospho-Ser294-PRs via growth factor (EGF) signaling as well as RUNX2 as potent drivers of breast cancer stem cell fate. Conclusions We conclude that PR Ser294 phosphorylation is a common event in breast cancer progression that is required to maintain breast cancer stem cell fate, in part via cooperation with growth factor-initiated signaling pathways and key phospho-PR target genes including SLC37A2 and RUNX2. Clinical measurement of phosphorylated PRs should be considered a useful marker of breast tumor stem cell potential. Alternatively, unique phospho-PR target gene sets may provide useful tools with which to identify patients likely to respond to selective PR modulators that block PR Ser294 phosphorylation as part of rational combination (i.e., with antiestrogens) endocrine therapies designed to durably block breast cancer recurrence. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-017-0462-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd P Knutson
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation) and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Thu H Truong
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation) and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Shihong Ma
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, J8.130C, Dallas, TX, 75390-9110, USA
| | - Nicholas J Brady
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Megan E Sullivan
- Department of Pathology, Evanston Hospital, University of Chicago, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Evanston, IL, 60201, USA
| | - Ganesh Raj
- Department of Urology, UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, J8.130C, Dallas, TX, 75390-9110, USA
| | - Kathryn L Schwertfeger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Carol A Lange
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation) and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer and Cardiovascular Research Building, 2231 6th St SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
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24
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Lui AJ, Geanes ES, Ogony J, Behbod F, Marquess J, Valdez K, Jewell W, Tawfik O, Lewis-Wambi J. IFITM1 suppression blocks proliferation and invasion of aromatase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer in vivo by JAK/STAT-mediated induction of p21. Cancer Lett 2017; 399:29-43. [PMID: 28411130 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Interferon induced transmembrane protein 1 (IFITM1) belongs to a family of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) that is associated with tumor progression and DNA damage resistance; however, its role in endocrine resistance is not known. Here, we correlate IFITM1 expression with clinical stage and poor response to endocrine therapy in a tissue microarray consisting of 94 estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors. IFITM1 overexpression is confirmed in the AI-resistant MCF-7:5C cell line and not found in AI-sensitive MCF-7 cells. In this study, the orthotopic (mammary fat pad) and mouse mammary intraductal (MIND) models of breast cancer are used to assess tumor growth and invasion in vivo. Lentivirus-mediated shRNA knockdown of IFITM1 in AI-resistant MCF-7:5C cells diminished tumor growth and invasion and induced cell death, whereas overexpression of IFITM1 in wild-type MCF-7 cells promoted estrogen-independent growth and enhanced their aggressive phenotype. Mechanistic studies indicated that loss of IFITM1 in MCF-7:5C cells markedly increased p21 transcription, expression and nuclear localization which was mediated by JAK/STAT activation. These findings suggest IFITM1 overexpression contributes to breast cancer progression and that targeting IFITM1 may be therapeutically beneficial to patients with endocrine-resistant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asona J Lui
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Eric S Geanes
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Joshua Ogony
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Fariba Behbod
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Jordan Marquess
- University of Kansas Medical Center School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Kelli Valdez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - William Jewell
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - Ossama Tawfik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA.
| | - Joan Lewis-Wambi
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA; The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
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25
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Chua MMJ, Ortega CE, Sheikh A, Lee M, Abdul-Rassoul H, Hartshorn KL, Dominguez I. CK2 in Cancer: Cellular and Biochemical Mechanisms and Potential Therapeutic Target. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2017; 10:E18. [PMID: 28134850 PMCID: PMC5374422 DOI: 10.3390/ph10010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
CK2 genes are overexpressed in many human cancers, and most often overexpression is associated with worse prognosis. Site-specific expression in mice leads to cancer development (e.g., breast, lymphoma) indicating the oncogenic nature of CK2. CK2 is involved in many key aspects of cancer including inhibition of apoptosis, modulation of signaling pathways, DNA damage response, and cell cycle regulation. A number of CK2 inhibitors are now available and have been shown to have activity against various cancers in vitro and in pre-clinical models. Some of these inhibitors are now undergoing exploration in clinical trials as well. In this review, we will examine some of the major cancers in which CK2 inhibition has promise based on in vitro and pre-clinical studies, the proposed cellular and signaling mechanisms of anti-cancer activity by CK2 inhibitors, and the current or recent clinical trials using CK2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M J Chua
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Charina E Ortega
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Ayesha Sheikh
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Migi Lee
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Hussein Abdul-Rassoul
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Kevan L Hartshorn
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
| | - Isabel Dominguez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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26
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Leehy KA, Regan Anderson TM, Daniel AR, Lange CA, Ostrander JH. Modifications to glucocorticoid and progesterone receptors alter cell fate in breast cancer. J Mol Endocrinol 2016; 56:R99-R114. [PMID: 26831511 PMCID: PMC7256961 DOI: 10.1530/jme-15-0322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Steroid hormone receptors (SRs) are heavily posttranslationally modified by the reversible addition of a variety of molecular moieties, including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, SUMOylation, and ubiquitination. These rapid and dynamic modifications may be combinatorial and interact (i.e. may be sequential, complement, or oppose each other), creating a vast array of uniquely modified receptor subspecies that allow for diverse receptor behaviors that enable highly sensitive and context-dependent hormone action. For example, in response to hormone or growth factor membrane-initiated signaling events, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) to SRs alter protein-protein interactions that govern the complex process of promoter or gene-set selection coupled to transcriptional repression or activation. Unique phosphorylation events allow SRs to associate or disassociate with specific cofactors that may include pioneer factors and other tethering partners, which specify the resulting transcriptome and ultimately change cell fate. The impact of PTMs on SR action is particularly profound in the context of breast tumorigenesis, in which frequent alterations in growth factor-initiated signaling pathways occur early and act as drivers of breast cancer progression toward endocrine resistance. In this article, with primary focus on breast cancer relevance, we review the mechanisms by which PTMs, including reversible phosphorylation events, regulate the closely related SRs, glucocorticoid receptor and progesterone receptor, allowing for precise biological responses to ever-changing hormonal stimuli.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Breast Neoplasms/genetics
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/mortality
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Prognosis
- Protein Isoforms
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Receptors, Estrogen/metabolism
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/chemistry
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/genetics
- Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
- Receptors, Progesterone/chemistry
- Receptors, Progesterone/genetics
- Receptors, Progesterone/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Stress, Physiological
- Structure-Activity Relationship
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Leehy
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology University of Minnesota Twin Cities MinneapolisMinnesota, USA
| | - Tarah M Regan Anderson
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology University of Minnesota Twin Cities MinneapolisMinnesota, USA
| | - Andrea R Daniel
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology University of Minnesota Twin Cities MinneapolisMinnesota, USA
| | - Carol A Lange
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology University of Minnesota Twin Cities MinneapolisMinnesota, USA
| | - Julie H Ostrander
- Department of Medicine and Pharmacology University of Minnesota Twin Cities MinneapolisMinnesota, USA
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PAN XIAOFEN, MENG RUI, YU ZHONGHUA, MOU JINGJING, LIU SHA, SUN ZIYI, ZOU ZHENWEI, WU GANG, PENG GANG. Quinalizarin enhances radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells partially by suppressing SHP-1 expression. Int J Oncol 2016; 48:1073-84. [DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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28
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Zheng Y, Murphy LC. Regulation of steroid hormone receptors and coregulators during the cell cycle highlights potential novel function in addition to roles as transcription factors. NUCLEAR RECEPTOR SIGNALING 2016; 14:e001. [PMID: 26778927 PMCID: PMC4714463 DOI: 10.1621/nrs.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Cell cycle progression is tightly controlled by several kinase families including Cyclin-Dependent Kinases, Polo-Like Kinases, and Aurora Kinases. A large amount of data show that steroid hormone receptors and various components of the cell cycle, including cell cycle regulated kinases, interact, and this often results in altered transcriptional activity of the receptor. Furthermore, steroid hormones, through their receptors, can also regulate the transcriptional expression of genes that are required for cell cycle regulation. However, emerging data suggest that steroid hormone receptors may have roles in cell cycle progression independent of their transcriptional activity. The following is a review of how steroid receptors and their coregulators can regulate or be regulated by the cell cycle machinery, with a particular focus on roles independent of transcription in G2/M.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingfeng Zheng
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics (YZ, LCM), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (YZ, LCM), CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Leigh C Murphy
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics (YZ, LCM), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology (YZ, LCM), CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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29
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Treviño LS, Bolt MJ, Grimm SL, Edwards DP, Mancini MA, Weigel NL. Differential Regulation of Progesterone Receptor-Mediated Transcription by CDK2 and DNA-PK. Mol Endocrinol 2015; 30:158-72. [PMID: 26652902 DOI: 10.1210/me.2015-1144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone receptor (PR) function is altered by cell signaling, but the mechanisms of kinase-specific regulation are not well defined. To examine the role of cell signaling in the regulation of PR transcriptional activity, we have utilized a previously developed mammalian-based estrogen-response element promoter array cell model and automated cell imaging and analysis platform to visualize and quantify effects of specific kinases on different mechanistic steps of PR-mediated target gene activation. For these studies, we generated stable estrogen-response element array cell lines expressing inducible chimeric PR that contains a swap of the estrogen receptor-α DNA-binding domain for the DNA-binding domain of PR. We have focused on 2 kinases important for steroid receptor activity: cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and DNA-dependent protein kinase. Treatment with either a Cdk1/2 inhibitor (NU6102) or a DNA-dependent protein kinase inhibitor (NU7441) decreased hormone-mediated chromatin decondensation and transcriptional activity. Further, we observed a quantitative reduction in the hormone-mediated recruitment of select coregulator proteins with NU6102 that is not observed with NU7441. In parallel, we determined the effect of kinase inhibition on hormone-mediated induction of primary and mature transcripts of endogenous genes in T47D breast cancer cells. Treatment with NU6102 was much more effective than NU7441, in inhibiting induction of PR target genes that exhibit a rapid increase in primary transcript expression in response to hormone. Taken together, these results indicate that the 2 kinases regulate PR transcriptional activity by distinct mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey S Treviño
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Michael J Bolt
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Sandra L Grimm
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Dean P Edwards
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Michael A Mancini
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Nancy L Weigel
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (L.S.T., M.J.B., S.L.G., D.P.E., M.A.M., N.L.W.) and Pathology and Immunology (S.L.G., D.P.E.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
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30
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Diep CH, Knutson TP, Lange CA. Active FOXO1 Is a Key Determinant of Isoform-Specific Progesterone Receptor Transactivation and Senescence Programming. Mol Cancer Res 2015; 14:141-62. [PMID: 26577046 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-15-0431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Progesterone promotes differentiation coupled to proliferation and prosurvival in the breast, but inhibits estrogen-driven growth in the reproductive tract and ovaries. Herein, it is demonstrated, using progesterone receptor (PR) isoform-specific ovarian cancer model systems, that PR-A and PR-B promote distinct gene expression profiles that differ from PR-driven genes in breast cancer cells. In ovarian cancer models, PR-A primarily regulates genes independently of progestin, while PR-B is the dominant ligand-dependent isoform. Notably, FOXO1 and the PR/FOXO1 target gene p21 (CDKN1A) are repressed by PR-A, but induced by PR-B. In the presence of progestin, PR-B, but not PR-A, robustly induced cellular senescence via FOXO1-dependent induction of p21 and p15 (CDKN2B). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays performed on PR isoform-specific cells demonstrated that while each isoform is recruited to the same PRE-containing region of the p21 promoter in response to progestin, only PR-B elicits active chromatin marks. Overexpression of constitutively active FOXO1 in PR-A-expressing cells conferred robust ligand-dependent upregulation of the PR-B target genes GZMA, IGFBP1, and p21, and induced cellular senescence. In the presence of endogenous active FOXO1, PR-A was phosphorylated on Ser294 and transactivated PR-B at PR-B target genes; these events were blocked by the FOXO1 inhibitor (AS1842856). PR isoform-specific regulation of the FOXO1/p21 axis recapitulated in human primary ovarian tumor explants treated with progestin; loss of progestin sensitivity correlated with high AKT activity. IMPLICATIONS This study indicates FOXO1 as a critical component for progesterone signaling to promote cellular senescence and reveals a novel mechanism for transcription factor control of hormone sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline H Diep
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Todd P Knutson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Carol A Lange
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Department of Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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31
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Bonneterre J, Hutt E, Bosq J, Graham JD, Powell MA, Leblanc E, Fujiwara K, Herzog TJ, Coleman RL, Clarke CL, Gilles EM, Zukiwski AA, Monk BJ. Development of a technique to detect the activated form of the progesterone receptor and correlation with clinical and histopathological characteristics of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus. Gynecol Oncol 2015; 138:663-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2015.06.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Hilton HN, Graham JD, Clarke CL. Minireview: Progesterone Regulation of Proliferation in the Normal Human Breast and in Breast Cancer: A Tale of Two Scenarios? Mol Endocrinol 2015; 29:1230-42. [PMID: 26266959 DOI: 10.1210/me.2015-1152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone (P), which signals through the P receptor (PR), is critical in normal development of the breast, but its signaling axis is also a major driver of breast cancer risk. Here we review recent advances in the understanding of P signaling in the normal human breast, with a focus on the importance of the balance between autocrine and paracrine signaling. To date, most data (which derive largely from mouse models or human breast cancer cell line studies) have demonstrated that the vast majority of PR+ cells appear to act as "sensor" cells, which respond to P stimulation by translating these hormonal cues into paracrine signals. However, growing evidence suggests that, dependent on the cellular context, P may also signal in an autocrine manner in a subset of cells in the normal mouse mammary gland and human breast. It has been suggested that it may be dysregulation of this autocrine signaling, resulting in a "switch" from a predominance of paracrine signaling to autocrine signaling in PR+ cells, which is an early event during breast tumorigenesis. This review summarizes current evidence in the literature that demonstrates the mechanisms through which P acts in the normal human breast, as well as highlighting the important questions that remain unanswered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi N Hilton
- Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia
| | - J Dinny Graham
- Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia
| | - Christine L Clarke
- Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145, Australia
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Abstract
Progesterone and progesterone receptors (PRs) are essential for the development and cyclical regulation of hormone-responsive tissues including the breast and reproductive tract. Altered functions of PR isoforms contribute to the pathogenesis of tumors that arise in these tissues. In the breast, progesterone acts in concert with estrogen to promote proliferative and pro-survival gene programs. In sharp contrast, progesterone inhibits estrogen-driven growth in the uterus and protects the ovary from neoplastic transformation. Progesterone-dependent actions and associated biology in diverse tissues and tumors are mediated by two PR isoforms, PR-A and PR-B. These isoforms are subject to altered transcriptional activity or expression levels, differential crosstalk with growth factor signaling pathways, and distinct post-translational modifications and cofactor-binding partners. Herein, we summarize and discuss the recent literature focused on progesterone and PR isoform-specific actions in breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers. Understanding the complexity of context-dependent PR actions in these tissues is critical to developing new models that will allow us to advance our knowledge base with the goal of revealing novel and efficacious therapeutic regimens for these hormone-responsive diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline H Diep
- HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA
| | - Andrea R Daniel
- HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA
| | - Laura J Mauro
- HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA
| | - Todd P Knutson
- HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA
| | - Carol A Lange
- HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA HematologyOncology, and Transplantation DivisionDepartments of MedicinePharmacologyMasonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Delivery Code 2812, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USADivision of Physiology and GrowthDepartment of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55108, USA
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Patel B, Elguero S, Thakore S, Dahoud W, Bedaiwy M, Mesiano S. Role of nuclear progesterone receptor isoforms in uterine pathophysiology. Hum Reprod Update 2014; 21:155-73. [PMID: 25406186 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmu056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Progesterone is a key hormonal regulator of the female reproductive system. It plays a major role to prepare the uterus for implantation and in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. Actions of progesterone on the uterine tissues (endometrium, myometrium and cervix) are mediated by the combined effects of two progesterone receptor (PR) isoforms, designated PR-A and PR-B. Both receptors function primarily as ligand-activated transcription factors. Progesterone action on the uterine tissues is qualitatively and quantitatively determined by the relative levels and transcriptional activities of PR-A and PR-B. The transcriptional activity of the PR isoforms is affected by specific transcriptional coregulators and by PR post-translational modifications that affect gene promoter targeting. In this context, appropriate temporal and cell-specific expression and function of PR-A and PR-B are critical for normal uterine function. METHODS Relevant studies describing the role of PRs in uterine physiology and pathology (endometriosis, uterine leiomyoma, endometrial cancer, cervical cancer and recurrent pregnancy loss) were comprehensively searched using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Google Scholar and critically reviewed. RESULTS Progesterone, acting through PR-A and PR-B, regulates the development and function of the endometrium and induces changes in cells essential for implantation and the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. During pregnancy, progesterone via the PRs promotes myometrial relaxation and cervical closure. Withdrawal of PR-mediated progesterone signaling triggers menstruation and parturition. PR-mediated progesterone signaling is anti-mitogenic in endometrial epithelial cells, and as such, mitigates the tropic effects of estrogen on eutopic normal endometrium, and on ectopic implants in endometriosis. Similarly, ligand-activated PRs function as tumor suppressors in endometrial cancer cells through inhibition of key cellular signaling pathways required for growth. In contrast, progesterone via PR activation appears to increase leiomyoma growth. The exact role of PRs in cervical cancer is unclear. PRs regulate implantation and therefore aberrant PR function may be implicated in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). PRs likely regulate key immunogenic factors involved in RPL. However, the exact role of PRs in the pathophysiology of RPL and the use of progesterone for therapeutic benefit remains uncertain. CONCLUSIONS PRs are key mediators of progesterone action in uterine tissues and are essential for normal uterine function. Aberrant PR function (due to abnormal expression and/or function) is a major cause of uterine pathophysiology. Further investigation of the underlying mechanisms of PR isoform action in the uterus is required, as this knowledge will afford the opportunity to create progestin/PR-based therapeutics to treat various uterine pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bansari Patel
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Sonia Elguero
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Suruchi Thakore
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Wissam Dahoud
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Mohamed Bedaiwy
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Walker WH. Testosterone signaling and the regulation of spermatogenesis. SPERMATOGENESIS 2014; 1:116-120. [PMID: 22319659 DOI: 10.4161/spmg.1.2.16956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 263] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Accepted: 05/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis and male fertility are dependent upon the presence of testosterone in the testis. In the absence of testosterone or the androgen receptor, spermatogenesis does not proceed beyond the meiosis stage. The major cellular target and translator of testosterone signals to developing germ cells is the Sertoli cell. In the Sertoli cell, testosterone signals can be translated directly to changes in gene expression (the classical pathway) or testosterone can activate kinases that may regulate processes required to maintain spermatogenesis (the non-classical pathway). Contributions of the classical and non-classical testosterone signaling pathways to the maintenance of spermatogenesis are discussed. Studies that may further elaborate the mechanisms by with the pathways support spermatogenesis are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Walker
- Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction Sciences; Magee Women's Research Institute; University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA USA
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Moore NL, Edwards DP, Weigel NL. Cyclin A2 and its associated kinase activity are required for optimal induction of progesterone receptor target genes in breast cancer cells. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 144 Pt B:471-82. [PMID: 25220500 PMCID: PMC4201666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 08/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
A role for the cell cycle protein cyclin A2 in regulating progesterone receptor (PR) activity is emerging. This study investigates the role of cyclin A2 in regulating endogenous PR activity in T47D breast cancer cells by depleting cyclin A2 expression and measuring PR target genes using q-RT-PCR. Targets examined included genes induced by the PR-B isoform more strongly than PR-A (SGK1, FKBP5), a gene induced predominantly by PR-A (HEF1), genes induced via PR tethering to other transcription factors (p21, p27), a gene induced in part via extra-nuclear PR signaling mechanisms (cyclin D1) and PR-repressed genes (DST, IL1R1). Progestin induction of target genes was reduced following cyclin A2 depletion. However, cyclin A2 depletion did not diminish progestin target gene repression. Furthermore, inhibition of the associated Cdk2 kinase activity of cyclin A2 also reduced progestin induction of target genes, while Cdk2 enhanced the interaction between PR and cyclin A2. These results demonstrate that cyclin A2 and its associated kinase activity are important for progestin-induced activation of endogenous PR target genes in breast cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole L Moore
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dean P Edwards
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nancy L Weigel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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37
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Knutson TP, Lange CA. Tracking progesterone receptor-mediated actions in breast cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 142:114-25. [PMID: 24291072 PMCID: PMC3943696 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian steroid hormones contribute to breast cancer initiation and progression primarily through the actions of their nuclear transcription factors, the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptors (PRs). These receptors are important drivers of the luminal A and B subtypes of breast cancer, where estrogen-blocking drugs have been effective endocrine therapies for patients with these tumors. However, many patients do not respond, or become resistant to treatment. When endocrine therapies fail, the luminal subtypes of breast cancer are more difficult to treat because these subtypes are among the most heterogeneous in terms of mutation diversity and gene expression profiles. Recent evidence suggests that progestin and PR actions may be important drivers of luminal breast cancers. Clinical trial data has demonstrated that hormone replacement therapy with progestins drives invasive breast cancer and results in greater mortality. PR transcriptional activity is dependent upon cross-talk with growth factor signaling pathways that alter PR phosphorylation, acetylation, or SUMOylation as mechanisms for regulating PR target gene selection required for increased cell proliferation and survival. Site-specific PR phosphorylation is the primary driver of gene-selective PR transcriptional activity. However, PR phosphorylation and heightened transcriptional activity is coupled to rapid PR protein degradation; the range of active PR detected in tumors is likely to be dynamic. Thus, PR target gene signatures may provide a more accurate means of tracking PR's contribution to tumor progression rather than standard clinical protein-based (IHC) assays. Further development of antiprogestin therapies should be considered alongside antiestrogens and aromatase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd P Knutson
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Carol A Lange
- Departments of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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38
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Cabeza M, Heuze Y, Sánchez A, Garrido M, Bratoeff E. Recent advances in structure of progestins and their binding to progesterone receptors. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2014; 30:152-9. [PMID: 24666307 DOI: 10.3109/14756366.2014.895719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of progesterone in women's cancers as well as the knowledge of the progesterone receptor (PR) structure has prompted the design of different therapies. The aim of this review is to describe the basic structure of PR agonists and antagonists as well as the recent treatments for illness associated with the progesterone receptor. The rational design for potent and effective drugs for the treatment of female cancer must consider the structural changes of the androgen and progestogen skeleton which are an indicator of their activity as progestins or antiprogestins. The presence of a hydroxyl group at C-17 in the progesterone skeleton brings about a loss of progestational activity whereas acetylation induces a progestational effect. The incorporation of an ethynyl functional group to the testosterone framework results in a loss of androgenic activity with a concomitant enhancement of the progestational effect. On the other hand, an ester function at C-3 of dehydroepiandrosterone skeleton induces partial antagonism to the PR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa Cabeza
- Departamento de Sistemas Biológicos y de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco , México, D. F. and
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Abdel-Hafiz HA, Horwitz KB. Post-translational modifications of the progesterone receptors. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2014; 140:80-9. [PMID: 24333793 PMCID: PMC3923415 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Progesterone plays a key role in the development, differentiation and maintenance of female reproductive tissues and has multiple non-reproductive neural functions. Depending on the cell and tissue, the hormonal environment, growth conditions and the developmental stage, progesterone can either stimulate cell growth or inhibit it while promoting differentiation. Progesterone receptors (PRs) belong to the steroid hormone receptor superfamily of ligand-dependent transcription factors. PR proteins are subject to extensive post-translational modifications that include phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination and SUMOylation. The interplay among these modifications is complex with alteration of the receptors by one factor influencing the impact of another. Control over these modifications is species-, tissue- and cell-specific. They in turn regulate multiple functions including PR stability, their subcellular localization, protein-protein interactions and transcriptional activity. These complexities may explain how tissue- and gene-specific differences in regulation are achieved in the same organism, by the same receptor protein and hormone. Here we review current knowledge of PR post-translational modifications and discuss how these may influence receptor function focusing on human breast cancer cells. There is much left to be learned. However, our understanding of this may help to identify therapeutic agents that target PR activity in tissue-specific, even gene-specific ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany A Abdel-Hafiz
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
| | - Kathryn B Horwitz
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Pathology, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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Dressing GE, Knutson TP, Schiewer MJ, Daniel AR, Hagan CR, Diep CH, Knudsen KE, Lange CA. Progesterone receptor-cyclin D1 complexes induce cell cycle-dependent transcriptional programs in breast cancer cells. Mol Endocrinol 2014; 28:442-57. [PMID: 24606123 DOI: 10.1210/me.2013-1196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The progesterone receptor (PR) and its coactivators are direct targets of activated cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in response to peptide growth factors, progesterone, and deregulation of cell cycle inhibitors. Herein, using the T47D breast cancer model, we probed mechanisms of cell cycle-dependent PR action. In the absence of exogenous progestin, the PR is specifically phosphorylated during the G2/M phase. Accordingly, numerous PR target genes are cell cycle regulated, including HSPB8, a heat-shock protein whose high expression is associated with tamoxifen resistance. Progestin-induced HSPB8 expression required cyclin D1 and was insensitive to antiestrogens but blocked by antiprogestins or inhibition of specificity factor 1 (SP1). HSPB8 expression increased with or without ligand when cells were G2/M synchronized or contained high levels of cyclin D1. Knockdown of PRs abrogated ligand-independent HSPB8 expression in synchronized cells. Notably, PRs and cyclin D1 copurified in whole-cell lysates of transiently transfected COS-1 cells and in PR-positive T47D breast cancer cells expressing endogenous cyclin D1. PRs, cyclin D1, and SP1 were recruited to the HSPB8 promoter in progestin-treated T47D breast cancer cells. Mutation of PR Ser345 to Ala (S345A) or inhibition of CDK2 activity using roscovitine disrupted PR/cyclin D1 interactions with DNA and blocked HSPB8 mRNA expression. Interaction of phosphorylated PRs with SP1 and cyclin D1 provides a mechanism for targeting transcriptionally active PRs to selected gene promoters relevant to breast cancer progression. Understanding the functional linkage between PRs and cell cycle regulatory proteins will provide keys to targeting novel PR/cyclin D1 cross talk in both hormone-responsive disease and HSPB8-high refractory disease with high HSPB8 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwen E Dressing
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology (G.E.D., T.P.K., A.R.D., C.R.H., C.H.D., C.A.L.), Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455; and Departments of Cancer Biology, Urology, and Radiation Oncology (M.J.S., K.E.K.), Kimmel Cancer Center Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
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41
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Hagan CR, Lange CA. Molecular determinants of context-dependent progesterone receptor action in breast cancer. BMC Med 2014; 12:32. [PMID: 24552158 PMCID: PMC3929904 DOI: 10.1186/1741-7015-12-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ovarian steroid hormone, progesterone, and its nuclear receptor, the progesterone receptor, are implicated in the progression of breast cancer. Clinical trial data on the effects of hormone replacement therapy underscore the importance of understanding how progestins influence breast cancer growth. The progesterone receptor regulation of distinct target genes is mediated by complex interactions between the progesterone receptor and other regulatory factors that determine the context-dependent transcriptional action of the progesterone receptor. These interactions often lead to post-translational modifications to the progesterone receptor that can dramatically alter receptor function, both in the normal mammary gland and in breast cancer. This review highlights the molecular components that regulate progesterone receptor transcriptional action and describes how a better understanding of the complex interactions between the progesterone receptor and other regulatory factors may be critical to enhancing the clinical efficacy of anti-progestins for use in the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol A Lange
- Department of Medicine (Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation) and the Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Masonic Cancer Center, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 806, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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42
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Daniel AR, Gaviglio AL, Knutson TP, Ostrander JH, D'Assoro AB, Ravindranathan P, Peng Y, Raj GV, Yee D, Lange CA. Progesterone receptor-B enhances estrogen responsiveness of breast cancer cells via scaffolding PELP1- and estrogen receptor-containing transcription complexes. Oncogene 2014; 34:506-15. [PMID: 24469035 PMCID: PMC4112172 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2013.579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Progesterone and estrogen are important drivers of breast cancer proliferation. Herein, we probed ER-alpha and PR cross-talk in breast cancer models. Stable expression of PR-B in PR-low/ER+ MCF7 cells increased cellular sensitivity to estradiol and IGF1, as measured in growth assays performed in the absence of exogenous progestin; similar results were obtained in PR-null/ER+ T47D cells stably expressing PR-B. Genome-wide microarray analyses revealed that unliganded PR-B induced robust expression of a subset of estradiol-responsive ER-target genes, including CathepsinD (CTSD). Estradiol-treated MCF7 cells stably expressing PR-B exhibited enhanced ER Ser167 phosphorylation and recruitment of ER, PR, and the proline, glutamate and leucine rich protein 1 (PELP1) to an estrogen response element (ERE) in the CTSD distal promoter; this complex co-immunoprecipitated with IGF1R in whole cell lysates. Importantly, ER/PR/PELP1 complexes were also detected in human breast cancer samples. Inhibition of IGF1R or PI3K blocked PR-B-dependent CTSD mRNA upregulation in response to estradiol. Similarly, inhibition of IGF1R or PR significantly reduced ER recruitment to the CTSD promoter. Stable knockdown of endogenous PR or onapristone treatment of multiple unmodified breast cancer cell lines blocked estradiol-mediated CTSD induction, inhibited growth in soft agar, and partially restored tamoxifen-sensitivity of resistant cells. Further, combination treatment of breast cancer cells with both onapristone and IGF1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor AEW541 was more effective than either agent alone. In summary, unliganded PR-B enhanced proliferative responses to estradiol and IGF1 via scaffolding of ERalpha/PELP1/IGF1R-containing complexes. Our data provide a strong rationale for targeting PR in combination with ER and IGF1R in patients with luminal breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Daniel
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - A L Gaviglio
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - T P Knutson
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - J H Ostrander
- Department of Medicine, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - A B D'Assoro
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - P Ravindranathan
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Y Peng
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - G V Raj
- Department of Urology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - D Yee
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - C A Lange
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Treviño LS, Weigel NL. Phosphorylation: a fundamental regulator of steroid receptor action. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2013; 24:515-24. [PMID: 23838532 PMCID: PMC3783573 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2013.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2013] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Steroid hormone receptors (SHRs) are hormone-activated transcription factors involved in numerous cellular functions and in health and disease. Their activities depend on the cellular level of the receptor, the presence of coregulator proteins, and the cell signaling pathways that are active in the cell. SHRs and their coregulators are phosphorylated on multiple sites by a wide variety of kinases. Each site may contribute to multiple functions and the net effect of an individual phosphorylation depends on the activating kinase. Here we discuss functions of known SHR phosphorylation sites, kinase regulation, evidence of translational relevance, and crosstalk between SHRs and cell signaling pathways. Understanding how cell signaling pathways regulate SHRs might yield novel therapeutic targets for multiple human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey S Treviño
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Regan Anderson TM, Peacock DL, Daniel AR, Hubbard GK, Lofgren KA, Girard BJ, Schörg A, Hoogewijs D, Wenger RH, Seagroves TN, Lange CA. Breast tumor kinase (Brk/PTK6) is a mediator of hypoxia-associated breast cancer progression. Cancer Res 2013; 73:5810-20. [PMID: 23928995 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-13-0523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Basal-type triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are aggressive and difficult to treat relative to luminal-type breast cancers. TNBC often express abundant Met receptors and are enriched for transcriptional targets regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), which independently predict cancer relapse and increased risk of metastasis. Brk/PTK6 is a critical downstream effector of Met signaling and is required for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced cell migration. Herein, we examined the regulation of Brk by HIFs in TNBC in vitro and in vivo. Brk mRNA and protein levels are upregulated strongly in vitro by hypoxia, low glucose, and reactive oxygen species. In HIF-silenced cells, Brk expression relied upon both HIF-1α and HIF-2α, which we found to regulate BRK transcription directly. HIF-1α/2α silencing in MDA-MB-231 cells diminished xenograft growth and Brk reexpression reversed this effect. These findings were pursued in vivo by crossing WAP-Brk (FVB) transgenic mice into the MET(Mut) knockin (FVB) model. In this setting, Brk expression augmented MET(Mut)-induced mammary tumor formation and metastasis. Unexpectedly, tumors arising in either MET(Mut) or WAP-Brk × MET(Mut) mice expressed abundant levels of Sik, the mouse homolog of Brk, which conferred increased tumor formation and decreased survival. Taken together, our results identify HIF-1α/2α as novel regulators of Brk expression and suggest that Brk is a key mediator of hypoxia-induced breast cancer progression. Targeting Brk expression or activity may provide an effective means to block the progression of aggressive breast cancers.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Blotting, Western
- Breast/metabolism
- Breast/pathology
- Breast Neoplasms/metabolism
- Breast Neoplasms/mortality
- Breast Neoplasms/pathology
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/mortality
- Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology
- Carcinoma, Lobular/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Lobular/mortality
- Carcinoma, Lobular/pathology
- Cell Proliferation
- Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
- Female
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Interleukin Receptor Common gamma Subunit/physiology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
- Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics
- Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarah M Regan Anderson
- Authors' Affiliations: Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Center for Cancer Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee; and Institute of Physiology and Zürich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Hagan CR, Knutson TP, Lange CA. A Common Docking Domain in Progesterone Receptor-B links DUSP6 and CK2 signaling to proliferative transcriptional programs in breast cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:8926-42. [PMID: 23921636 PMCID: PMC3799453 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone receptors (PR) are transcription factors relevant to breast cancer biology. Herein, we describe an N-terminal common docking (CD) domain in PR-B, a motif first described in mitogen-activated protein kinases. Binding studies revealed PR-B interacts with dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) via the CD domain. Mutation of the PR-B CD domain (mCD) attenuated cell cycle progression and expression of PR-B target genes (including STAT5A and Wnt1); mCD PR-B failed to undergo phosphorylation on Ser81, a ck2-dependent site required for expression of these genes. PR-B Ser81 phosphorylation was dependent on binding with DUSP6 and required for recruitment of a transcriptional complex consisting of PR-B, DUSP6 and ck2 to an enhancer region upstream of the Wnt1 promoter. STAT5 was present at this site in the absence or presence of progestin. Furthermore, phospho-Ser81 PR-B was recruited to the STAT5A gene upon progestin treatment, suggestive of a feed-forward mechanism. Inhibition of JAK/STAT-signaling blocked progestin-induced STAT5A and Wnt1 expression. Our studies show that DUSP6 serves as a scaffold for ck2-dependent PR-B Ser81 phosphorylation and subsequent PR-B-specific gene selection in coordination with STAT5. Coregulation of select target genes by PR-B and STAT5 is likely a global mechanism required for growth promoting programs relevant to mammary stem cell biology and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy R Hagan
- Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, Cell Signaling Program; Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Cancer Cardiology Research Building, 2231 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Diep CH, Charles NJ, Gilks CB, Kalloger SE, Argenta PA, Lange CA. Progesterone receptors induce FOXO1-dependent senescence in ovarian cancer cells. Cell Cycle 2013; 12:1433-49. [PMID: 23574718 DOI: 10.4161/cc.24550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of nuclear progesterone receptors (PR) and low circulating progesterone levels are associated with increased ovarian cancer (OC) risk. However, PR are abundantly expressed in a significant percentage of serous and endometrioid ovarian tumors; patients with PR+ tumors typically experience longer progression-free survival relative to those with PR-null tumors. The molecular mechanisms of these protective effects are poorly understood. To study PR action in OC in the absence of added estrogen (i.e., needed to induce robust PR expression), we created ES-2 OC cells stably expressing vector control or GFP-tagged PR-B (GFP-PR). Progestin (R5020) stimulation of ES-2 cells stably expressing GFP-PR induced cellular senescence characterized by altered cellular morphology, prolonged survival, senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, G1 cell cycle arrest and upregulation of the cell cycle inhibitor, p21, as well as the Forkhead-box transcription factor, FOXO1; these results repeated in unmodified ER+/PR+ PEO4 OC cells. PR-B and FOXO1 were detected within the same PRE-containing regions of the p21 upstream promoter. Knockdown of p21 resulted in molecular compensation via FOXO1-dependent upregulation of numerous FOXO1 target genes (p15, p16, p27) and an increased rate of senescence. Inhibition of FOXO1 (with AS1842856) or stable FOXO1 knockdown inhibited progestin-induced p21 expression and blocked progestin-induced senescence. Overall, these findings support a role for PR as a tumor suppressor in OC cells, which exhibits inhibitory effects by inducing FOXO1-dependent cellular senescence. Clinical "priming" of the PR-FOXO1-p21 signaling pathway using PR agonists may provide a useful strategy to induce irreversible cell cycle arrest and thereby sensitize OC cells to existing chemotherapies as part of combination "two-step" therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline H Diep
- Department of Medicine, Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Indumathi T, Muthusankar A, Shanmughavel P, Prasad KJR. Synthesis of hetero annulated carbazoles: exploration of in vitro cytotoxicity and molecular docking studies. MEDCHEMCOMM 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c2md20335a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Khan JA, Bellance C, Guiochon-Mantel A, Lombès M, Loosfelt H. Differential regulation of breast cancer-associated genes by progesterone receptor isoforms PRA and PRB in a new bi-inducible breast cancer cell line. PLoS One 2012; 7:e45993. [PMID: 23029355 PMCID: PMC3454371 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone receptor isoforms (PRA and PRB) are expressed at equal levels in normal mammary cells. However, alteration in PRA/PRB expression is often observed in aggressive breast cancer suggesting differential contribution of PR isoforms in carcinogenesis. The mechanisms underlying such processes remain to be established mainly due to paucity of appropriate cellular models. To investigate the role of PR isoforms and the impact of imbalanced PRA/PRB ratio in transcriptional regulation, we have generated an original human breast cancer cell line conditionally expressing PRA and/or PRB in dose-dependence of non-steroid inducers. We first focused on PR-dependent transcriptional regulation of the paracrine growth factor gene amphiregulin (AREG) playing important role in cancer. Interestingly, unliganded PRA increases AREG expression, independently of estrogen receptor, yet inhibitable by antiprogestins. We show that functional outcome of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on such regulation is highly dependent on PRA/PRB ratio. Using this valuable model, genome-wide transcriptomic studies allowed us to determine the differential effects of PRA and PRB as a function of hormonal status. We identified a large number of novel PR-regulated genes notably implicated in breast cancer and metastasis and demonstrated that imbalanced PRA/PRB ratio strongly impact their expression predicting poor outcome in breast cancer. In sum, our unique cell-based system strongly suggests that PRA/PRB ratio is a critical determinant of PR target gene selectivity and responses to hormonal/growth factor stimuli. These findings provide molecular support for the aggressive phenotype of breast cancers with impaired expression of PRA or PRB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junaid A. Khan
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 693, Steroid Receptors: Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR S693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Catherine Bellance
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 693, Steroid Receptors: Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR S693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Anne Guiochon-Mantel
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 693, Steroid Receptors: Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR S693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, Service de Génétique moléculaire, Pharmacogénétique et Hormonologie, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Marc Lombès
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 693, Steroid Receptors: Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR S693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bicêtre, Service d’Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Hugues Loosfelt
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 693, Steroid Receptors: Endocrine and Metabolic Pathophysiology, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- Université Paris-Sud, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR S693, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
- * E-mail:
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Cork DMW, Lennard TWJ, Tyson-Capper AJ. Progesterone receptor (PR) variants exist in breast cancer cells characterised as PR negative. Tumour Biol 2012; 33:2329-40. [PMID: 22956396 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-012-0495-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Progesterone receptor (PR) expression is measured in breast cancer by immunohistochemistry using N-terminally targeted antibodies and serves as a biomarker for endocrine therapeutic decisions. Extensive PR alternative splicing has been reported which may generate truncated PR variant proteins which are not detected by current breast cancer screening or may alter the function of proteins detected in screening. However, the existence of such truncated PR variants remains controversial. We have characterised PR protein expression in breast cancer cell lines using commercial PR antibodies targeting different epitopes. Truncated PR proteins are detected in reportedly PR negative MDA-MB-231 cells using a C-terminally targeted antibody. Antibody specificity was confirmed by immunoblotting following siRNA knockdown of PR expression. We have further demonstrated that alternatively spliced PR mRNA is present in MDA-MB-231 cells and in reportedly PR-negative breast tumour tissue which could encode the truncated PR proteins detected by the C-terminal antibody. The potential function of PR variant proteins present in MDA-MB-231 cells was also assessed, indicating the ability of these PR variants to bind progesterone, interact with a nuclear PR co-factor and bind DNA. These findings suggest that alternative splicing may generate functional truncated PR variant proteins which are not detected by breast cancer screening using N-terminally targeted antibodies leading to misclassification as PR negative.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M W Cork
- Reproductive and Vascular Biology Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Medical School, Newcastle University, 3rd Floor William Leech Building, Framlington Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
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Huang Y, Zhou S, Xue H, Zhao Z, Wang L. [Protein kinase CK2 and human malignant tumors]. ZHONGGUO FEI AI ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF LUNG CANCER 2012; 15:439-45. [PMID: 22814265 PMCID: PMC6000077 DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2012.07.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital-Dalian University, Dalian, China
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