Tumor DDR1 deficiency reduces liver metastasis by colon carcinoma and impairs stromal reaction

Multifaceted collagen-DDR1 signaling in cancer

In addition to immune cells and fibroblasts, the tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises an extracellular matrix (ECM) which contains collagens (COLs) whose architecture and remodeling dictate cancer development and progression. COL receptors expressed by cancer cells sense signals generated by microenvironmental alterations in COL state to regulate cell behavior and metabolism. Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a key sensor of COL fiber state and composition that controls tumor cell metabolism and growth, response to therapy, and patient survival. This review focuses on DDR1 to NRF2 signaling, its modulation of autophagy and macropinocytosis (MP), and its role in cancer and other diseases. Elucidating the regulation of DDR1 activity and expression under different pathophysiological conditions will facilitate the discovery of new therapeutics.

A pan-cancer analysis of DDR1 in prognostic signature and tumor immunity, drug resistance

Disk-like domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a crucial regulator of pro-inflammatory mediators and matrix-degrading enzymes. Although mounting evidence supports a vital role for DDR1 in the tumorigenesis of some cancers, no pan-cancer analysis of DDR1 has been reported. Therefore, we aimed to explore the prognostic value of DDR1 in 33 cancer types and investigate its potential immune function. We used a range of bioinformatics approaches to explore the potential carcinogenic role of DDR1 in multiple cancers. We found that DDR1 was expressed at high levels in most cancers. DDR1 expression was positively or negatively associated with prognosis in different cancers. DDR1 expression was significantly associated with DNA methylation in 8 cancers, while there was a correlation between DDR1 expression and RNA methylation-related genes and mismatch repair gene in most cancers. Furthermore, DDR1 expression was significantly associated with microsatellite instability in 6 cancers and tumor mutation burden in 11 cancers. In addition, DDR1 expression was also significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration, tumor microenvironment, immune-related genes, and drug resistance in various cancers. In conclusion, DDR1 can serve as a potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for various malignancies due to its vital role in tumorigenesis and tumor immunity.

Focusing on discoidin domain receptors in premalignant and malignant liver diseases

Discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are receptor tyrosine kinases on the membrane surface that bind to extracellular collagens, but they are rarely expressed in normal liver tissues. Recent studies have demonstrated that DDRs participate in and influence the processes underlying premalignant and malignant liver diseases. A brief overview of the potential roles of DDR1 and DDR2 in premalignant and malignant liver diseases is presented. DDR1 has proinflammatory and profibrotic benefits and promotes the invasion, migration and liver metastasis of tumour cells. However, DDR2 may play a pathogenic role in early-stage liver injury (prefibrotic stage) and a different role in chronic liver fibrosis and in metastatic liver cancer. These views are critically significant and first described in detail in this review. The main purpose of this review was to describe how DDRs act in premalignant and malignant liver diseases and their potential mechanisms through an in-depth summary of preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Our work aims to provide new ideas for cancer treatment and accelerate translation from bench to bedside.

Deciphering the possible reciprocal loop between hepatic stellate cells and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment of the liver

Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)/myofibroblasts are the important sources of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the liver tumor microenvironment (TME). The crosstalk between activated HSCs and tumor cells mediates HCC progression, metastasis, tumor cell survival, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. In TME, HCC cells secrete various soluble factors responsible for the phenotypic activation of quiescent HSCs. Tumor cells use activated HSC-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) for migration and invasion. Further, in liver TME, activated HSCs and sinusoidal endothelial cells engage in a crosstalk that causes the secretion of angiogenesis and metastasis-related growth factors and cytokines. Activated HSCs and immune cells crosstalk to decrease immune surveillance in the liver TME by increasing the population of T regulatory cells and M2 macrophages or myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Thus, HSCs play a vital role in liver TME cell interactions. Therefore, a deep understanding of HSCs activation and their crosstalk with cancer and immune cells in TME may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target HCC.

New target DDR1: A "double-edged sword" in solid tumors

Globally, cancer is a major catastrophic disease that seriously threatens human health. Thus, there is an urgent need to find new strategies to treat cancer. Among them, identifying new targets is one of the best ways to treat cancer at present. Especially in recent years, scientists have discovered many new targets and made breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, bringing new hope to cancer patients. As one of the novel targets for cancer treatment, DDR1 has attracted much attention due to its unique role in cancer. Hence, here, we focus on a new target, DDR1, which may be a "double-edged sword" of human solid tumors. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of how DDR1 acts as a "double-edged sword" in cancer. First, we briefly introduce the structure and normal physiological function of DDR1; Second, we delineate the DDR1 expression pattern in single cells; Next, we sorte out the relationship between DDR1 and cancer, including the abnormal expression of DDR1 in cancer, the mechanism of DDR1 and cancer occurrence, and the value of DDR1 on cancer prognosis. In addition, we introduced the current status of global drug and antibody research and development targeting DDR1 and its future design prospects; Finally, we summarize and look forward to designing more DDR1-targeting drugs in the future to make further progress in the treatment of solid tumors.

Prospective Proteomic Study Identifies Potential Circulating Protein Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Risk

Simple Summary

Studies on circulating protein for colorectal cancer risk in a prospective study design is lacking. The aim of the present study was to scan and identify the protein markers by using proteomics technologies in a two-stage case-control study nested within the Shanghai Women’s Health Study (SWHS), a population-based prospective cohort study. In the discovery set, we found 27 circulating proteins with a nominally significant association. Six of them, including CD79B, DDR1, EFNA4, FLRT2, LTA4H, and NCR1, were validated in the validation phase of the study. This study is the first to evaluate over 1000 circulating proteins in prediagnostic blood samples for their associations with CRC risk in East Asians.

Abstract

Background: Proteomics-based technologies are emerging tools used for cancer biomarker discovery. Limited prospective studies have been conducted to evaluate the role of circulating proteins in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Methods: A two-stage case-control proteomics study nested in the Shanghai Women’s Health Study was conducted. A total of 1104 circulating proteins were measured in the discovery phase, consisting of 100 incident CRC cases and 100 individually matched controls. An additional 60 case-control pairs were selected for validation. Protein profiling at both stages was completed using the Olink platforms. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between circulating proteins and CRC risk. The elastic net method was employed to develop a protein score for CRC risk. Results: In the discovery set, 27 proteins showed a nominally significant association with CRC risk, among which 22 were positively and 5 were inversely associated. Six of the 27 protein markers were significantly associated with CRC risk in the validation set. In the analysis of pooled discovery and validation sets, odds ratios (ORs) per standard deviation (SD) increase in levels of these proteins were 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–2.06) for CD79B; 1.71 (95% CI: 1.24–2.34) for DDR1; 2.04 (95% CI: 1.39–3.01) for EFNA4; 1.54 (95% CI: 1.16–2.02) for FLRT2; 2.09 (95% CI: 1.47–2.98) for LTA4H and 1.88 (95% CI: 1.35–2.62) for NCR1. Sensitivity analyses showed consistent associations for all proteins with the exclusion of cases diagnosed within the first two years after the cohort enrollment, except for CD79B. Furthermore, a five-protein score was developed based on the six proteins identified and showed significant associations with CRC risk in both discovery and validation sets (Discovery: OR_1-SD = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.53–3.95; validation: OR_1-SD = 4.16, 95% CI: 1.92–8.99). Conclusions: A panel of five protein markers was identified as potential biomarkers for CRC risk. Our findings provide novel insights into the etiology of CRC and may facilitate the risk assessment of the malignancy.

The Collagen Receptor Discoidin Domain Receptor 1b Enhances Integrin β1-Mediated Cell Migration by Interacting With Talin and Promoting Rac1 Activation

Integrins and discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) 1 and 2 promote cell adhesion and migration on both fibrillar and non fibrillar collagens. Collagen I contains DDR and integrin selective binding motifs; however, the relative contribution of these two receptors in regulating cell migration is unclear. DDR1 has five isoforms (DDR1a-e), with most cells expressing the DDR1a and DDR1b isoforms. We show that human embryonic kidney 293 cells expressing DDR1b migrate more than DDR1a expressing cells on DDR selective substrata as well as on collagen I in vitro. In addition, DDR1b expressing cells show increased lung colonization after tail vein injection in nude mice. DDR1a and DDR1b differ from each other by an extra 37 amino acids in the DDR1b cytoplasmic domain. Interestingly, these 37 amino acids contain an NPxY motif which is a central control module within the cytoplasmic domain of β integrins and acts by binding scaffold proteins, including talin. Using purified recombinant DDR1 cytoplasmic tail proteins, we show that DDR1b directly binds talin with higher affinity than DDR1a. In cells, DDR1b, but not DDR1a, colocalizes with talin and integrin β1 to focal adhesions and enhances integrin β1-mediated cell migration. Moreover, we show that DDR1b promotes cell migration by enhancing Rac1 activation. Mechanistically DDR1b interacts with the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Breakpoint cluster region protein (BCR) thus reducing its GAP activity and enhancing Rac activation. Our study identifies DDR1b as a major driver of cell migration and talin and BCR as key players in the interplay between integrins and DDR1b in regulating cell migration.

Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 Expression in Colon Cancer: Roles and Prognosis Impact

Simple Summary

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in both sexes. Identification of the influencing factors and molecular mechanisms in CRC progression could improve patient survival. This study aimed first to characterize the expression of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1), a receptor tyrosine kinase for collagens in a large cohort of CRC patients, and second to establish in vitro whether DDR1 expression level is linked to CRC aggressiveness potential. Our immunohistochemical study indicated that DDR1 is highly expressed in colon cancer compared to normal colonic mucosa and its expression is associated with shorter event-free survival. In vitro, the invasive properties of several CRC cell lines seem to be correlated with the expression level of DDR1. Taken altogether, our results show that DDR1 is highly expressed in most colon adenocarcinomas and appears as an indicator of worse event free survival.

Abstract

Extracellular matrix components such as collagens are deposited within the tumor microenvironment at primary and metastatic sites and are recognized to be critical during tumor progression and metastasis development. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and prognostic impact of Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 (DDR1) expression in colon cancers and its association with a particular molecular and/or morphological profile and to evaluate its potential role as a prognosis biomarker. Immunohistochemical expression of DDR1 was evaluated on 292 colonic adenocarcinomas. DDR1 was highly expressed in 240 (82.2%) adenocarcinomas. High DDR1 immunostaining score was significantly associated, on univariate analysis, with male sex, left tumor location, BRAF wild type status, KRAS mutated status, and Annexin A10 negativity. High DDR1 immunohistochemical expression was associated with shorter event free survival only. Laser capture microdissection analyses revealed that DDR1 mRNA expression was mainly attributable to adenocarcinoma compared to stromal cells. The impact of DDR1 expression on cell invasion was then evaluated by modified Boyden chamber assay using cell types with distinct mutational profiles. The invasion capacity of colon adenocarcinoma is supported by DDR1 expression. Thus, our results showed that DDR1 was highly expressed in most colon adenocarcinomas and appears as an indicator of worse event free survival.