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MacFawn I, Farris J, Pifer P, Margaryan NV, Akhter H, Wang L, Dziadowicz S, Denvir J, Hu G, Frisch SM. Grainyhead-like-2, an epithelial master programmer, promotes interferon induction and suppresses breast cancer recurrence. Mol Immunol 2024; 170:156-169. [PMID: 38692097 PMCID: PMC11106721 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Type-I and -III interferons play a central role in immune rejection of pathogens and tumors, thus promoting immunogenicity and suppressing tumor recurrence. Double strand RNA is an important ligand that stimulates tumor immunity via interferon responses. Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to pluripotent epithelial cells activates the interferon response during development, raising the question of whether epithelial vs. mesenchymal gene signatures in cancer potentially regulate the interferon pathway as well. Here, using genomics and signaling approaches, we show that Grainyhead-like-2 (GRHL2), a master programmer of epithelial cell identity, promotes type-I and -III interferon responses to double-strand RNA. GRHL2 enhanced the activation of IRF3 and relA/NF-kB and the expression of IRF1; a functional GRHL2 binding site in the IFNL1 promoter was also identified. Moreover, time to recurrence in breast cancer correlated positively with GRHL2 protein expression, indicating that GRHL2 is a tumor recurrence suppressor, consistent with its enhancement of interferon responses. These observations demonstrate that epithelial cell identity supports interferon responses in the context of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian MacFawn
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, 5051 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5115 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
| | - Joshua Farris
- Wake Forest University, Department of Radiation Oncology, 1 Medical Center Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
| | - Phillip Pifer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, WVU Cancer Institute, 1 Medical Drive, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Naira V Margaryan
- WVU Cancer Institute, West Virginia University, 64 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Halima Akhter
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 64 Medical Center Drive, Box 9142, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 64 Medical Center Drive, Box 9142, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Sebastian Dziadowicz
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 64 Medical Center Drive, Box 9142, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - James Denvir
- Byrd Biotechnology Center, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
| | - Gangqing Hu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University, 64 Medical Center Drive, Box 9142, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA.
| | - Steven M Frisch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, 64 Medical Center Drive, Box 9142, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506.
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Shou S, Li Y, Chen J, Zhang X, Zhang C, Jiang X, Liu F, Yi L, Zhang X, Geer E, Pu Z, Pang B. Understanding, diagnosing, and treating pancreatic cancer from the perspective of telomeres and telomerase. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00768-6. [PMID: 38594465 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00768-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Telomerase is associated with cellular aging, and its presence limits cellular lifespan. Telomerase by preventing telomere shortening can extend the number of cell divisions for cancer cells. In adult pancreatic cells, telomeres gradually shorten, while in precancerous lesions of cancer, telomeres in cells are usually significantly shortened. At this time, telomerase is still in an inactive state, and it is not until before and after the onset of cancer that telomerase is reactivated, causing cancer cells to proliferate. Methylation of the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter and regulation of telomerase by lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) is the mechanism of telomerase reactivation in pancreatic cancer. Understanding the role of telomeres and telomerase in pancreatic cancer will help to diagnose and initiate targeted therapy as early as possible. This article reviews the role of telomeres and telomerase as biomarkers in the development of pancreatic cancer and the progress of research on telomeres and telomerase as targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songting Shou
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanliang Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqin Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xing Zhang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chuanlong Zhang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaochen Jiang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fudong Liu
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Yi
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiyuan Zhang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - En Geer
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenqing Pu
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Pang
- Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Wang J, Peng J, Chen Y, Nasser MI, Qin H. The role of stromal cells in epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and its therapeutic potential. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:13. [PMID: 38244071 PMCID: PMC10799841 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00867-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical tumor invasion and metastasis process. EMT enables tumor cells to migrate, detach from their original location, enter the circulation, circulate within it, and eventually exit from blood arteries to colonize in foreign sites, leading to the development of overt metastases, ultimately resulting in death. EMT is intimately tied to stromal cells around the tumor and is controlled by a range of cytokines secreted by stromal cells. This review summarizes recent research on stromal cell-mediated EMT in tumor invasion and metastasis. We also discuss the effects of various stromal cells on EMT induction and focus on the molecular mechanisms by which several significant stromal cells convert from foes to friends of cancer cells to fuel EMT processes via their secretions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). As a result, a better knowledge of the role of stromal cells in cancer cells' EMT may pave the path to cancer eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjing Wang
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junmei Peng
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonglin Chen
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
- The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Critical Human Diseases Prevention of Hunan Province Department of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - M I Nasser
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510100, Guangdong, China.
| | - Hui Qin
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
- The Hengyang Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Ecological Environment and Critical Human Diseases Prevention of Hunan Province Department of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
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Han T, Liu Y, Zhou J, Guo J, Xing Y, Xie J, Bai Y, Wu J, Hu D. Development of an invasion score based on metastasis-related pathway activity profiles for identifying invasive molecular subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1692. [PMID: 38243040 PMCID: PMC10799059 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-51681-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The invasive capacity of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is an important factor influencing patients' metastatic status and survival outcomes. However, there is still a lack of suitable biomarkers to evaluate tumor invasiveness. LUAD molecular subtypes were identified by unsupervised consistent clustering of LUAD. The differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and mutation were assessed among different subtypes. After that, the invasion-related gene score (IRGS) was constructed by genetic differential analysis, WGCNA analysis, and LASSO analysis, then we evaluated the relationship between IRGS and invasive characteristics, TME, and prognosis. The predictive ability of the IRGS was verified by in vitro experiments. Next, the "oncoPredict" R package and CMap were used to assess the potential value of IRGS in drug therapy. The results showed that LUAD was clustered into two molecular subtypes. And the C1 subtype exhibited a worse prognosis, higher stemness enrichment activity, less immune infiltration, and higher mutation frequency. Subsequently, IRGS developed based on molecular subtypes demonstrated a strong association with malignant characteristics such as invasive features, higher stemness scores, less immune infiltration, and worse survival. In vitro experiments showed that the higher IRGS LUAD cell had a stronger invasive capacity than the lower IRGS LUAD cell. Predictive analysis based on the "oncoPredict" R package showed that the high IRGS group was more sensitive to docetaxel, erlotinib, paclitaxel, and gefitinib. Among them, in vitro experiments verified the greater killing effect of paclitaxel on high IRGS cell lines. In addition, CMap showed that purvalanol-a, angiogenesis-inhibitor, and masitinib have potential therapeutic effects in the high IRGS group. In summary we identified and analyzed the molecular subtypes associated with the invasiveness of LUAD and developed IRGS that can efficiently predict the prognosis and invasive ability of the tumor. IRGS may be able to facilitate the precision treatment of LUAD to some extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Han
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China
| | - Yafeng Liu
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232035, China
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China
| | - Jianqiang Guo
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China
| | - Yingru Xing
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Anhui Zhongke Gengjiu Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232035, China
| | - Ying Bai
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China.
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China.
| | - Jing Wu
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China.
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China.
| | - Dong Hu
- School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Chongren Building, No 168, Taifeng St, Huainan, 232001, China.
- Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Dust Deep Reduction and Occupational Health and Safety of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232001, China.
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5
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Mu S, Tian Q, Shen L. NOP16 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression and triggers EMT through the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway. Technol Health Care 2024; 32:2463-2483. [PMID: 38251077 PMCID: PMC11322705 DOI: 10.3233/thc-231256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nucleolar protein 16 (NOP16) is present in the protein complex of the nucleolus. The NOP16 promoter contains a c-Myc binding site, and the transcriptional regulation by c-Myc directly regulates NOP16 expression levels. OBJECTIVE Dysregulation of NOP 16 is currently reported in only a small number of cancers. In this study, the expression profile of NOP 16 in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and its clinical significance were analyzed. METHODS NOP16 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) and its relationship with the clinical characters of LIHC were examined using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression comprehensive database (GEO), Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, univariate Cox analysis, multivariate Cox analysis, ROC curve analysis of KEGG enrichment, GSEA enrichment, in vitro experiments (e.g., siRNA interference of NOP16 expression in hepatoma cells, Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, cell cycle, cell apoptosis and Transwell assays), and LIHC single-cell sequencing (scRNA). RESULTS Pan-cancer analysis revealed that NOP16 was highly expressed in 20 cancer types, including LIHC, and high NOP16 expression was an independent adverse prognostic factor in LIHC patients. The expression levels of NOP16 mRNA and protein were significantly increased in tumour tissues of LIHC patients compared to normal tissues. The functions of co-expressed genes were primarily enriched in the cell cycle and reactive oxygen species metabolism. The experimental results showed that knockdown of NOP16 activated the Keap/Nrf2 signalling pathway and inhibited the invasion, migration, and EMT progression of LIHC cells. LIHC scRNA-seq data showed that NOP16 was primarily expressed in T lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS NOP16 promoted cancer development in LIHC and caused an imbalance in Keap/Nrf2 signalling, which subsequently caused the aberrant expression of genes typical for EMT, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. NOP16 is a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangdong Mu
- Department of Oncology, Health Science Center, 3201 Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiusi Tian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Health Science Center, 3201 Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Hanzhong, Shaanxi, China
| | - Liangyu Shen
- Department of Anesthesia, Operation Center, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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6
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Thai AA, Young RJ, Bressel M, Angel C, McDowell L, Tiong A, Bucknell NW, Fellowes A, Xu H, Trigos A, Rischin D, Solomon BJ. Comprehensive profiling identifies tumour and immune microenvironmental differences in clinical subsets of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Br J Dermatol 2023; 189:588-602. [PMID: 37470440 DOI: 10.1093/bjd/ljad250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) are the second most diagnosed skin cancer worldwide; however, little is known about the pathobiological factors that contribute to the diverse clinical outcomes seen. OBJECTIVES To profile cSCCs comprehensively and identify the pathological processes that contribute to the disparities seen in their clinical behaviour. METHODS We characterized the genomic, transcriptomic and immunohistochemical profiles of 211 cSCC tumours, including 37 cSCCs from immunocompromised patients. RESULTS cSCCs from immunocompromised patients were characterized by a lack of B cells in the peritumoral stroma compared with immunocompetent patients. Further, an abundance of a memory B-cell-like population in the peritumoral stroma was associated with a better prognosis in all patients (immunocompetent and immunocompromised), as well as only immunocompetent patients. No differences in genetic -variants, tumour mutational burden or mutational signatures were observed between cSCCs from immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. Thus, differences in survival between cSCCs from immunocompromised patients and immunocompetent patients are not likely to be driven by tumour genomic factors, but may be associated with differential host immune response. cSCC not from a primary head and neck site had lower tumour mutational burden and exhibited upregulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition programme compared with head and neck cSCC. Both factors were implicated with poorer responses to immune checkpoint inhibition, and the latter with poorer survival. CONCLUSIONS We identified tumour and host immune factors that contribute to the disparate clinical behaviour of cSCC, with broad translational application, including prognostication, treatment prediction to current therapies and the identification of novel anticancer therapy approaches in cSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alesha A Thai
- Department of Medical Oncology
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
- Research Division
| | | | - Mathias Bressel
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
- Centre for Biostatistics and Clinical Trials
| | | | - Lachlan McDowell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Albert Tiong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicholas W Bucknell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Andrew Fellowes
- Department of Pathology
- Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Huiling Xu
- Department of Pathology
- Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Anna Trigos
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
- Research Division
| | - Danny Rischin
- Department of Medical Oncology
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
| | - Benjamin J Solomon
- Department of Medical Oncology
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology
- Research Division
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7
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Wang B, Han Y, Zhang Y, Zhao Q, Wang H, Wei J, Meng L, Xin Y, Jiang X. Overcoming acquired resistance to cancer immune checkpoint therapy: potential strategies based on molecular mechanisms. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:120. [PMID: 37386520 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01073-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 to boost tumor-specific T lymphocyte immunity have opened up new avenues for the treatment of various histological types of malignancies, with the possibility of durable responses and improved survival. However, the development of acquired resistance to ICI therapy over time after an initial response remains a major obstacle in cancer therapeutics. The potential mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICI therapy are still ambiguous. In this review, we focused on the current understanding of the mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICIs, including the lack of neoantigens and effective antigen presentation, mutations of IFN-γ/JAK signaling, and activation of alternate inhibitory immune checkpoints, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, epigenetic modification, and dysbiosis of the gut microbiome. Further, based on these mechanisms, potential therapeutic strategies to reverse the resistance to ICIs, which could provide clinical benefits to cancer patients, are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yin Han
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Qin Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Institute of Chengdu, Department of Pathology, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Affiliated Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Huanhuan Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jinlong Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Lingbin Meng
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Ying Xin
- Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, 126 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 71 Xinmin Street, Changchun, 130021, China.
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology & Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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8
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van Weverwijk A, de Visser KE. Mechanisms driving the immunoregulatory function of cancer cells. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:193-215. [PMID: 36717668 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Tumours display an astonishing variation in the spatial distribution, composition and activation state of immune cells, which impacts their progression and response to immunotherapy. Shedding light on the mechanisms that govern the diversity and function of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment will pave the way for the development of more tailored immunomodulatory strategies for the benefit of patients with cancer. Cancer cells, by virtue of their paracrine and juxtacrine communication mechanisms, are key contributors to intertumour heterogeneity in immune contextures. In this Review, we discuss how cancer cell-intrinsic features, including (epi)genetic aberrations, signalling pathway deregulation and altered metabolism, play a key role in orchestrating the composition and functional state of the immune landscape, and influence the therapeutic benefit of immunomodulatory strategies. Moreover, we highlight how targeting cancer cell-intrinsic parameters or their downstream immunoregulatory pathways is a viable strategy to manipulate the tumour immune milieu in favour of antitumour immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoinette van Weverwijk
- Division of Tumour Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karin E de Visser
- Division of Tumour Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
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9
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Zhang J, Hu Z, Horta CA, Yang J. Regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition by tumor microenvironmental signals and its implication in cancer therapeutics. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 88:46-66. [PMID: 36521737 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been implicated in various aspects of tumor development, including tumor invasion and metastasis, cancer stemness, and therapy resistance. Diverse stroma cell types along with biochemical and biophysical factors in the tumor microenvironment impinge on the EMT program to impact tumor progression. Here we provide an in-depth review of various tumor microenvironmental signals that regulate EMT in cancer. We discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of EMT in therapy resistance and highlight new therapeutic approaches targeting the tumor microenvironment to impact EMT and tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Zhimin Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Calista A Horta
- Department of Pharmacology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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10
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Resistance to Trastuzumab. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14205115. [PMID: 36291900 PMCID: PMC9600208 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14205115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Trastuzumab is a humanized antibody that has significantly improved the management and treatment outcomes of patients with cancers that overexpress HER2. Many research groups, both in academia and industry, have contributed towards understanding the various mechanisms engaged by trastuzumab to mediate its anti-tumor effects. Nevertheless, data from several clinical studies have indicated that a significant proportion of patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance to trastuzumab therapy. In this article, we discuss underlying mechanisms that contribute towards to resistance. Furthermore, we discuss the potential strategies to overcome some of the mechanisms of resistance to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab and other therapies based on it. Abstract One of the most impactful biologics for the treatment of breast cancer is the humanized monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, which specifically recognizes the HER2/neu (HER2) protein encoded by the ERBB2 gene. Useful for both advanced and early breast cancers, trastuzumab has multiple mechanisms of action. Classical mechanisms attributed to trastuzumab action include cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Recent studies have identified the role of the adaptive immune system in the clinical actions of trastuzumab. Despite the multiple mechanisms of action, many patients demonstrate resistance, primary or adaptive. Newly identified molecular and cellular mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance include induction of immune suppression, vascular mimicry, generation of breast cancer stem cells, deregulation of long non-coding RNAs, and metabolic escape. These newly identified mechanisms of resistance are discussed in detail in this review, particularly considering how they may lead to the development of well-rationalized, patient-tailored combinations that improve patient survival.
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11
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Wang N, Gao X, Ji H, Ma S, Wu J, Dong J, Wang F, Zhao H, Liu Z, Yan X, Li B, Du J, Zhang J, Hu S. Machine learning-based screening of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related long non-coding RNA signature reveals lower-grade glioma prognosis and the tumor microenvironment and predicts antitumor therapy response. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:942966. [PMID: 36090045 PMCID: PMC9459009 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.942966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) confers high invasive and migratory capacity to cancer cells, which limits the effectiveness of tumor therapy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the dynamic process of EMT at different levels through various complex regulatory networks. We aimed to comprehensively analyze and screen EMT-related lncRNAs to characterize lower-grade glioma (LGG) tumor biology and provide new ideas for current therapeutic approaches. We retrieved 1065 LGG samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas by machine learning algorithms, identified three hub lncRNAs including CRNDE, LINC00665, and NEAT1, and established an EMT-related lncRNA signature (EMTrLS). This novel signature had strong prognostic value and potential clinical significance. EMTrLS described LGG genomic alterations and clinical features including gene mutations, tumor mutational burden, World Health Organization (WHO) grade, IDH status, and 1p/19q status. Notably, stratified analysis revealed activation of malignancy-related and metabolic pathways in the EMTrLS-high cohort. Moreover, the population with increased EMTrLS scores had increased cells with immune killing function. However, this antitumor immune function may be suppressed by increased Tregs and macrophages. Meanwhile, the relatively high expression of immune checkpoints explained the immunosuppressive state of patients with high EMTrLS scores. Importantly, we validated this result by quantifying the course of antitumor immunity. In particular, EMTrLS stratification enabled assessment of the responsiveness of LGG to chemotherapeutic drug efficacy and PD1 blockade. In conclusion, our findings complement the foundation of molecular studies of LGG, provide valuable insight into our understanding of EMT-related lncRNAs, and offer new strategies for LGG therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hang Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiasheng Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Dong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongtao Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiuwei Yan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taizhou First People’s Hospital, Taizhou, China
| | - Jianyang Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Jiheng Zhang, ; Jianyang Du, ; Shaoshan Hu,
| | - Jiheng Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Jiheng Zhang, ; Jianyang Du, ; Shaoshan Hu,
| | - Shaoshan Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emergency Medicine Center, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated to Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Jiheng Zhang, ; Jianyang Du, ; Shaoshan Hu,
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12
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Comprehensive Computational Analysis of Honokiol Targets for Cell Cycle Inhibition and Immunotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer Stem Cells. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4172531. [PMID: 35845599 PMCID: PMC9286982 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4172531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) play a critical role in chemoresistance, metastasis, and poor prognosis of breast cancer. BCSCs are mostly dormant, and therefore, activating them and modulating the cell cycle are important for successful therapy against BCSCs. The tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes BCSC survival and cancer progression, and targeting the TME can aid in successful immunotherapy. Honokiol (HNK), a bioactive polyphenol isolated from the bark and seed pods of Magnolia spp., is known to exert anticancer effects, such as inducing cell cycle arrest, inhibiting metastasis, and overcoming immunotherapy resistance in breast cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of HNK in BCSCs, as well as its effects on the cell cycle, remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of HNK on metastatic BCSC (mBCSC)-cell cycle arrest and the impact of the TME. Using bioinformatics analyses, we predicted HNK protein targets from several databases and retrieved the genes differentially expressed in mBCSCs from the GEO database. The intersection between the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and the HNK-targets was determined using a Venn diagram, and the results were analyzed using a protein-protein interaction network, hub gene selection, gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses, genetic alteration analysis, survival rate, and immune cell infiltration levels. Finally, the interaction between HNK and two HNK-targets regulating the cell cycle was analyzed using molecular docking analysis. The identified potential therapeutic targets of HNK (PTTH) included CCND1, SIRT2, AURKB, VEGFA, HDAC1, CASP9, HSP90AA1, and HSP90AB1, which can potentially inhibit the cell cycle of mBCSCs. Moreover, our results showed that PTTH could modulate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and HIF1/NFkB/pathways. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of HNK as an immunotherapeutic agent for mBCSCs by modulating the tumor immune environment.
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Tarek A, El-Sayed SK, Woodward WA, El-Shinawi M, Hirshon JM, Mohamed MM. Inflammatory Breast Cancer: The Cytokinome of Post-Mastectomy Wound Fluid Augments Proliferation, Invasion, and Stem Cell Markers. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2730-2744. [PMID: 35735628 PMCID: PMC9222108 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44060187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is an aggressive phenotype with a high recurrence and low survival rate. Approximately 90% of local breast cancer recurrences occur adjacent to the same quadrant as the initial cancer, implying that tumor recurrence may be caused by residual cancer cells and/or quiescent cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the tumor. We hypothesized that wound fluid (WF) collected after modified radical mastectomy (MRM) may activate cancer cells and CSCs, promoting epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion. Therefore, we characterized the cytokinome of WF drained from post-MRM cavities of non-IBC and IBC patients. The WF of IBC patients showed a significantly higher expression of various cytokines than in non-IBC patients. In vitro cell culture models of non-IBC and IBC cell lines were grown in media conditioned with and/without WF for 48 h. Afterwards, we assessed cell viability, the expression of CSCs and EMT-specific genes, and tumor invasion. Genes associated with CSCs properties and EMT markers were regulated in cells seeded in media conditioned by WF. IBC-WF exhibited a greater potential for inducing IBC cell invasion than non-IBC cells. The present study demonstrates the role of the post-surgical tumor cavity in IBC recurrence and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alshaimaa Tarek
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt;
| | - Shrouk Khalaf El-Sayed
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt;
- Maadi Military Hospital, Maadi, Cairo 11711, Egypt
| | - Wendy A. Woodward
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Welch Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Program and Clinic, Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Mohamed El-Shinawi
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt;
- Sector of International Cooperation, Galala University, Suez 43511, Egypt
| | - Jon Mark Hirshon
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Mona Mostafa Mohamed
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt;
- Sector of International Cooperation, Galala University, Suez 43511, Egypt
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14
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de Camargo MR, Frazon TF, Inacio KK, Smiderle FR, Amôr NG, Dionísio TJ, Santos CF, Rodini CO, Lara VS. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides inhibit in vitro tumorigenesis, cancer stem cell properties and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in oral squamous cell carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 286:114891. [PMID: 34910952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The polysaccharides of the millenary mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (GL) have been shown for decades to present anti-tumor activities, but few studies evaluated its importance on cancer stem cells and EMT process. Cancer stem cells (CSC) drive the development of carcinoma and are also involved in cancer treatment failure, being a good target for treatment success. Also, the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in metastasis and cancer relapse. Besides that, the increasing incidence worldwide of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) became a public health issue with a high rate of metastasis and poor quality of life for patients during and after treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY to evaluate G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPS) in vitro effects on OSCC, focusing on hallmarks associated with tumorigenesis using the SCC-9, a squamous cells carcinoma lineage from the tongue. MATERIALS AND METHODS SCC-9 cells were treated in vitro for 72h with different GLPS concentrations. The controls cells were maintained with culture media only and cisplatin was used as treatment control. After the treatment period, the cells were evaluated. RESULTS GLPS treatment changed cell morphology and granularity, delayed migration, decreased colony, and impaired sphere formation, thereby leading to a non-invasive and less proliferative behavior of tumoral cells. Additionally, GLPS downregulated CSC, EMT, and drug sensitivity (ABC) markers. CONCLUSIONS These results show that the natural product GLPS has the potential to be an important ally for tongue squamous cell carcinoma treatment, bringing the millenary compound to modern therapy, providing a basis for future studies and the improvement of life quality for OSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Rodrigues de Camargo
- Department of Surgery, Stomatology, Pathology and Radiology. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Talita Fonseca Frazon
- Department of Surgery, Stomatology, Pathology and Radiology. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Kelly Karina Inacio
- Department of Biological Sciences. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Fhernanda Ribeiro Smiderle
- Faculdades Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Nádia Ghinelli Amôr
- Department of Biological Sciences. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago José Dionísio
- Department of Biological Sciences. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ferreira Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Oliveira Rodini
- Department of Biological Sciences. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Soares Lara
- Department of Surgery, Stomatology, Pathology and Radiology. Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
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15
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Saha T, Lukong KE. Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells in Drug Resistance: A Review of Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 12:856974. [PMID: 35392236 PMCID: PMC8979779 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.856974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most frequent type of malignancy in women worldwide, and drug resistance to the available systemic therapies remains a major challenge. At the molecular level, breast cancer is heterogeneous, where the cancer-initiating stem-like cells (bCSCs) comprise a small yet distinct population of cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can differentiate into cells of multiple lineages, displaying varying degrees of cellular differentiation, enhanced metastatic potential, invasiveness, and resistance to radio- and chemotherapy. Based on the expression of estrogen and progesterone hormone receptors, expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and/or BRCA mutations, the breast cancer molecular subtypes are identified as TNBC, HER2 enriched, luminal A, and luminal B. Management of breast cancer primarily involves resection of the tumor, followed by radiotherapy, and systemic therapies including endocrine therapies for hormone-responsive breast cancers; HER2-targeted therapy for HER2-enriched breast cancers; chemotherapy and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors for TNBC, and the recent development of immunotherapy. However, the complex crosstalk between the malignant cells and stromal cells in the breast TME, rewiring of the many different signaling networks, and bCSC-mediated processes, all contribute to overall drug resistance in breast cancer. However, strategically targeting bCSCs to reverse chemoresistance and increase drug sensitivity is an underexplored stream in breast cancer research. The recent identification of dysregulated miRNAs/ncRNAs/mRNAs signatures in bCSCs and their crosstalk with many cellular signaling pathways has uncovered promising molecular leads to be used as potential therapeutic targets in drug-resistant situations. Moreover, therapies that can induce alternate forms of regulated cell death including ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and immunotherapy; drugs targeting bCSC metabolism; and nanoparticle therapy are the upcoming approaches to target the bCSCs overcome drug resistance. Thus, individualizing treatment strategies will eliminate the minimal residual disease, resulting in better pathological and complete response in drug-resistant scenarios. This review summarizes basic understanding of breast cancer subtypes, concept of bCSCs, molecular basis of drug resistance, dysregulated miRNAs/ncRNAs patterns in bCSCs, and future perspective of developing anticancer therapeutics to address breast cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taniya Saha
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Kiven Erique Lukong
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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16
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Anti-PD-L1 Antibody Enhances T Cell Immune Responses and Reduces Resistance of Breast Cancer Cells to Radiotherapy. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:5938688. [PMID: 35295718 PMCID: PMC8920704 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5938688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune escape is a frequent occurrence, which limits the duration of antitumor immune responses to radiotherapy. Here, we aimed to ascertain the roles and underlying mechanisms of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in tolerance of breast cancer (BC) to radiotherapy. We first quantified microRNA-21 (miR-21) and PD-L1 expression in BC tissues and cells, followed by identification of the interactions between miR-21, PD-L1, and programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4). miR-21 knock-in mice were used to construct tumor-bearing models, which were then treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody and irradiation, followed by measurement of tumor growth and tumor immune escape. Finally, we evaluated the synergistic effects of radiotherapy and anti-PD-L1 antibody in vivo. The results showed increased miR-21 expression in BC tissues and cells, which was positively correlated with PD-L1 expression. The treatment with radiotherapy or anti-PD-L1 antibody in the miR-21 knock-in mice diminished tumor weight and volume, along with decreased CD3+CD8+ positive cells, serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels, and lower PD-L1 expression, but augmented apoptosis of T and BC cells. Moreover, miR-21 significantly augmented PD-L1 expression via PI3K/Akt pathway activation by targeting PDCD4 in BC cells. Thus, radiotherapy and anti-PD-L1 antibody synergistically accelerated the therapeutic effect against BC in mice, thereby implicating a close interplay between radiotherapy, T cells, and the miR-21/PDCD4/PI3K/Akt/PD-L1 axis.
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17
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Yadav A, Kumar A, Siddiqui MH. Detection of circulating tumour cells in colorectal cancer: Emerging techniques and clinical implications. World J Clin Oncol 2021; 12:1169-1181. [PMID: 35070736 PMCID: PMC8716996 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i12.1169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite several advances in oncological management of colorectal cancer, morbidity and mortality are still high and devastating. The diagnostic evaluation by endoscopy is cumbersome, which is uncomfortable to many. Because of the intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity and changing tumour dynamics, which is continuous in nature, the diagnostic biopsy and assessment of the pathological sample are difficult and also not adequate. Late manifestation of the disease and delayed diagnosis may lead to relapse or metastases. One of the keys to improving the outcome is early detection of cancer, ease of technology to detect with uniformity, and its therapeutic implications, which are yet to come. "Liquid biopsy" is currently the most recent area of interest in oncology, which may provide important tools regarding the characterization of the primary tumour and its metastasis as cancer cells shed into the bloodstream even at the early stages of the disease. By using this approach, clinicians may be able to find out information about the tumour at a given time. Any of the following three types of sampling of biological material can be used in the "liquid biopsy". These are circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA, and exosomes. The most commonly studied amongst the three is CTCs. CTCs with their different applications and prognostic value has been found useful in colorectal cancer detection and therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss various markers for CTCs, the core tools/techniques for detection, and also important findings of clinical studies in colorectal cancer and its clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alka Yadav
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, Uttar Pradesh, India
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18
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Chou CH, Wang HK, Lin YC, Tsai DH, Lu MT, Ho CT, Hseu YC, Yang HL, Way TD. Bisdemethoxycurcumin Promotes Apoptosis and Inhibits the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition through the Inhibition of the G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 161/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:14557-14567. [PMID: 34813306 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death in the world and lacks an effective targeted therapy. G-protein-coupled receptor 161 (GPR161) has been demonstrated to perform the functional regulations on TNBC progression and might be a potential new target for TNBC therapy. This study showed the effects of bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC) on GPR161 regulation, indicating that BDMC effectively inhibited GPR161 expression and downregulated GPR161-driven signaling. BDMC showed the potent inhibitory effects on TNBC proliferation through suppressing GPR161-mediated mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/70 kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) activation. Besides, in this study, we discover the mechanism of GPR161-driven TNBC metastasis, linking to GPR161-mediated twist-related protein 1 (Twist1)/matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) contributing to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). BDMC effectively repressed GPR161-mediated TNBC metastasis via inhibiting Twist1/MMP9-induced EMT. The three-dimensional invasion assay also showed that BDMC significantly inhibited TNBC invasion. The combination treatment of BDMC and rapamycin enhanced the inhibition of TNBC proliferation and metastasis through increasing the blockage of mTOR activation. Furthermore, this study also observed that BDMC activated the caspase 3/9 signaling pathway to induce TNBC apoptosis. Therefore, BDMC could be applicable to anticancer therapy, especially targeting on the GPR161-driven cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hung Chou
- Ph.D. Program for Biotechnology Industry, College of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Kuang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 84001, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Chao Lin
- Division of Neurosurgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taichung Branch, Taichung 427, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Science, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan
| | - Dai-Hua Tsai
- Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Tien Lu
- Institute of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Tang Ho
- Department of Food Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - You-Cheng Hseu
- Department of Cosmeceutics, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ling Yang
- Institute of Nutrition, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
| | - Tzong-Der Way
- Ph.D. Program for Biotechnology Industry, College of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan
- Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, College of Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
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19
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Antimetastatic defense by CD8 + T cells. Trends Cancer 2021; 8:145-157. [PMID: 34815204 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is an intricate process whereby tumor cells migrate from the primary tumor, survive in the circulation, seed distal organs, and proliferate to create metastatic foci. CD8+ T cells can detect and eliminate tumor cells. Research on CD8+ T cell-dependent antitumor immunity has classically focused on its role in the primary tumor. There is increasing evidence, however, that CD8+ T cells have unique antimetastatic functions in various steps of the metastatic cascade. Here, we review the mechanisms whereby CD8+ T cells control metastatic lesions. We discuss their role in each step of metastasis, metastatic dormancy, and metastatic clonal evolution as well as the consequent clinical repercussions.
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20
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Khoshbakht S, Azimzadeh Jamalkandi S, Masudi-Nejad A. Involvement of immune system and Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition in increased invasiveness of clustered circulatory tumor cells in breast cancer. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:273. [PMID: 34801010 PMCID: PMC8605524 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-01112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are the critical initiators of distant metastasis formation. In which, the reciprocal interplay among different metastatic pathways and their metastasis driver genes which promote survival of CTCs is not well introduced using network approaches. Methods Here, to investigate the unknown pathways of single/cluster CTCs, the co-expression network was reconstructed, using WGCNA (Weighted Correlation Network Analysis) method. Having used the hierarchical clustering, we detected the Immune-response and EMT subnetworks. The metastatic potential of genes was assessed and validated through the support vector machine (SVM), neural network, and decision tree methods on two external datasets. To identify the active signaling pathways in CTCs, we reconstructed a casual network. The Log-Rank test and Kaplan–Meier curve were applied to detect prognostic gene signatures for distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Finally, a predictive model was developed for metastasis risk of patients using VIF-stepwise feature selection. Results Our results showed the crosstalk among EMT, the immune system, menstrual cycles, and the stemness pathway in CTCs. In which, fluctuation of menstrual cycles is a new detected pathway in breast cancer CTCs. The reciprocal association between immune responses and EMT was identified in CTCs. The SVM model indicated a high metastatic potential of EMT subnetwork (accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity scores were 87%). The DMFS model was identified to predict patients’ metastasis risks. (c-index = 0.7). Finally, novel metastatic biomarkers of KRT18 and KRT19 were detected in breast cancer CTCs. Conclusions In conclusion, the reciprocal interplay among critical unknown pathways in CTCs manifests both their survival in blood and metastatic potentials. Such findings may help to develop more precise predictive metastatic-risk models or detect pivotal metastatic biomarkers. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-021-01112-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samane Khoshbakht
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Department of Bioinformatics, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran
| | | | - Ali Masudi-Nejad
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Department of Bioinformatics, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish Island, Iran. .,Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB), Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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21
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Brabletz S, Schuhwerk H, Brabletz T, Stemmler MP. Dynamic EMT: a multi-tool for tumor progression. EMBO J 2021; 40:e108647. [PMID: 34459003 PMCID: PMC8441439 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021108647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 328] [Impact Index Per Article: 109.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is fundamental for embryonic morphogenesis. Cells undergoing it lose epithelial characteristics and integrity, acquire mesenchymal features, and become motile. In cancer, this program is hijacked to confer essential changes in morphology and motility that fuel invasion. In addition, EMT is increasingly understood to orchestrate a large variety of complementary cancer features, such as tumor cell stemness, tumorigenicity, resistance to therapy and adaptation to changes in the microenvironment. In this review, we summarize recent findings related to these various classical and non-classical functions, and introduce EMT as a true tumorigenic multi-tool, involved in many aspects of cancer. We suggest that therapeutic targeting of the EMT process will-if acknowledging these complexities-be a possibility to concurrently interfere with tumor progression on many levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1Nikolaus‐Fiebiger Center for Molecular MedicineFriedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Harald Schuhwerk
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1Nikolaus‐Fiebiger Center for Molecular MedicineFriedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Thomas Brabletz
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1Nikolaus‐Fiebiger Center for Molecular MedicineFriedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
| | - Marc P. Stemmler
- Department of Experimental Medicine 1Nikolaus‐Fiebiger Center for Molecular MedicineFriedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐NürnbergErlangenGermany
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22
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Kareva I, Luddy KA, O’Farrelly C, Gatenby RA, Brown JS. Predator-Prey in Tumor-Immune Interactions: A Wrong Model or Just an Incomplete One? Front Immunol 2021; 12:668221. [PMID: 34531851 PMCID: PMC8438324 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.668221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-immune interactions are often framed as predator-prey. This imperfect analogy describes how immune cells (the predators) hunt and kill immunogenic tumor cells (the prey). It allows for evaluation of tumor cell populations that change over time during immunoediting and it also considers how the immune system changes in response to these alterations. However, two aspects of predator-prey type models are not typically observed in immuno-oncology. The first concerns the conversion of prey killed into predator biomass. In standard predator-prey models, the predator relies on the prey for nutrients, while in the tumor microenvironment the predator and prey compete for resources (e.g. glucose). The second concerns oscillatory dynamics. Standard predator-prey models can show a perpetual cycling in both prey and predator population sizes, while in oncology we see increases in tumor volume and decreases in infiltrating immune cell populations. Here we discuss the applicability of predator-prey models in the context of cancer immunology and evaluate possible causes for discrepancies. Key processes include "safety in numbers", resource availability, time delays, interference competition, and immunoediting. Finally, we propose a way forward to reconcile differences between model predictions and empirical observations. The immune system is not just predator-prey. Like natural food webs, the immune-tumor community of cell types forms an immune-web of different and identifiable interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Kareva
- EMD Serono, Merck KGaA, Billerica, MA, United States
| | - Kimberly A. Luddy
- Department of Cancer Physiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cliona O’Farrelly
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Robert A. Gatenby
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Joel S. Brown
- Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, United States
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23
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The pan-cancer landscape of crosstalk between epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immune evasion relevant to prognosis and immunotherapy response. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:56. [PMID: 34158591 PMCID: PMC8219790 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00200-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An emerging body of evidence has recently recognized the coexistence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune response. However, a systems-level view and survey of the interplay between EMT and immune escape program, and their impact on tumor behavior and clinical outcome across various types of cancer is lacking. Here, we performed comprehensive multi-omics analyses to characterize the landscape of crosstalk between EMT and immune evasion and their clinical relevance across 17 types of solid cancer. Our study showed the presence of complex and dynamic immunomodulatory crosstalk between EMT and immune evasion shared by pan-cancer, and the crosstalk was significantly associated with cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response. Integrative quantitative analyses of genomics and immunogenomics revealed that cellular composition of immune infiltrates, non-synonymous mutation burden, chromosomal instability and oncogenic gene alterations are associated with the balance between EMT and immune evasion. Finally, we proposed a scoring model termed EMT-CYT Index (ECI) to quantify the EMT-immunity axis, which was a superior predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy response across different malignancies. By providing a systematic overview of crosstalk between EMT and immune evasion, our study highlights the potential of pan-cancer EMT-immunity crosstalk as a paradigm for dissecting molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression and guiding more effective and generalized immunotherapy strategies.
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Tsuchiya H, Shiota G. Immune evasion by cancer stem cells. Regen Ther 2021; 17:20-33. [PMID: 33778133 PMCID: PMC7966825 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunity represents a new avenue for cancer therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have successfully improved outcomes in several tumor types. In addition, currently, immune cell-based therapy is also attracting significant attention. However, the clinical efficacy of these treatments requires further improvement. The mechanisms through which cancer cells escape the immune response must be identified and clarified. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a central role in multiple aspects of malignant tumors. CSCs can initiate tumors in partially immunocompromised mice, whereas non-CSCs fail to form tumors, suggesting that tumor initiation is a definitive function of CSCs. However, the fact that non-CSCs also initiate tumors in more highly immunocompromised mice suggests that the immune evasion property may be a more fundamental feature of CSCs rather than a tumor-initiating property. In this review, we summarize studies that have elucidated how CSCs evade tumor immunity and create an immunosuppressive milieu with a focus on CSC-specific characteristics and functions. These profound mechanisms provide important clues for the development of novel tumor immunotherapies.
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Key Words
- ADCC, antibody-dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity
- ALDH, alcohol dehydrogenase
- AML, acute myeloid leukemia
- ARID3B, AT-rich interaction domain-containing protein 3B
- CCR7, C–C motif chemokine receptor 7
- CIK, cytokine-induced killer cell
- CMV, cytomegalovirus
- CSC, cancer stem cell
- CTL, cytotoxic T lymphocytes
- CTLA-4, cytotoxic T-cell-associated antigen-4
- Cancer stem cells
- DC, dendritic cell
- DNMT, DNA methyltransferase
- EMT, epithelial–mesenchymal transition
- ETO, fat mass and obesity associated protein
- EV, extracellular vesicle
- HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- Immune checkpoints
- Immune evasion
- KDM4, lysine-specific demethylase 4C
- KIR, killer immunoglobulin-like receptor
- LAG3, lymphocyte activation gene 3
- LILR, leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor
- LMP, low molecular weight protein
- LOX, lysyl oxidase
- MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cell
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- MIC, MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence
- NGF, nerve growth factor
- NK cells
- NK, natural killer
- NOD, nonobese diabetic
- NSG, NOD/SCID IL-2 receptor gamma chain null
- OCT4, octamer-binding transcription factor 4
- PD-1, programmed death receptor-1
- PD-L1/2, ligands 1/2
- PI9, protease inhibitor 9
- PSME3, proteasome activator subunit 3
- SCID, severe combined immunodeficient
- SOX2, sex determining region Y-box 2
- T cells
- TAM, tumor-associated macrophage
- TAP, transporter associated with antigen processing
- TCR, T cell receptor
- Treg, regulatory T cell
- ULBP, UL16 binding protein
- uPAR, urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Tsuchiya
- Division of Medical Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan
| | - Goshi Shiota
- Division of Medical Genetics and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori, 683-8503, Japan
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25
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Understanding breast cancer heterogeneity through non-genetic heterogeneity. Breast Cancer 2021; 28:777-791. [PMID: 33723745 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-021-01237-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Intricacy in treatment and diagnosis of breast cancer has been an obstacle due to genotype and phenotype heterogeneity. Understanding of non-genetic heterogeneity mechanisms along with considering role of genetic heterogeneity may fill the gaps in landscape painting of heterogeneity. The main factors contribute to non-genetic heterogeneity including: transcriptional pulsing/bursting or discontinuous transcriptions, stochastic partitioning of components at cell division and various signal transduction from tumor ecosystem. Throughout this review, we desired to provide a conceptual framework focused on non-genetic heterogeneity, which has been intended to offer insight into prediction, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
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Wang H, Ye F, Zhou C, Cheng Q, Chen H. High expression of ENPP1 in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma predicts poor prognosis and as a molecular therapy target. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245733. [PMID: 33635867 PMCID: PMC7909685 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the expression of ENPP1 is related to differentiation, death, dissemination and chemosensitivity of tumor cells. So far, there is no research in ovarian carcinoma. This study aimed at exploring the role of ENPP1 gene in ovarian carcinoma, the relationship with prognostic indicators and chemotherapy resistance, and investigates the possibility of molecular targeted therapy. The expression of ENPP1 in 41 normal ovarian epithelial tissues, 97 ovarian serous cystadenoma and 103 HGSOC tissues was detected by IHC. In ovarian cancer tissues and ovarian cancer cell lines, mRNA and protein expression of ENPP1 was determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The ENPP1 expression was knockdowned by siRNA. Cell proliferation was measured with the BrdU Cell Proliferation ELISA. Cell migration and invasion were detected by Wound-Healing, Transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assay. Caspase 3 activity was determined by the CaspACE. The expression of EMT markers such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin was measured, and the expression of PCNA and MMP9 was also be detected. The results showed that the expression of ENPP1 was significantly increased in high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma, the number of strong expression was 85.4% (22.3%+63.1%) and only 1.03% (1.03%+0.0%) in serous cystadenoma, but no in normal ovarian epithelium (P< 0.05). And the stronger the expression of ENPP1, the later the FIGO stage and the poorer differentiation of cells (P = 0.001 or <0.001, respectively). However, no correlation was found between the expression of ENPP1 and chemosensitivity. ENPP1 was also highly expressed in ovarian cancer tissues and in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines (A2780, CaoV3, OVCAR3, SKOV3 and 3ao). After down-regulation of ENPP1 expression by RNA interference, the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cell decreased significantly, the expression of apoptosis related gene caspase 3 increased significantly, while the expression of PCNA and MMP9 was significantly down regulated. In addition, EMT biological characteristics of A2780 and SKOV3 cells were also inhibited. In summary, the increased expression of ENPP1 may be related to the occurrence of HGSOC, and indicate that the disease progresses rapidly and the prognosis is poor. ENPP1 may be considered as a potential molecular therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanzhi Wang
- Women’s Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Feng Ye
- Women’s Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Caiyun Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Qi Cheng
- Women’s Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
| | - Huaizeng Chen
- Women’s Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China
- * E-mail:
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Marcucci F, Rumio C. The tumor-promoting effects of the adaptive immune system: a cause of hyperprogressive disease in cancer? Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:853-865. [PMID: 32940721 PMCID: PMC11072297 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03606-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Adaptive antitumor immune responses, either cellular or humoral, aim at eliminating tumor cells expressing the cognate antigens. There are some instances, however, where these same immune responses have tumor-promoting effects. These effects can lead to the expansion of antigen-negative tumor cells, tumor cell proliferation and tumor growth, metastatic dissemination, resistance to antitumor therapy and apoptotic stimuli, acquisition of tumor-initiating potential and activation of various forms of survival mechanisms. We describe the basic mechanisms that underlie tumor-promoting adaptive immune responses and try to identify the variables that induce the switching of a tumor-inhibitory, cellular or humoral immune response, into a tumor-promoting one. We suggest that tumor-promoting adaptive immune responses may be at the origin of at least a fraction of hyperprogressive diseases (HPD) that are observed in cancer patients during therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and, less frequently, with single-agent chemotherapy. We also propose the use of non-invasive biomarkers allowing to predict which patients may undergo HPD during ICI and other forms of antitumor therapy. Eventually, we suggest possibilities of therapeutic intervention allowing to inhibit tumor-promoting adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Marcucci
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Trentacoste 2, Milan, Italy.
| | - Cristiano Rumio
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, via Trentacoste 2, Milan, Italy
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28
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Spella M, Stathopoulos GT. Immune Resistance in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:384. [PMID: 33494181 PMCID: PMC7864325 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cancer killer worldwide, imposing grievous challenges for patients and clinicians. The incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the main histologic subtype of lung cancer, is still increasing in current-, ex-, and even non-smokers, whereas its five-year survival rate is approximately 15% as the vast majority of patients usually present with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. The generation of novel drugs targeting key disease driver mutations has created optimism for the treatment of LUAD, but, as these mutations are not universal, this therapeutic line benefits only a subset of patients. More recently, the advent of targeted immunotherapies and their documented clinical efficacy in many different cancers, including LUAD, have started to change cancer management. Immunotherapies have been developed in order to overcome the cancer's ability to develop mechanisms of immune resistance, i.e., to adapt to and evade the host inflammatory and immune responses. Identifying a cancer's immune resistance mechanisms will likely advance the development of personalized immunotherapies. This review examines the key pathways of immune resistance at play in LUAD and explores therapeutic strategies which can unleash potent antitumor immune responses and significantly improve therapeutic efficacy, quality of life, and survival in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda Spella
- Laboratory for Molecular Respiratory Carcinogenesis, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Patras, Rio, 26504 Achaia, Greece;
| | - Georgios T. Stathopoulos
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC), Institute for Lung Biology and Disease (iLBD), Helmholtz Center Munich–German Research Center for Environmental Health, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, 81377 Munich, Germany
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29
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Veerasubramanian PK, Trinh A, Akhtar N, Liu WF, Downing TL. Biophysical and epigenetic regulation of cancer stemness, invasiveness and immune action. CURRENT TISSUE MICROENVIRONMENT REPORTS 2020; 1:277-300. [PMID: 33817661 PMCID: PMC8015331 DOI: 10.1007/s43152-020-00021-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an amalgam of multiple dysregulated biophysical cues that can alter cellular behavior through mechanotransductive signaling and epigenetic modifications. Through this review, we seek to characterize the extent of biophysical and epigenetic regulation of cancer stemness and tumor-associated immune cells in order to identify ideal targets for cancer therapy. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies have identified cancer stemness and immune action as significant contributors to neoplastic disease, due to their susceptibility to microenvironmental influences. Matrix stiffening, altered vasculature, and resultant hypoxia within the TME can influence cancer stem cell (CSC) and immune cell behavior, as well as alter the epigenetic landscapes involved in cancer development. SUMMARY This review highlights the importance of aberrant biophysical cues in driving cancer progression through altered behavior of CSCs and immune cells, which in turn sustains further biophysical dysregulation. We examine current and potential therapeutic approaches that break this self-sustaining cycle of disease progression by targeting the presented biophysical and epigenetic signatures of cancer. We also summarize strategies including the normalization of the TME, targeted drug delivery, and inhibition of cancer-enabling epigenetic players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Krishna Veerasubramanian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Annie Trinh
- The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Navied Akhtar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Wendy F. Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Timothy L. Downing
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- The Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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30
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Tang C, Ma J, Liu X, Liu Z. Development and validation of a novel stem cell subtype for bladder cancer based on stem genomic profiling. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:457. [PMID: 33115513 PMCID: PMC7594303 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-01973-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bladder cancer (BLCA) is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide, with high recurrence and progression rates. Although considerable progress has been made in the treatment of BLCA through accurate typing of molecular characteristics, little is known regarding the various genetic and epigenetic changes that have evolved in stem and progenitor cells. To address this issue, we have developed a novel stem cell typing method. METHODS Based on six published genomic datasets, we used 26 stem cell gene sets to classify each dataset. Unsupervised and supervised machine learning methods were used to perform the classification. RESULTS We classified BLCA into three subtypes-high stem cell enrichment (SCE_H), medium stem cell enrichment (SCE_M), and low stem cell enrichment (SCE_L)-based on multiple cross-platform datasets. The stability and reliability of the classification were verified. Compared with the other subtypes, SCE_H had the highest degree of cancer stem cell concentration, highest level of immune cell infiltration, and highest sensitivity not only to predicted anti-PD-1 immunosuppressive therapy but also to conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, sunitinib, and vinblastine; however, this group had the worst prognosis. Comparison of gene set enrichment analysis results for pathway enrichment of various subtypes reveals that the SCE_H subtype activates the important pathways regulating cancer occurrence, development, and even poor prognosis, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition, hypoxia, angiogenesis, KRAS signal upregulation, interleukin 6-mediated JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and inflammatory response. Two identified pairs of transcription factors, GRHL2 and GATA6 and IRF5 and GATA3, possibly have opposite regulatory effects on SCE_H and SCE_L, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The identification of BLCA subtypes based on cancer stem cell gene sets revealed the complex mechanism of carcinogenesis of BLCA and provides a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaozhi Tang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Jiakang Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450014, China
| | - Xiuli Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, China
| | - Zhengchun Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin, 541001, China.
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31
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Shi R, Liu L, Wang F, He Y, Niu Y, Wang C, Zhang X, Zhang X, Zhang H, Chen M, Wang Y. Downregulation of cytokeratin 18 induces cellular partial EMT and stemness through increasing EpCAM expression in breast cancer. Cell Signal 2020; 76:109810. [PMID: 33069797 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cell (CSC) characteristics underlie the development of metastasis, chemoresistance, and tumor recurrence in breast cancer. Downregulation of cytokeratin 18 (CK18) is a critical molecular event of EMT; however, its importance in the induction of EMT and CSC features has not been defined to date. This study aimed to investigate the biological significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of CK18 in inducing EMT phenotype and stemness properties of breast cancer cells. Three breast cancer cell lines (i.e., non-metastatic MCF-7, highly metastatic MDA-MB-231, and mitoxantrone (MX)-selected resistant MCF-7/MX cells) and two CK18-knockdown stable cell clones (MCF-7-shCK18-7D and 3C) were used to determine the association between CK18 and EMT and stemness. CK18 expression was extremely low in highly metastatic, resistant, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-treated breast cancer cells with mesenchymal phenotype and increased expression of CSC markers. Depletion of CK18 promoted partial EMT and the acquisition of stemness properties in breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Mechanistically, CK18 interference in MCF-7 cells activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, resulting in the up-regulation of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). Consistently, the stemness properties and metastasis can be attenuated by further knockdown of EpCAM in CK18-depleted cells. In conclusion, downregulation of CK18 promotes partial EMT and enhances breast cancer stemness by increasing EpCAM expression partly via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. These findings indicate that CK18 may serve as a potential treatment target for advanced breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizan Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China.
| | - Linhong Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Fengge Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yifan He
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yanan Niu
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Xuanping Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- Technology Innovation Center, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Huifeng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China
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32
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Vermani L, Kumar R, Kannan RR, Deka MK, Talukdar A, Kumar NS. Expression pattern of ALDH1, E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist in early and late onset sporadic colorectal cancer. Biomark Med 2020; 14:1371-1382. [PMID: 33064013 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2020-0206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the expression pattern of ALDH1 (aldehyde dehydrogenase 1), E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist in early and late onset sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) and to study association of their expression with the occurrence of CRC at a young age. Materials & methods: Immunohistochemistry of ALDH1, E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist was performed on 103 pretreated CRC biopsy samples. Results: ALDH1 expression was found to have strong correlation with early onset CRC (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: High ALDH1 expression correlates with the early onset of CRC. ALDH1 over-expression correlates with poor overall survival in colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Litika Vermani
- Mizoram University, Biotechnology, Aizawl, Mizoram 796004, India
| | - Rajeev Kumar
- Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Research Silchar, 788015, India
| | | | - Monoj K Deka
- Silchar Medical College & Hospital, 788015, India
| | - Anuradha Talukdar
- Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Research Silchar, 788015, India
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Qi Y, Liu J, Chao J, Scheuerman MP, Rahimi SA, Lee LY, Li S. PTEN suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell activity by downregulating Abi1. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12685. [PMID: 32728066 PMCID: PMC7391766 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69698-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an embryonic program frequently reactivated during cancer progression and is implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis. Cancer cells can also acquire stem cell properties to self-renew and give rise to new tumors through the EMT. Inactivation of the tumor suppressor PTEN has been shown to induce the EMT, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are less understood. In this study, we reconstituted PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells with wild-type and mutant PTEN, demonstrating that restoration of PTEN expression converted cancer cells with mesenchymal traits to an epithelial phenotype and inhibited cancer stem cell (CSC) activity. The protein rather than the lipid phosphatase activity of PTEN accounts for the reversal of the EMT. PTEN dephosphorylates and downregulates Abi1 in breast cancer cells. Gain- and loss-of-function analysis indicates that upregulation of Abi1 mediates PTEN loss-induced EMT and CSC activity. These results suggest that PTEN may suppress breast cancer invasion and metastasis via dephosphorylating and downregulating Abi1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanmei Qi
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Joshua Chao
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Mark P Scheuerman
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Saum A Rahimi
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Leonard Y Lee
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA
| | - Shaohua Li
- Department of Surgery, Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson Street, MEB-687, New Brunswick, NJ, 08093, USA.
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34
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Cognart HA, Viovy JL, Villard C. Fluid shear stress coupled with narrow constrictions induce cell type-dependent morphological and molecular changes in SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6386. [PMID: 32286431 PMCID: PMC7156718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63316-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer mortality mainly arises from metastases, due to cells that escape from a primary tumor, circulate in the blood as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), permeate across blood vessels and nest in distant organs. It is still unclear how CTCs overcome the harsh conditions of fluid shear stress and mechanical constraints within the microcirculation. Here, a minimal model of the blood microcirculation was established through the fabrication of microfluidic channels comprising constrictions. Metastatic breast cancer cells of epithelial-like and mesenchymal-like phenotypes were flowed into the microfluidic device. These cells were visualized during circulation and analyzed for their dynamical behavior, revealing long-lived plastic deformations and significant differences in biomechanics between cell types. γ-H2AX staining of cells retrieved post-circulation showed significant increase of DNA damage response in epithelial-like SK-BR-3 cells, while gene expression analysis of key regulators of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition revealed significant changes upon circulation. This work thus documents first results of the changes at the cellular, subcellular and molecular scales induced by the two main mechanical stimuli arising from circulatory conditions, and suggest a significant role of this still elusive step of the metastatic cascade in cancer cells heterogeneity and aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamizah Ahmad Cognart
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France.,Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Viovy
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France.,Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Villard
- Institut Curie and Institut Pierre Gilles de Gennes, CNRS, UMR168, Paris, France. .,Université PSL, Paris, France.
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35
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El-Kenawi A, Hänggi K, Ruffell B. The Immune Microenvironment and Cancer Metastasis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2020; 10:a037424. [PMID: 31501262 PMCID: PMC7117953 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a037424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic interplay between neoplastic cells and the immune microenvironment regulates every step of the metastatic process. Immune cells contribute to invasion by secreting a cornucopia of inflammatory factors that promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and remodeling of the stroma. Cancer cells then intravasate to the circulatory system assisted by macrophages and use several pathways to avoid recognition by cytotoxtic lymphocytes and phagocytes. Circulating tumor cells that manage to adhere to the vasculature and encounter premetastic niches are able to use the associated myeloid cells to extravasate into ectopic organs and establish a dormant microscopic colony. If successful at avoiding repetitive immune attack, dormant cells can subsequently grow into overt, clinically detectable metastatic lesions, which ultimately account to most cancer-related deaths. Understanding how disseminated tumor cells evade and corrupt the immune system during the final stages of metastasis will be pivotal in developing new therapeutic modalities that combat metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa El-Kenawi
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Kay Hänggi
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
| | - Brian Ruffell
- Department of Immunology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
- Department of Breast Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA
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36
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The Prospect of Identifying Resistance Mechanisms for Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Using Circulating Tumor Cells: Is Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition a Key Player? Prostate Cancer 2020; 2020:7938280. [PMID: 32292603 PMCID: PMC7149487 DOI: 10.1155/2020/7938280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is initially driven by excessive androgen receptor (AR) signaling with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) being a major therapeutic approach to its treatment. However, the development of drug resistance is a significant limitation on the effectiveness of both first-line and more recently developed second-line ADTs. There is a need then to study AR signaling within the context of other oncogenic signaling pathways that likely mediate this resistance. This review focuses on interactions between AR signaling, the well-known phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT pathway, and an emerging mediator of these pathways, the Hippo/YAP1 axis in metastatic castrate-resistant PCa, and their involvement in the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a feature of disease progression and ADT resistance. Analysis of these pathways in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) may provide an opportunity to evaluate their utility as biomarkers and address their importance in the development of resistance to current ADT with potential to guide future therapies.
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37
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Nini A, Hoffmann MJ, Lampignano R, Große Siemer R, van Dalum G, Szarvas T, Cotarelo CL, Schulz WA, Niederacher D, Neubauer H, Stoecklein NH, Niegisch G. Evaluation of HER2 expression in urothelial carcinoma cells as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2020; 98:355-367. [PMID: 32212383 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC) by techniques based on epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is suboptimal in urothelial carcinoma (UC). As HER2 is thought to be broadly expressed in UC, we explored its utility for CTC detection. METHODS HER2 and EpCAM expression was analyzed in 18 UC cell lines (UCCs) by qRT-PCR, western blot and fluorescence-activated cell scanning (FACS) and compared to the strongly HER2-expressing breast cancer cell line SKBR3 and other controls. HER2 expression in UC patient tissues was measured by qRT PCR and correlated with data on survival and risk for metastasis. UCCs with high EpCAM and variable HER2 expression were used for spike-in experiments in the CellSearch system. Twenty-one blood samples from 13 metastatic UC patients were analyzed for HER2-positive CTCs with CellSearch. RESULTS HER2 mRNA and protein were broadly expressed in UCC, with some heterogeneity, but at least 10-fold lower than in the HER-2+ SKBR3 cells. Variations were unrelated to cellular phenotype or clinicopathological characteristics. EpCAM expression was essentially restricted to UCCs with epitheloid phenotypes. Heterogeneity of EpCAM and HER2 expression was observed also in spike-in experiments. The 7 of 21 blood samples from 6 of 13 patients were enumerated as CTC positive via EpCAM, but only one sample stained weakly positive (1+) for HER2. CONCLUSIONS Detection rate of CTCs by EpCAM in UC is poor, even in metastatic patients. Because of its widespread expression, particularly in patients with high risk of metastasis, detection of HER2 could improve identification of UC CTCs, which is why combined detection using antibodies for EpCAM and HER2 may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nini
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Department of Urology, Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany
| | - Michèle Janine Hoffmann
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Rita Lampignano
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert Große Siemer
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Guus van Dalum
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Tibor Szarvas
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Department of Urology, Semmelweis University Budapest, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Cristina Lopez Cotarelo
- Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Arthur Schulz
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Dieter Niederacher
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hans Neubauer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Nikolas Hendrik Stoecklein
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany.,Disseminated Cancer Cell Network (DCCNet) Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Günter Niegisch
- Department of Urology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
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38
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Li X, Sun B, Zhao X, An J, Zhang Y, Gu Q, Zhao N, Wang Y, Liu F. Function of BMP4 in the Formation of Vasculogenic Mimicry in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Cancer 2020; 11:2560-2571. [PMID: 32201526 PMCID: PMC7066000 DOI: 10.7150/jca.40558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is linked to vascular invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). BMP4, one BMP family member, is upregulated in several cancers. The purpose of this report is to identify the function of BMP4 in the formation of VM in HCC and the mechanism underling this regulation. In our report, BMP4 up-regulation resulted in an increase in migration, invasion and channel-like structure formation as well as induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and stem cell-associated proteins OCT4 and SOX2 expression in HCC cells. In addition, The VM-associated proteins, including EphA2, VE-cadherin and MMP2, also could be effectively enhanced by the overexpression of BMP4. Furthermore, according to the TCGA database, higher expression of BMP4 is seen in HCC in contrast to normal liver samples. Immunohistochemistry revealed that BMP4 was positively associated with VM formation, age, histological differentiation, HCC stage, and shorter survival duration. These data demonstrated that BMP4 could promote VM network formation in HCC through induction of stemness in EMT and modulating the EphA2/VE-cadherin/MMP2 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Baocun Sun
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Xiulan Zhao
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Jindan An
- Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China.,Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Qiang Gu
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department Of Pathology, General Hospital Of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300052, China.,Department Of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
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39
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Nobili S, Lapucci A, Landini I, Coronnello M, Roviello G, Mini E. Role of ATP-binding cassette transporters in cancer initiation and progression. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 60:72-95. [PMID: 31412294 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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40
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Dongre A, Weinberg RA. New insights into the mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and implications for cancer. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2019; 20:69-84. [PMID: 30459476 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-018-0080-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2138] [Impact Index Per Article: 427.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular programme that is known to be crucial for embryogenesis, wound healing and malignant progression. During EMT, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are remodelled, which leads to the detachment of epithelial cells from each other and the underlying basement membrane, and a new transcriptional programme is activated to promote the mesenchymal fate. In the context of neoplasias, EMT confers on cancer cells increased tumour-initiating and metastatic potential and a greater resistance to elimination by several therapeutic regimens. In this Review, we discuss recent findings on the mechanisms and roles of EMT in normal and neoplastic tissues, and the cell-intrinsic signals that sustain expression of this programme. We also highlight how EMT gives rise to a variety of intermediate cell states between the epithelial and the mesenchymal state, which could function as cancer stem cells. In addition, we describe the contributions of the tumour microenvironment in inducing EMT and the effects of EMT on the immunobiology of carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anushka Dongre
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert A Weinberg
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,MIT Ludwig Center for Molecular Oncology, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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41
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Yao N, Fu Y, Chen L, Liu Z, He J, Zhu Y, Xia T, Wang S. Long non-coding RNA NONHSAT101069 promotes epirubicin resistance, migration, and invasion of breast cancer cells through NONHSAT101069/miR-129-5p/Twist1 axis. Oncogene 2019; 38:7216-7233. [PMID: 31444414 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0904-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance, including epirubicin-based therapeutic resistance, is one of the major reasons responsible for the unfavorable prognosis of patients diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). Acquired chemoresistance and metastatic properties have been identified to be closely associated with the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Recently, dysregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been increasingly reported to perform promotive or suppressive functions in chemoresistance and EMT process in multiple cancers. However, relevant novel lncRNA participating in epirubicin resistance and EMT and its underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown in BC. Herein, we established the epirubicin-resistant breast cancer cell subline (MCF-7/ADR), which presented mesenchymal phenotype and increased metastatic potential. A panel of differentially expressed lncRNAs, including 268 upregulated and 49 downregulated lncRNAs, were identified by high-flux microarray investigation in MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells. The novel lncRNA NONHSAT101069 was significantly overexpressed in BC specimens, BC cell lines, and epirubicin-resistant cell sublines. The knockdown of NONHSAT101069 significantly repressed, whereas overexpression of NONHSAT101069 promoted the epirubicin resistance, migration, invasion and EMT process of BC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Further mechanism-related researches uncovered that NONHSAT101069 functioned as a ceRNA (competing endogenous RNA) via sponging miR-129-5p. Twist1 was a direct downstream protein of NONHSAT101069/miR-129-5p axis in BC cells. To conclude, NONHSAT101069 was upregulated in BC tissues and promoted epirubicin resistance, migration and invasion of BC cells via regulation of NONHSAT101069/miR-129-5p/Twist1 axis, highlighting its potential as an oncogene and a therapeutic biomarker for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Yao
- Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
- Department of Thyroid & Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Wuxi City Hospital of TCM, Wuxi, 214000, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Yue Fu
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Lie Chen
- Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Zhao Liu
- Department of Thyroid & Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 222100, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Jing He
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214000, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China
| | - Yichao Zhu
- Department of Physiology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.
| | - Tiansong Xia
- Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.
| | - Shui Wang
- Breast Disease Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, P. R. China.
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42
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Chen D, Wang CY. Targeting cancer stem cells in squamous cell carcinoma. PRECISION CLINICAL MEDICINE 2019; 2:152-165. [PMID: 31598386 PMCID: PMC6770277 DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pbz016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly aggressive tumor and the sixth
most common cancer worldwide. Current treatment strategies for HNSCC are surgery,
radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy or combinatorial therapies. However, the overall
5-year survival rate of HNSCC patients remains at about 50%. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a
small population among tumor cells, are able to self-renew and differentiate into
different tumor cell types in a hierarchical manner, similar to normal tissue. In HNSCC,
CSCs are proposed to be responsible for tumor initiation, progression, metastasis, drug
resistance, and recurrence. In this review, we discuss the molecular and cellular
characteristics of CSCs in HNSCC. We summarize current approaches used in the literature
for identification of HNSCC CSCs, and mechanisms required for CSC regulation. We also
highlight the role of CSCs in treatment failure and therapeutic targeting options for
eliminating CSCs in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demeng Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Cun-Yu Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Signaling, Division of Oral Biology and Medicine, School of Dentistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and Broad Stem Cell Research Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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43
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Makino S, Takahashi H, Okuzaki D, Miyoshi N, Haraguchi N, Hata T, Matsuda C, Yamamoto H, Mizushima T, Mori M, Doki Y. DCLK1 integrates induction of TRIB3, EMT, drug resistance and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. Carcinogenesis 2019; 41:303-312. [DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgz157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) promotes tumour proliferation in human colorectal cancer (CRC). To elucidate the mechanism and clinical relevance of this association, we performed expression analysis using commercially available colon carcinoma cell lines (SW480, HCT116, CaCO2, SW48 and SKCO1) and immunohistochemical analysis of 200 resected CRC samples for correlation with clinical features. DCLK1 showed a high level of expression, especially in SW480 and HCT116 cells. Silencing DCLK1 expression using short hairpin DCLK1 (shDCLK1) RNA inhibited the growth and invasion capacities of these cell lines, which showed signs of entering into the mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET). We found evidence of a strong correlation of DCLK1 expression with that of Tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), and silencing TRIB3 also led to the MET phenotype in these cells. In the clinical samples, compared with samples showing low expression of DCLK1, high expression was associated with poor prognosis in terms of overall and recurrence-free survival (P < 0.0001). The results of univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that high expression of DCLK1 in clinical colon cancer samples was tied to poor prognosis, cancer invasion depth and lymph node metastasis. DCLK1 expression correlates with malignant grade of colon cancer and offers a potential treatment target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunichiro Makino
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Norikatsu Miyoshi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Naotsugu Haraguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taishi Hata
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chu Matsuda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsunekazu Mizushima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Mori
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medicine, Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka Japan
| | - Yuichiro Doki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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44
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Das V, Bhattacharya S, Chikkaputtaiah C, Hazra S, Pal M. The basics of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT): A study from a structure, dynamics, and functional perspective. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:14535-14555. [PMID: 30723913 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key step in transdifferentiation process in solid cancer development. Forthcoming evidence suggest that the stratified program transforms polarized, immotile epithelial cells to migratory mesenchymal cells associated with enhancement of breast cancer stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance. It involves primarily several signaling pathways, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), cadherin, notch, plasminogen activator protein inhibitor, urokinase plasminogen activator, and WNT/beta catenin pathways. However, current understanding on the crosstalk of multisignaling pathways and assemblies of key transcription factors remain to be explored. In this review, we focus on the crosstalk of signal transduction pathways linked to the current therapeutic and drug development strategies. We have also performed the computational modeling on indepth the structure and conformational dynamic studies of regulatory proteins and analyze molecular interactions with their associate factors to understand the complicated process of EMT in breast cancer progression and metastasis. Electrostatic potential surfaces have been analyzed that help in optimization of electrostatic interactions between the protein and its ligand. Therefore, understanding the biological implications underlying the EMT process through molecular biology with biocomputation and structural biology approaches will enable the development of new therapeutic strategies to sensitize tumors to conventional therapy and suppress their metastatic phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Das
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division (Biotechnology Group), CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Sourya Bhattacharya
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR), Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Channakeshavaiah Chikkaputtaiah
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division (Biotechnology Group), CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Jorhat, Assam, India
| | - Saugata Hazra
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR), Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Mintu Pal
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division (Biotechnology Group), CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Jorhat, Assam, India
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45
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Role of the Microenvironment in Regulating Normal and Cancer Stem Cell Activity: Implications for Breast Cancer Progression and Therapy Response. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11091240. [PMID: 31450577 PMCID: PMC6770706 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11091240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial cells in an adult woman’s breast tissue are continuously replaced throughout their reproductive life during pregnancy and estrus cycles. Such extensive epithelial cell turnover is governed by the primitive mammary stem cells (MaSCs) that proliferate and differentiate into bipotential and lineage-restricted progenitors that ultimately generate the mature breast epithelial cells. These cellular processes are orchestrated by tightly-regulated paracrine signals and crosstalk between breast epithelial cells and their tissue microenvironment. However, current evidence suggests that alterations to the communication between MaSCs, epithelial progenitors and their microenvironment plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis. In this article, we review the current knowledge regarding the role of the breast tissue microenvironment in regulating the special functions of normal and cancer stem cells. Understanding the crosstalk between MaSCs and their microenvironment will provide new insights into how an altered breast tissue microenvironment could contribute to breast cancer development, progression and therapy response and the implications of this for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to target cancer stem cells.
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46
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Enciso J, Pelayo R, Villarreal C. From Discrete to Continuous Modeling of Lymphocyte Development and Plasticity in Chronic Diseases. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1927. [PMID: 31481957 PMCID: PMC6710364 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular events leading to differentiation, development, and plasticity of lymphoid cells have been subject of intense research due to their key roles in multiple pathologies, such as lymphoproliferative disorders, tumor growth maintenance and chronic diseases. The emergent roles of lymphoid cells and the use of high-throughput technologies have led to an extensive accumulation of experimental data allowing the reconstruction of gene regulatory networks (GRN) by integrating biochemical signals provided by the microenvironment with transcriptional modules of lineage-specific genes. Computational modeling of GRN has been useful for the identification of molecular switches involved in lymphoid specification, prediction of microenvironment-dependent cell plasticity, and analyses of signaling events occurring downstream the activation of antigen recognition receptors. Among most common modeling strategies to analyze the dynamical behavior of GRN, discrete dynamic models are widely used for their capacity to capture molecular interactions when a limited knowledge of kinetic parameters is present. However, they are less powerful when modeling complex systems sensitive to biochemical gradients. To compensate it, discrete models may be transformed into regulatory networks that includes state variables and parameters varying within a continuous range. This approach is based on a system of differential equations dynamics with regulatory interactions described by fuzzy logic propositions. Here, we discuss the applicability of this method on modeling of development and plasticity processes of adaptive lymphocytes, and its potential implications in the study of pathological landscapes associated to chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Enciso
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rosana Pelayo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Oriente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos Villarreal
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Física Cuántica y Fotónica, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Atukorale PU, Raghunathan SP, Raguveer V, Moon TJ, Zheng C, Bielecki PA, Wiese ML, Goldberg AL, Covarrubias G, Hoimes CJ, Karathanasis E. Nanoparticle Encapsulation of Synergistic Immune Agonists Enables Systemic Codelivery to Tumor Sites and IFNβ-Driven Antitumor Immunity. Cancer Res 2019; 79:5394-5406. [PMID: 31431457 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-0381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Effective cancer immunotherapy depends on the robust activation of tumor-specific antigen-presenting cells (APC). Immune agonists encapsulated within nanoparticles (NP) can be delivered to tumor sites to generate powerful antitumor immune responses with minimal off-target dissemination. Systemic delivery enables widespread access to the microvasculature and draining to the APC-rich perivasculature. We developed an immuno-nanoparticle (immuno-NP) coloaded with cyclic diguanylate monophosphate, an agonist of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, and monophosphoryl lipid A, and a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist, which synergize to produce high levels of type I IFNβ. Using a murine model of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, systemic delivery of these immuno-NPs resulted in significant therapeutic outcomes due to extensive upregulation of APCs and natural killer cells in the blood and tumor compared with control treatments. These results indicate that NPs can facilitate systemic delivery of multiple immune-potentiating cargoes for effective APC-driven local and systemic antitumor immunity. SIGNIFICANCE: Systemic administration of an immuno-nanoparticle in a murine breast tumor model drives a robust tumor site-specific APC response by delivering two synergistic immune-potentiating molecules, highlighting the potential of nanoparticles for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhani U Atukorale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Shruti P Raghunathan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Vanitha Raguveer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Taylor J Moon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Carolyn Zheng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Peter A Bielecki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Michelle L Wiese
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Amy L Goldberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Gil Covarrubias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Christopher J Hoimes
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Efstathios Karathanasis
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. .,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.,Case Center for Imaging Research, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
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48
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Hill BS, Sarnella A, D'Avino G, Zannetti A. Recruitment of stromal cells into tumour microenvironment promote the metastatic spread of breast cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 60:202-213. [PMID: 31377307 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Currently, metastasis remains the primary cause of death of patients with breast cancer despite the important advances in the treatment of this disease. In the complex tumour microenvironment network, several malignant and non-malignant cell types as well as components of extracellular matrix cooperate in promoting the metastatic spread of breast carcinoma. Many components of the stromal compartment are recruited from distant sites to the tumour including mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, macrophages and other immune cells whereas other cells such as fibroblasts are already present in both primary and secondary lesions. When these cells come into contact with cancer cells they are "educated" and acquire a pro-tumoural phenotype, which support all the steps of the metastatic cascade. In this Review, we highlight the role played by each stromal component in guiding cancer cells in their venture towards colonizing metastatic sites.
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Hata T, Rajabi H, Yamamoto M, Jin C, Ahmad R, Zhang Y, Kui L, Li W, Yasumizu Y, Hong D, Miyo M, Hiraki M, Maeda T, Suzuki Y, Takahashi H, Samur M, Kufe D. Targeting MUC1-C Inhibits TWIST1 Signaling in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:1744-1754. [PMID: 31308076 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The oncogenic MUC1-C protein and the TWIST1 epithelial-mesenchymal transition transcription factor (EMT-TF) are aberrantly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. However, there is no known association between MUC1-C and TWIST1 in TNBC or other cancer cells. Here, we show that MUC1-C activates STAT3, and that MUC1-C and pSTAT3 drive induction of the TWIST1 gene. In turn, MUC1-C binds directly to TWIST1, and MUC1-C/TWIST1 complexes activate MUC1-C expression in an autoinductive circuit. The functional significance of the MUC1-C/TWIST1 circuit is supported by the demonstration that this pathway is sufficient for driving (i) the EMT-TFs, ZEB1 and SNAIL, (ii) multiple genes in the EMT program as determined by RNA-seq, and (iii) the capacity for cell invasion. We also demonstrate that the MUC1-C/TWIST1 circuit drives (i) expression of the stem cell markers SOX2, BMI1, ALDH1, and CD44, (ii) self-renewal capacity, and (iii) tumorigenicity. In concert with these results, we show that MUC1-C and TWIST1 also drive EMT and stemness in association with acquired paclitaxel (PTX) resistance. Of potential therapeutic importance, targeting MUC1-C and thereby TWIST1 reverses the PTX refractory phenotype as evidenced by synergistic activity with PTX against drug-resistant cells. These findings uncover a master role for MUC1-C in driving the induction of TWIST1, EMT, stemness, and drug resistance, and support MUC1-C as a highly attractive target for inhibiting TNBC plasticity and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsuyoshi Hata
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hasan Rajabi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Masaaki Yamamoto
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Caining Jin
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rehan Ahmad
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yan Zhang
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ling Kui
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Wei Li
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yota Yasumizu
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deli Hong
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Masaaki Miyo
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Masayuki Hiraki
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Takahiro Maeda
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yozo Suzuki
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hidekazu Takahashi
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mehmet Samur
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Donald Kufe
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
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Ahmad A, Jan BL, Raish M, Rachamalla HKR, Banerjee R, Mukhopadhyay D, Alkharfy KM. Evaluation of the in vivo genotoxicity of liposomal formulation for delivering anticancer estrogenic derivative (ESC8) in a mouse model. Saudi Pharm J 2019; 27:637-642. [PMID: 31297017 PMCID: PMC6598449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The genotoxic potential of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-targeted liposomal formulations of the anticancer drug molecule ESC8 was studied in vivo. A methodical literature review discovered no previous studies on the genotoxicity of ESC8. Genotoxicity was assessed in both male and female mice by various assay systems, such as comet assay, chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei assay, which detect different abnormalities. Eleven groups of male mice and eleven groups of female mice, containing six animals per group, were used in the present study: group I served as vehicle control; group II received the positive control (cyclophosphamide 40 mg/kg; CYP); and animals in group III to XI received free drug (ESC8), DX liposome and drug-associated DX liposomal formulation (DXE), respectively, dissolved in 5% solution of glucose at a drug-dose of 1.83, 3.67 and 7.34 mg/kg, respectively. Same drug treatments were followed for the female mice groups. The obtained data revealed the safety of DXE, which did not show substantial genotoxic effects at different dose levels. In contrast, the positive control, CYP, exhibited highly substantial irregular cytogenetic variations in comparison with the control group in different assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaz Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basit Latief Jan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Raish
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Rajkumar Banerjee
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India
| | | | - Khalid M. Alkharfy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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