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Limonta P, Chiaramonte R, Casati L. Unveiling the Dynamic Interplay between Cancer Stem Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment in Melanoma: Implications for Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2861. [PMID: 39199632 PMCID: PMC11352669 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma still represents a significant health burden worldwide, being responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths. Key advances in therapeutic strategies have significantly improved patient outcomes; however, most patients experience drug resistance and tumor relapse. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cells in different tumors, including melanoma, endowed with distinctive capacities of self-renewal and differentiation into bulk tumor cells. Melanoma CSCs are characterized by the expression of specific biomarkers and intracellular pathways; moreover, they play a pivotal role in tumor onset, progression and drug resistance. In recent years, great efforts have been made to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the protumor activities of melanoma CSCs to provide the basis for novel CSC-targeted therapies. Herein, we highlight the intricate crosstalk between melanoma CSCs and bystander cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cells, endothelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and its role in melanoma progression. Specifically, we discuss the peculiar capacities of melanoma CSCs to escape the host immune surveillance, to recruit immunosuppressive cells and to educate immune cells toward an immunosuppressive and protumor phenotype. We also address currently investigated CSC-targeted strategies that could pave the way for new promising therapeutic approaches for melanoma care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences “R. Paoletti”, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Chiaramonte
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy;
| | - Lavinia Casati
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy;
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2
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Tai Y, Chow A, Han S, Coker C, Ma W, Gu Y, Estrada Navarro V, Kandpal M, Hibshoosh H, Kalinsky K, Manova-Todorova K, Safonov A, Walsh EM, Robson M, Norton L, Baer R, Merghoub T, Biswas AK, Acharyya S. FLT1 activation in cancer cells promotes PARP-inhibitor resistance in breast cancer. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:1957-1980. [PMID: 38956205 PMCID: PMC11319505 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00094-2] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Acquired resistance to PARP inhibitors (PARPi) remains a treatment challenge for BRCA1/2-mutant breast cancer that drastically shortens patient survival. Although several resistance mechanisms have been identified, none have been successfully targeted in the clinic. Using new PARPi-resistance models of Brca1- and Bard1-mutant breast cancer generated in-vivo, we identified FLT1 (VEGFR1) as a driver of resistance. Unlike the known role of VEGF signaling in angiogenesis, we demonstrate a novel, non-canonical role for FLT1 signaling that protects cancer cells from PARPi in-vivo through a combination of cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic pathways. We demonstrate that FLT1 blockade suppresses AKT activation, increases tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells, and causes dramatic regression of PARPi-resistant breast tumors in a T-cell-dependent manner. Moreover, PARPi-resistant tumor cells can be readily re-sensitized to PARPi by targeting Flt1 either genetically (Flt1-suppression) or pharmacologically (axitinib). Importantly, a retrospective series of breast cancer patients treated with PARPi demonstrated shorter progression-free survival in cases with FLT1 activation at pre-treatment. Our study therefore identifies FLT1 as a potential therapeutic target in PARPi-resistant, BRCA1/2-mutant breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Tai
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, QC, H3G0B1, Canada
| | - Angela Chow
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Seoyoung Han
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Jacobs School of Medicine, University of Buffalo, New York, NY, USA
| | - Courtney Coker
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Wanchao Ma
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yifan Gu
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Valeria Estrada Navarro
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Manoj Kandpal
- Centre for Clinical and Translational Science, Rockefeller University Hospital, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Hanina Hibshoosh
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, 630 W 168th St, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kevin Kalinsky
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Emory University School of Medicine, 1365 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Katia Manova-Todorova
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Drukier Institute for Children's Health, Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anton Safonov
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Elaine M Walsh
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, 3800 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington DC, 20007, USA
| | - Mark Robson
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Larry Norton
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Richard Baer
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, 630 W 168th St, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Taha Merghoub
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Anup K Biswas
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, 630 W 168th St, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Swarnali Acharyya
- Institute for Cancer Genetics, 1130 St Nicholas Avenue, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, 630 W 168th St, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1130 St. Nicholas Ave, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
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3
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Malekan M, Haass NK, Rokni GR, Gholizadeh N, Ebrahimzadeh MA, Kazeminejad A. VEGF/VEGFR axis and its signaling in melanoma: Current knowledge toward therapeutic targeting agents and future perspectives. Life Sci 2024; 345:122563. [PMID: 38508233 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122563] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Melanoma is responsible for most skin cancer-associated deaths globally. The progression of melanoma is influenced by a number of pathogenic processes. Understanding the VEGF/VEGFR axis, which includes VEGF-A, PlGF, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D and their receptors, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, is of great importance in melanoma due to its crucial role in angiogenesis. This axis generates multifactorial and complex cellular signaling, engaging the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, PKC, PLC-γ, and FAK signaling pathways. Melanoma cell growth and proliferation, migration and metastasis, survival, and acquired resistance to therapy are influenced by this axis. The VEGF/VEGFR axis was extensively examined for their potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers in melanoma patients and results showed that VEGF overexpression can be associated with unfavorable prognosis, higher level of tumor invasion and poor response to therapy. MicroRNAs linking to the VEGF/VEGFR axis were identified and, in this review, divided into two categories according to their functions, some of them promote melanoma angiogenesis (promotive group) and some restrict melanoma angiogenesis (protective group). In addition, the approach of treating melanoma by targeting the VEGF/VEGFR axis has garnered significant interest among researchers. These agents can be divided into two main groups: anti-VEGF and VEGFR inhibitors. These therapeutic options may be a prominent step along with the modern targeting and immune therapies for better coverage of pathological processes leading to melanoma progression and therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Malekan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
| | | | - Ghasem Rahmatpour Rokni
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Nasim Gholizadeh
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Armaghan Kazeminejad
- Department of Dermatology, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences,Sari, Iran
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4
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Hsu JL, Leu WJ, Hsu LC, Hsieh CH, Guh JH. Doxazosin inhibits vasculogenic mimicry in human non‑small cell lung cancer through inhibition of the VEGF‑A/VE‑cadherin/mTOR/MMP pathway. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:170. [PMID: 38455663 PMCID: PMC10918514 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and ~85% of lung cancers are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which has a low 5-year overall survival rate and high mortality. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed, such as targeted therapy, immuno-oncotherapy and combination therapy. However, the low survival rate indicates the urgent need for new NSCLC treatments. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an endothelial cell-free tumor blood supply system of aggressive and metastatic tumor cells present during tumor neovascularization. VM is clinically responsible for tumor metastasis and resistance, and is correlated with poor prognosis in NSCLC, making it a potential therapeutic target. In the present study, A549 cells formed glycoprotein-rich lined tubular structures, and transcript levels of VM-related genes were markedly upregulated in VM-forming cells. Based on a drug repurposing strategy, it was demonstrated that doxazosin (an antihypertensive drug) displayed inhibitory activity on VM formation at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Doxazosin significantly reduced the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the cell media during VM formation. Further experiments revealed that the protein expression levels of VEGF-A and vascular endothelial-cadherin (VE-cadherin), which contribute to tumor aggressiveness and VM formation, were downregulated following doxazosin treatment. Moreover, the downstream signaling Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2)/AKT/mTOR/MMP/Laminin-5γ2 network was inhibited in response to doxazosin treatment. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that doxazosin displayed anti-VM activity in an NSCLC cell model through the downregulation of VEGF-A and VE-cadherin levels, and the suppression of signaling pathways related to the receptor tyrosine kinase, EphA2, protein kinases, AKT and mTOR, and proteases, MMP-2 and MMP-9. These results support the add-on anti-VM effect of doxazosin as a potential agent against NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Ling Hsu
- Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chang-Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, R.O.C
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City 236, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Wohn-Jenn Leu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Lih-Ching Hsu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chia-Hsun Hsieh
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City 236, Taiwan, R.O.C
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, R.O.C
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jih-Hwa Guh
- School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, R.O.C
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5
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Wang Y, Zou L, Song M, Zong J, Wang S, Meng L, Jia Z, Zhao L, Han X, Lu M. Establishment of skin cutaneous melanoma prognosis model based on vascular mimicry risk score. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e36679. [PMID: 38363903 PMCID: PMC10869071 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies have indicated that Vascular mimicry (VM) could contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Thus, the objective of this study was to identify therapeutic targets associated with VM in SKCM and develop a novel prognostic model. Gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) were utilized to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). By intersecting these DEGs with VM genes, we acquired VM-related DEGs specific to SKCM, and then identified prognostic-related VM genes. A VM risk score system was established based on these prognosis-associated VM genes, and patients were then categorized into high- and low-score groups using the median score. Subsequently, differences in clinical characteristics, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and other analyses were further presented between the 2 groups of patients. Finally, a novel prognostic model for SKCM was established using the VM score and clinical characteristics. 26 VM-related DEGs were identified in SKCM, among the identified DEGs associated with VM in SKCM, 5 genes were found to be prognostic-related. The VM risk score system, comprised of these genes, is an independent prognostic risk factor. There were significant differences between the 2 patient groups in terms of age, pathological stage, and T stage. VM risk scores are associated with epithelial biological processes, angiogenesis, regulation of the SKCM immune microenvironment, and sensitivity to targeted drugs. The novel prognostic model demonstrates excellent predictive ability. Our study identified VM-related prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for SKCM, providing novel insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Wang
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Linxuan Zou
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Mingzhi Song
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Junwei Zong
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Shouyu Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Lei Meng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua Medical University, Hengyang, China
| | - Zhuqiang Jia
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Naqu People’s Hospital, Tibet, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Quality Management, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
| | - Xin Han
- Naqu People’s Hospital, Tibet, China
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ming Lu
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital, Dalian, China
- Department of Trauma and Tissue Repair Surgery, Dalian Municipal Central Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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6
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Ma X, Geng Z, Wang S, Yu Z, Liu T, Guan S, Du S, Zhu C. The driving mechanism and targeting value of mimicry between vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells in tumor progression. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115029. [PMID: 37343434 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The difficulty and poor prognosis of malignant tumor have always been a difficult problem to be solved. The internal components of solid tumor are complex, including tumor cells, stromal cells and immune cells, which play an important role in tumor proliferation, migration, metastasis and drug resistance. Hence, targeting of only the tumor cells will not likely improve survival. Various studies have reported that tumor cells and endothelial cells have high plasticity, which is reflected in the fact that they can simulate each other's characteristics by endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and vasculogenic mimicry (VM). In this paper, this mutual mimicry concept was integrated and reviewed for the first time, and their similarities and implications for tumor development are discussed. At the same time, possible therapeutic methods are proposed to provide new directions and ideas for clinical targeted therapy and immunotherapy of tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- Department of Clinical Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Ziang Geng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Sanhao Street 36, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Zhongxue Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound, The First hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Tiancong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Sanhao Street 36, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| | - Shu Guan
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
| | - Shaonan Du
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Sanhao Street 36, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| | - Chen Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Nanjing Street 155, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
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Razi S, Haghparast A, Chodari Khameneh S, Ebrahimi Sadrabadi A, Aziziyan F, Bakhtiyari M, Nabi-Afjadi M, Tarhriz V, Jalili A, Zalpoor H. The role of tumor microenvironment on cancer stem cell fate in solid tumors. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:143. [PMID: 37328876 PMCID: PMC10273768 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, the role of cancer stem cells in initiating tumors, metastasis, invasion, and resistance to therapies has been recognized as a potential target for tumor therapy. Understanding the mechanisms by which CSCs contribute to cancer progression can help to provide novel therapeutic approaches against solid tumors. In this line, the effects of mechanical forces on CSCs such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cellular plasticity, etc., the metabolism pathways of CSCs, players of the tumor microenvironment, and their influence on the regulating of CSCs can lead to cancer progression. This review focused on some of these mechanisms of CSCs, paving the way for a better understanding of their regulatory mechanisms and developing platforms for targeted therapies. While progress has been made in research, more studies will be required in the future to explore more aspects of how CSCs contribute to cancer progression. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Razi
- Vira Pioneers of Modern Science (VIPOMS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Amin Ebrahimi Sadrabadi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran
- Cytotech and Bioinformatics Research Group, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 5163639888, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Arsalan Jalili
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran.
- Parvaz Research Ideas Supporter Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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8
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Andreucci E, Peppicelli S, Ruzzolini J, Bianchini F, Calorini L. Physicochemical aspects of the tumour microenvironment as drivers of vasculogenic mimicry. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:935-951. [PMID: 36224457 PMCID: PMC9758104 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10067-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Tumour vascularisation is vital for cancer sustainment representing not only the main source of nutrients and oxygen supply but also an escape route for single or clustered cancer cells that, once detached from the primary mass, enter the blood circulation and disseminate to distant organs. Among the mechanisms identified to contribute to tumour vascularisation, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is gaining increasing interest in the scientific community representing an intriguing target for cancer treatment. VM indeed associates with highly aggressive tumour phenotypes and strongly impairs patient outcomes. Differently from vessels of healthy tissues, tumour vasculature is extremely heterogeneous and tortuous, impeding efficient chemotherapy delivery, and at the meantime hyperpermeable and thus extremely accessible to metastasising cancer cells. Moreover, tumour vessel disorganisation creates a self-reinforcing vicious circle fuelling cancer malignancy and progression. Because of the inefficient oxygen delivery and metabolic waste removal from tumour vessels, many cells within the tumour mass indeed experience hypoxia and acidosis, now considered hallmarks of cancer. Being strong inducers of vascularisation, therapy resistance, inflammation and metastasis, hypoxia and acidosis create a permissive microenvironment for cancer progression and dissemination. Along with these considerations, we decided to focus our attention on the relationship between hypoxia/acidosis and VM. Indeed, besides tumour angiogenesis, VM is strongly influenced by both hypoxia and acidosis, which could potentiate each other and fuel this vicious circle. Thus, targeting hypoxia and acidosis may represent a potential target to treat VM to impair tumour perfusion and cancer cell sustainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Andreucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Peppicelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Jessica Ruzzolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Bianchini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Lido Calorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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9
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Lim JS, Shi Y, Park SH, Jeon SM, Zhang C, Park YY, Liu R, Li J, Cho WS, Du L, Lee JH. Mutual regulation between phosphofructokinase 1 platelet isoform and VEGF promotes glioblastoma tumor growth. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1002. [PMID: 36435833 PMCID: PMC9701207 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05449-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly vascular malignant brain tumor that overexpresses vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphofructokinase 1 platelet isoform (PFKP), which catalyzes a rate-limiting reaction in glycolysis. However, whether PFKP and VEGF are reciprocally regulated during GBM tumor growth remains unknown. Here, we show that PFKP can promote EGFR activation-induced VEGF expression in HIF-1α-dependent and -independent manners in GBM cells. Importantly, we demonstrate that EGFR-phosphorylated PFKP Y64 has critical roles in both AKT/SP1-mediated transcriptional expression of HIF-1α and in the AKT-mediated β-catenin S552 phosphorylation, to fully enhance VEGF transcription, subsequently promoting blood vessel formation and brain tumor growth. Levels of PFKP Y64 phosphorylation in human GBM specimens are positively correlated with HIF-1α expression, β-catenin S552 phosphorylation, and VEGF expression. Conversely, VEGF upregulates PFKP expression in a PFKP S386 phosphorylation-dependent manner, leading to increased PFK enzyme activity, aerobic glycolysis, and proliferation in GBM cells. These findings highlight a novel mechanism underlying the mutual regulation that occurs between PFKP and VEGF for promoting GBM tumor growth and also suggest that targeting the PFKP/VEGF regulatory loop might show therapeutic potential for treating GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Je Sun Lim
- grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea
| | - YuJie Shi
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 P.R. China
| | - Su Hwan Park
- grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea
| | - So Mi Jeon
- grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea
| | - Chuanbao Zhang
- grid.24696.3f0000 0004 0369 153XDepartment of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070 P.R. China
| | - Yun-Yong Park
- grid.254224.70000 0001 0789 9563Department of life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974 Republic of Korea
| | - Rui Liu
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 P.R. China
| | - Jing Li
- grid.13291.380000 0001 0807 1581State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Research Unit of Oral Carcinogenesis and Management, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041 P.R. China
| | - Wan-Seob Cho
- grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea
| | - Linyong Du
- grid.268099.c0000 0001 0348 3990Key Laboratory of Laboratory of Medicine, Ministry of Education of China, School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000 P.R. China
| | - Jong-Ho Lee
- grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Health Sciences, The Graduate School of Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea ,grid.255166.30000 0001 2218 7142Department of Biomedical Sciences, Dong-A University, Busan, 49315 Republic of Korea
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10
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Hashemi G, Dight J, Khosrotehrani K, Sormani L. Melanoma Tumour Vascularization and Tissue-Resident Endothelial Progenitor Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:4216. [PMID: 36077754 PMCID: PMC9454996 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggressiveness of solid cancers, such as melanoma, relies on their metastatic potential. It has become evident that this key cause of mortality is largely conferred by the tumour-associated stromal cells, especially endothelial cells. In addition to their essential role in the formation of the tumour vasculature, endothelial cells significantly contribute to the establishment of the tumour microenvironment, thus enabling the dissemination of cancer cells. Melanoma tumour vascularization occurs through diverse biological processes. Vasculogenesis is the formation of de novo blood vessels from endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and recent research has shown the role of EPCs in melanoma tumour vascularization. A more detailed understanding of the complex role of EPCs and how they contribute to the abnormal vessel structures in tumours is of importance. Moreover, anti-angiogenic drugs have a limited effect on melanoma tumour vascularization, and the role of these drugs on EPCs remains to be clarified. Overall, targeting cancer vasculature remains a challenge, and the role of anti-angiogenic drugs and combination therapies in melanoma, a focus of this review, is an area of extensive exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kiarash Khosrotehrani
- Experimental Dermatology Group, Dermatology Research Centre, The UQ Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Laura Sormani
- Experimental Dermatology Group, Dermatology Research Centre, The UQ Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
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11
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VEGF-A promotes the motility of human melanoma cells through the VEGFR1-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2022; 58:758-770. [PMID: 35997849 PMCID: PMC9550759 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-022-00717-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its receptors (VEGFR1 and R2) play important roles in the progression of malignant melanoma through tumor angiogenesis. However, it is not clear whether the VEGF-A/VEGFR1 signaling pathway is involved in the proliferation and migration of melanoma cells. Thus, the effect of VEGF-A on cell migration was investigated in human melanoma cell lines. Of several splicing variants of VEGF-A, VEGF165 is the most abundant and responsible for VEGF-A biological potency. VEGF165 facilitated the migration of melanoma cells in both a chemotactic and chemokinetic manner, but cell proliferation was not affected by VEGF165. VEGF165 also induced the phosphorylation of Akt. In addition, VEGF165-induced cell migration was inhibited significantly by VEGFR1/2 or a VEGFR1-neutralizing antibody. Furthermore, the downregulation of VEGFR1 via the transfection of VEGFR1-targeting antisense oligonucleotides suppressed VEGF165-induced cell migration. Moreover, wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) in the PI3K/Akt pathway, suppressed VEGF165-induced Akt phosphorylation and VEGF165-induced cell migration. These findings suggest that the motility of melanoma cells is regulated by signals mediated through the PI3K/Akt kinase pathway with the activation of VEGFR1 tyrosine kinase by VEGF165. Thus, the downregulation of signaling via VEGF-A/VEGFR1 might be an effective therapeutic approach that could prevent the progression of malignant melanoma.
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12
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Park S, Avera AD, Kim Y. BIOMANUFACTURING OF GLIOBLASTOMA ORGANOIDS EXHIBITING HIERARCHICAL AND SPATIALLY ORGANIZED TUMOR MICROENVIRONMENT VIA TRANSDIFFERENTIATION. Biotechnol Bioeng 2022; 119:3252-3274. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.28191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seungjo Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaAlabama
| | - Alexandra D. Avera
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaAlabama
| | - Yonghyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological EngineeringThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaAlabama
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13
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Bajbouj K, Al-Ali A, Shafarin J, Sahnoon L, Sawan A, Shehada A, Elkhalifa W, Saber-Ayad M, Muhammad J, Elmoselhi AB, Guraya S, Hamad M. Vitamin D Exerts Significant Antitumor Effects by Suppressing Vasculogenic Mimicry in Breast Cancer Cells. Front Oncol 2022; 12:918340. [PMID: 35747793 PMCID: PMC9210804 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.918340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundNumerous clinical and experimental observations have alluded to the substantial anti-neoplastic role of vitamin D in breast cancer (BC), primarily by inducing apoptosis and affecting metastasis. Tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy have been linked to vasculogenic mimicry (VM), which represents the endothelial-independent formation of microvascular channels by cancer cells. However, the effect of vitamin D on VM formation in BC has not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the impact of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), the active form of vitamin D, on the expression of major factors involved in BC migration, invasion, and VM formation.Experimental MethodsPublicly available transcriptomic datasets were used to profile the expression status of the key VM markers in vitamin D-treated BC cells. The in silico data were validated by examining the expression and activity of the key factors that are involved in tumor progression and MV formation in hormone-positive MCF-7 and aggressive triple‐negative MDA-MB-231 BC cells after treatment with calcitriol.Results and DiscussionsThe bioinformatics analysis showed that tumor VM formation-enriched pathways were differentially downregulated in vitamin D-treated cells when compared with control counterparts. Treatment of BC cells with calcitriol resulted in increased expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs 1 and 2) and decreased content and gelatinolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs 2 and 9). Furthermore, calcitriol treatment reduced the expression of several pro-MV formation regulators including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor growth factor (TGF-β1), and amphiregulin. Eventually, this process resulted in a profound reduction in cell migration and invasion following the treatment of BC cells with calcitriol when compared to the controls. Finally, the formation of VM was diminished in the aggressive triple‐negative MDA-MB-231 cancer cell line after calcitriol treatment.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate that vitamin D mediates its antitumor effects in BC cells by inhibiting and curtailing their potential for VM formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khuloud Bajbouj
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Khuloud Bajbouj,
| | - Abeer Al-Ali
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jasmin Shafarin
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lina Sahnoon
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Sawan
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmed Shehada
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Maha Saber-Ayad
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Medical Pharmacology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jibran Sualeh Muhammad
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Adel B. Elmoselhi
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Salman Y. Guraya
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mawieh Hamad
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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14
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Clinical risk scores for stroke correlate with molecular signatures of vulnerability in symptomatic carotid patients. iScience 2022; 25:104219. [PMID: 35494231 PMCID: PMC9046225 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Unstable carotid stenosis is an important cause of ischemic stroke, yet the basis of disease pathophysiology remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that integrated analyses of symptomatic carotid stenosis patients at increased stroke risk stratified by clinical scores, CAR and ABCD2, with transcriptomic and clinical data could improve identification of molecular pathways and targets for instability. We show that high CAR score reflects plaque instability processes related to intra-plaque hemorrhage, angiogenesis, inflammation, and foam cell differentiation, whereas ABCD2 associates with neutrophil-mediated immunity, foam cell differentiation, cholesterol transport, and coagulation. Repressed processes in plaques from high-risk patients were ossification, chondrocyte differentiation, SMC migration, and ECM organization. ABCB5 gene was found as the top upregulated in high-risk patient’s plaques, localized to macrophages in areas with neovascularization and intra-plaque hemorrhage. The link between ABCB5 and intra-plaque hemorrhage suggests its key role for plaque instability that warrants further exploration. We integrated stroke risk in carotid stenosis patients with plaque transcriptomics High CAR and ABCD2 scores reflect plaque instability processes and hemorrhage ABCB5 is upregulated in high-risk plaques, macrophages, and around neovessels CAR and ABCD2 capture vulnerable plaque features and improve risk stratification
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15
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Heme Oxygenase-1 Has a Greater Effect on Melanoma Stem Cell Properties Than the Expression of Melanoma-Initiating Cell Markers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073596. [PMID: 35408953 PMCID: PMC8998882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma-initiating cells (MICs) contribute to the tumorigenicity and heterogeneity of melanoma. MICs are identified by surface and functional markers and have been shown to display cancer stem cell (CSC) properties. However, the existence of MICs that follow the hierarchical CSC model has been questioned by studies showing that single unselected melanoma cells are highly tumorigenic in xenotransplantation assays. Herein, we characterize cells expressing MIC markers (CD20, CD24, CD133, Sca-1, ABCB1, ABCB5, ALDHhigh) in the B16-F10 murine melanoma cell line. We use flow cytometric phenotyping, single-cell sorting followed by in vitro clonogenic assays, and syngeneic in vivo serial transplantation assays to demonstrate that the expression of MIC markers does not select CSC-like cells in this cell line. Previously, our group showed that heme-degrading enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can be upregulated in melanoma and increase its aggressiveness. Here, we show that HO-1 activity is important for non-adherent growth of melanoma and HO-1 overexpression enhances the vasculogenic mimicry potential, which can be considered protumorigenic activity. However, HO-1 overexpression decreases clone formation in vitro and serial tumor initiation in vivo. Thus, HO-1 plays a dual role in melanoma, improving the progression of growing tumors but reducing the risk of melanoma initiation.
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16
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Malekan M, Ebrahimzadeh MA. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptors [VEGFR] as Target in Breast Cancer Treatment: Current Status in Preclinical and Clinical Studies and Future Directions. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:891-920. [PMID: 35260067 DOI: 10.2174/1568026622666220308161710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer [BC] is one of the most common cancers among women, one of the leading causes of a considerable number of cancer-related death globally. Among all procedures leading to the formation of breast tumors, angiogenesis has an important role in cancer progression and outcomes. Therefore, various anti-angiogenic strategies have developed so far to enhance treatment's efficacy in different types of BC. Vascular endothelial growth factors [VEGFs] and their receptors are regarded as the most well-known regulators of neovascularization. VEGF binding to vascular endothelial growth factor receptors [VEGFRs] provides cell proliferation and vascular tissue formation by the subsequent tyrosine kinase pathway. VEGF/VEGFR axis displays an attractive target for anti-angiogenesis and anti-cancer drug design. This review aims to describe the existing literature regarding VEGFR inhibitors, focusing on BC treatment reported in the last two decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Malekan
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Ebrahimzadeh
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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17
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Amalinei C, Grigoraș A, Lozneanu L, Căruntu ID, Giușcă SE, Balan RA. The Interplay between Tumour Microenvironment Components in Malignant Melanoma. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58030365. [PMID: 35334544 PMCID: PMC8953474 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58030365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma has shown an increasing incidence during the last two decades, exhibiting a large spectrum of locations and clinicopathological characteristics. Although current histopathological, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and molecular methods provide a deep insight into its biological behaviour and outcome, melanoma is still an unpredictable disease, with poor outcome. This review of the literature is aimed at updating the knowledge regarding melanoma’s clinicopathological and molecular hallmarks, including its heterogeneity and plasticity, involving cancer stem cells population. A special focus is given on the interplay between different cellular components and their secretion products in melanoma, considering its contribution to tumour progression, invasion, metastasis, recurrences, and resistance to classical therapy. Furthermore, the influences of the specific tumour microenvironment or “inflammasome”, its association with adipose tissue products, including the release of “extracellular vesicles”, and distinct microbiota are currently studied, considering their influences on diagnosis and prognosis. An insight into melanoma’s particular features may reveal new molecular pathways which may be exploited in order to develop innovative therapeutic approaches or tailored therapy.
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18
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Simbulan-Rosenthal CM, Haribabu Y, Vakili S, Kuo LW, Clark H, Dougherty R, Alobaidi R, Carney B, Sykora P, Rosenthal DS. Employing CRISPR-Cas9 to Generate CD133 Synthetic Lethal Melanoma Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:2333. [PMID: 35216449 PMCID: PMC8877091 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a lethal skin cancer containing melanoma-initiating cells (MIC) implicated in tumorigenesis, invasion, and drug resistance, and is characterized by the elevated expression of stem cell markers, including CD133. The siRNA knockdown of CD133 enhances apoptosis induced by the MEK inhibitor trametinib in melanoma cells. This study investigates the underlying mechanisms of CD133's anti-apoptotic activity in patient-derived BAKP and POT cells, harboring difficult-to-treat NRASQ61K and NRASQ61R drivers, after CRISPR-Cas9 CD133 knockout or Dox-inducible expression of CD133. MACS-sorted CD133(+) BAKP cells were conditionally reprogrammed to derive BAKR cells with sustained CD133 expression and MIC features. Compared to BAKP, CD133(+) BAKR exhibit increased cell survival and reduced apoptosis in response to trametinib or the chemotherapeutic dacarbazine (DTIC). CRISPR-Cas9-mediated CD133 knockout in BAKR cells (BAKR-KO) re-sensitized cells to trametinib. CD133 knockout in BAKP and POT cells increased trametinib-induced apoptosis by reducing anti-apoptotic BCL-xL, p-AKT, and p-BAD and increasing pro-apoptotic BAX. Conversely, Dox-induced CD133 expression diminished apoptosis in both trametinib-treated cell lines, coincident with elevated p-AKT, p-BAD, BCL-2, and BCL-xL and decreased activation of BAX and caspases-3 and -9. AKT1/2 siRNA knockdown or inhibition of BCL-2 family members with navitoclax (ABT-263) in BAKP-KO cells further enhanced caspase-mediated apoptotic PARP cleavage. CD133 may therefore activate a survival pathway where (1) increased AKT phosphorylation and activation induces (2) BAD phosphorylation and inactivation, (3) decreases BAX activation, and (4) reduces caspases-3 and -9 activity and caspase-mediated PARP cleavage, leading to apoptosis suppression and drug resistance in melanoma. Targeting nodes of the CD133, AKT, or BCL-2 survival pathways with trametinib highlights the potential for combination therapies for NRAS-mutant melanoma stem cells for the development of more effective treatments for patients with high-risk melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia M. Simbulan-Rosenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Yogameenakshi Haribabu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Sahar Vakili
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Li-Wei Kuo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Havens Clark
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Ryan Dougherty
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Ryyan Alobaidi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Bonnie Carney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
- Firefighters’ Burn and Surgical Laboratory, MedStar Health Research Institute, Washington, DC 20010, USA
| | - Peter Sykora
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
- Amelia Technologies, LLC, 1121 5th St. NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA
| | - Dean S. Rosenthal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20057, USA; (C.M.S.-R.); (Y.H.); (S.V.); (L.-W.K.); (H.C.); (R.D.); (R.A.); (B.C.); (P.S.)
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19
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Kawahara R, Simizu S. ErbB4-mediated regulation of vasculogenic mimicry capability in breast cancer cells. Cancer Sci 2021; 113:950-959. [PMID: 34971015 PMCID: PMC8898724 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
ErbB4 is a member of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase family. It has both pro- and anti-oncogenic activities in tumors. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a phenomenon in which cancer cells form capillary-like structures without endothelial cells, has been recognized to be a cause of malignant phenotypes in some solid tumors. Here, we used an in vitro VM formation assay, and demonstrated that ErbB4 negatively regulated VM formation in human breast cancer cells. By using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout, we verified that the depletion of endogenous ErbB4 improved the VM formation capability. Although treatment with neuregulin 1 (NRG1), a ligand of ErbB4, induced the phosphorylation of ErbB4 and promoted VM formation in a dose-dependent manner, it did not induce such activities in kinase-dead K751M ErbB4-expressing breast cancer cells. Moreover, we examined the effect of the missense mutation E872K of ErbB4, which has been reported in multiple tumors, on VM formation, and found that the mutation enhanced the basal phosphorylation level and ErbB4-mediated VM formation in the absence of NRG1 stimulation. While NRG1 stimulated VM formation, excessive activation of ErbB4 induced a negative effect. In E872K ErbB4-overexpressing cells, but not in wild-type ErbB4-overexpressing cells, the number of VM tubes was significantly decreased by low-dose treatment with the ErbB inhibitor afatinib. Taken together, our findings demonstrated the significance of ErbB4-mediated VM formation, and suggested the possibility of ErbB4 mutations as effective targets in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Kawahara
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Siro Simizu
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
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20
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Campbell NR, Rao A, Hunter MV, Sznurkowska MK, Briker L, Zhang M, Baron M, Heilmann S, Deforet M, Kenny C, Ferretti LP, Huang TH, Perlee S, Garg M, Nsengimana J, Saini M, Montal E, Tagore M, Newton-Bishop J, Middleton MR, Corrie P, Adams DJ, Rabbie R, Aceto N, Levesque MP, Cornell RA, Yanai I, Xavier JB, White RM. Cooperation between melanoma cell states promotes metastasis through heterotypic cluster formation. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2808-2825.e10. [PMID: 34529939 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Melanomas can have multiple coexisting cell states, including proliferative (PRO) versus invasive (INV) subpopulations that represent a "go or grow" trade-off; however, how these populations interact is poorly understood. Using a combination of zebrafish modeling and analysis of patient samples, we show that INV and PRO cells form spatially structured heterotypic clusters and cooperate in the seeding of metastasis, maintaining cell state heterogeneity. INV cells adhere tightly to each other and form clusters with a rim of PRO cells. Intravital imaging demonstrated cooperation in which INV cells facilitate dissemination of less metastatic PRO cells. We identified the TFAP2 neural crest transcription factor as a master regulator of clustering and PRO/INV states. Isolation of clusters from patients with metastatic melanoma revealed a subset with heterotypic PRO-INV clusters. Our data suggest a framework for the co-existence of these two divergent cell populations, in which heterotypic clusters promote metastasis via cell-cell cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel R Campbell
- Weill Cornell/Rockefeller Memorial Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, New York, NY 10065, USA; Computational and Systems Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anjali Rao
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Miranda V Hunter
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Magdalena K Sznurkowska
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luzia Briker
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zürich Hospital, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maomao Zhang
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maayan Baron
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Silja Heilmann
- Computational and Systems Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Maxime Deforet
- Computational and Systems Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Colin Kenny
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Lorenza P Ferretti
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zürich Hospital, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ting-Hsiang Huang
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sarah Perlee
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Manik Garg
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Jérémie Nsengimana
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St. James's, University of Leeds School of Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Massimo Saini
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emily Montal
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mohita Tagore
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Julia Newton-Bishop
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St. James's, University of Leeds School of Medicine, Leeds, UK
| | - Mark R Middleton
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research Centre and Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pippa Corrie
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - David J Adams
- Experimental Cancer Genetics, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Roy Rabbie
- Cambridge Cancer Centre, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK; Experimental Cancer Genetics, the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Nicola Aceto
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mitchell P Levesque
- Department of Dermatology, University of Zürich Hospital, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Robert A Cornell
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Itai Yanai
- Institute for Computational Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Joao B Xavier
- Computational and Systems Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Richard M White
- Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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21
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Treps L, Faure S, Clere N. Vasculogenic mimicry, a complex and devious process favoring tumorigenesis – Interest in making it a therapeutic target. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 223:107805. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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22
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Liu X, Lv Z, Zhou S, Kan S, Liu X, Jing P, Xu W. MTDH in macrophages promotes the vasculogenic mimicry via VEGFA-165/Flt-1 signaling pathway in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 96:107776. [PMID: 34162144 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) refers to vessel-like structures formed by aggressive tumor cells and is closely associated with cancer invasion and metastasis. Here, we investigated the effect of macrophage-derived MTDH on VM formation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its underlying mechanism. Macrophages with MTDH overexpression (Mac-MTDH) promoted cancer cell VM formation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Moreover, MTDH overexpression triggered macrophage polarization into M2 type tumor-associated macrophages. Analysis of HNSCC clinical samples revealed that MTDH+ macrophages were predominantly located in the tumor-stromal region in proximity to VM and correlated with lymph node metastasis. Mechanistically, Mac-MTDH enhanced the expression and secretion of VEGFA-165 rather than other VEGFA isoforms via ß-catenin. The VEGFA-165/Flt-1 axis was responsible for Mac-MTDH's effects in cancer cells through p-STAT3/Twist1/VE-cadherin pathway. Using mouse model, we further confirmed that Mac-MTDH increased VM formation and cancer metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, in subcutaneous xenograft mouse model, HN6 + Mac-MTDH tumor exhibited elevated expression of p-STAT3 and Twist1 than HN6 + Mac-NC tumors. This study revealed that Mac-MTDH promoted VM formation, cancer cell migration and invasion, and cancer metastasis through VEGFA-165/Flt-1 axis, and that macrophage-derived MTDH could be a potential therapeutic target in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenghua Lv
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengli Zhou
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shifeng Kan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xianfang Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Peihang Jing
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Otology, Jinan, Shandong, China.
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23
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Yin Q, Shi X, Lan S, Jin H, Wu D. Effect of melanoma stem cells on melanoma metastasis. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:566. [PMID: 34113394 PMCID: PMC8185701 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in the metastatic process, the resistance of many types of cancer to therapeutic treatments and consequently the onset of recurrences. The CSC concept therefore significantly extends our understanding of melanoma biology. More recently, melanoma stem cells (MSCs) have been described in melanoma as expressing specific biomarkers. These primitive melanoma cells are not only capable of self-renewal and differentiation plasticity, but may also confer virulence via immune evasion and multidrug resistance, and potentially, via vasculogenic mimicry and transition to migratory and metastasizing derivatives. This review will present the specific biomarkers of MSCs, including CD133, ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 5, CD271, CD20 and aldehyde dehydrogenase, which can regulate the transduction of tumor-related signals. These signal molecules can reversely act on tumor cells and regulate tumor angiogenesis, leading to the occurrence of melanoma metastasis. Targeting these specific biomarkers could inhibit the progression of melanoma and may help the development of novel therapeutic strategies for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiliang Yin
- Department of Tumor Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Xiumin Shi
- Department of Tumor Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Shijie Lan
- Department of Tumor Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Haofan Jin
- Department of Tumor Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Tumor Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China
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24
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Cancer Stem Cells-Key Players in Tumor Relapse. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030376. [PMID: 33498502 PMCID: PMC7864187 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor relapse and treatment failure are unfortunately common events for cancer patients, thus often rendering cancer an uncurable disease. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subset of cancer cells endowed with tumor-initiating and self-renewal capacity, as well as with high adaptive abilities. Altogether, these features contribute to CSC survival after one or multiple therapeutic approaches, thus leading to treatment failure and tumor progression/relapse. Thus, elucidating the molecular mechanisms associated with stemness-driven resistance is crucial for the development of more effective drugs and durable responses. This review will highlight the mechanisms exploited by CSCs to overcome different therapeutic strategies, from chemo- and radiotherapies to targeted therapies and immunotherapies, shedding light on their plasticity as an insidious trait responsible for their adaptation/escape. Finally, novel CSC-specific approaches will be described, providing evidence of their preclinical and clinical applications.
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25
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López de Andrés J, Griñán-Lisón C, Jiménez G, Marchal JA. Cancer stem cell secretome in the tumor microenvironment: a key point for an effective personalized cancer treatment. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:136. [PMID: 33059744 PMCID: PMC7559894 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00966-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a tumor subpopulation responsible for tumor metastasis and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, ultimately leading to tumor relapse. As a consequence, the detection and eradication of this cell subpopulation represent a current challenge in oncology medicine. CSC phenotype is dependent on the tumor microenvironment (TME), which involves stem and differentiated tumor cells, as well as different cell types, such as mesenchymal stem cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts and cells of the immune system, in addition to the extracellular matrix (ECM), different in composition to the ECM in healthy tissues. CSCs regulate multiple cancer hallmarks through the interaction with cells and ECM in their environment by secreting extracellular vesicles including exosomes, and soluble factors such as interleukins, cytokines, growth factors and other metabolites to the TME. Through these factors, CSCs generate and activate their own tumor niche by recruiting stromal cells and modulate angiogenesis, metastasis, resistance to antitumor treatments and their own maintenance by the secretion of different factors such as IL-6, VEGF and TGF-ß. Due to the strong influence of the CSC secretome on disease development, the new antitumor therapies focus on targeting these communication networks to eradicate the tumor and prevent metastasis, tumor relapse and drug resistance. This review summarizes for the first time the main components of the CSC secretome and how they mediate different tumor processes. Lastly, the relevance of the CSC secretome in the development of more precise and personalized antitumor therapies is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia López de Andrés
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain.,Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Carmen Griñán-Lisón
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain.,Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Gema Jiménez
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain. .,Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071, Jaén, Spain.
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain. .,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, University Hospitals of Granada-University of Granada, 18100, Granada, Spain. .,Excellence Research Unit "Modeling Nature" (MNat), University of Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain.
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26
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Yin X, Fang T, Zhang L, Lin X, Yang Y, Lou S, Li C, Yu X, Xue Y. Impact of CD144 gene expression on outcomes in stage III gastric cancer patients. Pathology 2020; 52:657-669. [PMID: 32859388 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2020.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
CD144 has been shown to promote tumour angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis in malignant tumours. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical prognostic significance of CD144 in advanced gastric cancer (GC) to complement the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition convention. We established that CD144 was highly related to angiogenesis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public databases. We randomly selected 173 stage III GC patients who received curative gastrectomy. The expression level of CD144 was assessed by immunohistochemistry and Image-Pro Plus software. After survival analysis, nomograms were created to predict the risk of stage III gastric cancer patients' 5-years survival. In this study, the median value of the CD144 positive area/total area under the microscope was 5.6%, and this was defined as the cut-off value. The expression of CD144 assisted further subgrouping of stage Ⅲa, Ⅲb, and Ⅲc GC patients. To evaluate the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients, univariate and multivariate analysis was performed, which showed that the expression of CD144 was an independent predictor for DFS, and Borrmann type and expression of CD144 were independent predictors for OS (p<0.05). Nomograms were used to evaluate the risk of stage III GC by combining Borrmann type and the expression level of CD144. In advanced GC patients, the expression level of CD144 is a useful prognostic indicator in evaluating the risk of disease prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Tianyi Fang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Lin
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Yongheng Yang
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Shenghan Lou
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Xuefeng Yu
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China
| | - Yingwei Xue
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, P.R. China.
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27
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Böhme I, Schönherr R, Eberle J, Bosserhoff AK. Membrane Transporters and Channels in Melanoma. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2020; 181:269-374. [PMID: 32737752 DOI: 10.1007/112_2020_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has revealed that ion channels and transporters can be important players in tumor development, progression, and therapy resistance in melanoma. For example, members of the ABC family were shown to support cancer stemness-like features in melanoma cells, while several members of the TRP channel family were reported to act as tumor suppressors.Also, many transporter proteins support tumor cell viability and thus suppress apoptosis induction by anticancer therapy. Due to the high number of ion channels and transporters and the resulting high complexity of the field, progress in understanding is often focused on single molecules and is in total rather slow. In this review, we aim at giving an overview about a broad subset of ion transporters, also illustrating some aspects of the field, which have not been addressed in detail in melanoma. In context with the other chapters in this special issue on "Transportome Malfunctions in the Cancer Spectrum," a comparison between melanoma and these tumors will be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Böhme
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Roland Schönherr
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Jürgen Eberle
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Skin Cancer Center Charité, University Medical Center Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Katrin Bosserhoff
- Institute of Biochemistry, Emil Fischer Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. .,Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) Erlangen-EMN, Erlangen, Germany.
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28
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Kyriakou G, Melachrinou M. Cancer stem cells, epigenetics, tumor microenvironment and future therapeutics in cutaneous malignant melanoma: a review. Future Oncol 2020; 16:1549-1567. [PMID: 32484008 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2020-0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the ontogeny and biology of melanoma stem cells in cutaneous malignant melanoma. This article also summarizes and evaluates the current knowledge of the underlying epigenetic mechanisms, the regulation of melanoma progress by the tumor microenvironment as well as the therapeutic implications and applications of these novel insights, in the setting of personalized medicine. Unraveling the complex ecosystem of cutaneous malignant melanoma and the interplay between its components, aims to provide novel insights into the establishment of efficient therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Kyriakou
- Department of Dermatology, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion 265 04, Greece
| | - Maria Melachrinou
- Department of Pathology, University General Hospital of Patras, Rion 265 04, Greece
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29
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Structural modifications of indolinones bearing a pyrrole moiety and discovery of a multi-kinase inhibitor with potent antitumor activity. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115486. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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30
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Fathi Maroufi N, Taefehshokr S, Rashidi MR, Taefehshokr N, Khoshakhlagh M, Isazadeh A, Mokarizadeh N, Baradaran B, Nouri M. Vascular mimicry: changing the therapeutic paradigms in cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4749-4765. [PMID: 32424524 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05515-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a major problem in the health system, and despite many efforts to effectively treat it, none has yet been fully successful. Angiogenesis and metastasis are considered as major challenges in the treatment of various cancers. Researchers have struggled to succeed with anti-angiogenesis drugs for the effective treatment of cancer, although new challenges have emerged in the treatment with the emergence of resistance to anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastatic drugs. Numerous studies have shown that different cancers can resist anti-angiogenesis drugs in a new process called vascular mimicry (VM). The studies have revealed that cells resistant to anti-angiogenesis cancer therapies are more capable of forming VMs in the in vivo and in vitro environment, although there is a link between the presence of VM and poor clinical outcomes. Given the importance of the VM in the challenges facing cancer treatment, researchers are trying to identify factors that prevent the formation of these structures. In this review article, it is attempted to provide a comprehensive overview of the molecules and main signaling pathways involved in VM phenomena, as well as the agents currently being identified as anti-VM and the role of VM in response to treatment and prognosis of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazila Fathi Maroufi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Sina Taefehshokr
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Rashidi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nima Taefehshokr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Human Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Mahdieh Khoshakhlagh
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Isazadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Narmin Mokarizadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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31
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Extracellular Protease ADAMTS1 Is Required at Early Stages of Human Uveal Melanoma Development by Inducing Stemness and Endothelial-Like Features on Tumor Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040801. [PMID: 32230715 PMCID: PMC7226337 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular matrix remodeling within the tumor microenvironment has been recognized as a relevant dynamic framework during tumor growth. However, research on proteases that trigger this remodeling keeps revealing a wide range of actions including both pro- and anti-tumorigenic. The extracellular protease ADAMTS1 exemplifies this dual role. In this work, we first confirmed a positive correlation of ADAMTS1 with endothelial-like phenotype of human melanoma cells together with the finding of associated signatures, including key genes such as endothelial CDH5. Using a CRISPR-Cas9 approach, we observed that the inhibition of ADAMTS1 in an aggressive uveal melanoma model compromised its endothelial-like properties, and more importantly, caused a robust blockade on the progression of tumor xenografts. Although vasculature emerged affected in ADAMTS1-deficient tumors, the most relevant action implied the downregulation of endothelial CDH5 in tumor cells, in association with stemness markers. Indeed, melanoma sphere assays also revealed a deficient commitment to form spheres in the absence of ADAMTS1, directly correlating with stemness markers and, remarkably, also with CDH5. Finally, taking advantage of advanced bioinformatics tools and available public data of uveal melanomas, we disclosed new prognosis factors, including endothelial elements and ADAMTS proteases. Our findings support the key role of ADAMTS proteases for uveal melanoma development since earlier stages, modulating the complex crosstalk between extracellular matrix and the induction of stemness and endothelial-like features. To our knowledge, this is the first report that supports the development of therapeutic targets on the extracellular matrix to overcome uveal melanoma.
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32
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Resistance of melanoma cells to anticancer treatment: a role of vascular endothelial growth factor. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2020; 37:11-18. [PMID: 32467677 PMCID: PMC7247075 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2020.93378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and resistant to treatment neoplasms. There are still many challenges despite many promising advances in anticancer treatment. Currently, the main problem for all types of treatment is associated with heterogeneity. Due to heterogeneity of cancer cells, "precise" targeting of a medicine against a single phenotype limits the efficacy of treatment and affects resistance to applied therapy. Therefore it is important to understand aetiology and reasons for heterogeneity in order to develop effective and long-lasting treatment. This review summarises roles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that may stimulate growth of a melanoma tumour irrespective of its proangiogenic effects, contributing to cancer heterogeneity. VEGF triggers processes associated with extracellular matrix remodelling, cell migration, invasion, angiogenesis, inhibition of immune responses and favours phenotypic plasticity and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Consequently, it participates in mechanisms of interactions between melanoma cancer cells and microenvironment and it can modify sensitivity to therapeutic factors.
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33
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Ceci C, Atzori MG, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Role of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 Signaling and its Inhibition in Modulating Tumor Invasion: Experimental Evidence in Different Metastatic Cancer Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1388. [PMID: 32085654 PMCID: PMC7073125 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members, VEGF-A, placenta growth factor (PlGF), and to a lesser extent VEGF-B, play an essential role in tumor-associated angiogenesis, tissue infiltration, and metastasis formation. Although VEGF-A can activate both VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 membrane receptors, PlGF and VEGF-B exclusively interact with VEGFR-1. Differently from VEGFR-2, which is involved both in physiological and pathological angiogenesis, in the adult VEGFR-1 is required only for pathological angiogenesis. Besides this role in tumor endothelium, ligand-mediated stimulation of VEGFR-1 expressed in tumor cells may directly induce cell chemotaxis and extracellular matrix invasion. Furthermore, VEGFR-1 activation in myeloid progenitors and tumor-associated macrophages favors cancer immune escape through the release of immunosuppressive cytokines. These properties have prompted a number of preclinical and clinical studies to analyze VEGFR-1 involvement in the metastatic process. The aim of the present review is to highlight the contribution of VEGFs/VEGFR-1 signaling in the progression of different tumor types and to provide an overview of the therapeutic approaches targeting VEGFR-1 currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Atzori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
| | - Pedro Miguel Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, “Istituto Dermopatico dell’Immacolata-Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico”, IDI-IRCCS, Via dei Monti di Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy;
| | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (M.G.A.)
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34
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Liu H, Gao M, Gu J, Wan X, Wang H, Gu Q, Zhou Y, Sun X. VEGFR1-Targeted Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Imaging Quantification of Vasculogenic Mimicry Microcirculation in a Mouse Model of Choroidal Melanoma. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2020; 9:4. [PMID: 32704424 PMCID: PMC7347284 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.9.3.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Investigate the involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) in vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation in ocular melanoma, as well as whether or not VEGFR1-targeted contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can evaluate and quantify VM perfusion and function in the ocular melanoma model. Methods The expression of VEGFR1 was examined using immunofluorescence, western blot, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. VM networks were analyzed with tube formation and periodic acid Schiff staining. Targeted microbubbles (MBs) were constructed and used for targeted CEUS imaging in vivo. Comparisons were made in perfusion parameters of tumors between targeted and non-targeted CEUS imaging. Results VEGFR1 was highly expressed, and knockdown of VEGFR1 significantly decreased VM protein expression and disrupted VM formation in MUM-2B melanoma. VEGFR1-targeted MBs specifically bind to MUM-2B cell surfaces. CEUS with VEGFR1-targeted MBs showed significant imaging enhancement throughout the entire perfusion phase compared with CEUS with IgG MBs. VEGFR1-targeted imaging was able to detect a decrease in maximum intensity and mean transit time in VEGFR1 knockdown melanoma compared with control melanoma. The pathological VM patterns were consistent with VEGFR1-targeted CEUS findings. Conclusions VEGFR1 was responsible for VM network formation and was required for efficient choroidal melanoma tumor growth. This study shows that VEGFR1-targeted CEUS can track VM levels in animal models of ocular melanoma at morphological levels in vivo. This experiment is noninvasive and reproducible and indicates the possibility of real-time in vivo imaging technology for VM evaluation. Translational Relevance Based on our study results, VEGFR1 could prove to be a promising treatment that targets VM formation in choroidal melanoma. Our findings also suggest the potential use of VEGFR1-targeted CEUS for quantitative monitoring of VM processes at the molecular level in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyun Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiying Gu
- Department of Ultrasonography, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoling Wan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Gu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Fundus Diseases, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai, China
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35
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Dormant tumor cells interact with memory CD8 + T cells in RET transgenic mouse melanoma model. Cancer Lett 2020; 474:74-81. [PMID: 31962142 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin-cancer. Melanoma cells are characterized by their plasticity, resulting in therapy resistance. Using RET transgenic mouse melanoma model, we characterized dormant tumor cells accumulated in the bone marrow (BM) and investigated their interaction with effector memory CD8+ T cells. We found that cells expressing melanoma-associated antigen tyrosinase related protein (TRP)-2 and stemness marker CD133 represented less than 1.5% of all melanoma cells in primary skin lesions and metastatic lymph nodes. The majority of these cells were negative for the proliferation marker Ki67. In the BM, CD133+TRP-2+ melanoma cells displayed an aberrant expression of p16, p27, Ki67 and PCNA proteins, suggesting their dormant phenotype. Moreover, these cells were characterized by an elevated expression of various molecules characterized stemness, metastatic, angiogenic and immunosuppressive properties such as CD271, CD34, HIF-1α, CXCR3, CXCR4, VEGR2, PD-L1, CTLA-4, CD39 and CCR4 as compared to their CD133- counterparts. Disseminated BM dormant TRP-2+ tumor cells were found to be co-localized with memory CD8+ T cells. Our data suggest that these dormant melanoma cells in the BM could play an important role in the maintenance of memory T cells in the BM.
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36
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Yura Y, Chong BSH, Johnson RD, Watanabe Y, Tsukahara Y, Ferran B, Murdoch CE, Behring JB, McComb ME, Costello CE, Janssen-Heininger YMW, Cohen RA, Bachschmid MM, Matsui R. Endothelial cell-specific redox gene modulation inhibits angiogenesis but promotes B16F0 tumor growth in mice. FASEB J 2019; 33:14147-14158. [PMID: 31647879 PMCID: PMC6894059 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900786r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Glutaredoxin-1 (Glrx) is a small cytosolic enzyme that removes S-glutathionylation, glutathione adducts of protein cysteine residues, thus modulating redox signaling and gene transcription. Although Glrx up-regulation prevented endothelial cell (EC) migration and global Glrx transgenic mice had impaired ischemic vascularization, the effects of cell-specific Glrx overexpression remained unknown. Here, we examined the role of EC-specific Glrx up-regulation in distinct models of angiogenesis; namely, hind limb ischemia and tumor angiogenesis. EC-specific Glrx transgenic (EC-Glrx TG) overexpression in mice significantly impaired EC migration in Matrigel implants and hind limb revascularization after femoral artery ligation. Additionally, ECs migrated less into subcutaneously implanted B16F0 melanoma tumors as assessed by decreased staining of EC markers. Despite reduced angiogenesis, EC-Glrx TG mice unexpectedly developed larger tumors compared with control mice. EC-Glrx TG mice showed higher levels of VEGF-A in the tumors, indicating hypoxia, which may stimulate tumor cells to form vascular channels without EC, referred to as vasculogenic mimicry. These data suggest that impaired ischemic vascularization does not necessarily associate with suppression of tumor growth, and that antiangiogenic therapies may be ineffective for melanoma tumors because of their ability to implement vasculogenic mimicry during hypoxia.-Yura, Y., Chong, B. S. H., Johnson, R. D., Watanabe, Y., Tsukahara, Y., Ferran, B., Murdoch, C. E., Behring, J. B., McComb, M. E., Costello, C. E., Janssen-Heininger, Y. M. W., Cohen, R. A., Bachschmid, M. M., Matsui, R. Endothelial cell-specific redox gene modulation inhibits angiogenesis but promotes B16F0 tumor growth in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimitsu Yura
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brian S. H. Chong
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ryan D. Johnson
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yosuke Watanabe
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Yuko Tsukahara
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Beatriz Ferran
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Colin E. Murdoch
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica B. Behring
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark E. McComb
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Catherine E. Costello
- Cardiovascular Proteomics Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Richard A. Cohen
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Markus M. Bachschmid
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Reiko Matsui
- Department of Medicine, Vascular Biology Section, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Atzori MG, Ceci C, Ruffini F, Trapani M, Barbaccia ML, Tentori L, D'Atri S, Lacal PM, Graziani G. Role of VEGFR-1 in melanoma acquired resistance to the BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib. J Cell Mol Med 2019; 24:465-475. [PMID: 31758648 PMCID: PMC6933379 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The vascular endothelial growth factor receptor‐1 (VEGFR‐1) is a tyrosine kinase receptor frequently expressed in melanoma. Its activation by VEGF‐A or placental growth factor (PlGF) promotes tumour cell survival, migration and invasiveness. Moreover, VEGFR‐1 stimulation contributes to pathological angiogenesis and induces recruitment of tumour‐associated macrophages. Since melanoma acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) has been associated with activation of pro‐angiogenic pathways, we have investigated VEGFR‐1 involvement in vemurafenib resistance. Results indicate that human melanoma cells rendered resistant to vemurafenib secrete greater amounts of VEGF‐A and express higher VEGFR‐1 levels compared with their BRAFi‐sensitive counterparts. Transient VEGFR‐1 silencing in susceptible melanoma cells delays resistance development, whereas in resistant cells it increases sensitivity to the BRAFi. Consistently, enforced VEGFR‐1 expression, by stable gene transfection in receptor‐negative melanoma cells, markedly reduces sensitivity to vemurafenib. Moreover, melanoma cells expressing VEGFR‐1 are more invasive than VEGFR‐1 deficient cells and receptor blockade by a specific monoclonal antibody (D16F7 mAb) reduces extracellular matrix invasion triggered by VEGF‐A and PlGF. These data suggest that VEGFR‐1 up‐regulation might contribute to melanoma progression and spreading after acquisition of a drug‐resistant phenotype. Thus, VEGFR‐1 inhibition with D16F7 mAb might be a suitable adjunct therapy for VEGFR‐1 positive tumours with acquired resistance to vemurafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Ceci
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Trapani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Tentori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
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VEGFR-1 Regulates EGF-R to Promote Proliferation in Colon Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225608. [PMID: 31717527 PMCID: PMC6888064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathways in tumor growth is well established. EGF induces VEGF production in cancer cells, and the paracrine VEGF activates vascular endothelial cells to promote tumor angiogenesis and thus supports tumor cell growth in an angiogenesis-dependent manner. In this study, we found angiogenesis-independent novel crosstalk between the VEGF and the EGF pathways in the regulation of colon cancer cell proliferation. Stimulation of colon cancer cells with VEGF-A and placental growth factor (PlGF) activated VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) and increased proliferation activity in an autocrine EGF/EGF receptor (EGF-R)-dependent manner. Mechanistically, VEGFR-1 interacted with and stabilized EGF-R, leading to increased EGF-R protein levels and prolonged its expression on cell surface plasma membrane. In contrast, VEGFR-1 blockade by a neutralizing antibody and an antagonistic peptide of VEGFR-1 suppressed the complex formation of VEGFR-1 and EGF-R and decreased EGF-R expression via a lysosome-dependent pathway, resulting in the suppression of proliferation activity. Our results indicated that VEGFR-1 regulated EGF-R expression to promote proliferation activity in a cell-autonomous-dependent manner.
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39
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Butturini E, Carcereri de Prati A, Boriero D, Mariotto S. Tumor Dormancy and Interplay with Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20174305. [PMID: 31484342 PMCID: PMC6747268 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20174305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is a key factor in disease progression, local resistance, immune-escaping, and metastasis. The rapid proliferation of tumor cells and the aberrant structure of the blood vessels within tumors result in a marked heterogeneity in the perfusion of the tumor tissue with regions of hypoxia. Although most of the tumor cells die in these hypoxic conditions, a part of them can adapt and survive for many days or months in a dormant state. Dormant tumor cells are characterized by cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase as well as a low metabolism, and are refractive to common chemotherapy, giving rise to metastasis. Despite these features, the cells retain their ability to proliferate when conditions improve. An understanding of the regulatory machinery of tumor dormancy is essential for identifying early cancer biomarkers and could provide a rationale for the development of novel agents to target dormant tumor cell populations. In this review, we examine the current knowledge of the mechanisms allowing tumor dormancy and discuss the crucial role of the hypoxic microenvironment in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Butturini
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Carcereri de Prati
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
| | - Diana Boriero
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
| | - Sofia Mariotto
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biological Chemistry, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy.
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40
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CD133 Is Associated with Increased Melanoma Cell Survival after Multikinase Inhibition. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:6486173. [PMID: 31379943 PMCID: PMC6662463 DOI: 10.1155/2019/6486173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
FDA-approved kinase inhibitors are now used for melanoma, including combinations of the MEK inhibitor trametinib, and BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib for BRAFV600 mutations. NRAS-mutated cell lines are also sensitive to MEK inhibition in vitro, and NRAS-mutated tumors have also shown partial response to MEK inhibitors. However, melanoma still has high recurrence rates due to subpopulations, sometimes described as “melanoma initiating cells,” resistant to treatment. Since CD133 is a putative cancer stem cell marker for different cancers, associated with decreased survival, we examined resistance of patient-derived CD133(+) and CD133(-) melanoma cells to MAPK inhibitors. Human melanoma cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of trametinib and/or dabrafenib, either before or after separation into CD133(+) and CD133(-) subpopulations. In parental CD133-mixed lines, the percentages of CD133(+) cells increased significantly (p<0.05) after high-dose drug treatment. Presorted CD133(+) cells also exhibited significantly greater (p<0.05) IC50s for single and combination MAPKI treatment. siRNA knockdown revealed a causal relationship between CD133 and drug resistance. Microarray and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that ten of 18 ABC transporter genes were significantly (P<0.05) upregulated in the CD133(+) subpopulation, while inhibition of ABC activity increased sensitivity, suggesting a mechanism for increased drug resistance of CD133(+) cells.
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41
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Atashzar MR, Baharlou R, Karami J, Abdollahi H, Rezaei R, Pourramezan F, Zoljalali Moghaddam SH. Cancer stem cells: A review from origin to therapeutic implications. J Cell Physiol 2019; 235:790-803. [PMID: 31286518 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are elucidated as cells that can perpetuate themselves via autorestoration. These cells are highly resistant to current therapeutic approaches and are the main reason for cancer recurrence. Radiotherapy has made a lot of contributions to cancer treatment. However, despite continuous achievements, therapy resistance and tumor recurrence are still prevalent in most patients. This resistance might be partly related to the existence of CSCs. In the present study, recent advances in the investigation of different biological properties of CSCs, such as their origin, markers, characteristics, and targeting have been reviewed. We have also focused our discussion on radioresistance and adaptive responses of CSCs and their related extrinsic and intrinsic influential factors. In summary, we suggest CSCs as the prime therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Atashzar
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Rasoul Baharlou
- Cancer Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Jafar Karami
- Student Research Committee, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamid Abdollahi
- Department of Radiologic Sciences and Medical Physics, School of Allied Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ramazan Rezaei
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Pourramezan
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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42
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ABCG1 and Pgp identify drug resistant, self-renewing osteosarcoma cells. Cancer Lett 2019; 453:142-157. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Marzagalli M, Raimondi M, Fontana F, Montagnani Marelli M, Moretti RM, Limonta P. Cellular and molecular biology of cancer stem cells in melanoma: Possible therapeutic implications. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:221-235. [PMID: 31265892 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is a tumor characterized by a very high level of heterogeneity, responsible for its malignant behavior and ability to escape from standard therapies. In this review we highlight the molecular and biological features of the subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), well known to be characterized by self-renewal properties, deeply involved in triggering the processes of tumor generation, metastasis, progression and drug resistance. From the molecular point of view, melanoma CSCs are identified and characterized by the expression of stemness markers, such as surface markers, ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, embryonic stem cells and intracellular markers. These cells are endowed with different functional features. In particular, they play pivotal roles in the processes of tumor dissemination, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, mediated by specific intracellular signaling pathways; moreover, they are characterized by a unique metabolic reprogramming. As reported for other types of tumors, the CSCs subpopulation in melanoma is also characterized by a low immunogenic profile as well as by the ability to escape the immune system, through the expression of a negative modulation of T cell functions and the secretion of immunosuppressive factors. These biological features allow melanoma CSCs to escape standard treatments, thus being deeply involved in tumor relapse. Targeting the CSCs subpopulation is now considered an attractive treatment strategy; in particular, combination treatments, based on both CSCs-targeting and standard drugs, will likely increase the therapeutic options for melanoma patients. The characterization of CSCs in liquid biopsies from single patients will pave the way towards precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Marzagalli
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Michela Raimondi
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fontana
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Roberta M Moretti
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Limonta
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy.
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Castet F, Garcia-Mulero S, Sanz-Pamplona R, Cuellar A, Casanovas O, Caminal JM, Piulats JM. Uveal Melanoma, Angiogenesis and Immunotherapy, Is There Any Hope? Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E834. [PMID: 31212986 PMCID: PMC6627065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma is considered a rare disease but it is the most common intraocular malignancy in adults. Local treatments are effective, but the systemic recurrence rate is unacceptably high. Moreover, once metastasis have developed the prognosis is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%, and systemic therapies, including immunotherapy, have rendered poor results. The tumour biology is complex, but angiogenesis is a highly important pathway in these tumours. Vasculogenic mimicry, the ability of melanomas to generate vascular channels independently of endothelial cells, could play an important role, but no effective therapy targeting this process has been developed so far. Angiogenesis modulates the tumour microenvironment of melanomas, and a close interplay is established between them. Therefore, combining immune strategies with drugs targeting angiogenesis offers a new therapeutic paradigm. In preclinical studies, these approaches effectively target these tumours, and a phase I clinical study has shown encouraging results in cutaneous melanomas. In this review, we will discuss the importance of angiogenesis in uveal melanoma, with a special focus on vasculogenic mimicry, and describe the interplay between angiogenesis and the tumour microenvironment. In addition, we will suggest future therapeutic approaches based on these observations and mention ways in which to potentially enhance current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Castet
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sandra Garcia-Mulero
- Clinical Research in Solid Tumors Group (CREST), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rebeca Sanz-Pamplona
- Unit of Biomarkers and Susceptibility, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Andres Cuellar
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Oriol Casanovas
- Tumor Angiogenesis Group, ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, IDIBELL-OncoBell, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Josep Maria Caminal
- Ophthalmology Department; University Hospital of Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Josep Maria Piulats
- Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Cancer (ICO), IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Clinical Research in Solid Tumors Group (CREST), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute IDIBELL-OncoBell, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain.
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CD271 is a molecular switch with divergent roles in melanoma and melanocyte development. Sci Rep 2019; 9:7696. [PMID: 31118427 PMCID: PMC6531451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42773-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of signaling networks controlling self-renewal and migration of developmental cell lineages is closely linked to the proliferative and invasive properties of tumors. Identification of such signaling pathways and their critical regulators is vital for successful design of effective targeted therapies against neoplastic tissue growth. The neurotrophin receptor (CD271/NGFR/p75NTR) is a key regulator of the melanocytic cell lineage through its ability to mediate cell growth, survival, and differentiation. Using clinical melanoma samples, normal melanocytes and global gene expression profiling we have investigated the role of CD271 in rewiring signal transduction networks of melanoma cells during neoplastic transformation. Our analysis demonstrates that depending on the cell fate of tumor initiation vs normal development, elevated levels of CD271 can serve as a switch between proliferation/survival and differentiation/cell death. Two divergent arms of neurotrophin signaling hold the balance between positive regulators of tumor growth controlled by E2F, MYC, SREBP1 and AKT3 pathways on the one hand, and differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis controlled by TRAF6/IRAK-dependent activation of AP1 and TP53 mediated processes on the other hand. A molecular network map revealed in this study uncovers CD271 as a context-specific molecular switch between normal development and malignant transformation.
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46
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Prasad S, Ramachandran S, Gupta N, Kaushik I, Srivastava SK. Cancer cells stemness: A doorstep to targeted therapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165424. [PMID: 30818002 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in research on cancer have led to understand the pathogenesis of cancer and development of new anticancer drugs. Despite of these advancements, many tumors have been found to recur, undergo metastasis and develop resistance to therapy. Accumulated evidences suggest that small population of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells (CSC) are responsible for reconstitution and propagation of the disease. CSCs possess the ability to self-renew, differentiate and proliferate like normal stem cells. CSCs also appear to have resistance to anti-cancer therapies and subsequent relapse. The underlying stemness properties of the CSCs are reliant on multiple molecular targets such as signaling pathways, cell surface molecules, tumor microenvironment, apoptotic pathways, microRNA, stem cell differentiation, and drug resistance markers. Thus an effective therapeutic strategy relies on targeting CSCs to overcome the possible tumor relapse and chemoresistance. The targeted inhibition of these stem cell biomarkers is one of the promising approaches to eliminate cancer stemness. This review article summarizes possible targets of cancer cell stemness for the complete treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahdeo Prasad
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sharavan Ramachandran
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Nehal Gupta
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Itishree Kaushik
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA
| | - Sanjay K Srivastava
- Department of Immunotherapeutics and Biotechnology, and Center for Tumor Immunology and Targeted Cancer Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Abilene, TX 79601, USA.
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Pharmacological targeting of mitochondria in cancer stem cells: An ancient organelle at the crossroad of novel anti-cancer therapies. Pharmacol Res 2019; 139:298-313. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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48
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Guo Q, Grimmig T, Gonzalez G, Giobbie-Hurder A, Berg G, Carr N, Wilson BJ, Banerjee P, Ma J, Gold JS, Nandi B, Huang Q, Waaga-Gasser AM, Lian CG, Murphy GF, Frank MH, Gasser M, Frank NY. ATP-binding cassette member B5 (ABCB5) promotes tumor cell invasiveness in human colorectal cancer. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:11166-11178. [PMID: 29789423 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
ABC member B5 (ABCB5) mediates multidrug resistance (MDR) in diverse malignancies and confers clinically relevant 5-fluorouracil resistance to CD133-expressing cancer stem cells in human colorectal cancer (CRC). Because of its recently identified roles in normal stem cell maintenance, we hypothesized that ABCB5 might also serve MDR-independent functions in CRC. Here, in a prospective clinical study of 142 CRC patients, we found that ABCB5 mRNA transcripts previously reported not to be significantly expressed in healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells are significantly enriched in patient peripheral blood specimens compared with non-CRC controls and correlate with CRC disease progression. In human-to-mouse CRC tumor xenotransplantation models that exhibited circulating tumor mRNA, we observed that cancer-specific ABCB5 knockdown significantly reduced detection of these transcripts, suggesting that the knockdown inhibited tumor invasiveness. Mechanistically, this effect was associated with inhibition of expression and downstream signaling of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL), a proinvasive molecule herein shown to be produced by ABCB5-positive CRC cells. Importantly, rescue of AXL expression in ABCB5-knockdown CRC tumor cells restored tumor-specific transcript detection in the peripheral blood of xenograft recipients, indicating that ABCB5 regulates CRC invasiveness, at least in part, by enhancing AXL signaling. Our results implicate ABCB5 as a critical determinant of CRC invasiveness and suggest that ABCB5 blockade might represent a strategy in CRC therapy, even independently of ABCB5's function as an MDR mediator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Guo
- From the Departments of Medicine.,the Division of Genetics.,the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Tanja Grimmig
- the Department of Surgery, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, and
| | - Gretchen Berg
- From the Departments of Medicine.,the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - Brian J Wilson
- the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.,Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Pallavi Banerjee
- From the Departments of Medicine.,the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Jie Ma
- the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | | | - Qin Huang
- Pathology, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02132
| | | | | | - George F Murphy
- the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.,Department of Pathology, and
| | - Markus H Frank
- the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138.,Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Martin Gasser
- the Department of Surgery, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Natasha Y Frank
- From the Departments of Medicine, .,the Division of Genetics.,the Transplant Research Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.,the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
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49
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Graziani G, Ruffini F, Tentori L, Scimeca M, Dorio AS, Atzori MG, Failla CM, Morea V, Bonanno E, D'Atri S, Lacal PM. Antitumor activity of a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 monoclonal antibody that does not interfere with ligand binding. Oncotarget 2018; 7:72868-72885. [PMID: 27655684 PMCID: PMC5341950 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) is a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that has also a soluble isoform containing most of the extracellular ligand binding domain (sVEGFR-1). VEGF-A binds to both VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1, whereas placenta growth factor (PlGF) interacts exclusively with VEGFR-1. In this study we generated an anti-VEGFR-1 mAb (D16F7) by immunizing BALB/C mice with a peptide that we had previously reported to inhibit angiogenesis and endothelial cell migration induced by PlGF. D16F7 did not affect binding of VEGF-A or PlGF to VEGFR-1, thus allowing sVEGFR-1 to act as decoy receptor for these growth factors, but it hampered receptor homodimerization and activation. D16F7 inhibited both the chemotactic response of human endothelial, myelomonocytic and melanoma cells to VEGFR-1 ligands and vasculogenic mimicry by tumor cells. Moreover, D16F7 exerted in vivo antiangiogenic effects in a matrigel plug assay. Importantly, D16F7 inhibited tumor growth and was well tolerated by B6D2F1 mice injected with syngeneic B16F10 melanoma cells. The antitumor effect was associated with melanoma cell apoptosis, vascular abnormalities and decrease of both monocyte/macrophage infiltration and myeloid progenitor mobilization. For all the above, D16F7 may be exploited in the therapy of metastatic melanoma and other tumors or pathological conditions involving VEGFR-1 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia Graziani
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Ruffini
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, "Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucio Tentori
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Scimeca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa S Dorio
- Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cristina M Failla
- Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, "Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Morea
- National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bonanno
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania D'Atri
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, "Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Pedro M Lacal
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, "Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata"-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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50
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Testa U, Castelli G, Pelosi E. Melanoma: Genetic Abnormalities, Tumor Progression, Clonal Evolution and Tumor Initiating Cells. Med Sci (Basel) 2017; 5:E28. [PMID: 29156643 PMCID: PMC5753657 DOI: 10.3390/medsci5040028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive neoplasia issued from the malignant transformation of melanocytes, the pigment-generating cells of the skin. It is responsible for about 75% of deaths due to skin cancers. Melanoma is a phenotypically and molecularly heterogeneous disease: cutaneous, uveal, acral, and mucosal melanomas have different clinical courses, are associated with different mutational profiles, and possess distinct risk factors. The discovery of the molecular abnormalities underlying melanomas has led to the promising improvement of therapy, and further progress is expected in the near future. The study of melanoma precursor lesions has led to the suggestion that the pathway of tumor evolution implies the progression from benign naevi, to dysplastic naevi, to melanoma in situ and then to invasive and metastatic melanoma. The gene alterations characterizing melanomas tend to accumulate in these precursor lesions in a sequential order. Studies carried out in recent years have, in part, elucidated the great tumorigenic potential of melanoma tumor cells. These findings have led to speculation that the cancer stem cell model cannot be applied to melanoma because, in this malignancy, tumor cells possess an intrinsic plasticity, conferring the capacity to initiate and maintain the neoplastic process to phenotypically different tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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