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Ginzel JD, Chapman H, Sills JE, Allen EJ, Barak LS, Cardiff RD, Borowsky AD, Lyerly HK, Rogers BW, Snyder JC. Nonlinear progression across the occult transition establishes cancer lethality. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.23.590826. [PMID: 38712192 PMCID: PMC11071403 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.23.590826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Cancer screening is based upon a linear model of growth and invasion. Yet, early dissemination during the lengthy pre-diagnostic phase suggests that nonlinearity in growth can also occur. Therefore, we quantitatively traced the invisible and visible phases of tumorigenesis in the mammary gland for more than two-thousand tumors. Dynamic mathematical models of the invisible phase revealed an occult checkpoint resulting in nonlinear progression of transformed field cells. We found that expansile fields have increased dwell time at the occult checkpoint resulting in a large reservoir of image detectable precursors prior to invasion. In contrast, slowly proliferating lesions disseminate early and then transition rapidly through an occult checkpoint in a process we term nascent lethality. Our data illustrate how nonlinear growth across an occult checkpoint can account for a paradoxical increase in early-stage cancer detection without a dramatic reduction in metastatic burden. Highlights Growth during the invisible phase of tumorigenesis is a nonlinear processField size and field growth rate are uncoupled from metastatic potentialOccult transition rates vary by genotypeNascent lethal lesions are currently undetectable.
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Favero A, Segatto I, Capuano A, Mattevi MC, Rampioni Vinciguerra GL, Musco L, D'Andrea S, Dall'Acqua A, Gava C, Perin T, Massarut S, Marchini C, Baldassarre G, Spessotto P, Belletti B. Loss of the extracellular matrix glycoprotein EMILIN1 accelerates Δ16HER2-driven breast cancer initiation in mice. NPJ Breast Cancer 2024; 10:5. [PMID: 38184660 PMCID: PMC10771445 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00608-0] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of the tumor microenvironment and undergoes extensive remodeling during both initiation and progression of breast cancer (BC). EMILIN1 is an ECM glycoprotein, whose function has been linked to cancer and metastasis. However, EMILIN1 role during mammary gland and BC development has never been investigated. In silico and molecular analyses of human samples from normal mammary gland and BC showed that EMILIN1 expression was lower in tumors than in healthy mammary tissue and it predicted poor prognosis, particularly in HER2-positive BC. HER2+ BC accounts for 15-20% of all invasive BC and is characterized by high aggressiveness and poor prognosis. The Δ16HER2 isoform, a splice variant with very high oncogenic potential, is frequently expressed in HER2+ BC and correlates with metastatic disease. To elucidate the role of EMILIN1 in BC, we analyzed the phenotype of MMTV-Δ16HER2 transgenic mice, developing spontaneous multifocal mammary adenocarcinomas, crossed with EMILIN1 knock-out (KO) animals. We observed that Δ16HER2/EMILIN1 KO female mice exhibited an accelerated normal mammary gland development and a significantly anticipated appearance of palpable tumors (13.32 vs 15.28 weeks). This accelerated tumor initiation was corroborated by an increased number of tumor foci observed in mammary glands from Δ16HER2/EMILIN1 KO mice compared to the wild-type counterpart. Altogether our results underscore the centrality of ECM in the process of BC initiation and point to a role for EMILIN1 during normal mammary gland development and in protecting from HER2-driven breast tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Favero
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Ilenia Segatto
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Capuano
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Mattevi
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Rampioni Vinciguerra
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Santo Andrea Hospital, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorena Musco
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Sara D'Andrea
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Dall'Acqua
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Chiara Gava
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
- Medical Department, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Tiziana Perin
- Unit of Pathology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Samuele Massarut
- Unit of Breast Surgery, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Cristina Marchini
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, Biology Division, University of Camerino, via Gentile III da Varano, 62032, Camerino, Italy
| | - Gustavo Baldassarre
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Paola Spessotto
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy
| | - Barbara Belletti
- Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico (CRO) di Aviano, IRCCS, National Cancer Institute, 33081, Aviano, Italy.
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López-Méndez JA, Ventura-Gallegos JL, Camacho-Arroyo I, Lizano M, Cabrera-Quintero AJ, Romero-Córdoba SL, Martínez-Vázquez M, Jacobo-Herrera NJ, León-Del-Río A, Paredes-Villa AA, Zentella-Dehesa A. The inhibitory effect of trastuzumab on BT474 triple‑positive breast cancer cell viability is reversed by the combination of progesterone and estradiol. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:19. [PMID: 38034484 PMCID: PMC10688505 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14152] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer expressing the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is known as triple-positive (TPBC). TPBC represents 9-11% of breast cancer cases worldwide and is a heterogeneous subtype. Notably, TPBC presents a therapeutic challenge due to the crosstalk between the hormonal (ER and PR) and HER2 pathways. Patients with TPBC are treated with trastuzumab (TTZ); however, several patients treated with TTZ tend to relapse. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the PR on inhibitory effect of TTZ on cell viability. BT474 cells (a model of TPBC) and BT474 PR-silenced cells were treated with either TTZ, progesterone (Pg), the PR antagonist mifepristone (RU486) or estradiol (E2) alone or in combination for 144 h (6 days). Cell viability assays and western blotting were subsequently performed. The results showed that Pg and E2 interfered with the inhibitory effect of TTZ on cell viability and this effect was potentiated when both hormones were combined. Pg was revealed to act through the PR, mainly activating the PR isoform B (PR-B) and inducing the protein expression levels of CDK4 and cyclin D1; however, it did not reactivate the HER2/Akt pathway. By contrast, E2 was able to increase PR isoform A (PR-A) expression, which was inhibited by Pg. Notably, in most of the experiments, RU486 did not antagonize the effects of Pg. In conclusion, Pg and E2 may interfere with the inhibitory effect of TTZ on cell viability through PR-B activation and PR-A inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. López-Méndez
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José L. Ventura-Gallegos
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa Institucional de Cáncer de Mama, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ignacio Camacho-Arroyo
- Unidad de Investigación en Reproducción Humana, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología-Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 11000 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Marcela Lizano
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alberto J. Cabrera-Quintero
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sandra L. Romero-Córdoba
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa Institucional de Cáncer de Mama, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mariano Martínez-Vázquez
- Departamento de Productos Naturales, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Nadia J. Jacobo-Herrera
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfonso León-Del-Río
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa Institucional de Cáncer de Mama, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Adrian A. Paredes-Villa
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Zentella-Dehesa
- Departamento de Medicina Genómica y Toxicología Ambiental, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Unidad de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
- Programa Institucional de Cáncer de Mama, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico
- Red de Apoyo a la Investigación, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México-Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, 14000 Mexico City, Mexico
- Cancer Center, American British Cowdray Medical Center, 01120 Mexico City, Mexico
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4
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Wu X, Huang S, He W, Song M. Emerging insights into mechanisms of trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive cancers. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 122:110602. [PMID: 37437432 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110602] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
HER2 is an established therapeutic target in breast, gastric, and gastroesophageal junction carcinomas with HER2 overexpression or genomic alterations. The humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab targeting HER2 has substantially improved the clinical outcomes of HER2-positive patients, yet the inevitable intrinsic or acquired resistance to trastuzumab limits its clinical benefit, necessitating the elucidation of resistance mechanisms to develop alternate therapeutic strategies. This review presents an overview of trastuzumab resistance mechanisms involving signaling pathways, cellular metabolism, cell plasticity, and tumor microenvironment, particularly discussing the prospects of developing rational combinations to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxue Wu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Shuting Huang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Weiling He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361000, China.
| | - Mei Song
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
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5
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Attalla SS, Boucher J, Proud H, Taifour T, Zuo D, Sanguin-Gendreau V, Ling C, Johnson G, Li V, Luo RB, Kuasne H, Papavasiliou V, Walsh LA, Barok M, Joensuu H, Park M, Roux PP, Muller WJ. HER2Δ16 Engages ENPP1 to Promote an Immune-Cold Microenvironment in Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1184-1202. [PMID: 37311021 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) is a critical determinant of therapeutic response. However, the mechanisms regulating its modulation are not fully understood. HER2Δ16, an oncogenic splice variant of the HER2, has been implicated in breast cancer and other tumor types as a driver of tumorigenesis and metastasis. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms of HER2Δ16-mediated oncogenicity remain poorly understood. Here, we show that HER2∆16 expression is not exclusive to the clinically HER2+ subtype and associates with a poor clinical outcome in breast cancer. To understand how HER2 variants modulated the tumor microenvironment, we generated transgenic mouse models expressing either proto-oncogenic HER2 or HER2Δ16 in the mammary epithelium. We found that HER2∆16 tumors were immune cold, characterized by low immune infiltrate and an altered cytokine profile. Using an epithelial cell surface proteomic approach, we identified ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) as a functional regulator of the immune cold microenvironment. We generated a knock-in model of HER2Δ16 under the endogenous promoter to understand the role of Enpp1 in aggressive HER2+ breast cancer. Knockdown of Enpp1 in HER2Δ16-derived tumor cells resulted in decreased tumor growth, which correlated with increased T-cell infiltration. These findings suggest that HER2Δ16-dependent Enpp1 activation associates with aggressive HER2+ breast cancer through its immune modulatory function. Our study provides a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying HER2Δ16-mediated oncogenicity and highlights ENPP1 as a potential therapeutic target in aggressive HER2+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherif Samer Attalla
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jonathan Boucher
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hailey Proud
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Tarek Taifour
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Dongmei Zuo
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Virginie Sanguin-Gendreau
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Chen Ling
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gabriella Johnson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vincent Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Robin B Luo
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Hellen Kuasne
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Vasilios Papavasiliou
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Logan A Walsh
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mark Barok
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heikki Joensuu
- Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Morag Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Philippe P Roux
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - William J Muller
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Goodman Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Wojtyś W, Oroń M. How Driver Oncogenes Shape and Are Shaped by Alternative Splicing Mechanisms in Tumors. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112918. [PMID: 37296881 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112918] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of RNA sequencing methods has allowed us to study and better understand the landscape of aberrant pre-mRNA splicing in tumors. Altered splicing patterns are observed in many different tumors and affect all hallmarks of cancer: growth signal independence, avoidance of apoptosis, unlimited proliferation, invasiveness, angiogenesis, and metabolism. In this review, we focus on the interplay between driver oncogenes and alternative splicing in cancer. On one hand, oncogenic proteins-mutant p53, CMYC, KRAS, or PI3K-modify the alternative splicing landscape by regulating expression, phosphorylation, and interaction of splicing factors with spliceosome components. Some splicing factors-SRSF1 and hnRNPA1-are also driver oncogenes. At the same time, aberrant splicing activates key oncogenes and oncogenic pathways: p53 oncogenic isoforms, the RAS-RAF-MAPK pathway, the PI3K-mTOR pathway, the EGF and FGF receptor families, and SRSF1 splicing factor. The ultimate goal of cancer research is a better diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. In the final part of this review, we discuss present therapeutic opportunities and possible directions of further studies aiming to design therapies targeting alternative splicing mechanisms in the context of driver oncogenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Wojtyś
- Laboratory of Human Disease Multiomics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Magdalena Oroń
- Laboratory of Human Disease Multiomics, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
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7
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Moon SJ, Choi HJ, Kye YH, Jeong GY, Kim HY, Myung JK, Kong G. CTTN Overexpression Confers Cancer Stem Cell-like Properties and Trastuzumab Resistance via DKK-1/WNT Signaling in HER2 Positive Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041168. [PMID: 36831511 PMCID: PMC9954024 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the therapeutic success of trastuzumab, HER2 positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients continue to face significant difficulties due to innate or acquired drug resistance. In this study we explored the potential role of CTTN in inducing trastuzumab resistance of HER2+ breast cancers. METHODS Genetic changes of CTTN and survival of HER2+ breast cancer patients were analyzed in multiple breast cancer patient cohorts (METABRIC, TCGA, Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter, and Hanyang University cohort). The effect of CTTN on cancer stem cell activity was assessed using the tumorsphere formation, ALDEFLUOR assay, and by in vivo xenograft experiments. CTTN-induced trastuzumab resistance was assessed by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, colony formation assays, and in vivo xenograft model. RNA-seq analysis was used to clarify the mechanism of trastuzumab resistance conferred by CTTN. RESULTS Survival analysis indicated that CTTN overexpression is related to a poor prognosis in HER2+ breast cancers (OS, p = 0.05 in the Hanyang University cohort; OS, p = 0.0014 in KM plotter; OS, p = 0.008 and DFS, p = 0.010 in METABRIC). CTTN overexpression-induced cancer stem cell-like characteristics in experiments of tumorsphere formation, ALDEFLUOR assays, and in vivo limiting dilution assays. CTTN overexpression resulted in trastuzumab resistance in SRB, colony formation assays, and in vivo xenograft models. Mechanistically, the mRNA and protein levels of DKK-1, a Wnt antagonist, were downregulated by CTTN. Treatment of the β-catenin/TCF inhibitor reversed CTTN-induced cancer stem cell-like properties in vitro. Combination treatment with trastuzumab and β-catenin/TCF inhibitor overcame trastuzumab resistance conferred by CTTN overexpression in in vitro colony formation assays. CONCLUSIONS CTTN activates DKK-1/Wnt/β-catenin signaling to induce trastuzumab resistance. We propose that CTTN is a novel biomarker indicating a poor prognosis and a possible therapeutic target for overcoming trastuzumab resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Jeong Moon
- Department of HY-KIST Bio-Convergence, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Jun Choi
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Hyeon Kye
- Department of HY-KIST Bio-Convergence, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Ga-Young Jeong
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Yong Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-Kyung Myung
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Gu Kong
- Department of HY-KIST Bio-Convergence, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2290-8251; Fax: +82-2-2295-1091
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8
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Shang Y, Mo J, Huo R, Li X, Fang G, Wei Z, Gu G, Zhu X, Zhang C, Liu C, Yan D. Investigation of the prevalence and clinical implications of ERBB2 exon 16 skipping mutations in Chinese pan-cancer patients. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1064598. [PMID: 36686783 PMCID: PMC9859631 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1064598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although rare, ERBB2 exon 16 skipping mutations (ERBB2ΔEx16) have been implicated in resistance to anti-HER2 and anti-EGFR targeted agents. Our study investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of ERBB2ΔEx16 in Chinese pan-cancer patients. Methods We retrospectively screened 40996 patients, spanning 19 cancer types, who had available genomic profiles acquired with DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). We characterized the clinical and molecular features of the ERBB2ΔEx16-positive patients. Furthermore, we also analyzed a pan-cancer dataset from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n=8705). Results A total of 22 patients were detected with ERBB2ΔEx16, resulting in an overall prevalence rate of 0.054% (22/40996). Of them, 16 patients had lung cancer (LC; 0.05%, 16/30890), five patients had gastric cancer (GC; 0.35%, 5/1448), and one patient had ovarian cancer (0.12%, 1/826). Among the 16 LC patients, ERBB2ΔEx16 was detected in four treatment-naïve EGFR/ALK-negative patients and 12 EGFR-positive patients after the onset of resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The treatment-naïve patients harbored no LC-associated oncogenic drivers except ERBB2 amplification, suggesting a potential oncogenic role for ERBB2ΔEx16. Consistently, ERBB2ΔEx16+ patients from TCGA data also carried no known drivers despite various concurrent alterations. In the 12 EGFR TKI-resistant LC patients, relative variant frequencies for ERBB2ΔEx16 were lower than in untreated patients, suggesting ERBB2ΔEx16 as secondary alterations following TKI treatment and thereby implicating ERBB2ΔEx16 in mediating therapeutic resistance. Conclusions Our study identified an overall ERBB2ΔEx16 prevalence rate of 0.054% and provided insights into the clinical implications of ERBB2ΔEx16 in Chinese pan-cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Shang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Baoding, China
| | - Jianming Mo
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ran Huo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Baoding, China
| | - Xiaofang Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Baoding, China
| | - Guotao Fang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Cancer Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy, Baoding, China
| | - Zichun Wei
- Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guomin Gu
- Second Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Xiaodan Zhu
- Second Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Chan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunling Liu
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xinjiang Medical, Urumqi, China,*Correspondence: Dong Yan, ; Chunling Liu,
| | - Dong Yan
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Dong Yan, ; Chunling Liu,
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9
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Chow CY, Lie EF, Wu CH, Chow LW. Clinical implication of genetic composition and molecular mechanism on treatment strategies of HER2-positive breast cancers. Front Oncol 2022; 12:964824. [PMID: 36387174 PMCID: PMC9659858 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.964824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The current clinical management model of HER2-positive breast cancers is commonly based on guidelines, which in turn are based on the design and outcome of clinical trials. While this model is useful to most practicing clinicians, the treatment outcome of individual patient is not certain at the start of treatment. As the understanding of the translational research of carcinogenesis and the related changes in cancer genetics and tumor microenvironment during treatment is critical in the selection of right choice of treatment to maximize the successful clinical outcome for the patient, this review article intends to discuss the latest developments in the genetic and molecular mechanisms of cancer progression and treatment resistance, and how they influence the planning of the treatment strategies of HER2-positive breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Y.C. Chow
- UNIMED Medical Institute, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Cheng-Hsun Wu
- Department of Anatomy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Louis W.C. Chow
- UNIMED Medical Institute, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Organisation for Oncology and Translational Research, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- *Correspondence: Louis W.C. Chow,
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10
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LINC00589-dominated ceRNA networks regulate multiple chemoresistance and cancer stem cell-like properties in HER2 + breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2022; 8:115. [PMID: 36309503 PMCID: PMC9617889 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-022-00484-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy (trastuzumab), cancer stem cell (CSC)-like properties and multiple chemoresistance often concur and intersect in breast cancer, but molecular links that may serve as effective therapeutic targets remain largely unknown. Here, we identified the long noncoding RNA, LINC00589 as a key regulatory node for concurrent intervention of these processes in breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that the expression of LINC00589 is clinically valuable as an independent prognostic factor for discriminating trastuzumab responders. Mechanistically, LINC00589 serves as a ceRNA platform that simultaneously sponges miR-100 and miR-452 and relieves their repression of tumor suppressors, including discs large homolog 5 (DLG5) and PR/SET domain 16 (PRDM16, a transcription suppressor of mucin4), thereby exerting multiple cancer inhibitory functions and counteracting drug resistance. Collectively, our results disclose two LINC00589-initiated ceRNA networks, the LINC00589-miR-100-DLG5 and LINC00589-miR-452-PRDM16- mucin4 axes, which regulate trastuzumab resistance, CSC-like properties and multiple chemoresistance of breast cancer, thus providing potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for HER2-positive breast cancer.
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11
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Kedashiro S, Kameyama T, Mizutani K, Takai Y. Stimulatory role of nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 in multilayered T47D cell proliferation. Genes Cells 2022; 27:451-464. [PMID: 35430770 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12940] [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: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Multilayered proliferation in an adherent culture as well as proliferation in a suspension culture is a characteristic feature of cancer cells. We previously showed using T47D human mammary cancer cells that nectin-4, upregulated in many cancer cells, cis-interacts with ErbB2 and its trastuzumab-resistant splice variants, p95-ErbB2 and ErbB2ΔEx16, and enhances DNA synthesis mainly through the PI3K-AKT pathway in an adherent culture. We showed here that only the combination of nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2, but not that of nectin-4 and ErbB2 or that of nectin-4 and ErbB2ΔEx16, cooperatively enhanced multilayered T47D cell proliferation through the Hippo pathway-mediated SOX2 gene expression in an adherent culture. T47D cells expressed the components of the apical junctional complex (AJC) consisting of adherens junctions (AJs) and tight junctions and cell polarity molecules, but not the AJ component afadin. The AJC and apicobasal polarity were disorganized in T47D cells in a monolayer and T47D cells stably expressing both nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 in multilayers. These results indicate that nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 play a stimulatory role in multilayered proliferation in an adherent culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Kedashiro
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kameyama
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kiyohito Mizutani
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Takai
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
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12
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Wang S, Zhao Y, Song Y, Qiao G, Di Y, Zhao J, Sun P, Zheng H, Huang H, Huang H. ERBB2D16 Expression in HER2 Positive Gastric Cancer Is Associated With Resistance to Trastuzumab. Front Oncol 2022; 12:855308. [PMID: 35463314 PMCID: PMC9021701 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.855308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (ERBB2; formerly HER2)isoform ERBB2ΔEx16 (ERBB2d16) was oncogenic by mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune evasion, and resistance cell death to the anti-HER2 (trastuzumab) therapy. However, its physiological implications in gastric cancer were unclear. In this study, we examined a total of 110 patients with either locally advanced or metastatic HER2+ gastric cancer for the expression of ERBB2d16 and EMT markers, and the infiltration of CD3+ T cells in tumor tissues, and evaluated their relevance with the responses to the standard chemotherapy plus trastuzumab according to the RECIST criteria. We found that the ERBB2d16 isoform was present at a relatively high level in about half of the tumor samples examined (53/110) and an elevated ERBB2d16/ERBB2 ratio was positively associated with the expression of high E-cadherin and low vimentin indicating EMT, and with poor CD3+ T cell infiltration and strong intratumoral expression of programmed death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as well as reduced diversity of T cell receptor clones. Moreover, the progression-free survival and overall survival of patients treated with trastuzumab were substantially shorter in those with a high ERBB2d16/ERBB2 ratio. In agreement, analysis by Cox proportional hazards models confirmed that high ERBB2d16 expression was a risk factor associated with an adverse prognosis. Thus, our data fit well with an oncogenic role of ERBB2d16 in gastric cancer by promoting EMT and immunosuppression. We also found that ERBB2d16 expression resists gastric cell death in patients treated with trustuzumab, and the ERBB2d16/ERBB2 ratio may serve as a novel prognostic maker for patients with gastric cancer that receive trastuzumab therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Wang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuze Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuguang Song
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoliang Qiao
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Yan Di
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Pingping Sun
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huixia Zheng
- Department of Pathology, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of General Surgery, First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Hongyan Huang
- Department of Oncology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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13
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Díaz-Rodríguez E, Gandullo-Sánchez L, Ocaña A, Pandiella A. Novel ADCs and Strategies to Overcome Resistance to Anti-HER2 ADCs. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:154. [PMID: 35008318 PMCID: PMC8750930 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
During recent years, a number of new compounds against HER2 have reached clinics, improving the prognosis and quality of life of HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Nonetheless, resistance to standard-of-care drugs has motivated the development of novel agents, such as new antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The latter are a group of drugs that benefit from the potency of cytotoxic agents whose action is specifically guided to the tumor by the target-specific antibody. Two anti-HER2 ADCs have reached the clinic: trastuzumab-emtansine and, more recently, trastuzumab-deruxtecan. In addition, several other HER2-targeted ADCs are in preclinical or clinical development, some of them with promising signs of activity. In the present review, the structure, mechanism of action, and potential resistance to all these ADCs will be described. Specific attention will be given to discussing novel strategies to circumvent resistance to ADCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Díaz-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-IBSAL and CIBERONC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.D.-R.); (L.G.-S.)
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Lucía Gandullo-Sánchez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-IBSAL and CIBERONC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.D.-R.); (L.G.-S.)
| | - Alberto Ocaña
- Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología (CIBERONC), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Atanasio Pandiella
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-IBSAL and CIBERONC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.D.-R.); (L.G.-S.)
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14
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Evolution of HER2-positive mammary carcinoma: HER2 loss reveals claudin-low traits in cancer progression. Oncogenesis 2021; 10:77. [PMID: 34775465 PMCID: PMC8590694 DOI: 10.1038/s41389-021-00360-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
HER2-positive breast cancers may lose HER2 expression in recurrences and metastases. In this work, we studied cell lines derived from two transgenic mammary tumors driven by human HER2 that showed different dynamics of HER2 status. MamBo89HER2stable cell line displayed high and stable HER2 expression, which was maintained upon in vivo passages, whereas MamBo43HER2labile cell line gave rise to HER2-negative tumors from which MamBo38HER2loss cell line was derived. Both low-density seeding and in vitro trastuzumab treatment of MamBo43HER2labile cells induced the loss of HER2 expression. MamBo38HER2loss cells showed a spindle-like morphology, high stemness and acquired in vivo malignancy. A comprehensive molecular profile confirmed the loss of addiction to HER2 signaling and acquisition of an EMT signature, together with increased angiogenesis and migration ability. We identified PDGFR-B among the newly expressed determinants of MamBo38HER2loss cell tumorigenic ability. Sunitinib inhibited MamBo38HER2loss tumor growth in vivo and reduced stemness and IL6 production in vitro. In conclusion, HER2-positive mammary tumors can evolve into tumors that display distinctive traits of claudin-low tumors. Our dynamic model of HER2 status can lead to the identification of new druggable targets, such as PDGFR-B, in order to counteract the resistance to HER2-targeted therapy that is caused by HER2 loss.
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15
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McKee AM, Kirkup BM, Madgwick M, Fowler WJ, Price CA, Dreger SA, Ansorge R, Makin KA, Caim S, Le Gall G, Paveley J, Leclaire C, Dalby M, Alcon-Giner C, Andrusaite A, Feng TY, Di Modica M, Triulzi T, Tagliabue E, Milling SW, Weilbaecher KN, Rutkowski MR, Korcsmáros T, Hall LJ, Robinson SD. Antibiotic-induced disturbances of the gut microbiota result in accelerated breast tumor growth. iScience 2021; 24:103012. [PMID: 34522855 PMCID: PMC8426205 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota's function in regulating health has seen it linked to disease progression in several cancers. However, there is limited research detailing its influence in breast cancer (BrCa). This study found that antibiotic-induced perturbation of the gut microbiota significantly increases tumor progression in multiple BrCa mouse models. Metagenomics highlights the common loss of several bacterial species following antibiotic administration. One such bacteria, Faecalibaculum rodentium, rescued this increased tumor growth. Single-cell transcriptomics identified an increased number of cells with a stromal signature in tumors, and subsequent histology revealed an increased abundance of mast cells in the tumor stromal regions. We show that administration of a mast cell stabilizer, cromolyn, rescues increased tumor growth in antibiotic treated animals but has no influence on tumors from control cohorts. These findings highlight that BrCa-microbiota interactions are different from other cancers studied to date and suggest new research avenues for therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alastair M. McKee
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Benjamin M. Kirkup
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Matthew Madgwick
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Wesley J. Fowler
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Christopher A. Price
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Sally A. Dreger
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Rebecca Ansorge
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Kate A. Makin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Shabhonam Caim
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Gwenaelle Le Gall
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Jack Paveley
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Charlotte Leclaire
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Matthew Dalby
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Cristina Alcon-Giner
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
| | - Anna Andrusaite
- Centre for Immunobiology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Tzu-Yu Feng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Martina Di Modica
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Instituto Nazionale di Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Tiziana Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Instituto Nazionale di Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Instituto Nazionale di Tumori, Milan, 20133, Italy
| | - Simon W.F. Milling
- Centre for Immunobiology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Katherine N. Weilbaecher
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Oncology, Washington University in St Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Melanie R. Rutkowski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Tamás Korcsmáros
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ, UK
| | - Lindsay J. Hall
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
- Chair of Intestinal Microbiome, School of Life Sciences, ZIEL – Institute for Food & Health, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Stephen D. Robinson
- Gut Microbes and Health Programme, Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7AU, UK
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
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16
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Pupa SM, Ligorio F, Cancila V, Franceschini A, Tripodo C, Vernieri C, Castagnoli L. HER2 Signaling and Breast Cancer Stem Cells: The Bridge behind HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Aggressiveness and Therapy Refractoriness. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194778. [PMID: 34638263 PMCID: PMC8507865 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Breast cancer (BC) is not a single disease, but a group of different tumors, and altered HER2 expression defines a particularly aggressive subtype. Although HER2 pharmacological inhibition has dramatically improved the prognosis of HER2-positive BC patients, there is still an urgent need for improved knowledge of HER2 biology and mechanisms underlying HER2-driven aggressiveness and drug susceptibility. Emerging data suggest that the clinical efficacy of molecularly targeted therapies is related to their ability to target breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), a population that is not only self-sustaining and able to differentiate into distinct lineages, but also contributes to tumor growth, aggressiveness, metastasis and treatment resistance. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of how the full-length HER2 receptor, the d16HER2 splice variant and the truncated p95HER2 variants are involved in the regulation and maintenance of BCSCs. Abstract HER2 overexpression/amplification occurs in 15–20% of breast cancers (BCs) and identifies a highly aggressive BC subtype. Recent clinical progress has increased the cure rates of limited-stage HER2-positive BC and significantly prolonged overall survival in patients with advanced disease; however, drug resistance and tumor recurrence remain major concerns. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase knowledge regarding HER2 biology and implement available treatments. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subset of malignant cells capable of unlimited self-renewal and differentiation and are mainly considered to contribute to tumor onset, aggressiveness, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Seminal studies have highlighted the key role of altered HER2 signaling in the maintenance/enrichment of breast CSCs (BCSCs) and elucidated its bidirectional communication with stemness-related pathways, such as the Notch and Wingless/β-catenin cascades. d16HER2, a splice variant of full-length HER2 mRNA, has been identified as one of the most oncogenic HER2 isoform significantly implicated in tumorigenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)/stemness and the response to targeted therapy. In addition, expression of a heterogeneous collection of HER2 truncated carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs), collectively known as p95HER2, identifies a peculiar subgroup of HER2-positive BC with poor prognosis, with the p95HER2 variants being able to regulate CSC features. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current evidence regarding HER2-/d16HER2-/p95HER2-positive BCSCs in the context of the signaling pathways governing their properties and describes the future prospects for targeting these components to achieve long-lasting tumor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serenella M. Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-022-390-2573; Fax: +39-022-390-2692
| | - Francesca Ligorio
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.L.); or (C.V.)
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (V.C.); (C.T.)
| | - Alma Franceschini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy; (V.C.); (C.T.)
| | - Claudio Vernieri
- Medical Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133 Milan, Italy; (F.L.); or (C.V.)
- IFOM the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Castagnoli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, AmadeoLab, Via Amadeo 42, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.F.); (L.C.)
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17
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Vajen B, Greiwe L, Schäffer V, Eilers M, Huge N, Stalke A, Schlegelberger B, Illig T, Skawran B. MicroRNA-192-5p inhibits migration of triple negative breast cancer cells and directly regulates Rho GTPase activating protein 19. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2021; 60:733-742. [PMID: 34296808 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the different breast cancer subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a poor prognosis, low survival rates, and high expression of histone deacetylases. Treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) leads to an increased expression of potential tumor-suppressive miRNAs. Characterization of these miRNAs can help to find new molecular targets for treatment of TNBC. We identified differentially expressed miRNAs by microarray analyses after treatment with TSA in the TNBC cell lines HCC38, HCC1395, and HCC1935. The gene locus of hsa-miRNA-192-5p (miR-192) and hsa-miR-194-2 (miR-194-2) with its host gene, long noncoding RNA miR-194-2HG, has been linked to inhibition of migration in different tumor types. Therefore, we examined tumor-relevant functional effects using WST-1-based proliferation, capsase-3/7-based apoptosis, and trans-well migration assays after transfection with miRNA mimics or specific siRNAs. We demonstrated the tumor-suppressive capacity of miR-192 in TNBC cells, which was exerted through inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and reduction of migration. Gene expression and bioinformatics analyses of TNBC cell lines transfected with miR-192 mimics, identified a number of genes involved in migration including the Rho GTPase Activating Protein ARHGAP19. Through RNA immunoprecipitation we demonstrated the direct binding of miR-192 and ARHGAP19. Downregulation of ARHGAP19 expression by either miR-192 or siRNA inhibited migration of TNBC cells significantly. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of epigenetically deregulated miR-192 decreases proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and inhibits migration of TNBC cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Vajen
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luisa Greiwe
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Vera Schäffer
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marlies Eilers
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nicole Huge
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Amelie Stalke
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Illig
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Britta Skawran
- Department of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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18
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Maadi H, Soheilifar MH, Choi WS, Moshtaghian A, Wang Z. Trastuzumab Mechanism of Action; 20 Years of Research to Unravel a Dilemma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143540. [PMID: 34298754 PMCID: PMC8303665 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trastuzumab as a first HER2-targeted therapy for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer patients was introduced in 1998. Although trastuzumab has opened a new avenue to treat patients with HER2-positive breast cancer and other types of cancer, some patients are not responsive or become resistant to this treatment. So far, several mechanisms have been suggested for the mode of action of trastuzumab; however, the findings regarding these mechanisms are controversial. In this review, we aimed to provide a detailed insight into the various mechanisms of action of trastuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Maadi
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada; (H.M.); (W.-S.C.)
| | - Mohammad Hasan Soheilifar
- Department of Medical Laser, Medical Laser Research Center, Yara Institute, ACECR, Tehran 1315795613, Iran;
| | - Won-Shik Choi
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1Z2, Canada; (H.M.); (W.-S.C.)
| | - Abdolvahab Moshtaghian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar 4741695447, Iran;
- Deputy of Research and Technology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 3514799442, Iran
| | - Zhixiang Wang
- Department of Medical Genetics and Signal, Transduction Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Correspondence:
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19
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HER2-PI9 and HER2-I12: two novel and functionally active splice variants of the oncogene HER2 in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:2893-2912. [PMID: 34136934 PMCID: PMC8397700 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03689-1] [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: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In this study, two novel alternative splice variants of HER2, named HER2-PI9 and HER2-I12, were identified in breast cancer cell lines and breast tumour tissues. Whilst HER2-P19 arises from the inclusion of an 117 bp cassette-exon of intron 9 of HER2, HER2-I12 results from intron 12 inclusion. In silico analyses were performed to predict the amino acid sequences of these two HER2 novel variants. To confirm their protein expression, plasmid vectors were generated and transfected into the HER2 negative breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Additionally, their functional properties in oncogenic signalling were confirmed. Expression of HER2-PI9 and HER2-I12 was successful and matched the in silico predictions. Importantly, these splice variants can modulate the phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and Akt/protein kinase B (Akt) signalling in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Enhanced cellular proliferation, migration and invasion were observed in the case of the HER2-I12 expressing model. In human tissues and breast carcinoma tumours both variants were present. This study reveals two novel splice variants of HER2. Additionally, the potential biological activity for HER2-PI9 and HER2-I12 in breast cancer cells is also reported..
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20
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Ginzel JD, Acharya CR, Lubkov V, Mori H, Boone PG, Rochelle LK, Roberts WL, Everitt JI, Hartman ZC, Crosby EJ, Barak LS, Caron MG, Chen JQ, Hubbard NE, Cardiff RD, Borowsky AD, Lyerly HK, Snyder JC. HER2 Isoforms Uniquely Program Intratumor Heterogeneity and Predetermine Breast Cancer Trajectories During the Occult Tumorigenic Phase. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1699-1711. [PMID: 34131071 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
HER2-positive breast cancers are among the most heterogeneous breast cancer subtypes. The early amplification of HER2 and its known oncogenic isoforms provide a plausible mechanism in which distinct programs of tumor heterogeneity could be traced to the initial oncogenic event. Here a Cancer rainbow mouse simultaneously expressing fluorescently barcoded wildtype (WTHER2), exon-16 null (d16HER2), and N-terminally truncated (p95HER2) HER2 isoforms is used to trace tumorigenesis from initiation to invasion. Tumorigenesis was visualized using whole-gland fluorescent lineage tracing and single-cell molecular pathology. We demonstrate that within weeks of expression, morphologic aberrations were already present and unique to each HER2 isoform. Although WTHER2 cells were abundant throughout the mammary ducts, detectable lesions were exceptionally rare. In contrast, d16HER2 and p95HER2 induced rapid tumor development. d16HER2 incited homogenous and proliferative luminal-like lesions which infrequently progressed to invasive phenotypes whereas p95HER2 lesions were heterogenous and invasive at the smallest detectable stage. Distinct cancer trajectories were observed for d16HER2 and p95HER2 tumors as evidenced by oncogene-dependent changes in epithelial specification and the tumor microenvironment. These data provide direct experimental evidence that intratumor heterogeneity programs begin very early and well in advance of screen or clinically detectable breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS: Although all HER2 breast cancers are treated equally, we show a mechanism by which clinically undetected HER2 isoforms program heterogenous cancer phenotypes through biased epithelial specification and adaptations within the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Ginzel
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Chaitanya R Acharya
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Veronica Lubkov
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hidetoshi Mori
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Peter G Boone
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lauren K Rochelle
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Wendy L Roberts
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Zachary C Hartman
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical School, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Erika J Crosby
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Lawrence S Barak
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Marc G Caron
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jane Q Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Neil E Hubbard
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Robert D Cardiff
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Alexander D Borowsky
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and The Center for Immunology and Infectious Disease, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - H Kim Lyerly
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joshua C Snyder
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. .,Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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21
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Jiao XD, Liu K, Wu Y, Zhou XC, Qin BD, Ling Y, Liu J, He X, Du H, Xiang J, Zang YS. HER2 Splice Site Mutation c.1899-1G>A as the Potential Acquired Resistance to Trastuzumab in a Patient with HER2-Positive Gastric Adenocarcinoma. Oncologist 2021; 26:717-721. [PMID: 33896090 DOI: 10.1002/onco.13799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy regimen is the standard of care for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive advanced gastric cancer; however, most patients eventually acquire trastuzumab resistance. Although some resistance mechanisms to trastuzumab-based regimens have been proposed, further understanding is required for developing therapeutic strategies to overcome the resistance. In the present work, we attempted to determine the possible resistance mechanism to trastuzumab in a patient with HER2-positive stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma. In this study, we first report the nucleotide change c.1899-1G>A at the intron 15 acceptor splice site promoting exon 16 deletion of HER2 as the potential mechanism of trastuzumab resistance in HER2-positive gastric adenocarcinoma. KEY POINTS: The combination of trastuzumab with chemotherapy is considered to be the standard therapy for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer (GC), but most of the patients eventually acquire trastuzumab resistance. The mechanisms of resistance to trastuzumab in GC are poorly characterized. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to implicate HER2 c.1899-1G>A, which results in exon 16 skpping, as the acquired resistance mechanism to trastuzumab in HER2-positive gastric adenocarcinoma. This work provides insights into the potential molecular mechanism of trastuzumab resistance, which is crucial in developing effective therapeutic strategies for HER2-positive GC patients refractory to trastuzumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Dong Jiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Cheng Zhou
- Department of Internal Medicine, Qingyang People Hospital, Qingyang, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Bao-Dong Qin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Ling
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiwei Du
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianxing Xiang
- Burning Rock Biotech, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Sheng Zang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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22
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Kedashiro S, Kameyama T, Mizutani K, Takai Y. Nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 cooperatively regulate Hippo signaling-dependent SOX2 gene expression, enhancing anchorage-independent T47D cell proliferation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7344. [PMID: 33795719 PMCID: PMC8016986 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86437-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectin-4, upregulated in various cancer cells, cis-interacts with ErbB2 and its trastuzumab-resistant splice variants, p95-ErbB2 and ErbB2∆Ex16, enhancing DNA synthesis through the PI3K-AKT signaling in human breast cancer T47D cells in an adherent culture. We found here that nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2, but not nectin-4 and either ErbB2 or ErbB2∆Ex16, cooperatively enhanced SOX2 gene expression and cell proliferation in a suspension culture. This enhancement of T47D cell proliferation in a suspension culture by nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 was dependent on the SOX2 gene expression. In T47D cells, nectin-4 and any one of p95-ErbB2, ErbB2, or ErbB2∆Ex16 cooperatively activated the PI3K-AKT signaling, known to induce the SOX2 gene expression, to similar extents. However, only a combination of nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2, but not that of nectin-4 and either ErbB2 or ErbB2∆Ex16, cooperatively enhanced the SOX2 gene expression. Detailed studies revealed that only nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2 cooperatively activated the Hippo signaling. YAP inhibited the SOX2 gene expression in this cell line and thus the MST1/2-LATS1/2 signaling-mediated YAP inactivation increased the SOX2 gene expression. These results indicate that only the combination of nectin-4 and p95-ErbB2, but not that of nectin-4 and either ErbB2 or ErbB2∆Ex16, cooperatively regulates the Hippo signaling-dependent SOX2 gene expression, enhancing anchorage-independent T47D cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Kedashiro
- Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Takeshi Kameyama
- Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kiyohito Mizutani
- Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Yoshimi Takai
- Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
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23
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Di Modica M, Gargari G, Regondi V, Bonizzi A, Arioli S, Belmonte B, De Cecco L, Fasano E, Bianchi F, Bertolotti A, Tripodo C, Villani L, Corsi F, Guglielmetti S, Balsari A, Triulzi T, Tagliabue E. Gut Microbiota Condition the Therapeutic Efficacy of Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Cancer Res 2021; 81:2195-2206. [PMID: 33483370 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence indicates that gut microbiota affect the response to anticancer therapies by modulating the host immune system. In this study, we investigated the impact of gut microbiota on immune-mediated trastuzumab antitumor efficacy in preclinical models of HER2-positive breast cancer and in 24 patients with primary HER2-positive breast cancer undergoing trastuzumab-containing neoadjuvant treatment. In mice, the antitumor activity of trastuzumab was impaired by antibiotic administration or fecal microbiota transplantation from antibiotic-treated donors. Modulation of the intestinal microbiota was reflected in tumors by impaired recruitment of CD4+ T cells and granzyme B-positive cells after trastuzumab treatment. Antibiotics caused reductions in dendritic cell (DC) activation and the release of IL12p70 upon trastuzumab treatment, a mechanism that was necessary for trastuzumab effectiveness in our model. In patients, lower α-diversity and lower abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Turicibacteraceae, Bifidobacteriaceae, and Prevotellaceae characterized nonresponsive patients (NR) compared with those who achieved pathologic complete response (R), similar to antibiotic-treated mice. The transfer of fecal microbiota from R and NR into mice bearing HER2-positive breast cancer recapitulated the response to trastuzumab observed in patients. Fecal microbiota β-diversity segregated patients according to response and positively correlated with immune signature related to interferon (IFN) and NO2-IL12 as well as activated CD4+ T cells and activated DCs in tumors. Overall, our data reveal the direct involvement of the gut microbiota in trastuzumab efficacy, suggesting that manipulation of the gut microbiota is an optimal future strategy to achieve a therapeutic effect or to exploit its potential as a biomarker for treatment response. SIGNIFICANCE: Evidence of gut microbiota involvement in trastuzumab efficacy represents the foundation for new therapeutic strategies aimed at manipulating commensal bacteria to improve response in trastuzumab-resistant patients.See related commentary by Sharma, p. 1937 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/81/8/2195/F1.large.jpg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Di Modica
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gargari
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Viola Regondi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Bonizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco," Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Arioli
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department PROMISE, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Loris De Cecco
- Platform of Integrated Biology, Department of Applied Research and Technology Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Fasano
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Bertolotti
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCSS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department PROMISE, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.,IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Villani
- Pathology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Fabio Corsi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "L. Sacco," Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Breast Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Simone Guglielmetti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences (DeFENS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Balsari
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Science for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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24
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Hart V, Gautrey H, Kirby J, Tyson-Capper A. HER2 splice variants in breast cancer: investigating their impact on diagnosis and treatment outcomes. Oncotarget 2020; 11:4338-4357. [PMID: 33245725 PMCID: PMC7679030 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of the HER2 receptor occurs in approximately 20% of breast cancer patients. HER2 positivity is associated with poor prognosis and aggressive tumour phenotypes, which led to rapid progress in HER2 targeted therapeutics and diagnostic testing. Whilst these advances have greatly increased patients' chances of survival, resistance to HER2 targeted therapies, be that intrinsic or acquired, remains a problem. Different forms of the HER2 protein exist within tumours in tandem and can display altered biological activities. Interest in HER2 variants in breast cancer increased when links between resistance to anti-HER2 therapies and a particular variant, Δ16-HER2, were identified. Moreover, the P100 variant potentially reduces the efficacy of the anti-HER2 therapy trastuzumab. Another variant, Herstatin, exhibits 'auto-inhibitory' behaviour. More recently, new HER2 variants have been identified and are currently being assessed for their pro- and anti-cancer properties. It is important when directing the care of patients to consider HER2 variants collectively. This review considers HER2 variants in the context of the tumour environment where multiple variants are co-expressed at altered ratios. This study also provides an up to date account of the landscape of HER2 variants and links this to patterns of resistance against HER2 therapies and treatment plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vic Hart
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Hannah Gautrey
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Kirby
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Alison Tyson-Capper
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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25
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Yamaoka T, Tsurutani J, Sagara H, Ohmori T. HER2-D16 oncogenic driver mutation confers osimertinib resistance in EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2020; 9:2178-2183. [PMID: 33209639 PMCID: PMC7653124 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toshimitsu Yamaoka
- Advanced Cancer Translational Research Institute, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Allergology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junji Tsurutani
- Advanced Cancer Translational Research Institute, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hironori Sagara
- Division of Allergology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tohru Ohmori
- Division of Allergology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Leal JL, Solomon B, John T. Finding chinks in the osimertinib resistance armor. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2020; 9:2173-2177. [PMID: 33209638 PMCID: PMC7653108 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Luis Leal
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Benjamin Solomon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Thomas John
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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27
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Yochum ZA, Villaruz LC. Alternative splicing of HER2: a novel mediator of EGFR TKI resistance. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2020; 9:1606-1612. [PMID: 32953533 PMCID: PMC7481647 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Yochum
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Liza C Villaruz
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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28
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Abstract
Lung cancer causes more deaths annually than any other malignancy. A subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is driven by amplification and overexpression or activating mutation of the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ERBB2 In some contexts, notably breast cancer, alternative splicing of ERBB2 causes skipping of exon 16, leading to the expression of an oncogenic ERBB2 isoform (ERBB2ΔEx16) that forms constitutively active homodimers. However, the broader implications of ERBB2 alternative splicing in human cancers have not been explored. Here, we have used genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify elevated ERBB2ΔEx16 expression in a subset of NSCLC cases, as well as splicing site mutations facilitating exon 16 skipping and deletions of exon 16 in a subset of these lung tumors and in a number of other carcinomas. Supporting the potential of ERBB2ΔEx16 as a lung cancer driver, its expression transformed immortalized lung epithelial cells while a transgenic model featuring inducible ERBB2ΔEx16 specifically in the lung epithelium rapidly developed lung adenocarcinomas following transgene induction. Collectively, these observations indicate that ERBB2ΔEx16 is a lung cancer oncogene with potential clinical importance for a proportion of patients.
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29
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The Evolving Landscape of Resistance to Osimertinib. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:18-21. [PMID: 31864549 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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30
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Hsu CC, Liao BC, Liao WY, Markovets A, Stetson D, Thress K, Yang JCH. Exon 16–Skipping HER2 as a Novel Mechanism of Osimertinib Resistance in EGFR L858R/T790M–Positive Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:50-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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31
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Volpari T, De Santis F, Bracken AP, Pupa SM, Buschbeck M, Wegner A, Di Cosimo S, Lisanti MP, Dotti G, Massaia M, Pruneri G, Anichini A, Fortunato O, De Braud F, Del Vecchio M, Di Nicola M. Anticancer innovative therapy: Highlights from the ninth annual meeting. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2019; 51:1-9. [PMID: 31862236 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2019.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The Ninth Annual Conference of "Anticancer Innovative Therapy", organized by Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano (Fondazione IRCCS INT) and hosted by Hotel Michelangelo, was held in Milan on 25 January 2019. Cutting-edge science was presented in two main scientific sessions: i) pre-clinical evidences and new targets, and ii) clinical translation. The Keynote lecture entitled "Cancer stem cells (CSCs): metabolic strategies for their identification and eradication" presented by M. Lisanti, was one of the highlights of the conference. One key concept of the meeting was how the continuous advances in our knowledge about molecular mechanisms in various fields of research (cancer metabolism reprogramming, epigenetic regulation, transformation/invasiveness, and immunology, among others) are driving cancer research towards more effective personalized antineoplastic strategies. Specifically, recent preclinical data on the following topics were discussed: 1. Polycomb group proteins in cancer; 2. A d16HER2 splice variant is a flag of HER2 addiction across HER2-positive cancers; 3. Studying chromatin as a nexus between translational and basic research; 4. Metabolomic analysis in cancer patients; 5. CDK4-6 cyclin inhibitors: clinical activity and future perspectives as immunotherapy adjuvant; and 6. Cancer stem cells (CSCs): metabolic strategies for their identification and eradication. In terms of clinical translation, several novel approaches were presented: 1. Developing CAR-T cell therapies: an update of preclinical and clinical development at University of North Carolina; 2. Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell activation and immune suppression in multiple myeloma; 3. Predictive biomarkers for real-world immunotherapy: the cancer immunogram model in the clinical arena; and 4. Mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockade in solid tumors. Overall, the pre-clinical and clinical findings presented could pave the way to identify novel actionable therapeutic targets to significantly enhance the care of persons with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Volpari
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F De Santis
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A P Bracken
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - S M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Buschbeck
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute (IJC), Campus ICO-Germans Trias I Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - A Wegner
- Technische Universiät Braunschweig, Department of Bioinfomatics and Biochemistry and Braunschweig Integrated Center of Systems Biology (BRICS), Rebenring 56, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - S Di Cosimo
- Department of Applied Research and Technological Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M P Lisanti
- Translational Medicine, Biomedical Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - G Dotti
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - M Massaia
- Laboratorio di Immunologia dei Tumori del Sangue, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Biologia Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Torino, Turin, Italy; SC Ematologia, AO S. Croce e Carle, Cuneo, Italy
| | - G Pruneri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS - Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A Anichini
- Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - O Fortunato
- Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F De Braud
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Del Vecchio
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; Unit of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Di Nicola
- Immunotherapy and Innovative Therapeutics Unit, Department of Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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32
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Kedashiro S, Sugiura A, Mizutani K, Takai Y. Nectin-4 cis-interacts with ErbB2 and its trastuzumab-resistant splice variants, enhancing their activation and DNA synthesis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18997. [PMID: 31831814 PMCID: PMC6908695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55460-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Nectin-4 cell adhesion molecule and ErbB2 tyrosine kinase receptor are upregulated in many cancers, including breast cancer, and promote cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Using human breast cancer cell lines T47D and SUM190-PT, in which both nectin-4 and ErbB2 were upregulated, we showed here that nectin-4 cis-interacted with ErB2 and enhanced its dimerization and activation, followed by the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-AKT signalling pathway for DNA synthesis. The third immunoglobulin-like domain of nectin-4 cis-interacted with domain IV of ErbB2. This region differs from the trastuzumab-interacting region but is included in the trastuzumab-resistant splice variants of ErbB2, p95-ErbB2 and ErbB2ΔEx16. Nectin-4 also cis-interacted with these trastuzumab-resistant splice variants and enhanced the activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-AKT signalling pathway for DNA synthesis. In addition, nectin-4 enhanced the activation of the p95-ErbB2-induced JAK-STAT3 signalling pathway, but not the ErbB2- or ErbB2ΔEx16-induced JAK-STAT3 signalling pathway. These results indicate that nectin-4 cis-interacts with ErbB2 and its trastuzumab-resistant splice variants and enhances the activation of these receptors and downstream signalling pathways in a novel mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Kedashiro
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Ayumu Sugiura
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Kiyohito Mizutani
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
| | - Yoshimi Takai
- From the Division of Pathogenetic Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-5-6 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan.
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Phenethyl isothiocyanate hampers growth and progression of HER2-positive breast and ovarian carcinoma by targeting their stem cell compartment. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2019; 42:815-828. [DOI: 10.1007/s13402-019-00464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Resistance mechanisms to anti-HER2 therapies in HER2-positive breast cancer: Current knowledge, new research directions and therapeutic perspectives. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2019; 139:53-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
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The d16HER2 Splice Variant: A Friend or Foe of HER2-Positive Cancers? Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11070902. [PMID: 31261614 PMCID: PMC6678616 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2 or HER2) amplification/overexpression is associated with a particularly aggressive molecular subtype of breast cancer (BC), characterized by a poor prognosis, increased metastatic potential, and disease recurrence. As only approximately 50% of HER2-positive patients respond to HER2-targeted therapies, greater knowledge of the biology of HER2 and the mechanisms that underlie drug susceptibility is needed to improve cure rates. Evidence suggests that the coexistence of full-length, wild-type HER2 (wtHER2) and altered forms of HER2—such as carboxy-terminus-truncated fragments, activating mutations, and splice variants—significantly increases the heterogeneity of HER2-positive disease, affecting its biology, clinical course, and treatment response. In particular, expression of the d16HER2 splice variant in human HER2-positive BC has a crucial pathobiological function, wherein the absence of sixteen amino acids from the extracellular domain induces the formation of stable and constitutively active HER2 homodimers on the tumor cell surface. Notably, the d16HER2 variant significantly influences the initiation and aggressiveness of tumors, cancer stem cell properties, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and the susceptibility of HER2-positive BC cells to trastuzumab compared with its wtHER2 counterpart, thus constituting a novel and potentially clinically useful biomarker. The aims of this review are to summarize the existing evidence regarding the pathobiological functions of the d16HER2 variant and discuss its current and future value with regard to risk assessment and treatment choices in HER2-positive disease.
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Li J, Xiao Q, Bao Y, Wang W, Goh J, Wang P, Yu Q. HER2-L755S mutation induces hyperactive MAPK and PI3K-mTOR signaling, leading to resistance to HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment. Cell Cycle 2019; 18:1513-1522. [PMID: 31135266 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2019.1624113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
L755S, a HER2 kinase domain mutation, is the most common HER2 mutation in breast cancer associated with resistance to anti-HER2 trastuzumab treatment. Here, we showed that HER2-L755S confers hyperactivation of MAPK and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways and resistance to both reversible and irreversible HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We further demonstrated that the HER2 TKIs in combination with MEK inhibitor, AZD6244, or PI3K inhibitor, GDC0941, yield robust killing in HER2-L755S cancer cells, indicating a novel targeted strategy to overcome HER2-L755S resistance to anti-HER2 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayao Li
- a School of Pharmacy , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China.,b Cancer Research Institute , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Qian Xiao
- a School of Pharmacy , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China.,b Cancer Research Institute , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Yi Bao
- c Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology , Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) , Biopolis , Singapore
| | - Wenyu Wang
- c Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology , Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) , Biopolis , Singapore
| | - Jianyuan Goh
- c Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology , Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) , Biopolis , Singapore
| | - Panpan Wang
- a School of Pharmacy , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China.,b Cancer Research Institute , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Qiang Yu
- b Cancer Research Institute , Jinan University , Guangzhou , China.,c Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology , Genome Institute of Singapore, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) , Biopolis , Singapore
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Dumont N, Merrigan S, Turpin J, Lavoie C, Papavasiliou V, Geretti E, Espelin CW, Luus L, Kamoun WS, Ghasemi O, Sahagian GG, Muller WJ, Hendriks BS, Wickham TJ, Drummond DC. Nanoliposome targeting in breast cancer is influenced by the tumor microenvironment. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2019; 17:71-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2018.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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38
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The landscape of d16HER2 splice variant expression across HER2-positive cancers. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3545. [PMID: 30837627 PMCID: PMC6401102 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40310-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The HER2 splice variant characterized by the deletion of exon 16 and denominated as d16HER2, is associated with HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) aggressiveness, stemness, and trastuzumab susceptibility and is considered to be a “flag” of HER2 dependence. However, with the exception of quantitative real-time PCR analysis, easily reproducible assays are still lacking to clinically detect and quantify the d16HER2 expression. Further, no data on d16HER2 expression and its potential role are available in HER2-positive gastrointestinal malignancies. Here, we used a novel RNA in situ hybridization technique (BaseScope) to discriminate d16HER2 variant expression from the wild type isoform (WTHER2) and to assess their levels across different HER2-positive histological samples. Our results demonstrate the existence of outliers, with d16HER2 mRNA high scores restricted to HER2-positive gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) coupled with increased d16HER2 expression compared with BC. Consistent with previously reported data on BC, experiments performed in HER2-positive GC patient-derived xenografts suggest that increased d16HER2 expression is associated with a clinical benefit/response to single-agent trastuzumab. Therefore, d16HER2 may be considered as a “flag” of HER2 dependence in GC and can be clinically investigated as a marker of trastuzumab susceptibility in several other HER2-driven cancers, including CRC. As a clinical proof-of-concept, we indicate that high d16HER2 mRNA scores are exclusively found in patients with a long-term benefit from trastuzumab exceeding 12 months (clinical “outliers”), and that d16HER2 expression is also increased in circulating tumor-released exosomes obtained from baseline plasma samples of long-term responders.
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Triulzi T, Regondi V, De Cecco L, Cappelletti MR, Di Modica M, Paolini B, Lollini PL, Di Cosimo S, Sfondrini L, Generali D, Tagliabue E. Early immune modulation by single-agent trastuzumab as a marker of trastuzumab benefit. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:1487-1494. [PMID: 30478407 PMCID: PMC6288086 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0318-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimising the selection of HER2-targeted regimens by identifying subsets of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) patients who need more or less therapy remains challenging. We analysed BC samples before and after treatment with 1 cycle of trastuzumab according to the response to trastuzumab. METHODS Gene expression profiles of pre- and post-treatment tumour samples from 17 HER2-positive BC patients were analysed on the Illumina platform. Tumour-associated immune pathways and blood counts were analysed with regard to the response to trastuzumab. HER2-positive murine models with differential responses to trastuzumab were used to reproduce and better characterise these data. RESULTS Patients who responded to single-agent trastuzumab had basal tumour biopsies that were enriched in immune pathways, particularly the MHC-II metagene. One cycle of trastuzumab modulated the expression levels of MHC-II genes, which increased in patients who had a complete response on treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. Trastuzumab increased the MHC-II-positive cell population, primarily macrophages, only in the tumour microenvironment of responsive mice. In patients who benefited from complete trastuzumab therapy and in mice that harboured responsive tumours circulating neutrophil levels declined, but this cell subset rose in nonresponsive tumours. CONCLUSIONS Short treatment with trastuzumab induces local and systemic immunomodulation that is associated with clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Viola Regondi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Loris De Cecco
- Platform of Integrated Biology, Department of Applied Research and Technology Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Cappelletti
- U.O. Multidisciplinare di Patologia Mammaria e Ricerca Traslazionale, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale di Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | - Martina Di Modica
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Biagio Paolini
- Anatomic Pathology A Unit, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Pier Luigi Lollini
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastases, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Serena Di Cosimo
- Department of Applied Research and Technology Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Sfondrini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Generali
- U.O. Multidisciplinare di Patologia Mammaria e Ricerca Traslazionale, Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale di Cremona, Cremona, Italy
- Dipartimento Universitario Clinico di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e della Salute, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milano, Italy.
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40
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Triulzi T, Forte L, Regondi V, Di Modica M, Ghirelli C, Carcangiu ML, Sfondrini L, Balsari A, Tagliabue E. HER2 signaling regulates the tumor immune microenvironment and trastuzumab efficacy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 8:e1512942. [PMID: 30546951 PMCID: PMC6287794 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1512942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Through whole-transcriptome profiling of HER2+ breast carcinomas (BCs), we previously showed that those sensitive to trastuzumab are addicted to this oncoprotein and are enriched in immune pathways, raising the hypothesis that HER2 itself regulates immune cell recruitment. In the present study we investigated the relationship between HER2 activity and the pro-trastuzumab tumor immune milieu. Gene expression profiling and immunohistochemistry analysis of 53 HER2+ BCs showed that trastuzumab-sensitive tumors expressed significantly higher levels of chemokines involved in immune cell recruitment, with higher infiltration of T cells and monocytes, and higher levels of PD-1 ligands than tumors that do not benefit from trastuzumab. In vitro analysis in HER2+ BC cells revealed that CCL2 production was induced by HER2 stimulation with EGF/HRG via the PI3K-NF-kB axis, and down-modulated by HER2 inhibition with trastuzumab. CCL2 expression was higher in HER2+/ER- than HER2+/ER+ BC cell lines, and degradation of ER by fulvestrant induced an enhancement in NF-κB transcriptional activity and consequent CCL2 expression. Trastuzumab efficacy relied on CCL2 levels and monocytes present in the tumor microenvironment in FVB mice bearing HER2+ mammary carcinoma cells. HER2 signals were also found to sustain the expression of PD-1 ligands in tumor cells via the MEK pathway. Overall, our results support the concept that the activated HER2 oncogene regulates recruitment and activation of tumor infiltrating immune cells and trastuzumab activity by inducing CCL2 and PD-1 ligands and that ER activity negatively controls the HER2-driven pro-trastuzumab tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Forte
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Viola Regondi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Martina Di Modica
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Ghirelli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Carcangiu
- Anatomic Pathology A Unit, Department of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Sfondrini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Balsari
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan, Milan, Italy
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41
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Castagnoli L, Iorio E, Dugo M, Koschorke A, Faraci S, Canese R, Casalini P, Nanni P, Vernieri C, Di Nicola M, Morelli D, Tagliabue E, Pupa SM. Intratumor lactate levels reflect HER2 addiction status in HER2-positive breast cancer. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:1768-1779. [PMID: 30132876 PMCID: PMC6282573 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite different molecular tumor profiles indicate that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels mirror HER2 addiction and trastuzumab benefit in HER2-positive breast cancer (BC), the identification of noninvasive clinical predictors of trastuzumab sensitivity remains an unmet clinical need. In the current study, we investigated whether intratumor lactate levels reflect HER2 addiction and, in turn, trastuzumab susceptibility. Accordingly, the gene expression profiles of transgenic murine BC cell lines expressing the human d16HER2 variant (HER2-addicted) or human full-length HER2 (WTHER2; HER2-nonaddicted) revealed a significant enrichment of glycolysis-related gene pathways in HER2-addicted cells. We studied the metabolic content of 22 human HER2-positive BC by quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and found that those cases with higher lactate levels were characterized by higher HER2 transcript levels. Moreover, gene expression analyses of HER2-positive BC samples from a TCGA data set revealed a significant enrichment in glycolysis-related pathways in high/HER2-addicted tumors. These data were confirmed by metabolic analyses of human HER2-positive BC cell lines with high or low HER2 transcript levels, which revealed significantly more active glycolytic metabolism in high HER2 transcript than in low HER2 transcript cells. Overall, our results provide evidence for noninvasive intratumor lactate detection as a potential metabolic biomarker of HER2 addiction and trastuzumab response suggesting the possibility to use in vivo imaging to assess lactate levels and, in turn, select HER2-positive BC patients who are more likely to benefit from anti-HER2 treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Castagnoli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Egidio Iorio
- Core Facilities, NMR Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Matteo Dugo
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Applied Research and Technology Development, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale deiTumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Ada Koschorke
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Faraci
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Rossella Canese
- Core Facilities, NMR Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
| | - Patrizia Casalini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nanni
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastasis, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Vernieri
- IFOM, FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Di Nicola
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Morelli
- Laboratory Medicine Unit, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elda Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Serenella M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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42
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Urbanski L, Leclair N, Anczuków O. Alternative-splicing defects in cancer: Splicing regulators and their downstream targets, guiding the way to novel cancer therapeutics. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2018; 9:e1476. [PMID: 29693319 PMCID: PMC6002934 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 221] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Defects in alternative splicing are frequently found in human tumors and result either from mutations in splicing-regulatory elements of specific cancer genes or from changes in the regulatory splicing machinery. RNA splicing regulators have emerged as a new class of oncoproteins and tumor suppressors, and contribute to disease progression by modulating RNA isoforms involved in the hallmark cancer pathways. Thus, dysregulation of alternative RNA splicing is fundamental to cancer and provides a potentially rich source of novel therapeutic targets. Here, we review the alterations in splicing regulatory factors detected in human tumors, as well as the resulting alternatively spliced isoforms that impact cancer hallmarks, and discuss how they contribute to disease pathogenesis. RNA splicing is a highly regulated process and, as such, the regulators are themselves tightly regulated. Differential transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of splicing factors modulates their levels and activities in tumor cells. Furthermore, the composition of the tumor microenvironment can also influence which isoforms are expressed in a given cell type and impact drug responses. Finally, we summarize current efforts in targeting alternative splicing, including global splicing inhibition using small molecules blocking the spliceosome or splicing-factor-modifying enzymes, as well as splice-switching RNA-based therapeutics to modulate cancer-specific splicing isoforms. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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43
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Palladini A, Thrane S, Janitzek CM, Pihl J, Clemmensen SB, de Jongh WA, Clausen TM, Nicoletti G, Landuzzi L, Penichet ML, Balboni T, Ianzano ML, Giusti V, Theander TG, Nielsen MA, Salanti A, Lollini PL, Nanni P, Sander AF. Virus-like particle display of HER2 induces potent anti-cancer responses. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1408749. [PMID: 29399414 PMCID: PMC5790387 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1408749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) occurs in 20–30% of invasive breast cancers. Monoclonal antibody therapy is effective in treating HER2-driven mammary carcinomas, but its utility is limited by high costs, side effects and development of resistance. Active vaccination may represent a safer, more effective and cheaper alternative, although the induction of strong and durable autoantibody responses is hampered by immune-tolerogenic mechanisms. Using a novel virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine platform we show that directional, high-density display of human HER2 on the surface of VLPs, allows induction of therapeutically potent anti-HER2 autoantibody responses. Prophylactic vaccination reduced spontaneous development of mammary carcinomas by 50%-100% in human HER2 transgenic mice and inhibited the growth of HER2-positive tumors implanted in wild-type mice. The HER2-VLP vaccine shows promise as a new cost-effective modality for prevention and treatment of HER2-positive cancer. The VLP platform may represent an effective tool for development of vaccines against other non-communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Palladini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Susan Thrane
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christoph M Janitzek
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jessica Pihl
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine B Clemmensen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.,ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies, SCION-DTU Science Park, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas M Clausen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Giordano Nicoletti
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorena Landuzzi
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuel L Penichet
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, The Molecular Biology Institute, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Tania Balboni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marianna L Ianzano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Giusti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Thor G Theander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten A Nielsen
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ali Salanti
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Adam F Sander
- Centre for Medical Parasitology at the Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, and Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Palladini A, Nicoletti G, Lamolinara A, Dall'Ora M, Balboni T, Ianzano ML, Laranga R, Landuzzi L, Giusti V, Ceccarelli C, Santini D, Taffurelli M, Di Oto E, Asioli S, Amici A, Pupa SM, De Giovanni C, Tagliabue E, Iezzi M, Nanni P, Lollini PL. HER2 isoforms co-expression differently tunes mammary tumor phenotypes affecting onset, vasculature and therapeutic response. Oncotarget 2017; 8:54444-54458. [PMID: 28903354 PMCID: PMC5589593 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Full-length HER2 oncoprotein and splice variant Delta16 are co-expressed in human breast cancer. We studied their interaction in hybrid transgenic mice bearing human full-length HER2 and Delta16 (F1 HER2/Delta16) in comparison to parental HER2 and Delta16 transgenic mice. Mammary carcinomas onset was faster in F1 HER2/Delta16 and Delta16 than in HER2 mice, however tumor growth was slower, and metastatic spread was comparable in all transgenic mice. Full-length HER2 tumors contained few large vessels or vascular lacunae, whereas Delta16 tumors presented a more regular vascularization with numerous endothelium-lined small vessels. Delta16-expressing tumors showed a higher accumulation of i.v. injected doxorubicin than tumors expressing full-length HER2. F1 HER2/Delta16 tumors with high full-length HER2 expression made few large vessels, whereas tumors with low full-length HER2 and high Delta16 contained numerous small vessels and expressed higher levels of VEGF and VEGFR2. Trastuzumab strongly inhibited tumor onset in F1 HER2/Delta16 and Delta16 mice, but not in full-length HER2 mice. Addiction of F1 tumors to Delta16 was also shown by long-term stability of Delta16 levels during serial transplants, in contrast full-length HER2 levels underwent wide fluctuations. In conclusion, full-length HER2 leads to a faster tumor growth and to an irregular vascularization, whereas Delta16 leads to a faster tumor onset, with more regular vessels, which in turn could better transport cytotoxic drugs within the tumor, and to a higher sensitivity to targeted therapeutic agents. F1 HER2/Delta16 mice are a new immunocompetent mouse model, complementary to patient-derived xenografts, for studies of mammary carcinoma onset, prevention and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Palladini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giordano Nicoletti
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Massimiliano Dall'Ora
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tania Balboni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marianna L Ianzano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Laranga
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorena Landuzzi
- Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica Giusti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Ceccarelli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.,Pathology Unit, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Santini
- Pathology Unit, Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Taffurelli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Di Oto
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sofia Asioli
- Anatomic Pathology, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Bellaria Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - Carla De Giovanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Manuela Iezzi
- Aging Research Centre, "Gabriele d'Annunzio" University, Chieti, Italy
| | - Patrizia Nanni
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pier-Luigi Lollini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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45
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Fry EA, Taneja P, Inoue K. Oncogenic and tumor-suppressive mouse models for breast cancer engaging HER2/neu. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:495-503. [PMID: 27553713 PMCID: PMC5159240 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The human c-ErbB2 (HER2) gene is amplified in ∼20% of human breast cancers (BCs), but the protein is overexpressed in ∼30% of the cases indicating that multiple different mechanisms contribute to HER2 overexpression in tumors. It has long been used as a molecular marker of BC for subcategorization for the prediction of prognosis and determination of therapeutic strategies. In comparison to ER(+) BCs, HER2-positive BCs are more invasive, but the patients respond to monoclonal antibody therapy with trastuzumab or tyrosine kinase inhibitors at least at early stages. To understand the pathophysiology of HER2-driven carcinogenesis and test HER2-targeting therapeutic agents in vivo, numerous mouse models have been created that faithfully reproduce HER2(+) BCs in mice. They include MMTV-neu (active mutant or wild type, rat neu or HER2) models, neu promoter-driven neuNT-transgenic mice, neuNT-knock-in mice at the neu locus and doxycycline-inducible neuNT-transgenic models. HER2/neu activates the Phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-AKT-NF-κB pathway to stimulate the mitogenic cyclin D1/Cdk4-Rb-E2F pathway. Of note, overexpression of HER2 also stimulates the cell autonomous Dmp1-Arf-p53 tumor suppressor pathway to quench oncogenic signals to prevent the emergence of cancer cells. Hence tumor development by MMTV-neu mice was dramatically accelerated in mice that lack Dmp1, Arf or p53 with invasion and metastasis. Expressions of neuNT under the endogenous promoter underwent gene amplification, closely recapitulating human HER2(+) BCs. MMTV-HER2 models have been shown to be useful to test humanized monoclonal antibodies to HER2. These mouse models will be useful for the screening of novel therapeutic agents against BCs with HER2 overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Fry
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Pankaj Taneja
- Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, UP 201306, India
| | - Kazushi Inoue
- Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
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46
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Huynh FC, Nguyen D, Jones FE. Trastuzumab stimulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) predicts de novo trastuzumab resistance. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 483:739-744. [PMID: 27993682 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a complex disease with at least five different molecular subtypes identified. The breast tumor molecular subtypes guide stratification of patients for specific targeted therapy regimens and each subtype is associated with significantly different patient outcomes. For example, patients with the HER2 positive molecular subtype benefit from the HER2 targeted therapy trastuzumab. Unfortunately, women with the HER2 positive molecular subtype have the worst overall prognosis and nearly 70% of women with HER2 positive breast cancer exhibit de novo or acquired resistance to trastuzumab. Identification of tumor markers predicting trastuzumab response can be used to further stratify patients for life-saving personalized therapeutic options. The aim of this study was to identify clinically useful tumor markers predicting de novo tumor cell resistance to trastuzumab treatment. To identify oncogenic signaling pathways activated in response to trastuzumab treatment, we performed a Human Phospho-Kinase Proteome Profiler Array analysis comparing trastuzumab sensitive MCF-7/HER2.2 and trastuzumab resistant MCF-7/HER2Δ16H cells following acute treatment with 20 μg/ml of trastuzumab for 2 h. We found that of the 43 phosphorylation activated human kinases represented on the array, S6K1 was the only kinase altered greater than 1.5-fold in response to trastuzumab treatment of the trastuzumab resistant MCF-7/HER2Δ16H cells. Trastuzumab activation of S6K1 was confirmed in the two trastuzumab resistant SUM190 and SUM225 cell lines. Significantly, trastuzumab failed to stimulate S6K1 activation in the trastuzumab sensitive MCF-7/HER2.2, BT474, and SKBR3 cell lines suggesting that trastuzumab activation of S6K1 is a tumor cell marker for trastuzumab resistance. Consistent with a role for mTORC1/S6K1 signaling promoting trastuzumab resistance, all cell lines were sensitive to S6K1 inactivation with significant growth inhibition following treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. In conclusion, characterizing rapid trastuzumab induced molecular alterations resulted in the identification of activated S6K1 as an early breast tumor cell marker for trastuzumab resistance. Our results further suggest that trastuzumab resistant breast tumor cells are addicted to mTORC1/S6K1 oncogenic signaling and targeting mTORC1 with rapamycin reverses trastuzumab resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia C Huynh
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Daniel Nguyen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Frank E Jones
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
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47
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Fry EA, Taneja P, Inoue K. Clinical applications of mouse models for breast cancer engaging HER2/neu. INTEGRATIVE CANCER SCIENCE AND THERAPEUTICS 2016; 3:593-603. [PMID: 28133539 PMCID: PMC5267336 DOI: 10.15761/icst.1000210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Human c-ErbB2 (HER2) has long been used as a marker of breast cancer (BC) for sub-categorization for the prediction of prognosis, and determination of therapeutic strategies. HER2 overexpressing BCs are more invasive/metastatic; but patients respond to monoclonal antibody therapy with trastuzumab or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, at least at early stages. To date, numerous mouse models that faithfully reproduce HER2(+) BCs have been created in mice. We recently reviewed different mouse models of BC overexpressing wild type or mutant neu driven by MMTV, neu, or doxycycline-inducible promoters. These mice have been used to demonstrate the histopathology, oncogenic signaling pathways initiated by aberrant overexpression of HER2 in the mammary epithelium, and interaction between oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes at molecular levels. In this review, we focus on their clinical applications. They can be used to test the efficacy of HER(2) inhibitors before starting clinical trials, characterize the tumor-initiating cells that could be the cause of relapse after therapy as well as to analyze the molecular mechanisms of therapeutic resistance targeting HER2. MMTV-human ErbB2 (HER2) mouse models have recently been established since the monoclonal antibody to HER2 (trastuzumab; Herceptin®) does not recognize the rat neu protein. It has been reported that early intervention with HER2 monoclonal antibody would be beneficial for preventing mammary carcinogenesis. MDA-7/IL-24 as well as naturally-occurring chemicals have also been tested using MMTV-neu models. Recent studies have shown that MMTV-neu models are useful to develop vaccines to HER2 for immunotherapy. The mouse models employing HER2/neu will be essential for future antibody or drug screenings to overcome resistance to trastuzumab or HER(2)-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Fry
- The Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
| | - Pankaj Taneja
- Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Knowledge Park III, Greater Noida 201306, India
| | - Kazushi Inoue
- The Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157 USA
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48
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Wada R, Yagihashi S, Naito Z. mRNA expression of delta-HER2 and its clinicopathological correlation in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:5104-5110. [PMID: 27840986 PMCID: PMC5355676 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Delta-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a splice variant of HER2, which lacks 16 amino acids in the extracellular domain. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the expression of delta-HER2 and its clinicopathological correlation in Japanese patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. A total of 40 cases of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer were investigated. The mRNA expression levels of wild type (wt)-HER2 and delta-HER2 were quantitated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction using RNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. In addition, the activated form of phosphorylated-SRC (pSRC) and Ki-67 were detected by immunostaining. The mRNA expression levels of wt-HER2 varied largely, and the mRNA levels of delta-HER2 were correlated with those of wt-HER2. Furthermore, the enhanced immunostaining of pSRC was detected in 15 cases. Unsupervised hierarchal clustering of wt-HER2, delta-HER2 and pSRC was used to separate the cases into three clusters. In the first cluster, the levels of wt-HER2 and delta-HER2 were low, and pSRC immunostaining was low. Two other clusters were characterized by moderately and highly increased levels of wt-HER2 and delta-HER2 mRNA expression and enhanced pSRC. The delta/wt ratio was higher in the first cluster. Positive lymph node status and recurrence were more frequent in the first cluster compared with those in the two other clusters. Furthermore, the delta/wt ratio was significantly increased in lymph node-positive and recurrent cases, compared with in lymph node-negative and non-recurrent cases. The present study demonstrated that delta-HER2 was expressed in Japanese patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer. High mRNA expression levels of delta-HER2 were associated with pSRC and increased proliferation of tumor cells. A poor prognosis may be predicted by the increase in delta/wt ratio in HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichi Wada
- Department of Integrated Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113‑8602, Japan
| | - Soroku Yagihashi
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori 036‑8562, Japan
| | - Zenya Naito
- Department of Integrated Diagnostic Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo 113‑8602, Japan
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49
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Tilio M, Gambini V, Wang J, Garulli C, Kalogris C, Andreani C, Bartolacci C, Elexpuru Zabaleta M, Pietrella L, Hysi A, Iezzi M, Belletti B, Orlando F, Provinciali M, Galeazzi R, Marchini C, Amici A. Irreversible inhibition of Δ16HER2 is necessary to suppress Δ16HER2-positive breast carcinomas resistant to Lapatinib. Cancer Lett 2016; 381:76-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2016.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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50
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Castagnoli L, Ghedini GC, Koschorke A, Triulzi T, Dugo M, Gasparini P, Casalini P, Palladini A, Iezzi M, Lamolinara A, Lollini PL, Nanni P, Chiodoni C, Tagliabue E, Pupa SM. Pathobiological implications of the d16HER2 splice variant for stemness and aggressiveness of HER2-positive breast cancer. Oncogene 2016; 36:1721-1732. [PMID: 27641338 PMCID: PMC5447867 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that the d16HER2 splice variant is linked to HER2-positive
breast cancer (BC) tumorigenesis, progression and response to Trastuzumab. However,
the mechanisms by which d16HER2 contributes to HER2-driven aggressiveness and
targeted therapy susceptibility remain uncertain. Here, we report that the
d16HER2-positive mammary tumor cell lines MI6 and MI7, derived from spontaneous
lesions of d16HER2 transgenic (tg) mice and resembling the aggressive features of
primary lesions, are enriched in the expression of Wnt, Notch and
epithelial–mesenchymal transition pathways related genes compared with
full-length wild-type (WT) HER2-positive cells (WTHER2_1 and WTHER2_2) derived from
spontaneous tumors arising in WTHER2 tg mice. MI6 cells exhibited increased
resistance to anoikis and significantly higher mammosphere-forming efficiency (MFE)
and self-renewal capability than the WTHER2-positive counterpart. Furthermore,
d16HER2-positive tumor cells expressed a higher fraction of
CD29High/CD24+/SCA1Low cells and
displayed greater in vivo tumor engraftment in serial dilution conditions
than WTHER2_1 cells. Accordingly, NOTCH inhibitors impaired mammosphere formation
only in MI6 cells. A comparative analysis of stemness-related features driven by
d16HER2 and WTHER2 in ad hoc engineered human BC cells (MCF7 and T47D)
revealed a higher MFE and aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive staining in d16HER2- vs
WTHER2-infected cells, sustaining consistent BC-initiating cell enrichment in the
human setting. Moreover, marked CD44 expression was found in MCF7_d16 and T47D_d16
cells vs their WTHER2 and Mock counterparts. Clinically, BC cases from two distinct
HER2-positive cohorts characterized by high levels of expression of the
activated-d16HER2 metagene were significantly enriched in the Notch family and signal
transducer genes vs those with low levels of the metagene.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Castagnoli
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - G C Ghedini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A Koschorke
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - T Triulzi
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Dugo
- Functional Genomics and Bioinformatics Core Facility, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - P Gasparini
- Tumor Genomics Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - P Casalini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - A Palladini
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastases, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - M Iezzi
- CESI Aging Research Center, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, G D'Annunzio University, Via Colle dell'Ara, Chieti Scalo, Chieti, Italy
| | - A Lamolinara
- CESI Aging Research Center, Department of Medicine and Aging Sciences, G D'Annunzio University, Via Colle dell'Ara, Chieti Scalo, Chieti, Italy
| | - P L Lollini
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastases, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - P Nanni
- Laboratory of Immunology and Biology of Metastases, Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - C Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - E Tagliabue
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - S M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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