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Yao K, Zhan XY, Feng M, Yang KF, Zhou MS, Jia H. Furin, ADAM, and γ-secretase: Core regulatory targets in the Notch pathway and the therapeutic potential for breast cancer. Neoplasia 2024; 57:101041. [PMID: 39208688 PMCID: PMC11399603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2024.101041] [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: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
The activation of the Notch pathway promotes the occurrence and progression of breast cancer. The Notch signal plays different roles in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. In estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, the Notch pathway regulates the activity of estrogen receptors. In human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, crosstalk between Notch and HER2 enhances HER2 signal expression. In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), Notch pathway activation is closely linked to tumor invasion and drug resistance. This article offers a comprehensive review of the structural domains, biological functions, and key targets of Notch with a specific focus on the roles of Furin protease, ADAM metalloprotease, and γ-secretase in breast cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets. We discuss the functions and mutual regulatory mechanisms of these proteinases in the Notch pathway as well as other potential targets in the Notch pathway, such as the glycosylation process and key transcription factors. This article also introduces new approaches in the treatment of breast cancer, with a special focus on the molecular characteristics and treatment response differences of different subtypes. We propose that the core regulatory molecules of the Notch pathway may become key targets for development of personalized treatment, which may significantly improve treatment outcomes and prognosis for patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo Yao
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, China.
| | - Xiang-Yi Zhan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang Medical College, No. 146 Huanghe North Street, Yuhong District, Shenyang City 110034, Liaoning Province, PR China.
| | - Mei Feng
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, China.
| | - Ke-Fan Yang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, 110034, China.
| | - Ming-Sheng Zhou
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology, No. 146 Huanghe North Street, Yuhong District, Shenyang City 110034, Liaoning Province, PR China; Science and Experimental Research Center of Shenyang Medical College, No. 146 Huanghe North Street, Yuhong District, Shenyang City 110034, Liaoning Province, PR China.
| | - Hui Jia
- Shenyang Key Laboratory of Vascular Biology, No. 146 Huanghe North Street, Yuhong District, Shenyang City 110034, Liaoning Province, PR China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang Medical College, No. 146 Huanghe North Street, Yuhong District, Shenyang City 110034, Liaoning Province, PR China.
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2
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D'Antonio C, Liguori GL. Dormancy and awakening of cancer cells: the extracellular vesicle-mediated cross-talk between Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hyde. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1441914. [PMID: 39301024 PMCID: PMC11410588 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1441914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell dormancy is a reversible process whereby cancer cells enter a quiescent state characterized by cell cycle arrest, inhibition of cell migration and invasion, and increased chemoresistance. Because of its reversibility and resistance to treatment, dormancy is a key process to study, monitor, and interfere with, in order to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis and improve the prognosis of cancer patients. However, to achieve this goal, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this complex and dynamic dual process. Here, we review the contribution of extracellular vesicles (EVs) to the regulation of cancer cell dormancy/awakening, focusing on the cross-talk between tumor and non-tumor cells in both the primary tumor and the (pre-)metastatic niche. Although EVs are recognized as key players in tumor progression and metastasis, as well as in tumor diagnostics and therapeutics, their role specifically in dormancy induction/escape is still largely elusive. We report on the most recent and promising results on this topic, focusing on the EV-associated nucleic acids involved. We highlight how EV studies could greatly contribute to the identification of dormancy signaling pathways and a dormancy/early awakening signature for the development of successful diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta D'Antonio
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanna L Liguori
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics (IGB) "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Naples, Italy
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3
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Engel J, Wieder V, Bauer M, Kaufhold S, Stückrath K, Wilke J, Hanf V, Uleer C, Lantzsch T, Peschel S, John J, Pöhler M, Weigert E, Bürrig KF, Buchmann J, Santos P, Kantelhardt EJ, Thomssen C, Vetter M. Prognostic and predictive impact of NOTCH1 in early breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2024:10.1007/s10549-024-07444-1. [PMID: 39153127 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-024-07444-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Systemic therapy plays a major part in the cure of patients with early breast cancer (eBC). However, personalized treatment concepts are required to avoid potentially harmful overtreatment. Biomarkers are pivotal for individualized therapy. The Notch signalling pathway is widely considered as a suitable prognostic or predictive marker in eBC. This study aimed primarily at assessing the relationship between NOTCH1 mRNA expression levels and histopathological features of breast cancer tumors, as well as clinical characteristics of the correspondent eBC patients. As a secondary aim, we investigated the prognostic and predictive value of NOTCH1 by assessing possible associations between NOTCH1 mRNA expression and recurrence-free interval (RFI) and overall survival after five years of observation. PATIENTS AND METHODS The relative NOTCH1 mRNA expression was determined in 414 tumour samples, using quantitative PCR in a prospective, multicenter cohort (Prognostic Assessment in Routine Application (PiA), 2009-2011, NCT01592825) of 1,270 female eBC patients. RESULTS High NOTCH1 mRNA expression was detected in one-third of the tumours and was associated with negative hormone receptor status and high uPA/PAI-1 status. In addition, high NOTCH1 mRNA expression was found to be associated with more RFI related events (adjusted hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.077-4.118). Patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy and had high NOTCH1 mRNA expression in the tumour (n = 86) were three times more likely to have an RFI event (adjusted hazard ratio 3.1, 95% CI 1.321-7.245, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION In this cohort, NOTCH1 mRNA expression had a prognostic and predictive impact. Tumours with high NOTCH1 mRNA expression may be less sensitive to cytotoxic treatment and downregulation of the Notch signalling pathway (e.g. by γ-secretase inhibitors) may be valuable for eBC therapy as an individualised treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Engel
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Vanessa Wieder
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Marcus Bauer
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Sandy Kaufhold
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Kathrin Stückrath
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jochen Wilke
- Onkologische Gemeinschaftspraxis, Fürth, Germany
| | - Volker Hanf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Klinikum Fürth, Nathanstift Fürth, Germany
| | - Christoph Uleer
- Gynäkologisch-Onkologische Praxis, Hildesheim, Germany
- Frauenärzte Am Bahnhofsplatz, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Tilmann Lantzsch
- Department of Gynaecology, Hospital St. Elisabeth and St. Barbara, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Susanne Peschel
- Department of Gynaecology, St. Bernward Hospital, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Jutta John
- Department of Gynaecology, Helios Hospital Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany
| | - Marleen Pöhler
- Department of Gynaecology, Asklepios Hospital Goslar, Goslar, Germany
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstretrics, Hospital Wolfenbüttel, Wolfenbüttel, Germany
| | - Edith Weigert
- Institute of Pathology, Hospital Fürth, Fürth, Germany
- Gemeinschaftspraxis Amberg, Amberg, Germany
| | | | - Jörg Buchmann
- Institute of Pathology, Hospital Martha-Maria, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Pablo Santos
- Institute of Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Eva Johanna Kantelhardt
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Institute of Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christoph Thomssen
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Martina Vetter
- Department of Gynaecology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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Joseph S, Zhang X, Droby G, Wu D, Bae-Jump V, Lyons S, Mordant A, Mills A, Herring L, Rushing B, Bowser J, Vaziri C. MAPK14 /p38α Shapes the Molecular Landscape of Endometrial Cancer and promotes Tumorigenic Characteristics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600674. [PMID: 38979238 PMCID: PMC11230443 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The molecular underpinnings of H igh G rade E ndometrial C arcinoma (HGEC) metastatic growth and survival are poorly understood. Here we show that ascites-derived and primary tumor HGEC cell lines in 3D spheroid culture faithfully recapitulate key features of malignant peritoneal effusion and exhibit fundamentally distinct transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic landscapes when compared with conventional 2D monolayers. Using genetic screening platform we identify MAPK14 (which encodes the protein kinase p38α) as a specific requirement for HGEC in spheroid culture. MAPK14 /p38α has broad roles in programing the phosphoproteome, transcriptome and metabolome of HGEC spheroids, yet has negligible impact on monolayer cultures. MAPK14 promotes tumorigenicity in vivo and is specifically required to sustain a sub-population of spheroid cells that is enriched in cancer stemness markers. Therefore, spheroid growth of HGEC activates unique biological programs, including p38α signaling, that cannot be captured using 2D culture models and are highly relevant to malignant disease pathology.
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5
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Wang Y, Wang L, Wei Y, Wei C, Yang H, Chen Q, Zhang R, Shen H. Advances in the molecular regulation mechanism of tumor dormancy and its therapeutic strategy. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:184. [PMID: 38795254 PMCID: PMC11127899 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01049-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor dormancy is a stage in the growth and development of malignant cells and is one of the biological characteristics of malignant cells. Complex transitions involving dormant tumor cells between quiescent and proliferative states pose challenges for tumor eradication. This paper explores the biological features and molecular mechanisms of tumor dormancy and highlights emerging therapies. The strategies discussed promise innovative clinical potential against malignant tumors. Understanding the mechanisms of dormancy can help provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors to advance the fight against this world problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Linlin Wang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaojun Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuang Wei
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Haohang Yang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiurui Chen
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Han Shen
- School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, 51006, People's Republic of China.
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Tiwari M, Srivastava P, Abbas S, Jegatheesan J, Ranjan A, Sharma S, Maurya VP, Saxena AK, Sharma LK. Emerging Role of Autophagy in Governing Cellular Dormancy, Metabolic Functions, and Therapeutic Responses of Cancer Stem Cells. Cells 2024; 13:447. [PMID: 38474411 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050447] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumors are composed of heterogeneous populations of dysregulated cells that grow in specialized niches that support their growth and maintain their properties. Tumor heterogeneity and metastasis are among the major hindrances that exist while treating cancer patients, leading to poor clinical outcomes. Although the factors that determine tumor complexity remain largely unknown, several genotypic and phenotypic changes, including DNA mutations and metabolic reprograming provide cancer cells with a survival advantage over host cells and resistance to therapeutics. Furthermore, the presence of a specific population of cells within the tumor mass, commonly known as cancer stem cells (CSCs), is thought to initiate tumor formation, maintenance, resistance, and recurrence. Therefore, these CSCs have been investigated in detail recently as potential targets to treat cancer and prevent recurrence. Understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in CSC proliferation, self-renewal, and dormancy may provide important clues for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Autophagy, a catabolic process, has long been recognized to regulate various physiological and pathological processes. In addition to regulating cancer cells, recent studies have identified a critical role for autophagy in regulating CSC functions. Autophagy is activated under various adverse conditions and promotes cellular maintenance, survival, and even cell death. Thus, it is intriguing to address whether autophagy promotes or inhibits CSC functions and whether autophagy modulation can be used to regulate CSC functions, either alone or in combination. This review describes the roles of autophagy in the regulation of metabolic functions, proliferation and quiescence of CSCs, and its role during therapeutic stress. The review further highlights the autophagy-associated pathways that could be used to regulate CSCs. Overall, the present review will help to rationalize various translational approaches that involve autophagy-mediated modulation of CSCs in controlling cancer progression, metastasis, and recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Tiwari
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Pransu Srivastava
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Sabiya Abbas
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Janani Jegatheesan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Sadhana Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Ved Prakash Maurya
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India
| | - Ajit Kumar Saxena
- Department of Pathology/Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science, Patna 801507, India
| | - Lokendra Kumar Sharma
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Biotechnology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow 226014, India
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7
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Sreekumar A, Lu M, Choudhury B, Pan TC, Pant DK, Lawrence-Paul MR, Sterner CJ, Belka GK, Toriumi T, Benz BA, Escobar-Aguirre M, Marino FE, Esko JD, Chodosh LA. B3GALT6 promotes dormant breast cancer cell survival and recurrence by enabling heparan sulfate-mediated FGF signaling. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:52-69.e7. [PMID: 38065100 PMCID: PMC10872305 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer mortality results from incurable recurrences thought to be seeded by dormant, therapy-refractory residual tumor cells (RTCs). Understanding the mechanisms enabling RTC survival is therefore essential for improving patient outcomes. Here, we derive a dormancy-associated RTC signature that mirrors the transcriptional response to neoadjuvant therapy in patients and is enriched for extracellular matrix-related pathways. In vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screening of dormancy-associated candidate genes identifies the galactosyltransferase B3GALT6 as a functional regulator of RTC fitness. B3GALT6 is required for glycosaminoglycan (GAG) linkage to proteins to generate proteoglycans, and its germline loss of function in patients causes skeletal dysplasias. We find that B3GALT6-mediated biosynthesis of heparan sulfate GAGs predicts poor patient outcomes and promotes tumor recurrence by enhancing dormant RTC survival in multiple contexts, and does so via a B3GALT6-heparan sulfate/HS6ST1-heparan 6-O-sulfation/FGF1-FGFR2 signaling axis. These findings implicate B3GALT6 in cancer and nominate FGFR2 inhibition as a promising approach to eradicate dormant RTCs and prevent recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amulya Sreekumar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michelle Lu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Biswa Choudhury
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tien-Chi Pan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dhruv K Pant
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew R Lawrence-Paul
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christopher J Sterner
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - George K Belka
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Takashi Toriumi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brian A Benz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matias Escobar-Aguirre
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Francesco E Marino
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Esko
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Glycobiology Research and Training Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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8
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Abstract
The pattern of delayed recurrence in a subset of breast cancer patients has long been explained by a model that incorporates a variable period of cellular or tumor mass dormancy prior to disease relapse. In this review, we critically evaluate existing data to develop a framework for inferring the existence of dormancy in clinical contexts of breast cancer. We integrate these clinical data with rapidly evolving mechanistic insights into breast cancer dormancy derived from a broad array of genetically engineered mouse models as well as experimental models of metastasis. Finally, we propose actionable interventions and discuss ongoing clinical trials that translate the wealth of knowledge gained in the laboratory to the long-term clinical management of patients at a high risk of developing recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica Dalla
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Oncological Sciences, Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029, USA
| | - Amulya Sreekumar
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Julio A Aguirre-Ghiso
- Department of Cell Biology, Department of Oncology, Cancer Dormancy and Tumor Microenvironment Institute, Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center, Gruss Lipper Biophotonics Center, Ruth L. and David S. Gottesman Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, and 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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9
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Garimella SV, Gampa SC, Chaturvedi P. Mitochondria in Cancer Stem Cells: From an Innocent Bystander to a Central Player in Therapy Resistance. Stem Cells Cloning 2023; 16:19-41. [PMID: 37641714 PMCID: PMC10460581 DOI: 10.2147/sccaa.s417842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer continues to rank among the world's leading causes of mortality despite advancements in treatment. Cancer stem cells, which can self-renew, are present in low abundance and contribute significantly to tumor recurrence, tumorigenicity, and drug resistance to various therapies. The drug resistance observed in cancer stem cells is attributed to several factors, such as cellular quiescence, dormancy, elevated aldehyde dehydrogenase activity, apoptosis evasion mechanisms, high expression of drug efflux pumps, protective vascular niche, enhanced DNA damage response, scavenging of reactive oxygen species, hypoxic stability, and stemness-related signaling pathways. Multiple studies have shown that mitochondria play a pivotal role in conferring drug resistance to cancer stem cells, through mitochondrial biogenesis, metabolism, and dynamics. A better understanding of how mitochondria contribute to tumorigenesis, heterogeneity, and drug resistance could lead to the development of innovative cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sireesha V Garimella
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530045, India
| | - Siri Chandana Gampa
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 530045, India
| | - Pankaj Chaturvedi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
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10
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Si H, Esquivel M, Mendoza Mendoza E, Roarty K. The covert symphony: cellular and molecular accomplices in breast cancer metastasis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1221784. [PMID: 37440925 PMCID: PMC10333702 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1221784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has emerged as the most commonly diagnosed cancer and primary cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Although significant progress has been made in targeting the primary tumor, the effectiveness of systemic treatments to prevent metastasis remains limited. Metastatic disease continues to be the predominant factor leading to fatality in the majority of breast cancer patients. The existence of a prolonged latency period between initial treatment and eventual recurrence in certain patients indicates that tumors can both adapt to and interact with the systemic environment of the host, facilitating and sustaining the progression of the disease. In order to identify potential therapeutic interventions for metastasis, it will be crucial to gain a comprehensive framework surrounding the mechanisms driving the growth, survival, and spread of tumor cells, as well as their interaction with supporting cells of the microenvironment. This review aims to consolidate recent discoveries concerning critical aspects of breast cancer metastasis, encompassing the intricate network of cells, molecules, and physical factors that contribute to metastasis, as well as the molecular mechanisms governing cancer dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjiang Si
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Madelyn Esquivel
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Erika Mendoza Mendoza
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Kevin Roarty
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
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11
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Ceyhan Y, Garcia NMG, Alvarez JV. Immune cells in residual disease and recurrence. Trends Cancer 2023:S2405-8033(23)00057-2. [PMID: 37150627 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tumor recurrence following potentially curative therapy constitutes a major obstacle to achieving cures in patients with cancer. Recurrent tumors frequently arise from a population of residual cancer cells - also referred to as minimal residual disease (RD) or persister cells - that survive therapy and persist for prolonged periods prior to tumor relapse. While there has been significant recent progress in deciphering tumor-cell-intrinsic pathways that regulate residual cancer cell survival and recurrence, much less is known about how the tumor microenvironment (TME) of residual tumors impacts persister cancer cells or tumor recurrence. In this review, we highlight recent studies exploring the regulation and function of immune cells in RD and discuss therapeutic opportunities to target immune cells in residual tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin Ceyhan
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nina Marie G Garcia
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - James V Alvarez
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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Magbanua MJM, van ‘t Veer L, Clark AS, Chien AJ, Boughey JC, Han HS, Wallace A, Beckwith H, Liu MC, Yau C, Wileyto EP, Ordonez A, Solanki T, Hsiao F, Lee JC, Basu A, Swigart LB, Perlmutter J, Delson AL, Bayne L, Deluca S, Yee SS, Carpenter EL, Esserman LJ, Park JW, Chodosh LA, DeMichele A. Outcomes and clinicopathologic characteristics associated with disseminated tumor cells in bone marrow after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk early stage breast cancer: the I-SPY SURMOUNT study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 198:383-390. [PMID: 36689092 PMCID: PMC10290540 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06803-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) expressing epithelial markers in the bone marrow are associated with recurrence and death, but little is known about risk factors predicting their occurrence. We detected EPCAM+/CD45- cells in bone marrow from early stage breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in the I-SPY 2 Trial and examined clinicopathologic factors and outcomes. METHODS Patients who signed consent for SURMOUNT, a sub-study of the I-SPY 2 Trial (NCT01042379), had bone marrow collected after NAC at the time of surgery. EPCAM+CD45- cells in 4 mLs of bone marrow aspirate were enumerated using immunomagnetic enrichment/flow cytometry (IE/FC). Patients with > 4.16 EPCAM+CD45- cells per mL of bone marrow were classified as DTC-positive. Tumor response was assessed using the residual cancer burden (RCB), a standardized approach to quantitate the extent of residual invasive cancer present in the breast and the axillary lymph nodes after NAC. Association of DTC-positivity with clinicopathologic variables and survival was examined. RESULTS A total of 73 patients were enrolled, 51 of whom had successful EPCAM+CD45- cell enumeration. Twenty-four of 51 (47.1%) were DTC-positive. The DTC-positivity rate was similar across receptor subtypes, but DTC-positive patients were significantly younger (p = 0.0239) and had larger pretreatment tumors compared to DTC-negative patients (p = 0.0319). Twenty of 51 (39.2%) achieved a pathologic complete response (pCR). While DTC-positivity was not associated with achieving pCR, it was significantly associated with higher RCB class (RCB-II/III, 62.5% vs. RCB-0/I; 33.3%; Chi-squared p = 0.0373). No significant correlation was observed between DTC-positivity and distant recurrence-free survival (p = 0.38, median follow-up = 3.2 years). CONCLUSION DTC-positivity at surgery after NAC was higher in younger patients, those with larger tumors, and those with residual disease at surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - A. Jo Chien
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | - Anne Wallace
- University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA
| | | | | | - Christina Yau
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | - Andrea Ordonez
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Tulasi Solanki
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Feng Hsiao
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Jen Chieh Lee
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Amrita Basu
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | - Amy L. Delson
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John W. Park
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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Vaicekauskaitė I, Dabkevičienė D, Šimienė J, Žilovič D, Čiurlienė R, Jarmalaitė S, Sabaliauskaitė R. ARID1A, NOTCH and WNT Signature in Gynaecological Tumours. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065854. [PMID: 36982928 PMCID: PMC10057440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065854] [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: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is among the deadliest gynaecologic malignancies in the world. The majority of OC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, with high-grade serous OC (HGSOC). The lack of specific symptoms and suitable screening strategies lead to short progression-free survival times in HGSOC patients. The chromatin-remodelling, WNT and NOTCH pathways are some of the most dysregulated in OC; thus their gene mutations and expression profile could serve as diagnostic or prognostic OC biomarkers. Our pilot study investigated mRNA expression of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodelling complex gene ARID1A, NOTCH receptors, WNT pathway genes CTNNB1 and FBXW7 mRNA expression in two OC cell cultures as well as 51 gynaecologic tumour tissues. A four-gene panel consisting of ARID1A, CTNNB1, FBXW7 and PPP2R1A was used to investigate mutations in gynaecologic tumour tissue. All seven analysed genes were found to be significantly downregulated in OC when compared with non-malignant gynaecologic tumour tissues. NOTCH3 was also downregulated in SKOV3 cells when compared to A2780. Fifteen mutations were found in 25.5% (13/51) of the tissue samples. ARID1A predicted mutations were the most prevalent with alterations detected in 19% (6/32) HGSOC and 67% (6/9) of other OC cases. Thus, ARID1A and NOTCH/WNT-pathway-related changes could be useful diagnostic biomarkers in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ieva Vaicekauskaitė
- National Cancer Institute, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Daiva Dabkevičienė
- National Cancer Institute, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Julija Šimienė
- National Cancer Institute, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Diana Žilovič
- National Cancer Institute, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Sonata Jarmalaitė
- National Cancer Institute, LT-08660 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Institute of Biosciences, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, LT-08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Saran U, Chandrasekaran B, Tyagi A, Shukla V, Singh A, Sharma AK, Damodaran C. A small molecule inhibitor of Notch1 modulates stemness and suppresses breast cancer cell growth. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1150774. [PMID: 36909163 PMCID: PMC9998682 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Although breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are well characterized, molecularly targeting and eradicating this sub-population remains a challenge in the clinic. Recent studies have explored several signaling pathways that govern stem cell activation: We and others established that the Notch1 signaling plays a significant role in the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of BCSCs. Earlier, we reported that a newly developed small molecule, ASR490, binds to the negative regulatory region (NRR: The activation switch of the Notch receptor) of Notch1. In vitro results demonstrated that ASR490 significantly inhibited BCSCs (ALDH+ and CD44+/CD24-) and breast cancer (BC) growth at nM concentrations, and subsequently inhibited the colony- and mammosphere-forming abilities of BCSCs and BCs. ASR490 downregulated the expressions of Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD: The active form of Notch1) and its downstream effectors Hey1 and HES1. Inhibition of Notch1-NICD facilitated autophagy-mediated growth inhibition by triggering the fusion of autophagosome and autolysosome in BCSCs. ASR490 was found to be non-toxic to healthy cells as compared to existing Notch1 inhibitors. Moreover, oral administration of ASR490 abrogated BCSC and BC tumor growth in the in vivo xenograft models. Together our results indicate that ASR490 is a potential therapeutic agent that inhibits BC tumor growth by targeting and abolishing Notch1 signaling in BCSCs and BC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttara Saran
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Ashish Tyagi
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vaibhav Shukla
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Amandeep Singh
- Penn State Cancer Institute, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Arun K. Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, United States
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Epigenetic regulation of Neuregulin 1 promotes breast cancer progression associated to hyperglycemia. Nat Commun 2023; 14:439. [PMID: 36707514 PMCID: PMC9883495 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36179-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Hyperglycemia is a risk factor for breast cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Hyperglycemia induces Neuregulin 1 (Nrg1) overexpression in breast cancer, which subsequently promotes tumor progression. However, molecular mechanisms underlying hyperglycemia-induced Nrg1 overexpression remain poorly understood. Here, we show that hyperglycemia causes active histone modifications at the Nrg1 enhancer, forming enhanceosome complexes where recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ), E1A binding protein p300 (P300), and SET domain containing 1 A (SETD1A) are recruited to upregulate Nrg1 expression. Deletions in RBPJ-binding sites causes hyperglycemia-controlled Nrg1 levels to be downregulated, resulting in decreased tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Mice with modest-temporary hyperglycemia, induced by low-dose short-exposure streptozotocin, display accelerated tumor growth and lapatinib resistance, whereas combining lapatinib with N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl)-l-alanyl]-S42 phenylglycine t-butyl ester (DAPT) ameliorates tumor growth under these modest hyperglycemic conditions by inhibiting NOTCH and EGFR superfamilies. NOTCH activity is correlated with NRG1 levels, and high NRG1 levels predicts poor outcomes, particularly in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Our findings highlight the hyperglycemia-linked epigenetic modulation of NRG1 as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating breast cancer patients with diabetes.
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Chen S, Paul MR, Sterner CJ, Belka GK, Wang D, Xu P, Sreekumar A, Pan TC, Pant DK, Makhlin I, DeMichele A, Mesaros C, Chodosh LA. PAQR8 promotes breast cancer recurrence and confers resistance to multiple therapies. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:1. [PMID: 36597146 PMCID: PMC9811758 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01559-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer mortality is principally due to recurrent disease that becomes resistant to therapy. We recently identified copy number (CN) gain of the putative membrane progesterone receptor PAQR8 as one of four focal CN alterations that preferentially occurred in recurrent metastatic tumors compared to primary tumors in breast cancer patients. Whether PAQR8 plays a functional role in cancer is unknown. Notably, PAQR8 CN gain in recurrent tumors was mutually exclusive with activating ESR1 mutations in patients treated with anti-estrogen therapies and occurred in > 50% of both patients treated with anti-estrogen therapies and those treated with chemotherapy or anti-Her2 agents. METHODS We used orthotopic mouse models to determine whether PAQR8 overexpression or deletion alters breast cancer dormancy or recurrence following therapy. In vitro studies, including assays for colony formation, cell viability, and relative cell fitness, were employed to identify effects of PAQR8 in the context of therapy. Cell survival and proliferation were quantified by immunofluorescence staining for markers of apoptosis and proliferation. Sphingolipids were quantified by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS We show that PAQR8 is necessary and sufficient for efficient mammary tumor recurrence in mice, spontaneously upregulated and CN gained in recurrent tumors that arise following therapy in multiple mouse models, and associated with poor survival following recurrence as well as poor overall survival in breast cancer patients. PAQR8 promoted resistance to therapy by enhancing tumor cell survival following estrogen receptor pathway inhibition by fulvestrant or estrogen deprivation, Her2 pathway blockade by lapatinib or Her2 downregulation, and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. Pro-survival effects of PAQR8 were mediated by a Gi protein-dependent reduction in cAMP levels, did not require progesterone, and involved a PAQR8-dependent decrease in ceramide levels and increase in sphingosine-1-phosphate levels, suggesting that PAQR8 may possess ceramidase activity. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide in vivo evidence that PAQR8 plays a functional role in cancer, implicate PAQR8, cAMP, and ceramide metabolism in breast cancer recurrence, and identify a novel mechanism that may commonly contribute to the acquisition of treatment resistance in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saisai Chen
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Matt R. Paul
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Christopher J. Sterner
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - George K. Belka
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Dezhen Wang
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Peining Xu
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Amulya Sreekumar
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Tien-chi Pan
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Dhruv K. Pant
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Igor Makhlin
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Angela DeMichele
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Clementina Mesaros
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Lewis A. Chodosh
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Room 614 BRB II/III, 421 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 89722-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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Casili G, Lanza M, Filippone A, Caffo M, Paterniti I, Campolo M, Colarossi L, Sciacca D, Lombardo SP, Cuzzocrea S, Esposito E. Overview on Common Genes Involved in the Onset of Glioma and on the Role of Migraine as Risk Factor: Predictive Biomarkers or Therapeutic Targets? J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12121969. [PMID: 36556190 PMCID: PMC9786313 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12121969] [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: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are relatively rare but fatal cancers, and there has been insufficient research to specifically evaluate the role of headache as a risk factor. Nowadays, gliomas are difficult to cure due to the infiltrative nature and the absence of specific adjuvant therapies. Until now, mutations in hundreds of genes have been identified in gliomas and most relevant discoveries showed specific genes alterations related to migraine as potential risk factors for brain tumor onset. Prognostic biomarkers are required at the time of diagnosis to better adapt therapies for cancer patients. In this review, we aimed to highlight the significant modulation of CLOCK, BMLA1 and NOTCH genes in glioma onset and development, praising these genes to be good as potentially attractive therapeutic markers for brain tumors. A improved knowledge regarding the role of these genes in triggering or modulating glioma maybe the key to early diagnosing brain tumor onset in patients affected by a simple headache. In addition, investigating on these genes we can suggest potential therapeutic targets for treating brain tumors. These considerations open up the possibility of personalized treatments that can target each brain tumor's specific genetic abnormality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Casili
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Marika Lanza
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessia Filippone
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Caffo
- Unit of Neurosurgery, Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Irene Paterniti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Michela Campolo
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colarossi
- Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo, Via Penninazzo 7, 95029 Catania, Italy
| | - Dorotea Sciacca
- Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo, Via Penninazzo 7, 95029 Catania, Italy
| | | | - Salvatore Cuzzocrea
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
| | - Emanuela Esposito
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Gómez-Archila JD, Espinosa-García AM, Palacios-Reyes C, Trujillo-Cabrera Y, Mejía ALS, González AVDA, Rangel-López E, Alonso-Themann PG, Solís NDS, Hernández-Zavala A, López PG, Contreras-Ramos A, Palma-Lara I. NOTCH expression variability and relapse of breast cancer in high-risk groups. Am J Med Sci 2022; 364:583-594. [PMID: 35508283 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2021.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In regards to breast cancer (BC), survival or disease-free periods are still compromised mainly in Triple Negative (TN) and HER2 tumors. The participation of estrogen receptor (ER) has been reported as crucial in the signaling pathways, including the NOTCH pathway. The study was aimed to evaluate the expression of NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 in BC and its relationship with the presence of ER, as well as with relapses. METHODS NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 expression was evaluated in BC using Oncomine database, Breast Cancer Gene Expression Miner database and Kaplan Meier Plotter. Subsequently, detection of NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 in 100 paraffin-embedded BC samples from Mexican patients was achieved by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-qPCR, a group of benign breast tumors were included as controls. Relapses were evaluated by BC subtypes and their relationship with NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 expression, as well as with ER expression. RESULTS The analyses from public databases of TN and HER2 groups, which are estrogen receptor-negative (ERN), revealed NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 expression variability. The overexpression was associated with lower relapse-free survival (P = 0.00019). These data were concordant with results from tumor samples of patients included in this study, which showed overexpression of NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 in ERN tumors, as well as lower relapse-free survival (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 were found to be overexpressed mainly in ERN tumors. HER2 and TN groups, are related to higher relapse rates. Therefore, anti-NOTCH therapy could be justified and implemented in conventional treatments of high-risk BC groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Damián Gómez-Archila
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Colonia Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico; Servicio de Oncología Quirúrgica, Servicio de Patología, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia No.3, IMSS, Centro Médico La Raza, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | | | | | - Ana Lilia Sandoval Mejía
- Servicio de Oncología Quirúrgica, Servicio de Patología, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia No.3, IMSS, Centro Médico La Raza, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ana Victoria De Alba González
- Servicio de Oncología Quirúrgica, Servicio de Patología, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia No.3, IMSS, Centro Médico La Raza, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Edgar Rangel-López
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Nereo Damaso Sandoval Solís
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Colonia Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Araceli Hernández-Zavala
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Colonia Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
| | - Pedro Grajeda López
- Servicio de Cirugía Plástica y Reconstructiva, Hospital de Especialidades, IMSS, Centro Médico La Raza, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alejandra Contreras-Ramos
- Laboratorio de Investigación de Biología del Desarrollo y Teratogénesis Experimental, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (HIMFG), Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Icela Palma-Lara
- Sección de Estudios de Posgrado, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Colonia Santo Tomás, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico.
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Kim LM, Kim PY, Gebreyohannes YK, Leung CT. Sustained Oncogenic Signaling in the Cytostatic State Enables Targeting of Nonproliferating Persistent Cancer Cells. Cancer Res 2022; 82:3045-3057. [PMID: 35792658 PMCID: PMC9444958 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-2908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Many advanced therapeutics possess cytostatic properties that suppress cancer cell growth without directly inducing death. Treatment-induced cytostatic cancer cells can persist and constitute a reservoir from which recurrent growth and resistant clones can develop. Current management approaches primarily comprise maintenance and monitoring because strategies for targeting nonproliferating cancer cells have been elusive. Here, we used targeted therapy paradigms and engineered cytostatic states to explore therapeutic opportunities for depleting treatment-mediated cytostatic cancer cells. Sustained oncogenic AKT signaling was common, while nonessential, in treatment-mediated cytostatic cancer cells harboring PI3K-pathway mutations, which are associated with cancer recurrence. Engineering oncogenic signals in quiescent mammary organotypic models showed that sustained, aberrant activation of AKT sensitized cytostatic epithelial cells to proteasome inhibition. Mechanistically, sustained AKT signaling altered cytostatic state homeostasis and promoted an oxidative and proteotoxic environment, which imposed an increased proteasome dependency for maintaining cell viability. Under cytostatic conditions, inhibition of the proteasome selectively induced apoptosis in the population with aberrant AKT activation compared with normal cells. Therapeutically exploiting this AKT-driven proteasome vulnerability was effective in depleting treatment-mediated cytostatic cancer cells independent of breast cancer subtype, epithelial origin, and cytostatic agent. Moreover, transient targeting during cytostatic treatment conditions was sufficient to reduce recurrent tumor growth in spheroid and mouse models. This work identified an AKT-driven proteasome-vulnerability that enables depletion of persistent cytostatic cancer cells harboring PTEN-PI3K pathway mutations, revealing a viable strategy for targeting nonproliferating persistent cancer cell populations before drug resistance emerges. SIGNIFICANCE This study finds that sustained oncogenic signaling in therapy-induced cytostatic cancer cells confers targetable vulnerabilities to deplete persistent cancer cell populations and reduce cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Cheuk T. Leung
- Corresponding author: Cheuk T. Leung, Address: 321 Church Street SE, 6-120 Jackson Hall, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA, , Phone: 612-626-5309
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Tumor cell dormancy: Molecular mechanisms, and pharmacological approaches to target dormant cells for countering tumor. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Photothermal effect of albumin-modified gold nanorods diminished neuroblastoma cancer stem cells dynamic growth by modulating autophagy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11774. [PMID: 35821262 PMCID: PMC9276769 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we investigated the photothermal effect of gold nanorods (GNRs) on human neuroblastoma CD133+ cancer stem cells (CSCs) via autophagic cell death. GNRs were synthesized using Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), covered with bovine serum albumin (BSA). CD133+ CSCs were enriched from human neuroblastoma using the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) technique. Cells were incubated with GNRs coated with BSA and exposed to 808-nm near-infrared laser irradiation for 8 min to yield low (43 °C), medium (46 °C), and high (49 °C) temperatures. After 24 h, the survival rate and the percent of apoptotic and necrotic CSCs were measured using MTT assay and flow cytometry. The expression of different autophagy-related genes was measured using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array analysis. Protein levels of P62 and LC3 were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The viability of CSC was reduced in GNR-exposed cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At higher temperatures (49 °C), the percent of apoptotic CSCs, but not necrotic cells, increased compared to the lower temperatures. Levels of intracellular LC3 and P62 were reduced and increased respectively when the temperature increased to 49 °C (p < 0.05). These effects were non-significant at low and medium temperatures (43 and 46 °C) related to the control CSCs (p > 0.05). The clonogenic capacity of CSC was also inhibited after photothermal therapy (p < 0.05). Despite these changes, no statistically significant differences were found in terms of CSC colony number at different temperatures regardless of the presence or absence of HCQ. Based on the data, the combination of photothermal therapy with HCQ at 49 °C can significantly abort the CSC clonogenic capacity compared to the control-matched group without HCQ (p < 0.0001). PCR array showed photothermal modulation of CSCs led to alteration of autophagy-related genes and promotion of co-regulator of apoptosis and autophagy signaling pathways. Factors related to autophagic vacuole formation and intracellular transport were significantly induced at a temperature of 49 °C (p < 0.05). We also note the expression of common genes belonging to autophagy and apoptosis signaling pathways at higher temperatures. Data showed tumoricidal effects of laser-irradiated GNRs by the alteration of autophagic response and apoptosis.
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Chen Y, Xu J, Pan W, Xu X, Ma X, Chu Y, Wang L, Pang S, Li Y, Zou B, Zhou G, Gu J. Galectin‐3 enhances trastuzumab resistance by regulating cancer malignancy and stemness in
HER2
‐positive breast cancer cells. Thorac Cancer 2022; 13:1961-1973. [PMID: 35599381 PMCID: PMC9250839 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.14474] [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: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to explore the role of galectin‐3 in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)‐positive breast cancer cells and the potential mechanism. Methods Kaplan–Meier (KM)‐plot and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases were used to study the role of galectin‐3 in the prognosis of HER2‐positive breast cancer. The effects of galectin‐3 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation ability in HER2‐positive breast cancer cells were examined. The relationship between galectin‐3 and important components in the HER2 pathways, including HER2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), protein kinase B (AKT), and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), was further studied. Lentivirus and CRISPR/Cas9 were used to construct stable cell lines. Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) and apoptosis assays were used to study the relationship between galectin‐3 and trastuzumab. The effect of galectin‐3 on cell stemness was studied by mammosphere formation assay. The effects of galectin‐3 on stemness biomarkers and the Notch1 pathway were examined. Tumorigenic models were used to evaluate the effects of galectin‐3 on tumorigenesis and the therapeutic effect of trastuzumab in vivo. Results HER2‐positive breast cancer patients with a high expression level of LGALS3 (the gene encoding galectin‐3) messenger RNA (mRNA) showed a poor prognosis. Galectin‐3 promoted cancer malignancy through phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway activation and upregulated stemness by activating the Notch1 signaling pathway in HER2‐positive breast cancer cells. These two factors contributed to the enhancement of trastuzumab resistance in cells. Knockout of LGALS3 had a synergistic therapeutic effect with trastuzumab both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Galectin‐3 may represent a prognostic predictor and therapeutic target for HER2‐positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiu Chen
- Research Institute of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Jiawei Xu
- Research Institute of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Wang Pan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Xiaofan Xu
- Research Institute of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Xueping Ma
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Ya'nan Chu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Lu Wang
- Research Institute of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Shuyun Pang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Yujiao Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
| | - Bingjie Zou
- Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China
| | - Guohua Zhou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science and Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jinling Hospital, School of Pharmacy Southern Medical University Guangzhou China
| | - Jun Gu
- Research Institute of General Surgery, Affiliated Jinling Hospital Medical School of Nanjing University Nanjing China
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Gu Y, Bui T, Muller WJ. Exploiting Mouse Models to Recapitulate Clinical Tumor Dormancy and Recurrence in Breast Cancer. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6585026. [PMID: 35560214 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer recurrence and metastasis from activated dormant tumors remain the leading causes in disease morbidity. Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer that accounts for nearly 80% of all cases face a life-long risk of relapse after initial treatment. The biology of dormant tumors and dormant cancer cells that give rise to recurrent disease and metastasis remain to be understood for us to overcome the clinical challenges that they bring. The selection and optimization of pre-clinical models to recapitulate dormancy and recurrence in patients is critical for studying the underlying cellular and environmental factors. Here, we provide a brief review of studies that utilize mouse models to dissect the mechanisms of dormancy and therapeutic strategies to avert recurrence. This review specifically accentuates the versatility and benefits of immunocompetent transgenic mouse models that can be manipulated to recapitulate primary dormancy, metastatic dormancy, and post-therapy dormancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gu
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Tung Bui
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - William J Muller
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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Cescon DW, Kalinsky K, Parsons HA, Smith KL, Spears PA, Thomas A, Zhao F, DeMichele A. Therapeutic Targeting of Minimal Residual Disease to Prevent Late Recurrence in Hormone-Receptor Positive Breast Cancer: Challenges and New Approaches. Front Oncol 2022; 11:667397. [PMID: 35223447 PMCID: PMC8867255 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.667397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
While the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed at a curable stage, approximately 20% of women will experience recurrence at a distant site during their lifetime. These metastatic recurrences are incurable with current therapeutic approaches. Over the past decade, the biologic mechanisms underlying these recurrences have been elucidated, establishing the existence of minimal residual disease in the form of circulating micrometastases and dormant disease, primarily in the bone marrow. Numerous technologies are now available to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) after breast cancer treatment, but it is yet unknown how to best target and eradicate these cells, and whether clearance of detectable disease prior to the formation of overt metastases can prevent ultimate progression and death. Clinical trials to test this hypothesis are challenging due to the rare nature of MRD in the blood and bone marrow, resulting in the need to screen a large number of survivors to identify those for study. Use of prognostic molecular tools may be able to direct screening to those patients most likely to harbor MRD, but the relationship between these predictors and MRD detection is as yet undefined. Further challenges include the lack of a definitive assay for MRD with established clinical utility, difficulty in selecting potential interventions due to limitations in understanding the biology of MRD, and the emotional impact of detecting MRD in patients who have completed definitive treatment and have no evidence of overt metastatic disease. This review provides a roadmap for tackling these challenges in the design and implementation of interventional clinical trials aimed at eliminating MRD and ultimately preventing metastatic disease to improve survival from this disease, with a specific focus on late recurrences in ER+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Cescon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, CA, Canada
| | - Kevin Kalinsky
- Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Heather A Parsons
- Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Breast Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Karen Lisa Smith
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patricia A Spears
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Alexandra Thomas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Fengmin Zhao
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute - ECOG-ACRIN Biostatistics Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Angela DeMichele
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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25
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Janghorban M, Yang Y, Zhao N, Hamor C, Nguyen TM, Zhang XHF, Rosen JM. Single-Cell Analysis Unveils the Role of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Notch Signaling in Dormant Minimal Residual Disease. Cancer Res 2022; 82:885-899. [PMID: 34965936 PMCID: PMC8898263 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Tumor dormancy is a stage in which residual cancer cells remain inactive, but regrowth of dormant cancer cells contributes to recurrence. The complex ecosystem in cancer that promotes cell survival and the factors that eventually overcome growth constraints and result in proliferation remain to be fully elucidated. Doing so may provide new insights and help identify novel strategies to prolong cancer dormancy and prevent disease recurrence. To dissect the molecular pathways and the microenvironments involved in regulation of dormancy, we utilized a novel immunocompetent transgenic model to study minimal residual disease and relapse. This model revealed a significant reorganization of cancer cell structures, stroma, and immune cells, with cancer cells showing dormant cell signatures. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered remodeling of myeloid and lymphoid compartments. In addition, the Jagged-1/Notch signaling pathway was shown to regulate many aspects of tumorigenesis, including stem cell development, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and immune cell homeostasis during minimal residual disease. Treatment with an anti-Jagged-1 antibody inhibited the Jagged-1/Notch signaling pathway in tumor cells and the microenvironment, delaying tumor recurrence. These findings uncover a cascade of regulatory changes in the microenvironment during dormancy and identify a therapeutic strategy to undercut these changes. SIGNIFICANCE Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals dormancy-associated changes in immune and stromal cells and demonstrates a rationale to pursue Jagged-1/Notch pathway inhibition as a viable therapeutic strategy to reduce disease recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahnaz Janghorban
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yuchen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Zhao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Clark Hamor
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Tuan M. Nguyen
- Chemical Biology and Therapeutics Science, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
- Divisions of Renal Medicine and Engineering, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Xiang H.-F. Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jeffrey M. Rosen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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26
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Paul R, Dorsey JF, Fan Y. Cell plasticity, senescence, and quiescence in cancer stem cells: Biological and therapeutic implications. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 231:107985. [PMID: 34480963 PMCID: PMC8844041 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a distinct population of cells within tumors with capabilities of self-renewal and tumorigenicity. CSCs play a pivotal role in cancer progression, metastasis, and relapse and tumor resistance to cytotoxic therapy. Emerging scientific evidence indicates that CSCs adopt several mechanisms, driven by cellular plasticity, senescence and quiescence, to maintain their self-renewal capability and to resist tumor microenvironmental stress and treatments. These pose major hindrances for CSC-targeting anti-cancer therapies: cell plasticity maintains stemness in CSCs and renders tumor cells to acquire stem-like phenotypes, contributing to tumor heterogeneity and CSC generation; cellular senescence induces genetic reprogramming and stemness activation, leading to CSC-mediated tumor progression and metastasis; cell quienscence facilitates CSC to overcome their intrinsic vulnerabilities and therapeutic stress, inducing tumor relapse and therapy resistance. These mechanisms are subjected to spatiotemporal regulation by hypoxia, CSC niche, and extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment. Here we integrate the recent advances and current knowledge to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the regulation of plasticity, senescence and quiescence of CSCs and the potential therapeutic implications for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritama Paul
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 19104
| | - Jay F. Dorsey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 19104
| | - Yi Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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27
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Pshennikova ES, Voronina AS. Dormancy: There and Back Again. Mol Biol 2022; 56:735-755. [PMID: 36217335 PMCID: PMC9534470 DOI: 10.1134/s0026893322050119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Many cells are capable of maintaining viability in a non-dividing state with minimal metabolism under unfavorable conditions. These are germ cells, adult stem cells, and microorganisms. Unfortunately, a resting state, or dormancy, is possible for tuberculosis bacilli in a latent form of the disease and cancer cells, which may later form secondary tumors (metastases) in different parts of the body. These cells are resistant to therapy that can destroy intensely dividing cells and to the host immune system. A cascade of reactions that allows cells to enter and exit dormancy is triggered by regulatory factors from the microenvironment in niches that harbor the cells. A ratio of forbidding and permitting signals dictates whether the cells become dormant or start proliferation. The only difference between the cell dormancy regulation in normal and pathological conditions is that pathogens, mycobacteria, and cancer cells can influence their own fate by changing their microenvironment. Certain mechanisms of these processes are considered in the review.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. S. Pshennikova
- Bakh Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - A. S. Voronina
- Bakh Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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28
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Wang T, Zhang C, Wang S. Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibits osteosarcoma progression by reducing circ_0003074 expression in a miR-516b-5p/KPNA4-dependent manner. J Orthop Surg Res 2021; 16:724. [PMID: 34930332 PMCID: PMC8686618 DOI: 10.1186/s13018-021-02868-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous data have suggested that ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3), isolated from the roots of Panax ginseng, plays a repressing role in multiple cancers, including osteosarcoma (OS). However, there is no any literature available about the role of circular RNA (circRNA) in Rg3-mediated OS development. The study aimed to explore the function of circ_0003074 in the anti-cancer effects of Rg3 on OS. Methods RNA expression of circ_0003074, miR-516b-5p and karyopherin subunit alpha 4 (KPNA4) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Protein expression was evaluated by Western blotting or immunohistochemistry assay. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were investigated by cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU), flow cytometry analysis, wound-healing and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter and/or RNA immunoprecipitation assay was performed to confirm the interplay between miR-516b-5p and circ_0003074 or KPNA4. Xenograft mouse model assay was conducted to reveal the effect of Rg3 treatment on tumor formation. Results Circ_0003074 and KPNA4 expression was significantly upregulated, while miR-516b-5p was downregulated in OS tissues and cells compared with controls. Rg3 treatment dramatically decreased circ_0003074 expression in OS cells. Rg3 treatment led to decreased cell proliferation, migration and invasion but increased cell apoptosis, which was attenuated after circ_0003074 overexpression. Besides, miR-516b-5p was a target miRNA of circ_0003074 and partially restored circ_0003074-mediated action under Rg3 treatment. Decreasing miR-516b-5p expression also promoted Rg3-treated OS cell malignancy through KPNA4, which was identified as a target mRNA of miR-516b-5p. Besides, circ_0003074 induced KPNA4 production owing to the decrease of miR-516b-5p expression. Furthermore, Rg3 treatment inhibited tumor formation by regulating circ_0003074 in vivo. Conclusion Rg3 inhibited OS progression through circ_0003074/miR-516b-5p/KPNA4 axis, showing the potential of Rg3 as a therapeutic agent for OS. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13018-021-02868-7. Circ_0003074 expression was upregulated in OS tissues and cells. Rg3 treatment significantly decreased circ_0003074 expression in OS cells. Circ_0003074 overexpression rescued Rg3-induced inhibition in OS progression. Circ_0003074 induced KPNA4 production through miR-516b-5p under Rg3 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tehasi Wang
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Chengguang Zhang
- Graduate School, Heilongjiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shuren Wang
- Department of Tramotology and Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, No. 26 Heping Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
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Zhdanovskaya N, Firrincieli M, Lazzari S, Pace E, Scribani Rossi P, Felli MP, Talora C, Screpanti I, Palermo R. Targeting Notch to Maximize Chemotherapeutic Benefits: Rationale, Advanced Strategies, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205106. [PMID: 34680255 PMCID: PMC8533696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Notch signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation in a context-dependent fashion both during embryonic development and in adult tissue homeostasis. Consistent with its pleiotropic physiological role, unproper activation of the signaling promotes or counteracts tumor pathogenesis and therapy response in distinct tissues. In the last twenty years, a wide number of studies have highlighted the anti-cancer potential of Notch-modulating agents as single treatment and in combination with the existent therapies. However, most of these strategies have failed in the clinical exploration due to dose-limiting toxicity and low efficacy, encouraging the development of novel agents and the design of more appropriate combinations between Notch signaling inhibitors and chemotherapeutic drugs with improved safety and effectiveness for distinct types of cancer. Abstract Notch signaling guides cell fate decisions by affecting proliferation, apoptosis, stem cell self-renewal, and differentiation depending on cell and tissue context. Given its multifaceted function during tissue development, both overactivation and loss of Notch signaling have been linked to tumorigenesis in ways that are either oncogenic or oncosuppressive, but always context-dependent. Notch signaling is critical for several mechanisms of chemoresistance including cancer stem cell maintenance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, tumor-stroma interaction, and malignant neovascularization that makes its targeting an appealing strategy against tumor growth and recurrence. During the last decades, numerous Notch-interfering agents have been developed, and the abundant preclinical evidence has been transformed in orphan drug approval for few rare diseases. However, the majority of Notch-dependent malignancies remain untargeted, even if the application of Notch inhibitors alone or in combination with common chemotherapeutic drugs is being evaluated in clinical trials. The modest clinical success of current Notch-targeting strategies is mostly due to their limited efficacy and severe on-target toxicity in Notch-controlled healthy tissues. Here, we review the available preclinical and clinical evidence on combinatorial treatment between different Notch signaling inhibitors and existent chemotherapeutic drugs, providing a comprehensive picture of molecular mechanisms explaining the potential or lacking success of these combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadezda Zhdanovskaya
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Mariarosaria Firrincieli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Lazzari
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Eleonora Pace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Pietro Scribani Rossi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Maria Pia Felli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudio Talora
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Rocco Palermo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (N.Z.); (M.F.); (S.L.); (E.P.); (P.S.R.); (C.T.)
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (R.P.)
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Redox Control of the Dormant Cancer Cell Life Cycle. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102707. [PMID: 34685686 PMCID: PMC8535080 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Following efficient tumor therapy, some cancer cells may survive through a dormancy process, contributing to tumor recurrence and worse outcomes. Dormancy is considered a process where most cancer cells in a tumor cell population are quiescent with no, or only slow, proliferation. Recent advances indicate that redox mechanisms control the dormant cancer cell life cycle, including dormancy entrance, long-term dormancy, and metastatic relapse. This regulatory network is orchestrated mainly through redox modification on key regulators or global change of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in dormant cancer cells. Encouragingly, several strategies targeting redox signaling, including sleeping, awaking, or killing dormant cancer cells are currently under early clinical evaluation. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying redox control of the dormant cancer cell cycle are poorly understood and need further exploration. In this review, we discuss the underlying molecular basis of redox signaling in the cell life cycle of dormant cancer and the potential redox-based targeting strategies for eliminating dormant cancer cells.
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31
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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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The metabolic flexibility of quiescent CSC: implications for chemotherapy resistance. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:835. [PMID: 34482364 PMCID: PMC8418609 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04116-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Quiescence has been observed in stem cells (SCs), including adult SCs and cancer SCs (CSCs). Conventional chemotherapies mostly target proliferating cancer cells, while the quiescent state favors CSCs escape to chemotherapeutic drugs, leaving risks for tumor recurrence or metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) provides various signals that maintain resident quiescent CSCs, protect them from immune surveillance, and facilitates their recurrence potential. Since the TME has the potential to support and initiate stem cell-like programs in cancer cells, targeting the TME components may prove to be a powerful modality for the treatment of chemotherapy resistance. In addition, an increasing number of studies have discovered that CSCs exhibit the potential of metabolic flexibility when metabolic substrates are limited, and display increased robustness in response to stress. Accompanied by chemotherapy that targets proliferative cancer cells, treatments that modulate CSC quiescence through the regulation of metabolic pathways also show promise. In this review, we focus on the roles of metabolic flexibility and the TME on CSCs quiescence and further discuss potential treatments of targeting CSCs and the TME to limit chemotherapy resistance.
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Noor F, Noor A, Ishaq AR, Farzeen I, Saleem MH, Ghaffar K, Aslam MF, Aslam S, Chen JT. Recent Advances in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approaches for Breast Cancer: A Comprehensive Review. Curr Pharm Des 2021; 27:2344-2365. [PMID: 33655849 DOI: 10.2174/1381612827666210303141416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A silent monster, breast cancer, is a challenging medical task for researchers. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women with respect to other cancers. A case of breast cancer is diagnosed among women every 19 seconds, and every 74 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer somewhere in the world. Several risk factors, such as genetic and environmental factors, favor breast cancer development. This review tends to provide deep insights regarding the genetics of breast cancer along with multiple diagnostic and therapeutic approaches as problem-solving negotiators to prevent the progression of breast cancer. This assembled data mainly aims to discuss omics-based approaches to provide enthralling diagnostic biomarkers and emerging novel therapies to combat breast cancer. This review article intends to pave a new path for the discovery of effective treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Noor
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Noor
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ali Raza Ishaq
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Iqra Farzeen
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hamzah Saleem
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, College of Life Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
| | - Kanwal Ghaffar
- Department of Zoology, Government College University Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Farhan Aslam
- MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sidra Aslam
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Allama Iqbal Road, 38000 Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Jen-Tsung Chen
- Department of Life Sciences, National University of Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung 811, China
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Edwards A, Brennan K. Notch Signalling in Breast Development and Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:692173. [PMID: 34295896 PMCID: PMC8290365 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.692173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch signalling pathway is a highly conserved developmental signalling pathway, with vital roles in determining cell fate during embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Aberrant Notch signalling has been implicated in many disease pathologies, including cancer. In this review, we will outline the mechanism and regulation of the Notch signalling pathway. We will also outline the role Notch signalling plays in normal mammary gland development and how Notch signalling is implicated in breast cancer tumorigenesis and progression. We will cover how Notch signalling controls several different hallmarks of cancer within epithelial cells with sections focussed on its roles in proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. We will provide evidence for Notch signalling in the breast cancer stem cell phenotype, which also has implications for therapy resistance and disease relapse in breast cancer patients. Finally, we will summarise the developments in therapeutic targeting of Notch signalling, and the pros and cons of this approach for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Edwards
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Brennan
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Ruth JR, Pant DK, Pan TC, Seidel HE, Baksh SC, Keister BA, Singh R, Sterner CJ, Bakewell SJ, Moody SE, Belka GK, Chodosh LA. Cellular dormancy in minimal residual disease following targeted therapy. Breast Cancer Res 2021; 23:63. [PMID: 34088357 PMCID: PMC8178846 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-021-01416-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer mortality is principally due to tumor recurrence, which can occur following extended periods of clinical remission that may last decades. While clinical latency has been postulated to reflect the ability of residual tumor cells to persist in a dormant state, this hypothesis remains unproven since little is known about the biology of these cells. Consequently, defining the properties of residual tumor cells is an essential goal with important clinical implications for preventing recurrence and improving cancer outcomes. METHODS To identify conserved features of residual tumor cells, we modeled minimal residual disease using inducible transgenic mouse models for HER2/neu and Wnt1-driven tumorigenesis that recapitulate cardinal features of human breast cancer progression, as well as human breast cancer cell xenografts subjected to targeted therapy. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting was used to isolate tumor cells from primary tumors, residual lesions following oncogene blockade, and recurrent tumors to analyze gene expression signatures and evaluate tumor-initiating cell properties. RESULTS We demonstrate that residual tumor cells surviving oncogenic pathway inhibition at both local and distant sites exist in a state of cellular dormancy, despite adequate vascularization and the absence of adaptive immunity, and retain the ability to re-enter the cell cycle and give rise to recurrent tumors after extended latency periods. Compared to primary or recurrent tumor cells, dormant residual tumor cells possess unique features that are conserved across mouse models for human breast cancer driven by different oncogenes, and express a gene signature that is strongly associated with recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients and similar to that of tumor cells in which dormancy is induced by the microenvironment. Although residual tumor cells in both the HER2/neu and Wnt1 models are enriched for phenotypic features associated with tumor-initiating cells, limiting dilution experiments revealed that residual tumor cells are not enriched for cells capable of giving rise to primary tumors, but are enriched for cells capable of giving rise to recurrent tumors, suggesting that tumor-initiating populations underlying primary tumorigenesis may be distinct from those that give rise to recurrence following therapy. CONCLUSIONS Residual cancer cells surviving targeted therapy reside in a well-vascularized, desmoplastic microenvironment at both local and distant sites. These cells exist in a state of cellular dormancy that bears little resemblance to primary or recurrent tumor cells, but shares similarities with cells in which dormancy is induced by microenvironmental cues. Our observations suggest that dormancy may be a conserved response to targeted therapy independent of the oncogenic pathway inhibited or properties of the primary tumor, that the mechanisms underlying dormancy at local and distant sites may be related, and that the dormant state represents a potential therapeutic target for preventing cancer recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R Ruth
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Dhruv K Pant
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Tien-Chi Pan
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hans E Seidel
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Sanjeethan C Baksh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Blaine A Keister
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Rita Singh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Christopher J Sterner
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Suzanne J Bakewell
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Susan E Moody
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - George K Belka
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lewis A Chodosh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- 2-PREVENT Translational Center of Excellence at the Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Sinha G, Ferrer AI, Ayer S, El-Far MH, Pamarthi SH, Naaldijk Y, Barak P, Sandiford OA, Bibber BM, Yehia G, Greco SJ, Jiang JG, Bryan M, Kumar R, Ponzio NM, Etchegaray JP, Rameshwar P. Specific N-cadherin-dependent pathways drive human breast cancer dormancy in bone marrow. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:4/7/e202000969. [PMID: 34078741 PMCID: PMC8200294 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenge for treating breast cancer (BC) is partly due to long-term dormancy driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs) capable of evading immune response and resist chemotherapy. BC cells show preference for the BM, resulting in poor prognosis. CSCs use connexin 43 (Cx43) to form gap junctional intercellular communication with BM niche cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, Cx43 is an unlikely target to reverse BC dormancy because of its role as a hematopoietic regulator. We found N-cadherin (CDH2) and its associated pathways as potential drug targets. CDH2, highly expressed in CSCs, interacts intracellularly with Cx43, colocalizes with Cx43 in BC cells within BM biopsies of patients, and is required for Cx43-mediated gap junctional intercellular communication with BM niche cells. Notably, CDH2 and anti-apoptotic pathways maintained BC dormancy. We thereby propose these pathways as potential pharmacological targets to prevent dormancy and chemosensitize resistant CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Sinha
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Alejandra I Ferrer
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Seda Ayer
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Markos H El-Far
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Sri Harika Pamarthi
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Yahaira Naaldijk
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Pradeep Barak
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,ONI, Linacre House, Oxford, UK
| | - Oleta A Sandiford
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Bernadette M Bibber
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Ghassan Yehia
- Genome Editing Shared Resource, Office of Research and Economic Development, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Steven J Greco
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Jie-Gen Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,ONI, Linacre House, Oxford, UK
| | - Margarette Bryan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Kerala, India
| | - Nicholas M Ponzio
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.,ONI, Linacre House, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Pranela Rameshwar
- Rutgers School of Graduate Studies at New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA .,Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Rutgers New Jersey Medicine School, Newark, NJ, USA
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Akkoc Y, Peker N, Akcay A, Gozuacik D. Autophagy and Cancer Dormancy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:627023. [PMID: 33816262 PMCID: PMC8017298 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.627023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis and relapse account for the great majority of cancer-related deaths. Most metastatic lesions are micro metastases that have the capacity to remain in a non-dividing state called “dormancy” for months or even years. Commonly used anticancer drugs generally target actively dividing cancer cells. Therefore, cancer cells that remain in a dormant state evade conventional therapies and contribute to cancer recurrence. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer dormancy are not fully understood. Recent studies indicate that a major cellular stress response mechanism, autophagy, plays an important role in the adaptation, survival and reactivation of dormant cells. In this review article, we will summarize accumulating knowledge about cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer dormancy, and discuss the role and importance of autophagy in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunus Akkoc
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nesibe Peker
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Arzu Akcay
- Yeni Yüzyıl University, School of Medicine, Private Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital, Department of Pathology, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Devrim Gozuacik
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Turkey.,Koç University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.,Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Istanbul, Turkey
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Akhand SS, Chen H, Purdy SC, Liu Z, Anderson JC, Willey CD, Wendt MK. Fibroblast growth factor receptor facilitates recurrence of minimal residual disease following trastuzumab emtansine therapy. NPJ Breast Cancer 2021; 7:5. [PMID: 33479246 PMCID: PMC7820437 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-020-00213-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1) is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that efficiently delivers a highly potent microtubule inhibitor to HER2 overexpressing cells. Herein, we utilize HER2 transformed human mammary epithelial cells (HME2) to demonstrate in vitro and in vivo response and recurrence upon T-DM1 treatment. Continuous in vitro dosing of HME2 cells with T-DM1 failed to produce a spontaneously resistant cell line. However, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via pretreatment with TGF-β1 was capable of promoting emergence of T-DM1-resistant (TDM1R) cells. Flow cytometric analyses indicated that induction of EMT decreased trastuzumab binding, prior to overt loss of HER2 expression in TDM1R cells. Kinome analyses of TDM1R cells indicated increased phosphorylation of ErbB1, ErbB4, and FGFR1. TDM1R cells failed to respond to the ErbB kinase inhibitors lapatinib and afatinib, but they acquired sensitivity to FIIN4, a covalent FGFR kinase inhibitor. In vivo, minimal residual disease (MRD) remained detectable via bioluminescent imaging following T-DM1-induced tumor regression. Upon cessation of the ADC, relapse occurred and secondary tumors were resistant to additional rounds of T-DM1. These recurrent tumors could be inhibited by FIIN4. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of FGFR1 was sufficient to enhance tumor growth, diminish trastuzumab binding, and promote recurrence following T-DM1-induced MRD. Finally, patient-derived xenografts from a HER2+ breast cancer patient who had progressed on trastuzumab failed to respond to T-DM1, but tumor growth was significantly inhibited by FIIN4. Overall, our studies strongly support therapeutic combination of TDM1 with FGFR-targeted agents in HER2+ breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed S Akhand
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Stephen Connor Purdy
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Zian Liu
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35244, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35244, USA
| | - Michael K Wendt
- Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
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Orzechowska M, Anusewicz D, Bednarek AK. Functional Gene Expression Differentiation of the Notch Signaling Pathway in Female Reproductive Tract Tissues-A Comprehensive Review With Analysis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 8:592616. [PMID: 33384996 PMCID: PMC7770115 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.592616] [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: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch pathway involves evolutionarily conserved signaling regulating the development of the female tract organs such as breast, ovary, cervix, and uterine endometrium. A great number of studies revealed Notch aberrancies in association with their carcinogenesis and disease progression, the management of which is still challenging. The present study is a comprehensive review of the available literature on Notch signaling during the normal development and carcinogenesis of the female tract organs. The review has been enriched with our analyses of the TCGA data including breast, cervical, ovarian, and endometrial carcinomas concerning the effects of Notch signaling at two levels: the core components and downstream effectors, hence filling the lack of global overview of Notch-driven carcinogenesis and disease progression. Phenotype heterogeneity regarding Notch signaling was projected in two uniform manifold approximation and projection algorithm dimensions, preceded by the principal component analysis step reducing the data burden. Additionally, overall and disease-free survival analyses were performed with the optimal cutpoint determination by Evaluate Cutpoints software to establish the character of particular Notch components in tumorigenesis. In addition to the review, we demonstrated separate models of the examined cancers of the Notch pathway and its targets, although expression profiles of all normal tissues were much more similar to each other than to its cancerous compartments. Such Notch-driven cancerous differentiation resulted in a case of opposite association with DFS and OS. As a consequence, target genes also show very distinct profiles including genes associated with cell proliferation and differentiation, energy metabolism, or the EMT. In conclusion, the observed Notch associations with the female tract malignancies resulted from differential expression of target genes. This may influence a future analysis to search for new therapeutic targets based on specific Notch pathway profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dorota Anusewicz
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Andrzej K Bednarek
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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40
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Hu RH, Zhang ZT, Wei HX, Ning L, Ai JS, Li WH, Zhang H, Wang SQ. LncRNA ST7-AS1, by regulating miR-181b-5p/KPNA4 axis, promotes the malignancy of lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:568. [PMID: 33327962 PMCID: PMC7745379 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01652-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Growing evidence suggests that suppressor of tumorigenicity 7 antisense RNA 1 (ST7-AS1) is an oncogenic long noncoding RNA (lncRNA). However, little is known on its clinical significance, biological functions, or molecular mechanisms in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods The expression of ST7-AS1 and miR-181b-5p were examined by qRT-PCR. The correlations between ST7-AS1 level and different clinicopathological features were analysed. In vitro, LUAD cells were examined for cell viability, migration and invasion by MTT, wound healing and Transwell assay, respectively. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers were detected by Western blot. The regulations between ST7-AS1, miR-181b-5p, and KPNA4 were examined by luciferase assay, RNA immunoprecipitation, RNA pulldown. Both gain- and loss-of-function strategies were used to assess the importance of different signalling molecules in malignant phenotypes of LUAD cells. The in vivo effect was analysed using the xenograft and the experimental metastasis mouse models. Results ST7-AS1 was upregulated in LUAD tissues or cell lines, correlated with tumours of positive lymph node metastasis or higher TNM stages, and associated with shorter overall survival of LUAD patients. ST7-AS1 essentially maintained the viability, migration, invasion, and EMT of LUAD cells. The oncogenic activities of ST7-AS1 were accomplished by sponging miR-181b-5p and releasing the suppression of the latter on KPNA4. In LUAD tissues, ST7-AS1 level positively correlated with that of KPNA4 and negatively with miR-181b-5p level. In vivo, targeting ST7-AS1 significantly inhibited xenograft growth and metastasis. Conclusions ST7-AS1, by regulating miR-181b-5p/KPNA4 axis, promotes the malignancy of LUAD cells. Targeting ST7-AS1 and KPNA4 or up-regulating miR-181b-5p, therefore, may benefit the treatment of LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong-Hang Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zi-Teng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Xiang Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Ning
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang-Shan Ai
- Medical College of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Hui Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shao-Qiang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, No. 89, GuHuai Road, Jining, 272029, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
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41
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Mavingire N, Campbell P, Wooten J, Aja J, Davis MB, Loaiza-Perez A, Brantley E. Cancer stem cells: Culprits in endocrine resistance and racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes. Cancer Lett 2020; 500:64-74. [PMID: 33309858 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) promote endocrine therapy (ET) resistance, also known as endocrine resistance in hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer. Endocrine resistance occurs via mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. In vitro, in vivo and clinical data suggest that signaling cascades such as Notch, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), and integrin/Akt promote BCSC-mediated endocrine resistance. Once HR positive breast cancer patients relapse on ET, targeted therapy agents such as cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors are frequently implemented, though secondary resistance remains a threat. Here, we discuss Notch, HIF, and integrin/Akt pathway regulation of BCSC activity and potential strategies to target these pathways to counteract endocrine resistance. We also discuss a plausible link between elevated BCSC-regulatory gene levels and reduced survival observed among African American women with basal-like breast cancer which lacks HR expression. Should future studies reveal a similar link for patients with luminal breast cancer, then the use of agents that impede BCSC activity could prove highly effective in improving clinical outcomes among African American breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Mavingire
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
| | - Petreena Campbell
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
| | - Jonathan Wooten
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
| | - Joyce Aja
- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
| | - Melissa B Davis
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine-New York Presbyterian Hospital Network, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Andrea Loaiza-Perez
- Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo (IOAHR), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Área Investigación, Av. San Martin, 5481, C1417 DTB Buenos Aires, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Argentina.
| | - Eileen Brantley
- Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, Loma Linda University Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda, CA, USA; Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, Loma Linda University Health School of Pharmacy, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
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Abstract
Metastatic dissemination occurs very early in the malignant progression of a cancer but the clinical manifestation of metastases often takes years. In recent decades, 5-year survival of patients with many solid cancers has increased due to earlier detection, local disease control and adjuvant therapies. As a consequence, we are confronted with an increase in late relapses as more antiproliferative cancer therapies prolong disease courses, raising questions about how cancer cells survive, evolve or stop growing and finally expand during periods of clinical latency. I argue here that the understanding of early metastasis formation, particularly of the currently invisible phase of metastatic colonization, will be essential for the next stage in adjuvant therapy development that reliably prevents metachronous metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph A Klein
- Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
- Division of Personalized Tumor Therapy, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany.
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43
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Sistigu A, Musella M, Galassi C, Vitale I, De Maria R. Tuning Cancer Fate: Tumor Microenvironment's Role in Cancer Stem Cell Quiescence and Reawakening. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2166. [PMID: 33193295 PMCID: PMC7609361 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cell dormancy is a common feature of human tumors and represents a major clinical barrier to the long-term efficacy of anticancer therapies. Dormant cancer cells, either in primary tumors or disseminated in secondary organs, may reawaken and relapse into a more aggressive disease. The mechanisms underpinning dormancy entry and exit strongly resemble those governing cancer cell stemness and include intrinsic and contextual cues. Cellular and molecular components of the tumor microenvironment persistently interact with cancer cells. This dialog is highly dynamic, as it evolves over time and space, strongly cooperates with intrinsic cell nets, and governs cancer cell features (like quiescence and stemness) and fate (survival and outgrowth). Therefore, there is a need for deeper insight into the biology of dormant cancer (stem) cells and the mechanisms regulating the equilibrium quiescence-versus-proliferation are vital in our pursuit of new therapeutic opportunities to prevent cancer from recurring. Here, we review and discuss microenvironmental regulations of cancer dormancy and its parallels with cancer stemness, and offer insights into the therapeutic strategies adopted to prevent a lethal recurrence, by either eradicating resident dormant cancer (stem) cells or maintaining them in a dormant state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Sistigu
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Musella
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Galassi
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilio Vitale
- IIGM - Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, c/o IRCSS Candiolo (TO), Candiolo, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Ruggero De Maria
- Istituto di Patologia Generale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" - IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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44
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Adaptation and selection shape clonal evolution of tumors during residual disease and recurrence. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5017. [PMID: 33024122 PMCID: PMC7539014 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18730-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The survival and recurrence of residual tumor cells following therapy constitutes one of the biggest obstacles to obtaining cures in breast cancer, but it remains unclear how the clonal composition of tumors changes during relapse. We use cellular barcoding to monitor clonal dynamics during tumor recurrence in vivo. We find that clonal diversity decreases during tumor regression, residual disease, and recurrence. The recurrence of dormant residual cells follows several distinct routes. Approximately half of the recurrent tumors exhibit clonal dominance with a small number of subclones comprising the vast majority of the tumor; these clonal recurrences are frequently dependent upon Met gene amplification. A second group of recurrent tumors comprises thousands of subclones, has a clonal architecture similar to primary tumors, and is dependent upon the Jak/Stat pathway. Thus the regrowth of dormant tumors proceeds via multiple routes, producing recurrent tumors with distinct clonal composition, genetic alterations, and drug sensitivities. The cellular composition of recurrent tumors can provide insight into resistance to therapy and inform on second line therapies. Here, using a genetically modified mouse, the authors perform barcoding experiments of the primary tumors to allow them to study the clonal dynamics of tumor recurrence.
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45
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Gharaibeh L, Elmadany N, Alwosaibai K, Alshaer W. Notch1 in Cancer Therapy: Possible Clinical Implications and Challenges. Mol Pharmacol 2020; 98:559-576. [PMID: 32913140 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.120.000006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Notch family consists of four highly conserved transmembrane receptors. The release of the active intracellular domain requires the enzymatic activity of γ-secretase. Notch is involved in embryonic development and in many physiologic processes of normal cells, in which it regulates growth, apoptosis, and differentiation. Notch1, a member of the Notch family, is implicated in many types of cancer, including breast cancer (especially triple-negative breast cancer), leukemias, brain tumors, and many others. Notch1 is tightly connected to many signaling pathways that are therapeutically involved in tumorigenesis. Together, they impact apoptosis, proliferation, chemosensitivity, immune response, and the population of cancer stem cells. Notch1 inhibition can be achieved through various and diverse methods, the most common of which are the γ-secretase inhibitors, which produce a pan-Notch inhibition, or the use of Notch1 short interference RNA or Notch1 monoclonal antibodies, which produce a more specific blockade. Downregulation of Notch1 can be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, which can achieve a synergistic effect and a decrease in chemoresistance. Targeting Notch1 in cancers that harbor high expression levels of Notch1 offers an addition to therapeutic strategies recruited for managing cancer. Considering available evidence, Notch1 offers a legitimate target that might be incorporated in future strategies for combating cancer. In this review, the possible clinical applications of Notch1 inhibition and the obstacles that hinder its clinical application are discussed. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Notch1 plays an important role in different types of cancer. Numerous approaches of Notch1 inhibition possess potential benefits in the management of various clinical aspects of cancer. The application of different Notch1 inhibition modalities faces many challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gharaibeh
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan (L.G); Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany (N.E.); Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia (K.A.); and Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (W.A.)
| | - N Elmadany
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan (L.G); Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany (N.E.); Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia (K.A.); and Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (W.A.)
| | - K Alwosaibai
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan (L.G); Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany (N.E.); Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia (K.A.); and Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (W.A.)
| | - W Alshaer
- Pharmacological and Diagnostic Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Ahliyya Amman University, Amman, Jordan (L.G); Cellular Neurosciences, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany (N.E.); Research Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia (K.A.); and Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan (W.A.)
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46
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Moore G, Annett S, McClements L, Robson T. Top Notch Targeting Strategies in Cancer: A Detailed Overview of Recent Insights and Current Perspectives. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061503. [PMID: 32575680 PMCID: PMC7349363 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Evolutionarily conserved Notch plays a critical role in embryonic development and cellular self-renewal. It has both tumour suppressor and oncogenic activity, the latter of which is widely described. Notch-activating mutations are associated with haematological malignancies and several solid tumours including breast, lung and adenoid cystic carcinoma. Moreover, upregulation of Notch receptors and ligands and aberrant Notch signalling is frequently observed in cancer. It is involved in cancer hallmarks including proliferation, survival, migration, angiogenesis, cancer stem cell renewal, metastasis and drug resistance. It is a key component of cell-to-cell interactions between cancer cells and cells of the tumour microenvironment, such as endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts. Notch displays diverse crosstalk with many other oncogenic signalling pathways, and may drive acquired resistance to targeted therapies as well as resistance to standard chemo/radiation therapy. The past 10 years have seen the emergence of different classes of drugs therapeutically targeting Notch including receptor/ligand antibodies, gamma secretase inhibitors (GSI) and most recently, the development of Notch transcription complex inhibitors. It is an exciting time for Notch research with over 70 cancer clinical trials registered and the first-ever Phase III trial of a Notch GSI, nirogacestat, currently at the recruitment stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian Moore
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (G.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Stephanie Annett
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (G.M.); (S.A.)
| | - Lana McClements
- The School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia;
| | - Tracy Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, Royal College of Surgeons, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland; (G.M.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence:
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47
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Conti L, Bolli E, Di Lorenzo A, Franceschi V, Macchi F, Riccardo F, Ruiu R, Russo L, Quaglino E, Donofrio G, Cavallo F. Immunotargeting of the xCT Cystine/Glutamate Antiporter Potentiates the Efficacy of HER2-Targeted Immunotherapies in Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 8:1039-1053. [PMID: 32532810 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-20-0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite HER2-targeted therapies improving the outcome of HER2+ breast cancer, many patients experience resistance and metastatic progression. Cancer stem cells (CSC) play a role in this resistance and progression, thus combining HER2 targeting with CSC inhibition could improve the management of HER2+ breast cancer. The cystine-glutamate antiporter, xCT, is overexpressed in mammary CSCs and is crucial for their redox balance, self-renewal, and resistance to therapies, representing a potential target for breast cancer immunotherapy. We developed a combined immunotherapy targeting HER2 and xCT using the Bovine Herpes virus-4 vector, a safe vaccine that can confer immunogenicity to tumor antigens. Mammary cancer-prone BALB-neuT mice, transgenic for rat Her2, were immunized with the single or combined vaccines. Anti-HER2 vaccination slowed primary tumor growth, whereas anti-xCT vaccination primarily prevented metastasis formation. The combination of the two vaccines exerted a complementary effect by mediating the induction of cytotoxic T cells and of HER2 and xCT antibodies that induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and hinder cancer cell proliferation. Antibodies targeting xCT, but not those targeting HER2, directly affected CSC viability, self-renewal, and migration, inducing the antimetastatic effect of xCT vaccination. Our findings present a new therapy for HER2+ breast cancer, demonstrating that CSC immunotargeting via anti-xCT vaccination synergizes with HER2-directed immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Conti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Bolli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Antonino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Macchi
- Department of Medical Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Riccardo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Roberto Ruiu
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Russo
- Department of Medical Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Elena Quaglino
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Gaetano Donofrio
- Department of Medical Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
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48
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Ponzetti M, Rucci N. Switching Homes: How Cancer Moves to Bone. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4124. [PMID: 32527062 PMCID: PMC7313057 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bone metastases (BM) are a very common complication of the most prevalent human cancers. BM are extremely painful and may be life-threatening when associated with hypercalcaemia. BM can lead to kidney failure and cardiac arrhythmias and arrest, but why and how do cancer cells decide to "switch homes" and move to bone? In this review, we will present what answers science has provided so far, with focus on the molecular mechanisms and cellular aspects of well-established findings, such as the concept of "vicious cycle" and "osteolytic" vs. "osteosclerotic" bone metastases; as well as on novel concepts, such as cellular dormancy and extracellular vesicles. At the molecular level, we will focus on hypoxia-associated factors and angiogenesis, the Wnt pathway, parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) and chemokines. At the supramolecular/cellular level, we will discuss tumour dormancy, id est the mechanisms through which a small contingent of tumour cells coming from the primary site may be kept dormant in the endosteal niche for many years. Finally, we will present a potential role for the multimolecular mediators known as extracellular vesicles in determining bone-tropism and establishing a premetastatic niche by influencing the bone microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadia Rucci
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
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49
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Zhang X, Chen L, Dang WQ, Cao MF, Xiao JF, Lv SQ, Jiang WJ, Yao XH, Lu HM, Miao JY, Wang Y, Yu SC, Ping YF, Liu XD, Cui YH, Zhang X, Bian XW. CCL8 secreted by tumor-associated macrophages promotes invasion and stemness of glioblastoma cells via ERK1/2 signaling. J Transl Med 2020; 100:619-629. [PMID: 31748682 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0345-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a large population of glioblastoma and facilitate tumor growth and invasion of tumor cells, but the underlying mechanism remains undefined. In this study, we demonstrate that chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8 (CCL8) is highly expressed by TAMs and contributes to pseudopodia formation by GBM cells. The presence of CCL8 in the glioma microenvironment promotes progression of tumor cells. Moreover, CCL8 induces invasion and stem-like traits of GBM cells, and CCR1 and CCR5 are the main receptors that mediate CCL8-induced biological behavior. Finally, CCL8 dramatically activates ERK1/2 phosphorylation in GBM cells, and blocking TAM-secreted CCL8 by neutralized antibody significantly decreases invasion of glioma cells. Taken together, our data reveal that CCL8 is a TAM-associated factor to mediate invasion and stemness of GBM, and targeting CCL8 may provide an insight strategy for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Wei-Qi Dang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Mian-Fu Cao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing-Fang Xiao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Sheng-Qing Lv
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Wen-Jie Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Yao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Hui-Min Lu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jing-Ya Miao
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Shi-Cang Yu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yi-Fang Ping
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xin-Dong Liu
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - You-Hong Cui
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Xiu-Wu Bian
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunopathology of Ministry of Education of China, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
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50
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McIntyre B, Asahara T, Alev C. Overview of Basic Mechanisms of Notch Signaling in Development and Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1227:9-27. [PMID: 32072496 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-36422-9_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Notch signaling is an evolutionarily conserved pathway associated with the development and differentiation of all metazoans. It is needed for proper germ layer formation and segmentation of the embryo and controls the timing and duration of differentiation events in a dynamic manner. Perturbations of Notch signaling result in blockades of developmental cascades, developmental anomalies, and cancers. An in-depth understanding of Notch signaling is thus required to comprehend the basis of development and cancer, and can be further exploited to understand and direct the outcomes of targeted cellular differentiation into desired cell types and complex tissues from pluripotent or adult stem and progenitor cells. In this chapter, we briefly summarize the molecular, evolutionary, and developmental basis of Notch signaling. We will focus on understanding the basics of Notch signaling and its signaling control mechanisms, its developmental outcomes and perturbations leading to developmental defects, as well as have a brief look at mutations of the Notch signaling pathway causing human hereditary disorders or cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Cantas Alev
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology (ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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